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.