Ahoy amigos! It’s that time of the year once more – the time to treat your favourite traveller to something special… The only problem? You’re not quite sure what are good gifts for backpackers.
“Will they like it?”
“Will they need it?”
“Will it save their life when they come face to face with angry bears, difficult treks or Delhi belly?”
“What on earth is a good travelling gift for someone who is always on the road, scrambling up mountains, partying in Thailand and lazing upon palm-fringed beaches?”
Well, probably not a flat-screen TV…
Luckily, there are a ton of great backpacking gifts for those who travel a lot. From nifty little trinkets to essential items to an actual backpack (you know, the thing they live out of), there’s a lot to choose from.
I’ve popped together a list of some of the best things in my own bag and I think that these would make some excellent gift ideas for backpackers!
The Best Gifts for Backpackers
So what do all of those security guards see when they run my bag through the X-Ray machine? Well here’s a good look. Take these as inspiration for own backpacking gift ideas when shopping for that special someone.
This list comprises useful items that myself or my intrepid team of nomads have actually used over the years. This stuff has been tried and tested by hardcore backpackers and travelers…so get ready.
Read on amigos…
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1. REI $25 Gift Card
If you’re just not sure what to buy for your travel loving pal after reading this post, then why just take the easy option and get them a gift card?!This one needs no real explanation – you just get the REI gift card and the lucky traveller can spend $25 on whatever they need from REI.
Perhaps they will $25 to buy themselves a camp coffee maker (coming up next), or they put it towards a new expensive Mutha Hubba tent.
The downside with gift cards is that people know exactly how much money you spent on them, which can sometimes be kinda awkward if they end up spending more on you!
2. OCLU Action Camera
Every traveler needs a camera right?
The performance of action cameras has increased significantly, whilst the overall price has come down – making them more affordable. Whilst GoPro’s are still kind of pricey for most travellers, the OCLU is a worthy affordable replacement.
For any backpacker having an awesome action camera is the dream. This is a pretty fail safe gift for the backpacker in your life. Give the gift of photography and the recipient will make memories with it for years to come.
You read our full OCLU Action camera review here. If you decide its not the right gift for airy needs, then cool – check out our bargain guide to the best GoPro Alternatives.
3. Grayl Geopress
Want to save the world and stay hydrated? Single-use plastic bottles are a huge threat to the oceans and planet – Be a part of the solution and invest in a filter water bottle.
The Grayl Geopress water bottle is the ONLY all-in-one filter water bottle setup you’ll need. We use it on our own adventures to purify often nasty looking water and it does a beautiful job – we have yet to get sick! This is what the whole Broke Backpacker team uses– in mountains, cities, jungles – we love it – it’s a total game changer.
This is not a cheap gift but its guaranteed to go down well, be used, loved and simply appreciated by the lucky recipient.
4. Osprey Nebula/Nova Daypack
We may as well get this one out of the way, too. We know there isn’t just one backpack to fit everyone’s travel style, so we recommend the Osprey Nebula as it’s ideal for day hikes, commuters, or even longer trips for light packers.
Osprey are our favourite overall backpack brand and have an epic range. All of their packs also come with their all mighty, lifetime guarantee which makes them a true investment.
5. Black Diamond Spring 225 Headlamp
I never travel without a head torch. Whether you are drunkenly rolling around your tent, descending into the depths of the earth or simply walking home in the dark, every backpacker should have a torch and this makes a great gift for travellers.
Black Diamond makes some of the best head value torches in the business; the Spring 225 is my favourite pick it has brightness settings and a powerful battery.
One of the greatest gifts for backpackers who love adventure. Plus it is rechargeable which means buying polluting batteries is a thing of the past!
6. REI Half Dome 2 Plus Tent
Look, at the end of the day – a tent makes a cracking gift for backpackers who hitchhike or like to travel in a remote area, buy them any of the above and they should be happy.
This is one of the best budget tents on the market and one that I have personally spent a lot of nights in over the last 6 years.
7. Parachute Hammock
Hammocks make an excellent gift for travellers, campers, hikers and outdoorsy folks who want to watch the stars and save some money on accommodation costs, whilst they drift off. Hammocks are sexy, lightweight, fun to sleep in and offer you a ton of options for where to spend the night.
