5 Perfect Gifts for Hikers, According to Backpacker’s Editors
This article originally appeared on Backpacker
Shopping for an already geared-up backpacker is challenging, to say the least. To help you, we rallied our editors and asked them what they would buy for the hiker who has everything. From $8 to $300, here are their picks.
Dr. Meter Fish Scale ($8.69)
My favorite passive-aggressive backpacking gift, by far, is a hanging fish scale. How many times have you divvied up food, shelter, and bear canisters based on the casual bicep curl of your fellow hiker? With a fish scale--designed for anglers, but ideal for weighing backpacks at the trailhead--you'll know exactly who's carrying the lion's share. It's also a great tool to keep in your glove compartment: While it's not quite as exact as weighing out each item on a gram scale individually, as ultralighters are wont to do (it measures in 5-10 gram increments), there's nothing easier than throwing your pack on a hook before you set off down the trail. And at less than $10, this budget model from Dr. Meter is hardly an investment. --Benjamin Tepler, Senior Gear Editor
Kate's Real Food Snack and Share Variety Pack ($31)
What do you get the backpacker who really does have everything? Take it from someone whose gear loft is one solid shopping spree from collapsing: Gift them something that they won't have to find storage space for. Think of Kate's Real Food as an elevated version of your childhood granola bar: They're packed with a laundry list of nutritious whole-food ingredients like organic oats, honey, dried fruit, and peanut butter. Plus, they just taste good. While I haven't yet found a flavor I don't like, my favorite is the Dark Chocolate Cherry and Almond. But don't take my word for it: Grab this variety pack and let your giftee decide. --Adam Roy, Executive Editor
Stowaway Gourmet 3-Day Emergency Meal Supply ($135)
Prepare to rock the world (and tastebuds) of the Knorr Rice-Sides, Velveeta-loving backpacker in your life. I'll never stop singing the praises of Stowaway Gourmet when it comes to backpacking meals. Each freeze-dried creation in their line is packed with flavor often lacking in rehydrated meals, and the textures are just right. This 3-day supply is intended for emergency preparation, but it's as good a sampler of their best offerings for a hungry hiker. You can also ppick and choose individual meals based on your giftee's preferences (I recommend the Berry Yogurt Parfait and the Wild Boar Bacon Bean Stew). If your loved one tends to cheap out on camping food, these hearty meals will be a treat, and they'll think of you fondly around the campfire once the spring comes around. --Zoe Gates, Senior Editor
MSR Freelite 1P Tent (on sale for $294)
Shopping for a big gift? Over the course of a week in the mountains this summer, the Freelite 1P worked its way to the top of my personal tent pile. At a minimum trail weight of 1 lb, 10 oz., the Freelite is a truly light and packable tent, but still has a decent 39 inches of headroom. Its semi-freestanding design--one hubbed pole keeps it standing, but you'll have to guy out the corners--went up in minutes, which I appreciated during a rainstorm that slowly turned to graupel at Colorado's Caribou Lake. The 15 denier ripstop nylon floor has held up better than I expected--after being pitched on everything from grass to soggy underbrush, I haven't noticed a nick. Best of all, it's on sale for 30% off at time of writing. --A.R.
Darn Tough Women’s Critter Club Micro Crew Lightweight Hiking Sock ($24)
Gone are the days where I'd roll my eyes and fake a smile upon receiving socks as a gift. Nowadays, I actively ask for them, specifically Darn Tough's line of Critter Club crew socks. Chances are, hikers with quirky senses of style have them on their wish lists, too. These socks have it all (with designs that include a raccoon eating jelly toast, a fox wandering through a garden, and an own enjoying a mug of late-night hot cocoa). The itch-free merino wool socks provide miles and miles of blister-free support with their reinforced footbed and Achilles cushion. After receiving them as a gift last Christmas, I've donned these Darn Toughs on most dayhikes this year. Although they haven't shown their wear at all, I wouldn't turn down another pair over the holidays, and I'm sure the hikers in your life wouldn't either. -- Emma Veidt, Assistant Editor
For exclusive access to all of our fitness, gear, adventure, and travel stories, plus discounts on trips, events, and gear, sign up for Outside+ today.
