2024 Gift Guide: 22 Gifts for Adventure Travel
What to give someone who likes to travel
November 20th, 2024
Adventure travel means going outside your comfort zone to see new places, meet new people, and have new experiences. That means being away from the comforts and conveniences of home.
Adventure travel gear is lightweight, multi-purpose, and usually looks classy enough to fit in Europe while not being too flashy.
We put together this list of our favorite adventure travel items including travel bags and packing organizers, travel-friendly clothes, and travel accessories aimed at passing time on trains, planes, and buses.
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Adventure Travel comparison table
| CATEGORY | GIFT IDEA | MSRP |
|---|---|---|
| Travel Bags | ||
| Nemo Vantage 30 L Pack | $230 | |
| Six Moon Designs All Day Carry Travel Backpack | $335 | |
| Cotopaxi Allpa 42 L Travel Pack | $250 | |
| Patagonia Black Hole Packing Cube | $39 |
What to consider before buying a gift
Budget
Determine how much you're willing to spend. We're organized this adventure travel gift guide based on price so you can more easily navigate through ideas based on your budget.
Where they're going
A traveler who goes to Europe will have different needs than travelers who visit countries with limited electricity and water systems.
What they do when they travel
Are they spending most of their time hiking and carrying their pack the entire time? Or does their bag spend most of its time in a hotel, hostel, or baggage storage? If they're carrying their baggage, weight and comfort of their travel bag will matter a lot. If they are storing their bag, locking features and durability of the outer material will matter more.
Personal style
Think about the individual's personal taste when it comes to clothing and accessories to ensure they'll love and use your gift.
Brand and quality
Travel is one of those outdoor sports where it's worth spending a little extra to go with a reputable brand and opt for quality products. These items will not only last longer, but ensure they won't fail at an inconvenient time or place. If nothing else, travel is a brand-aware sport, so going with a reputable brand increases the chance that they will use your gift.
Travel bags and organization
NEMO Vantage 30 L Pack
The NEMO Vantage 30 L pack (right) and a small tote (left) comfortably held everything Becca needed for a week of adventure travel in Ireland.
I’ve been traveling with the NEMO Vantage 30 L Pack for the last few months and there’s no going back. I cannot say enough good things about the storage potential, comfort, durability, and versatility of this pack, and why it makes a fantastic gift for any traveler.
NEMO Vantage 30 L Pack
Why they’re great for traveling:
Storage and Organization – With a large main compartment, a laptop/tech compartment with protective sleeves, and plenty of pockets, I was able to pack for a week in Ireland – during which I had to prepare for everything from surfing to e-biking, repelling to nice dinners – entirely in this pack and a small tote.
Comfort – The pack is designed to move with you, with a contoured back panel and thick, bendy shoulder straps. It is also body mapped to help keep you cool in common sweat zones.
Versatility – I took this pack on an adventure trip in Ireland, used it to crew my partner’s ultramarathon in a remote area of Mexico, and frequently utilize it for overnights and work-not-from-home days around the city.
On top of its features and usefulness, the Vantage 30 L Pack is part of NEMO’s Endless Promise collection, which means it’s totally recyclable at the end of its life (and NEMO will take care of the recycling for you!). The pack is also constructed of CERO™ fabric, which is woven from solution-dyed fibers in order to reduce water waste. It’s also made from recycled and recyclable PET. NEMO’s proprietary CCubed cushioning, which wicks sweat quickly, is a recycled and recyclable material that avoids the harmful off-gassing.
Worth the price?
This pack is an expensive gift. It costs $230 for the 30L size ($200 for the 26L and $180 for the 20L sizes). If that price range is comfortable for you and the recipient, I believe the value is there. Between the NEMO Vantage 30 L Pack’s capacity, organization, comfort, and more sustainable construction, this travel backpack is a gamechanger for adventure travelers who want to pack light, pack smart, and easily stay on-the-go.