There’s a lot of portable hammock options out there but if you don’t want to spend so much, I recommend getting a parachute hammock; they are super light, strong and durable. Don’t worry about finding a use for it–I promise that won’t take very long!
8. Adventure Bag From Stubble & Co
Stubble & Co are a hip and plucky new brand who make a small number of great backpacks. Their innovative Adventure Bag is purpose designed to be both lightweight and comfortable, and because this is not a rigid bag and is soft-sided with compression straps it can tightened down to fit as as an airline carry-on.
This is the go-anywhere, do-anything bag in the Stubble & Co line-up and makes a pretty safe gift that any traveler will absolutely love. Its also very well priced for such a high performance pack.
9. OXO Outdoor Campgrounds French Press
Like all decent people, us backpackers love coffee. However, when we head out camping or trekking, our mornings really are the worst without our helping of the black stuff. Fortunately though, with this purpose built camping coffee press, we can get our fix even when deep in the woods.
Give the gift of sweet, sweet coffee to the caffeine addict in your life. Its a travel coffee maker for caffeine connoisseurs.
10. Planner/Travel Journal
Keeping a journal is one of the best things to do when traveling. The Drifter Leather Journal by Kodiak is our favorite, it works great for digital nomads and organized backpackers and can be used as planner or a dream diary – whatever you want!
Keep on track with your goals, travels and save those precious memories, especially the ones you do not want to share online. This one is bound in beautiful leather so it looks beautiful and will withstand life in the road.
11. Nomatic 30L Travel Bag
Yes, the backpacker in your life probably needs some sort of backpack. We don’t recommend just any old backpack though – the Nomatic 30L Pack is the absolutely best piece of kit we’ve found on the market.
We’ve been testing it for years now (not because we have to, we actually travel with it on every trip)! This bag is perfect for the minimalist backpacker who wants to fit all their travel necessities in a sleek carry-on. You can read more of our thoughts in the full review.
12. Leatherman Multi Tool
A great gift for travellers who tend to head off into the wilds, I’ve had mine for nearly ten years now and it has never broken; it’s a strong piece of kit built to last and if I had to take just one thing with me to a desert island, it would be this. The carabiner belt clip doubles up as a bottle opener which is endlessly cool.
Leatherman make a whole range of these including different tools. Our pick however, is the classic Skeletool.
13. Travel Money Belt
Hand’s down, this is a must-have for any nomad, backpacker, hiker, adventurer or regular traveller. You can conceal PLENTY in here and since the belt clasp is not metal, you can wear this belt through an airport scanner without setting it off.
This is my favourite travel accessory and is vital for keeping my cash and Rizla papers safe when I am backpacking. I never travel without it. Buy it for the adventurer in your life and they are sure to be pretty stoked that they have the perfect way to hide their emergency money.
14. Abaco Sunglasses
The ultimate in adventure sunnies, these sunglasses are pretty much bulletproof and are very affordable. Best of all, you can design your own pair online out of thousands of possible combinations making these ones of the best gifts for backpackers around! Want more info, check out our in-depth sunglasses review on these epic sunglasses.
15. Roam Master Class Subscription
Roam is a relatively new media and educational platform specializing in adventure content. They recently launched a series of master classes around topics like “adventure photography and storytelling” and “solo travel”.
The founding members of Roam include some of the world’s leading adventures, athletes, and photographers and with a Roam subscription, you the chance to learn from them first hand.
This gift is perfect for any level of backpacker – there is always something interesting to learn on the Roam platform.
Now, you could spend a fat chunk of $$$ on the WRONG present for someone. Wrong size hiking boots, wrong fit backpack, wrong shape sleeping bag… As any adventurer will tell you, gear is a personal choice.
So give the adventurer in your life the gift of convenience: buy them an REI Co-op gift card! REI is The Broke Backpacker’s retailer of choice for ALL things outdoors, and an REI gift card is the perfect present you can buy from them. And then you won’t have to keep the receipt. 😉
Buy on REI!16. Moment Phone Lens
If you’re keen to up your photo game but don’t want to splash out on (or carry around!) a massive camera, I strongly recommend Moment Camera lenses. I’ve been messing around with mine for a couple of months now and they have turned my average photos into something a lot more special.
