The Hiker’s Gift Guide — 90 Best Gifts in 2023
This is the ultimate gift list for the hiker in your life, not only for the holiday season but for birthdays and other occasions as well. These gifts will aid, inspire, and help your hiker get outside!
We owe a thank you to our family members and friends who have given us awesome gifts that inspired this list, and to anyone who has ever discussed gear with us. All of you made this list possible!
Know what you’re looking for? Click on the link below to skip to that section.
Disclosure: We’ve included affiliate links with recommended hiking gear in this post. If you click through and buy something, we’ll receive a small portion of that sale. You won’t be charged more, and we haven’t been paid by any of these retailers to share their information. These are all our genuine preferences.
Gifts under $25
First aid kit
First and foremost, every hiker needs a first aid kit. This kit has enough supplies for one to two people for one-to-four-day outings.
Want a themed gift? Expand on this idea by providing more of the ten essentials and any of the following items (all under $25):
These emergency shelters are surprisingly cheap, effective, light, and hardly take up space.
We have the blanket style (they come in a sleeping bag style as well) because we like their versatility. They can be used to create shelter, used as a blanket, or ground cover.
We’re carrying three in our emergency kit. Two to be used as blankets and one to be used as an emergency bivvy.
Compass and map
Used to treat blisters
Trail guidebooks
Gift a guidebook for your hiker’s local region, or somewhere they’re keen on visiting. We love Craig Romano’s books on Washington and Hike Oregon’s books for Oregon, and The Disabled Hiker’s Guide to Western Washington and Oregon for more accessible adventures.
Interest-based guidebooks
If your hike has expressed an interest in birding, rock hounding, wildlife, or foraging, there are guidebooks for those, too!
Quick dry towels
Prepare your hiker for a dip in an alpine lake this summer! These towels are small and packable and dry unbelievably fast. One large towel is more than enough to share between us.
Nuun Electrolyte Tablets
Drinking water isn’t enough to prevent dehydration on hard hikes. We keep Nuun in our daypacks and car to use on extra hard hikes and hot days. They come in caffeinated and non-caffeinated tablets (no messy powders!).
Mosquito repellent
We’ve tried just about everything to help Zach fight off mosquitoes and these bug bands help! Wear them around your wrists and/or ankles for a little extra mosquito repellent. They are a one-time use item and smell lightly of citronella. On hikes with more bugs, we use this mosquito repellent made from essential oils — it’s worked just as well as DEET for us.
Hydroflask mug
These are lightweight and perfect for sipping on a hot drink at the summit!
Modish Outdoors
Scratch off bucket list
How cool is this scratch-off list of the 100 greatest hikes in U.S. National Parks!? Now your hiker can keep track of what legendary hikes they’ve done and have yet to tackle.
Subpar Parks
This is the best coffee table book. It’s full of real one-star reviews of U.S. national parks written on beautiful illustrations. It’s as comical as you could hope for.
Real review of Arches National Park
Adventurous novels
If your hiker is also a reader like Meghann, gift Deep Survival: Who Lives, Who Dies, and Why for incredible survival stories and lessons or the Edge of the Map: The Mountain Life of Christine Boskoff to hear of an enthralling life of climbing.
Stickers
Stickers are so fun! We especially love local PNW artists like Wild Child Brand, Embark Design Co., and Hydrascapes when they’re wrapped around water bottles.
Embark Design Co ferry sticker
Wild Child Brand’s “Life’s Killer in the Pacific Northwest sticker”
Buffs
Buffs are useful in extreme weather. We wear them around our necks and faces when we snowshoe and love that it’s a layer that helps you adjust your temperature quickly. They’re also great to have in the desert to keep from breathing in dust.
Wearing buffs on Mount St. Helens
Sunhats
We love wearing sunhats versus worrying about applying sunscreen often. This women’s sunhat is the only one we’ve found that can be worn with a ponytail and we suggest this sunhat for the guys.
Winter hats
Winter hats like these live in our hiking bags for most of the year (summits can be cold year-round!). For going out, Meghann loves this ponytail beanie.
Headbands
When it’s too hot for a hat, but too cold without one, headbands are the answer. Meghann loves stretchy and soft ones like these.
Candles
We’re not suggesting you buy any regular candles for your outdoorsy loved ones. We have specific suggestions! Gift these candles shaped like mountains, candles that smell like your favorite national parks, or the Cabin Fever candle from local PNW maker Anchored Northwest.
CaiCai Handmade candle
Gifts under $50
State Park Pass
Give the gift of exploring state parks! The Discover Pass covers all state parks in Washington while this pass covers 25 state parks in Oregon.
