Christmas is only a few weeks away, and I’m sure some of you are still looking for gifts to buy for your loved ones. If you’re coming up short on ideas for the adventurers and explorers in your life, I’ve put together a list of 30 items they’re sure to enjoy. I’ve divided the list up into big ticket items at $100 or more, mid-range items from $25-$100, and stocking stuffers under $25.  Happy holidays, everyone!
Trail to Peak Holiday Giveaway!
I’ll be giving away a brand new MSR Pocket Rocket lightweight cooking system this holiday season. There are two ways to enter. 1.) Follow me on Instagram and tag your hiking photos with #trailtopeak. 2.) Follow me on Facebook and add a hiking photo to my page tagged #trailtopeak. The winner will be selected on December 15, 2016.
Gift Items $100 And Up
1.) Tents- When it comes to gifts that push you out the front door and make you want to explore, nothing really compares to a new lightweight tent! Tents are literally your home away from home. Here are some of my favorites.
2.) Backpacks-Â Backpacks are one of the most versatile tools for hikers, campers, and backpackers. I have one for just about every activity. Hydration vests are great for trail running, low volume packs are great for short trips, and high volume packs are great for longer backpacking excursions. Here are some of my favorites.
- Ultimate Direction Fast Pack 30
- Salomon SLAB Peak 20
- Osprey Exos 38
- Osprey Exos 58
- Hyperlite Mountain Gear 3400 Southwest
3.) Trail Shoes-Â Shoes are my personal favorite when it comes to gear. Much like backpacks, outdoor explorers need different tools for different jobs. Snow, ice, mud, hardpack, and sand, all provide different challenges on trail. Here are some shoes that can handle them all.
- La Sportiva Mutant
- Altra Lone Peak 3.0
- New Balance Leadville v3
- Salomon Wings Pro 2
- Hoka One One Challenger ATR 2
4.) Sleeping Bags-Â When you’re sleeping outside, it’s important to keep warm and comfortable at night. These sleeping bags should do the trick.
- Sierra Designs Zissou 23
- Sea To Summit Spark
- ZPacks 20 Degree Bag
- Enlightened Equipment Revelation 20
5.) Sleeping Pads-Â A nice sleeping pad needs to be paired with a great sleeping pad. It’s very important to insulate oneself from the cold earth when sleeping outside. These pads are some of my favorites.
6.) Down Jackets-Â I’m not recommending too many clothing items, as most people have those items already. Down jackets are the exception. I see a lot of hikers and backpackers going without on cold summits, so make sure your loved ones don’t endure the same fate.
7.) Camera And Lens-Â Engaging photo and video are the cornerstone of Trail to Peak. In my opinion, Sony’s mirrorless cameras are the gold standard for hiking, backpacking, and travel. Check out these cameras, lenses, and accessories.
8.) Sunglasses-Â You need to protect your eyes when spending long hours out in the sun. Here are my favorite shades for mountain adventures.
9.) Trekking Poles-Â I went without trekking poles for years, and immediately regretted my ignorance the first couple of times I took a pair out into the mountains. If you have any friends or family members going without, this might be the time to nudge them in the right direction.
- Black Diamond Trail Pro Trekking Poles
- Black Diamond Distance Z Poles
- Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork Poles
- Cascade Mountain Tech Carbon Poles
10.) GPS Watch and Satellite Receiver-Â I use a GPS watch to track all of my hikes. Having mileage, elevation, and other vital stats are critical for in hike performance and being able to share on the blog later. I also use a satellite device in the event I ever need to shout out an SOS. My satellite receiver also allows me to message family when out of cell signal.
Gift Items $25-$100
11.) Cooking System- A year or so ago, I tried to go “cook-free” on a few backpacking trips to save weight. It was pure misery to finish a long day of hiking and then have to eat cold food.
12.) Water Filter-Â A water filter is a “must-have” for every camping, backpacking, and travel enthusiast.
13.) Microspikes And Ice Axe-Â As the cold months of winter grow near, keep your loved ones well equipped for ice on the trails.
14.) Lanterns-Â Lanterns are a great item to have for car camping.
15.) Head Lamps-Â With the days growing shorter, it’s nice to have a nice headlamp to illuminate the trails on those days when you get a very early or late start.
16.) Multi-Tool-Â A solid multi-tool is a staple for every outdoor adventurer and traveler.
17.) Cook Set-Â Cooking on the trail can be a chore with heavy pots and tableware. You can really lighten the load with these kitchen pieces.
18.) Compass-Â With modern technology, the old school compass is often overlooked. When the batteries die on a GPS, this compass will be their to guide the way.
19.) Gift Card-Â This can be listed in any price category, and is the perfect gift for the undecided shopper.
Gift Items Under $25
20.) Maps or Guide Books-Â Give the gift of inspiration with a map. Nothing gets my mind spinning with adventure like the joys of exploring a physical map. This is an especially thoughtful gift if you know a certain individual has their eyes set on a certain region.
21.) Bars and Nutrition- The perfect stocking stuffer in my opinion.
22.) Stuff Sacks-Â I can never have enough of these to help organize and protect my gear.
23.) Tent Stakes-Â Lightweight tent stakes are a welcome addition to every backpacking kit.
24.) Socks-Â Another perfect stocking stuffer.
25.) Underwear- Probably not a gift for those you don’t know very well 🙂
26.) Camera Accessories- If you have a photo and video enthusiast in your life, get them these accessories.
27.) Microfiber Towel and Hand Cloths-Â Lightweight and fast-drying, perfect for all backpacking and travel adventures.
28.) Tenacious Tape-Â For fixing punctures in sleeping pads and tears in tents.
29.) Mountain House Dehydrated Food-Â Lightweight and fairly tasty makes these perfect fo camping and backpacking.
30.) Buff Headband-Â One of the most versatile pieces I own. It’s a beanie, headband, scarf, and more.
For more gift ideas take a look at my Current Hiking Gear post. Â
Great gift ideas! Thank you!
I’m glad you like them, Maria!
I have the jetboil flash and its a great piece of kit, need to get some of those pans/cook sets though. Not sure whether to get a separate stove like the MSR size to go with that or use the jetboil? Any ideas?
It depends on what you’re cooking. I love the combination of the Flash with dehydrated meals. I can quickly boil water and add it to the bag of food, leaving me nothing to clean up. I do backpack with the lightweight coffee cup, as it doubles as an oatmeal bowl. The full pots and pans kit is something I only use for car camping or in a family outing with larger meals. Otherwise, I don’t have the energy to clean them 🙂
Awesome list man! Thanks for putting this together!
Thanks, David!
Great list. I’ve been thinking about upgrading my stove from the trangia I have now…
Thanks! The holidays are a time to treat yourself as well. At least that’s what I tell myself! 🙂
Haha I like the way you think!
Great list. So much for giving…those three guidebooks, the thermarest and the mini filtration system are all going on my own list.
haha! I’ve been doing the same thing as I’ve looked at gift guides from other bloggers 🙂
Excellent list! Lots of great items on there. The Jetboil is kind of life changing. I’m always amazed how quickly it can boil water. Clothing wise I love Darn Tough socks as they last forever and Arcteryx down jackets are worth the high price..
Thanks! I agree on the Jetboil. Even at 10,000ft with wind, it still boils water quickly!
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