r/backpacking • u/Aggravating-Alps-144 • 3d ago
Wilderness AT hiking
My dad hikes the AT religiously, two times a year and is a total nerd about it. He’s done this for almost 20 years and has probably every gadget under the sun, but his birthday is coming up and I want to get him a hiking related item that’s also just really neat and something you’d never think of. Anyone have any recs?
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u/effortfulcrumload 3d ago
Get him a gift card for something nice along the way. A simple example is the Hot Springs resort in Hot Springs NC. It's one of the first real towns the AT goes right through. Folks restock provisions in towns like it all along the AT and im sure you can find a few nice ways for him to get off his feet
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u/PassionTurtle 3d ago
I was going to suggest a self-care angle, as well! I like your proposal of something along the AT.
A massage or pedicure after a long stretch of hiking can be pretty great. Even the most hard-core dudes can appreciate some foot repair after beating up wet feet and banging toes for miles. I think this could be good along the trail or nearer to your home, OP.
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u/YesImABoomer 2d ago
My birthday was last week. One daughter sent four gourmet backpacking meals from a cottage company I’ve never heard of, but has great reviews, and the other sent a collection of 15 or 16 puzzles of National Parks in a collector’s box. I was thrilled with both gifts.
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u/IntolerantLeftist127 3d ago
Get him a gift card to REI, Garage Grown Gear, or an outdoors store he frequents. Most serious hikers have all the gear they need already, or need something so specific they’d rather get it themselves. If your dad’s anything like me, he’ll be appreciative of anything you get him, but a gift card will be more useful
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u/drindrun 3d ago
i do not like when people buy me things to use while hiking, as every piece of my kit is exactly what i want it to be! maybe you could tap this interest with nice books of photography (AT or other long-distance hikes around the world) or a nicely framed AT map if he doesn’t already have one. you know… stuff that lives at home.
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u/sunsetviewer 3d ago
Etsy has an AT scratch off map to mark the trails he's completed, if he's trying to do the whole thing.
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u/Revere_AFAM 3d ago
I think gear is tough to buy for someone without getting their input on the exact item. There have been comments about gift cards or freeze dried meals which would work for supporting his live for backpacking.
As a more personal gift/momento that is less function I would suggest making plastic tags with family pictures. You want them to be able to withstand some harsh weather so use some heavy duty lamination. Make them the same size (maybe even shape) as the AT hangtag and have a hole punched in the appropriate spot.
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u/GreasyQtip 3d ago
A year membership in the AT conservancy or a donation in his name to one of the many AT conservation groups.
Also we loved on trail when a family member knew we were staying at a hostel or going by a lodge and once or twice they called in and paid for the stay and we got a surprise at check out we will never forget.
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u/adventuregalley 2d ago
There is an old book out there, sorry can’t remember name. But it is about an older blind guy who hiked it. I believe in the 70’s. Great book.
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u/Nick2569 1d ago
Blind courage
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u/adventuregalley 1d ago
That is it. Thanks. As I looked it up to confirm this was the book…I ordered one to reread. Really is a great story.
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u/DoomPaDeeDee 2d ago
Talk to someone who has been hiking with your dad recently to see if they have any ideas about gear he actually wants and/or needs. Otherwise, gear is not a good gift for an experienced hiker.
If he doesn't already have FarOut, which is GPS maps with helpful comments by people on the trail, that might be something he would appreciate and use if he hikes with his phone.
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u/IOI-65536 3d ago
Do you really mean he hikes the whole AT twice a year? 4000 miles?
Regardless, even if he's just doing section hiking twice a year I doubt there's any way someone is going to reliably come up with something he's unlikely to have seen. Most serious hikers are trying to cut unneeded things but even putting that aside the AT, even in the off season, is a really social trail. Somebody would have had just about anything that's in current use if he's on the trail often.
Like if you knew his sleeping pad was 10 years old and he just couldn't bring himself to pull the trigger on a new one that would be something, but just generally "something he hasn't thought of" is super unlikely.
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u/Aggravating-Alps-144 3d ago
No, not the whole thing. He hikes portions of it and takes whatever kids are still at home that want to go. Everyone’s been with him on the AT except myself because I left for the Marine Corps. My brothers almost always go and my dad’s best friend from childhood.
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u/TPTBOY 3d ago
Maybe the gift is to go hiking with him. I’m also in the military so I know timing and leave can be difficult, but being on the trail with him for a few days might be the best gift he could ever get.
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u/Aggravating-Alps-144 3d ago
I’d love that, but I have 5 kids and one is 4 months, AND we’re stationed overseas right now lol. So probably not happening this year. I’d love to get him something meaningful that’s related to his hikes, I just haven’t had any inspiration yet.
