Once you’ve been bitten by the hiking bug, it’s pretty much impossible to stop, even if you live in cold-weather climates where you can’t stop walking for fear of freezing solid.
If you know someone who adores winter hiking as much as we do, then we’ve got a few perfect gifts to recommend.
Here are our favorite winter hiking gifts for anyone who loves hitting the snowy trails on foot.
Many of these gifts for hikers would also be useful for cross-country skiers, snowshoers, downhill skiers, and snowboarders, basically anyone who loves getting outside all winter long.
Winter Gear Gifts for Hikers: Stay Safe and Have Fun on the Trail
Not only do the following pieces of winter gear make great gifts for winter hikers, but they are also essential items to make winter hiking safer and more fun.
Making sure your loved ones are outfitted properly for winter adventures will also make you feel better (a little gift to yourself, if you will).
Want to go on some winter adventures of your own? Gift yourself. We won’t judge!
Microspikes: Our Favorite Gift for Winter Hiking
If we could only recommend one gift for anyone who loves to hike in the winter, it would be a pair of Kahtoola Microspikes.
The extra stability they provide for hiking on icy trails is so liberating, and they hardly take up any room in a backpack.
I consider Microspikes an essential item for hiking in New England or other northern climates in the winter.
They’re perfect for times when the trail is too packed for snowshoes but too slippery for boots, and they could also be a lifesaver in icy conditions!
Garmin inReach® Mini 2: For Communication without Cell Service
This compact satellite communicator helps your favorite winter hiker keep in touch, even when they’re off-grid — adding peace of mind to every backcountry adventure, especially in the cold weather.
The Garmin inReach® Mini 2 includes messaging capabilities with emergency services or loved ones, TracBack® routing to help lost hikers find their way, and up to 14 days of battery power.
Hikers can access the digital compass and the detailed weather forecast no matter where their adventures take them.
Winter in the Wilderness: A Field Guide to Primitive Survival Skills
Survival skills are important for anyone who spends time outdoors and especially crucial for those who travel into the backcountry during the winter when snowfall can quickly cover one’s tracks and make orientation difficult.
Equip your loved one with the basic skills they may need to handle the challenges of winter adventures. Winter in the Wilderness by Dave Hall is a comprehensive guide for anyone who wants to explore cold-weather camping and backcountry hiking in the winter.
Prevent Frozen Hydration with an Insulated Water Bottle
You know it’s cold when you stop to take a swig of water on a winter hike, only to find that the top layer is frozen over and you can’t hydrate.
Not only will a Klean Kanteen insulated water bottle keep water from freezing, but it will also allow you to pack a hot drink like tea, coffee, or cocoa to enjoy a winter warmer during trailside rest stops.
A fancy water bottle is the perfect gift for hikers. Why? Because most people are too cheap to buy one for themselves. Hikers have too many water bottles, but none that they actually love.
We’ve given dozens of these as gifts over the years, and they are always appreciated! Klean Kanteen is a Certified B Corporation and a member of 1% For the Planet.
Easy add-on: Biodegradable Bottle Bright tablets are perfect for cleaning stainless-steel bottles and mugs, hydration reservoirs, coolers, and otherwise hard-to-clean containers. We use them twice a year on all of our bottles. A packet of Bottle Bright tablets would make a great stocking stuffer to accompany any Klean Kanteen bottle.
Hiking First Aid Kit: An Essential Item for Every Hiker
A portable first aid kit may be the most practical gift on this list, but your favorite outdoor lovers will appreciate not having to create their own, and you’ll appreciate knowing they’re prepared for all the “what ifs” of winter hiking.
This Adventure Medical Kit includes everything hikers need to be prepared for minor emergencies on the trail, including bandages, steri-strips, antibiotic ointment, antiseptic wipes, wound care, blister care, and common medications.
A portable first aid kit is an essential item that everyone should carry on day hikes or backpacking trips.
Insulated Food Container: Perfect for Cold-Weather Snacks
Here’s another Klean Kanteen product that is indispensable on long hikes. It’s an insulated food jar that keeps soup, pasta, curries, and other meals hot on the trail.
These little jars are rugged and leak-proof, and most importantly, they keep hot food hot and cold food cold. A soft grip makes them easy to open, even with mittens, and they come in cool colors that hikers love.
We have been using Klean Kanteen products for almost a decade and can vouch for their durability. We’ve had jars roll down mountains and bounce off rocks without much more than a scratch.
Emergency Bivy: Expect the Unexpected
This is one of those winter gifts for hikers that you hope will never get used.
The SOL Emergency Bivvy is a tiny emergency sleeping bag for hikers who become lost, disoriented, or injured on the trail.
It weighs 3.5 ounces and packs down smaller than a 12 oz. soda can. It comes with a rescue whistle and tinder cord (for emergency fire starting).
It may not be the most sought-after gift for hikers, but it’s an affordable way to make hiking in the winter safer.
Trekking Poles: Increase Balance and Stability on Icy Trails
Trekking poles offer so many benefits for hikers all through the year. They provide balance and stability while helping take weight off knees on downhill sections.
