Outdoor Gift Guide Holiday 2025
With the yearly gift-giving season fast approaching, now’s a great time to start thinking about what your special people may want. If you’ve got a hiker mixed into the bunch, then our gear team is here to help!
However, giving gifts to outdoor adventurers can be tricky. What brands are reliable? Is durability more important than weight? And what the heck do hikers even need out there in the great outdoors? Sorting through this tangle of questions can be daunting at best; Or, at worst, can result in unused gifts.
To help you wade through all the options out there, we’re compiling our top recommendations in one place to make gift and gear shopping as painless as possible this season! Remember, hiking is our profession, and our suggestions are based on countless hours of field testing through a range of environments, including the misty Pacific Northwest, the Southwest deserts, and the chilly Rocky Mountains. We know what works in the backcountry and, more importantly, what doesn’t work. So, leave it to us to filter out the gimmicks and flashy duds, and we’ll leave you with a list of gift options that are sure to be loved!
Below, we’ll cover a few classic hiking profiles from ultralight to beginner to avid backpacker, and so on. Therefore, the best way to use this guide is to find the profile that best fits your gift recipient and see what we suggest. Let’s start with the beginner backpacker, since they may be in the most need of gear this holiday season.
Also note that our complete Gear Guide includes detailed roundups for each product category: “Best Hiking Boots of 2025,” for example. Therefore, if you’d like more gift suggestions for a particular category, our gear guide will be an excellent resource.
For the New Hiker
Often, those most in need of outdoor or hiking-focused gifts are the folks who are just beginning to dip a toe into the sport. They haven’t yet built a to-go kit as they experiment with different types of gear and still lack plenty of essential gear for hiking and backpacking.
While there are plenty of items they need, we don’t want to shower new hikers with all the most expensive top-tier gear. Remember, they’re just starting out, and there are so many adventure lanes they can merge into as they build their confidence, and each lane has its own specialty type of gear. Therefore, we’ll focus on far-reaching gifts that can be useful for almost any type of adventure while keeping an eye on budget. We don’t want to break the bank here in case your recipient discovers they prefer ultralight hiking and doesn’t want heavier gear, or decides that they prefer day hiking and doesn’t go backpacking as often as they thought.
Rain Layer – REI Co-Op Rainier
This accessible and budget-friendly rain jacket from REI is solid in almost every category. It’s effective, reasonably lightweight, reliable, and fits well without feeling too baggy. Additionally, REI has a very robust return system if your gift recipient decides it’s not for them. This jacket is our go-to rain layer for hiking and day-to-day activities in the damp Pacific Northwest.
For more ideas, review our Rain Jackets Guide
Warm Layer – Patagonia R1 Fleece
A reliable warm layer is a must-have for any hiker. Whether it gets chilly during a day hike or you need a sleep layer for camping in the backcountry, having a cozy layer is essential for almost any type of hiking. Generally, synthetic fleece is the best option here. It’s durable, warm, and can still keep you warm even if it gets wet.
In this category, Patagonia’s R1 fleece has a proven track record for quality, durability, and warmth. We’ve been rocking an R1 fleece on adventures from skiing in the Pacific Northwest to backpacking in Romania, and it’s still going strong!
For more ideas, check out our Mid Layers Guide
Boots – Oboz Bridger
Oboz has a proven track record of reliable support and quality construction, along with a large catalog of footwear options. Out of this catalog, the Bridger has been one of Oboz’s flagship offerings for years, and it’s no surprise why. These boots offer reliable waterproofing and durability, perfect for years of miles and adventures. Our gear guide manager at Wildland has been rocking the one pair of Oboz Bridgers for backpacking and search and rescue for years, and they’re still going strong!
For more ideas, review our Hiking Boots Guide
Backpack – Deuter Aircontact 60-liter
When we’re thinking of a starter backpacking pack, the Deuter Aircontact leaps to the front of the line. This pack is extremely comfortable and adjustable, making it an easy fit for just about anyone. What’s more, the Aircontact is about as indestructible as a pack can get and clocks in at about $100 cheaper than other premium and more lightweight options. We’ve been utilizing the Aircontact as our go-to pack for our guests at Wildland for years, and its performance and reliability is truly outstanding.
For more ideas, check out our Backpacking Backpacks Guide
Tent – North Face Stormbreak
The Stormbreak is a workhorse of a backpacking tent. Not the lightest one out there, but it’s reliable and an outstanding entry-level option for a hiker just breaking into the sport. Our Gear Guide Manager started his guiding career leading volcano trips in Nicaragua in 2018, and the Stormbreak, even then, was an endlessly reliable option that stood up to abrasive volcanic rock and dust extremely well.
For more ideas, check out our Backpacking Tents Guide
Headlight – Black Diamond Spot 400
Illumination in the backcountry is key. From cooking dinner at camp to reading a book in bed, light is an absolute necessity both for having fun and in case of an emergency. The Black Diamond Spot is our favorite with proven reliability, good weather resistance, and an easy-to-use layout for utilizing the flood, spot, and red light functions.
