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You won’t meet many hikers who are harder to shop for than a Backpacker editor. Between what we’re testing and the personal collections we’ve amassed over decades of backpacking, we’re generally pretty flush with gear. So when someone on our staff says they want something, it’s worth checking out. We polled our editors to find out what dream gifts are on their wishlists. From $30 to $1,300, this is what we picked.
Alpacka Refuge Packraft
Yes, this is a big gift—generous as my friends and family are, I doubt any are going to spring for a $1,325 boat for the holidays. But as long as we’re all sharing our dream presents, this one is at the top of my list. At less than 6 pounds, this featherweight packraft is about as light as they come, and in a test this summer it proved up to handling up to class II rapids on the South Fork of the Payette River. (Our reviewer took it on a few class IIIs, but didn’t find it totally comfortable on water that rough.) The Refuge achieves that reduction in weight by ditching thigh straps, using a 420-denier nylon floor, and featuring an inflatable seat and backrest instead of the padded ones common in other models, all of which make it somewhat less than ideal for packrafters who like to push the difficulty. That’s just fine by me, though. Next summer, I’d load up my gear, call out of work, find childcare, and spend a few lazy days hiking and paddling some of the chiller stretches of the Colorado River. —Adam Roy, Editor in Chief
Wild Brush Cottagecore Glow 45L Ultralight Backpack
Before we published our interview with Wild Brush founder Julianne Mahoney in June, I had never heard of the ultralight cottage gear brand. After reading the article, their completely customizable, patterned packs shot to the top of my backpacking wish list. Mahoney says she’s on a mission to end boring backpacks with nature-inspired fabric patterns and an “anatomical” fit based on your personal back, bust, and hip measurements. Function is the priority here: You can choose to add a strap for your Kula Cloth, loops for your ice ax or trekking poles, and a port for your hydration bladder. Your pack’s hardware and paracord can even glow in the dark if you wanted. These 45L packs are hot-ticket items that regularly sell out, but Mahoney updates her shop monthly, so you are never waiting too long. Say, however, that your giftee isn’t looking for a new pack. Wild Brush also offers down blankets, packing cubes, stuffsacks, trifold storage bags, and much more. — Emma Veidt, Associate Editor
Primus Primetech Stove Set 1.3L
At a hair under 2 pounds, the Primetech stove set is far from the lightest cookset I’ve ever used, and at nearly $200 it’s certainly not the cheapest either. But on last year’s Fjallraven Classic in Sweden, I fell in love with the nearly-identical Primus Essential Stove Set, a stable, nesting collection consisting of 2 anodized aluminum pots, a pan doubling as a lid, a pot gripper, and stove about the size of the pots that stacked neatly with them. For luxury backcountry cooking, it’s unmatched: The Essential Stove rapidly boiled water, sat on the often squishy and uneven tundra without so much as wobbling, and excelled at cooking up a last-night meal of chickpea pancakes and vegetables. While the Essential Stove Set isn’t available in the US, the Primetech is nearly the same, except it swaps a colander lid for the frying pan and makes minor tweaks to the cookware. —A.R.
NOLS Wilderness First Responder Course
Becoming WFR certified has been a goal of mine for years now. I know my way around minor injuries on the trails, but being able to handle disasters far from definitive medical assistance would really boost my backcountry confidence. Lots of different organizations offer this course, but the offering from NOLS tops my list. NOLS’s curriculum has led the industry for more than three decades, so why not learn from the best? Instructors range from former flight nurses, to National Park Service rangers, U.S. Navy veterans, and more. I could learn how to treat musculoskeletal injuries and manage medical evacuations, plus many more crucial emergency skills in this 9-to-10-day intensive. These courses run pretty much every week all around the country, so there’s a chance that one’s right in your backyard. Have a seasoned hiker in your life who has voiced interest in becoming a guide or volunteering with a local search and rescue organization? Gift them this course, and you’ll make this their favorite holiday yet. —E.V.
Toaks Light Titanium 550ml Pot
Like most aspirational ultralight backpackers, I’m a stickler for efficiency. My current titanium pot and canister stove setup is light. But could it be lighter? Absolutely. Ever since I read ultralight columnist Nathan Pipenberg’s deep-dive on pot size and boil times, I’ve had my eyes on Toaks’ 550ml pot. Following Pipenberg’s advice to get a pot that’s as tall as it is wide, I’m psyched to add the roughly symmetrical, 3-millimeter-thick, 2.3 cup titanium mug to my kit for maximum fuel-savings. It has everything I need in an ultralight stove: a lid, a scant weight (2.6 ounces), handles, enough room to nest a 110-gram fuel canister, and just enough capacity to boil water for dehydrated meals. —Benjamin Tepler, Senior Gear Editor