Want to give the Hiker or Walker in your life a gift they will love and actually use? Are you shopping on a budget or not really sure what gifts for hikers are any good?
Worry not whatever your reason for being on this page – I got you covered with my Easy Gift Guide for Hikers & Walkers.
I have been hiking and walking since i was in my dads backpack carrier! So my list is all the amazing fun things every hikers has to have…tried and tested by Me, My family and our fans!
Plus as a “Picnic Expert” I’m going to reveal the one item that every hungry hiker would love to get as a gift.
My Ten Best Gift Ideas for Hikers
Top 3 Gifts Every Hiker Will LOVE!
No matter what your budget there is always a brilliant gift that every hiker will love and use! These are my three top gifts for hikers and walkers from everything i have tried, reviewed and enjoyed over the years!
Gift of a New Hiking Rucksack
Our recommendations for budget, smart and top picks in ladies and gents hiking backpacks are below.
Most of our gifts are unisex however with a Walking rucksack you are going to want to buy one specifically for a man or a woman. Womens backpacks are designed for wider hips, mens are for wider shoulders.
Another tip when buying a back pack for hiking is choose the right size. This size is given in liters. If you are gifting a hiking backpack for a world trip give one of the 100L models (my fav is the xxx). For your everyday walker 30L back pack should be perfect (especially if each person in your group has one!).
When choosing a walking rucksack I always look for the following features:
Waterproofing – I look for at least a waterproof pouch/ zipper section for my valuables (passort etc). If you can invest in giving a waterproof rucksack as a gift (there are some great budegt ones). And you can always tell the higher end backpacks as they include a rain cover., some are high vis as well!
Storage – Walkers want places to store walking poles, drink bottles and food in easy reach, keys and mobile (for your GPS whilst walking). For those exploring the urban jungle a laptop space and key pouch are always welcome!
Hydration pouch/water bladder – These are a godsend for walkers. They save time and make it easy for walkers to hydrate on the go. If you can’t gift a hiking pack with a hydration pouch included then see if one can be fitted and add that here.
Comfort – if you can stretch the budget a little for the gift for a hiker/ walker then get a backpack with a waist and chest strap. This blog explains in details why these additions are so important in a walking backpack. However they basically prevent back pain and position the pack for greater comfort.
So here are our best Backpacks to gift hikers. Our budget packs are under 25, mid range is under 50 and the top of the range under 150 but real investment pieces.
Best Mid-Range Womens Hiking Pack - Mountain Warehouse Ventura 40L Rucksack
Gift Of A Portable Picnic Set
Enjoy eating out whilst on the go…
For all hikers and walkers eating out and preserving their strength is a critical part of a great walk. So we need to cater for dining out on the hoof so to speak and there are some awesome gifts you can give in picnic sets!
As a family we love nothing more than hiking to a great spot and spending an hour eating a picnic. For others they prefer to eat and go but whatever your outdooring dining style a picnic set makes a great gift for hikers and walkers.
When I gift a picnic set i look for the following features:
Lightweight – We want to keep the backpack light as possible as we are adding in water, food and walking poles, suncream and more. This all adds up.
Durable – We dont want china or anything posh/breakable as this is for hiking! We want BPA (safe) and
Eco Friendly – Using a picnic set that’s reusable banishes one use plastic…YEAH we love that right? However what if you n go a step further and buy a eco picnic set from a sustainable source. Look for Palm Leaf, Sugarcane or Bamboo Picnic plates, glasses and cutlery.
Extras – Does it have a corkscrew, salt & pepper pot etc? do you even need or want them as it adds to the weight.
Compact – Does it come in a carry case? is it easy to pack in a 30L walking pack? I have tested all the ones i recommend here to save you time and money on buying the right picnic set to gift.
Best Budget Picnic Set
Buy 31 Piece Plastic Picnic Camping Party Dinner Plate Mug Cutlery Set Storage Box Now At Amazon
Best Mid Range Picnic Set
Buy Two Person Odoland Stainless Steel Camping Cutlery Set Now At Amazon
Gift the Ultimate Outdoors Knife
You never know when your gift of an all purpose knife will help out a friend!
