It’s November and the television commercials and Black Friday specials are coming on strong. Have you started your holiday shopping? I’m finding all sorts of travel gear and travel apparel that I want, but it’s the experiential travel that truly gets me excited.
If you watched the above Travel Gift Guide video, you’ll see that I added a few more gifts for the traveler in your life to this list. If you have a loved one who travels, or you are shopping for yourself, here are 15 gifts for hikers and the adventurous traveler in your life.
Apparel gifts for hikers and travelers
Eco-friendly flannel hiking shirt
Royal Robbins is a travel apparel and outdoor clothing company based in Northern California. In the YouTube video I’m wearing Royal Robbins MerinoLux flannel shirt, Tech Travel Tee and Ridge Jammer Pant. Made of eco-conscious materials, their clothing is quick dry and offers UPF protection. I love that Royal Robbins has a store in Berkeley, California, but you can order online, too.
Durable fleece zip-up and leggings
I’ve written about White Sierra outdoor clothing on this travel blog since 2016. The Northern California-based company specializes in women’s, men’s and children’s travel apparel at reasonable prices. The company sent me the Power Pants in black (I love that their pants come with a short inseam) the Sierra sweater, it’s a fleece full zip jacket, the Sierra Ridge T-Neck Quarter Zip, Cabin Fever leggings, a fleece infinity scarf, a women’s Rubicon insulated ski jacket and women’s Toboggan insulated ski pant for review.
As most of my friends know, I wear the power pants and leggings all winter long. The Power Pant is made with spandex, so it stretches, yet the fleece lining keep me cozy warm. The Cabin Fever leggings come in print and solid colors. The stretch fabric in the leggings is very comfortable, yet keeps its shape. What I’m most excited about with these leggings is the flat side pockets! I love wearing leggings; they are lightweight and moisture wicking, but I’m all about pockets for my cell phone.
I haven’t had a chance to wear my ski jacket or ski pants yet, but the Sierra Ridge quarter zip top has a cozy high neck collar and is made of stretch micro-fleece fabric. The jersey knit fabric wicks away moisture and the thumbholes keep my hands warm all day.
I was recently riding with Ruby’s Horseback Adventures in Bryce Canyon, Utah and I wish that I’d had the fleece infinity scarf. It’s so versatile as it may be worn buttoned up as an infinity scarf, it’s reversible and it may be unbuttoned and worn as a full length scarf. All of the clothing prices are available on the White Sierra website, and provide a range of options of gifts for hikers.
Use my discount code Nancy33 to get 33% off everything on the travel apparel website.
Bags for travelers and hikers
The perfect weekender bag
I’m headed to Billings, Montana this summer, so when I found a Montana-based company that specializes in “tough as nails” soft-sided luggage that is made in Montana, I had to check them out. The Red Oxx Air Boss is the perfect travel bag. How do I know this? My husband claimed it as soon as the package arrived on my doorstep!
My husband is an avid outdoorsman and he loves the Air Boss. According to him, “it stands up on it’s own, has plenty of compartments to hold my clothes and has a comfortable ‘long hauler strap.” I also like the Air Boss because it meets carry-on luggage requirements and is soft-sided; perfect for our Alaska fishing trips.
The Red Oxx Air Boss measures 22″L x 8″W x 14″H and weighs 3.9 pounds. Retail is about $285, and it comes in multiple colors.
The life-proof phone case and carry-on roller bag
Speaking of durable luggage, Pelican Products sent me the Pelican Go Case for my phone, and the EL22 Elite Carry-On case. Both products are the ideal gift for the traveler in your life because they protect smartphones, camera gear and clothes from water, dirt, snow and dust. The lightweight design of the Pelican luggage and double wall polypropylene construction makes it stand up to extreme loads and yet it meets airline carry-on regulations. Pelican luggage is crushproof, watertight and guaranteed for life!
The perfect carry on tote, made from a recycled sail
Eco-friendly fashion accessories are nothing new to the marketplace, but 727 Sailbags makes a handbag crafted from recycled sails that is ideal for the sailor or the eco-conscious traveler. I’m sailing to Cuba and Haiti soon and I want to arrive in style. The Legende Handbag Main Sail includes an authentication label which can be traced back to the maritime history of the sail. This one-of-a-kind handbag, completely hand-sewn and made in France, retails for $239 and is a sailor’s delight.
The laptop tote for all your electronics
I’m always on the hunt for a lightweight tote that can carry my laptop computer and double as a travel bag. The folks at Mobile Edge sent me their Urban Laptop Tote to try out right before the holiday madness begins. The dual top handles make the purse easy to carry and its charcoal-colored cotton canvas is durable and lightweight. I like that there is a separate, padded computer compartment that is able to accommodate laptops up to 15.6 inches. The Tartan cotton-twill lining and integrated accessory organizer make it easy to find items that would otherwise disappear into a black hole. Am I the only one that struggles to find pens and flash drives that have fallen to the bottom of the bag?
The Urban Laptop Tote comes in two color options with a charcoal black base. The Mobile Edge tote retails for $89.99.
Boots for Equestrians, Hikers and Adventurous Travelers
The Original Muck Boot Company sent me the Chelsea boot for review. Not only are these pull on boots comfortable and fashionable, they are also 100% waterproof. Equestrians and adventurous travelers will like these waterproof boots because the slip resistant outsole is rugged and the slim-last heel fits in English and Western stirrups, making them safe for horseback riding. Available in half sizes, this boot comes in black (shown above) and tan and retails for $145.
