2022 Gift Guide for the Outdoorsy People In Your Life

I have this gift guide broken down into three sections. Less than $50, $50 to $100 and then $100 to $200. Obviously you can spend way more than $200 if you're wanting to get expensive things like skis, snowboards, some boots are upwards of $250 - $300, there are snow shoes that are that much as well. Backpacking backpacks and stuff like that can also cost quite a bit of money, but those are big ticket items that are also very personal to the person receiving them, so if you are thinking of getting your spouse a backpacking backpack you're probably not just going to go out and get them any $250 backpack, you'll likely have discussed the one they want. So stuff like that is not going to end up on this gift guide. These are just things that you can get the everyday outdoorsy person whether it's hiking backpacking related or just outdoorsy in general.

Less than $50:

A Hydro Flask this is something that I love receiving as a gift. It can be personalized with the different colors and mix and match. They have different designs nowadays, you can personalize it with stickers if you want to. You can do a lot with the Hydro Flask and it's always something fun to receive. I know people lose them, I know mine is dented. A Hydro Flask is a foolproof gift that you can get someone in your life.

An actual flask is great for the person in your life who likes to take a little bit to drink on the trail, whether it be snowshoeing you know take some rum snowshoeing or taking a little bit of tequila or something if you're going backpacking, that's always fun. They make flasks that are a little bit more lightweight for backpacking, and you can also get like a personalized flask different designs maybe their initials engraved on it or something like that that's always a fun gift.

Fanny packs are super in right now. They are really really great even if the person in your life is not necessarily super outdoorsy or into hiking. Fanny packs are great just for everyday use and really convenient when you are traveling on the airplane as well. 

Down booties are something that are so luxurious in my opinion and makes such a big difference when you are backpacking in cold weather or even just car camping in cold weather, but something that I never wanted to spend money on for me personally. So receiving them as a gift is so awesome. 

A headlamp is one of those things that can get kind of pricey, $25 to $50 bucks is a pretty average for a headlamp. There's a bunch of different brands and kinds out there, some of my favorites are Black Diamond headlamps. The rechargeable ones are really awesome, then the person you're giving it to doesn't have to deal with the batteries and stuff like that and they really hold a charge for a long time.  

Beanies, socks and gloves are three things that are always super useful for anyone who is into hiking and backpacking. Socks are always something that are getting old, have holes in them, and they always need to be replaced. Buying Smart Wool socks or Darn Tough socks, they're not cheap, so getting something like that as a gift is always, at least for me, super appreciated.

Hiking snacks can really adds up cost-wise. If you need a fun stocking stuffer idea or even putting together like a gift basket for that hiker in your life, getting some hiking foods is super awesome. Whether or not that be hiking snacks, fun drink mixes for electrolytes, or hot chocolate. Just putting together some sort of fun food hiking backpacking food gift basket would be a really great idea. 
(Some of my favorite snacks are: Stroopwaffel, Honey Stinger Energy Chews, Tahoe Trail Bar, Kate’s Real Food bars, Country Archer Beef Jerky)

Maps for me personally are always really fun to receive. I love getting maps for places that I'm going to be going with friends or something like that. Then along those lines is also hiking guide books. There are always new hiking guide books coming out and I highly recommend catering it to the person in your life. If they really like backpacking maybe getting them a backpacking specific book or if they like a certain area. Maybe getting them a book of that certain area or if they like fishing and hiking. Not just buying any guidebook because they might already own it, but catering it a little bit towards their needs and their likes. 

$50 to $100:

Gators are something that are pretty expensive and really useful this time of year. I would say not everyone owns gators, so if the hiker in your life has really gotten into hiking, especially new to hiking in the winter or snowshoeing, maybe get them a pair of gators. 

Getting someone a pocket knife, whether it be just a Swiss Army knife that has a bunch of tools and stuff on it or just a really nice knife. I know that when I go backpacking I do carry a small foldable knife and there are many different levels of price ranges and styles of knives you can find really awesome is made by local artisans or you can you know go to REI and get like a Gerber knife or something like that like that. 

Next I have an item that I would like to receive as a gift. It is a luxury item in my opinion for backpacking and that is a camp chair. It's not something that I'm going to buy for myself just because I find it such a luxury item that I'm not going to spend money on that because I have limited funds. I think it would be a great gift for pretty much any hiker or backpacker in your life. Same goes for a hammock. I know there are various price ranges of hammocks, most fall within that $50 to $100 price range. Hammocks are really great to either just hang in your backyard or you can take it on day hikes and just go hike to a lake and set up your hammock and read a book for a couple hours or take a nap and just be outside and enjoy the outdoors. Some people take them backpacking as well. 

$100 to $200:

The Patagonia fleece quarter zips are so great and they have these in so many different colors. They are so warm and so cozy, perfect for this time of year and an absolute treat and great present to receive. 

Trekking poles, specifically Black Diamond or CNOC Outdoors are both really great brands and make incredible trekking poles. So if someone in your life has had the same $20 Amazon tracking poles for five years and you would like to upgrade their trekking poles or their trekking pole broke last year on South Sister or something like that, I think trekking poles would make a really great present!

Shoes are something that are a little bit more personal of a gift, but if you know that someone has really been wanting a pair of Hokas or or Altras or maybe a specific Keen boot or something like that, you could maybe just get them an REI gift card for the boots so that they can go in and try out the shoe or you can ask them specifically what kind of shoe they've been wanting. I know Hokas are really popular right now, just for everyday use in general not specifically for hiking. 

JetBoil stoves are not only for backpacking. I personally use my camp stove for this time of year when I go day hiking, specifically longer day hikes or snowshoeing excursions. I love having a pot and a stove that can really quickly boil some water so I can either make a hot tea, cider, hot chocolate or coffee in the middle of my day at lunch break and it really warms you up from the inside out. JetBoil stoves boil water super fast and especially in cold weather, I highly recommend those stoves not only for backpacking but for cold weather day hiking as well.