The best thing about these camera lenses, they are surprisingly affordable compared to lens for DSLR cameras! I recommend the super fisheye lens.
17. Montem Hydro Packable Rain Jacket
Every traveler needs a good rain jacket for those not exactly infrequent occasions when the heavens open. This Packable and lightweight rain jacket is rain proof, stylish and wonderfully priced. It ill easily pop into your big backpack or your day pack so its great for taking hiking or even for days out to the shops when its looking a bit cloudy over-head.
I have tried many rain jackets over the years and this one has offered by the best performance of any other by far.
18. Fingerprint Padlock
We haven’t tried this out yet so it’s hard to say if it’s as good as it looks but holy moly! – A fingerprint padlock?! The future is here!
You can use it to lock your backpack when you check it into flights our put it on the bust. You can use it to secure your hostel locker or could simply use it to punk somebody by locking their wrist to a chair!
Supposedly, once fully charged, the padlock can be used for up to two years and perform 30,000 unlocks… That’s a ton of unlocks. This is a product which every backpacker will want at some point on their adventures….
19. Travel Guitar
Travel guitars have come a looong way in recent years. They used to be flimsy, unreliable, or very expensive. Now things have changed for the better, as the best travel guitars are well built, sound great and are super affordable (by guitar standards). Believe me, this is the best gift you could ever get for a traveling musician.
Our highest recommendation for a travel guitar is the Martin Travel Guitar (pictured above), but if you are looking for some more music inspiration, check out our awesome guide to the top travel guitars.
20. Goal Zero Flip 36 Power Bank
I spend a lot of time in the Pakistani mountains, where electricity isn’t always guaranteed. No matter how many gadgets I have to keep myself entertained on that 14-hour bus ride, they are all rendered useless as soon as their batteries die. Thankfully, there are super lightweight, compact, and powerful as hell external batteries out there. I am a huge fan of RAVpower portable batteries.
They come in a variety of energy storage options. I personally go for the biggest one they have as I can keep my phone charging for weeks.
I usually travel with a couple of portable batteries because, if the opportunity arises, they make a truly excellent gift for people you may meet living in the mountains. A must-have in any backpacker’s checklist.
21. Buff Multifunctional Headwear
I am somewhat obsessed with Buffs, having a collection of half a dozen. It’s always worth having one on your wrist; I use them to cover tattoos from the sun and keep my mouth covered from dust when in smoggy Asian cities…
22. Luci Base Light Solar Light
Luci lights have been a TBB team favorite for a number of years now. We use them on all of our backpacking and camping trips…or in rooms with bad/harsh light. They are great for camping trip but what I really like about them is that the soft, warm light can make any old hostel dorm a bit more of a home.
23. Portable Speaker
Powerful, lightweight, water-resistant and inexpensive, this little guy is amazing for sharing tunes with new friends from around the world. A great gift idea for men who travel.
There are load of USB and wireless speakers out there and they seriously differ in quality. For something that mixes good sound quality, battery life and compatibility with a range of devices check out this one.
24. MSR Pocket Rocket Stove
The best part about this camp stove is it is absolutely TINY! Worried your backpacker pal isn’t getting enough nourishment on the road? Get them this so they can cook no matter what random places they wind up at.
I’ve cooked in deserts, on the side of the road and upon towering mountains in The Himalayas; my MSR pocket rocket is hands down one of the best bits of kit in my pack.
25. On the Road by Jack Kerouac
On the Road is the seminal novel by beat writer Jack Kerouac. It’s a stream of consciousness account of 2 buddies hitting the in 1950’s America encountering jazz, drugs and good times as they go.
Based on the writers own, real life adventures its the original pilot for the buddy, road trip genre as well as the bible for travellers hitting the road for the first time and in need of some adventure inspiration on how to travel with no money. Jack Kerouac is the daddy of all backpackers and he writes like a dream.
Here are some other great books for some on-the-go reading.
26. Garmin vívoactive Smartwatch
A smartwatch is a great gift for travellers who move around constantly. It has a range of apps for health and fitness, social networking and tons of fun entertainment apps – something to keep them occupied on arduous train journeys and long haul flights!
