Are you struggling to find gifts for the hikers in your life? Well, look no further than our hiking gift guide. We have an assortment of all the hiking gear that will set your favorite hiker off on the right foot.
With so many options out there how do you know what to find? Is it something new or an upgrade to something they already own? Well, our hiking gift guide best of the list will put you on the right path!
Remember that the best gifts are not always the most expensive. Hiking can be a pricy activity. This hiking gift guide though will provide you with some affordable options for the hiker in your life. Don’t get too worked up over the present though. In honesty, most of us who like to hike aren’t looking for super expensive things anyway.
Looking for a camper in your life? Check out this camping gear for under $50!
1. All-In-One Soap
When hiking lighter is better. The fewer things you have to pack for hiking the lighter you will be, right? So all-in-one soap can be really helpful. No soap isn’t heavy, per se. However, an all-in-one plays multiple roles, and every ounce counts. In this case, the soap will allow you to stay clean outdoors, but you don’t have to pack different soap for every use.
Our suggestion is Dr. Bronner’s soap. This soap comes in at about $15 for 16 ounces. It can perform as a body wash, dish soap, makeshift toothpaste, and much more. It has eighteen different uses in all! And it’s also vegan and non-GMO. I love the fact that Dr. Bronner’s has so many uses which makes it a great deal as a hiking gift.
2. Flashlight
Have you found yourself waking up in the middle of the night to find that you can’t find that one little thing you need out of your pack? What about out on a long trail as the sun starts to set? Wouldn’t having a small lightweight light be just the ticket for finding what you need in your pack without waking up everyone else in your camp?
The next must-have hiking gift guide item I want to recommend is a flashlight. You can find less expensive options like this one from Walmart which is only 27 grams! However, this 10,000-lumen rechargeable light is sure to light the way for your hiker. It also provides a range of options for you.
Check out these great trails in Arizona to shine this light on!
This is one of the easiest pieces of gear that you can find that’s ultra-light which is great for hiking. It is more powerful for night hiking or spending a lot of time doing stuff at night. So if your hiker needs a little backup light with them when the moon just isn’t cutting it, then this is the one.
These two additional options below are similar to the one above but get your hands free. They also come in multi-packs. Therefore, you will have backups in case something happens to you during a trip. Having a handy ultralight flashlight like this handy will make nighttime on the trail that much easier.
3. A Pocket Knife
Remember how we’re looking for items that will serve diverse purposes? Our goal is to not only pack less but also spend less. Well, a pocket knife is another one of those items! It serves a lot of purposes while hiking like preparing food, cutting rope, cutting down hanging vines and other things in your way, etc.
Want to see our go-to list of multi-tools under $25?
The best part is that you can find a good pocket knife for well under your budget. For instance, the Grand Way Tactical Folding Knife is for only $14. This knife also includes some extra features that could come in handy as well such as a fire starter handle and a whistle. Just make sure your hiker knows how to take care of your tool!
4. Sand Stakes
One of the biggest underestimated pieces of must-have hiking gear is your trowel. No matter what you’re using to dig a cat hole this next item is sure to replace it.
Now some people like to use a trekking pole and others, a fancy Spade. However, at just 26 grams you can get one of these bad boys for a couple of bucks. You can pick up a sand stake at pretty much any outdoor outfitter like REI or even on Amazon.
These sand stakes are great and they’ll double up as a spade. You can also use it for one of your tent stakes if your hiker is wrapping up their day in a campsite. So in fact, when replacing a tent stake, you are really only adding the small difference in weight between the two stakes!
So for just a couple of bucks, you will get a stake that fulfills multiple purposes and it’s going to be cheaper than an expensive trowel. Honestly, it will be cheaper than probably buying some ultralight stakes so it’s a win-win-win!
5. Some Cooking Supplies
While some hiking is short, other treks take us through lunch. Therefore, even while hiking you may have a need to cook your food. That is unless you want your hiker to eat cold food all the time. However, packing a bunch of cooking supplies can be a hassle. Not to mention that a lot of camping cooking sets are expensive. Having cooking supplies is a necessity though. So here is an affordable option that is a must-have camping gear under $20 contender.
This OuterEQ Camping Cookware Kit is an even $20 and worth every penny. This kit includes a pot, frying pan, and soup spoon all of which are non-stick. They also have foldable handles that make for compact storage. Now that you have a solid camp cook set, check out all of our camping recipes.
6. Tactical Rope
This next hiking gift guide item I suggest you give your hiker to pack is a durable rope. You can use it to act as a makeshift tent rope, a clothesline, and much more.
