The Best Gifts for Hikers | 2025 Holiday Gift Guide

The coffee drinker in your life deserves a good cuppa, no matter where they start their morning. The AeroPress Go Travel Coffee Press delivers the goods in a compact, easy-to-use design that's small enough to take backpacking. REI Hike editor (and former coffee professional) Ever Meister even packs theirs when staying in hotels to avoid subpar push-button coffee—hence, it's an Editors' Choice Award winner.

Give the chocolate-obsessed hiker on your list the stocking stuffer of their dreams with these caffeinated, protein-rich energy bars by Quantum Energy Squares. Fortified with roughly a coffee cup’s amount of caffeine (100 milligrams) and a muscle-maximizing 10 grams of protein, these handy bars come in delicious flavors sure to fit every trekker’s preference. Bonus: They're gluten-free, GMO-free, and vegetarian and vegan friendly.

Let’s get real: People who hike a lot often need an extra boost to stay hydrated, and that’s where this electrolyte drink mix by Cure Hydration comes in. It turns your pal’s boring water bottle into a delicious fruity drink without added sugar or artificial ingredients, making it that much easier to sip. Each handy packet is just 25 calories and can easily zip into a pocket, so the saunterer on your list never goes without.

Look, a water bottle that will actually fit into those stretchy side pockets of your bestie’s daypack! This dishwasher-safe, 16-ounce Nalgene is made with 50% recycled-waste plastic that’s BPA-, BPS- and phthalate-free, and comes in a variety of funky designs and colors.

This 100% organic-cotton unisex ballcap from Urban Native Era reminds all of us of the original inhabitants of America: myriad Indigenous communities that have stewarded our incredible lands for millennia, and who still play a significant role in preserving some of our most valuable wild and natural spaces. The message is also available on a beanie version, perfect for slopeside activism.

It’s hard to embrace hiking in rainy and snowy weather when you know it could ruin your hair day. Thankfully, Hairbrella has designed this 100% waterproof beanie with a satin lining that safeguards against weather-caused frizz and hat hair. It’s generously sized to comfortably protect curls, locs, braids or brand-new bangs, and offers fantastic protection for the giftee who likes to go outside when the weather’s iffy.

These instant classic sunglasses from goodr are the perfect match for your trail friend who's always looking for functionality and flair. Special grip coating on the temples and silicone nose inserts help keep these stylish sunnies from bouncing when your buddy's cruising their favorite trail. Meanwhile, glare-reducing UV400 polarized lenses keep them safe from harmful UV rays while they've got their eyes on the prize (read: post-hike pancakes).

REI staff just can't get enough of the windproof Nano Puff Jacket from Patagonia: It's almost the unofficial uniform around these parts. "Everyone in our family owns Nano Puff jackets that have lasted us for years," says Phuong Le, Expert Advice managing editor based in wet and chilly Seattle. The giftee on your list will appreciate this jacket's warmth-to-weight ratio, packability and that it keeps you warm even when wet. Outfit the entire family with kids' and toddlers' versions too. Buy kids'. Buy infants'/toddlers'.

Finding a hikeworthy raincoat for under $100 is a tricky feat, which is just one of the reasons we love the Rainier from REI Co-op. Windproof in gusts up to 60mph, this 2.5-layer waterproof jacket’s also got features like heat-dumping armpit zips and a cinchable hood for a customized fit.

Give your favorite always-cold adventurer the comfy base layer of their dreams from Smartwool. This isn’t your grandma’s scratchy, old wool: This top’s made with super-fine, cozy merino wool fibers and chafe-free flatlock seam construction. Want to gift them the matching set? Check out the Classic ultrawarm base layer bottoms here.

Style and performance on or off the beaten path: That's what you get with a pair of durable, lightweight and breathable Trailmade pants from REI Co-op. Not only are they UPF 50+ rated for sun protection and treated with nonfluorinated durable water repellent (DWR), they're also designed to fit almost every body. Like the rest of the Trailmade collection, these hiking pants were made in collaboration with a diverse range of testers and partners to create a line that fits from XS to 3XL. 

A fan favorite among thru-hikers, backpackers and anyone who spends a lot of time on their feet, these Hiker Micro Crew Cushion Socks from Darn Tough are as comfortable as they are durable. They’re beloved for their snug fit and sweat-wicking capabilities, which together help prevent blisters by minimizing dampness and bunching. Darn Toughs also come with a lifetime guarantee, so your loved one can exchange them if they ever bust a seam. 

We’ve run the numbers, and 22 liters might be the perfect size for a daypack: just large enough to hold essentials (think snacks, an extra layer, water and a camera), but compact enough for comfort on longer treks in the wilderness. Your recipient will love the mesh waistbelt, interior pockets and trekking pole attachments on the best-selling Flash 22 from REI Co-op, whether they’re peak bagging in the Rockies or taking the dog for a long afternoon hike.

Waist packs are back, baby. (Don’t call it a fanny pack.) Today’s hiking hip packs are built for the outdoors, like this 1.5-liter number from REI Co-op. Made from recycled ripstop nylon and coated with a durable water repellent (DWR) finish so your pal’s gear stays safe no matter the weather, it also packs down into its own pocket for easy stashing on day hikes from camp.

Whether the outdoorsperson on your gift list is a hardcore mountaineer or a casual day hiker, chances are they’ll need a solid first-aid kit at their disposal, and this affordable, lightweight packet from HART Outdoor is designed for two people on a single-day adventure. The kit includes an on-the-go reference for administering first aid, along with essentials like blister-preventing moleskin, antiseptic towelettes, gauze, bandages, scissors and a variety of over-the-counter medications.

Weighing just 3 ounces, this lifesaving water-filter straw from LifeStraw is easy to stash in a purse or side pocket and filters out microplastics, bacteria and parasites from untreated water sources. Perfect for that BFF who’s always in the woods or jetting around the globe.

You might be thinking, “A pee cloth, are you serious?!” But the sit-to-pee hiker in your life knows the struggle of heeding nature’s call in the wild. This reusable pee cloth by Kula Cloth makes using the “facili-tree” discreet and comfortable while eliminating the need to pack toilet paper in and out.

With the Standard Issue 8 x 25 Waterproof Binoculars from Nocs Provisions, your favorite budding birder will be spotting lifers left and right. These durable, cheerfully colorful binocs offer a bright, clear, edge-to-edge image with an impressive eight-times optical zoom and 357-foot field of view. 

"From December through February, I don't step out my front door without my MICROspikes on," says Meister, the Minnesota-based Hike editor for REI Expert Advice. Frightful weather’s no match for the 12 stainless-steel spikes per foot that dig into slippery ice and snow, and these winter must-haves from Kahtoola are compatible with almost any boot.

Want to help your loved one reach new heights and see new sights? Give them a pair of take-'em-anywhere REI Co-op Traverse Trekking Poles. Trekking poles can add stability to any hike, and they're great for navigating over obstacles or on steeper grades. We never head outdoors without them—and that's why they earned an Editors' Choice Award.

Have an outdoors-loving friend or partner who lights up your life? Show them in the most literal way possible with an Editors' Choice Award–winning Astro 300-R Rechargeable Headlamp from Black Diamond. This multifaceted ‘lamp features three brightness settings across three modes and can last up to 140 hours. Shine on!