25+ Perfect Gifts for Backpackers
If you are looking for the perfect gifts for a backpacker in your life, this guide is for you! There are many great gifts for backpackers that are essential pieces of gear, cooking systems, or luxury items, and this guide has them all. Every backpacker would be excited to receive any of these gifts! This guide has everything you need to know about the best gifts for backpackers, so you know what to buy your friends and family who backpack!
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Best Gifts for Backpackers: Under $30
Trowel
Trowels are important piecing of backpacking gear, making them great gifts for backpackers! Trowels are used for many things but most commonly when backpackers have to use the restroom. When nature calls, trowels are great for digging a small cathole.
The Vargo Titanium Dig Dig Tool is great for digging around small rocks and roots because they have aerospace-grade aluminum. Even though the aluminum is strong, these trowels weigh one ounce and are easy to pack. Every backpacker should carry a trowel, so they make great gifts!
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Compass
Backpackers should always have a map and compass to help navigate the trail. It can also be easy to feel lost in the backcountry if you make one wrong turn. Having a compass and a map can help backpackers reorient themselves and navigate while on their backpacking trip.
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backpacking food
Food is one of the most important things to bring while backpacking because it provides the nutrition all backpackers need on the trail. The best food for backpackers is dehydrated because it is lightweight, easy to carry, and easy to cook!
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Utensils
All backpackers have to use something to eat! The Snow Peak Titanium Spork is the perfect addition to every backpacking trip. Its titanium is lightweight and durable and does not rust. The spork is easy to use and clean during each meal.
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Kula Cloth
If you are looking for one of the best hygiene gifts for a backpacker, a Kula Cloth is perfect. When nature calls, it is crucial to have pieces of gear that will help.
Kula Cloth has two sides: one is absorbant and antimicrobial, and the other is waterproof. They are perfect to use when nature calls while leaving your hands dry. It also has a double snap, so backpackers can easily attach it to their backpack when it is not in use. I promise that the backpacker in your life will love receiving a Kula Cloth as a gift!
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Buff
A Buff is one of the best gifts for backpackers! It easily stretches when needed, is comfortable against your skin, and can be used for anything, including a bandana, hairband, face mask, or scarf.
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Backpacking Socks
Darn Tough has some of the best backpacking socks on the market. They have different levels of cushion and thickness to fit every purpose. They also are made with merino wool, which provides comfort and durability and is moisture-wicking, making them perfect gifts for backpackers!
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Camping Mug
The YETI Coffee Mug is the perfect accessory for anyone who spends time outdoors. Whether someone is camping, backpacking, or going for a road trip, the YETI Coffee Mug will keep coffee or tea warm for hours! The mug is made of stainless steel and will last for years, making it the perfect gift for backpackers!
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Best Gifts for Backpackers: Under $100
Water Filter
When someone is backpacking, they may not be able to carry the water they need for their entire trip. That is where a water filtration system comes in handy! Water filtration systems allow backpackers to filter a water source on the trail to clean drinkable water.
Sawyer Squeeze is one of the best systems for backpackers because it is lightweight and easy to use. It has pouches you can drink out of, so you do not have to worry about waiting to drink the water. It makes filtering water on backpacking trips easy!
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First-Aid Kit
First-aid kits are important backpacking gear everyone needs. First aid kits are crucial on every backpacking trip for emergencies and injuries (big and small).
Backpacking first-aid kits should have bandages, adhesive tape, alcohol swabs, antibiotic ointments, antiseptic wipes, and over-the-counter medications. It should also come in a water-resistant case to protect the supplies from the elements. The Adventure Medical Kits Ultralight/Watertight .7 Medical Kit is a perfect gift for backpackers because it is lightweight and easy to carry.
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Camping Coffee Press
If you know a coffee lover who cannot go on a backpacking trip without it, you can gift them a camping coffee press. The GSI Outdoors Java Press allows backpackers to enjoy a warm cup of java in the morning while backpacking. It is lightweight, durable, and easy to use, making it the perfect addition to any backpacking adventure.
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Headlamp
Headlamps are another great piece of gear for backpackers. When someone is backpacking, they are hanging out at camp when it is dark. Whether they are setting up camp, making food, or hanging out, a headlamp is crucial to help them see what they are doing.
Headlamps for backpacking are perfect light sources because they are hands-free, easy to use, and lightweight. The BioLite HeadLamp 330 is one of the best backpacking headlamps because it weighs 2.3 ounces, offers multiple light modes, and is rechargeable via a micro USB. It is the perfect gift for any backpacker!
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Sunglasses
No matter what season someone goes backpacking, sunglasses are a must-have piece of gear. Polarized sunglasses help protect our eyes against harmful UV rays and are great gifts for backpackers.
Harmful UV rays can bounce up from water, snow, and pavement, so sunglasses are essential for year-round backpacking adventures. The Sunski Yuba Polarized Sunglasses are great backpacking sunglasses because they are lightweight, block 100% of the UV light, and are durable.