Sno Park Pass
Many areas require a sno park pass to recreate (sled, snowshoe, XC ski, or snowmobile) in the winter months. Purchase a day or seasonal pass for Washington’s snow parks here and Oregon’s here.
Northwest Forest Pass
Northwest Forest Passes are required to park and recreate on national forest land in Oregon and Washington. It’s $30 for an annual pass (and here’s a list of the locations it covers).
Note: the America the Beautiful Pass (the annual national park pass) covers national forest land as well, so if your hiker has that, they do not need this pass as well. If you’re interested in purchasing it for $80, we’ve got it linked below.
National Park passport book
Did you know that you can get a stamp at nearly every one of the U.S.’s national parks? This passport book provides a place to collect them all, but it also shows you the lesser-known historical sites to add to your list and stamp collection. It makes for a great road trip companion!
Topography trail maps by Paper Cairns
These topography maps are made by a local artist featuring popular trails, like Colchuck Lake and the Highline Trail. The Mt. Baker and Mt. Rainier maps feature every trail to the summit — the perfect gift for the mountaineers in your life!
Note that these maps are made for illustrative use only, not navigation.
Close up on the map of trails to the summit of Mount Baker
Headlamp
Light is one of the ten essentials everyone should hike with. Headlamps are fantastic for hiking because they keep your hands free. We use them for every sunrise, sunset, and cave hike.
Trekking poles
If your hiker has complained about knee pain, swollen hands while hiking, or needs help feeling stable, get them trekking poles! They’ll help with all the above.
When not in use, trekking poles can be collapsed and lashed onto the outside of your bag.
Thermos
We all know and love a good thermos for hot drinks, but have you seen this larger thermos for soups and warm meals? It comes with containers that fit inside so the thermos never gets dirty, and you don’t have to slop food around to fill bowls while you’re out. Getting back to your car to enjoy a hot meal after snowshoeing or spending time on the slopes is so nice!
Insulated food jar
If you know your hiker would rather have a hot meal on a hike rather than back at the car, get them the Hydro Flask Insulated Food Jar. It’s “life-changingly pleasant” according to Treeline Reviews.
Sun shirts
We didn’t realize how much we’d love long sun shirts. They’re lightweight long sleeve shirts that protect you from the sun. Wearing one is so much better than lathering up in sunscreen! We love that they keep your arms free from dust and they’re perfect for hiking in every season. Check these ones from Columbia out (men’s/women’s).
REI Membership
If your hiker isn’t already an REI member, this is a great gift. Lifetime membership is a one-time $30 fee. With it, they’ll earn dividends on purchases, get coupons, and can return eligible unsatisfactory items to the store within a year of purchase.
Smartphone tripod
Zach always carries this credit card-sized tripod in his wallet. To use it, all you need is a flat surface to put it on. We love to use it with our phones set to timelapse mode (example below), capturing the view while we eat snacks at the top of a hike. Plus, it adjusts to fit all phone sizes!
Z Seat
These seats are handy for those who want some cushion as they rest on hikes. They’re lightweight and small, so they’d fit in any daypack. Double their use by bringing them along to view games where you’ll be sitting on hard bleachers.
Ankle gaiters
These ankle-high gaiters keep pine needles, dust, and dry material, out of your shoes and socks. They’re a must for Meghann!
Waterproof gaiters
If your hiker is traversing wet, snowy trails or mountains, give these gaiters instead of the ankle-high ones mentioned above. These (men’s/women’s) ones are taller, protecting more of your leg, and waterproof.
Bear spray
Gift peace of mind with bear spray. We love that this one comes with a strap that fits on our hip belts so it’s easily accessible.
Bear spray on Meghann’s hip belt
Goodr Sunglasses
We’ve heard so many people rave about these sunglasses. We’re told they fit perfectly and even stay on if you’re trail running.
Rechargeable hand warmers
This is the perfect gift for someone who is always cold! Unlike other brands, these heat up on both sides of the warmer, last up to 18 hours and have four heat settings.
Gifts under $100
America the Beautiful Pass
For $80, you can give the gift of accessing America’s national parks for a year. This pass covers parking at some historical sites and national monuments as well. Living in Washington, this is the parking pass we use most often.
Note: This pass also covers parking fees for national forest land in Washington and Oregon.
Day pack (men’s/women’s)
We’ve been using these hiking day packs for years, and they still look like new. We love them so much that we gifted one to Zach’s parents. They told us it’s so comfortable it doesn’t feel like you’re wearing a backpack at all.