For more illumination ideas, check out our Headlamps Guide
For the Ultralight Hiker
Maybe you have a buddy or relative who is all about that ultralight (UL) life. That means they head into the backcountry with as little weight on their back as possible. To achieve that, ultralight hikers trim plenty of extra gear from their pack that they may not see as essential. Additionally, they place a high value on hiking gear that’s designed with low weight as the primary consideration.
Most other considerations and categories take second place to weight for this type of hiker. Therefore, let’s focus on some of the lightest gear on the market that still manages to maintain excellent durability.
Trail Runners – Salomon Genesis
For the most part, UL hikers want to move light and fast. This mentality extends to their footwear, and lightweight trail runners are a very popular option instead of heavy boots. The Salomon Genesis is a lightweight yet technical trail runner that provides excellent support and traction for countless miles in the backcountry.
For more ideas, take a look at our Hiking Shoe Guide
UL Tent – Gossamer Gear The One
If your person is all about trimming weight, The One from Gossamer Gear is a fantastically lightweight shelter from a great brand. The nylon construction isn’t as durable as Dyneema, but The One is several hundred dollars less expensive and about the same weight as premium Dyneema UL tents.
For more tent ideas, check out our Backpacking Tent Guide
UL Pack – HyperLite Southwest
Packs get scraped, dropped, and dragged during hard backcountry trips. Therefore, a constant battle for UL hikers is to find a backpack that manages to be lightweight while staying durable enough for the outdoors. The crowd favorite for this category is undoubtedly the HyperLite Mountain Gear Southwest. This is one of the earlier implementations of Dyneema for hiking, and this pack is ridiculously lightweight and bombproof.
For more pack ideas, check out our Backpacking Backpacks Guide
For the Day Hiker
Not everyone needs to sleep in a nylon palace on the dirt to enjoy the outdoors. Some folks are dedicated day hikers, heading out to hit the trail first thing in the morning, working hard to explore a beautiful place, and then heading home for a well-deserved shower.
So, let’s talk about some essential gear for a day on the trail with an eye on coming back to civilization at the end of the hike.
Day Pack – Gregory Nano 22L
Robust and effective, the 22-liter Gregory Nano offers ample space for a day hike’s essentials for a competitive price, and comes with a 3-liter hydration bladder. If your gift recipient prefers more technical day hikes that require more gear, then a larger capacity pack may be needed. But for a classic day hike, this pack hits the mark.
For more pack ideas, review our Daypacks Guide
Lightweight Rain Jacket – Outdoor Research Helium
If there’s significant weather in the forecast, most day hikers will take a rain check and adventure another day. However, the weather can be fickle and unpredictable, especially in the mountains, so any day hiker can benefit from a lightweight and reliable rain jacket to deploy just in case. The Outdoor Research Helium fits this bill perfectly. Lightweight enough to disappear into a pack without weighing you down, but effective enough to keep bad weather at bay until you can get back to the car.
For more ideas, check out our Rain Jackets Guide
Mid Layer – Patagonia Down Sweater
This mid-layer jacket has been a favorite in the outdoor community for years. It’s lightweight (perfect for day hiking), warm, and well-built. A tad expensive, but this is one of Patagonia’s flagship products, and it certainly won’t disappoint on the trail.
For more warm ideas, review our Mid Layers Guide
For the Tech Enthusiast
The techies out there don’t need to leave their gadgets behind when heading into the backcountry. If you’re gift hunting for a hiker who also loves technology, then there are plenty of excellent gift options out there.
So, let’s take a look at satellite beacons and communicators, GPS-enabled watches, and power banks to keep those electronics charged. However, just be aware that high-end tech purchases tend to come with a steep price tag.
GPS Watch – Fēnix 8 Pro or Instinct 3
A GPS-enabled active watch is a fantastic sidekick for tech-focused hikers. Tracking your position, displaying hike metrics, and maintaining training goals are just a few of the functions available with the Garmin Fēnix 8. What’s more, the Fēnix now includes satellite connectivity for emergency communication and texting. This is a top-shelf gift, however, and comes with a very high price tag for all of these features. If you’re looking for a more accessible GPS watch without such high-end features, consider the Garmin Instinct 3.
Satellite Communicator – Garmin InReach Mini 2
From routine check-ins to a true emergency, a reliable satellite communication device is absolutely key for someone often heading into the backcountry. The InReach Mini is compact, connects directly to a smartphone for easy texting, and offers a range of additional features, including route tracking and weather forecasts. Note that the device also requires a subscription for access to Garmin’s InReach satellite network.
Power Bank – BioLite Charge 40 PD
The BioLite Charge power bank is a proven and reliable electronics aid in the backcountry. The 40 PD (10,000 mAh) is a solid, mid-range capacity battery that should fully charge most smartphones from zero at least twice and help keep larger electronics topped off. It doesn’t have solar charging capability (which is handy on longer trips), but charge it up beforehand, and it will serve you well and keep those critical electronics charged.
For more power ideas, check out our Power Banks Guide
For the Avid Backpacker
Luckily, folks who backpack frequently are typically in need of a new “something” to improve their gear or replace an item that’s on its last legs. A successful backpacking trip includes many pieces of gear, both large and small, that come together for a comfortable and safe trip. Here, we’ll cover some of the basics with larger items such as tents, packs, and sleeping bags, along with some smaller necessities, including stoves and headlights.
