Even if you’re not ready to buy holiday gifts yet, it’s time to start thinking about and researching some ideas for your friends and family. There are more options for hikers these days, so consider these suggestions to add to your gift list.
Whether you plan to hike in summer or winter, these items should be useful on the trail for the typical day hiker.
Socks
For those who still hang a stocking, stuff them with some decent socks made for hikers. The right socks can make a big difference in comfort during a day of hiking.
Recently, I tried CEP compression mid-cut wool hiking socks and noticed that, in addition to support, my feet also stayed dry when I stepped in a creek. They also offer tall compression socks and low-cut.
PAKA Apparel makes an alpaca wool hiking sock that is lightweight and claims to be odor-resistant.
If you step into any outdoor gear store, you will have plenty of options for hiking socks based on color, style and various attributes to benefit a hiker. Check if the socks you like are for men or women, as the sizing differences do matter.
T-shirts
There are a lot of choices in T-shirts made for hiking. A favorite I’ve held on to for years is from Minus 33. At first, I thought I wouldn’t like a wool T-shirt, but Minus 33 offers micro-weight, lightweight, midweight, and expedition so you can choose the thickness. It’s like buying a sleeping bag, so you choose based on temperature.
Boulder-based ONNO makes short and long-sleeve T-shirts for hikers out of bamboo and cotton. The idea here is ease of movement and softness, especially when layering the top with other pullovers and jackets.
Sunglasses
Year-round in Colorado, you’ll want to wear sunglasses on the hiking trail.
Goodr sunglasses seem to be everywhere these days — and for good reason. These reasonably priced sunglasses come in a rainbow of fun colors, are lightweight and polarized. (Polarization is a chemical added to the lenses that enhance visual comfort.)
Hyoung Chang, The Denver Post
Hikers use poles to climb the snow-covered Hanging Lake trail in Glenwood Springs on March 5, 2020. (Hyoung Chang, The Denver Post)
Tifosi makes a shatterproof lens in an aviator-style frame (and several colors) for its Selca sunglasses, and they are available as prescription glasses, too. The Tifosi Salto and Swank styles are also good for hikers thanks to their durability.
In these price points, a pair of sunglasses can be a fun add-on to a bigger gift for a hiker.
Poles
Hiking poles (also called trekking poles) are a bit controversial because some people think that they aren’t necessary or can even get in the way. Some say that using hiking poles can provide an all-body workout, and when going downhill they might take pressure off the knees. I believe it depends on the hike as to whether or not poles are needed.
As someone who remains ambivalent about hiking poles (I’ve been known to toss them aside on the trail, then retrieve them again on my way down), I’d suggest the adjustable kind that can be reduced in size to fit in a backpack. Also, look for the carbon fiber poles as they will be the lighter ones.
Poles can be a tricky gift since the length can be a critical part of the equipment for optimum use.
Boots
Hiking boots should probably be tried on by the hiker as the fit really matters in order to avoid the possibility of blisters or cramping in the toe box. Depending on the season, you might see people hiking in sandals and well-worn sneakers, not a structured book with ankle support, so footwear is a personal choice.
Merrell, Salomon, and KEEN have been reliable brands for both hiking boots and hiking shoes over the years, but now popular running shoe brand HOKA is getting into the hiking genre, too.
For optimum performance, a hiking shoe or boot should be a little too big so there is not increased pressure on toes (specifically toenails) or heels, where injuries can occur if a shoe is too snug.
Backpacks
The average day hiker does not need a full backpack with a frame, but just a simple pack with a couple of pockets for holding essentials. This is for hiking, not camping or backpacking on a through-trail.
Since there is a large selection of bags out there, consider going local with Topo Designs, a Colorado-based company that has several colorful bags. What I like about my Topo backpack is how it has held up over the years and how versatile it is.
If you’re getting someone a new backpack, consider stocking it with a first aid kit, water bottle and sunscreen, so these important but less gifty items are included.
Books
There’s no need to worry about size or color or fit with a book! Many years before I wrote a guidebook, I used a wildflower guidebook to inspire hikes with family and friends. Consider how this book might be used when you select it.
This fall, Colorado Parks and Wildlife announced its newest book, “At Home in Nature, The History of Colorado’s State Parks,” which can be purchased at state park visitor centers. State parks have trail systems for recreationists and can offer ideal hiking opportunities.
Select a book that suggests hikes in a particular area or for hikes to go on with young children or hikes for birders or hikes recommended by a local.
So many other hiking accessories
If you think your favorite hiker already has the basics, maybe you need to buy something a little more personal — and even unusual.
- I don’t leave the house without my Kahtoola microspikes when hiking in the winter (or even spring, when there is likely still some ice on the trail). I tried a few other brands and styles of spikes and found Kahtoola the easiest to pull on over my boots, and they are sturdy.
- A headlamp comes in handy for those sunrise or sunset hikes where you find yourself on the trail in the dark before or after the magic moments of illumination. BioLite has a selection of rechargeable headlamps (and portable chargers), for example.
- Humangear offers GoPee, a pouch that is supposed to make it easier for women to relieve themselves while out for a hike. Also popular for some lady hikers are reusable Kula Cloths.
- For the backcountry hiker, splurge on a Garmin InReach or Garmin Instinct for connecting when a phone is not in range.
- If someone hikes with a dog, get them a collapsible water bowl or a dog doo tube (so they don’t leave their waste bags on the trail).
- Buy an annual pass to Colorado State Parks or a national parks pass so they have access to more trails, or purchase a CORSAR card which benefits the groups that rescue stranded hikers.
Maybe the best gift you can give is an offer to go on a hike together, and sometime soon.
Colorado-based Mindy Sink is author of hiking guides and a freelance writer.
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