It’s hard to believe Christmas is less than 4 weeks away! Shopping for others can be stressful. And giving others gift ideas for you can be hard. To help you with your holiday shopping, we asked our team to list their favorite hiking and backpacking items. These 10 items are the perfect Christmas gift for any hiker.
1. Melissa: Backpacking Chair
Usually when we recommend people get a backpacking chair, they often say they’ll forego the weight and just sit on a rock or a log. But here’s the thing: there’s not always a rock or log available where everyone else is sitting. And sometimes the ground is wet. You don’t want to sit on that.
Plus, backpacking chairs aren’t just for backpacking. They are also perfect for when we’re hanging out, sipping some wine, and sharing some snacks on our wine hikes.
Backpacking chairs are always worth the added weight, which is only 1 pound if you get Melissa’s favorite chair, the Helinox Chair Zero.
On a budget? No problem! You can find lots of cheaper options on Amazon for only 1 pound more, like this chair.
2. Kari: Microspikes
Just because winter’s coming, it doesn’t mean you have to stop hiking. In fact, just about any hike you do in the summer can also be done in the winter. You just need one item: microspikes.
Unless there’s fresh snow, the trails are typically covered by packed snow. That packed snow can make it difficult to push off your foot on the uphill. And the packed snow can make the trip downhill slick.
Microspikes give you the traction you need to safely hike all winter long. Kari loves her Kathoola microspikes!
If you plan to hike in the snow, skip the YakTraks and get some microspikes! Then tag us on Instagram (@winehikingsociety) in your winter hiking pictures.
3. Amanda: Kula Cloth
If you’ve read Amanda’s blog post “Leave No Trace: When Nature Calls in Nature,” then you know how much she loves her Kula Cloth.
What’s a Kula Cloth? It’s a reusable antimicrobial pee cloth! Use it to pat your lady bits dry rather than packing in (and then having to pack out) toilet paper to wipe or using the ol’ drip-dry method (which never gets you dry).
The outside of the Kula Cloth is beautifully decorative and waterproof. The inside where you pat dry is antimicrobial and absorbent. There’s a loop so you can snap it to your pack or to a carabiner, and there’s another snap so you can close it for privacy and cleanliness after you use it.
The Kula Cloth is perfect for hiking, backpacking, camping, mountain biking, or any other activity where you will be peeing outside. Check out our Wine Hiking Society design on sale now!
4. Tissiana: The pStyle
Like wine and cheese, the pStyle pairs well with the Kula Cloth.
There are lots of pee devices out there, but the pStyle is a tried and true favorite among wine hikers.
And what’s not to love? No more having to squat to pee. No more having to pull your pants down to pee. No more splashing pee on the back of your legs.
Plus, the pStyle comes in several fun colors, as does the carrying pouch (bought separately). We highly recommend purchasing the carrying pouch with the pStyle. This will allow your pStyle to air out. We’ve used ours five days straight in the backcountry with no odor!
When you purchase your pStyle, use WINE10 at checkout to get 10% off.
5. Jenny: Hiking Poles
People often think hiking poles are for older people. However, hiking poles can be a game changer on the trail!
Hiking poles save your knees on the downhill and give you more power on the uphill by allowing you to use your arms and your legs to hike. As we always say, using hiking poles on an uphill is like shifting your car into 4-wheel drive.
Jenny’s favorite hiking poles are the Trailbuddy Trekking Poles. Not only are these poles durable and lightweight, but they also collapse easily to fit inside your pack. Plus, these won’t break the bank.
6. Karen: Garmin InReach Mini
Karen’s wish list addition is the ultimate item for emergency preparedness. The Garmin InReach Mini is a 2-way satellite communicator. It allows you to send an SOS to the 24/7 search and rescue monitoring center in the case of an emergency.
The palm-size GPS device has a 50-hour battery life and only weighs 3.5 ounces. It’s the perfect size for all of your backcountry excursions.
The Garmin InReach Mini is handy even when there’s no emergency. Use it for basic navigation, to check the weather, or to text someone back home to let them know you’re okay.
Right now, you can find the Garmin InReach Mini 2 for $50 off here.
7. Rachel: JetBoil
Rachel isn’t the only one in our group who loves her JetBoil. She’s just the one who called it first!
The JetBoil Flash is our team’s favorite for a few reasons. First, it boils 2 cups of water in just 100 seconds! This is perfect for when you’re hungry for your freeze-dried backpacking meal or ready to warm up with some hot cocoa (and maybe even Kahlua).
The JetBoil Flash has a flame on the side that changes color when the water is boiling. That way, you can do other things while you wait but still keep an eye on it. The insulated cozy keeps your hands safe when it’s time to pour.
For a stove that boils water so quickly, the JetBoil Flash is also lightweight. Weighing in at 13 ounces, the JetBoil Flash is an all-in-one stove that stows your fuel canister and the stove burner inside.
8. Jackie: Gravity Water Filter
The Platypus GravityWorks 4L Water Filter isn’t just Jackie’s favorite. It’s a favorite among our group.
This gravity filter includes two 4L reservoirs, one for unfiltered water and one for clean water. All you have to do is fill the dirty bag with unfiltered water, hang it from a tree, and gravity does all the work! No pumping needed!
The Platypus GravityWorks Water Filter filters particles, protozoa, and bacteria such as giardia, salmonella, and cryptosporidia.
Unlike slow pump systems, this system filters four liters of water in just 2.5 minutes. That’s enough time to pour a glass of wine!
9. Sam: Puffy Jacket
Sam highly recommends a puffy jacket for any hiker. And what better time to ask for a puffy jacket than Christmas?
When looking at puffy jackets, you have two choices: down and synthetic. Down is lighter and more packable. It can also be warmer. However, if it gets wet, it won’t kept you warm.
Not only is synthetic cheaper than down (and more humane, depending on where the down comes from), but it will still keep you warm if it gets wet.
REI’s Magma 850 Down Hoodie is warm and more affordable than other brands, especially for the fill count. It only weighs 11 ounces for lots of warmth. This synthetic jacket from Fjallraven is insulated and warm for only 14 ounces.
10. Aimee: Rumpl Blanket
Aimee’s favorite thing to hike with is her cute dog Mooney. But, her Rumpl blanket is a close second.
Rumpl’s Original Puffy Blanket (one-person size) is made of 60 recycled plastic bottles. The two-person size is made of 100 recycled plastic bottles! The blanket also has 100% post-consumer recycled shell and insulation.
In addition, the Original Puffy Blanket is water resistant and comes with a water-resistant stuff sack. It’s the perfect blanket for camping!
Wait until you see allllll the beautiful design options! Good luck making a choice!
We hope Santa brings you everything your heart desires for the alcoholiday season. Stay tuned for our stocking stuffer gift list!
What other items are you adding to your Christmas wish list? Tell us in the comments section.
