Best Gifts for Hikers, Backpackers, Outdoorsy People (2025)

Photograph: Darn Tough

Yes, you read that right. Socks. SOCKS. You should gift socks. Outdoorsy people can never have too many socks. We're hard on socks, which almost guarantees this gift will see some use. What your outdoorsperson especially needs are merino wool socks. Merino wool is a super fiber. It will change their lives. Did you know you can wear merino wool for several days in row without smelling like you just spent two weeks at a Phish reunion? Just kidding, Phish fans. But it's true. Merino wool will change your friend or loved one's backpacking life. It's comfortable, has virtually no odor no matter how long you wear it, and helps your body thermoregulate, staying warmer when it's cold, cooler when it's warm.

We love Darn Tough socks in particular because they're comfortable, stand up to considerable abuse, and have some of the highest merino wool content of anything we've tested. The also come in a nearly endless array of fun colors and designs. If you want something warmer, I love these Expedition Weight Minus33 merino socks ($23).

Photograph: Amazon

Photograph: Scott Gilbertson

What is camping without brewing coffee over a morning fire? And what is coffee if not from a Moka pot? This is the classic Bialetti Moka pot on which all other Moka pots are based. It's made of heavy gauge aluminum that heats evenly and won't complain if you put it directly on the coals (although the plastic handle will, so make sure your outdoorsy person puts it on the edge of the fire). It'll brew about a 4 oz cup of very dark coffee (not technically espresso since it's not under pressure, but it's as close as you'll get outdoors).

If your outdoor person isn't a Moka pot lover, other coffee options include this exquisite titanium French press from Snow Peak. Weighing just 6.3 ounces, you can even hit the trail with this if you’re dedicated to your coffee. Then there's the tried-and-true Aeropress Go ($50) (9/10, WIRED Recommends), which can be used in a variety of ways and is light enough to pack on the trail, simple enough to use in a hotel room, and make all-around good coffee.

Photograph: Scott Gilbertson

Opinel's classic folding knife practically begs to be taken on a hike with some good hard chorizo, soft Spanish cheese, and a nice baguette. It's the first step to hiking European-style. Or at least how I imagine Europeans hike (always with delicious cheese, cured meats, and cheap wine—please don't ruin my vision, European readers). I got my Opinel as a gift from a friend, and I love it. And I am an outdoor person, so there is your living proof that this is a good gift.

Opinel makes dozens of variations on this knife that you can pick from when gifting. Grab them a kit with a bento box, or a nature lover friend might like the version with handles designed by different artists. The one version I don't recommend is the carbon steel version. Carbon steel is great, but in this case, when you're throwing it in your backpack and possibly forgetting about it for long periods of time, carbon steel will rust. Stick with stainless steel when gifting this.

Photograph: Scott Gilbertson

Photograph: Scott Gilbertson

This book changed the way I, and my kids, look at the world. I originally bought because I thought my kids might like it (which they did), but then I stole it, read it cover to cover, bought a sketchbook, and, following along with the book, started to see the world in much more detail than I ever had before. Don't worry if your giftee is not an artist. I am the opposite of skilled when it comes to drawing, and I still love this book. More than drawing, what this book is teaching you is to look closely, observing and recording the world around you, and to form your own understanding of what you've witnessed.

If you want to put together a kind of “curiosity kit” gift package based on the one in the book, pick up a hand lens (I like this one because of the way it blocks out the light, though there are higher quality lenses), some nice pens, and a millimeter ruler to go along with it. You could also check out our guide to journals and notebooks, though those tend to be very personal choices and might not be the best gift unless you know exactly what your giftee wants.

Photograph: Scott Gilbertson

Photograph: Scott Gilbertson

Sitting around a fire is possibly the best part of being outdoors. “Conversation is directed into the fire while dreams and images are drawn out of it,” as the British author John Mitchell once wrote. Also coffee, really good coffee, can be drawn out of the campfire, which is where Campfire Coffee comes in.

