In this guide
Good stocking stuffers for hikers and campers are small things that go on every trip: wool hiking socks, a headlamp, lip balm with SPF, a blister kit, a mini multi-tool or a roll of repair tape. Every idea below is small enough for a stocking, with one exception that we flag: our towel set.
This guide is for anyone filling a stocking for a hiker, a camper or someone who would rather be outside. In the UK you would call these stocking fillers. Pick by the trips your person takes, or use the combinations near the end to fill a whole stocking. We name types of items, not brands, so you can shop wherever you like. Two of the ideas are our own products, and we say so each time.
Jump to:
- Stocking stuffers for hikers
- Stocking stuffers for campers and outdoorsmen
- Beach and travel stocking stuffers
- Stocking stuffers for anyone outdoors
- Gift combinations that fill a stocking
Top picks for a hiker’s stocking
- For the day hiker: a headlamp, which keeps both hands free.
- For the long-distance walker: a blister kit, or a refill of blister plasters.
- For the camper: a mini multi-tool or a flat roll of repair tape.
- For the beach and travel friend: our Pocket Blanket, which packs into a pouch of 4.5 x 3.5 in (11.5 x 9 cm).
Outdoor stocking stuffers at a glance
| Item | Suits | Why it fits a stocking |
|---|---|---|
| Our product Pocket Blanket in its pouch (ours) | Beach days, picnics, travel | Packs into a 4.5 x 3.5 in (11.5 x 9 cm) pouch |
| Wool hiking socks | Hikers | Rolls into a small bundle |
| A headlamp | Hikers and campers | The strap wraps around the lamp |
| Lip balm with SPF | Hikers and beach lovers | One small tube |
| A blister and first-aid kit | Hikers | A flat pouch |
| Water treatment tablets | Hikers and backpackers | A small packet |
| A mini multi-tool | Campers | Folds to pocket size |
| A mini roll of repair tape | Campers | A flat roll |
| A long-handled spoon | Backpackers | Long and thin, it slides down the side |
| Small trash bags | Campers | A roll the size of a fist |
| A phone-sized dry bag | Beach and travel | Folds flat when empty |
| Travel-size sunscreen | Beach and travel | A small bottle |
| A small power bank | Travel | About the size of a phone |
| A weatherproof notebook and pencil | Anyone outdoors | Pocket size |
| A neck gaiter or a beanie | Anyone outdoors | Rolls into a ball |
| A paper map of a favorite park | Anyone outdoors | Folds flat |
Stocking stuffers for hikers
Wool hiking socks
Good for: every hiker, from weekend walkers to long-distance trekkers.
Socks are the classic stocking stuffer, and a hiking pair turns the joke gift into a useful one.
Good to know: socks come in sizes. If you do not know their shoe size, check a pair of shoes in their closet first.
A headlamp
Good for: early starts, late finishes and the dark walk to the restroom at camp.
The National Park Service lists a flashlight and headlamp among the Ten Essentials, and it recommends headlamps because they are hands-free.
Good to know: check whether the lamp is rechargeable or runs on batteries. If it takes batteries, tuck a spare set in the toe of the stocking.
Lip balm with SPF
Good for: hikers above the tree line and anyone who spends a full day in the sun.
Lips need sun protection too. The American Academy of Dermatology suggests a lip balm with sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher.
A blister and first-aid kit
Good for: hikers who cover long distances.
The Park Service also says to prepare for emergencies by packing first-aid supplies. A small kit with blister plasters, a few bandages and tweezers fits in a flat pouch.
Good to know: if your hiker already carries a kit, a refill of blister plasters is still a welcome gift.
Water treatment tablets
Good for: hikers and backpackers who refill from streams.
Water and water treatment supplies are on the same Ten Essentials list. Tablets are a small way to carry treatment: a packet fits in the lid pocket of a pack.
Good to know: pick a packet with clear instructions on the label, so your hiker knows how long to wait before drinking.
Stocking stuffers for campers and outdoorsmen
Planning their first night out? Our list of what to take camping covers the bigger gear that will not fit in a stocking. Shopping for a man who has all of this already? Our gifts for outdoorsy men go beyond the stocking.
A mini multi-tool
Good for: the camper who fixes everything.
Camp is full of small fixes: a loose screw, a stuck zipper pull, a cord that needs cutting. The Park Service’s repair kit list names duct tape, a knife, a multi-tool and scissors. A mini multi-tool covers several of those in one.
Good to know: check local rules on blades, and if they fly, check the airline’s rules before a bladed tool goes in a carry-on.
