Hiking, biking and s'more: These are the best gifts for outdoorsy people

On one camping excursion a friend broke this little baby out and it was met with gasps and awe. It's so compact! It's so practical! It's such a smart design! Any camper who isn't satisfied eating reconstituted mac and cheese knows that spices can make or break a backcountry meal. We all want to be rustic — but bland food? We aren't animals. There is so much more than meets the eye when it comes to this lightweight little doodad. It breaks into three double-sided compartments, so you can carry SIX spices with you on the trails. 

Give them the gift of exploration! This all-access pass offers entry to over 2,000 recreation areas managed by six federal agencies, including the National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, and Bureau of Land Management. It's valid for 12 months, offering up to 365 days of outdoor goodness.

Whether they are hikers or backpackers or just love to explore short strolls in the woods, this is the penultimate trail map app. AllTrails+ will take their exploration to the next level while keeping them safe along the way. With over 450,000 trail maps worldwide, it’s a must-have for any adventurer. The Plus membership lets them download offline maps, get real-time turn alerts (for when they go off-trail), receive weather updates, and access 200+ National Park guides.

Problem: Carrying a sufficient amount of water on any major outdoor excursion is heavy. Solution: This lightweight filter that makes suspect streams, nasty ponds and just about any water source you might encounter instantly potable. 

This simple-to-use doodad removes 99.99999% of parasites, bacteria, microplastics and all of that silt and cloudiness that makes certain water too scummy to drink. A potentially life-saving gizmo that's perfectly-sized to stuff a Christmas stocking? Sold. 

This travel towel is the best of all worlds — it's made of super soft and ultra-absorbent micro suede. It repels sand and, while it sucks up water faster and more efficiently than typical terry cloth, it rapidly dries in the sun. It's lightweight and packs down to about the size of a 6-inch submarine sandwich, making it highly portable as well. 

For a thoughtful and sentimental gift for the outdoorsy person in your life, this customizable collage celebrates what's most important to them in a sweet and unique work of art. The one-of-a-kind piece is handmade by the artist and can be personalized with details like hair color, pack colors and names — and you can even include pets! The result? A beautifully unique keepsake that they can admire and daydream over.

After a long day of adventuring outdoors, these comfy slides are a well-deserved campsite or trailhead treat for your feet. The flexible, cushiony footbed is a salve for your sole. (Soul? Nah, sole.) But my favorite part? The back of the shoe is soft and collapsable, so they convert from sneaker to slipper in seconds. Great for those middle-of-the-night runs to the loo when you don't want to fuss with laces, but the ground is too cold for shower shoes. 

Sure, people may argue that socks are a boring gift, but any outdoors person will tell you we live for a great pair. This Vermont-made brand makes some of the most talked about socks on the market (a sentence I never thought I'd write): They're cushiony without being restricting; they're warm but lightweight and never make your feet feel sweaty. And they dry quickly, for when your traverse across a stream ends in disaster. 

The best gift I ever got my husband was this collapsible camp kitchen. Prepping dinner on a dirty campsite table is chaotic and — let’s be real — pretty gross. This setup is the ideal height to keep little hands and paws away from the action and has just the right amount of compartments to keep everything organized and within reach. It folds flat for easy travel and, best of all, it’ll inspire whoever you gift it to to handle all the cooking. Win!

These things are the best. Yes, they are a must-have on ski slopes and during ice climbs, but they are also a very-nice-to-have during camping trips or post surf-sessions when they are trying to bring their body temps back up to normal. They're a First Aid kit gem. Ten come in this pack, so your recipient can be a little indulgent. 

Maybe they're new to kayaking. Maybe they're short on space. Either way, this inflatable is the gift they need to get all of the seafaring adventures they dream of underway. This all-in-one setup is easy to assemble and will have them in the water in no time. It's highly rated for stability, in case they're not quite expert-level and more kayaking-curious.

And if you're gifting a couple, there's a two-seater version! 

Weather resistant with enough power to last 110 (!!) hours, this genius headlamp has a dual battery system, allowing you to juice it up but bring AAAs for longer excursions. Choose from three white levels and a red light (particularly useful as a safety feature, should the user get lost in the woods). A charge indicator lets you know when battery is running low and a lock function ensures it won't accidentally turn on when it's hanging out at the bottom of your bag. Up to 450 lumens of light can cut through even the most dense fog. Plus, the design lets it sit as comfortably on your forehead as it will on a bike or ski helmet. This is the créme de la créme of headlamps — you'll find others that cost more, but this is a beast with all the bells and whistles they could ever need. 

