America the Beautiful National Parks Land Pass, $79.99/year at REI

The holiday season has arrived; hopefully this year with more in-person celebrations and gift-giving gatherings. If you have an outdoor, hiking enthusiast on your list and you’re not sure what to get them, this hiking gift guide is for you.

There are gifts that range from $10 up to $700, low-tech and high tech options, some apparel (though I think clothing, especially hiking clothing can be difficult to buy for another person), helpful gear, and (hopefully) some things that you haven’t thought of yet. 

Teva Re Ember Outdoor Slipper

If you’re looking for a gift for your hiking and camping enthusiast who seemingly already has everything, these Teva slip-on moccasins (or, as I like to call them, outdoor slippers) might be a great choice.

Made from recycled materials, they’re earth-friendly and comfortable: the perfect thing to slip on after a long hike or to wear around the campsite, or even into town for supplies. (They’re also at the top of my personal wishlist.)

REI Co-op Flash Carbon Compact Trekking Poles

As someone with a small meniscus tear in my left knee, I would never hike without a pair of trekking poles. These from REI are super lightweight and fold down to an easy, compact size that latches to your pack when not in use.

Trekking poles are especially useful when ascending and descending mountains, crossing rivers, and navigating muddy trails. One of the most significant treks I’ve done with mine was the Cross Borneo Trek which includes traversing a 130 million-year-old rainforest and climbing over the Muller Mountains.

Hydrapak Flux - Collapsible Backpacking Water Bottle 

No matter what the activity, hydration is always key. I love this durable, collapsible water bottle because when empty, it compresses down to approximately the size of a deck of cards. It also has a spill-proof drinking valve and connects to most threaded water filters.

Patagonia Nano Puff Insulated Jacket

I received my Patagonia Nano Puff jacket as a gift from the Starz show, "Power." Wrap gifts tend to be rather non-useful items that someone in production got a good deal on so this one was especially amazing (and unexpected). It stuffs down into its own pocket when not in use, making it the perfect thing to throw into your pack in case the weather takes a chilly turn – or you find yourself out longer than planned.

Speaking of staying out longer than anticipated, an emergency thermal blanket is one of those rather boring but incredibly useful gifts. These are those silver, mylar blankets you see marathoners wrapped in after a race. They maintain 90% of a person’s body heat, keeping them warm (and dry) in cold and wet environments.

They’re inexpensive, lightweight, and durable. They can be used for a variety of things including a solar oven, shade cover, emergency shelter, tourniquet, and snowmelt container.

Biolite Light Diffusing Stuff Sack

I’m a fan of Biolite products in general. I own their solar panel, stove, and various lighting contraptions. This ingenious little stuff stack is made from clear ripstop fabric that diffuses the light from any headlamp. There are elastic loops inside to secure the headlamp in the middle of the sack and a drawstring closure to hang from a tree or tent. When not being used as a lampshade, you can store your varied electronic cables inside.

Rechargeable and powerful, the Petzl Actik headlamp features a multi-lumen design, three brightness levels, and a red light mode – perfect for hiking, camping, running, and mountaineering.

Smartwool Women's Hike Classic Edition Full Cushion Merino Wool Crew Socks

Who doesn’t need more socks? Albeit a rather boring gift, Smartwool’s hiking socks are one of those gifts that you can’t really go wrong with. These are the classic, crew version with a full cushion. My favorite thing about Smartwool socks is that they don’t tend to retain any odors, even when worn multiple days in a row.

Icebreaker Merino Women's 200 Oasis Leggings

These merino wool leggings, available in a wide array of colors, are a perfect slim-fitting, base layer for cold-weather hikes and other adventures. I wear mine daily during the winter. I like them because they’re both warm and breathable.

The Snow Peak titanium spork is the Mercedes of camping sporks; stylish and exceptional. As someone who has broken a spork or two, I love this lightweight and durable version. They come in silver, blue, purple, and green.

SteriPen Adventurer Opti UV Personal Water Purifier 

I’m one of those people who worries almost obsessively about running out of water. I’ve often been teased about how much water I carry on my bike or in my backpack. The SteriPen helps alleviate my water anxieties by providing an easy and effective way to purify stream, river, and lake water.

The UV light of this handheld, compact water purifier destroys 99.9% of the harmful microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and protozoa. This version uses CR123A lithium batteries and will purify one liter of water in about 90 seconds (which is quick compared to iodine tablets). The Steripen works best with wide-mouthed water bottles like the Nalgene because, in order to work properly, both the UV tube and sensor need to be submerged. I also own the USB rechargeable version.

Backup power is always a nice thing to have when hiking and camping. I like that this battery bank has dual USB ports, gets along with all electronic devices, and fast charges Samsung Galaxy and Note phones.

There are numerous handheld GPS devices available, most of them manufactured by Garmin. GPS devices have two main functions: helping you to get to where you want to go, and acting as a satellite communicator when you’re in need of help. If I’m being honest, I personally want all the GPS devices (I love electronic gadgets) but if I had to choose which one I’d most like to receive as a gift, I’d pick the Garmin eTrex 32x.

The water-resistant and durable eTrex 32 uses both GPS and GLONASS satellite systems for better connectivity and tracking capabilities anywhere in the world and comes pre-loaded with routable TopoActive maps that include both roads and trails. The device has 8 GB of internal memory as well as a microSD card slot. There’s both a compass and barometric altimeter that makes it easy to figure out where you are.

If your hiking enthusiast embarks on multi-day adventures in remote regions, Garmin’s inReach Mini might serve them better.

The inReach mini is best for backcountry communications via satellite messaging (which requires a subscription) and perfect for updating loved ones while out and calling for help in case of emergencies. It has a tracking mode that sends your location to your specified contacts at regular intervals. The navigational abilities of the Mini are pretty barebones; sending you in a straight line toward whatever destination you input instead of following trails or paths.

America the Beautiful National Parks Land Pass

If you’re not sure what physical item (or items) to get for your hiking loved one this year, an annual pass to U.S. National Parks is the perfect gift.

The pass, good for park admission only, is honored at more than 2,000 federal recreation sites in the U.S., including all those managed by the Forest Service, National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Recreation, and Army Corps of Engineers.

Here’s to a happy, outdoor adventure-filled year – and hoping for more open borders in the near future.