It’s Hiking Season, So Let’s Look at the Best Gifts for Hikers
When the weather is good that means it’s time to enjoy our favorite pastime: hiking. But we’re not talking 80 degrees and sunny like the general public would assume, no, we’re actually talking anywhere from 55 to 70 degrees with white fluffy clouds. That, everybody, is what we call prime hiking weather. Luckily since the summer season is here we are seeing more and more hikers go out to climb peaks, discover new trails, and conquer previously missed paths.
Hiking is a very fun and rewarding hobby, it alleviates stressors from daily life because all you end up doing on a hike is…walk. Seasoned hikers will best equate it to meditating as you get lost in nature (but not on the trail 😉), and you’re focusing on putting one foot in front of the other instead of the thousand of other things you find yourself doing during the week. But we do have to tell you, when it comes to hiking there is a lot of prep work that goes into it to make it a good hike. We want to make sure you and your loved ones have all the necessary equipment to make your future hikes safe, fun, and stress-free; that’s why we’ve put together a list of the best gifts for hikers.
⭐A PerfectGift Tip: Just like runners find themselves attached to one or two brands, hikers can feel the same way about certain equipment, so always be sure to ask what they favor before you buy.
Hiking Equipment They Can Definitely Use (and need) 🌍
Depending on how long the hike is, you’ll find that a lot of hikers will bring a decent amount of equipment with them so they can properly prepare for the journey ahead. Here’s some things we’ve found that can really make the difference on trails:
Get a hiking pole that will last them a long while. Image courtesy: Paria Outdoor Products.
When you picture a stereotypical hiker in your head you probably have them wearing a backpack, boots, maybe wearing a hat, and holding one of those pole-thingys. What they are most commonly called besides just “hiking poles” are trekking poles. Trekking poles help hikers when they’re climbing up hills and descending back down. They provide stability and can really take the pressure off your knees as you put more force on your legs going down hill. With flatter grounds the benefits may not be as noticeable compared to inclines and declines but you’ll be surprised on how much it actually does. Hiking obviously engages your legs and hips, but with a trekking pole you’ll also be able to engage your upper body as well.
There are a lot of trekking and hiking poles out there, lots of them are either plastic or cork, cork is what we’re going to focus on today because it lasts longer overtime and provides a better grip as your hands get sweaty.
From Paria Outdoor Equipment we have the Tri-Fold Carbon Cork Trekking Poles for $69.99. It has “real cork handles and ultra-strong carbon fiber, and weighs only 9 ounces and folds to only 15 inches.” It comes in two different sizes and two colors (black and red). One size is 120 cm (115 - 135) and the other is 100 cm (100 - 120).
Rated as the “best overall” on multiple blogs. Image courtesy of: REI.
Just like many products, there’s bound to be debate over which is the “best” and since we are taking a look at the best gifts for hikers it’s only fair that we take in all of our research to provide you with what many hikers consider to be the best: Black Mountain’s Pursuit Trekking Poles - Pair from REI for $169.95. Many bloggers have boasted about these being the ultimate trekking poles, but what makes them so special? Well, it has a built-in hex tool and locking mechanism and is unbelievably durable, a great investment for long-time usage. The grip is cork and the shaft is aluminum, the height and weight for the S/M is 125 cm and 16.4 oz, and for the M/L is 140 cm and 17.6 oz.
Considered the best of the best daypacks. Image courtesy of: Ospery.
Daypacks are essential for hiking, they keep all of your necessary equipment stored safely away so you can travel with ease. Of course finding the right daypack can be tricky because everyone’s bodies are built differently. Finding if its length fits your upper and lower back, testing to see if the shoulder straps fit well around your neck, and if the hipbelt provides you with enough comfort and stability. There are tons of daypacks out there to choose from but if you’ve have all delved into the world of hiking you know what pack we’re going to recommend:
Yes that’s right, it’s the Talon™ 22 from Osprey for $160.00. This is the daypack of all daypacks. Considered to be the best by miles. It’s not too heavy, it holds so much stuff, it’s comfortable, durable, and breathable. It has pocketing in the harness, hipbelt and front panel, as well as trekking pole, ice axe and bike helmet attachments. Truly couldn’t ask for a better pack. It comes in five different colors and since this is their 22 it’s the only size but you can look up other Talons to find the one that will fit you best.
Support that will last you miles. Image courtesy of: Merrell.
