Hiking Stocking Stuffers: 35 Ideas for the Hiker in your Life!

Going on hikes is a hobby for so many people, and with hiking comes fun gear that you can bring! With the holidays just around the corner, I’ve put together this list of 35 hiking stocking stuffer ideas for you, to make your Christmas shopping for the hiker in your life easier! I own most of these items myself, and love and use them throughout hiking season (I love to hike in the Canadian Rockies!).

I’ve tried to keep the items on the list small in size, to make sure they fit nicely into a stocking (although some are definitely bigger than others!). I hope this list helps you or inspires you with gift ideas of stocking stuffer ideas for the upcoming holiday season. 

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35 Stocking Stuffers for Hikers

These are ideas for the hikers in your life!

1. Patch or pin for their backpack

A National Parks Patch or a fun adventure inspired enamel pin for a day pack is the perfect hiking stocking stuffer idea, as you can get so creative with it, but it’s a little more cost effective and small enough to fit into a stocking! Check out local shops while you’re out Christmas shopping, or order some patches or pins online. 

2. Water bottle stickers

Most hikers carry water bottles with them on the trail, and adding to their sticker collection is a perfect little gift to slip into their stocking! Make sure the sticker is waterproof so it lasts long on the bottle itself.

You can order a pack of adventure inspired stickers if you have more than one hiker in your life, or are just filling multiple stockings!

3. High quality socks 

A nice pair of high quality socks is so important for comfort on the trail. Sometimes we don’t want to buy ourselves socks, which makes it the perfect gift that will definitely get some good use!

Depending on the season, you can get thicker socks for a winter hiker, or nice breathable ones for summer hikers. My favourite high quality socks are Smartwool hiking socks and Darn Tough hiking socks. Merino wool is a nice, breathable fabric that is great for hiking!

4. Mini Compass Keychain

A mini compass is the perfect stocking stuffer for hikers. A lot of hiking trails are out of service and having a physical compass in case your cellphone dies or breaks is a good safety measure.

This mini compass is also part carabiner, making it super versatile and easy to clip onto your day pack for when you need it.

5. Mini Thermometer

Another stocking stuffer that is similar to the mini compass is a mini thermometer.

If you’re hiking in an area where the weather is a little bit unpredictable (like the Canadian Rockies!) it can be nice to have a mini thermometer to know what the temperature is.

6. Waterproof paper maps for areas they regularly hike

Although technology is SO prominent in our lives these days, we can’t always rely on it. We may accidentally lock ourselves out of our phone for an hour, our phones could die, or may overheat and need to cool down before use.

Having a paper map is always a good back-up plan, or nice for those times when you lose data on the trail and just need to make sure you’re still heading the right way. In the Canadian Rockies, I love the GemTrek maps. 

7. SD cards

If the hiker in your life also enjoys taking pictures with a camera, SD cards are the perfect stocking stuffer for them! SD cards should be replaced every few years to avoid corruption, and you can never have too many SD cards anyway! 

I prefer a 64GB, relatively fast card SD card. It can hold a decent amount of pictures (RAW files), but not soo many that I forget to back up my pictures at the end of a trip and risk losing my photos. 

8. Lip balm with SPF

SPF is so important, whether it’s winter or summer, and having it in your day pack is something that can be overlooked! And it’s small enough to fit nicely in a stocking!

I love the AllGood Lip Balm SPF 15, Sun Bum Lip Balm SPF 30, or the one from Rocky Mountain Soap Company (SPF 15) for the Canadians out there. 

9. Carabiners

I love carabiners. I have about 3 on each of my bags so I don’t have to switch them around all the time, and they always come in handy while hiking!

Whether I want to clip an extra water bottle to my pack, a pair of shoes or sandals, my hat, the possibilities are endless and they are just so handy!

Put a couple of carabiners in the stocking and I’m sure they will get used! This is also another great option if you want to buy something in bulk and split it into multiple stockings.

10. Snacks that don’t spoil

Snacks are great for stockings, because who doesn’t love snacks!

Opt for ones that don’t spoil in case hiking season is a couple months away from the holidays.

A couple of ideas are Fruit2Gos, fruit snacks, peanut butter or nut butter pouches (avoiding unsustainable palm oil 🙂 ), cliff bars, energy waffles. 

