10 Stocking Stuffers For Hikers And Backpackers
Looking for a list minute gift for your favorite hiker? These budget-friendly stocking stuffers are sure to please!
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1. Trail Food
It’s always a good idea for backpackers to have a few dehydrated meals and trail snacks on hand for spontaneous weekend trips. Grab a favorite like Backpacker’s Pantry Pad Thai or Good To Go Chili or whip up a batch of homemade trail mix.
2. Spork
The search for the perfect backpacking utensil is ongoing and spoons and sporks are frequently lost, loaned, or broken. Look for lightweight options with long handles to keep hands clean. I love my Snow Peak Titanium Spork.
3. Socks
Merino wool hiking socks are my all time favorite gift to receive. Smartwool and Darn Tough are hiker classics and EMS Fast Mountain Merino Wool Socks are my current favorite. Everyone’s feet are so unique and every hiker has their own go to sock but if I receive a pair that doesn’t quite work for me on trail I love saving them to use as sleeping/camp socks.
4. Fuel Canisters
A fuel can may not seem like a particularly glamorous gift but every backpacker with a canister stove could use a few extras. Plus, you don’t need to visit an outfitter for this last minute stocking stuffer. Many big box stores like Walmart stock them in the camping and outdoors section. Check out this post for a few more things you might want to grab while you’re in the Walmart camping aisle.
5. SplashGuard
Everyone with a wide mouthed Nalgene bottle (which is pretty much everyone) needs a SplashGuard from Guyot Designs. I have two just in case. My Nalgene is my daily bottle for work, travel, and day hikes and this little piece of silicone is the only thing preventing me from regularly pouring water all over my face.
6. Cordage
A length of rope or cord can have hundreds of uses on trail and just about every backpacker is carrying some. It tends to gradually disappear, however, as you cut pieces off here and there. I like this PMI utility cord because it is inexpensive, smoother than paracord (making it easier to slide over tree limbs), and comes in fifty foot lengths and a variety of colors. Currently in my pack, I have fifty feet of blue for my bear bag and several lengths of orange for my tent or anything else that might need it.
7. Buff
A Buff can be worn in a variety of ways to shield the head, neck, or face from the sun, cold, or wind. It can also be used like a standard bandanna to insulate your coffee mug, wipe condensation off your tent, or about a hundred other things. Plus, the Buff comes in tons of colors and patterns and even a merino wool version.
8. Tent Stakes
Tent stakes are easy to lose or leave behind at camp so it doesn’t hurt to have a stash of extras. If you aren’t sure what stakes are your hiker’s favorite, look for something strong but lightweight. The MSR Groundhog Stakes are a popular option.
9. Camp Towel
The PackTowl Nano packs up small and is very absorbent. It also weighs less than an ounce and comes with a carabiner to attach to your pack. It’s not quite big enough to dry off after a swim or shower but is the perfect size for wiping away sweat or drying dishes.
10. Notebooks or Journals
Like many hikers, I routinely carry a small notebook in my pack. My favorites are the pocket-sized Moleskine Cahiers. They are light, simple, and small enough to fit in a quart-sized zip top bag. I also like that the last few pages are perforated to detach easily for sharing or leaving notes.
Anything you would add to this list hikers? What are you hoping to find in your stocking this year?