- Becca Downs, Contributing Writer and Editor
Six Moon Designs ADC Travel Backpack
The Six Moon Designs ADC Travel Backpack is a standout for adventure travel, combining ultralight durability with impressive functionality. After testing it, I can confidently say it’s my go-to travel companion.
Six Moon Designs ADC Travel Backpack
Why It's Great for Adventure Travelers:
Ultralight carry frame provides excellent weight support without discomfort
Easy to maneuver through airports, reducing travel fatigue
Substantial side handle allows effortless placement in overhead bins
Front stuff pocket for quick access to essentials like books or hoodies
Clamshell design opens fully for easy packing and access, eliminating top-loading hassles
Versatile for all types of wandering—from urban exploration to rugged trails
Perfect number of pockets keeps items organized for airports and trails alike
Worth the Price?
Costing $335 for the 35L pack, the ADC Travel Backpack is a solid investment for frequent travelers. Its thoughtful design and versatility make navigating any journey, from city streets to mountain paths, a breeze.
- Amy Gravlee, Production Team
Cotopaxi Allpa 42L Travel Pack
At just under six feet tall, I’m accustomed to listing to the side as I walk through the airport, dragging my overhead roller bag behind me. But if the traveler in your life wants to stand tall while keeping their full roller bag’s worth of capacity in a suitcase-zip-style pack, look no further than the Cotopaxi Allpa 42.
Cotopaxi Allpa 42L Travel Pack
Why it's great for travelers:
The Allpa 42 is big enough to pack for multiple types of weather but small enough to fit in the overhead bins
Inside the main compartment are modular mesh pockets, eliminating both the need for packing cubes and the need to dig through everything to find the one thing you’re looking for
It’s one of the most comfortable and well-balanced packs I’ve worn, and the updated version is 3.2 lbs - right around the average for the market
The Allpa Travel Pack line comes in multiple sizes (28L, 35L, 42L) and multiple colorways (including a Del Día, if you want an entirely unique pack)
Worth the price?
At $250 — or $220 for the slightly older model, which is a pound heavier and doesn’t have the frontmost pocket or the luggage passthrough strap — I love my Allpa 42. It’s between $50-100 cheaper than other travel packs of comparable (or smaller!) volume for an incredibly comfortable pack. What’s not to love? You can read my full in-depth review of the Cotopaxi Allpa Travel pack for more.
Patagonia Black Hole 3L Packing Cube
The Patagonia Black Hole 3L Packing Cube is the ideal minimalist toiletry bag, perfectly sized to hold essentials without taking up precious space. As someone who travels light, I appreciate its compact design and versatility.
Patagonia Black Hole 3L Packing Cube
Why It's Great for Travelers:
Durable and rugged, built to withstand rough handling and travel conditions
Protects against spills, keeping shampoo and liquids contained during pressure changes
Multi-use functionality—perfect for tech gear, fly fishing tackle, or small items that need organizing
Made with 100% recycled body fabric, lining, and webbing, featuring a recycled TPU-film laminate with a sleek matte finish
Produced in a Fair Trade Certified™ factory, supporting responsible manufacturing
Worth the Price?
Costing $39, this eco-conscious, durable, and multi-functional packing cube justifies its investment for those who value space-saving, practical gear. It’s a reliable addition for any traveler seeking minimalist and versatile packing solutions.
- Amy Gravlee, Production Team
Not only does the 3L Cotopaxi Bataan fit much more than you think it will, the straps provide extra storage as needed.
Cotopaxi Bataan Fanny Pack
Cotopaxi makes several small packs, but in my opinion the very best one for both travel and everyday is the 3L Bataan Fanny Pack. (My wife swears by the 1.5L Cotopaxi Del Dia pack, but to each their own).
We all know that carry-on life is a small suitcase and a “personal item,” and obviously my personal item contains like 12 extra layers, a change of clothes, a toiletry bag, and a zillion other things I may need mid-flight. BUT when I’m slogging through check-in and security and the other seven circles of airport hell, I don’t want to dig through pockets (too precarious) or my backpack (too full) to find my passport, boarding pass, headphones, lip balm, and ibuprofen. The solution: a fanny pack that fits inside my backpack (if I need to prove I only have one personal item) and contains all the things I need absolute immediate access to at all times.
