Getting gifts for backpackers can be hard. What do you buy for the person who likes to sleep in the dirt, counts ounces as if their life depended on it, and considers walking 20 miles in the middle of nowhere fun?
If you’re blanking on what to get the granola girl in your life, have no fear. Here are a couple of gift ideas for the hiker to make your Christmas shopping easy this year.
Budget Christmas gifts for backpackers
Snow Peak Titanium Colored Sporks
Backpackers love saving space and weight, so what better way than by combining your fork and your spoon? Especially when they come in several fun colors!
Darn Tough Hiking Socks
High-quality, wool socks with a lifetime warranty? It’s the only sock they’ll ever need. Plus, all the cool kids are wearing them.
Adventure Medical Kits Bens 100 Max Pump Spray
We go through a ton of bug spray every summer. Do us a favor and get us all prepped for next summer.
Buff Original Triple Crown Series Multifunctional Headwear
Their favorite trails beautifully displayed on a tube of fabric that backpackers have found an increasingly large number of ways to use? They’re gonna love it.
Kula Cloth
The Kula Cloth will soon be a staple for your granola girl. When nature calls, this reusable pee cloth keeps your hands dry while sopping moisture into the absorbent, antimicrobial side. When you’re back in town, simply throw it in the washer and rest easy, knowing how much toilet paper you didn’t waste.
Vargo Titanium Dig Dig Tool
Round out the bathroom kit with an ultralight trowel. Your backpacker will appreciate this ultralight trowel when nature calls and a quick cathole is necessary.
Gifts for backpackers under $100
Osprey Ultralight Pack Liner
The worst thing that can happen on a backpacking trip is that all your stuff gets wet. Get them this pack liner so they don’t have to worry about that anymore.
Outdoor Element Folding Feather Knife
Pocket knives always come in handy, and your backpacker will appreciate that this one doesn’t have any unnecessary weight.
MSR PocketRocket Deluxe Stove
The MSR PocketRocket Deluxe lasted me the entire Appalachian Trail, and it’s still one of my favorite stoves. (See why I gave it a four-star rating.) Your backpacker will love it too.
Granola girl clothes
Mountain Hardwear Women’s Ghost Whisperer 2 Hoody
Staying warm is a priority when backpacking, especially during this cold season. I prefer the one with the hood. Don’t let your backpacker get cold this year.
Prana Women’s Halle II Pant
Keep your backpacker stylish and comfortable with these pants. They’re the same pants I took on my thru-hike! They stand up to rugged terrain, keep legs safe from ticks and thorns, and are comfortable for any adventure.
Patagonia Women’s Better Sweater – 1/4 zip
This sweater may be pricey, but they’ll never need another one, or find another one quite this warm. You might end up stealing it back for yourself.
Christmas gifts to wow your backpacker
If you really want to see your backpacker in awe over your gift, here are a couple pricier but well-worth it things they might appreciate.
Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2
The Tiger Wall was created to be lightweight, tough, and most important, environmentally friendly. Semi-freestanding, you can pitch it anywhere and rest comfortably through the night. It’s pricey, but worth the money.
Helinox Zero Camp Chair
Though some hardcore backpackers will scoff at the idea of a camp chair, the Helinox chair weighs only 1.1 lbs, folds up smaller than a water bottle, and makes for the perfect evening off your feet after a long day of hiking.
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT Sleeping Pad
One of the go-to sleeping mats for thru-hikers because it’s extremely lightweight, durable, and comfortable (as much as an inflatable mat can be in the wilderness).
No matter which gift you choose, remember that it’s the thought and consideration behind it that truly matter. These gift ideas are just a starting point, so tailor them to your backpacker or granola girl’s specific needs and preferences. Happy shopping, and here’s to a Christmas season full of adventures!
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