When you are heading out on a hike you never know what you might encounter so we always carry a multipurpose knife. These are also awesome as camping knives so perfect gifts for friends who are into the outdoors lifestyle.
Its been used to chop apples, cut open food packs and bandages for awalkers ankle and so much more!
When I say multi purpose Knife we always think of the famous Swiss Army Knife. However there are other great brands out there like Leatherman and Gerber.
With these knives you really get what you pay for. They really aren’t that dear for a really good one…and as its for a gift you want it to last don’t you.
Best Gerber Multi-Purpose Knife
Best Leatherman Outdoor Knife
Gift a Hydro Flask
Get a Hydro Flask and save the planet one single use plastic bottle at a time!
Hydro Flasks are cool, super quality and prevent single use plastics!
I am a fan of eco picnic products and walking gifts. I want us to reduce damage to our beautiful planet so future generations can enjoy it – Don’t you?
I know your hiking and walking friends certainly do! So giving them an eco Hydro Flask would be a brilliant gift!
The key features of all the Hydro Flask range is:
- TEMPERATURE: The TempShield™ double-wall vacuum insulation eliminates condensation and keeps your beverage cold (or hot!) for hours on end.
- TASTE: The Hydro Flask interior is made from durable 18/8 pro-grade stainless steel, that won’t retain or transfer flavour.
- TRANSPORT: The signature Hydro Flask powder coating is easy to grip, and will leave your hands sweat-free – so you can take your Hydro Flask anywhere.
- LIFETIME WARRANTY: The Hydro Flask is so incredibly hard wearing it comes with a lifetime warranty – a great investment that will last you for years.
Want to know more about Hydro Flask and the full range ? Click here: HERE.
I mention above there is a hydro flask range – they have hot and cold food storage, drinking cups for coffee, kids, beer and even WINE!
So lets see my top picks for hydro flask gifts for 2023.
Don’t get caught out in the cold with a rubbish gift…give the present of a bivvy bag!
Emergency Bivy Bags provide heat retention and thermal insulation in survival situations. Lined with special heat reflecting material similar to emergency blankets, this is an essential component of any survival or camping kit and will keep you warm in a pinch!
Now I know what you are thinking, well I hope I know you by now. You are thinking seriously they only go for day hikes they wont ever need this.
You would be stunned when these can come in handy!
Think of the times when you need a comfy place to sit on a walk . break out the bivvy bag!
What if the weather turns and they are caught in the cold or snow – Bivvy bag time!
And god forbid they get injured or find someone injured – the bivvy bag gift could save a life!
Oh and lets not forget occasionally we do get lost and these bags again can keep us warm till help find us.
When buying a bivvy bag look for:
Lightweight
Compact
Waterproof
Vivid Colour … so you can be seen by rescuers!
Personally I love the Goretex Bivvy Bag, its sheer brilliant! Choosing this one is you are giving a known brand name to your hikers so its always better received.
However i couldnt track a link down for gifting this right now so here are a few brillaint alternative Thermal Bivvy Bags to gift.
Gift Emergency Thermal Blanket Kit
Buy Multi-Purpose Reusable Emergency Thermal Blanket Kit Now At Amazon
Gift A Portable Solar Panel
Mobile GPS, Head Torchs and so much more need a way to be charged on a hike…
Portable solar panels are huge in the USA and starting to come over to the UK and europe now. This can be a really useful addition to any hikers backpack and a welcome gift (especially if they are tech heads too).
There isn’t a huge selection of quality solar-powered battery charger yet for mobile charging. A search of Amazon Portable Charger will show how few decent products are available.
However you can buy with confidence here as I have tested each of the ones recommended.
I choose each of the portable solar panels for the following features:
- Lightweight
- Portablility
- Waterproof
- Dual Charging Ports – for charging multiple devices
With solar panels if you are buying a solar charger for camping look for a larger panels for more power. However for a walkers portable solar charger one with four panels of a mobile phone size should be fine.
