Not sure what to get for Christmas for your adventurous friends and family? Maybe my list of gifts for outdoorsy people will help!
I come from a very outdoorsy family where everyone likes hiking, camping or cycling. Under our Christmas tree, you will always find some outdoor gear or books about famous mountaineers or travellers. But buying a perfect gift for outdoorsy people is not as easy as it seems.
Advice for buying Christmas gifts for outdoorsy people
- Don’t buy gear like sleeping mats, tents, hiking shoes, backpacks etc. without checking with the person what their needs are or what model they are interested in. There’s nothing worse than getting an expensive gift that’s not right for you, and choosing the right tent or sleeping bag is not easy even for yourself, much less for someone else.
- Not sure if your outdoorsy friend or family member already has or will use what you’re planning to give them? A great way to find it out is to pretend you’re asking them for advice. My friend is planning a long trek and wants to buy a water filter. Can you recommend the one you have? You don’t have one? Do you think it’s worth having one?
- Look for lightweight and practical things – hikers and adventure cyclists don’t want to carry extra weight.
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Experiences
Many travellers and adventurers don’t like to have too much stuff. If you’re frequently moving around, you don’t want to worry about where to store the next pair of socks you got for Christmas. Most hikers and adventurers are more fond of collecting experiences than things.
If your outdoorsy friend or a family member has already booked their next big trip, you can help them make it more memorable by booking a unique experience for them. There are plenty of options to choose from, like a night bear-watching trip in Finland, rafting in Albania, a guided snow-shoeing tour in the Canadian Rockies, a puffin-spotting cruise in Scotland, paragliding in Nepal or horseback riding in Catalonia.
You don’t have to spend a lot to make your outdoorsy friends happy! If you’re conscious about your budget, you can create a personalised budget for a camping weekend by the nearby lake or a hike together.
When the time comes, pack some tasty snacks and prepare something special. Quality time together is worth much more than any gifts you can find under the Christmas tree!
Books for adventure lovers
An inspiring book is a great gift idea for outdoor lovers. Over the winter, many people are planning their next summer adventures and reading other people’s stories from the road keeps the motivation up and builds anticipation towards the next trip.
Here are some recommendations:
John Krakauer, Into Thin Air
Into Thin Air by John Krakauer is a classic for all mountain lovers and mountaineers. It’s a personal report from the biggest disaster that happened on Mount Everest in 1996 when eight climbers died during the descent from the summit.
Dervla Murphy, Full Tilt
An amazing story of an Irish woman who, in 1963, headed on her first bicycle tour alone, from Ireland to India. Dervla Murphy is probably the most famous female cycle tourer and her journals are full of thoughtful insights and observations. It will be a great gift for every woman who is dreaming about travelling solo but needs additional push and inspiration.
Gale Straub, She Explores
This beautifully designed book features short stories of adventurous women, practical tips and inspirational photos that will ignite the spark and make you want to hit the road! Showing different approaches to adventure and nature: professionals, creatives, enthusiasts, advocates and many more. Another great gift for adventurous women.
Lonely Planet’s Epic Hikes and Epic Bike Rides series
The books from Epic Hikes and Epic Bike Rides series by Lonely Planet can serve as a source of inspiration for every adventurer.
Alastair Humphreys, Moods of Future Joys
Another great book for bicycle travellers. In Moods of Future Joys, Alastair Humphreys doesn’t shy away from showing the challenges of touring solo and the human side of a person who decides to cycle around the world. One of the most relatable books I’ve read from this genre.
Scribd subscription
A Scribd subscription is a perfect gift for long-term travellers who cannot carry paper books. It is a huge database of books, magazines, audiobooks and podcasts, all available to save offline.
The Scribd App is available for most phones with iOS and Android and for some ebook readers (check here to find out which ones don’t support Scribd). You can also read on your laptop.
Thanks to Scribd, I finally read more during my journeys. It’s much more convenient than bringing paper books for a trip and, in the long run, cheaper than buying single ebooks. I don’t buy guidebooks anymore since everything I look for is available on Scribd.
National Audubon Society Field Guide to the Night Sky
This book with guided tour and sky charts of the sky will make stargazing during camping nights more meaningful.
Detours – 75 Activity Cards for Travel Near and Far
This is not a book but a card deck with prompts to make daily life and travelling more adventurous and creative.
Outdoor Gadgets and Clothes
Merino Socks
Socks have always been the ultimate Christmas gift if you run out of ideas. It sounds boring, I know, but I can guarantee that every outdoor freak will be happy about a pair of warm, soft, and fast-drying socks made of merino wool.
Minimalistic wallet
A light and small wallet is a practical gift for hikers who don’t like to carry too much. It allows them to only take a few bucks, a credit card and an ID. This one has a snap hook, so you can attach it to a buckle and never lose it!
A compact microfibre towel
A must-have item on every camping trip and something I always bring with me on my bicycle tours. A microfibre towel is light and doesn’t take up much space. It also dries really quickly. It’s a perfect idea for a low-budget gift for outdoor fans.
Swiss Army Knife
Every camping enthusiast will appreciate a sharp pocket knife with additional tools to help them survive in the wild.
Water Filter
A water filter is a fantastic gift for people who love extreme expeditions in the wild. It will allow them to drink water from streams and reservoirs without worrying about stomach problems since a good filter removes 99.999999% of bacteria.
A good hand creme
Spending a lot of time outdoors, in the cold and wind, takes a toll on your hands and face. Every adventurer will appreciate a good hand creme, for example, The Badger Balm for hard-working hands.
Outdoor wine glasses
Outdoor wine glasses are a great gift idea for glamorous campers, allowing them to bring the luxury vibe to their weekends away.
Enamel cup
Nothing tastes better than hot tea from a cute enamel cup by a campfire!
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