Backpack – Osprey Atmos 65 AG
A backpacker’s best friend is their pack. The Atmos 65 has routinely ranked very highly for comfort and durability – offering an excellent blend of organization options, comfortable fit, and tough materials. It’s on the pricey side, but the quality and durability make it worth it in the long run.
For more pack ideas, check out our Backpacking Packs Guide
Tent – MSR Hubba Hubba
Ranked as one of the best backpacking tents on the market, the Hubba Hubba has a fantastic weight-to-space ratio, providing ample room to spread out and get comfortable without weighing you down.
Hubba hubba 1-person hubba hubba 2-person
For more shelter ideas, take a look at our Backpacking Tents Guide
Sleeping Bag – Nemo Riff 15
The Riff hits the perfect balance of low-weight comfort while providing ample space to spread out without feeling constricted. High-quality down provides excellent warmth, and the extra room in the shoulders and knees is perfect for side sleepers.
For more ideas, check out our Sleeping Bag Guide
Stove – MSR Pocket Rocket 2
Simple, reliable, and light. These are the top descriptors for the pocket rocket. The stove offers decent flame control for cooking and boils a pot of water reasonably quickly for an open-flame stove. If your gift recipient is the type of hiker who only boils water for dehydrated meals, then consider a JetBoil. But for a good bridge between proper cooking and simply heating water, the pocket rocket gets the job done.
For more burner ideas, take a look at our Backpacking Stoves Guide
Pot – GSI Outdoors Halulite Boiler
With a 1.1-liter capacity, the Halulite Boiler is an ideal size for one or two hikers. Boil water, or whip up a delicious pot of noodles or soup. Additionally, a standard backpacking fuel canister fits perfectly in this pot, plus a lighter, spork, and pocket rocket stove, making it the perfect self-contained unit for backpacking. However, be aware that this pot won’t work well for meals that need a skillet/fry pan.
For more pot and pan ideas, take a look at our Hiking Cookware Page
Footwear – Altra Lone Peak 9
If achy feet and pinched toes are a top hiking gripe from your gift recipient, then the Lone Peak trail runners may be the silver bullet. Altra believes in a natural footbox, meaning the toe area of these shoes is luxuriously wide, giving toes ample room to spread out while crushing those miles. Of course, these shoes may feel too roomy for folks with narrow feet, but they’re sweet relief for those looking for a little extra space in a durable and high-traction shoe that’s ready to take on the outdoors.
For more shoe ideas, take a look at our Low Top Hiking Shoe and Hiking Boot Guides
Trekking Poles – Black Diamond Trail Back
We’ve used the Trail Back Poles in almost every type of terrain imaginable, from the Himalayas to the Andes, and they’re still going strong after eight seasons of heavy use. They’re not the lightest or most compact poles (look to folding poles for those characteristics), but they’re bombproof and collapse down reasonably small for stashing on the outside of a backpack when not in use.
For more trail support ideas, review our Hiking Poles Guide
For the Backcountry Chef
Most backpackers scrape by with dehydrated meals and premade PB&Js in the backcountry. However, there’s the occasional adventurer who absolutely loves preparing fantastic meals in the backcountry. Maybe they’re a guide and love prepping food for their guests, or perhaps they’re a foodie and simply enjoy bringing their culinary skills to the backcountry. If you know someone who fits this description, let’s talk about stoves and cooking systems so you can help kit them out.
Stove – Jetboil Genesis
Be forewarned, it comes with a big price tag, but the Genesis cook system is the perfect gift for someone who loves to cook. The initial purchase comes with two burners, a 5L pot, a fry pan, and an attachable windscreen. However, your gift recipient can fine-tune their setup and run the system with only one burner if they need to, or purchase the JetLink hose and link three or four burners together all at once, creating a true outdoor kitchen!
For more burner ideas, check out our Stoves Guide.
Pot and Pan Set – GSI Outdoors Pinnacle Base Camper
With two pots, a frypan, strainer lids, a cutting board, and a bombproof storage tote that can double as a sink, this pot and pan set has everything an avid backcountry chef needs. It’s the perfect setup for car camping, or just take what you need for backcountry camping.
For more individual pot or pan ideas, check out our Cookware Guide
For the Traveler
Backpack – Six Moon Designs ADC Trail Pack
And last, but certainly not least. If your friend or family member is that wild, adventurous traveling character in your life (we all know one), then a reliable Travel Pack may be just the right gift. Take it from us, it can be a big pain in the rear to fly with all the gear you need and be immediately ready to head into the backcountry on the other side.
The ADC Travel Backpack from Six Moon Designs is just the ticket. Our gear guide manager flew to Romania with this pack, immediately jumped on the Via Transilvanica trail, and spent almost five weeks backpacking with it. This pack is outstanding for big travel days on trains, buses, and planes, and still performs fantastically as a hiking pack for front-country trips.
For more travel luggage ideas, check out our Duffel Guide