Picture this: The sun is setting, an invigorating chill is in the air, the s'mores fixings are ready — and the darn fire won't start. This kit has everything they need to get cookin' — stat — in one convenient, packable package. They'll receive matches in a waterproofed shell, a fire-starting flint and some cotton kindling to get those flames roaring faster than someone can say, "pass the chocolate!"

In case you haven't noticed a trend in my gift suggestions, I'm very into s'mores. There's something to be said for finding the perfect stick to skewer your marshmallows, but that all goes up in smoke when your trusty tool catches fire. These telescoping, dual-pronged sticks are ideal for getting your marshmallows, hot dogs, veggies — whatever — roasting at a respectable (and safe) distance, and they'll never turn into accidental kindling if your attention veers off. Each has a rotation wheel that ensures even roasting. When done, the whole set of five collapses and fits into a handy storage bag. 

What if we told you their campsite coffee game is about to get a whole lot better? It's time for them to ditch that muddy instant brew. The Aeropress is the ultimate go-to tool for traveling light — and it makes a truly fantastic, full-bodied cup of joe (seriously, coffee snobs love this thing). Compact and convenient, it'll elevate every sunrise.

While we're on the subject of coffee, they'll need speedy access to piping hot water to get a great cuppa going on a cold morning. Boiling H20 over a camp stove can be a grueling and arduous task when you've got cold fingertips. This super-fast gadget can boil water in 100 seconds — even in sub-zero temperatures. Plus, it's lightweight and breaks down to be compact enough to backpack with. Not a coffee fan? They'll love you for helping them have hot water at the ready when they're prepping their morning oatmeal or camp meals.

This small pad is something folks wouldn't think to buy for themselves, but once they try it they'll be hooked. It's lightweight, packs small and cleans up easily. I could go on about the virtues of this unassuming yet indispensable piece of equipment, but I'll let a reviewer explain why it's so great. 

"I use mine to sit on, as a back rest, as a clean surface area when preparing food, to stand on when changing pants (so sock or barefoot doesn't get dirty), to rest my bare feet on outside the tent when removing boots (again, preventing them, and the inside of the tent, from getting dirty), as an extra sleeping pad layer under my hips (side sleepers rejoice!), as a wrap, around my dirty/wet sandals when affixing to the outside of my pack and on and on."

The great outdoors lends itself to unplugging and getting away from tech but — pics or it didn't happen. This handy clip is small, rugged and attaches to any backpack strap to turn it into a handy camera mount. Why does your resident shutterbug need this? Carrying an SLR or DSLR around your neck can cause fatigue, plus, it puts a camera in a precarious spot where precious lenses can get knocked around. This keeps the camera stable and secure, and eager to grab the second that must-get shot comes into view.  

The glare of the sun on sand, snow or surf can be a real downer on an outdoorsy day. These ultra-polarized sunnies are featherweight yet highly protective. The brand's proprietary SR-91 lenses make for some incredible eye protection that will have them ditching their Oakleys — for real. A combo of crisp clarity and superior glare reduction make for a pretty fantastic optical experience. Add to it the impact and scratch-resistant lenses and you get adventure-ready specs that should last for years. The thing that makes these stand out from the pack? They're astonishingly lightweight. It's tough to get this kind of protection with non-glass lenses, but these pull it off, making them an excellent choice for long days of wear. 

Since they are so lightweight, may we suggest an adjustable lanyard so they don't fly off?

Feeling swampy when adventuring is a deal-breaker — no matter what his activity of choice, staying dry is key to staying comfortable. This quick-drying, super-soft workout shirt has an anti-stink, anti-cling design that's ideal for the guy who likes to push himself while exploring the world. Plus, the odor-busting technology is a game-changer for when he's packing light and needs a top that'll withstand numerous wears before being washed. 

Your outdoorsy friend doesn't want a tennis bracelet. Instead gift them a (sorta) piece of jewelry that will help them be prepared for the elements. A fully functioning compass, a fire starter, a loud whistle (should they get lost) and paracord make this a wildly practical survival tool.  

For the camper who loves to whip up meals, this portable kitchen system takes Solo Stove’s signature smokeless fire pit and shrinks it down to a compact, go-anywhere size. The kit comes with everything they'll need: a 900ml cook pot, windscreen, carry case, alcohol burner and fire striker. Weighing just over half a pound, this lightweight, fuel-free option is basically s'mores-ready (see, I'm talking about s'mores again!). 

