28 Best Hiking Gifts for Day Hikers and Trail Lovers

For the hiker who heads out solo or into canyons and backcountry with no signal, this is the peace-of-mind gift. It sends real two-way texts over satellite and has an SOS button tied to a 24/7 rescue center. Their family gets a check-in from the trailhead, and they get to keep doing the hikes they love. Budget for the satellite plan alongside it.

Our top pick for the serious hiker. The Instinct 2 tracks distance, elevation and pace with multi-satellite GPS that holds a fix under tree cover, and TracBack will lead them back along their own route if a trail junction goes wrong. Thirty hours of GPS covers the longest day hike, and up to 28 days in watch mode means they are not charging it every night on a trip.

Every hiker eventually misjudges a sunset. These USB-rechargeable headlamps weigh under two ounces and have a red mode for reading a map without wrecking night vision. The two-pack is handy for hiking couples, or one can live permanently in the daypack and the other in the car.

Plenty of day hikers carry nothing more than a few loose bandages. This waterproof case packs 150 organized supplies into something the size of a paperback, so dealing with a scraped knee or a cut on the trail is quick and tidy. An easy, inexpensive gift that fills a real gap.

A twisted ankle two miles from the car can mean an unplanned night outside. Each of these full-length mylar bivies packs smaller than a fist and traps body heat when it matters. Three in a pack means one for their bag, one for a partner and one for the glovebox.

For anyone hiking in bear or moose country, a steady jingle lets wildlife hear them coming and move off. These brass bells each carry a survival whistle, and a lanyard silences them on crowded trails. A thoughtful small gift for a hiker heading to the Rockies, Alaska or the Smokies.

Pliers to bend a broken trekking pole clip, a blade for cutting cord, tweezers-grade needle nose for a splinter: trail fixes are easier with a proper multitool. This one locks its tools open for safety and rides in a belt sheath or a pack's hip pocket.

Ask thru-hikers what filter they carry and the Sawyer Squeeze comes up again and again. It weighs two ounces, filters to 0.1 micron, and lets them refill from any stream instead of hauling three liters up from the trailhead. It is our mid-price top pick because it changes how far they can comfortably go.

The simplest backup water source a hiker can carry: drop it in a stream and drink. No pumping, batteries or tablets, and it removes virtually all bacteria and parasites. At around $14 it makes a great stocking stuffer for a hiker who does not yet carry any filter.

Hikers who drink from a tube drink more, because they never have to stop and dig out a bottle. This 3-liter bladder slides into most packs with a sleeve and has a wide mouth for ice cubes and easy cleaning, so it does not turn into a science experiment between hikes.

Owala's FreeSip lid lets them sip through a straw on the move or tip it back for big gulps at a rest stop, and the locking cover keeps trail dust off the spout. Thirty-two ounces of ice-cold water in July is a small luxury hikers really appreciate, and it doubles as their everyday bottle.

Many casual hikers are still using a school backpack. The Sportlite is a proper 20-liter hiking daypack with a ventilated back panel, a hip belt that takes weight off the shoulders and stretch pockets for bottles. Enough room for layers, lunch and safety kit, and Osprey repairs or replaces it for life.

Hikers who try poles rarely go back, especially on steep descents where they take real load off the knees. These carbon poles weigh about 7.6 ounces each, have cork grips that mold to the hand, and use flip locks that do not slip. A smart gift for anyone whose knees grumble after a big day.

Our budget top pick, and the one hikers will use the most. Cotton socks are the number one cause of trail blisters, and good merino socks are something people rarely buy enough of for themselves. These cushioned crews wick sweat, resist odor on multi-day trips and come three pairs to a pack.

Hikers who wear trail runners know the pain of a pebble working into the shoe every mile. These low gaiters wrap the laces and ankle to keep out grit, burrs and mud. They weigh almost nothing and fit most trail shoes and low boots.

Winter hiking is beautiful until the trail turns to packed ice. These pull-on cleats put 19 steel spikes under each boot and stay flexible in deep cold, so a hiker can keep doing their favorite loops from December to March instead of waiting for spring.

The difference between a sore heel and a ruined hike is often a square of moleskin applied at the first hot spot. These come pre-cut in four shapes so there is no fumbling with scissors on the trail. Tuck a pack into a bigger gift and they will thank you mid-hike.

Summit coffee and a hot lunch in a couple of minutes: that is the Jetboil pitch, and it delivers. This larger 1.8-liter version boils enough for two to four hikers, lights with a push button and nests the stove and canister inside the pot. A favorite gift for hikers who like to linger at the top.

For the hiker who enjoys a bit of bushcraft, this titanium stove folds flat and burns the twigs and pinecones around them, so there is no gas canister to carry or run out of. It slots together in seconds and holds a pot securely. A fun, ultralight gift with a lot of character.

Trail food has a reputation for tasting like salty cardboard. Good To-Go meals are made by real cooks and just need boiling water, so a hiker can sit down to a proper dinner at camp or a hot lunch on a cold summit. Pair with the Jetboil for a complete trail-kitchen gift.

Twenty different nut and trail mix blends in single-serve packs, sized to slip into a hip belt pocket for a quick boost on a climb. It is an easy add-on gift and a nice change from the same bag of gorp they always grab at the gas station.

Lunch on a cold granite slab or a damp log is better with a dry, insulated seat. This Z-fold foam pad weighs next to nothing and straps flat to the outside of a pack. It is the kind of small comfort experienced hikers carry and beginners discover with delight.

On exposed summer trails, a quick dip in a creek turns this gaiter into instant air conditioning. It cools when wet, blocks UV at UPF 50, and also works as a headband or dust cover on windy ridges. Great for hikers in the desert Southwest or anyone who hikes in July.

A baseball cap leaves ears and neck exposed for hours above treeline. This UPF 50+ hat has a wide brim, a removable neck flap and a chin strap so it stays put in ridge winds. It folds into a pack pocket when the trail heads back into the trees.

Hikers see a lot of things just out of reach: a hawk on a thermal, mountain goats on a far ridge, the next trail marker. These 10x binoculars weigh about half a pound and fold into a hip pocket, so they actually come along instead of staying home on a shelf.

Scratching off a park after a trip is oddly satisfying, and seeing the blank ones on the wall is the push to plan the next one. This charcoal poster covers all 63 national parks and looks good framed in a hallway or office. An affordable gift with a personal touch.

Part coffee-table book and part bucket list, this National Geographic guide covers 100 iconic routes from Patagonia to the Dolomites with maps and photos. It is perfect for the hiker who has done every trail near home and is dreaming bigger.

Trails blur together after a few seasons unless someone writes them down. This hardcover log has guided pages for 25 trips, covering trail, weather, distance, who came along and what they saw, plus space for a photo. A lovely gift for the hiker who likes to look back on where they have been.