Hey, as the title states I’m at a loss trying to figure out what to get my wife for Christmas. She’s an avid hiker (3-4 hikes a week and she doesn’t count anything under 1.5 miles). I’ve been getting her hiking gear for years now and I’m running out of ideas. To make it harder, she works at an outfitter store so she has access to gear/clothing early and at a steep discount. If you have any gear that you love and think everyone should have, let me know.
Books? So many good books out there on places you could go or have been… I’d say if she has everything, you gotta think not gear stuff but maybe silly things or trips together somewhere to go hiking. Ha, I’m in the same spot where I work at an outfitter, just buy stuff as I need. Maybe a storage system?
@Keaton
A storage system is a good idea.
Maybe a different direction than gear: is there a place she has talked about exploring that she hasn’t had a chance to hike yet? If you know what she likes, you could plan a special trip.
What is your budget?
Since she works at a gear shop, anything they sell there should be off-limits. What store?
Joss said:
What is your budget?
Since she works at a gear shop, anything they sell there should be off-limits. What store?
100-200 (we don’t spend a lot on each other; we have 2 kids). She works at a local outfitter. It got a lot harder once she started there because that’s where I would always go haha.
@Thorne
Is that USD? What country are you in?
Yeah, we are in the US.
Honestly, I’d skip the hiking gear in this case. But… if you really want to try…
Think about ‘consumable’ items.
Food of all kinds can be a nice Christmas present. Fancy dehydrated meals are expensive and a ‘splurge’ item for most hikers. Better than grocery store ramen or a cold PB&J. Companies like Packit Gourmet, Peak Refuel, or Gastro Gnome are all high quality. Add in a few chocolate bars for fun.
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https://packitgourmet.com/bigun-burrito-with-fajita-chicken/
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https://peakrefuel.com/collections/shop/products/meateater-bison-bbq-mac-and-cheese
First Aid Supplies are kind of boring, but practical. If she doesn’t already have a custom FAK bag, buy the bag and then get a few random items to go inside it. I like Leukotape P (not K) for blisters. Pack of Ibuprofen and a few band-aids too.
- https://hilltoppacks.com/products/zipper-pouches
- https://spacebearbags.com/products/dyneema-hiker-first-aid-pouch
I made a ‘poop’ kit for a friend one year. Hand soap, trowel, wipes, in a bag like the above FAK one. Add in a bottle bidet to shake things up!
- https://spacebearbags.com/products/dyneema-hiker-poop-moji-pouch
- http://www.thetentlab.com/Deuce/DeuceofSpadespage.html
- https://culoclean.com
Fanny Packs are fun. They come in a bunch of styles and colors. Even if she already has 1, a 2nd or 5th is always welcome in my house.
Clothes are always risky, but socks are always a winner. I think a buff is also versatile and they come in fun styles.
- https://darntough.com/collections/womens-hiking-socks
- https://www.smartwool.com/en-us/women/shop-by-activity/hike
- https://www.buff.com/us/neckwear/multifunctional-tubulars-and-snoods/merino-multifunctional.html
A fresh new water bladder and water filter may be nice if the one she has now needs to be replaced.
- https://cnocoutdoors.com/products/vecto-28mm
- https://www.platy.com/filtration/quickdraw-filter/quickdraw-filter.html
A shiny new headlamp is pretty nice too. They seem to get better and better (brighter for longer) every year. I prefer the ones with built-in rechargeable batteries.
If those specific items aren’t ideal for you, look around on those websites for inspiration. These are all quality brands that sell a wide variety of hiking gear.
Compass, perhaps? They’re fascinating and highly useful if you know how to use one. I’d recommend Cammenga 3H (tritium) or Model 27 (phosphorescent), Suunto, Silva, or Brunton.
Nye said:
Compass, perhaps? They’re fascinating and highly useful if you know how to use one. I’d recommend Cammenga 3H (tritium) or Model 27 (phosphorescent), Suunto, Silva, or Brunton.
I’ve bought her a few different compasses but she doesn’t use them. I even got her a GPS/sat phone and it just lives in the closet haha.
I’m currently in the process of changing my water storage to Hydrapak. Highly recommend, you can use any of their water containers as bladders if you buy their plug-and-play cap. So you can have a 1L - 10L bladder. Love them and they have a great warranty. Bought my first one in 2020 and have slowly but surely been collecting them.
@Shannon
I’ll check those out.
Go with a high-quality knife. Not the most romantic gift, but you can’t beat it on the practical side. I’ve got my eye on one for my partner.
This one is even featured in the New York Museum of Modern Art:
Bonus: It’s a Canadian company so your dollar goes a long way even with tax/tariffs.