Thousand Island Lake is an alpine lake in the Eastern Sierra Mountains. It’s known for the many little islands that make up Thousand Island Lake.
20 New Gift Ideas for Women Who Backpack
Everyone loves getting new gear- especially hikers! I’ve put together this list of 20 gift ideas for women who love getting out in the backcountry and spending time outdoors. From a pair of new hiking socks to the perfect beginners’ backpack check out this guide for the best hiking gifts this season! Each item listed, I have personally tried and enjoyed and I would recommend ANY of these items for ALL levels of hiking and backpacking. 🎁
🎁 GIFTS UNDER $25 🎁
1. Buff Original Headwear
This multifunctional headwear is the perfect stocking stuffer for just about anyone! Wear this headwear literally one dozen different ways!
Shop Buff Original ($20)
2. Darn Tough Light Hiker Micro Crew Socks
Every hiker loves new hiking socks- and these Darn Tough Light Hiker Crew socks are my go-to! After hiking over 300 miles in two pairs of Darn Tough socks, I swear by these and guarantee you EVERY hiker would love a new pair for the holidays!
Shop Darn Tough Socks ($25)
3. Kula Cloth Reusable Antimicrobial Pee Cloth
If your hiker friend doesn’t already have a pee rag- treat her to her first Kula Cloth, she’ll be happy to know she’s helping the planet by reducing TP waste in the outdoors!
Shop Kula Cloth ($20)
4. Hydro Flask Mug
Necessary for coffee/tea and hot chocolate lovers! This lightweight insulated mug will help keep all your hiker’s favorite drinks warm in the backcountry!
Shop Hydro Flask ($21)
5. REI Gift Card $25-$100
Still not sure what to get? Gift Cards are always a GREAT idea! REI Gift Cards can also be redeemed for REI Adventures! Give the gift of adventure this holiday season!
Shop REI Gift Cards
🎁 GIFTS UNDER $50 🎁
1. Sea To Summit Aeros Premium Pillow
This inflatable pillow is a GAME CHANGER! More of a camping luxury item, having an inflatable pillow to rest your head on after a long day of hiking is the best way to end the day!
Shop STS Aeros Pillow ($45)
2. ALL TRAILS ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP
Chances are your hiking friend already uses AllTrails to help them discover new trails! With an annual membership, you can do so much more- download maps for offline use, keep friends & family informed, and see weather details, air quality- and more!
Shop AllTrails Membership ($36)
3. Sawyer Squeeze Water Filteration System
The Sawyer Squeeze filtration system is the perfect water filter for all! It’s easy to use, lightweight, and trusted by thousands of hikers, campers, thru-hikers, and backpackers! This bundle contains everything needed to filter and keep your filter clean!
Shop Sawyer Squeeze ($39)
4. Personal Pack Towel
Another one of those luxury items that just doesn’t seem necessary until you have one! This personal pack towel is perfect for those summer days by the lake. Made with a polyester/microfiber blend offering the softest touch! Packs light and dries quickly!
Shop Pack Towel ($29)
5. Black Diamond Spot 400 Headlamp
Unlike an inflatable pillow, a good headlamp is necessary when backpacking! I like having the option to use a red light at night so as to not provide any further light pollution in the backcountry. This specific headlamp also has the option to recharge its batteries!
Shop Black Diamond Headlamp ($50)
🎁 GIFTS UNDER $100 🎁
1. America The Beautiful Annual National Parks Pass
Gift the adventure of exploring America’s National Parks with an annual pass! Did you know that each time you visit a national park, the entrance fee is approximately $35/per vehicle?! Visiting at least 3 parks in one year pays for the pass itself!
Shop America The Beautiful Annual Pass ($80)
2. Altra Lone Peak Shoes
Trail runners for backpacking? Yes. Some may not agree, however, these lightweight shoes have the perfect wide-toe box allowing for a natural foot setting; not to mention the grip and traction!
Shop Altra Lone Peaks ($100)
3. FAROUT GIFT CARD
With 100+ guides FarOut is the #1 app for long-distance trails- including the John Muir Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, Continental Divide Trail, Appalachian Trail, and tons more! Getting a FarOut Gift Card allows your favorite hiker to choose a guide of their choice!
Shop FarOut Gift Cards ($50-100)
4. BlackDiamond Trekking Poles
Hiking poles are helpful. Help a hiker by gifting them some stability this year. LOL. I like these poles because they can fold down and are easy to pack away. They are an adjusted length, so you’ll want to make sure you have the right measurements!
