Best Outdoor Gifts of 2025: Holiday Gifts for Hikers, Backpackers & Campers
Looking for the best outdoor gifts of 2025? In this blog post we’re sharing our top holiday gifts for hikers, backpackers, and campers! From summit-ready essentials to cozy campsite upgrades, these are our top picks for outdoor lovers who hike, camp, cook, and explore all year long.
We’ve selected the best outdoor gifts of 2025 for hikers, backpackers, and campers, perfect for outdoor enthusiasts of every skill level. In this guide you’ll find:
- The best hiking gifts under $30
- Splurge-worthy gifts for hikers and backpackers
- Perfect gifts for camp chefs and cooks
- Fun and unique Christmas gifts for campers
These recommendations are based on the gear we personally trust, use, and love! Everything on this list is durable, lightweight, and adventure-ready. They’re perfect for making time outdoors safer, more comfortable, and more fun. Whether you need ultralight backpacking gifts, practical hiking gifts, or unique camping gift ideas, you’ll find the perfect present for every outdoor enthusiast.
Welcome to our blog! We’re Gwyn and Ami, the couple behind the Instagram @gwynandami. We’re USA travel experts, and we’ve road tripped all over the west exploring the best destinations, hikes, and national parks. We put together epic travel itineraries to make planning your next adventure easier! You can learn more about us here.
The best outdoor gifts for hikers, backpackers, & campers
Below, you’ll find the best outdoor gifts of 2025 for hikers, backpackers, and campers. This list includes practical, durable gear designed for life outdoors. From cozy campfire comforts to ultralight backpacking essentials for long-distance treks, every item on this list is chosen for function, reliability, and real-world performance.
Our guide to the best outdoor gifts of 2025 includes budget-friendly outdoor gifts under $30, thoughtful mid-range picks, and splurge-worthy upgrades for serious adventurers. You’ll also discover unique and useful hiking and camping gifts that help make time outside safer, more comfortable, and a lot more fun.
Whether you’re shopping for a weekend camper, a beginner hiker, or a thru-hiker chasing big miles, these outdoor gift ideas are items they’ll actually use!
Best gifts for hikers and backpackers for under $30 (2025): budget hiking gifts
Looking to get the perfect gift on a budget? Below we’re sharing the best outdoor gifts of 2025 for under $30! These fun and practical trail essentials are perfect for all the adventurers in your life. They also make great stocking stuffers for hikers!
- Nalgene Bottle + Skratch Hydration Mix – Give the gift of hiking hydration! A classic wide-mouth Nalgene paired with an electrolyte sports drink (with real sugar!).
- Trail 2 Print Waist Pack – Hands-free storage for snacks, phone, keys, and trail essentials. Lightweight and adventure-ready.
- KULA Cloth + Dr. Bronner’s Hand Sanitizer – Trail hygiene made easy. A reusable antimicrobial pee cloth plus hand sanitizer for making sure your hands stay germ-free.
- Backpack Watercolor Kit – Paint your camp views with this tiny, compact water color kit.
- Ignik Hand Warmers + SOL Emergency Blanket – Pocket-sized heat, plus an emergency survival blanket for unexpected wintery conditions.
- Nemo Sit Pad – Trail and camp comfort anywhere. This ultralight foam sit pad lets you take comfy break without sitting on the cold and wet ground.
- Darn Tough Socks + Theo Chocolate Bar – The ultimate cozy combo. Legendary hiking socks paired with delicious artisan chocolate. This is what we gave our family members last year!
- Injinji Liner Crew Wool Socks – This five-toe design is excellent at blister prevention!
- Insect Repellent + Mosquito Head Net – The perfect bug defense duo. Picaridin spray to ward off mosquitoes, plus a head net for worry-free hiking when the bugs get bad.
- Astro 300 Headlamp – A durable and waterproof lightweight headlamp for hikes or camp chores.
- Swiss Army Classic Knife – Tiny but mighty. A classic and durable pocket-sized multitool.
- Wander Free and Queer Handmade Knits – Hand-knit goodies with personality, made by a queer couple in the PNW.
Best Splurge holiday gifts for hikers and backpackers (2025)
Below are some of our top holiday gift recommendations for hikers and backpackers. Most of these items are over $100, but they’re built to last!
