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A Drink of Tall Water
LifeStraw Peak Water Filter
Go Everywhere
America the Beautiful Park Pass
Dress Up Your Drink
Puffin Beverage Koozie
Light Up the Night
Fenix E20 LED Flashlight
Next time you tell that outdoorsy friend or family member to take a hike, make sure they head into the great outside equipped to enjoy it. In this guide, we have more than two dozen gift recommendations ranging from a titanium French press to a wool hat woven in Kathmandu. Our Gear team has tested everything on this list in the past few years.
Check our outdoor gear guides for more ideas, like Hiking 101, Best Bike Accessories, Best Tents, Best Barefoot Shoes, and Best Climbing Gear for Beginners.
Updated November 2023: We’ve added many new items, including bike liner shorts, a charcoal grill, a titanium French press, and more. We’ve also updated pricing and availability.
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Photograph: REI
A Drink of Tall Water
LifeStraw Peak Water Filter
Always make sure there’s access to clean water nearby. Whether you know an avid camper, hiker, or climber, it’ll be easy for them to slip a LifeStraw into their pack for safety’s sake. I tested out the new Peak filter earlier this year in Vietnam and appreciated that it now can screw onto a plastic bottle. As always, it filters out 99.999999 percent of all bacteria, as well as 99.999 percent of all parasites and microplastics. And hey, if you’re looking far ahead to the holidays, it makes the perfect stocking stuffer because it’s perfectly shaped to fit in one.
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Photograph: USGS
Go Everywhere
America the Beautiful Park Pass
Do you know somebody with big dreams for 2024? Give them a pass that lets them get into any National Park or Federal Recreational Land without paying entrance fees for a whole year. Certain groups, such as military members and people with disabilities, can get them for free.
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Photograph: Puffin
Dress Up Your Drink
Puffin Beverage Koozie
Help your loved ones keep their drinks cold without freezing their hands. These outdoor-themed koozies are lined with a reflective inner material and foam for insulation. Puffin has a wide range of adorable, detailed designs, including flannels, puffy jackets, ranger vests, and life jackets. These are perfect for campgrounds, backyard barbecues, and beach blankets.
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Photograph: Fenix
Light Up the Night
Fenix E20 LED Flashlight
Typically I recommend headlamps for hiking or camping at night, but some folks just don’t like the feeling of having one strapped to their forehead. This is my favorite handheld flashlight. The E20 lasts up to 200 hours on a pair of AA batteries at 5 lumens, which is more than enough light for most tasks. There’s a high setting at 350 lumens, which feels like holding a miniature sun. My E20 has held up to rough handling for two years with no hiccups or complaints.
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Photograph: Amazon
A Backpacking Primer
The Backpacker’s Field Manual
If you’ve never gone overnight backpacking before, picking a campsite or the right stove/backpack combination can be overwhelming. The Backpacker’s Field Manual is a well-rounded and comprehensive primer on how to select a proper-fitting pack, select a campsite, lower your physical impact on the trail, plan a backcountry menu, and much more. It won’t make your loved one an expert overnight, but it’s a good idea to prepare before their boots get dirty.
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Photograph: REI
Feel Good, Look Good
Sherpa Adventure Gear Vishnu Hat
I’ve been singing the praises of Nepalese brand Sherpa Adventure Gear for years, and there’s no product of theirs I like more than their quality hand-woven wool hats. They’re made in women’s co-ops in and around Kathmandu, making this an ideal gift for that crunchy, outdoorsy friend who avoids anything big-factory-made. I’ve worn this one on glaciers, and despite its loose weave, the wool’s thickness made it very warm.
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Photograph: REI
A Pack for Their Back
REI Co-op Flash 22
A good daypack is comfortable and carries the essentials in a compact package. It should also be as light on the wallet as it is on the wearer’s back. Your special someone doesn’t have to be a hardcore hiker to appreciate this 22-liter backpack, which will serve them well on picnics and afternoon hikes through the park. This is my favorite daypack because, unlike the slightly smaller Flash 18, it comes with handy dual exterior water bottle pockets and cushier straps. There are also patterned versions.
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Photograph: Amazon
Lock It Up
Abus Granit X-Plus 540
If you love your friend or family member as much as they love their bike, give them a reliable way to secure it from opportunistic thieves. The Abus Granit X-Plus 650 is our pick for the strongest security (for a U-lock) in our Best Bike Locks guide because it strikes the right balance of portability and significant resistance to being cut through by bike thieves. Normally, this lock’s price makes it a premium pick, but it’s on sale for far less than usual right now. I recommend U-locks over bike chains because they tend to offer the same security while being much lighter and easier to carry on a bicycle.