Gift a Garmin Hiking Watch
These are like Apple watches but for the hikers and walkers…
So I got a Garmin Fenix watch for a birthday last year and once in got in to using it i fell in love! Its a watch that can really take you places – literally as it has maps stored in it!
Its WIFI enabled with GPS and compass built it plus so much more – you might get lost getting to know this watch but you wont be lost out in the wild blue yonder!
The Garmin Fenix range (there is the 5 and 6 versions now) can also do so much more like play music, tell the time and…
- Monitor heart rate at the wrist
- Easily store and play up to 500 songs on your watch, and connect with Bluetooth headphones (sold separately) for phone-free listening
- Garmin Pay contactless payment solution is in built!
- Its waterproof! – Water rating: 10 ATM
- Built-in navigation sensors include three-axis compass, gyroscope and barometric altimeter as well as multiple satellite system (GPS, GLONASS and Galileo) to track in more challenging environments!
- Lens Material is domed sapphire crystal. Case material is fiber reinforced polymer with metal rear cover- so if you fall over and wallop it it wont break!
- It can be set to various different sports and activities to measure your performance and vital stats!
So if you really want to treat the hikers in your life this Garmin Fenix Series Watch is the one to get…or be like me and treat yourself!
Gift a Portable First Aid Kit
Stitch them up and send them on their way – no matter where you are!
- Lightweight and compact
- Waterproof
- Carries all the basics you will need including cards on how to give first aid!
- Antiseptic wipes
- Antibacterial ointment
- Assorted bandages
- Gauze pads in various sizes
- Medical tape
- Moleskin or another type of blister treatment
- Ibuprofen (or another preferred pain-relief medication)
- Insect sting treatment
- Antihistamine for allergic reactions
- Non-stick pads
- Butterfly bandages
- Tweezers
- Safety pins
- Multitool
- First-aid cards that include instructions on how to use the items if you are not familiar
Gift a Head Torch
Give them light and people will find a way!
As the quote says the gift of light can be a very useful one! So you could gift your walker and hiking fans a torch or lamp – however the best give I think is a head torch.
These headlamps are also great gifts for Runners, Campers and even car enthusiasts for getting a good look under the bonnet.
Ok so you do look a wally or rather minion like but i honestly think the benefits outweigh the dubious look! (and be honest do hikers really care how they look?).
Benefits of a headlamp include:
Handsfree – so your hands are able to use walking pools, climb or walk the dog (my hubby uses it for that)
Directional Beam – The light follows where you look – so its concentrated in the same place as your walking normally!
Sturdy/unbreakable – You are far less likely to break these as its attached to your head and that should be the last thing to hit anything hard!
With headlamps you can get battery operated or rechargeable head torches (using a mobile charger)
There are also different strengths of lamp – from about 300 Lumens (well enough to walk a dog with in dark) to over 1700 (which i think might be seen from space!).
Finally the best Head Torches have a zoom function, flashing function and dimmer functions on as well…
So here are our three best Headlamps for Hikers & Walkers by most loved brands.
Gift a Hiking/ Walkers Guide
Set a walkers pulse racing with the possibilities of exciting new hikes!
The joy of hiking and walking is finding new spaces and places that you have not explored yet. Setting your sights on reaching new peaks and finding hidden beauty spots to picnic in. Wouldnt the walking fan in your life just love a great hiking guide as a gift?
When recommending Hiking Guides i choose ones our family and wider friendship groups have loved for years. I love coffee table hiking books so I can dream of future walks (especially during covid!) and pour over the images however my hubby loves a good pocket guide for walking.
What would the hiker you are buying for prefer? Can you find a sneaky way to ask them?
I love to gift books with extras like digital downloads, free memberships to hiking clubs or walking groups or even free national trust passes.
Here are a few of the best hiking guides to gift.
Buy 100 Outstanding British Walks - With Digital Downloads Now At Amazon
Have we missed any epic hiking and walking gifts from our best gifts for hikers guide?
If you can think of gifts for hikers that I haven’t covered in this blog please let me know in the comments box below.
My gift guide for walkers isnt exhaustive i know however with new fun products coming on the market all the time if you think of anything let me know!
