Blog Homepage / Hiking and Backpacking Gear

    Holiday Gift Guide: Gifts for Your Hiking Buddies

    Guest Authors
    Guest Authors

    Well, we’ve actually got a few gift ideas to help you buy the perfect gift for them! goTenna Your friends are a ways ahead of you on the trail, and you’re panting to keep up. You round the corner, and there it is—a fork in the path. Which way did they go? You shuffle through your backpack to find your phone, and… no signal. With no tracks to find or voices to follow either, what do you do? This is where goTenna comes in. It’s a handy device that pairs with your phone (Android or iOS), then lets you use an app to connect with your friends’ goTenna devices up to a few miles away. Your phone doesn’t need service or Wi-Fi, and you can even share your location on a map. It’s also super useful back at home when the power goes out and the phone towers are down. You can get goTenna here.

     

    Zamberlan Airound The snow and wind can get intense this time of year, but snow boots get too hot when spring comes around. These ultralight, responsive hikers are ideal for spring and summer treks when comfort and stability are key. They have great traction and they’re engineered with award-winning GORE-TEX SURROUND® product technology. That means they’re waterproof and breathable on all sides, so sweat escapes easily and your foot stays dry. Available in men’s and women’s sizes.

     

    L.L.Bean® Leather Cresta Hiker Does your hiking buddy need something more rugged? These boots are popular for longer treks, receiving praise from magazine gear editors and field testers alike. They’re comfortable out of the box and get even more comfortable with use. The full-grain-leather upper and waterproof GORE-TEX lining makes these boots ready for extended trips or day hikes in any weather. Available in men’s sizes here.

     

    Osprey Manta 36 Hydration Pack We buy hydration packs because it’s more convenient than water bottles. But that convenience comes into question if the pack sits poorly on your back and the mouthpiece isn’t easy to keep in place. That’s why we like the Osprey Manta 36. It holds 100 fl. oz. and has a nice suspension system to keep the pack sitting in the right position. Plus, the bite valve holds magnetically to a sternum strap so you always know where to find it. Add in a full hipbelt, an integrated raincover, and a Stow-on-the-Go™ system to easily attach and remove trekking poles, and you’ve got yourself a pack that’s perfect for an all-day trip. It’s available at REI.

     

    Arc’teryx Zeta AR Jacket When you’re on a hike, the last thing you want to worry about is sudden rainfall, blustering wind, or the sweat that’s building up. You’re there to enjoy yourself! And that’s why we love hiking in this GORE-TEX jacket by Arc’teryx. It’s made with our new GORE® C-KNIT™ backer technology, which means it’s soft and breathable while maintaining its durability and waterproofness. And when you’re working hard, it lets your sweat escape through tiny pores in the membrane so you stay dry and comfortable. The best part? It’s fantastic for a wide range of activities, including hiking, snowboarding, and backpacking adventures. And we love versatility! Available in both men’s and women’s sizes.

     

    Black Diamond Equipment’s Alpine Carbon Cork Trekking Poles These are lightweight. As in really lightweight. The poles are made from 100% carbon fiber, and your hand rests on a comfortable cork grip. And these are super versatile for use in every season—they come ready for hiking, but include interchangeable powder baskets for winter adventures. Plus, you can change out the carbide Tech Tips for Rubber Tech Tips (sold separately) for better grip on the terrain. Get them here.

     

    DxO One The DxO One is a tiny camera that attaches to your iPhone (unfortunately no Android yet) and snaps pictures that are almost comparable to something much bigger and much more expensive. Perfect for those incredible landscapes you’re going to see from overlooks along the trail. While the One doesn’t have all the pro-level controls of a DSLR, it’s got an adjustable shutter, aperture control, and an impressive ISO range. At 20.2 megapixels, it shoots large enough photos to easily edit with Photoshop or Lightroom, and you can save smaller jpegs to your phone for sharing on social media. At $599 it might seem a little expensive for such a small device, but compared to a full-blown camera that runs in the thousands, it packs a decent value. You can find it here.

     

    Looking for more ideas? We’ve got more hiking gear in our online catalog. Check it out!

    Guest Authors Guest Authors

    Guest Authors

    New insights. Interesting perspectives. Exciting stories. Amazing people. As an ingredient brand, we are very proud to be part of a big network. For that reason, we’re happy to be able to present entries from very different authors on our blog.

    Read more from this author