Cotopaxi Bataan Fanny Pack
Why It's Great for Travelers:
It’s waaay more spacious than it seems: in my case, fitting my Kindle, passport, wallet, sunscreen, a thin scarf, and a huge ziploc bag of everything else I need at a moment’s notice.
It weighs almost nothing
Long adjustable straps & double zippers
Cute colors makes it a fun, durable, washable accessory throughout the trip
Worth the Price?
This is $32.50 and absolutely worth it at full price, especially since it reduces fabric waste by using repurposed materials. It also frequently goes on sale both at REI and at Cotopaxi, making it an even better deal. Mine is five years old and still going strong. For more information, see our guide to Best Fanny Packs, Lumbar Packs, and Waist Packs.
-Katie Hawkes, contributing writer
Travel-friendly clothes
Royal Robbins Spotless Evolution Jogger
I have an admission to make: I tend to wear the same clothes for days at a time while I’m traveling. With habits like this, it’s vital for me to find clothing with a little bit of give, quick-drying fabrics, and stain-resistance designs. These are the qualities that made the Royal Robbins Spotless Evolution Jogger a must-bring adventure travel item and a great gift for the traveler in your life.
In fact, on a recent trip to Ireland, I wore just ⅔ of my wardrobe after I realized that the Spotless Evolution Jogger was the best tool for most jobs. I went hiking, pub hopping, and abseiling (repelling), and I found that these pants remained comfortable and ready to go no matter what conditions we were confronting. At the end of the expedition, these pants remained free of pilling, stains, and damage, solidifying them as one of my favorite adventure clothing picks of all time.
Royal Robbins Spotless Evolution Jogger
Why it's great for travelers:
Quick-drying, stain-resistant fabric
Versatile for adventure activities, travel days, and casual days on the town
Comfortable and resilient clothing
Much like Mary Beth, I wear the same outfit every day when traveling. So it's important to have a shirt that won't stink after several days of moving in it. I've been wearing the same Smartwool Merino Short Sleeve Tee when traveling for the past year, washing it once every week or so.
Smartwool Merino Short Sleeve Tee
Why it's great for travelers:
The wool doesn't stink, it's soft, cozy, and doesn't itch either. This shirt is also a versatile gift – since wool keeps you warm even when wet, this works as a base layer underneath a sweater, a jacket, or both. And if it's hot, this shirt allows for plenty of breathability, too. A good wool base layer is important for any layering system, and this wool t-shirt provides performance with an everyday casual look. Your adventure traveler may not necessarily look like they’re ready for an expedition, but they will be.
Purple Rain Adventure Dress
The Treeline Review team at the PCT Days Festival in Cascade Locks. Tiffany (third from left) and Liz (right) are wearing Purple Rain Adventure Dresses.
When adventure traveling, space in your luggage is at a premium, so every item you bring has to pack a punch. That’s why the Purple Rain Adventure Dress is my go to any time I’m traveling. Handmade in Oregon, it takes up about as much space as a grilled cheese sandwich, and even has adventure in the name. It easily goes from trail to town, meaning less items to pack and keep track of.
Purple Rain Adventure Dress
Why they’re great for traveling:
Super small packed size
Big pockets that easily hold a phone, wallet, passport or small water bottle
Quick drying (I’ve jumped in a lake in this dress, just to have it dry a half hour later)
Odor resistance makes it great for multiple day wear
Technical stretch fabric is super comfortable, while the empire cut is flattering to many body shapes and sizes
Breathable side panels keep you cool in hot temps
Can be layered over leggings for cooler temps.
Worth the price?
