It’s almost Christmas time again and by now everyone is looking for that perfect gift for their loved ones. The problem is what do you buy for the backpacker or traveller in your life? How do you know what they would actually want or find useful on the road? Look no further! This ultimate Christmas gift guide is here to help.
It’s Christmas again and the perfect time for backpackers to slow down for a bit and spend some time with family and loved ones, and of course one of the best parts of this time of year are the presents themselves!
So what do you get those travellers in your life who already seem to have it all and often have little need for random stuff? Don’t worry, whether you have a perpetual traveller in your life or a loved one dreaming of taking a gap year, here are my suggestions for some awesome gift ideas they will love!
Vango Sherpa 60 + 10 litre backpack.
If you or a loved one needs an actual pack as a gift, then you really can’t go wrong with this beauty! Vango are a consistently strong brand and make great packs, whether you choose this or another one (dependent of course on your size, build and own packing needs) I would recommend them as a brand. This particular pack is the perfect size for the average traveller on an average gap year, has the standard back adjust system and enough padding in the right places which makes it comfortable to wear, and decent sized internal sections. Want one? Buy one here.
Packing cubes.
No matter what style of backpack the traveller in your life uses, packing cubes have become an intrinsically essential part of the packing process in recent years and a good one will always be appreciated as a gift. There are plenty of brands out there that do really good ones and they are all essentially the same, so it is really worth doing a bit of research and shopping around. The Craghoppers packing cubes are a safe bet though and these are the ones I use myself. You can buy a good set here.
Wanderwave Wander Belt and Mini Wallet.
The Wander Belt and Mini Wallet are a comprehensive money security belt system designed exclusively by and for women, and is the perfect gift for the intrepid female traveller in your life. It is not like traditional money belts and provides a genuinely safe and discreet way for women to hide their cash and valuables on them whilst travelling. You can read a full review here and get a full 10% off with the unique discount code BBWW10 at checkout!
Bemused Backpacker T Shirts!
Not only are these travel inspired T Shirts perfect for any packing list for any gap year, they make the perfect stocking filler for the traveller in your life. They are lightweight cotton making them ideal in tropical climates or perfect for layering in cooler destinations, are easily added to any packing list and best of all they are made in a wind powered factory and hand finished in the UK with a production chain that is fully traceable to ethical sources! What more can you want?
Water To Go bottle.
Ever since I discovered these amazing water filter bottles I have taken one with me on every trip, because lets face it, in certain countries you just can’t always get access to clean, safe water. Bottled water is generally the answer but the cost as well as the carbon footprint soon adds up, so these filter bottles are the perfect answer for those travellers who want to save money or who have an eco conscience as the water filter completely negates any need to buy or carry countless plastic water bottles on the road. They are perfect for going off the beaten track or well trodden city exploration, as they can make safe, clean and tasty drinking water from any water source and they can even be used as a normal sports bottle for city breaks or the gym by taking the filter part out! Read a full review here and remember Readers of Bemused Backpacker get an awesome 15% discount with the unique discount code BEMUSED15 by buying here.
Pacsafe or a Pacsafe cable lock.
I love these pieces of kit. They aren’t without their problems of course (they are heavy and cumbersome) but they are in my opinion an absolute travel essential for any backpacker. These Pacsafe backpack protectors and not only keep your loved ones kit safe on the road but gives you the peace of mind that you have contributed to reducing their risk of having their stuff nicked! Buy one here.
Adjustable cable lock.
For those travellers who want to keep their kit safe in the hostel or on those overnight buses, but don’t want the hassle of the full pacsafe net, then these are the next best thing and make for an absolutely perfect stocking filler. Buy one here.
Microfiber towel.
These towels are a basic essential in any backpackers kit and I absolutely love them. They’ll never be as comfortable as one of those huge fluffy ones at a luxury hotel of course but this is one instance where practicality wins over every other factor. It is small, lightweight, easy to pack and saves you the space and weight of having to carry around a traditional towel. It also dries ultra quickly, which saves you from having to carry around wet or damp towels if you have to leave early. Lifeventure or Trespass are both good brands to choose from, obviously just choose the size that is appropriate for you and you can make your purchase here.
Bemused Backpacker travel books!
Is 2017 the year one of your friends or family is setting off around the world? Are you planning to go yourself? These books make the perfect stocking filler for any of your friends or family who need advice, tips or inspiration to follow their own dreams of round the world travel, and they even make a perfect self gift to spoil yourself with! You can find the full range of eBooks and paperbacks here.
Waterproof Dry Bags.
There are quite a few different brands of these out there and to be honest many are just as good as the others. Basically these are waterproof stuff sacks that not only keep your kit organised and separated within your backpack, but also keep it bone dry and protected from the elements. An absolute must have when travellers are heading somewhere in the rainy season or anywhere where there is a risk of being caught in the rain. Not the most glamorous of gifts I grant you, but any traveller will be eternally grateful to you when they find themselves needing to keep their stuff dry. Buy here.
E Reader.
When I first started backpacking paperbacks really were the only option if you wanted to read something in those long hours spent in transit or you fancied a lazy day in a hammock on the beach, and although the traditional book swaps in backpacker handouts were a romantic part of a bygone age of travel and a great way to find new authors, lugging round heavy paperbacks did add weight and take up space in your pack. E Readers have replaced all that and now you can carry a whole library in a small, light device! Trust me, if your loved one is an eternal traveller then they will love you for this! Buy one here.
A good book.
If you are buying someone an e reader for Christmas then you need some decent books to stick in it! I can’t travel without a good book and have always had a couple of good novels on me. So if you want a bit of action and adventure to keep you entertained on the road as well as a ton of prose about Egypt to inspire a good dose of wanderlust, then you can’t go wrong with The Sphinx Legacy! Available in both eBook version on all formats as well as traditional paperback version, you can buy your copy here.
I hope you or the traveller in your life finds one (or more of these in your stocking this year! Happy Christmas!
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What to pack for your gap year.
This post is not in any way a sponsored post. I received no compensation or incentive for mentioning these products in this article, they are simply products that I have used myself over a period of many years travelling – or in the case of my books and T Shirts, have written or designed myself – and am happy to recommend them to you.
Michael Huxley is a published author, professional adventurer and founder of the travel website, Bemused Backpacker. He has spent the last twenty years travelling to over 100 countries on almost every continent, slowly building Bemused Backpacker into a successful business after leaving a former career in emergency nursing and travel medicine, and continues to travel the world on numerous adventures every year.
Your list is amazing. Very helpful list and one should always consider it before traveling. I am gifting Waterproof Dry Bags to my mate who travels a lot.
Glad to provide inspiration Shams. 🙂
Mary Christmas dear. Today I find your post that is very interesting and your gift idea are very different to all. There the best gift is Wanderwave Wander Belt and Mini Wallet . That is the best gift for traveler I think. Can you told mi how much prize?
Thanks Gene, if you click on the links and head to the websites the prices are all there. 🙂
Great list, I want a few of those T shirts as stocking fillers!
Thank you, they make perfect stocking fillers!