- Ignik Ripple Rechargeable Hand Warmers – Want to ditch the disposable warmers? These rechargeable hand warmers deliver steady, adjustable heat and fit easily in pockets or gloves.
- Gossamer Gear LT5 Carbon Trekking Poles – Ultralight support for long days on the trail. Just 10 ounces per pair, with comfy foam grips and a collapsible 3-piece design.
- MICROspikes Ghost Traction System – great for trail running on packed snow, and icy walks & hikes, these lightweight spikes make for a perfect gift!
- Gossamer Gear “The Two” Tent – Big space, tiny weight. This 2-person ultralight tent weighs under 2 lbs, pitches fast, and packs down small – perfect for backpackers cutting weight.
- Six Moon Designs Rain Walker SUL Umbrella – This hiking umbrella is excellent for rain and sun protection, and weighs almost nothing at only 5.5 ounces. Add the hands-free kit for effortless coverage while you hike.
- Day Pack 18L – Waterproof, minimalist, and converts from tote to backpack. This bag is adaptable for hikes, travel, or everyday use.
- Rocky Talkie Radio Kit – Perfect for communicating during road trips to remote trailheads, and group communication when hiking and backpacking.
Top holiday gifts for campers (2025)
This section is packed with cozy camp upgrades and practical gear, whether you’re looking for splurge items like heated bed covers and portable fire pits or affordable essentials under $30.
- Rumpl Blankets – Adventure-ready coziness. Lightweight, super warm, and made from recycled materials these blankets are perfect for campfires or road trips. We love using their fleece puffy blankets (pictured above) in winter in our camper. Use code gwynandami15 for 15% off!
- RUX Waterproof Tote Bag 30L – Keeps gear dry and organized no matter the weather. Rugged, waterproof, and roomy enough for all your camping and road trip essentials.
- HEST Seat Cushion – Memory foam comfort for long drives and hangouts by the campfire. Compact, water-resistant, and super cushy.
- Ignik Heated Bed Cover – Turn freezing nights into cozy ones. Lightweight, battery-powered warmth for chilly nights in the tent.
- Ignik FireCan Elite Fire Pit – Campfire vibes without the smoke or mess. Propane-powered, portable, and perfect for fire-restricted areas.
- Ignik Gas Growler 5.0 Deluxe – Ditch disposable propane bottles. This refillable tank is eco-friendly, easy to carry, and built for adventure (works with the Ignik FireCan Elite Fire Pit listed above).
- Eqpd LastBag – Virtually indestructible. Made in Washington from industrial vinyl, this cute waterproof tote is rugged, stylish, and built to last.
Best holiday gifts for camp cooks and camp chefs (2025)
This section is geared to the ultimate camp chef! Campers that love making homemade meals at camp, brewing fresh coffee every morning, and using durable kitchen tools will love these holiday gifts for camp cooks.
- GOSO Outdoor Gourmet 2-Pan Set – Cook real meals outdoors. Durable carbon steel pans with natural non-stick and a nesting design – rugged enough for camp, classy enough for home.
- JetBoil Flash 1.0 L – Compact camp stove, easy to use, and perfect for backpacking or car camping. We’ve used ours for over a decade!
- GSI Outdoors Camp Tea Kettle – Simple, packable, and essential for cozy mornings at camp. We’ve owned one for over 5 years!
- Sea to Summit Lightweight Pot – Space-saving cookware for serious camp chefs. Lightweight, easy to pack, and easy to clean at camp.
- Hydro Flask Insulated Mug – Keeps drinks hot for hours – ideal for chilly mornings. We use these every day when we’re camping in our truck camper!
- Dometic GO Water Jug – Turn any campsite into a kitchen with fresh water! Easy and durable water storage.
- Sea to Summit Ultralight Collapsible Bowl – Packable and practical. Perfect for soups, salads, or side dishes.
- OXO Outdoor Spice & Bottle Set: Compact spice shaker and squeeze bottles for flavor on the go. We use these in our truck camper and love the leak-free design.
- AeroPress Go Travel Coffee Press. Barista-quality coffee anywhere. Lightweight, portable, and easy to use.
Want more gear recommendations that make great gifts? You can find our top hiking gear recommendations here, and our top backpacking gear recommendations here.
