13 Editor-Approved Gifts for the Outdoorsy Types

“I have narrow feet, so I need a shoe that wraps snuggly around my footbed and arch to make sure I have control and support going over rocky or slippery terrain, and these shoes do just that. I have since bought another pair for myself and pairs for every member of my family who all love theirs, too. The REI salesperson who sold them to me also shared that she wears these shoes for day hikes in the Pacific Northwest and used them for a backpacking trip in the snow in Alaska. They’re the real deal.” — Camey Hess, Sales Director

“As a runner who’s always trying to convince others to hit the pavement, one of the most common complaints I hear is about blisters. These Balega socks are game-changing when it comes to blister prevention. I’ve run two marathons in them and lived to tell the tale — blister-free and with my toenails intact.” — McKinley Hart, Director of Social Media

“I am a self-proclaimed Backpacking Barbie, so I know what it means to balance the high life with the gorping world. (I have and will bring a $30 lip liner with me on a solo backpacking trip.) I don’t push expensive, niche camping gear on my fellow friends and family, but I do insist that everyone should own a good utility knife. I hand out Swiss Army knives like candy during the holidays. They’re a classic, practical gift that I’ve used for everything from opening beer at home to cutting my (clean!) sock band to create a makeshift dressing bandage in the backcountry. (Don’t worry, we headed to an urgent care as soon as we were on the grid.) But if you’re looking for something a little more heavy-duty, try this camp knife instead, which is one of the best gifts I’ve ever received.” — Justine Carreon, Affiliate Content Manager

“Birding is one of those great hobbies that has a low barrier of entry — it’s something that most can enjoy no matter their level of experience or physical activity. Pair this gift with a local bird field guide and give your favorite ornithophile a way to make their hike last twice as long.” — Justine Carreon

“There’s nothing I hate more than waiting for checked luggage after a long flight. The Patagonia MLC bag has completely eliminated the need for me to check a bag. I’ve owned it for over 10 years, and it’s still going strong. From quick weekend trips to weeks abroad, this bag has handled it all. The convertible straps also help distribute the weight evenly, so no back pain — even when it’s packed to the brim.” — McKinley Hart

“A hat with a built-in headlamp may sound silly, but let me tell you that it’s something I’ve had on my wishlist for a while now. I have to walk my dog at night, and I’m often worried that either she or I won’t be seen by cars while crossing the street, so I usually walk with my phone flashlight on. When I’m picking up after her, though, it’s not easy to aim my phone toward her business, hold her leash, and pick it up at the same time. A hat like this will help me see better in the dark, alert drivers that I’m crossing the road, and keep me warm during frigid winter doggy potty breaks.” — Katie Pittman, Commerce Editor

“As a millennial, I can safely say on behalf of my generation that we NEVER drank water. So I vowed to change that for my kids, and we have become a loyal Hydro Flask family. Besides the assortment of beautiful colors and sizes, my two favorite things about this water bottle are its ability to actually keep the water cold and its durability. If you have a kid like my daughter who insists all water be “ice cold” throughout the night, then have no fear: This bottle will keep it cool through good dreams and bad. And if you have a kid like my son who accidentally drops his water bottle at least 10 times a day, this bottle is a match for that, too.” — Mary Agnant, Senior Producer

“If you currently live in the northeast, then you’re familiar with mother nature’s inability to decide whether it’s still summer, fall, or moving into winter. And if you’re like my husband and run hot then these glittens (yes, that’s glove and mitten combined) are perfect for you for any temperature. They provide the warmth of a mitten but the flexibility of having access to your fingertips to shoot off that important text!” — Mary Agnant

“As a mom who typically dons a more sporty style, I really love this Patagonia Ultralight Black Hole Mini Hip Pack. If you’ve seen any of my staff picks before, they often include items from Patagonia because not only are the products so durable, but if there’s any damage or wear and tear to a product, Patagonia will replace it for you at any of their stores. In addition to that, this little pack carries way more than it appears to be able to. For a quick trip out of the house, I use it to carry my phone and car keys, but for a day out with my family, I can even fit in an EpiPen and a small snack for my kids. While you’re free to wear it as a fanny pack, I prefer to sport it as more of a crossbody bag.” — Mary Agnant

“I’ve made my way through a lot of sunglasses in my time, but this pair from Goodr really stands out. At $35, they’re about as affordable as it gets for polarized sunglasses, and the flexible, slightly bendy frames are comfortable on a range of head sizes, difficult to break, and designed to stay put while you’re running, hiking, sailing, etc. I also love that the nose pads are flush with the frames, so they don’t get tangled in my hair when I push them up onto my head. It’s the little things!” — Ciara Hopkinson, Senior Associate

“As a runner who embarked on my first marathon last November, I was in desperate need of a reasonably priced GPS watch that was able to do the basics: gauge my location quickly, accurately track my mileage, and maintain a charge for at least a few runs. I landed on this model, which is the least expensive of Garmin’s GPS watches but certainly gets the job done. I love being able to check my run stats in the Garmin app, which gives a mile-by-mile breakdown of pace, heart rate, VO2 levels, and more, and while I don’t wear it all day, every day, I could track my overall fitness levels better if I did.” — Ciara Hopkinson

“Now that the weather is *seasonably* cold, I’m wearing my REI hiking socks just about every day. They’re cushioned and temperature-regulating, so keep my toes warm on cold winter days but also prevent them from overheating while hiking in warmer weather. I wear them with Timberlands, running shoes, and casual sneakers throughout the fall and winter.” — Ciara Hopkinson

“My brother gave me this incredibly cozy quarter-zip last Christmas, and I’ve worn it more times than I can count. My baby loves snuggling up to me whenever I have it on, and it’s my go-to for watching movies or taking the dog out. It gets softer with every wash, and since it’s from Patagonia, I know it’ll last for years.” — Alaina Mancini, Managing Editor of Branded Content

“My husband and I first bought these Eagle Creek rollable duffel bags for our safari honeymoon, and since then, we’ve used them for everything from a cross-country move to quick road trips. What I love about these bags is that they fold flat for easy storage — or, if you’re more organized than we are, you can collapse them back into the little bag they come in. This bag is super versatile — it has wheels for easy rolling through the airport and also backpack straps if you’re inclined to…get a mini workout in.” — Alaina Mancini