At $99 this dress is very reasonably priced. Sure, you could potentially spend about $20 less and get a major name branded dress. Youou could also spend significantly more to get a made-in-the-USA cottage industry branded one like this…and it wouldn’t live up to the Purple Rain Adventure Dress. Plus, by purchasing this dress, you’re supporting a small woman-owned business.
This dress is the perfect marriage of form and function, making it ideal for the adventure traveler in your life. Plus, they’ll probably love it so much you’ll see them wearing it when they’re not traveling. You can learn more about this skirt in our Best Hiking Skirts and Dresses guide.
Travel accessories
Matador Travel Nanodry Towel
I've spent the last two years testing nearly a dozen quick-dry towels side-by-side. Of all the towels, I find myself packing the Matador Nanodry Travel Ultralight Towel the most.
Matador Travel Nanodry Towel
Why it's great for travelers:
It is the thinnest towel I tested packing down to less than half my palm, but is a full shower size towel
The Nanodry Towel is so soft and pliable and normal looking, I've worn it as a scarf (your fashion sense may dictate otherwise)
It absorbs 2.3 times its weight in water and dries within 15 minutes in the sun on its handy snap buckle hook
Worth the price?
At $35, this isn't the least expensive towel out there, but the quality is worth it. Most travel towels feel thick, stiff, or plastic-y.
Many travelers may like that it comes with its own non-plastic (silicone) carry case that has a carabiner. But I save on weight (the whole package comes to 5.6 oz but the towel itself is only 3.0 oz) by leaving the case at home and wearing it as an accessory.
-Liz Thomas, Treeline Review Co-founder and Editor-in-Chief
Loop Quiet 2 Earplugs
When I’m traveling and adventuring, I like to save money by staying at campgrounds and hostels. I get to meet fellow travelers, and connect with friendly faces. But one of the costs of close proximity is noise. I’m often one of the first to bed and first to rise, which can make falling (and staying) asleep challenging. So I began carrying Loop’s reusable silicone earplugs, specifically intended for blocking out noise while sleeping. These are a great gift for any traveler looking for a moment of zen.
Loop Quiet 2 Earplugs
Why it's great for travelers:
They’re very comfortable and the customized tips stay in my ears all night long, unlike the foam earplugs I grudgingly used when I was desperate
I’ve used these in campgrounds, hostels, planes, and airports to get quiet, peaceful sleep, even in a busy environment
Loop offers a 100-day free return and 2-year warranty against defects, with so many fun colors to choose from and a great carrying case.
Looking for an adventure travel gift to enhance what your favorite adventurer can spy in the field? These easy to use, compact, dare I say, nearly adventure-proof binoculars have been a favorite of mine for years. With a rubber exterior, waterproofing and fog-proofing, I love to take these on hikes, paddling adventures and for scouting backcountry ski runs. Yet somehow I haven’t had to take advantage of Nocs Provisions’ No-Matter-What Lifetime Warranty. These are limited to one magnification range, but Nocs does offer other versions with higher magnifications if your adventurer wants to see farther up the ridge.
Nocs Provisions Standard Issue 8 x 25 Waterproof Binoculars
Why It's Great for adventure travel:
Great optics
Rugged exterior
Waterproof
Individually adjustable eye cups
Great lifetime warranty
Worth the Price?
Absolutely! Finding a good pair of binoculars at under $100 is hard. Finding a pair with excellent optics that you’re not afraid to beat up—nearly impossible! -Chris Meehan, contributing writer
The gift of being able to repair something on the go pays for itself. Speaking as someone who fixed a truck’s coolant system on a rutted, dirt road at 12 am with duct tape, paracord, a Bic pen, Gatorade and snow, I’ve successfully used a lot of multitools over the years and the Leatherman Free P2 hits almost all the sweet spots for a general tool for adventure traveling—and an awesome gift. I’ve used the pliers to help bend crampon and snowshoe tines back into place, the wire cutters for cutting thin cables, like ski boot leashes. The knife is solid and offers a serrated edge as well as a flat edge for sawing twigs, hard meats or cutting the cheese. I’ve never had it come open in a pack or duffel thanks to the magnetic closure.