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Photograph: REI
The Daily Press
Snow Peak Titanium French Press
I was skeptical about this titanium French press’s price, but I couldn’t live without it by the end of an eight-day Alaskan climbing trip. Some reviews complain about coffee grounds slipping through the silicone filter, but I drank coffee every day and had no such issues. It weighs only 6.3 ounces! Who cares that it isn’t insulated? French press coffee will go off if you leave it stewing in the old grounds anyway. For the outdoors lover who can’t function without coffee, this is a durable gift that’ll last for a long time.
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Photograph: GSI Outdoors
A Little Nip
GSI Outdoors Glacier Flask
This flask’s unique elegance isn’t fully apparent until you hold it yourself. Like the body, the cap and threads are stainless steel, so you won’t see wear and tear (and leaks) after a while like with plastic caps. It comes in 6- and 8-fluid-ounce capacities, so your giftee can easily fill it with their favorite liquor (or non-alcoholic beverage), and it’s hinged so they’ll never spend 20 minutes crawling in the dirt for a dropped cap. Just make sure they don’t leave liquor in it for longer than a few days; stainless steel discolors it.
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Photograph: Leatherman
Always Prepared
Leatherman Wave+
For the person who has everything (but can’t fit it all in one pocket), a multi-tool can be a lifesaver. At the very least, it’s a time-saver. The Leatherman Wave Plus is the top recommendation in our Best Multitools guide because of its 18 built-in tools and a 25-year warranty. Even if your buddy uses the beer opener most of all, the mini scissors, 8-inch ruler, and two knives (serrated and nonserrated) will save the day sooner rather than later.
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Photograph: Moosejaw
For Extra Comfort
Therm-a-Rest Compressible Travel Pillow
Balling up a puffy jacket sometimes just doesn’t cut it as a camping pillow. If someone you know needs a real pillow to sleep on, get them a compressible foam Therm-a-Rest. The filling is upcycled from scraps of material discarded during the production of Therm-a-Rest’s foam-cell sleeping pads. I slept on the large size, equal to a small bed pillow, every night for 10 months while traveling. As a side sleeper who’s sensitive to crummy pillows, I felt great every night. Unfurl it a few hours before bedtime to let it inflate.
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Photograph: REI
A Warm Puffy Jacket
REI Co-op 650 Down Jacket
We love the 650 Down Jacket (9/10, WIRED Recommends). It’s a bargain in a sea of competitors subject to the continually surging price of goosedown. Its material is a little tougher, and it comes with a drawstring around the waist, as well as a durable water-repellent finish to resist heat-sapping moisture. It’s what I wear for casual day hikes and inter-city trips when it’s snowing.
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Photograph: Fitbit
Break a Sweat
Fitbit Charge 6
Staying in shape is hard, especially if you’re being bombarded by health data but don’t know how to make sense of it. Fitbit’s app, fortunately, is one of the clearest and easiest to use. The Fitbit Charge 6 (7/10, WIRED Recommends) is new and will soon be named one of our favorite fitness trackers, thanks to its bright AMOLED screen and accurate health and fitness metrics. It’s not necessary, but to use all its features, you’ll need a $10/mo Fitbit Premium subscription.
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Photograph: Backcountry
For Great Treks
Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork Trekking Poles
These tough-as-nails, 17-ounce carbon-fiber trekking poles work for all seasons and surfaces, including when you slip on snowshoes, powder, and ice. They don’t fold for transport like Z-poles, but they contract into a shorter length with Black Diamond’s sturdy FlickLock mechanism. Using trekking poles spreads the impact load over more of your body on sustained ascents and descents, saving your knees and ankles. If you know a hiker whose knees are beginning to act up, this is a perfect gift. Just add rubber tips if they’re going to use them on dry terrain, and don’t scar the trail by dragging them.
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Photograph: Darn Tough
Warm Those Toes
Darn Tough Lifestyle Socks
Darn Tough is a favorite brand among the WIRED Gear team. Whoever heard of a lifetime warranty on socks!? I’ve worn Darn Tough during the winter for a decade, and aside from being, well, tough, they’re warm and incredibly comfortable. That comes down to the merino wool that, unlike typical wool, isn’t scratchy at all. Darn Tough has always offered a range of colors, but it has come out with more and more whimsical designs of late.