Katoola Microspikes
These attach to hiking boots so you can walk safely on compact snow and ice, extending where and when you can hike. When ordering them, check your hiker’s boot size to know what size to get — boots tend to run larger than street shoes.
Often times we choose to wear microspikes over snowshoes.
Versatile blanket
We take our Coalatree puffy kachula adventure blanket everywhere! It goes with us camping, stargazing, and anywhere we think we might need a blanket, pillow, or warm poncho.
It’s made of recycled materials, is water and rip-resistant, and the entire blanket can be packed into a pocket to form a pillow. Pull it out of that pocket and you’ve got a blanket with an optional hood hidden in another pocket.
The puffy kachula blanket in action
HydraPak hydration bladder
We love these water bladders! They fit inside most hiking day packs and allow you to sip water without having to pause to find your water bottle. The HydraPak brand has the best design of all we’ve tried since the material is so resilient and they can be flipped inside out for cleaning.
Rain jacket
A raincoat is one of the very first things we advise hikers new to the Pacific Northwest to invest in. They double as windbreakers (which is very useful on summits), and, of course, help keep you dry.
We love these raincoats (men’s/women’s) because they have vents in the armpits. This helps moderate your temperature, so you don’t become a walking sweatbox.
Want to add to this gift? Gift this two-step laundry detergent called Nikwax. Ordinary laundry detergent ruins technical gear like raincoats, so make sure your hiker knows how to take care of their new gear!
Mid-layers
Moderating your temperature while hiking is all about layers. Since you’ll be heating up whenever you’re hiking and cooling down quickly whenever you stop for a break, you want layers that are easy to take on and off.
We love fleece mid-layers like these (men’s/women’s) because they can be worn on their own, or underneath a raincoat for added insulation.
Gifts over $100
Garmin inReach Mini 2
Keep your hiker safe with a personal locator beacon. It gives you the ability to set waypoints, text others when there isn’t cell service, and use the S.O.S button in emergencies.
There is a $14.95 monthly subscription fee.
Monocular
This is the perfect gift for the wildlife lover in your group. We love that monoculars are smaller, lighter, and more compact than binoculars — perfect for hiking with or storing in the car. The reviews for this model say it can be hard to adjust, but we’ve never had that problem.
Bathroom kit
This gift is as humorous as useful. Gift a trowel for digging cat holes, a kula cloth for wiping, a pee funnel to help women/trans/non-binary folk to pee standing up, and a portable bidet for a complete “going on the go” package. Add a wag bag for areas where cat holes aren’t allowed.
Hammock
We love our Eno hammock. It’s lightweight and portable so it’s easy to take hiking, and it doesn’t take long to get the hang of setting it up. It doesn’t come with straps to hang it with, so be sure to purchase those separately.
Backpacking stove
Gift a jet boil to give your hiker with the ability to boil water and cook anywhere. It’s a must-have item for backpackers, but a luxury for hikers (everyone loves hot drinks on a cold summit). Complete the package by adding propane fuel, and if they’re a coffee fiend, the French press accessory as well.
Snowshoes
Extend your hiker’s hiking season by gifting snowshoes! MSR Lightning Explore Snowshoes (men’s/women’s) are the very best. Here’s why:
They’re lightweight.
They’re quieter than snowshoes made of harder plastic.
They have crampons around the edges that grip the snow and keep you from sliding down hills — snowshoes with round poles for frames won’t do this.
They’ve got heel risers which help walking up steep hills.
When purchasing, know that snowshoe size is determined by weight (including pack weight).
Packable puffy coat (men’s/women’s)
We love how portable these warm coats are. The entire coat can be stuffed into one pocket, so they’re easy to take anywhere. During winter, we bring them on every hike.
Bonus: Grab them a fun repair patch. They come in all shapes and sizes like this heart and flannel patch. If they ever snag and rip their coat, they can use one of these to repair it.
Extra bonus: Gift them Nikwax Down Wash to launder their puffy properly.
Base layers
Base layers are worn when you’re going to be outside in extra cold weather. We wear ours when hiking in freezing temperatures, but also when we go sledding, skiing, and most other winter activities. Check these Smartwool bottoms (men’s/women’s) and tops (men’s/women’s) out.
Gravity filter
If your hiker is looking to do long (8+ mile days) or get into backpacking, they’ll need a water filter. We love this gravity filter by Platypus because it’s effortless and it’s very simple to clean. Pickup the Katadyn BeFree Filter if you’re looking for something more affordable and lightweight.
Chacos
These are the best hiking sandals. They’re perfect for swimming, crossing rivers, and wearing in warm weather. We love the classic fit best (men’s/women’s).
