Back in 2012, I did a series of posts on gift ideas for holiday shopping – all things that I had, used, and enjoyed.  I’m not planning to do the same this year, but I have been thinking of doing a gear round-up and sharing some of our favorite hiking and outdoor accessories for awhile, and I thought, what better time than the holiday shopping season?  If you’re looking to shop for an avid hiker, but don’t know where to start, here are some of our favorite toys:

Boots.  Hiking boots are pretty personal, so you may want to let your hiker pick them out for him- or herself.  But they’re also expensive, so they’d make a welcome gift if you know what your hiker wants.  (I have my eye on a pair of waterproof hiking boots to supplement my summer boots, and will be contacting Santa directly about those.)  Hubby wears Merrells from about a million years ago and could probably use a new pair – but I know he’d recommend them.  Merrells don’t fit my feet, as I’ve learned the hard way.  Instead, I wear Oboz Lunas and love them to distraction.

Hiking Poles.  Hubby and I both use Black Diamond hiking poles.  Hubby has the men’s poles and I have the women’s version.  I save mine for strenuous or technically challenging hikes, but hubby rocks his on every single outing.  His center of gravity is thrown off thanks to the toddler on his back, so he finds the poles particularly helpful.  We’ve found our Black Diamond poles to be lightweight yet sturdy, reasonably priced, and I love that they’re adjustable for people of all different heights.

Child Carrier.  If your hiker also happens to be an outdoorsy mom or dad, I guarantee they will appreciate having a way to tote their offspring along on their adventures.  Hubby and I have brought Peanut on many hikes – from our seasonal easy jaunts through Tifft Nature Preserve to the top of two Adirondack high peaks – and the key to our ability to take her along with us has been the Deuter KidComfort III.  Again, a child carrier is a pretty personal item, but expensive enough that your hiker would definitely appreciate some help with such a big purchase.  The packs definitely vary by brand.  We went to EMS intending to buy an Osprey Poco – I’d been doing research and was impressed with the reviews I’d read – but when hubby tried on the Poco he didn’t feel comfortable in it.  The Deuter KidComfort III felt much better on his back.  Still, I know there are herds of Osprey devotees out there – that’s why I say these packs are personal!  You have to try them on to see how they fit your frame.  If you know what your hiker likes, go for it – otherwise, let them try the packs on and tell you what they want, or just grab a gift certificate to EMS or REI – it’ll go to good use.

Apparel.  I don’t know a hiker who wouldn’t love to unwrap some cool apparel to wear to the mountains.  Hubby and I love our EMS graphic t-shirts – we both have way too many – and tech tees.  Hubby often hikes in Lululemon or Adidas tech tees, while I swear by Lucy Activewear (both the tech tops and the surplus pants).  Ladies who haven’t discovered Lucy yet, get thee to the mall now!  The clothes are cute, comfortable, and sweat-wicking – perfect for a strenuous climb up a mountain.

Socks.  I know there are many, many sock options out there, but in our family it’s alllllll about Smartwool.  Hubby and I each have a drawer almost full of Smartwool socks and still can’t get enough.  Our Smartwool socks have scaled mountains, carried us on sub-zero temperature runs, and cushioned our feet on casual family strolls.  We wear them in all seasons – not just winter – and they’re always on our birthday and Christmas wish lists.  I’m wearing a pair as I type this gift guide.

Guidebooks.  No matter what area your hiker frequents, I guarantee there’s a guidebook – and a good one – for her.  When we lived in northern Virginia, we were working our way through 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles of Washington, D.C. – a great book, and I’d highly recommend the 60 Miles series if your hiker lives near one of the featured cities.  We no longer live in an area covered by a 60 Miles book, but we’ve been enjoying 50 Hikes in Western New York, as well as the High Peaks Trail Guide for our Adirondack trips.

Stocking Stuffers.  If you’re looking for little items to stuff in your hiker’s stocking – or the Smartwool ski sock that serves as a stocking – there are plenty of choices.  Hikers appreciate quick fuel on the mountain, so Honey Stingers or Gu energy gels would certainly be welcome.  If your hiker is working toward the Adirondack 46 (as we were starting to do before Nugget came on the scene) there are plenty of cool ADK goodies they’d love.  We have a Nalgene bottle with a list of the high peaks and their elevations (purchased from the Keene Mountaineer, but I’ve seen similar bottles at EMS even in Buffalo).  The Mountaineer also sells commemorative patches for the high peaks – mainly individual mountains, and a few ranges.  We’ve got the Cascade and Porter patches, which we bought to celebrate our climb this summer, and we’re hoping to add to that collection as we bag more peaks (once Nugget is out of the oven).  Or, hey – just go to EMS and check out the cool selection of thermoses, water bottles, camping and hiking accessories, and more.  (One tip, though: if you bring a toddler with you, she will try to make off with a solar lantern.)

Edited to add: Just in case anyone is wondering, this is not a sponsored or perked post, and none of the links are affiliate links.  All the gear recommended was purchased with our own money, and the retail links are provided for your convenience – if you click on any of them, I will never know or get anything out of it.  Happy shopping!

Are you shopping for a hiker this season?  Fellow hikers, any gear you love that I should be including on my Christmas wish list?