The Perfect Christmas Gifts for the Adventure Travelers in Your Life
I always have such a hard time shopping for my array of friends and family, from all walks of life, when it comes to the holiday season. If you feel the same way, I’m here to tell you that if you have someone on your list who loves to travel or who loves the outdoors and adventure, then I’ve put together a great guide below for the perfect Christmas gifts for adventure travelers! You’ll find lots of great gift ideas, and I’ve separated them according to the hobby! These are all things that are first-hand tested by me and are my favorite must-have’s when traveling or doing any of our outdoor activities.
When Stephen and I got married and were deciding where to hold our wedding registry at, we looked at the typical wedding registry places – Bed Bath & Beyond, Target, etc. But none of those fit what we needed at that time in our lives. We did more research and chose to register with Amazon. This is where the majority of our equipment listed below came from and it has seriously helped us so much since getting married a year ago. We haven’t had to purchase many “big ticket” items because they were given to us as wedding gifts! I’m so glad we went with this route and I will forever be a fan of Amazon for all the products that they have to offer.
Note: Most of the links below are Affiliate Links. This means that they are products that I personally use and would recommend to anyone. Affiliate links generate a small commission that helps offset some of my website expenses. There is no additional cost to you for using my affiliate links, but it does help me continue to share my experiences and inspirations. Anything you purchase through these links will help me keep my website running!
Table of Contents
For the Campers
TENT
The most important item when camping is a tent. If you don’t have a good tent, your entire camping experience will be affected. This tent that I’m recommending is the same one that has been through 14 countries and has endured many nights of rain (both showers and downpours) as well as freezing cold temperatures. It provides plenty of room for Stephen, myself and the pup, and even provides extra room to bring stuff in during the rain. I especially love the “porch” feature. It’s easy to assemble and doesn’t take up much space in the car!
**Check out our post from the road trip we took this last summer through 13 countries in 14 days! Start with part 1 here!
SLEEPING BAG
As a couple, we sleep in a double sleeping bag and it’s perfect for snuggling on cold nights. For those hot summer nights, we just lay on top with a light blanket over us. It comes with 2 pillows and folds up nicely into the bag.
COOKWARE
I love the cookware we have! It’s easy to clean, makes the perfect sized portions, and folds up super easy so it doesn’t take up too much room. We have the 17-piece set and it even comes with a wine opener – because you can’t go camping without wine or beer!
WATER FILTER
Running out of water is one of the biggest things I used to worry about. Luckily with a water filtration system, as long as you can find running water or a creek nearby, you’ll be able to filter your water to drink!
Sawyer Products Mini Water Filtration System
USB CHARGER
When you’re out in the woods camping or backpacking, power sources may be hard to come by. This solar-powered charger is my favorite because it has multiple ports and fits with all types of phones. It even has the cords attached so you don’t have to carry extra! It charges even when it’s not 100% sunny outside.
Cobra Electronics CPP 300 SP Dual Panel Solar USB Charger
LANTERN
Perfect for seeing in the tent and around your campsite after the sun goes down. They are collapsible and battery-powered.
QUICK DRY TOWEL
Beach towels take up loads of room in your suitcase, take ages to dry and collect sand like nobody’s business BUT these gorgeous alternatives from Dock & Bay are lightweight, compact and come in a range of bright colours, perfect for taking on your hols! These Dock & Bay towels are flying off the shelves as more travellers discover their unique material and Instagramable patterns. My fave has to be their round sharing towel, not only is it great to relax on soaking up rays on the beach but it also looks amazing and comes with the cutest little carry bag.
This product comes recommended by Laura & Charlie at The Travelling Stomach. You can view the product here.
For the Hikers
HIKING BOOTS
Everyone always asks me for recommendations on hiking boots. I have had these boots for over a year now and they are reliable, sturdy, excellent support for my ankles, and lightweight. I recommend them to everyone!
Columbia Women’s Newton Ridge Plus Hiking Boot
HIKING PANTS
These are my favorite hiking pants (even if they’re technically men’s pants). I love the flexibility and quality of them. Purchased at Decathlon.