Leatherman Free P2 Multi-Tool
Why It's Great for adventure travel:
19+ tools for use in a variety of outdoor travel situations
Tools are user replaceable if you ever manage to break them
US-made
Worth the Price?
At $129, the Free P2 multitool is competitive with similar multitools, with pliers and wire cutters and the action is smoother. The magnetic closure and replaceability of tools are also a step above the competition, so absolutely!
-Chris Meehan, contributing writer
The author resting on the Rumpl stuffable pillow case on a recent backpacking trip.
Traveling light isn’t just for backpackers; when I pack minimally for any trip, I’m less distracted by stuff and more focused on experiences. I do, however, always want two things: a few creature comforts and extra space for potential souvenirs.Luckily, I’ve found one item that nails both desires: Rumpl’s Stuffable Pillowcase.
Rumpl Stuffable Pillowcase
Why It's Great for Travelers:
From a coziness perspective, the case is topped with a lightly quilted, recycled polar fleece that feels luxe against the skin.
Weighing only 3.2 ounces, it’s easily tucked out of sight until you’re ready to unzip and fill it with soft items to create a personalized pillow. I’ve never had a gate agent so much as blink when I stroll up for a return flight with my carry-on, personal item, and Rumpl Pillowcase stuffed with freshly thrifted finds.
Worth the Price?
Forty bucks for extra packing space and good plane, train, and automobile napping? Absolutely worth it. The Rumpl is the Best Upgrade in my Best Camping and Backpacking Pillows guide.
- Shawnté Salabert, Contributing Writer
Lifestraw Bottle
As someone who has adventure traveled to over 30 countries I know how fun it is to have a new item that can make trips easier or more versatile in different circumstances. My pick for the best gift for an adventure traveler is a Lifestraw Bottle! In fact, I was gifted one of these a few years ago and I’ve found it incredibly useful.
Lifestraw Bottle
Why it's great for travelers:
It frees you from reliance on bottled water (yay sustainability!) while you’re traveling.
Most importantly, if you are in a country where tap water is questionable, not recommended to drink, or if you don’t trust that the drinking water is filtered sufficiently, you can filter it with the Lifestraw bottle.
A Lifestraw Bottle can replace your existing reusable water bottle for a trip, so you wouldn’t have to carry anything extra.
And another big bonus is that if you are planning a hike or backpacking trip, this can be used as a backcountry water filter too.
After a few bad experiences with water in various countries despite the care and precautions I took, I now carry my Lifestraw bottle anytime I leave the US and filter everything, even if it’s bottled or filtered. Since I started doing that, I haven’t had any issues with water contamination!
Peace of mind, convenience, protecting the planet, health, safety, and taking care of yourself are all reasons why this would make a great gift for adventure travelers!
Articka Hardbound Sketchbook
I have gone through a lot of sketchbooks and journals, more than I would care to share about here. After testing several journal/sketchbooks the Articka Hardbound Sketchbook is one that I continue to purchase over and over again.
Articka Hardbound Sketchbook
Why It's Great for Travelers:
It has a hardcover that is durable and well made, an elastic band to help keep it closed, a ribbon bookmark to keep the current page easily accessible, bright white paper with a smooth finish so pens and pencils glide nicely across the surface, and thick paper so you don’t have to worry about pens or markers bleeding thru to the next page.
There are several sized versions so no matter what size you need you can find one to fit your pack or bag.
This is a nice journal that most travelers will appreciate because you can use it to write about your days or draw and sketch in the blank pages. It is also well made and fancy enough to be saved or stored on a bookshelf and revisited over and over after an adventure.
This journal is an upgrade from soft-cover journals and feels special without being too precious to write in. The pages also hold up well to junk journaling or scrapbook style journaling and can handle glue and tape to save tickets or ephemera from a fun adventure. So no matter what style of journaling your traveler enjoys, this journal should have them covered.
- Sara Kruglinski, Operations Coordinator and Contributing Writer