This extra support is even more important during the winter, reducing fatigue and keeping hikers safer on slippery trails.
We’re not going to lie—these Black Diamond Trekking Poles are on the pricey side, but we have been using ours for 10+ years and appreciate their durability. They also come with a two-year warranty.
These trekking poles are fully adjustable, feature comfortable cork grips (a must), and are extremely lightweight. They also come with interchangeable tips and two sizes of baskets for hiking in the snow.
Snowshoes: Take Winter HIking to the Next Level
If you’re buying a gift for a favorite hiker who lives in a snowy climate and doesn’t already have a pair of snowshoes, this is an obvious gift that will be very well received.
The MSR Evo Snowshoes are lighter, smaller, and easier to get on and off than snowshoes of the past. They are the perfect vehicle for deep snow when hikers need something that floats and grips simultaneously.
I bought these MSR snowshoes for my husband two years ago, and they were his favorite gift!
Winter Clothing: Practical Gifts for Hikers
Winter hiking requires a few choice pieces of clothing, specifically layers that are light, warm, and able to wick moisture. For this purpose, we almost always choose Merino wool, which has all the qualities mentioned above, and it’s anti-microbial so it doesn’t smell funky. Here are some of our favorite clothing gifts for hikers who love winter.
Merino Neck Gaiter for Cold-Weather Sports
There is nothing like a soft Merino neck gaiter for giving you all the warmth without the bulk.
One size fits all, so you can feel confident giving this affordable gift to every hiker on your list.
The Turtle Fur Merino Pipe Dream is a versatile neck gaiter made from ultra-soft, moisture-wicking Merino wool—perfect for hikers seeking comfort and warmth during cold-weather excursions.
Lightweight yet durable, the Pipe Dream regulates temperature and resists odors, keeping you comfortable on any trail.
Stio Pinion Down Sweater
Want to make someone on your shopping list very happy? Gift them this lightweight down jacket from Stio, a small outdoor apparel company based in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
The Stio Pinion is a lightly insulated technical layer that combines an abrasion-resistant Pertex® Quantum outer shell with responsibly sourced 800-fill HyperDRY™ water-repellent down.
I upgraded to this jacket last year and lived in it all winter. I can’t stop singing its praises—the Stio Pinion sweater somehow manages to be incredibly warm while making you feel like you’re wearing nothing.
Yes, this makes a great winter hiking gift for someone you really love, and if that someone just happens to be you, that’s even better!
Darn Tough Vermont Socks for toasty toes
Darn Tough socks are made in Vermont, have a lifetime warranty, and are incredibly warm for outdoor adventures.
I think Merino wool socks are one of the best gifts for hikers—they will always be appreciated, and they will always get used.
Darn Tough offers many different types of socks for different activities, from skiing and snowboarding to winter hiking. If you order two or more pairs, you’ll receive free shipping, and the socks are guaranteed for life.
Merino Wool Base Layers in fun colors for Winter Hiking
Merino base layers are a bit of a splurge, but they are worth the extra cost for so many reasons. Unlike synthetic layers, these merino layers by Ibex don’t smell.
They wick moisture away from your skin, keep you warm in the winter and cool in the summer, and remain fresh through multiple wearings without needing a wash.
Gift Merino layers to your favorite hikers—maybe even yourself!
A Cool New Beanie: An Easy Gift for Hikers Who Love Winter
Winter hats are like wool socks – you can never have too many, which means they make great gifts for hikers and winter lovers of all persuasions. And if you’re looking for an amazing selection of beanies in all kinds of colors and patterns, you have to check out Turtle Fur.
Turtle Fur was founded in Vermont in 1982 and is still based there. It is committed to environmental sustainability and has a mission to make the outdoors more inclusive for everyone.
Stocking Stuffers: Little Winter Hiking Gifts
The following winter hiking gifts are perfect for adding to care packages and stockings. They are small, affordable, and extremely useful for all of the winter hikers in your life.
- Polarized sunglasses: Because sun and snow mix together to create all kinds of glare.
- SPF sunscreen: The winter sun has a bad habit of burning tender cheeks. Give the gift of reef-safe protection.
- Lip balm: Make dry, chapped lips a thing of the past.
- Arnica Recovery Lotion: This stuff is amazing after a long day of hiking. I wish they had a stock option.
- Hand and toe warmers: Perfect for pockets, as well as inside mittens and boots!
- Alltrails+: This app offers downloadable trail maps, a navigation system, and a database of awesome hikes all over the USA. Any hiker would appreciate it.
- REI gift card: When you’re not sure what to buy for your favorite outdoor lover a gift card to REI is the perfect solution.
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Tara Schatz is a freelance writer and travel blogger with a passion for outdoor adventures. She is the co-author of AMC’s Best Day Hikes in Vermont and currently blogs at Back Road Ramblers and Vermont Explored, where she shares travel tips, adventure destinations, and vacation ideas for the wanderer in everyone.