21 Useful and Affordable Gifts for Hikers and Outdoorsy People - Under $25
This year, let’s gift something useful and desired but make it affordable!
Let’s be honest, most outdoorsy gear is not cheap. But there are plenty of items out there that your person will actually find useful without breaking the bank. So, for those of us who are not in a place to drop $500 on a new tent for your sibling, cousin, parent, or friend - check out the list below of Best Affordable and Inexpensive Gifts for Hikers and Outdoorsy People
This post contains affiliate links
Darn Tough Socks - Men and Women | $25
Quality socks are the real secret to a happy day out on trail. My boyfriend, Evan, wears through his socks at an alarming pace and the only ones that seem to hold up are his Darn Tough sets. Everything else has holes in the heel within a year. Personally, I would be so happy to receive socks as a gift any time of year!
Darn Tough has a performance fit meaning no slipping, no bunching, and no blisters for peak hiking comfort. They’re made from Merino Wool which naturally moves moisture to keep feet fresh and dry in all weather. Even better, they are unconditionally guaranteed for life.
Honey Stinger Waffle | $21
There is no other trail snack that is more delicious, easy to eat and digest, and lightweight than Honey Stingers! I find most other trail snacks to be too dry to eat when you’re heavy breathing you’re way up a hill. Stingers just melt in your mouth and I don’t need to drink half a liter of water after.
HydraPak Seeker 2L | $25
This ultra-lightweight water storage is a must for backpacking or even long days on a trail where you need to carry lots of extra water. The seeker is collapsible, filter filter-compatible, and I love the color!
If you’re wanting to splurge a little more, there are larger capacity sizes available as well!
Use code OUTOFTHISVAN-10 for 10% off
Bottle Bright Cleaning Tablets | $8
A must-have for overnight backpacking trips or to clean your hard-to-clean bottles. Not all of our water bottles are dishwasher safe and some are difficult to clean with just soap and water. These cleaning tablets get the job done quickly and efficiently.
Use code OUTOFTHISVAN-10 for 10% off
Sea to Summit Spoon | $5
A reliable camp spoon for only five dollars is the greatest gift you could give! We’ve used cheaper ones before and they do in fact break so go ahead and get your loved one a quality spoon they can take on any adventure. It’s especially useful to get deep in those freeze-dried food packets so no piece of delicious food is left behind.
Backpackers Pantry Freeze Dried Food | $10
For a single meal (2 servings), these are expensive but that’s also what makes them such a great gift to give! Your loved one will thoroughly appreciate a delicious lightweight freeze-dried food to easily throw in their bag next time they hit the trail. It beats having to put together a meal yourself while ensuring it’s nutritious and lightweight. As a bonus, they have a long shelf life so they can wait to use it in the summer.
Lasagna and Chicken Alfredo are my favorite meals!
Black Diamond Headlamp | $19
A quality headlamp is always a must-have for any outdoorsy person. We almost never hike in the dark but sometimes you end up staying on the trail a little longer to watch sunset. Or there’s the occasional pre-sunrise start to beat the heat in the summer. Not to mention, it’s incredibly useful to have a headlamp when hanging around camp at night!
I love the red color on this one so it’s easy to find in your bag but there are many other colors available as well (at different price points).
Adventure Medical Kit | $18
You never know when you’ll need a first aid kit on the trail. This one is tailored specifically to trail adventures with everything from moleskin for blisters to various kinds of bandages.
NEMO Closed-Cell Foam Seat | $19
We don’t have one of these but I find myself wanting or needing one more and more often while deep in the mountains or desert. It weighs nearly nothing and is so easy to strap to the exterior of your pack. No more having to sit on wet forest dirt, dusty desert dirt, or cold rocks.
Sea to Summit Ultralight Dry Bag | $21
We don’t have one of these but I find myself wanting or needing one more and more often while deep in the mountains or desert. It weighs nearly nothing and is so easy to strap to the exterior of your pack. No more having to sit on wet forest dirt, dusty desert dirt, or cold rocks.
Tony's Chocolonely Chocolate Bar Pack | $11
Chocolate is easily the best trail-side sweet treat to give you that extra boost of energy you need to finish out the long hike. These Tony’s Chocolonely bars are gigantic and they have some amazing flavors. The one linked here is a variety pack of 6 bars.
Burt's Bees Lip Balm | $7
If you manage to hang on to your tube of chapstick until it’s actually used up then you’re a wizard, Harry! Long days in the sun and wind always call for chapstick therapy. Burt’s Bees is our favorite brand.
Park Project Hiking Sock | $18
We don’t have one of these but I find myself wanting or needing one more and more often while deep in the mountains or desert. It weighs nearly nothing and is so easy to strap to the exterior of your pack. No more having to sit on wet forest dirt, dusty desert dirt, or cold rocks.
MSR Night Glow Zipper Pulls | $8
The regular pulls on the tent are perfectly fine but having ones that glow in the dark is even better! Your loved one would think this is an awesome gift!
Eagle Creek Packing Cube | $11
A packing cube can be so versatile and so nice to have. It’s not something that’s necessary to have but definitely nice to have! Once you have one packing cube, you’ll be wanting more and more
Smartwool liner gloves | $24
Along with the med kit, I always keep a pair of lightweight gloves in my day hiking pack during fall, winter, and spring. These come in various sizes and are made from merino wool which is super soft, resists odors, and keeps you dry.
Letterfolk Hike Journal | $24
I think it’s such an awesome idea to have physical memories of every hike you’ve done. It really puts into perspective the number of adventures you’ve been on.
Qinline Reusable Food Storage Bags | $24
We have these and can personally recommend them. They’re a lot more affordable than stasher bags and I believe more lightweight as well.
This is such a great gift for the backpacker in your life! I would bundle this with the med kit for the best preparedness gift.
HydraPak Recon Bottle | $18
This is one of our favorite bottles out there! We don’t take it on hikes but we do love having it as our daily bottle. The cap is designed in a way that makes it feel like you’re drinking out of glass which we love!
Use code OUTOFTHISVAN-10 for 10% off
Rover Dog Bowl | $12
For the many of us who like to hike with our pups, this is the best water bowl to take on outdoor adventures! It packs down incredibly small and it’s super lightweight.
Use code OUTOFTHISVAN-10 for 10% off