This is definitely an expensive gift but is a bloody good one!
27. Swiss Army Knife
I never hit the road without a trusty knife, or two. I own over a dozen knives but the Swiss Army Knife is hands down the best knife in my collection. It has a decent blade and loads of awesome accessories such as a tin opener, bottle opener and tweezers all of which are ideal for backpackers.
If you’re looking for the perfect gift for a male or female traveller, a knife is always a good choice!
28. Nomatic Toiletry Bag
Another backpacker favorite for staying organized is a hanging toiletry bag. It’s extremely helpful to have all of your accessories neatly gathered in one bag that you can hang for easy accessibility, especially when counter space isn’t plentiful or even available. A well-organized bag is worth having whether you’re tree whilst camping or a hook in the wall – it helps to have quick access to all your stuff.
This one is water proof and stain resistant which means it last for years and years. Its a high quality piece of essential backpacking gear which makes a great for any traveler.
29. World Nomads Travel Insurance
If you’re constantly on the road like myself, insurance is the gift that keeps on giving… I’ve had to claim three times on my insurance over the last nine years of travelling and each time I’ve been thankful I had it sorted. One of the best gifts for backpackers too tight to buy their own insurance!
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FAQ about the Best Gift for Backpackers
Still have some questions? No problem! We’ve listed and answered the most commonly asked questions below. Here’s what people usually want to know:
Bye for now, but not forever!
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Portable speaker and water bottle , these 2 are a must for me.
Great info about the tools and gadgets must carry with me.
Hey Will,
Amazing list.
Thanks that you’ve shared this list, I was looking for something like this. i love traveling and I found what i need. everything is so amazing and useful.
Thanks for sharing your ideas.
Thanks,
i love the way you write your posts. So much details and perfection.In every post you provide amazing informations which helps many people. pls share some tips
Me as a tech guy I always recommend people to carry with them these things Headphone splitter, Smartwatch, Headphones etc.. you’ve mentioned almost everything in this post. Thanks for sharing man worth reading.
Hey Will,
Amazing list of gifts!
Thanks that you’ve shared this list, I was looking for something to gift to my brothers. They love traveling and I found what to gift them.
This list gives us so much idea about gifting. Gifting a journal or adventure compass or pocket blanket or multifunctional headwear everything is so amazing and useful.
Thanks for sharing your ideas.
Thanks,
– Rekha
Thanks Will for the great post, I got a bunch of nomad friends I will make sure to pass this to them. I’m going to check out the Leatherman skeletool multi-tool for sure, as I hadn’t really thought of it before but it could certainly come in handy at times!
Hey Will, just wanted to say thank you for this post. I was looking for a birthday present for my brother – he’s heading off on his first trip soon – and found not one but two items for him from your list! Thanks a mil!
Dearbh x
Hey Dearbh! Yay, happy to be of service! 🙂
I have to agree on the Headtorch. I think every traveler should have one in their backpack.
I could use most of these! I’ll make sure to pass this list along to my family:)
Oh the portable speaker and Moleskin Travel Journal are going on my christmaslist. 🙂
thanks for sharing your ideas!
x
My portable speaker is probably my favourite luxury item in my pack 🙂
Great list and really useful stuff!
Nice list! I’ll send this one to my mum and dad before my birthday 🙂
I love these tips! I am also a cheap-travel lover and I feel that all of these things could be fantastic for a traveler. I have the parachute hammock and I can attest to the comfortability and lightness of it. A must have for those “roughing it” nights!
Agree, a good hammock is an essential part of traveller kit, especially in warmer destinations!
Cool list dude, and some very helpful items……keep them coming and happy travels!
Thanks man! It wasn’t easy to not immediately buy everything on the list…
Great list. I could use a Steripen-I drink so much water it gets expensive and wasteful buying bottled water.
Thanks for this. Now all I have to do is send this to my friends. 😉
Thanks for sharing, I think now I now what to buy for my friends’ birthday
Great ideas, thanks for sharing
What a great list. I really like the idea of giving a diary. They can be simple or very fancy. None the less they will have meaning more than just a random piece of gear that they may never used.