Our tried-and-tested list of Christmas gifts for travellers, be they hikers, shutterbugs, adrenaline junkies or culture vultures
This year has been unusual in that Peter and I haven’t taken a single trip together for the first time in 14 years. He spent three weeks climbing Denali – one of the coldest places on Earth – and I certainly wasn’t going to join him on that. Later on in the year, he spent six days on the High Scardus Trail in Albania which, given my feelings about camping, I wasn’t going to do either.
Instead, I had a solo beach break in Greece and, more recently, did a 15-day trip through China. It hasn’t been the busiest travel year for me, but I did see the Great Wall, which means I have now seen all of the New 7 Wonders of the World – a feat Peter managed last year.
For now, I will be focusing on finishing my next book (out in 2025!) and Peter will continue his work for the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust before we both down tools for Christmas.
We hope that wherever you are in the world, you are able to spend the season with loved ones. As ever, to help you plan ahead, we’ve put together a list of the best Christmas gifts for travellers.
Christmas gifts for travellers
After 100 countries and seven continents of travel, we are well placed to curate the best Christmas gifts for travellers. Here are our top recommendations, all of which we have tried and tested.
1. Aspinal of London passport cover
A stylish friend of mine once told me that you can get away with buying cheap clothes if you team them with quality accessories: shoes, bag, belt, wallet. With that in mind, this Aspinal of London passport cover is a worthy investment.
Hand-crafted from full-grain leather and lined in contrasting suede, it’s durable enough to accompany travellers on years of adventures. A slip pocket stores boarding passes and other paraphernalia while the personalisation service adds a thoughtful touch. There is a range of colours and materials, but you can’t go wrong with this classic red (or ‘Smooth Cognac & Espresso Suede’ to be more accurate).
2. Smartwool comfies
My brother recently saw me wearing my (very) worn Smartwool socks and said, “Isn’t it about time you replaced those?”
I looked at him sourly and said, “You can pry my Smartwool from my cold dead feet.” (Of course, my feet wouldn’t be cold because I’d be wearing my Smartwool.)
In case I’m not being clear: I’m a fan. Okay, so I mostly wear mine around the house while Peter wears his as they were intended (on hikes, climbs and misadventures) but either way, they are one of the best Christmas gifts for travellers you can buy.
Atlas & Boots
Merino wool is ideal for base layers
Peter uses a variety of their products, from base layers and t-shirts to underwear and, of course, socks. From the slopes of Aconcagua to the trails of the Yorkshire Dales, they have never failed to keep him warm.
3. Lightweight packable jacket
Thanks to our trip to Antarctica, we’re all set for winter hiking. Summer hiking, however, is a different beast, especially in the UK where rain showers are never far. With this in mind, we decided to add a lightweight jacket to our outdoor wardrobes.
I opted for Haglöfs’ L.I.M GTX Jacket Women in Maui Blue. It’s super lightweight and packable, meaning that I don’t have to head out hiking without a backup jacket. It’s also great for cities. Most recently, I threw it into my suitcase last-minute before I headed to China – a decision I was deeply grateful for in a suprisingly frigid Beijing.
The shell is made from GORE-TEX Paclite® plus 2.5-layer fabric for durable weather protection and breathability. The jacket has zippered hand pockets, a snug-fitting hood to keep off the rain and reflective details for safety. A men’s version is also available.
4. Packing cubes
Packing cubes have been a revelation for me. They have changed the way I pack and made life on the road so much easier. I no longer find myself pulling out a pair of black trousers when I’m really after a black T-shirt, or rooting around for a fresh pair of knickers.
I use Eagle Creek’s Pack-It Essentials Set to organise tops, bottoms and smalls. Take my word for it: add these to your Christmas shopping list and you’ll change someone’s life.
5. Royal Robbins travel apparel
Royal Robbins’ range of apparel offers some fantastic Christmas gifts for travellers. I absolutely love their Spotless Evolution Jogger and Spotless Evolution Short.
These are lightweight, breathable and incredibly versatile. I have worn them on hikes, planes, city walks, cycle rides and, most recently, in the pouring rain in Shanghai and kept surprisingly dry. If you’re buying for a man, opt for the Active Traveler Pant.
Buy from Royal Robbins
6. World travel adaptor kit
Smartphones, cameras, Kindles, laptops, electric razors, epilators and myriad other gadgets all require charging on the road, be it via mains or USB.
