Finding unique hiking gifts for that outdoor lover in your life can be a real challenge. On top of already having it all, they have very specific tastes and preferences. Lucky for you, we’ve compiled a list of hiking gifts that are truly one-of-a-kind. That hiker in your life won’t believe they’ve made it this far without one of these awesome hiking gifts.
Let’s dive into the best unique hiking gifts, perfect for the outdoor enthusiast.
And don’t forget, for a portable and delicious snack that will keep you full all hike long, look no further than our jerky sampler box!
1. Multifunctional Headwear
A multifunctional headwear piece is a do-it-all performance item that can be worn over twelve different ways. It can be used as a face cover, headband, and beanie. It’s a perfect addition to any hike because it can help in all kinds of weather. From sunny, warm days when you need shade, to overcast, cold days when you need warmth.
We love the headwear options from Buff. They are engineered with a four-way, seamless, ultra stretch fabric. It features UPF 50 protection and is made with 95% recycled material.
Shop: Buff Multifuncion Headgear Original - $28
2. Customizable Wooden Walking Stick
A serious hiker knows the importance of walking sticks. They can serve as an extra set of arms and minimize the impact of tough trails. There are several options when it comes to hiking poles, but the wooden walking stick is truly one-of-a-kind. It will add function and style to your hiker’s game.
Our favorite walking stick brand is Brazos. These are custom-made walking sticks—always handcrafted, one at a time, in the USA. The Backpacker Walking Stick is made with high-density oak giving it strength and hardness. The walking stick is a handcrafted beauty, ready for the trail.
Shop: Backpacker Walking Stick - $30
3. Beef Jerky
This right here is hiking gear arsenal. This might not register at the top of your list, but beef jerky is a fantastic hiking gift—especially a high quality beef jerky ready for the trail. Beef jerky has been a favorite of the outdoor world for generations. It’s both lightweight, packed with protein, and delicious. No hike is complete without a tasty and nutritious snack. Perfect for sunset hikes, early morning hikes, multi-day hikes, winter hiking, and more.
A real hiking buff will love our beef jerky and keep them satiated the entire hike. With a range of flavors and styles, the hiking lover is guaranteed to love our artisan-crafted jerky.
Where have you been all my life!?
A friend of mine hooked me up with People’s Choice Beef Jerky and I couldn’t be happier. I was getting sick and tired of protein bars and was looking for an alternative on my hikes. I found my new favorite snack. It checks all the boxes and I’m so glad I found it.
—Chad T, Oakland, CA
Shop: One of Everything Beef Jerky Gift Box - $84.99
4. The Dyrt Pro Camping App Subscription
Give the gift of discovery. There’s nothing like finding a new trail for a hiking lover. The Dyrt Pro Camping App will let the hiker in your life find new spots in their area and beyond. Loaded with reviews, incredible photos, and fantastic ideas from local experts, this is an easy gift for a hiker that will be a big winner.
Shop: The Dyrt Pro Camping App - $35.99
5. Hiking Decor on Amazon
Etsy can be a great place for unique hiking decor gifts. You can find the perfect piece of art that will let the hiker in your life show off their passion. Options range from art, to candles, and even Christmas ornaments. Outdoor themed decor is a great gift for hikers that are truly passionate about the outdoors.
Shop: Hiking Decor on Amazon
6. Patches and Pins from National Parks
Hikers love to share their passion for the outdoors and patches and pins are a great way to do that. You can search for their favorite national park and purchase a range of options. They can sow these patches onto jackets, shirts, and backpacks. You can even share this fun hobby with your special hiking friend. Talk about wearing your passion on your sleeve!
Shop: Yosemite Half Dome Sunrise Dome Patch - $7.99
7. Burnable Business Cards
The burnable business card definitely tops the chart when it comes to unique outdoor gifts. The birchwood fire starter can be stored anywhere and fits in a wallet. Each card is infused with a wax accelerant that makes it a great fire starter. While your every-day hiker won’t be starting any campfires soon, it’s a good insurance plan in case something goes wrong. Plus, it’s a great conversation piece.
