Gifts for Hikers
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Shopping for the sort of person who prefers trekking umpteen miles in the outdoors over lounging on a couch watching Netflix can be tricky. That’s why we rounded up a multitude of products that tops our own lists. Perfect for hikers and backpackers, these picks are sure to complete your favorite hiker’s wish list.
Meepo MealCubes
What are MealCubes, you ask? MealCubes recreate some of the healthiest meals in the convenience of a few tasty candies to bring more efficient or emergency nutrition, all in an easy to carry pouch. Each MealCube pack contains a “meal” consisting of a small pack of cubes flavored as cherry, orange and green apple and containing 420 calories, 25 grams of protein, 28 grams of healthy fat, 23 grams of complex carbohydrates and 35 essential vitamins & minerals. MealCubes are lightweight and perfect to throw in a pack for those “in case of emergencies” situations ensuring that hikers always have nutrition on hand. MSRP $5-$7 getmeepo.com
Orca Hydra Bottle
The Orca Hydra Bottle is portable, functional, and strong. This insulated Hydra bottle has a double walled, copper clad vacuum seal for optimum ice and heat retention and easily keeps drinks cold up to 24 hours and hot up to 8. The Hydra bottle has an ORCA Grip Band that lets you grip the cap for an easy open no matter what. This versatile bottle fits in a car cup holder, excels at keeping hiking coffee piping hot, and works perfectly for hydration on those day hikes on the trails. The Hydra is available in 22 oz., 34 oz., and 66 oz. sizes. MSRP starting at $32.99 orcacoolers.com
FLPSDE Dual Chamber Water Bottle
The water bottle is a staple in the lives of hikers, but when you’re heading out for a day hike and want to bring water and some snacks, skip bagging up that trail mix and pickup the FLPSDE Dual Chamber Water Bottle to store both. Thanks to the FLPSDE hot beverages stay toasty and your cold ones stay chilled until they’re gone, all the while keeping your pockets free. Designed with a hardy stainless steel exterior, the FLPSDE is equipped to take on all variations of adventure, while the sweat-free design and vacuum insulation keep your beverages cool and bottle perspiration free. A leak-proof lid keeps beverages from spilling on uneven terrain, and the bottom bottle compartment provides enough space to securely store your trail treats. And when the water bottle gets dirty, its simple design means it’s easy to clean. Its wide cap construction is also compatible with most backcountry water filters, so you can easily refill and re-hydrate on the go. FLPSDE’s integrated storage compartment and vacuum-sealed design, will keep your hands free, your snacks safe and your drinks insulated. MSRP $34.99 www.amazon.com/flpsde
Man Crates Premium Jerky Ammo Can
The Man Crates Premium Jerky Ammo Can is built for the hiker that loves to carry jerky on their adventures. This Ammo Can will take their jerky experience to another level, none of that dried out gas station leather in this one. The Premium Jerky Ammo Can has a profusion of deluxe tasting jerky that even a seasoned meat connoisseur would approve of, everything from Country Archer Beef Jerky, Carnivore Candy Sweet Picante Jerky, a Bar-B-Que Meat Stick and more. If the hiker in your life is a jerky fan, this Ammo Can will be the pinnacle of their dried meat consumption. And once the jerky is gone, they end up with a rugged storage container for some of their gear. MSRP $69.99 mancrates.com
BioLite HeadLamp 750
The HeadLamp 750 is BioLite’s most powerful and reliable option designed with multi-day backcountry hiking trips in mind. It brightens up trails and rocky peaks with 750 lumens that you can adjust to 8 different lighting modes, and a Constant Mode that puts you in complete control of the lumens, enabling you to set a steady level of brightness that will not dim – unless you tell it to, of course. Apart from its dimmable white light, the headlamp also has a rear red visibility light to help you be seen. As a rechargeable headlamp, you can extend the Headlamp 750 runtimes indefinitely thanks to pass-thru charging. This means you can use your headlamp while simultaneously powering it up. The included 3ft Run Forever cable enables you to connect to a external powerbank that you can tuck easily into a pack, while a cable-management clip makes sure everything stays close to the body for fluid movement. And with BioLite’s proprietary 3D SlimFit construction, you will have excellent lighting functionality with maximum comfort. MSRP $99.95 bioliteenergy.com
Roving Blue O-Pen Ozone Water Purifier
Toss the iodine tablets and step up to one of the most advanced pocket water purifiers on the market, the Roving Blue O-Pen. With a push of a button the O-Pen makes any fresh water source safe for drinking by infusing it with tiny bubbles of ozone gas. Approved by the FDA and the USDA and used by water treatment plants and water bottlers worldwide, ozone is the strongest oxidizer available that can be safely used in water treatment. Ozone is more powerful than chlorine and is highly effective in destroying dangerous organisms, bacteria, and many other harmful viruses. Best of all, when the O-pen is done, ozone reverts to oxygen quickly, leaving no chemical residue, odors, or tastes. The O-Pen will purify .5 L or 16 oz. of water in under a minute and purifies approximately 25 liters per charge (about 50 uses), so you can stay hydrated on the trail without having to worry about getting sick. And at a scant 1.2 oz. (30 g) the Roving Blue O-Pen won’t weigh you down or use up a ton of valuable pack space. MSRP $149 www.amazon.com/rovingblue