The Ceptics World Travel Adapter Kit is the perfect solution for those who seem to pack boundless numbers of cables and adaptors when heading out on the road.
The adapter kit works in over 200 countries and territories and can charge up to five devices using only one outlet. It is surge-protected and features two US plugs, two USB ports, a fixed USB cable and six country-specific connectors.
Use Ceptics’ international adapter finder to find the adapter that would suit you best.
7. Power bank & solar charger
Peter carries a fair amount of electronics on his various treks and climbs including two cameras and a smartphone. All of these need power, so a reliable power bank and solar charger make life a lot easier.
We like the BioLite Charge 80 PD Power Bank and the Goal Zero Nomad 20 Solar Panel. Both pieces of kit are designed to withstand the stresses of outdoor use while being compact enough to fit into your hand luggage.
The power bank can charge a 13-inch laptop or multiple smaller devices while the solar charger can power smartphones, GPS devices, headlamps and other rechargeable USB devices.
8. Osprey Luggage
When it comes to luggage, Peter has it all: day packs, backpacks, camera bags, duffel bags, carry-on, wheeled luggage and even a range of hybrids. After years of testing various kit bags, he now swears by Osprey.
Atlas & Boots
Peter’s backpacks
His go-to backpack is an Osprey Exos 38 backpack which weighs just a touch over one kilogram. It’s super light, spacious and durable, and suits most camping and trekking trips including shorter wild camping and winter mountaineering trips.
For longer expeditions, Peter uses an 85-litre expedition backpack and when it comes to suitcases he has a Farpoint Wheels 36 for carry-on and a Rolling Transporter Wheeled Duffel 60 for checked luggage.
9. Chrome Kadet sling backpack
On city breaks, Peter opts for the Chrome Kadet Max because it strikes the right balance between practicality, security and durability. The 15-litre single-shoulder sling backpack is large enough to fit a laptop and all daily essentials but small enough to slip under the seat in front on flights.
As it’s a sling, the bag can be moved around to the front of your torso for easy and secure access. It also features a secondary seatbelt-style buckle that can be quickly released. The strap is reversible so it can be carried over the right or left shoulder. Inside, there are plenty of compartments, pockets as well as clips for attaching keys.
Finally, the bag is also water-resistant, well-padded and comes with a lifetime warranty against material or workmanship defects, making it ideal for the demands of an active lifestyle.
10. SURI electric toothbrush & UV travel case
Every year, more than four billion toothbrushes – enough to circle the globe 12 times – end up in landfills or our oceans. The brush heads of the SURI electric toothbrush are made from plant-based corn starch and the bristles are from castor oil – materials that are bio-based as opposed to petroleum-based plastics.
The body of the brush is made from aluminium which makes it long-lasting and easily recyclable. Furthermore, SURI will recycle the heads for free in the UK and US.
But it’s not just sustainability that makes this a superb Christmas gift for travellers. With a 40+ day battery life, this is the ideal electric toothbrush for the road as there’s no need to pack a charger.
If you do go away for longer, then the UV light clean and charge case kills 99.9% of harmful bacteria in just one minute. Finally, it doesn’t have a battery built in which makes it TSA airport-safe.
11. Sherpa Uddesya Eco Fleece Jacket
Peter first came across Sherpa Adventure Gear while trekking to Everest base camp and it’s since become one of his favourite brands. He never leaves the house in winter without his Renzing Hat and his latest treasured bit of kit is the super comfy Uddesya Eco Jacket.
The full zip fleece jacket offers outstanding warmth on daily adventures. It’s made from 100% recycled polyester and designed to wick moisture away for lasting dryness. As it has a relaxed fit, it can be worn as part of a layering system with other bulky clothes. It has a stretchy bound collar, cuffs and hem, making it extremely comfortable out on the slopes or lounging at home.
12. Water purifier
We’ve stayed in some pretty basic places during the course of our travels. There was the campsite in Fiji with very sketchy commode, the beach fale in Samoa which didn’t have walls, and the campsite in Colombia with drinking water that ran a brownish yellow.
In all these places, we’ve been able to drink the tap water (hose water in one case) because we’ve been able to purify water on the go.
A reliable water purifier is one of the best practical Christmas gifts for travellers. We recommend the GeoPress Ti Water Filter and Purifier Bottle which requires zero setup, and filters and purifies water in just 8 seconds.
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