Carrying a cooler is backbreaking work. This 32-gallon wheeled winner will let them roll into the party with up to 50 cans. It's big enough to store everything they need for a campout or tailgate but small enough to fit in the trunk of a Prius (tested by yours truly). I can attest that everything will stay cool (from said cans to hot dogs and anything else) for up to 48 hours.

Maybe she can't always get to the mountains, but this lovely charm will always remind her where her heart is. Each one of these wearable pieces of art is handcrafted from clay to show a vignette of one of nine national parks — from Joshua Tree to Grand Teton.  

This is a slam-dunk gift. The breathable, quick-dry, SPF 50 neck and head covering can scrunch down to be a scarf on cooler days or accordion out on scorchers. They can dip it in water to keep cool, cover their nose on dusty trails and pull it over their hair to tame sweaty strands. It's indispensable and comes in dozens of colors and styles. 

This top is so soft you'll feel like you're slipping into silk — yet it performs better than silk ever could on a trail. The breathable fabric will keep them warm without overheating no matter what adventure they may find themselves on — and it dries quickly, should they work up a sweat. This piece is ideal for layering and makes a perfect mid-layer for shoulder season hikes.

Doesn't matter if they already have a fleece — this gorgeous pullover is the upgrade they didn't know they needed. It's warm, it's well-made and, quite frankly, the print is stunning. Made by Patagonia (a darling in the outdoorsy community), it's almost entirely made of recycled double-sided fleece, ensuring supreme softness inside and out. Like all Patagonia gear, it's made responsibly in a fair trade-certified factory.

We're big fans of the chevron-style pattern, but if you think their style veers elsewhere, it comes in nine other options. 

True story: I thought my hiking days were behind me. A series of ankle rolls meant I needed a highly structured boot. In my experience that tended to translate as restrictive and blister-inducing, which ruined the experience. My friend Karilyn Owen, a travel blogger at No Back Home with a strong focus on backpacking and hiking, recommended I try these and I’m so glad I did. Not only are they highly supportive, they are ludicrously comfortable. Unlike many competitors they maintain enough cushion to keep you comfortable even during multi-day treks. But that cushioning doesn’t become a liability: You can actually feel the ground beneath you, which is so important when navigating hidden roots and rocks. And the soles are grippy — they can almost double as rock climbing shoes.

I’ve tried them all: Hokas, Merrills, Vasques, Salomons — not only are these the most comfortable (and blister-free!), they're the most stable. Rarely would I recommend you gift something so subjective as a hiking boot, but — for these — I’ll make an exception.

In a previous life I tested outdoor gear for a living. When it came to kids' sleeping bags, year after year after year and test after test after test, the REI Kindercone came out on top. Its size makes it ideal for little ones under 5 feet tall, and it has loads of kid-friendly features, like an anti-snag zipper, an adjustable mummy hood and an extra-puffy draft tube to keep cold air out and warm air in. It's machine washable, which is clutch when you're potty training or a mischievous sweet tooth sneaks their s'mores into the sack and falls asleep with it. (MY kid.) All that is well and good but my favorite feature? The attached stuff sack, so it'll never get lost, no matter what level of chaos your child courts. 

A small pack is essential for keeping half-pints happy on the trails, and this one is just the right size. The internal bladder helps teach little adventurers to stay hydrated early on. It has enough pockets and daisy chains to keep things organized without going crazy with compartments. This thing is built to last; my kid has had his for four years and it's held up beautifully. 

Know a kid who's struggling with biking? Guardian models are made just for this purpose. The brake design and pedal system allow little ones to put all of the pieces together to gain the confidence they need to soar. The patented Sure Stop brake system ensures they won't flip over the handlebars and the ultra-lightweight frame makes it a snap to maneuver.

Yup, another sleeping bag. Got a kid encroaching on (or maybe surpassing) the 5-foot-tall mark? The Kelty Mistral has been my son's favorite since his last growth spurt and, at 5'2", it's my pick too. (It's so affordable I got one for myself!) Sleeping in this bag is nothing short of cloud-like. The extra-long, 19-inch footbed allows for plenty of growth spurts before you need to size up. Until then, it's a great spot for extra clothes, stuffies, a book, a water bottle, or any other "must-have" comforts your kid is angling for before bed. 

Need a gift for an on-the-go kid in your life? No outdoor gear arsenal is complete without a great fleece. Warm, breathable, durable and fast-drying, this well-made top is designed with 80% postconsumer recycled content so you can feel good about the purchase. And it's so cute!