Tis the season to be jolly and to get your presents wrapped for friends and family! Whether one of your tribe is a seasoned bushwalker or fairly new to hiking, here’s my handpicked list of gifts that’s sure to make them smile.
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1. A fresh microfiber towel – Want to get them something they’ll definitely use? Microfiber towels are super lightweight, super quick drying towels that are a bushwalker and backpacker’s best friend, and double as a great picnic blanket. A bonus of this present is, like regular towels, even if your loved one has a microfiber towel in their closet already, it may well be time for a replacement. You can find microfiber towels in all good camping stores or buy online – this one from Boho Gene comes in it’s own carry bag and is available in a range of gorgeous designs.
2. A cool inflatable solar lantern. If you’re looking for something to light up your friend’s life, I highly recommend gifting them an inflatable, waterproof solar lantern or two. This is only thing on this list I currently don’t own (but badly want to). Whenever I see these swinging on someone’s backpack while out on a bushwalk, I am immediately envious of the owner and kick myself for the fact I haven’t bought any yet. They are practical, eco-friendly and create a great atmosphere at camp. Treat your loved one to one or two here.
3. A sturdy set of dry bags. I have set of dry bags in a range of sizes and colours and they are my go-to packing system for multi-day bushwalking. Not only do they effectively seperate my food from my clothes from my electronics from my toiletries, but they are durable, waterproof and can be hung from hooks in camping huts (great to keep the food bag off the floor if there’s rodents around). While I would always recommend hiking with a pack cover as well, knowing my belongings have the extra security of being in individual dry bags inside my pack gives me great piece of mind when it’s raining. This set of six as shown below comes with two shoulder straps for use when you’re not hiking.
4. A compact camping stove – Give the gift of a warm cup of tea on a mountain top or a steaming hot meal back at camp by surprising your friend with a camping gas stove. I’d highly recommend getting one with an in-built ignition switch – no matches or lighter needed. A great perk of this nifty, compact, stove from Sumeurtah is that it also works with two varieties of gas canister. So convenient.
5. A cosy head-torch beanie – Everyone who’s bushwalked with me / camped with me / lived with me knows that I am totally obsessed with the head-torch beanie since my dad discovered one in a miscellaneous bin at a discount store. Not only is this beanie way comfier (and cosier) than wearing a head torch around camp at night, but it’s LED rechargable, you can pop out the torch and put it on the table, and you can do things like go jogging and fishing and jump up and down with it on, and it stays put way better than a regular headtorch. I’ve given loads of these babies as Christmas gifts. You can buy one here.
6. A CamelBak Reservoir – CamelBak reservoirs for keeping hydrated on walks are the sort of thing you don’t see the point of having until you try it, and then once you’ve tried it, you’re converted. It’s great to be able to stay hydrated without having to reach for a bottle and just suckle on the tube like a wee little lamb on a bottle. They also store water in a much more space saving way than separate bottles in your bag. Cheaper imitations are prone to bursting, so I’d spend the extra to stick with the original. The CamelBack Crux Reservoir can be purchased here.
7. A Rain Jacket – Heavy duty raincoats for multi-day hiking in alpine conditons can be real bank-breakers. However, for day walks or summer hikes, a light-weight rain coat is all you need and would make a great gift. I have a bright blue Rainbird Jacket and have been really happy with it and would highly recommend it as a present. Rainbird jackets come in a range of styles and designs, including this gorgeous natives print as shown below.
8. A comfy pair of Crocs. So Crocs might not be what leaps to mind when you think of bushwalking, but every seasoned bushwalker knows you want a pair of shoes to hike in, and a pair of comfortable, lightweight, slip-on shoes to relax in at camp. I remember on the way to my first multi-day bushwalk in Tasmania eight years ago, my hiking friends were horrified I hadn’t packed a pair of Crocs. I bought a pair in a town along the way, and while pairs of hiking boots have since come and gone, I’m still rocking those same crocs as campsites today. Crocs have recently had a resurgence in popularity with celebrities and regular folk alike and are Amazon’s best-selling shoe in 2022. Pick up a pair in a range of colours here.
9. A comprehensive camping cookware set. Want to get your special someone everything but the kitchen sink? Are they a bit of a whizz in the old camp kitchen? If so, I reckon this gift might be your best bet. With a saucepan, pot, kettle and cutlery all in one that fit together in a cute little carry bag, it’s the perfect collection for cooking up a meal out in the wilderness. I have a very similar set myself.
10. Warm Thermal Socks. You almost thought I wasn’t going to mention socks, didn’t you? Bushwalkers are perhaps the only group of people that are genuinely enthused about receiving a good pair of socks for Christmas. Make sure you don’t get them anything containing cotton though, it stays cold when wet and takes forever to dry. Instead stick to wool or artificial fabrics. These Heat Holders are a popular choice.
So there you have it, that’s my list of ten ideas for what to give your bushwalking buddies for Christmas! What’s on your wish list this year?