$8
Trailbrush – Trail Stuff
Why: What were you expecting? Hahaha. Most everyone on trail has a compatible spoon and even more people have teeth! If they hate it: it was a funny gag gift or they need to watch the installation video again, if they love it: mission accomplished. I currently have stocking stuffer kits available, they're great! I won't spend any more time on this one because I wrote this whole website.
$30
Trail Rag
Why: Its an often overlooked bit of gear, but having something to wipe off the mud and dirt or to wash you face in a stream is just another level of luxury.
"A towel is just about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can carry. Partly because it has great practical value." - The Hitchhikers Guide to The Galaxy (probably)
$10
Alpenflow Fuel Transfer
Why: Most of us cook our food. (If you or a loved one is experimenting with cold soaking, stop, you've gone too deep, seek help) To get that done we need fuel. Fuel cans are expensive and its always annoying to figure out which ones are nearly empty or carrying two out just in case. This tiny piece of incredible design makes it so you can buy the BIG cheaper per oz cans and refill your little ones. It also means you can consolidate your fuel cans. Its incredible, its perfect, and is always appreciated.
$50
Aplenblow
Why: Yes, two in a row from the same guy! I can't help it, he's a genius. One of THE WORST tasks at camp is inflating a sleeping pad. Its exhausting and time consuming and comes at the part of the day that you really REALLY just want to laydown shovel food into your face and sleep. This microscopic inflator weights practically nothing and gives that little bit of luxury at the end of the day. It will be appreciated. As a bonus, it comes with all the adapters so you don't have to clandestinely figure out what pad they have! (if you didn't know that was an issue, don't worry about it)
$10
Bottle Bidet
Why: Because its the best one. (Trust me, I've tried like 15). Will you get made fun of when it gets opened? Maybe, but its worth it. Carrying in and packing out toilet paper is AWEFUL. Bidets are wonderful, and actually do a better job. This one is perfect because it screws to most water bottles (anything they will carry except a Nalgene). This one is perfect because it has a single hole rather than 4-6 and this is good because that's how water pressure works.
$8
Hygiene Bags
Why: Sometimes you didn't listen to number 5, sometimes its that time and you gotta pack out your toiletries. Here is a wonderfully non-ziplock option to do that. Its biodegradable, affordable, and easier to deal with on trail. Bonus is that if they like it, this is something they'll need more of and you've nailed your gift routine for the next long while.
$4
28mm Sawyer Coupling
Why: Because squeezing water through a filter is awful. I guarantee if you get them talking about it they will complain about how much of a pain it is to wring water into a bottle 1 wrist breaking liter at a time. This little do-dad means you can connect the Cnoc Vecto (that they already probably have, if they don't, buy that too!) to the filter they likely already have to make a nice little gravity system. They can relax by the water source while gravity takes care of the rest. So much convince, so little cost. Bonus: if they're missing a vecto, just get them one, they're prefect in every way: Vecto 28mm Portable Camping Water Container – Minimal Gear
$13
Hang System (for water)
Why: Yes, another repeat offender. This comes with a caveat: your person needs to be a gravity filter person. (see line 7) Hanging a water system is difficult, but this simple lever and rope means you get a lot more options when it comes to hanging your water bag. Again, this is a convenience that most hikers will neglect to buy for themselves. They're out of stock, so the link goes to GGG.
$19
M!GO Bottle
Why: While we're talking about water, and graduating from Nalgenes, this absolute perfection of design. If you can grab one in the windows that they aren't sold out, they're the perfect water bottle. The have a wide-open option to allow easy water scoops, and a normal bottle top for normal attachments like filters and bidets. Again, a pretty good no-brainer of a gift.
$45
Umbrella
Why: Because most people haven't realized umbrellas are the GOAT. Is it raining and the wet jacket is getting cold? Umbrella. Is it death-ray sunny? Umbrella. Did the latrine not have a door? Umbrella. Did you start you hike in the winter and people can see you poop from 4 miles away? Umbrella. Seriously these are so light that gentle breeze makes them pull up more than weigh down. If they don't have an umbrella already, this is a MUST.
$24
Jlab Minis
Why: And you thought this was going to be exclusively little trail brands. Are these good headphones? No. Are they reliable? No. Do they do better noise canceling than your airpods? No. But they're cheap, work as earplugs even when not charged, and weight next to nothing. For real, nothing. So light, so small. These are amazing for spooky nights or bad bunkrooms, without asking you to carry your nice headphones, or distracting you from life on trail.