MSR Thru-Link Inline Water Filter
Pumping drinking water through a filter is great for larger hiking groups, but if you are hitting the trail alone or in a small group pickup up the MSR Thru-Link Inline Water Filter to keep the hike efficient and fast paced. The MSR Thru-Link Inline Water Filter easily attaches to a hydration reservoir, giving you a constant supply of clean drinking water when you’re on the go. It can attach to any hydration reservoir on the market, and uses both hollow fiber technology and activated carbon, that removes bad tastes, odors and provides reliable, safe drinking water. If you are looking to keep things minimal, the Thru-Link inline filter is the simplest solution to clean water on the go. MSRP $39.95 msrgear.com
CamelBak Crux 2L Reservoir Kit filtered by LifeStraw
If you like the thought of the carrying convenience of a hydration reservoir, but don’t already own a hydration bladder the CamelBak Crux 2L Reservoir Kit filtered by LifeStraw is a fantastic option. It easily drops into most hiking packs and has the built-in filtration by Lifestraw that allows 2 liters of water to pass through two complete stages of filtration – the Hollow Fiber Filter removes bacteria, parasites, and microplastics and the Activated Carbon Filter reduces taste, odor, and chlorine. The Crux Reservoir is incredibly easy to fill and ensures reliably safe and leak-proof hydration. MSRP $69 camelbak.com
Grayl Ultrapress Purifier
Don’t want to carry gallons of drinking water into the backcountry and wish that you could just drink from mountain streams, crystal clear lakes, or backwoods creeks? Well now you can when you bring the Grayl Ultrapress Purifier on the next adventure. This all in one water bottle purifier makes a great choice for hiking and outdoor pursuits to faraway places where water might be suspect. Instead of lugging around a bulky pack loaded with a full day’s worth of water just bring this lightweight and compact bottle. It’s incredibly easy to use – simply fill up the Grayl Ultrapress, Press and Drink. This press-action purifier cleans 16.9 ounces of water in as little as 10 seconds, while eliminating bacteria, viruses, protozoa, chemicals, and heavy metal sediment. With Grayl’s Ultrapress Purifier on hand, you will be able to drink from nearly any water source without the fear of contamination or poor taste, and without wasting time. MSRP $89.95 grayl.com
MiiR Travel Coffee System
The MiiR Travel Coffee System is a clever coffee maker kit for hikers and backpackers who prefer pour overs without packing much more than coffee mugs. In fact, the Pourigami design folds up to fit in an included case that allows for easy storage with room to stash filters for the trail. The three stainless steel panels orient and interlock for easy assembly, with machined grooves to ensure perfect placement for secure pour over coffee. Simply place a filter and fill with coffee grounds, pour over water and watch the Pourigami make freshly roasted coffee right on the trail. Pourigami, Coffee Canister, Coffee Scoop and Filters MSRP $79.80 amazon.com/miir
MSR WindBurner Duo Stove System
Everything you need to cook for you and your hiking partner on the go can be stacked and stored inside the MSR WindBurner Duo Stove System. The system lights easily and heats quickly, bringing water to a boil for coffee, instant soups, or a gourmet meal in about 5 minutes. The WindBurner Duo Stove is one of the most efficient and convenient cooking solutions for two that is out there. Featuring radiant burner technology in a windproof design and a pressure regulator allow the stove to uphold performance even in windy and cold conditions. The stove provides an anti-topple remote canister design and self-centering 1.8 L pot that helps prevent accidental spills and overall stability. Once you and your companion finish your food, pack the fuel canister and stove inside the insulated pot and stow the whole kit away in compact style. The MSR WindBurner Duo Stove System is truly the ultimate cooking system for two. Coffee connoisseurs take note: there is a coffee press kit perfect for brewing the quickest batch of coffee on the go, anywhere you like. In addition the WindBurner Duo’s stove fits all MSR WindBurner cookware, offering a range of cooking options to support different trips. MSRP $179.99 msrgear.com
Jack Wolfskin DNA Tundra Hoody
The Jack Wolfskin DNA Tundra Hoody is packable, lightweight, and toasty warm. This jacket features a regular fit that can be worn alone or layered with a shell should the weather turn nasty. The DNA Tundra Hoody delivers easy packing warmth that you can pull out and put on at a moments notice when the temperatures drop as you near the mountain peak. The hood and high neckline protects the head, neck, and face from the cold, and zippered hand pockets warm the hands or carry any essentials along for the adventure. The Jack Wolfskin DNA Tundra Hoody is the one you will want in your kit when you head out on those crisp, cold morning hikes. MSRP $199.95 jackwolfskin.com
