Best Gifts for the Outdoor Traveler

We all have a friend who spends most of their time in nature. These awesome gifts will make their adventures even better.

Outdoor travelers are a difficult group to shop for. They tend to be practical, so they always want gear that’ll make life easier during their adventures.

Stop banging your head against the desk trying to figure out what they could want. We’ve found ten travel gifts that anyone who spends time in nature will absolutely love.

From inflatable kayaks to a life-saving water purifier, these items have one thing in common: They’ll make life much, much better.

A UV Light Water Purifier That Could Save Your Life

SteriPen / Amazon

Price: $127.03

Not only do I have the SteriPen UV water purifier, but I have gifted it to friends (who’ve loved it!). This purifier takes any water and makes it safe to drink. It’s useful for backpacking and hiking, but I also like it for city trips when I want to avoid buying plastic water bottles.

And, yes, it really does work. I’ve used it all over the world and have never had any issues with it. But don’t trust me; trust the science that SteriPen uses to destroy 99.9 percent of bacteria and viruses.

Buy it now: Amazon

*Prices are subject to change.

A Dry Bag That Works for Any Kind of Adventure

Earth Pak Store / Amazon

Price: $23.99

Speaking of watery adventures, I highly recommend the Earth Pak dry bag as a gift. This very handy little piece of gear is useful for boat trips, day hikes, tubing, kayaking and more. Basically, if you need to keep things dry, this bag will save you.

As a plus, you’ll get a plastic waterproof phone case that will make the gift that much better.

Buy it now: Amazon

The Best Snow Boots for Skiing

Christy Sports

Price: $425

Skiing is an expensive pastime. And if you do it enough, renting gear quickly racks up the price. If you’re feeling generous, buy the skier in your life a pair of Atomic Backland Pro ski boots.

This touring boot features a frictionless pivot, a breathable liner and a tongue stabilizer. It also has a ski-to-walk lock system that makes it easy to walk uphill when needed yet has security when going downhill. Made for backcountry skiing, this boot will make any ski aficionado happy.

Buy it now: Cristy Sports for men and women

An Inflatable Paddle Board

Roc Store / Amazon

Price: $349.95

Everyone loves paddle boarding, but it can be annoying to have to pay each time you do it. The solution: an inflatable paddle board that can be easily taken anywhere and that won’t create too much bulk in the garage.

There are many on the market, but this ROC inflatable paddle board has over 9,000 five-star reviews on Amazon. It only weighs 17.5 pounds but is 10 inches long and 33 inches wide when inflated. The board comes with accessories and a storage bag.

Buy it now: Amazon

A Handy Waterproof Phone Case to Capture More Adventures

Towevine Store / Amazon

Price: $43.98

Look, I’m not going to lie to you. Those $10 flimsy-looking waterproof phone pouches really do work. I’ve used them for years and they’ve kept my phones safe while providing nice underwater images. But they don’t make for great gifts. They’re also not enough if you’re going deep while scuba diving or free diving.

To impress that person who lived with the Little Mermaid in a previous life, gift them this waterproof phone case instead. Made specifically for diving up to 50 feet, it can withstand higher pressure. In my experience, it also provides much cleaner shots than the pouches.

Buy it now: Amazon

A Hiking Backpack That Will Last Forever (Well, Maybe Not Forever, but Very Long)

The North Face

Price: $230

Every hiker knows that a backpack can make or break a hiking trip. A good backpack will provide convenient access to your things while causing minimal discomfort or back pain. This can be great on day hikes, but life-saving when hiking for longer.

The North Face’s Banchee 50 Pack is the type of hiking backpack any outdoor traveler wants. Sturdy yet light, the backpack has eight pockets, a hydration sleeve, water bottle pockets, two tool keepers and more.

Buy it now: The North Face

Personal Snorkeling Gear

Odoland Store / Amazon

Price: $59.99

This snorkeling mask may be, erm, different. It looks a bit weird when you’re not used to it, but its design is superior to the typical one that separates the eye mask from the snorkel.

First, you won’t have a tube in your mouth for hours on end. Instead, you breathe (kind of) normally and let your lips rest. You’re also much less likely to get water in the mask or to have to deal with fogginess. That’s a triple win. To seal the deal, you can mount a GoPro on it and capture the world beneath the surface.

You’ll also get fins and a carrying pouch.

Buy it now: Amazon

An Inflatable Kayak for Lake Vacations

Driftsun Store / Amazon

Price: $929.99

Having your own personal kayak opens up a world of possibilities, especially for people who seem to live in national parks. But kayaks are also bulky and heavy to carry, making it inconvenient when you want to paddle in secluded spots that require a hike.

Give the gift of adventure with this inflatable kayak for two. And if you want to bring a kid or a dog with you, there’s a small seat for them as well. Yes, there are much cheaper ones in the market, but cheap isn’t something you really want out of a vessel that’ll keep you above water.

Buy it now: Amazon

Hiking Boots that Are Durable and Have Great Grip

Salomon Store / Amazon

Price: $165-$220

A pair of hiking boots is one of the best gifts I’ve ever gotten. So, trust me, if you have someone who loves being in the mountains, look no further.

The Salomon X Ultra 4 is widely considered to be amongst the best hiking boots you could own. While they are a bit bulky, they offer great ankle support and keep your feet dry when you’re crossing creeks or hiking in low snow. The flexible foot plate offers mobility and comfort, and the price point is decent for a quality pair of shoes that will take you across unknown roads.

Buy it now: Amazon for men and women

An Underwater Scooter That Will Take Them Places — Literally

sublue Store / Amazon

Price: $529.99

There is nothing like moving freely in the water while enjoying relative weightlessness. But, sometimes, you also wish you could move faster and farther, especially when exploring coral reefs.

Buy the swimmer in your life an underwater scooter. They’ll be able to cover large distances without overexerting themselves. Or simply have a heck of a lot of fun while swimming in a small space.

What’s really cool about this underwater scooter is that it’s compatible with cameras, so you can easily capture the journey and get some very unique images while enjoying the water.

Buy it now: Amazon