Shop: Burnable Business Card - $8.00
8. Collapsible Water Bottle
A quality water bottle isn’t the most unique hiker gift out there, but this isn’t your ordinary hiking water bottle. The Flux Water Bottle from HydraPak is shaped like a hard bottle, but compresses like a soft flask. Plus, it weighs 60 percent less than the average water bottle and easily fits in any backpack side pocket. This incredible invention will let the hiker finish their water and compress the bottle for easy storage.
Shop: Flux™ 1.5 L Flux Ultra-Light Reusable Bottle - $25
9. Headlamps
Serious hikers don’t just hike during the day. They will wake up early in the morning before the sun rises or even stay out past sunset. That’s where this unique hiking gear comes in handy! The headlamps from UCO Gear feature quality straps, a real wood inlay, and over 200 lumens of light. Easily switch between High, Medium, Low, and Strobe lighting options.
Shop: UCO Gear Headlamp - $24.99
10. Waterproof Playing Cards
Entertainment and relaxation are items that are often forgotten on the hiking trail. What better way to relax at the top of the mountain than play a casual card game? Add in some snacks and beverages and you have a full-on picnic.
A set waterproof playing cards is a great option when relaxing outdoors. Around the campsite or at the top of the mountain, playing cards are a great way for a couple to have a bit of fun.
Shop: Hoyle Waterproof Playing Cards - $5.99
11. Hiking Log Book
Everyone needs a hiking journal, and serious hikers love to record their favorite hikes. They can save all the important details and compare with their friends and family. Data points such as location, date, weather, elevation gain/loss, time, distance, conditions, difficulty, and additional information are helpful things to record and use for future hikes.
Shop: Hiking Log Book - $6.99
12. Hiking Fanny Pack
Other packs get a lot more love than the fanny pack, but it offers incredible versatility and comfort for a hiker. This is for all the ultralight hikers out there. There are many options out there from casual to high-tech. The Knockabout bag from Mountain Smith is a hybrid waist and shoulder option that swings around from the back to the front with ease. With plenty of organization options, this lightweight hip pack is a great solution for a day hike with a heavy backpack.
Shop: Knockabout Fanny Pack - $34.95
13. Blister Prevention Tape
No pain, no gain doesn’t have to be your hiker’s motto. With a little planning, you can help them stay comfortable while on long hikes. The blister prevention tape from KT Tape is designed to create a barrier between skin and clothing that prevents rubbing and blisters. The material is ultra-durable, breathable, and flexible. It easily conforms to skin and can be used in most common areas like under your wool socks.
Shop: BFF® Blister Prevention Tape $9.99
14. UBeesize 51" Extendable Tripod Stand with Bluetooth Remote
Almost every hiker carries their smartphone on a hike. It's a great way to document trips for friends, family, and social media. The problem is someone always has to take the photo. Not with a smartphone tripod. This extendable tripod stand with a bluetooth remote will capture everything from summit pictures to beautiful time lapse sunsets. This option from UBeesize is lightweight, affordable, and fits most phones and GoPros.
Shop: UBeesize 51" Extendable Tripod Stand with Bluetooth Remote - $17
15. REI Gift Card
The best unique hiking gift is the gift the hiking lover in your life finds for themselves. REI is a mecca for hikers. With a gift card, they can choose the perfect gift to fit their needs. Time outside creating new memories is a gift everyone deserves and a gift card to REI will do just that.
Shop: REI Gift Card
16. Subscription to Backpacker's Magazine
Is the hiker in your life a true fanatic about the outdoors and hiking? Then they'll love a subscription to Backpacker's Magazine. Packed with content about the outdoors, this is the premier magazine for day hikers, too.
Shop: Subscription to Backpacker's Magazine
17. Darn Tough Men's Hiker Micro Crew Midweight Hiking Sock
On the surface, socks might not be the most unique sounding gift for a hiker, but these aren't just any socks. Darn Tough socks are recommended by nearly every serious hiking expert. They are an essential piece of clothing for both avid hikers and newbies. These hiker micro crew cushion socks will keep feet warm and sweat-free no matter what hiking shoes you're wearing.