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Photograph: REI
Noggin Protection
Nutcase Street MIPS Bike Helmet
For the person in your life who’s too hard-headed to wear an ugly helmet but not hard-headed enough to withstand a bike wreck unscathed, Nutcase’s helmets are great. They come in a number of stylish designs, and this one has MIPS (multi-directional impact protection system) technology, which is a layer of material incorporated within the helmet that allows it to move just a little independently of your head, further reducing the risk of brain injury.
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Photograph: REI
Cush for the Tush
REI Co-op Link Padded Cycling Liner Shorts
Hang around with a serious cyclist long enough and you’ll inevitably hear how much of a literal pain in the rear end it is. These liner shorts slip unnoticeably under a pair of normal jeans. Nobody even know’s you’re wearing them. Whether you’re shopping for a diehard road racer or somebody who just runs errands, the padded gel liner and moisture-wicking fabric will make the ride more pleasant.
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Photograph: Backcountry
Neck Protection
Buff CoolNet UV+ Buff
This is a tube of thin fabric, open at both ends, and it works a lot like a bandana. There’s no messing with knots or loose ends, and the material is just springy enough for a snug fit. This model is made of a synthetic fabric that wicks moisture and dries quickly while also providing SPF 50 sun protection. It can be worn like a balaclava or a neck gaiter, or any number of other ways. At high altitudes, mine shields the back of my neck and covers the lower half of my face.
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Photograph: Suunto
Keep Their Bearings
Suunto A-10
Of all the crucial outdoor skills, wilderness navigation is the quickest to pick up. Even if your special someone has no plans to go outside until spring, it’s an easy skill to learn indoors. The Finnish-made A-10 is my go-to recommendation because it’s accurate, the housing rotates smoothly, and the baseplate lettering doesn’t wear off, even after years of use. With an A-10 and a copy of Wilderness Navigation for $13, they can learn the basics in two or three days.
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Photograph: Amazon
Weather-Resistant Notes
Rite in the Rain All-Weather Notebook
Instead of watching them baby a sketchpad every time it starts to mist on the trail, get your loved one a waterproof notebook. Rite in the Rain’s eco-friendly moisture-barrier coating is water-based, and the only byproduct released into the environment during production is steam. Your loved one can write down all their witticisms without worrying about bad weather washing them away.
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Photograph: Ergon
Get a Better Grip
Ergon GA3 Grips
Unfortunately, long or frequent biking can cause some people wrist pain. These ergonomic handlebar grips are one of my favorite aftermarket accessories because the flat “wing” shape corrects the rider’s hand posture to reduce fatigue and pain.
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Photograph: REI
Fast and Easy Cooker
MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe
Lots of outdoor gear manufacturers make lightweight, compact canister-fuel stoves these days. MSR’s version weighs only 2.9 ounces and has a piezo ignition that negates whipping out the lighter every time you want to boil water or cook dinner, but it’s biggest advantage over the competition is its fuel pressure regulator, which squeezes every last bit out of each canister. It works with all widely available brands of isobutane-propane fuel canisters, including Jetboil, Snow Peak, Coleman, and MSR, and it folds up to fit inside a cooking pot or camp mug during travel.
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Photograph: Amazon
Kiss the Chef
Weber Original Kettle 18-Inch Charcoal Grill
The archetypical charcoal grill is still the best, according to senior product reviewer Scott Gilbertson. As he writes in his guide to the best grills, the charcoal-fueled Weber is well built and just as adept at smoking a brisket overnight as it is grilling burgers and steaks. The 18-inch model should be large enough to cook for a family of five without running out of room.
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Photograph: Arc’teryx
Hang Around
Arc’teryx C-Quence Climbing Harness
This is currently my favorite do-it-all harness. From top rope climbing to multiday mountaineering, the Canadian-made C-Quence is the comfiest harness I’ve found that has five gear loops to hold all the gear required for ice climbing and trad climbing. While it isn’t quite as comfortable as the Black Diamond Solution, it’s more versatile—non-adjustable leg loops be damned.
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Photograph: B&H
For the Watchers
Nikon Monarch M5 8×42
Does your giftee constantly look out for birds? Or perhaps they like scouting terrain on a hike. Give them our favorite binoculars, the Nikon Monarch M5. They aren’t cheap, but they do strike a great balance between optical power, price, and build quality, with clear glass that doesn’t distort or fringe. They’re lightweight and come with a comfy strap too.
Matt Jancer is a staff writer for WIRED who focuses on reviewing outdoor gear. Previously, he spent a decade as a freelance writer covering automobiles, motorcycles, and lifestyle stories for magazines. Some of his longest gigs were at Car and Driver, Outside, Esquire, Playboy, and Popular Mechanics.