Shop Black Diamonds Trekking Poles ($98)
5. Black Diamond Alpenglow Sun Hoodie
Once upon a time, sun hoodies weren’t very fashionable. Thankfully, there are tons of cute sun hoodies out there now and this one from Black Diamond I’ve lived in practically all summer. The only thing missing from this sun hoodie are thumbholes!
Shop Black Diamond Sun Hoodie ($95)
🎁 GIFTS UNDER $200 🎁
1. Therm-A-Rest NeoAir Sleeping Pad
Get comfy in nature. You’ll want to make sure your hiking friend gets a good night’s rest after a long day of hiking. Surprise them with an inflatable sleeping pad!
Shop Therm-A-Rest NeoAir ($150)
2. JetBoil Flash Cooking System
The JetBoil Flash is the fastest cooking system out there! While it may not be the lightest stove, the JetBoil Flash rapidly boils 1 liter of water within 100 seconds!
Shop JetBoil Flash ($115)
3. Patagonia Better Sweater Fleece
Who doesn’t love a good fleece? This fleece from Patagonia is the perfect gift for everyone this holiday season!
Shop Patagonia Fleece ($150)
4. REI Passage 1 Tent
Looking for the perfect gift for the solo backpacker? REI Passage 1 tent is easy to set up making it the perfect beginner’s tent-and it even comes with a footprint!
Shop REI Passage 1 Tent ($140)
5. Osprey Tempest 30L Overnight Backpack
Every backpacker needs an overnight pack. Osprey has some of the most comfortable, long-lasting packs! This Tempest is a 30L pack, which I recommend for trips of 1-4 nights depending on the adventure, location, and many other variations.
Shop Osprey Backpacks ($180)
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links that may earn me a small commission if you choose to click through and purchase anything from this guide. I want to thank you in advance for your support. 🧡
Interested in backpacking- but not sure where to start? Check out A Simple Guide: Wilderness Backpacking for information, tips, and tricks!
Backpacking to Iva Bell Hot Springs
Do you have any natural hot springs on your bucket list? I’ve had these specific hot springs on my radar for quite some time!
Backpacking The Mineral King Loop in Big Seki Wilderness
Challenging myself and my limits because of that, I was rewarded each day with a newfound appreciation for finding the beauty in discomfort.
Winter Backpacking at Big McGee Lake
The month is October. It has been several weeks since I’ve returned home from thru-hiking the John Muir Trail, making this trip my first backpacking trip this winter. We went to chase fall colors, and even though the trees were starting to change color, we were not quite expecting so much snow.
JMT Day 3: First Resupply & Burritos!
Later start, but got in the lake. Missed sunrise. 5.5 miles to Tuolumne Meadows, our first resupply. Brittany is getting bruises on her shoulders.
John Muir Trail Day 2: First Full Moon
We woke up pretty early, and got on trail by 9 AM, and already by 10 AM we were probably less than a mile away and already wanting to change out of our layers.
John Muir Trail: A Leisurely 25-Day Itinerary
Hike Your Own Hike. We all have our own preferences, hiking paces, and I’ve come to find that my pace is a lot slower than most.
Thru-Hiking Guide: How to Resupply along the JMT
There are five resupply options available along the JMT, and as my first thru-hike, I wanted the full experience, and I wanted to try them all.
Backpacking to Iceberg Lake in Ansel Adams
You know all of those places you have saved on your maps? Maybe you too have a list titled, “BRB”? How about those IG friends you’ve never met?
A Little Lonely But Never Alone: Solo Backpacking
It’s Memorial Day weekend. Winter is gone, and for the past 4 months, I have successfully gone on one solo trip every month this year.
Backpacking the Trans-Catalina Trail II
“One, and done, and never again,” I said as I completed the Trans-Catalina Trail 5-years ago. The year was 2016, and I had only gone backpacking a handful of times within the two years of discovering my passion for backpacking.
Backpacking Sespe Wilderness Hot Springs
It was officially the first backpacking trip of the year. 32-miles in the middle of Ojai, CA and thankfully, it was the last few days of winter.
Backpacking Shamrock Lake in Eastern Sierra
Being able to show my sisters just exactly why I don’t mind the 6-hour drive to Mammoth is probably one of my favorite ways to get them outdoors and in the backcountry.
Backpacking Mammoth Crest Loop
Once places started to safely open up to the public; hikers and backpackers, like myself, took full advantage of getting back on the trail.