National Park Tracker
This wooden map featuring the U.S. National Parks is beautiful. Track which parks you’ve been to by marking them off with little trees. Plus, we love that you can add a custom quote in place of the “National Parks” text.
Car emergency kit
Getting to the hike can be just as much of an adventure as the hike itself. That’s why we have an extensive car emergency kit in each of our vehicles. We like this one because it comes with an air compressor, meaning if your hiker gets a flat with a slow leak, they’ll be able to get themselves from a trailhead to an area with cell service on their own.
GoPro Camera
We love having a GoPro! It’s so easy to capture adventures — just strap it on and go. Grab the GoPro HERO 12 and 50-piece accessory kit for the most bang for your buck.
Garmin Epix Gen 2 Smartwatch
This is one of the more expensive items on this list. We’re ogling it because it has GPS and elevation tracking. Plus, there are downloadable maps available to purchase, like this one of the Pacific Northwest.
Inflatable paddleboard
Paddleboarding is the perfect way to enjoy some lake time. We love the Isle Explorer because it can hold up to 300 pounds, but it only weighs 24 pounds. Plus, it has features that aren’t seen on other boards, including a handle in the middle of the board and a spot to secure your paddle for easier transport.
Oru Kayak
Oru kayaks are one of the most portable kayaks on the market. We love that they’re quick and easy to put together. Grab the Lake kayak for their lightest model (17 pounds) that can be assembled in just one minute.
Subscription gifts
Downloadable maps
Hiking with a map is part of the ten essentials, and it’s easiest with a downloadable map. The Gaia GPS subscription is the best option out there. Their maps are surveyed by professionals, and users say they’re more accurate and extensive than the Alltrails subscription.
Rock climbing gym
If your hiker also has an interest in climbing, set them up at a climbing gym. In Washington, Edgeworks is the most common climbing gym and you can choose between gifting lessons, punch cards, and memberships.
Magazine
Gift the Backcountry Magazine to give a monthly dose of inspiration, safety skills, and latest gear reviews.
Best gift cards
Gas
We spend so much in gas getting to and from trailheads. Sure, hiking is a “free” hobby, but it takes fuel! Gift cards for gas are always appreciated.
REI
REI is the outdoorsman’s toy store. We can say from experience, that there is ALWAYS something that will catch your eye there!
Sierra Trading Post
Sierra Trading Post is an off-price retailer, meaning that you can find some of the same gear at REI and other full-price stores, for much lower prices. Give a Sierra gift card to the thrifty hikers in your life.
Experiences
The memory of an experience will outlast most physical gifts. Below, are activity suggestions, with specific tour guide recommendations for the Pacific Northwest. We’ve organized them by seasonal availability.
Winter/year-round experiences
Guided ice climbing
Good for beginners to very advanced climbers, gift a guided ice climbing tour to your most adventurous loved ones. Ice climbing season is between December and March, so you’ll need to be proactive in planning this one.
Snowmobile tour
Experience the best of winter landscapes via snowmobile! Choose a tour in Leavenworth, WA or Bend, OR to spend time in the best snowy towns of the Pacific Northwest.
Snowshoe
In Washington, reserve a guided snowshoe tour in the cascades with REI, White Pass, with rangers, or the Mount St. Helens Institute. It’s also possible to get a snowshoe tour at Mount Rainier and Hurricane Ridge, although these are first come, first served.
In Oregon you can reserve guided snowshoe tours in Bend, at Mt. Bachelor, Mt. Hood, and Crater Lake with a private tour or with a ranger.
Wildlife sanctuary
These wildlife sanctuaries care for neglected or hurt animals. Making reservations in advance is required.
In Washington you can hang out with and pet wolves, or tour Wild Felids Advocacy Center to see wild cats. We had the chance to go on a “dinner time visit” at Wild Felids Advocacy Center and loved it. The volunteers said it’s the best tour to see the animals up close and active.
In Oregon check out the White Wolf Sanctuary and the Cascade Raptors Center for tours.
Indoor activities
We love checking out museums, new restaurants, comedy shows, and concerts during the winter. It’s the perfect way to use a stormy day that’s unfit for outdoor activities.
Our recent favorites have been the Van Gogh Experience, and The Infinite 3D Space Exploration Experience.
Indoor sky diving
This is the perfect way to see if you’d like sky diving without committing to sky diving. We flew at iFly’s Tukwila location and thought it was thrilling, but not scary. We’d jump at the chance to experience this again!