Other travel-related gifts and stocking stuffers
Push Pin Travel Maps
Do you like to track your travels and mark your adventures to all the National Parks or keep track of what peaks you’ve climbed or where you’ve skied? I have two travel companies that I recommend for creating gorgeous push pin maps, while the second company designs fun adventure prints. GeoJango Maps is a Pleasanton, California-based company created by a talented cartographer named Debbie Dennison.
Debbie’s push pin travel maps are beautiful and worthy of displaying in your living room, bedroom or office. I have the world map in my office so that I can track my worldwide travels. My millennial son has been after me to get him the USA push pin travel map for his bedroom.
Wanderwide is a Colorado-based company that produces adventure art. Those of us with wanderlust in our heart, but like the idea of checking things off the list will appreciate Wanderwide art. The framed art includes a stamp and ink pad to physically mark the National Parks you’ve visited or maybe you’d prefer the Ski Register print? There are many ways to track your adventures.
With USA and World push pin maps or adventure art, these gifts for the traveler in your life are ideal for tracking one-of-a-kind travel adventures.
This recycled rubber yoga matt
It’s hard to keep up with an exercise program when you are traveling. I love this yoga mat from Bradford Brenner art gallery in Healdsburg, California. The yoga mat is printed with Brenner’s original art and is made with sustainable, high-quality natural cork and recycled rubber. Manufactured in Los Angeles, this eco-friendly yoga mat is where rubber meets the road and is one of 8 gifts for the traveler in your life. Yoga mat is offered as part of Brenner’s lifestyle collection and retails for $125.
These comfortable boxer briefs perfect for travel
My husband and son absolutely love their Shinesty boxers. This outlandish clothing company makes the most comfortable travel boxer brief that either my husband or son have every worn. They both love the animal print boxer briefs. I think these underwear and boxers for men are some of the best gifts for the traveler in your life.
Long haul compression socks
Do you wear compression socks when you travel on long haul flights? These budget friendly gifts for travelers are the best way to avoid deep vein thrombosis (dvt) when traveling and the graduated compression technology helps prevent swelling, promotes muscle recovery and slows the progression of spider and varicose veins.
Vim & Vigr compression legwear are moisture-wick nylon and are available for men and women. I’m putting a pair of men’s knee-high solid black socks in my husband’s Christmas stocking. There are many colors available and wide calf options, as well. Suggested retail price of men’s knee-high compression socks is $32.95
Portable charger for traveling
Finally, my favorite travel gear item this year was My Charge. This portable power charger was a life saver when we had our power shut down for several days during Northern California wildfire season. I took the MyCharge HubPlus with me to Europe on a barge cruise, and to Canada on a tour of the Canadian Rockies by train, but the portable charger was most helpful when our power was out.
The integrated Apple Lightning cable enabled me to charge my iPhone the entire time our electricity was turned off by our utility company. MyCharge HubPlus portable charger will be in my emergency “go bag” for earthquakes and fire evacuation.
Gifts for equestrian travelers
This wander-lust inspired riding book
There are plenty of excellent travel books that were released in 2018, but one that caught my attention was Equestrian Life: From Riding Houses to Country Estates by Mark Roskams and Lavinia Branca Snyde, Rizzol, 2018. There’s nothing I like better than traveling the world on horseback and this book, with 240 pages, and 172 color photos, captures the essence of equestrian life in England, Scotland and Ireland. The Equestrian Life travel book is available from Rizzoli Bookstore and is about $55.
UPF 50 Cowboy hat
As I specialize in equestrian travel, I like to wear cowboy hats. Wallaroo hats offers some of the best sun hats for women and men. I like their cowboy hats, and their wide brim hats are also very popular with dermatologists. Wallaroo Hat Company makes packable sun hats with UPF 50 fabric that blocks 97.5% of ultraviolet rays.
A horseback riding vacation
At this stage in my life, I much prefer experiences over things. My husband and I made a return trip to Bryce Canyon, Utah in September. He hiked the area with our dog while I joined Ruby’s Horseback Adventures on a 4 day horseback riding vacation.
Wondering what to give the traveler in your life who likes adventure travel in beautiful surroundings? I highly recommend Ruby’s Grand Adventure. The multi-day horseback ride is offered several times of year and is geared toward intermediate to advanced equestrians. Beginning riders may join in for as many days as they like and are always welcome to explore the Bryce Canyon area on foot, by tour bus or horse-drawn wagon.
This all-inclusive horseback riding vacation retails for $1,300 per person but you’ll want to check the website for specific rates and dates. I have reviewed Best Western Ruby’s Inn and Best Western Plus Bryce Canyon Grand Hotel on the What a Trip blog, as well as Ruby’s Inn RV Park and Campground.
The ultimate Montana dude Ranch vacation
If you prefer a dude ranch vacation, I highly recommend horseback riding in Big Sky, Montana at Covered Wagon Ranch. This family-friendly dude ranch takes guests horseback riding in Yellowstone National Park! This Montana dude ranch had some of the best conditioned horses I’ve had the pleasure to ride and the scenery in Big Sky country was fabulous.
8 Gifts for the Traveler in Your Life review and all photography by Travel Writer Nancy D. Brown. On the What a Trip blog, travel gear and apparel are received for review purposes. All holiday gifts for the traveler have been tested and are recommended and approved by me.