11. Pocket knife

Another lightweight item hikers should have on them while on the trail is a pocket knife. If you can get one with different functions like a Swiss army knife (little scissors, tweezers,etc.), there are so many functions this little item can serve and be super useful on the trail!

A multi-tool pocket knife is perfect for opening snacks or food, removing slivers, and so much more!

12. Sleeping bag liner

This one is a little bit of a bigger stocking stuffer, but still a nice idea because it is small enough to fit into most stockings. If the hiker you’re shopping for likes to backpack (hike and camp overnight), a sleeping bag liner could be perfect.

The purpose of a sleeping bag liner is for a little bit of extra warmth or comfort, and helps keep the sleeping bag clean. To make sure you get the right one though, make sure to check the hiker’s sleeping bag shape (mummy or rectangular).

13. Water purification tablets 

Having enough water is essential while hiking, and water purification tablets are a great thing to have in the emergency kit for hikers! The Katadyn Micropur MP1 tablets are effective against viruses and bacteria, and can be found at your local outdoor gear store.

14. Electrolyte tablets 

I’ll be honest, I’m not a huge fan of electrolyte tablets, but mainly because I just don’t really like the taste.

Some people love them though and really rely on them to replenish their electrolytes on a long day hike in the sun! They’re also nice to have in case of emergency as well.

The bottle electrolyte tablets come in is usually small and makes a great stocking stuffer for hikers!

15. Life Straw

The Life Straw is a fun stocking stuffer idea for those hikers that like to adventure to more off the beaten path trails! It allows you to drink from water sources without carrying a big filter or using purification tablets. I like to carry it on overnight hikes or long hikes as a back-up plan for emergencies if I run out of water.

16. Pour Over Drip Coffee

This is a unique stocking stuffer that I would love to receive! Pour over drip coffee is a nice, lightweight and portable way to make coffee while on the go.

There are a few brands that make this type of coffee like Kuju Coffee and Tribo Coffee. If I’m heading out on a sunrise hike, I like to bring a packet with me to enjoy at the summit. 

Note: Hikers will need a way to boil water (I love my jet boil) and a mug!

17. Hand sanitizer or wipes 

One of the best parts of hiking is the snacks you get to enjoy on the way. Having a way to clean your hands (or face!) is always nice, making hand sanitizer or wipes the perfect gift for hikers! Although it’s not the most exciting gift, it’s an easy, small, affordable thing to add to a stocking.

These are also nice for those who like to go on road trips!

18. Headlamp or Flashlight

A headlamp or mini flashlight is a great gift for hikers who like to do sunrise or sunset hikes, or who like to explore caves on their hikes. On a sunset or sunrise hike, half of it is in the dark – making the headlamp a great gift idea! I love my black diamond headlamp, it’s held up for years and still seems to be going strong!

19. Carabiner or clip-on LED light

A little light clipped to your daypack is great in case of emergency, or during a sunrise or sunset hike. Clipping and turning this little light on can help you keep track of your bag or a jacket if you set it down in the dark, or can help hiking partners follow you or keep track of you while hiking in the dark. 

20. Mini bug spray 

Bugs are the absolute worst, and having a mini bug spray is so nice while hiking! Pick it up for the hiker in your life so they don’t have to worry about it come hiking season :).

21. Dehydrated meal or dessert & a long spoon

Dehydrated meals and desserts can be expensive, so receiving one in a stocking would be a nice surprise! These meals are great for long hikes and wanting a lightweight pack, or overnight backpacking trips.

My favourite is the Pad Thai from Backpacker’s Pantry.

If the hiker you’re buying for has never had a dehydrated meal before or doesn’t have a long spoon, make sure to get them one because it makes eating out of the bag so much easier!

Note: A way to boil water is typically required for dehydrated meals. I love my jetboil or pocket stove. 

22. Reusable snack/sandwich bag  

Saving the planet and being a sustainable hiker is important to a lot of us – we want to be able to enjoy the outdoors as much and long as possible, and do what we can to keep litter out of the landfill!

A reusable snack or sandwich bag is the perfect stocking stuffer for hikers as you can never have too many, and every hiker packs snacks for the trails!

23. Moleskin padding or blister remedy  

There is nothing worse than getting a blister and being uncomfortable in the middle of a long hike.