Scenic gondola ride
The gondola at Crystal Mountain near Mount Rainier nearly runs year-round. You can purchase tickets for a scenic ride between December and April, and again between May and September.
Bonus: pair it with a meal at the Summit House while you’re there.
Helicopter ride
Take an excursion with Atomic Helicopters and choose between flights featuring Seattle’s famous landmarks or a route that goes into the mountains. If you’re in Oregon, check out Envi Adventures for routes featuring Portland, Mount St. Helens, and the Columbia River Gorge.
Spa day
Every adventurer could use a great spa day! Zach was skeptical until we tried the Scandinave Spa in Whistler, but it quickly converted him.
If you’re in Washington, try the women’s only Olympus Spa in Tacoma or Lynwood, or the Elia Spa in Seattle.
In Oregon, book the Overleaf Spa in Yachats, the Sasse Wellness & Medspa or Knot Springs in Portland.
Wine/cider/brewery tour
We’re spoiled in the Pacific Northwest! Take your pick — go wine tasting in Woodinville, WA, or on a brewery and cider tour at the Columbia River Gorge.
Rent a camper van
Treat your hiker to van life! Rent from Campervan or Indie Campers and follow our road trip suggestions on the blog! If you’ll be traveling during the holiday season, we’d recommend touring the Oregon coast, Olympic National Park, or Sedona, AZ.
Glamping
If you’re not ready to commit to van life or camping, try glamping. It’s like camping, but you sleep in a structure set up for you instead of a tent. We love Cedar Bloom at Cave Junction, OR, and the Lorena Butte Lookout Tower in Klickitat, WA. Book a stay or give a giftcard!
REI Events and classes
Help your hiker get outside or learn a new skill. REI has events for all kinds of interests, like hiking, backpacking, watersports and more as well as classes to help with navigation and first aid.
Spring to fall experiences
White water rafting
We can speak from personal experience when we say gifting a white-water rafting tour is so fun. We did this for Meghann’s parents once, letting them choose the river, and therefore the difficulty, and date before booking a tour for the four of us. We used Wildwater River Guides on the White Salmon River in Washington and had a blast.
If you’re in Oregon, we recommend using Orange Torpedo Trips. We rafted Hellgate Canyon on the Rogue River for a calmer, scenic tour when we were visiting Crater Lake.
Rafting is usually done between April and September, so the gratification of this gift may be delayed but it’s worth it!
Bioluminescent kayak tour
This is another activity that takes place between spring and fall but it’s worth the wait. Bioluminescent are living organisms, like fireflies, that emit light. Although tours don’t guarantee that you’ll see bioluminescent activity in the water, they choose dates around the new moon to give you the best odds.
In Washington, there are bioluminescent kayak tours all over the Puget Sound. Check out this blog for more information and tour providers.
Guided canyoneering
This guided canyoneering tour in the North Cascades looks thrilling. On this full-day tour, you’ll get to repel under waterfalls, hike, scramble, wade, and swim under the watchful eye of a professional guide.
This tour is only available between July and September, and it books out in advance!
Adventure course
What is an adventure course? Essentially, it’s an obstacle course that’s usually two stories above ground or higher. They’re generally open from May to September, and although they have age limits, they’re great for kids and adults.
We loved Crystal Mountain’s new Flying Raven Adventure Course and have been wanting to try out Skamania Lodge’s Aerial Park as well.
The Flying Raven Adventure Course
Whale watching
Go whale watching in the San Juan Islands or the Oregon coast at Depoe Bay between March and September.
Overlanding
Overlanding is like hiking because it’s all about the journey and reaching remote destinations but by vehicle rather than foot. Try your hand at it with ATV tours in Washington and Oregon.
Skydive
Check off the ultimate bucket list item with Skydive Kapowsin in Washington or PNW Skydiving in Portland.
Zipline
We love ziplining! It’s exciting, but not scary once you get going. It’s the perfect gift for someone wanting a thrill, but nothing too crazy. Try the Leavenworth Ziplines in Washington or the High Life Adventures course in Warrenton, Oregon.
Hot air balloon ride
Take a ride with Snohomish Balloon Ride for beautiful views of the Puget Sound or Big Sky Balloon Co for views of the incredible Smith Rock State Park near Bend, OR.
Camping/backpacking
If you like hiking, you’ll likely love camping, and if you enjoy both, you’ll love backpacking! Rent gear from REI or Back40 Outfitters in Seattle to give either a try.
More gift ideas
Check out our holiday gift list for backpackers here.
Search the blog for more adventures! Try searching for topics such as “waterfalls”, “road trip”, or “Mount Rainier”.
