Gifts for walkers
A walker’s gift needs to suit their normal route. A person who takes a short local walk has different carrying needs from someone planning long hill days. Start with where they go, what they bring and what they say is uncomfortable or worn out. Avoid guessing boots or technical clothing. Small navigation, storage and comfort choices can be useful, provided they fit the existing kit and do not encourage someone to rely on equipment they have not learned to use.
Ideas prepared by WantThis
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How we chose these gifts
These are editorial gift ideas, not hands-on product tests. Planning amounts are spending limits, not retailer offers. Any named product reference price is dated 2 October 2026; check the linked source, delivery, variant and current total before buying.
What makes a good pick
- Ask about routes and distances before buying. A heavy accessory can be a poor gift for someone who values a light bag.
- Footwear and fitted clothing need the wearer’s choice. A contribution to a specific wanted item is safer than a guessed size.
- For navigation gifts, check coverage and editions. A map or app subscription should support their existing skills and planning.
The ideas
- 1
An OS Explorer map for a chosen area
Check the edition’s current priceA good fit for: A walker planning routes in a particular place
Choose the area from a planned trip or a favourite region, then check that the map covers the route rather than just the nearest town. Ask whether they want a paper or weather-resistant version. Add a note suggesting a walk you could plan together.
Before you buy: Check map coverage and edition. A map does not replace learning navigation or checking route conditions.
Check product details at Ordnance Survey Explorer maps (opens in a new tab)
- 2
A dry bag for the items they carry
Plan £10–£25A good fit for: Someone who wants organised storage inside a rucksack
Ask what needs separating: a spare layer, lunch or small electronics. Size the bag for those contents and the existing rucksack. A small manageable bag is often more useful than an oversized one that turns every stop into a repacking job.
Before you buy: Check the closure and manufacturer’s intended use. Do not assume a storage bag protects valuables when submerged.
- 3
Walking socks matching their usual fit
Plan £15–£30A good fit for: A walker replacing a known favourite
Find out the size, thickness and cuff height they already like with their boots. A replacement pair can be a welcome consumable when the choice is exact. Buy the familiar style before experimenting with a material or thickness that changes the boot fit.
Before you buy: Skip if you cannot check size and preference; socks are personal equipment.
- 4
A compact sitting mat
Plan £8–£20A good fit for: Someone who stops for lunch outdoors
Ask whether a small seat pad would solve a genuine annoyance on their routes. Compare packed size, weight and how it fits in the bag. This can be an inexpensive gift for someone who already owns the main walking equipment and does not need another gadget.
Before you buy: Avoid bulky versions for a walker who packs light. Check cleaning and storage after wet use.
Save your favourites
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Create your free listFAQs
Should I buy trekking poles as a surprise?
Only if the walker has specified the style, size and features they want. Poles affect how they walk and carry equipment. A wishlist entry or contribution lets them choose rather than adapt to a guess.
What works for someone with all the gear?
Replace a familiar consumable, choose a map for a planned trip, or offer company and transport for a walk they want to do. Ask what actually wears out before buying more equipment.
Spotted a changed price or specification? Tell us which product needs a correction.