Picking hiking shoes is like picking a pair of running shoes, or regular everyday shoes. It’s a matter of if they fit you well and do what you need them to do. Everyone will tell you to go for one pair over the other but we’ve found that the Merrell’s Moab Speed 2 Mid GORE-TEX® for $180.00 are a pretty great option to get any prospective hiker. You can choose either the medium width or wide width as well as the color and size (from 7 to 15 for Men and 5 to 11 for Women). These boots have GORE-TEX waterproof membrane and have been put through various tests to ensure they will last you a very long time on the trails.
Be prepared for anything. Image courtesy of: Amazon.
A first aid kit is good to have in almost every instance, but they’re even better to have when you’re out in the wilderness by yourself or with a couple people who don’t necessarily have medical degrees or the tools to go to an ER within a quick drive. When you’re hiking you can slip and hurt yourself way easier than what you initially thought so it’s always good to be prepared and have a Surviveware 98 Pcs Waterproof Premium Survival First Aid Kit from Amazon on sale for $42.49 (normally priced at $49.99). This bad boy is packed with “98 first aid supplies to help care for minor wounds, cuts, scrapes and burns, and a removable CPR Mask. There’s also plenty of pocket space where you can add tools from your own first-aid kit.
Know where you’re going and keep in touch easily. Image courtesy of: Garmin.
Garmin GPS systems have been a must-get for experienced hikers for years now. They have the ultimate system down-pat at this point so you can expect your hikes to be even smoother than they were before. They’re easy to hold, beyond durable, reliable, and easy to understand. They keep communication with friends and family members and provide you with everything you need for your hike to be a successful one. This is the GPSMAP® 67i which is a whopping $559.99. Yes it’s expensive but if you’re looking for a gift to make a major impact, this is the one to do it.
Always know where to go. Image courtesy of: REI.
Having a personalized GPS system is all well and good, but sometimes simpler may be better and that’s when we bring out a tool that’s been used for generations now: the compass. Compasses are used to track direction without technology, the “needle aligns with the Earth's magnetic field direction and points north-south.” It’s good to have and the Suunto A-10 NH Compass for $24.00 at REI is a great compass to get as it has a base plate and is easy to get the hang of, really you only need a few minutes before you understand how to follow it accurately.
Easy To Buy Gifts You Can Get Hikers From Anywhere🎁
Although we do love the gear we got our favorite hiker so far, we have to mention a few gifts you can get them that they can utilize in the way they want. That’s right, we’re talking about gift cards that are tailored exactly to a hikers tastes:
🌲REI: When you’re hiking, you’re going to want to pack well- but there’s always the case that you need some last minute stuff or you need to replace something that’s broken right before the trip. REI (Recreational Equipment Inc) has everything you could need for your hiking trip including camping, kayaking, swimming, and more.
🛣️Google Play: We’re next going to talk specifically to our Android users because with a Google Play gift card they can get a subscription to AllTrails, the number one resource for trail guides and maps. They have information on over 450,000 trails which is great for any prospective hiker to have before going in.
🥾Sportsman’s Warehouse: Just like REI is a much-loved brand for all things hiking, so is Sportsman’s Warehouse. You can find much needed equipment, back-up tools, and necessities for your long hikes during the season.
🎧Spotify: Music, podcasts, and audio-books are very nice to have with you on super long hikes. With Spotify Premium they can get unlimited access to the stuff he loves to listen to add-free. And a Spotify gift card is a great way to pay for a few months.
💸Visa: Instead of being limited to only one store, you can use this gift card at any store that accepts Visa- (which is pretty much any registrar).
We pride ourselves on our Visa gift card experience as you can add a photo to create a custom Visa gift card and get it to you fast. PerfectGift prints and ships our own Visa gift cards, so we can guarantee same day printing & shipping (if ordered by 4:00pm ET Monday through Saturday). Since we are all in-house, no one else can beat our turnaround time because a lot of other spaces use third-parties to get their stuff ready.
PerfectGift.com is all about finding, well, the perfect gift! With hundreds of popular eGift card brands available, you can personalize and send someone a gift in just a few minutes. Pick between multiple restaurants, famous retailers, online subscription services, and more for your first PerfectGift today.
Become the perfect gift giver.
Now that you have all of your equipment ready to be wrapped up and sent, the next hike is already ready to be planned. We loved taking a look at the best gifts for hikers just in time for the season!