Shop: Darn Tough Men's Hiker Micro Crew Midweight Hiking Sock -$24
18. Leatherman Squirt PS4 Multi-Tool
Outdoorsy people swear by the Leatherman multi-tools. This size, The Squirt, is small enough to fit in a pocket, but can do all the things you require from a multi-tool on the trail. It has scissors, a Phillips and flat-head screwdriver, bottle opened, pliers, and a small blade. Even casual hikers will appreciate the peace of mind that comes with having a great tool on the trail.
Shop: Leatherman Squirt PS4 Multi-Tool
19. Customizable Trail Journal
A trail journal is a great way to record the great memories of every hike. For the more serious hikers, it can also serve as a record of distances, times, and speed. Etsy carries some great journals that can be fully customizable. The smaller journals also make for great stocking stuffers.
Shop: Customizable Trail Journal
20. REI Co-op Backpacker Gaiters
Shop: REI Co-op Backpacker Gaiters
21. Sleeping Bag
If you're going camping you will absolutely need a lightweight sleeping bag. This bag from Klymit it great because it's durable, packs down small, provides complete coverage, and has extra warm synthetic insulation for the coldest of nights. Perfect for any place and any climate. This is one of the top gifts for the female hiker and male hiker alike.
Shop on REI: Wild Aspen o Sleeping Bag - $104.99
22. First Aid Kit
Anyone in the outdoor community knows there's nothing more important than hiker safety. From minor scratches to more serious injuries, a first aid kit can bring comfort or save a life. It may not be the sexiest gift on this list, but it can be the most important. The first aid kid from Adventure Medical Kit has been field tested and proves over and over that it deserves its reputation as one of the best kits on the market. Perfect for car camping and to keep in your backpacking tent. This great value gift is great to give to any friend or family member.
Shop: Adventure Medical Kits Mountain Series Hiker Medical Kit
23. 100 Hikes Of A Lifetime
Filled with beautiful National Geographic photography, like shots from the great smoky mountains nation park as well as Cuyahoga valley national park, you'll never want to put this book down. It's also filled with wisdom from expert hikers like Andrew Skurka, need-to-know travel information, and practical wildlife-spotting tips. 100 Hikes Of A Lifetime offers the planet's best experiences for hikers and sightseers. It’s the perfect gift for decor, planning their dream hike, and learning all in one. Perfect for outdoorsy women and men of all kinds.
Shop on Graphic Image: 100 Hikes Of A Lifetime - $150
24. Monthly Hiking Subscription Box
Delivered on a monthly basis, each one of these subscription boxes has a new theme based on the seasons and your personal interests. With a guaranteed $50+ total retail value in each box and 3-5 premium camping gear items, this is the perfect surprise gift for all beginner hikers. Get them started on their journey with all their favorite hiking gifts in one. You never know what might pop up-- a hiking hat, hiking clothes, hiking snacks, gadgets, etc. With this, they'll be ready to go for their next adventure and any outdoor activities in no time. There really is no better gift.
Shop: Monthly Hiking Subscription Box - $34.99
25. Engraved Working Compass
If you're looking for a more luxury gift, this engraved compass is the perfect accessory. You have many different options to engrave the front, back, and inside of the compass with a photo, name, initials, text, your own handwriting text, symbol, or logo. It would be a great unique gift idea for your husband, boyfriend, valentines, fathers day, birthday, and more.
Shop: Engraved Working Compass - $37
26. GoPro Hero 10 Black
GoPro’s are the best exciting gifts for any hiker who is looking to get into filming all the beautiful adventures they go on. This camera in particular is waterproof, smooth, fast, and has the best image quality of any other GoPro out there. This is a truly special gift for their next backpacking trip.
Shop: GoPro Hero 10 Black - $347
Bottom Line
Finding the perfect gift for the hiker in your life doesn’t have to be a challenge. Hopefully this list introduced a few new ideas that will let you be the king or queen of the mountain. Don’t forget to pick up the ultimate unique hiking gear— beef jerky!
