The Ultimate 2025 REI Holiday Gift Guide: Top Outdoor Picks for Every Adventurer
Looking for the best holiday gifts for hikers and outdoor adventurers? Our 2025 REI Gift Guide rounds up 10 trail-ready picks that are thoughtful, practical, and built for the wild. Shop early, surprise your loved ones, and give the gift of adventure this holiday season.

The holidays are just around the corner, and if you’ve got hikers, backpackers, or outdoor lovers on your list, REI is one of the best places to shop. Known for quality gear, sustainable brands, and a community-driven mission, REI offers gifts that go way beyond wrapping paper! They inspire adventure.

This 2025 REI Holiday Gift Guide highlights ten of the best items to surprise the outdoor enthusiast in your life. Whether you’re shopping for a seasoned backpacker, a weekend day hiker, or someone just starting their outdoor journey, these gifts are trail-ready, thoughtful, and sure to be used for years to come.
Why Shop at REI for Holiday Gifts?
- Trusted Quality: REI only carries gear tested by outdoor experts and adventurers.
- Sustainability: Many products are eco-friendly, Fair Trade Certified, or made with recycled materials.
- REI Co-op Membership Perks: Members earn 10% back annually, plus access to exclusive sales and rentals—making gifts even more rewarding.
- Easy Returns: The generous return policy takes the stress out of holiday shopping.
10 Best REI Gifts for Outdoor Lovers in 2025
Patagonia Better Sweater (Men's | Women's)

The Better Sweater by Patagonia is a classic. No matter what kind of adventurer, road-tripper or outdoorsy loved one you're shopping for, it's basically a guarantee they will love this piece. It's cozy and perfect for year-round wear in pretty much any location!
Black Diamond Pursuit Trekking Poles

Good trekking poles make such a difference! The Pursuit Trekking Poles by Black Diamond are a solid pair that work for most folks. They're really lightweight, have an excellent height range, and have a fantastic build quality.
Garmin inReach Mini 2

Safety matters! And this little device is one of the best safety items available on the market. Garmin's inReach Mini 2 is another classic piece of gear. It's reliable, very small, and quite easy to use. Not just for backpackers and hikers, this is a very awesome item to keep in your car in case of emergencies too!
GRAYL GeoPress Water Filter and Purifier Bottle

Out of all the water filters available on the market, GRAYL's GeoPress is our favorite. It filters out everything to be concerned about, works really easy and is nice to drink from. It's a little pricey for a water filter, and that's why it makes a perfect gift! Your loved one might be hesitant to drop the money on themselves.
Helinox Chair Zero

The Chair Zero by Helinox is ultralight, super comfortable and quite versatile! Use it backpacking, car camping or tailgating. It's a no-brainer!
Kahtoola MICROspikes Traction System

Trekking on icy surfaces is a ton of fun, but good traction is key! Kahtoola's MICROspikes are some of the nicest traction devices out there, and work with all shoe sizes.
Insta360 X5

A solid action camera is such an unbelievably awesome way to capture and share adventures. Insta360 is pretty much a gold standard at this point, and their X5 is the newest model. Definitely a piece of gear that any adventurer will go nuts for!
Leatherman Skeletool CX Multitool

A good multitool is always welcome for the outdoorsy, and adventurous! The Skeletool is a really nice multitool that is lightweight enough to bring backpacking, and small enough to keep in the car during road trip season!
Rumpl Original Puffy Blanket

We love a puffy blanket, you love a puffy blanket, everyone loves a puffy blanket! And Rumpl's Original Puffy Blanket is indeed the OG of puffy blankets. Available in so many colors, and two sizes, this is a great gift for anyone!
REI Gift Card

When all else fails... gift card! In fact, a lot of folks prefer a gift card. Sure, they're a little less personal than a carefully selected gift, but they ensure your loved one is going to get exactly what they want. And that's a wonderful thing.
Stocking Stuffers from REI
If you’re looking for small but mighty gifts, REI has plenty of little items too! These make perfect add-ons for bigger presents or thoughtful stand-alone gifts for the minimalist hiker.
1. YETI Rambler Tumbler 20oz

We've named a few classics on this gift guide, and YETI's Rambler Tumbler falls into that category. These insulated tumblers kick ass and are just the ticket for pretty much everyone you'll be gifting in 2025.
Nikwax Down Wash

Okay, okay. This may seem a little boring. But taking good care of down products seriously extends their life! And Nikwax is the gold standard for down wash. Because this isn't especially fun to buy, it makes a solid little gift!
Kula Cloth Reusable Pee Cloth

The best pee cloth on the market makes a perfect stocking stuffer! Kula Cloths are available in a bunch of colors and designs, and work well for anyone who squats to pee, needs a nice hanky or what-have-you.
The Tick Patrol Tick Remover Tool

Ticks happen. This handy dandy little tick key is a safe and fast way to remove them. It's so small and ultralight that it can be kept pretty much anywhere while out on adventures.
Therm-ic Performance S.E.T. Heated Socks

If your loved one experiences cold feet in the cold months, these are some of the most reliable and nice heated socks on the market. The battery life is long, the socks themselves are comfortable. They work for hiking, snow sports and lounging.
Tips for Choosing the Perfect Outdoor Gift
- Think Seasonality: Cold-weather layers, insulated mugs, and cozy camp gear are perfect for winter.
- Size Matters: Lightweight and packable gear is always appreciated by backpackers.
- Versatility Wins: Items that work for hiking, camping, and travel get the most use.
- Add Personal Touches: Pair a big gear item with trail snacks, a map of local hikes, or a membership to a local conservation group.
Packing It Out
Outdoor gifts aren’t just about cool new gear; they’re about opening doors to adventure, connection, and time in nature. Whether you choose a big-ticket backpack or a small piece of gear, these gifts from REI will bring joy long after the holidays are over.

Pro Tip: Don’t wait too long to shop! The most popular outdoor gear tends to sell out fast during the holiday season.
This article is independent of the supplier and reflects my own opinions. Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission if purchases are made through those links at no additional cost to you.