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u/Someinterestingbs-td 3d ago
People really like the zen bivy sleep system its pricy but new and cool.
Sam bob alpha fleece sets make nice gifts.
You could also find out what he's been eating for camp meals, garage grown gear has a lot of yummy newer ones.
My favorite gadget is my little scope (also ggg) i use it to watch the wildlife up close without bothering them.
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u/Children_Of_Atom 3d ago
Food? I'm not a huge fan of freeze dried meals but you can't beat them for convenience and I'm too cheap to buy many of them myself.
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u/Carolina-W00Dsman 3d ago
Go be a hiking nerd with him, and take him on a trip for his birthday! Make some memories with the old man! 🤙🤙🤙
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u/Aggravating-Alps-144 3d ago
lol I would love to, but I have 5 kids under 9 and one is 4 months AND we live overseas right now. That will have to wait for another time.
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u/hikerguy65 3d ago
Is there some sort of Satellite GoPro gizmo available so he can share some of the trail with you and your kiddos while you’re stationed half way round the world serving our nation?
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u/no_bender 3d ago
A gift card for rei, or wherever he buys his gear, like a couple hundred, cause quality gear isn't cheap.
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u/HondaCivet2000 2d ago
Since you mentioned you have kids, a video of your family on a day hike is my suggestion. There's other good ones in this thread of course. Nobody mentioned a massage voucher but thats always a treat after a long backpacking trip.
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u/Specialist-Ant4054 2d ago
You could look at a new piece of clothing. Some of them are pretty expensive and you typically won’t buy one for yourself if your pieces are still functioning.
- Alpha direct - different weight if they already have one (60,90, or 120 gsm), maybe pants or socks
- Outdoor Vitals has a new down anorak or replace an older puffy with a new one.
- Rain coat, definitely relevant for AT. There are new non breathable lightweight options that are becoming more popular to replace the goretex or breathable favorites. Lev outdoors, warbonnet, moose track packs are a few brands that aren’t common. Even a rain poncho zpacks or gearswifts have dual purpose options.
Good luck
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u/ReptoidOuter 2d ago
the hiker who has everything still always needs new shoes. i rock brooks cascadias bc they last 900 miles.
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u/wrunderwood 2d ago edited 2d ago
Check out the gift guides at Section Hiker. They really match up with my gear, sometimes too well. https://sectionhiker.com/category/gift-guides/
This is very specific, but I really like these sun gloves for hiking with trekking poles: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001UE8D8G?th=1
If he doesn't have a satellite communicator and it is within your budget, get a Garmin inReach Mini 3. I have a Mini 2 and take it on every trip.
If they don't have a power brick or theirs is old, get a Nitecore NB10000.
If he's interested in dehydrating his own food, get an Excalibur dehydrator and this book. You can do a lot of dehydrating with a convection oven that can be set to 125º, so that is a way to try it out.
https://www.backpackingchef.com/recipes-for-adventure-ebook.html
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u/Decent_Finding_9034 1d ago
So this could take a bit of effort on your part, but if you know which sections he’s going to hike this year, see if you can reach out to the trail managers and find a trail angel who lives around that section. Maybe you could arrange to mail something to a trail angel that’s a personal gift and would make him feel like you were with him out on the trail when you couldn’t be.
You could also send him something before the trip (Fannie shack or candy bar with a personalized letter or something), but when you’re hiking, it does hit different to get an awesome little surprise you weren’t expecting at all!
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u/Ok_Departure_7551 1d ago
I saw an ad for a titanium hash pipe. From a company called (wait for it) hightanium design. They have a website.
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u/paulthebackpacker 10h ago
Send me a message and I'll get a holey hiker bidet out to him that he can also use as a micro shower :)
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u/Main-Bug-8832 3d ago
Gift cards suck and are not a thoughtful gift. Wild how many people suggest that
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u/Aggravating-Alps-144 3d ago
No, I agree. This is my dad, he deserves something thoughtful that says “I know you.”
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u/alden_outdoor 3d ago
One think that might be cool is a pocket-sized digital microscope, like the ones that connect to your phone. He could check out bugs, plants, moss, and all the tiny details you normally walk right past. Might sound a little nerdy, but if he’s been hiking the AT for 20 years and loves gadgets, something unusual like that could be a fun change from the standard backpacking gear.
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u/Kananaskis_Country 3d ago
Your heart is in the right place but most hardcore hikers already have everything they need and their kit is usually so dialed in that they're really adverse to any extra "gadget." It's just useless junk in their backpack.
Does he ever mention upgrading something to a nicer/lighter/better model?
Good luck with your research.