Paracord has so many uses. It is probably one of the most versatile items that you can have with you when outdoors. It is so light and easy to carry around that it just makes sense to have some with you when it is time to head into the outdoors.
This Gear Aid utility cord should do the trick and it’s budget-friendly as it only costs about $7. For this amount, you’ll get 50 feet worth of this 325 paracord made out of 100% nylon!
Be prepared for any camping trip with these Top 15 Camping Tips!
7. Tools To Start A Fire
What says hiking like a warm campfire to roast marshmallows at? Nothing! This is exactly why you never forget to pack everything you need to start a fire. Learn how to become an expert at building campfires. This could be whichever type of fire starter you choose, options include things like flint and steel, matches (make sure they’re waterproof), or a cigarette lighter.
Now you may be wondering why this is an important item for a hiker. Well, we can never be too prepared. Having a few fire-starting items tucked away in your day pack may be the difference between life and death when lost overnight.
This is a fantastic way to get your fire going quickly.
Additionally, pack some kindling for the fire as well because you don’t want to leave it to chance and try to find all of it in the woods. Use a waterproof container and pack it with dry tree bark, strips of newspaper, or other types of kindling.
8. Navigational Tools
We’re used to having signs, dedicated roads, and people who know the area to help us get around. So in our day-to-day lives, it’s easy to avoid getting lost and even easier to find our way back if we do. But that’s all a bit different in the wilderness because we’re in an environment that we’re just not used to.
So before you go hiking, make sure to add a map and compass to your gear. These will help you to stay on track, and make your way back to your campsite if you do get a bit turned around. If you can, even bring a charged GPS, as this will be even better! Don’t forget extra batteries or a way to charge on the go for longer hikes!
9. A Shovel
Lots of people don’t think to bring tools such as a shovel along with them. However, this must-have hiking gift guide item could be helpful in a variety of ways. For instance, if you need to even out some ground for your campsite or collect dirt to douse a campfire out with. The most obvious use when hiking is digging a hole to do your business in. Consider this for those who go on longer hikes.
This Rhino USA shovel costs $27 but is worth so much more! It’s a multi-purpose tool that features a sawtooth edge for cutting, it can be rotated 90 degrees to be used as a hoe, and it’s collapsible which makes it easy for storage. Additionally, it also comes with a small pickaxe.
10. A Hammock
Sure you can sleep in your tent or RV and sleeping bags are comfortable, but when you’re camping the primary goal is to be outdoors! You might even want to take a nap or even just relax outdoors. A hammock can provide you with some comfort while you do so, and keep you off the ground.
When you are ready to take your mid-hike break a hammock is a perfect way. Not to mention it is a great way to relax and take in the views around you for a bit. You may not normally consider a hammock as a hiking gift, but trust me it is the best way to enjoy a mid-day break.
The Wise Owl Outfitters camping hammock is a great option that comes in at around $40 and is extremely durable, it can safely take up to 400 pounds of weight. And as an added bonus, It’s made out of nylon and is machine-washable.
11. A Water Flask
Although hydration is key, you can’t be carrying around your 4-gallon container with you all day. If you want to go hiking, exploring, fishing, etc then you’re going to need some water with you to keep you refreshed. So a water flask that you can fill up before leaving the campsite for the day is invaluable and a total must-have.
I suggest this Nomader collapsible water bottle that costs about $37. It’s completely BPA, PVC, BPS, latex, lead, and phthalates free making it a great non-toxic option. It also has a twisting cap that ensures there won’t be any leaks on the road
12. Subscription to Geocaching.com
A user-friendly program manages all of the intricacies and provides you with what you need to go caching for a day. You can find it on your smartphone or online at www.geocaching.com. You know that this game is a fan favorite because it has currently more than a million active geocaches around the world. The app is very intuitive and will help you quickly find and log geocaches. In addition, the company runs many different events throughout the year. In these events, you can earn digital badges for your profile. It is another fun way to engage your children in finding camping treasures.
To begin geocaching go to geocaching.com to create a profile. Then look for geocache coordinates around the region you would like to explore. You will be surprised by how many there are right around your home! You will have to register at their website to begin your hunt, but the good news is it’s FREE!! However, members receive additional benefits so gift a geocaching membership this year. So start today and go out and play!
Learn all about geocaching with our handy guide.
What things do you bring hiking with you that didn’t make our list but should be on our hiking gift guide? We would like to hear about them in the comments, on our Facebook, or on Reddit!
Don’t forget to share on your favorite social media so your friends know what to get you this year on your next hiking adventure!
**All prices shown are at the time of writing and are subject to change.**
