Holiday shopping for the hiker in your life is one of the easier assignments out there — outdoorsy people genuinely love gear — but picking something they don't already own is the tricky part. A recent gift guide from Backpacker, built around eight products from outdoor retailer REI, does the sorting for you, spanning rain shells, insulation, pants and boots.
Weather protection leads the list with the REI Co-op Rainier Rain Jacket, a 2.5-layer waterproof with a HydroWall membrane, pit zips for venting, zippered hand pockets and internal drop-in pockets for anything that needs to stay dry. Sealed seams and a soft-touch finish round it out, and it comes in kids' sizes too — handy if you're kitting out a family.
For insulation there are two very different options. The Arc'teryx Covert Cardigan is a recycled-polyester fleece with a minimalist look, updated to resist abrasion and pilling. On the cosier end, a fleece half-zip pullover offers a kangaroo pocket and stretch binding in the men's version, and a drawcord-cropped hem in the women's. The splurge pick is Patagonia's Nano Puff Jacket, a packable synthetic-fill puffy that insulates even when wet, with an internal pocket that doubles as a stuff sack. It also exists in a toddler size, which is almost unfairly cute.
The REI Co-op Trailmade Pants handle the bottom half: stretchy, breathable, made without PFAS forever chemicals, with UPF 50+ sun protection, four pockets and a sunglasses loop — built for hiking, scrambling and climbing alike.
Socks get serious attention, as they should. Darn Tough's Micro Crew Cushion Socks pair medium cushioning with a merino blend that wicks sweat and regulates temperature, backed by the brand's reputation for near-indestructible durability. Smartwool's Performance Hike Light Cushion Crew Socks take a lighter-touch approach, with mesh zones for breathability and odour-resistant merino.
Finally, the boots. The Danner Mountain 600 Leaf GTX combines Vibram Fuga outsoles with self-adapting lugs, rubberised EVA midsoles, a TPU heel frame, leather uppers and GORE-TEX waterproofing — a sturdy, all-weather option for long miles and heavy packs.
Who is this for? Anyone facing a gift deadline for a trail-obsessed friend or relative. The mix runs from budget-friendly basics (socks, a rain jacket) to the kind of big-ticket item most hikers want but rarely buy themselves (that Nano Puff, the Danners). The practical logic behind the picks also works as a checklist for your own kit refresh before a hiking trip: waterproof shell, warm midlayer, comfortable trousers, proper socks, solid boots. Tick all five and you're set for most conditions short of winter mountaineering.
One caveat worth knowing before you shop: this piece is sponsored content produced with REI, so the selection leans toward that single retailer rather than a neutral survey of the market. Even so, several items — the Nano Puff, Darn Tough socks, Danner boots — are long-standing favourites in hiking circles on their own merits, and the guide doubles as a decent primer on what actually matters in each category: waterproof ratings, fill type, cushioning levels and outsole grip.
Backpacker