A mini roll of repair tape
Good for: campers whose gear has seen a few seasons.
Duct tape is on that same list, and a full roll is heavy to carry. A flat mini roll of duct tape or gear repair tape patches a torn tent bag or a split sleeve.
Good to know: a trick to pass on with the gift: wrap a few turns of tape around a water bottle or a trekking pole, so it is always there.
A long-handled spoon
Good for: anyone who eats out of meal pouches.
A long handle reaches the bottom of the pouch, so dinner does not end with food on your knuckles.
Small trash bags
Good for: campers who leave a site cleaner than they found it.
“Pack it in, pack it out” is one of the Leave No Trace principles the Park Service shares, and it asks campers to pack out all trash, leftover food and litter. A roll of small, sturdy bags makes that easy.
Beach and travel stocking stuffers
For more beach ideas, see our gifts for beach lovers. For small things that suit a carry-on, see our gifts for travelers.
Pocket Blanket in its pouch (our product)
Good for: beach days, picnics and festival fields, for the person who keeps a small bag ready to go.
This is our own Pocket Blanket, so read this with that in mind. It packs into a pouch of 4.5 x 3.5 in (11.5 x 9 cm) and weighs 6.4 oz (0.18 kg), which is why it sits in a stocking with room for more. Unpacked, it opens to 55 x 60 in (140 x 152 cm), room for two adults on a beach, a lawn or a festival field.
The fabric is water-resistant polyester. The corners have small pockets you can fill with sand or stones, plus corner loops, and the pouch comes with a carabiner to clip it to a bag.
Good to know: it is a thin ground cover, not a padded one, and it is hand wash only. Worried they will never get it back in the pouch? Our guide shows how to fold it back into the pouch.
Travel Towel + Face Cloth set (our product)
Good for: swimmers, campers and travelers, as a gift under the tree rather than in the stocking.
Our second product here is a travel towel set: a travel towel of 48 x 24 in (120 x 60 cm), a face cloth of 15 x 12 in (38 x 30 cm), a carry bag and a carabiner. The whole set weighs 7.4 oz (0.21 kg).
Good to know: we do not list a packed size for the set, so if the stocking is a small one, put the towel set under the tree instead.
A phone-sized dry bag
Good for: boat trips and beach days.
A small roll-top bag keeps a phone, keys and cards together and away from splashes. It folds flat when it is empty.
Good to know: read the maker’s limits before it goes near the water.
Travel-size sunscreen
Good for: day bags, beach totes and carry-ons.
A small bottle goes wherever they go.
Good to know: for flights, check the carry-on liquid rules before you pack it.
A small power bank
Good for: trips where the phone is the map, the camera and the flashlight.
A small power bank keeps it going. If they fly, note that the FAA says power banks must be carried in carry-on baggage only.
Stocking stuffers for anyone outdoors
A weatherproof notebook and pencil
Good for: trail notes, bird lists and campsite numbers.
A pocket notebook with all-weather paper rides along in a jacket pocket.
Good to know: add a pencil: it has no cap to lose and nothing to leak in a pocket.
A neck gaiter or a beanie
Good for: cold mornings at camp.
A neck gaiter is a tube of fabric that works as a neck warmer or a headband. A beanie rolls into a ball.
A paper map of a favorite park
Good for: the person who loves one park above all others.
Navigation tops the Park Service’s Ten Essentials list, starting with a map. A paper map works without signal and makes a personal gift.
Good to know: circle a trail you want to walk together, and the map becomes a plan.
Gift combinations that fill a stocking
These are pairings, not bundles: each item is bought on its own.
- The trail-ready stocking: wool hiking socks, a blister kit and lip balm with SPF. Feet, skin and lips looked after on a long day.
- The after-dark stocking: a headlamp with spare batteries and a weatherproof notebook. Light for the walk back and a place to note where they went.
- The camp fix-it stocking: a mini multi-tool, a flat roll of repair tape and small trash bags. Fix it, patch it, pack it out.
- The beach-day stocking: our Pocket Blanket, travel-size sunscreen and a phone-sized dry bag. A seat for two, sun care and a bag for the phone.
Shortlist: small gifts they will use
- For hikers: a headlamp.
- For long walks: wool hiking socks.
- For campers: a mini multi-tool.
- For the beach and travel: our Pocket Blanket.
- For anyone outdoors: a paper map of a park they love.
Think about where your person actually goes: the trail, the campsite or the beach. Then choose the small thing they grumble about forgetting. Want something bigger than a stocking can hold? Our gift ideas for hikers and campers cover larger gear.
Be Outdoors Be Wanderful™
