Best Gifts for Hikers, Backpackers, Outdoorsy People (2026)
Wired has published its 2026 gift guide for hikers, backpackers and outdoor enthusiasts, aimed at people struggling to choose presents for gearheads who obsess over reviews and product specs. Rather than defaulting to a gift card, the guide recommends specific items its reviewers say are useful, fun and likely to actually get used outdoors, with the July 2026 update removing sold-out products and adding a few new picks.
The standout recommendation is Darn Tough merino wool socks (£24 on Amazon), praised for odour resistance and thermoregulation and described as the top pick "if you get nothing else." Other featured items include the Opinel No. 8 folding knife (£22 at REI) for trail use, a Solbari wide-brim sun hat (£79), and John Muir Laws's nature journaling guide (£35, discounted to £21). The guide also points readers to Wired's related buying guides for sleeping bags, barefoot shoes and merino wool products.
In short
- Wired's 2026 gift guide targets hikers and outdoor enthusiasts.
- Top pick: Darn Tough merino wool socks, praised for comfort and odour resistance.
- Also recommends an Opinel folding knife, sun hat and nature journal.
Explained simply
Gift guides are curated lists of product recommendations published by magazines and websites to help shoppers choose presents for specific groups. They are particularly useful when buying for enthusiasts with specialised interests, as the average shopper may struggle to know what would genuinely appeal to them or represent good value.
Outdoor enthusiasts such as hikers and backpackers are especially challenging to buy for because they invest heavily in specialist gear and hold strong opinions about what works best for their activities. Major publications like Wired produce detailed guides recommending specific products, which help gift-givers move beyond generic options like gift cards and feel confident their choice will be useful and appreciated.
These guides benefit both the shopper and the enthusiast. For shoppers, they provide reliable recommendations that eliminate guesswork when buying for people with particular preferences, helping avoid generic fallbacks. For enthusiasts, they offer vetted suggestions from experienced users, potentially introducing products that wouldn't otherwise catch their attention.