Forclaz Men’s Dark Grey Trek 900 Mountain Trekking Trousers
BACKPACK
My go-to backpack is REI’s Trail 30. I take this everywhere with me. What I really love about this pack is that it is lightweight, holds plenty of gear, and has a comfy padded back and straps with an adjustable harness to buckle across your chest and waist for added support. It has an abundance of zipper sections and both sides have a water bottle pocket. This backpack comes with a compact waterproof bag, which comes in super handy during those rainy hikes and climbs.
Amazon’s version: Osprey Escapist 18 Daypacks, Black, Medium/Large
Original pack from REI: REI’s Trail 30
If you want to know what goes in my backpack when traveling, check that post out here!
HIKING POLES
I don’t go anywhere without my hiking poles anymore. I have terrible knees and going downhill is the worst for me. The hiking poles save my knees and prevent me from slipping all the time. They come with a pouch and they fit perfectly on the front of my REI backpack. They’re collapsible and the anti-shock is the best feature. I’ve purchased super expensive hiking poles after forgetting these at home once, and they were nowhere near the quality of these!
GAITERS
I never realized how much I needed gaiters until we took a trip to Norway and were walking in knee-deep soft snow. My snow boots and hiking boots weren’t high enough and luckily these gaiters saved me from getting tons of snow in my shoes. They kept the bottom of my legs warm as well! They velcro up the side and snap underneath your shoes for a perfect fit.
OUTAD Waterproof Outdoor Hiking Walking Climbing Hunting Snow Legging Gaiters (1 Pair)
**Related post: Chasing the Northern Lights Through Norway | When to Go, Where to Stay, What to Do
For the Mountaineers, Climbers, Via Ferrata(ers)
HELMET
I love my climbing helmet and I’ve always felt safe wearing it. It’s adjustable for all sizes and is lightweight.
ENEDLRID Zodiac Hybrid Helmet, Snow or Black Diamond Half Dome Helmet
CARABINERS
You can never have enough carabiners for climbing, holding things up, and more!
HARNESS
Petzl is my go-to brand for climbing harnesses. It may cost more, but you want a reliable harness. It’s your life on the line here. We purchased ours at Decathlon, but you can find the same one on Amazon.
VIA FERRATA KIT
We purchased ours from Decathlon, the European sporting goods store. I love their products and I’m sure you could find one similar on Amazon. (Via Ferrata Kit Vitalink)
General Gifts for Every Traveler
EMERGENCY KIT
I clip this emergency kit to my backpack when I’m traveling and it goes through security at the airport with no flags either! It has everything you would need: fishing hooks, fishing floats, swivels, fishing weights, fishing line, flint for fire-starting, tinder, tin foil, alcohol pad, needle, safety pins, and a small sharp knife blade.
COMPASS BRACELET
WATERPROOF WINTER JACKET
I love that this jacket is waterproof, has a fuzzy lining, and is windproof. It’s perfect for those cold winters, snowboarding, skiing, and other outdoor winter sports.
Wantdo Women’s Mountain Waterproof Ski Jacket Windproof Rain Jacket
Keepsake Gifts to Commemorate Travels
CUSTOM PAINTINGS by Lauren Chu
For a thoughtful gift that will go a LONG way, order a custom painting of a treasured landscape. It’s the type of gift that keeps on giving: artwork that commemorates and reminds you of somewhere that holds a special place in your heart. Maybe it’s from their first hiking trip, or the country in which they were born. For just $40, this artist breaks even on materials and time to be able to share her love of the outdoors and its beauty. Simply send a photograph, and within a month you’ll receive a 4×8” original recreation of that special place.
You can visit the artist, Lauren Chu, and her art page to purchase a custom painting for a friend or loved one this Christmas here: https://theridgelinereport.com/custom-landscape-paintings/
Check out more of her work on her Instagram here! It’s seriously amazing!
SCRATCH OFF MAP
Stephen sent me this one year for my birthday and I love having a visual of all the places we’ve visited. I also really enjoy scratching off a place once we’ve returned home!
That’s the complete list and all of my favorite equipment and outerwear for our adventures. Hopefully, you found an item on this list of recommended Christmas gifts for adventure travelers! Do you have any products to add that are a must in your travels? Let me know in the comments below!
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