Moleskin padding or blister remedy is a great gift choice that fits nicely into a stocking, and is something we could all use but don’t necessarily want to buy for ourselves. I like to keep some in my first aid kit!

24. Park pass

Depending on where the hiker you’re shopping for hikes, they may need to buy a park pass each year. If you know their pass is expiring soon, a Park Pass could be a great stocking stuffer choice.

In the Rockies, a Canadian National Parks Pass is required (for Banff and Jasper National Park). If visitors are planning to explore the Kananaskis area, a Kananaskis Conservation Pass is also required. 

Do some investigating to see if a National Parks Pass is something they might want!

25. Collapsible water bottle  

A collapsible water bottle could be a nice option for longer hikes, as it’s easy to store once you finish drinking from it and it doesn’t take up much weight or storage. I personally haven’t used one, but my friend loves her and recommends this Gingko bottle!

If you want to buy a stainless steel water bottle, that is also another idea!

26. Portable battery pack  

A portable battery pack is a great stocking stuffer idea for hikers because it provides that reassurance that they’ll be able to charge their phone on the trail.

A phone is important for navigation (with offline maps downloaded), emergencies (if there is service), and as a camera to capture everything! 

I like this portable battery pack, however it isn’t the lightest option around. This one has been reliable for me though, and I still bring it on long hikes with me as it can charge multiple devices and I trust that it will do what I need it to!

27. Repair tape for overnight hikers or long hikes

If the hiker in your life is into overnight hiking (AKA backpacking), then having some sort of repair tape is a great thing to have plenty of.

Tenacious tape is a nice choice and will save you if you’re in the back country and need to repair your tent, tarp, or anything else that might need to be fixed in a pinch! You can get it in mini patch kits as well to make it easier to carry and use.

28. Gentle hair ties or claw clips

You can never have enough hair ties when it’s hot out and you’re hiking! Hair ties are nice to keep your hair up and off your back, or can be used to seal snacks and other random things while hiking. I prefer a gentle hair tie to keep my hair healthy, or a claw clip!

29. Gift card to an outdoor adventure store  

If you’re still unsure what to buy the hiker in your life, getting a gift card to your local outdoor adventure store (MEC, REI) is the perfect solution. A gift card lets them pick out what they would like to buy (maybe on Boxing Day for a nice deal!). You can grab gift cards from the actual store, or sometimes you can find them at the grocery store.

30. Buff

Having a buff is nice when hiking in the summer because it can serve as a way to wipe your face if you get sweaty, or you can use it to cover your head or neck if it is super hot out, or if the trail is dusty you could use it as a mask.

There are a lot of different options out there, but choosing one that is lightweight is a great option if you’re typically hiking in hot weather! You might also find these called a neck gaiter at some stores.

31. A Whistle

A whistle is another safety measure every hiker should have in their bag. It can be important if hiking partners get separated from each other on the trail, or if you get lost and need to call for help in an emergency.

32. Kula Cloth

I haven’t been able to find these in Canada (so I haven’t personally used one of these), but a lot of my American friends that hike have recommended the Kula Cloth to me!

A Kula Cloth is an anti-microbial pee cloth that you can use while out on the trail. One side is absorbent and the other side is waterproof. If you’ve tried the Kula Cloth and like it, let me know on Instagram!

33. Sunscreen

A mini sunscreen is good to have in your day pack, but I especially to have a sunscreen stick that I can reapply to my face super easily. I’ve used the Sun Bum SPF 30 Sunscreen stick in the past and I really like it!

34. Mini gloves

Depending on where you’re hiking, these may or may not be handy to have. I like to bring these little winter gloves with me when hiking in the Canadian Rockies, whether it’s summer or winter, because it can be chilly on sunrise or sunset hikes, or at the summit of mountains!

You can buy them in a pack to split them up amongst multiple stockings, or gift multiple pairs to one person because they can get worn out or easily lost!

35. Hand warmers

Another great option if the person you’re buying for hikes in cooler weather (or it’s cool at sunrise or sunset) the HotHands hand warmers are another great stocking stuffer option and nice to have in the daypack!

Hopefully this gift guide was super helpful in giving you ideas for stocking stuffers for hikers!

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