2025 Practical Hiker Gift Guide

The holidays are just around the corner (we can’t believe it!), and we’re sharing some of our favorite gift ideas for the hikers in your life to hopefully ease some of the stress of gift-giving.

*This post contains affiliate links through which we earn a profit from*

First off, we want to share some gifts that are not material items, as we always want to encourage others to give the gift of experiences and time over things.

America the Beautiful Pass (Annual National Park Pass)

An $80 annual pass for someone to explore our National Parks! If they’re over the age of 62, look into the Senior Pass, which is valid for their lifetime.

AllTrails+ Membership – Use this link for 30% off!

AllTrails memberships mean access to downloaded/offline maps and other features for easier navigation and exploration on the trails.

Other non-material ideas:

  • Outdoor skill workshops/classes (avalanche training, CPR, mountaineering, outdoor wilderness first aid, etc.)
  • An intro-to class, such as ice climbing, rock climbing, rafting, etc.
  • Tickets to an outdoor festival/event
  • A planned trip into the wilderness or cabin rental
  • Seasons pass for state or regional passes for trails

Okay, now onto some material items that we love and have used for many years. From winter hiking gear to small luxuries that totally change your experience on the trail, here are some of our favorites:

Warm Skin

Brad swears by Warm Skin to keep his hands and feet warmer in winter with Raynaud’s. If you struggle with circulation or cold hands/feet, we’d highly recommend giving this a try!

Noso Patches

Fun gear patches to help extend the lifespan of their gear. No sewing needed, these durable repair patches come in fun designs and keep gear in use.

NEMO Seat Pad

We both have these lightweight sit pads from Nemo and bring them along on every day hike and overnight. They’re the perfect camp seat to keep your butt dry and warm, especially in winter!

NIKWAX Footwear Cleaning & Waterproofing

Our holy grail of footwear cleaning products! We’ve used Nikwax cleaner and waterproofer for years on our hiking footwear and it does a great job at getting stains out and adding water repellency.

Cotopaxi Fleece Hat

You can never go wrong with a baseball hat, but I just got this one from REI that’s fleece and…I didn’t know I could love a hat so much. It’s the perfect shoulder season cap.

Waterproof & Impact-Resistant Compass

Having a reliable compass is so important on your backcountry adventures. I’ve had this one for almost 10 years, and it goes in my pack for every hike in case of an emergency.

Water Bladder Cleaning Kit

Water bladder cleaning kits are so underrated and honestly, bladders are really tough to clean if you don’t have the proper tools.

Mitten Leashes

Winter hikers know that losing one mitten in the alpine can mean loss of fingers. It’s a serious issue that can be avoided by using leashes so you can ensure they’re not going anywhere.

O’Keeffe’s Foot Cream

This foot cream was given to us by O’Keeffe’s to try out, and we absolutely love it. After a long hike, there’s no better feeling than showering and throwing on this lotion with a pair of cozy socks.

Electric Handwarmers

We ditched the one-time-use handwarmers for these electric ones and never looked back. They’re so handy, last for hours, and warm up instantly, unlike the one-time-use packages.

Waterproof Cards

We love playing card games, especially when we arrive at a campsite early. If it’s raining or snowing, it can be hard to keep all your things dry. That’s why we love having waterproof cards that we can even use anywhere, even at hot springs!

Permethrin Spray

Ticks seem to be more and more prevalent each year, and we want to ensure we avoid tick-borne illnesses. We love using Sawyer’s permethrin spray to coat our gear and protect ourselves from taking home those pesky critters.

Columbia Beanie

Columbia sells so many great, cozy beanies. This is CeLynn’s newest one, and she loves it!

Dr. Hoys Balm

We started using this last spring and love it to soothe sore muscles after our adventures. It does have a stronger smell, but we love how it works!

Insulated Nalgene Sleeve

We’ve used these insulated Nalgene sleeves for years on our winter hikes, and they’re awesome for keeping your water from freezing! They’re also super lightweight.

Insulated Bladder Hose

Don’t use a Nalgene? This insulated hose can also help to keep your water from freezing in cold temperatures!

Want to see more of our favorite gear? Check out our Rockporch and Amazon for more!

Leave a Reply

Discover more from Wild & Outdoors

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading