30 Best Gifts for Adventurers Who Go Off the Map

The one gadget we would hand any adventurer who goes beyond cell range. It sends real two-way texts by satellite, so they can tell home they are running late instead of triggering a panic, and the SOS button connects to a 24/7 response center if things go badly. Note that it needs an active Garmin subscription, which you could cover for the first few months as part of the gift.

Phones die, GPS loses signal, and a compass keeps working. The Suunto A-10 is the simple Finnish baseplate model that navigation courses teach with, so it is a smart pairing with a map class or a printed topo of their favorite range.

Most people carry a sad bag of bandages. This kit is built for two people over two days in the backcountry, with a trauma pad and elastic wrap for the injuries that actually end trips, all in clearly labeled pockets that are easy to find under stress.

A reflective bivvy that lives in the bottom of a daypack and only comes out if a day hike turns into an unplanned night. It weighs next to nothing and has a whistle clipped to it, which is exactly the sort of backup an adventurer rarely buys on their own.

For basecamps, cabins and road trips into storm country, this radio pulls NOAA forecasts with no cell service and recharges by crank or sun. It also charges a phone in a pinch and doubles as a flashlight.

Lighting a fire with a ferro rod is satisfying until the tinder is damp. This kit aims the sparks straight onto a waterproof wick, so it is a fun skill-builder for bushcraft fans and a dependable backup for anyone who camps in wet country.

Our pick for adventurers who travel abroad as much as they hike. Press the GeoPress down for about eight seconds and the water is safe, including from viruses that most hiking filters do not stop. It turns a sketchy hostel tap or glacial stream into drinking water without boiling or tablets.

If they hike long trails in North America, this is the filter they probably want. The Sawyer Squeeze is the thru-hiker favorite, and the wide-mouth Cnoc bladder fixes the one complaint about Sawyer bags by filling fast from shallow creeks.

A five-pack means the adventurer in your life can stash one in every pack, the car and the emergency kit. It is also a nice gift for an adventurous family, since each kid can carry their own.

Hot coffee at sunrise on a summit is a big part of why people go. The Jetboil Flash boils water in a couple of minutes, and the new push-free igniter means no more fumbling with a lighter in the wind.

Ultralight-minded adventurers count grams, and this titanium pot doubles as cook pot, mug and bowl for a solo trip. It goes straight onto a stove or the edge of a fire, and the spork rides inside.

Not every adventure is a backpacking trip. For road trips, day hikes and long airport connections, a 32-ounce Hydro Flask with a leakproof straw lid keeps water cold all day and handles being tossed in a pack.

Adventurers always end up finishing in the dark. This two-pack of rechargeable headlamps has red light for camp and a motion sensor so they can switch modes with a wave while their hands are full of tent poles.

The Wave Plus is the multitool many outdoors people have carried for decades. Pliers, a saw, scissors and locking blades handle gear repairs, fishing line and campsite chores, and the 25-year warranty means it should outlast most of the trips.

For the adventurer who likes to hang out at the end of a long day, this 9-foot hammock with straps sets up between two trees in a few minutes and packs down small enough to bring everywhere.

A sleeping pad with a built-in foot pump is a small luxury after a long climb to camp. Four inches of air and an attached pillow make a rocky tent site feel a lot more forgiving.

Long descents are hard on knees, and carbon poles at under eight ounces each take real strain off them. Cork grips stay comfortable in sweaty hands and the flip locks are easy to adjust with gloves.

This 4-ounce daypack folds into its own pocket, so it rides along in a suitcase or big pack and comes out for summit pushes, market runs and city wandering at the destination.

Wet, cold feet ruin adventures faster than almost anything. Merino socks stay warm when damp and do not smell after a few days on the trail, and three pairs is enough for a whole trip.

Glare off snow, water and high-altitude rock is brutal. These 24-gram polarized sunglasses stay put while scrambling or cycling, and at this price no one cries if they get scratched on a boulder.

The GoPro LIT Hero is the simplest way to film the trip. It shoots stabilized 4K, dives to 16 feet without a case, and the built-in light helps with caves, night swims and early starts.

Phones now do navigation, photos and emergency texts, so a dead battery is a real problem. This 50,000mAh bank with a solar panel and built-in cables keeps several devices running across a long weekend off grid.

For adventurers who love wildlife, scouting a route or just sitting on a ridge looking around, the Vortex Triumph HD gives clear, bright views and is covered by Vortex’s no-questions-asked warranty.

A packraft opens up lakes and rivers that a hike alone cannot reach. This one has a stiff drop-stitch floor for stability and folds into a pack, so a summit day can end with a paddle back across the water.

Anyone who paddles, rafts or takes boat rides on trips needs somewhere dry for their phone and layers. This 10L roll-top bag has a shoulder strap and comes with a waterproof phone pouch.

For the adventurer who climbs, a chalk bag with real zip pockets holds a phone, tape and keys at the crag or the gym. It is an inexpensive add-on to pair with a guidebook to their local area.

There is something deeply satisfying about scratching off a country after getting home. This large map shows US and Canadian states too, and it makes a lovely gift for the adventurer who has been everywhere but has nothing on the wall to show for it.

Adventurers collect stories, and a sturdy leather-look journal is where they belong. The thick pages handle sketches, pressed flowers and taped-in tickets, and the A5 size slips into a daypack.

Lonely Planet covers every country in the world here with a short profile, photography and tips. It is a great coffee-table book for the restless friend who is always planning the next trip.

For adventurers whose trips start with a long drive, this 2027 National Geographic atlas still works when the phone shows no service at the trailhead. The Adventure Edition puts the focus on outdoor destinations.