Before we get to what makes Campfire Coffee special, let me just say I also test coffee for our coffee subscription guide and this is by far the best coffee I've tested this year. Even if there were no campfires involved, I would recommend this to anyone who like a delicious, smooth, dark coffee. Your outdoor friends will especially love Campfire Coffee because it's delicious and it's roasted over an open flame by people who love camping. Campfire coffee also runs a program called Campfire Explorers Club, which is a non-profit helping people who would not otherwise be able to explore the outdoors get outside and experience some wilderness—another place (like those below) that you could make a donation in your outdoorsy friend's name.

Photograph: Scott Gilbertson

The pocketknife is the sort of indispensable everyday tool we should all carry. I've has all sorts of different pocket knives, from the everything-and-the-kitchen-sink Swiss Army Champ ($125) to a three-blade Buck knife I found buried in the dirt when I was a kid.

These days I prefer the simplicity of a folding knife. I was gifted this Benchmade a few years ago by my wife, and I don't think it's left my pocket since (except when I fly, which is rare). It's not cheap, but it's pretty near indestructible, and it has a lifetime warranty. Benchmade will even sharpen it for your giftee if they don't have a way to do that themself.

Courtesy of Unbound Merino

Did I mention that I love merino wool? Everyone needs more of it, especially the outdoorsperson. Wool really is capable of keeping you warmer when it's cold and cooler when it's warm. In a comparison study against other fabrics (on runners), the wool fabric shirt performed best in both hot and cold conditions. It's effective because merino wool has insulation, breathability, and moisture-wicking thermoregulation properties. That wool is also odor-resistant and very comfortable are just icing on the cake.

These T-shirts from Unbound are my favorite of the merino shirts I've tested. These are are the softest, best-made, best-fitting T-shirts I've ever worn, merino or otherwise. They're incredibly versatile. I've worn them doing everything from backpacking in the summer heat to rolling jiu jitsu to sitting around the fire on cool autumn evenings. I also like that they don't have a “sporty” cut or stitching. They're just … T-shirts.

Courtesy of Penguin Random House

Photograph: Amazon

Nalgene is not the hip water bottle of the moment. That's OK, because to the outdoors person, the timeless classic is always better than the latest style, and every outdoors person needs another water bottle. I have four and wouldn't be sad if someone gifted me another one. Nalgenes are lighter than stainless steel. If your outdoorsy person is a long distance backpacker or thru-hiker who usually tote a recycled Smart Water bottle, upgrade their game with Cnoc's new ThruBottle ($13), which has the same threads to fit popular water filters, but isn't well, a fragile, reused water bottle. It's the same size and shape too so it'll fit in the side pockets of your ultralight pack with no issues.

If you want to make your gift a little nicer, a rolled up T-shirt (maybe a merino wool t-shirt?) fits well inside, or in the case of the ThruBottle, wrapped around the outside.

Courtesy of AllTrails

There are dozens of mapping apps and services, but in my experience a subscription to All Trails is hard to beat (though maybe discreetly ask if they use the app first). A lot of what's great about All Trails is free—including the extensive database of trails and GPS tracking. What you'd be buying for them are the route planning tools and other nice extras, like offline functionality and the option to print maps.

If your friend happens to by a cyclist, I prefer Ride With GPS for bikepacking, which offers a good mix of routes and has nice planning tools for mapping your own.

Photograph: Scott Gilbertson

Photograph: Marc Guitard/Getty Images

Chances are, unless your giftee is an outdoor newcomer (in which case, by all means, buy them some gear), they may well have everything they need. Rather than buying them something that's just increasing their environmental footprint, and putting natural resources on a back shelf of their closet, consider making a donation in their name.

You might want to ask them if they have a favorite environmental organization (this is much less awkward to work into a conversation than asking what their favorite handlebar rack is for gravel rides), but if not, check your local outdoor shop for regional groups. These are often your best bet for turning money into action, and they often need the money more. If nothing quite fits the bill, I'll just plug my two favorite groups, the Nature Conservancy and Surfrider, both of which do good work helping to protect land and water around the world.