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Pillow
For those looking for the ultimate comfort while camping, a pillow is one of the best luxury items for backpackers. The Sea to Summit Aeros Premium Pillow provides comfort while sleeping and packs down perfectly to fit into any hiking backpack. It is lightweight and comfortable and will help every backpacker sleep better, making it the perfect gift!
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backpacking Multitool
It is always important to carry a repair kit while hiking. Typically, the kit will include a knife, scissors, and duct tape. A multitool knife is for many things, including first aid, gear repair, and any emergency. There are many different kinds of knives, but the two best are single fold-out blade knives or multitool knives. Either way, a small and easily packable knife works best for backpacking.
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Camping Sandals
After a long day of backpacking, one of the best feelings is taking off your shoes and slipping on a pair of comfortable sandals. The Chaco Z/Cloud X2 Sandals offer cushion, adjustable straps, and rubber bottoms to provide the ultimate comfort, support, and traction.
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Backpacking Hammock
The ENO DoubleNest Hammock is the perfect gift for backpackers who love to relax after a day spent outdoors. The hammock has breathable and durable material and attaches to two trees, creating a place to relax. With it weighing a little over a pound and packing down into the size of a grapefruit, it easily packs into any backpack!
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Best Gifts for Backpackers: Under $200
Backpacking Stove
Backpacking stoves are great gifts for backpackers who enjoy having warm meals during their trip. The Jetboil Flash Cooking System is lightweight and cooks food quickly by boiling up to two cups of water in 100 seconds. It is perfect for backpackers who do not want to wait too long for their food to cook and need a lightweight backpacking stove.
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Massager
The Hyperice Hypervolt GO Massager is the perfect gift for backpackers to enjoy when they are home from a trip. The massager helps improve flexibility and reduce stiff muscles, which is nice after a long hike or adventure outdoors. There are three speeds, so someone can find what works best for them, and it is very lightweight and small, making it easy to carry and use. You really cannot go wrong with gifting this massager!
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Camping Chair
For those who enjoy backpacking in luxury, having a durable, comfortable, and lightweight chair is so important! The Helinox Chair Zero weighs a pound and packs into the width of a standard 32oz water bottle. It is easy to pack in a backpacking backpack and easy to set up once at camp. It is the perfect gift for those who want to sit around the fire on a comfortable chair!
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Best Gifts for Backpackers: Essential Items
Garmin inReach Mini
Every backpacker should carry a satellite messenger when on a trip for emergencies and communication. One of the best satellite messengers is the Garmin inReach Mini. It has an SOS button, GPS navigation, and text message capability, and it is satellite-based, allowing it to work while someone is off the grid. Although the Garmin inReach Mini is one of the most expensive gifts for backpackers, it is worth the money if you are willing to splurge!
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Sleeping Pad
One of the best ways to get good sleep while backpacking is to have a sleeping pad. Sleeping pads are lightweight and easy to inflate. It allows them to have support while sleeping and protection from the terrain.
The NEMO Sleeping Pad is lightweight and easily packable, making it perfect for any camping or backpacking adventure. It has two layers of insulation for 10-20°F to help keep you warm when you sleep in cold weather. The NEMO Tensor Insulated Sleeping Pad is the perfect addition for backpacking for better sleep. NEMO also has a lifetime warranty on all of its products!
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Sleeping Bag
If your backpacking friend does not have a high-quality sleeping bag, it may be a great gift! Sleeping bags are crucial backpacking gear because they provide warmth and comfort for better sleep.
The NEMO Sleeping Bag is the perfect sleeping bag for every type of sleeper, especially side sleepers. The sleeping bag is plush to keep you comfortable while asleep, has 650-fill-power down insulation to keep you warm on cold nights, and packs down to perfectly fit into a backpacking backpack. NEMO also has a lifetime warranty on all of its products!
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Backpacking Backpack
Backpacking backpacks carry everything a backpacker needs on a trip, so it is one of the best pieces of gear! The best backpacking backpacks are supportive, durable, and spacious.
The Osprey Aura AG 65 Pack is one of the best backpacks for backpacking because it is supportive to carry the weight of a backpacker’s gear. There are different sizes, so every backpacker can find what works best for them!
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Backpacking Tent
Backpacking tents are among the most crucial pieces of gear every backpacker needs! Backpacking tents should be lightweight, easy to set up, easy to carry, and durable.
The NEMO Dagger Tent is the perfect gift for backpackers because it is lightweight and roomy 2-person tent. The 3-season tent is three pounds and has two doors. The NEMO Dagger Tent is durable, provides ventilation, and has color-coded poles for easy setup. NEMO also has a lifetime warranty on all of its products!
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If you are looking for gifts for a backpacker, this guide is perfect for you! It has everything you need to know about the best gifts for all backpackers.
Hey, I’m Nichole!
I am the creator behind Nichole the Nomad, the home of my explorations around the world, mountain hikes, and beautiful pictures taken along the way. I have a deep passion for capturing the world in a beautiful light and sharing my experiences.
I created this blog to share my travels, show how beautiful the world is, provide tips and tricks for traveling, and encourage you to explore. Whether you want to travel across the world or explore what’s in your backyard, I hope this blog inspires you to get outside and find your adventure!
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