Mother’s Day Gift Guide: The Top Travel Essentials For Hiking Trips

Opting outside to enjoy nature, breathe fresh air, and get your heart pumping is a wonderful and healthy way to spend your vacation. Explore national and state parks as well as public lands, yet be sure to adequately prepare ahead of time, especially if you’re traveling somewhere that is unfamiliar.

Whether you’re getting ready for a day hike or an overnight backpacking journey, you’ll need to consider the terrain, weather, and distance when gathering your supplies. Will you be venturing out on a solo adventure, or will you be hiking with a group, children, or pets? Are there backcountry items like stoves or tents that can be shared amongst your crew?

Decide if you’ll be bringing a hiking partner, plan out your route, and then choose your trekking gear. Keep reading for the top travel essentials for hiking trips, perfect gifts for Mother’s Day.

Versatile Shorts for All-Day Wear

The water-resistant technical LIVSN Ecotrek Trail Shorts are made with stretchy recycled materials that move with your body. You can comfortably hike all day long in these durable sweat-wicking shorts, smartly designed with pockets.

If you decide to cool off in a local stream or river while on your hike, you can be rest assured that these shorts will dry quickly. Choose from olive or charcoal colors and get outside.

Cool Lids for Sun Protection

Sun protection is key when hiking in the outdoors for extended periods of time. You’ll want a good hat, without sacrificing comfort and fit, to shield your eyes.

Branded Bills makes a variety of cool-yet-functional styles. Choose from curved or flat bills, laser cut panels or breathable mesh, or high or mid crown profiles. From there you can pick your favorite color as well as a patch emblazoned with your favorite state to wear with pride.

Technical Terrain Support

If you’re planning on a hike that includes technical terrain, you’ll want to bring along a pair of collapsible hiking poles for a surefooted experience. Leaders in durable trekking poles, LEKI has a new pole that is perfectly designed for your summer adventures.

The Cressida Cork Lite has a cork grip, which helps absorb moisture so if it’s raining outside or if it’s a hot and sweaty day, you’ll still have a secure hold on your sticks. Of course, the poles are lightweight and have superb supportive surfaces to keep your hands comfortable and in good shape throughout the day, whether you’re on the ascent or descent.

Grippy Hiking Shoes for the Trail

Footwear is a personal and important choice when setting out on any trail. The Merrell MTL Skyfire 2 trail shoe with a Vibram Megagrip is perfect for intrepid trail runners, whether the terrain is wet or dry. You’ll have secure footing on both uphill rushes as well as downhill braking.

With a breathable mesh upper, this shoe helps runners stay agile while offering solid foot protection. Light and grippy, plus tested and vetted through the Merrell Test Lab, these kicks have gone through the wringer and come out the other side.

Around Camp Comfort

Perhaps your hiking trip includes some overnight camping. After all, who doesn’t love s’mores?

For comfort around the campfire, bring along a soft outer layer like the Marmot Women’s Coastal Hoody. Choose from three different colors and a variety of sizes for this regular fit sweatshirt with a classic kangaroo pocket. Plus, you’ll love the screen-printed Marmot graphic featured on the front.

Hands-Free Hydration

For shorter day hikes or runs where you need to carry water but you don’t necessarily need a big backpack, opt for a hydration vest or sling from Nathan Sports, which ranges in size and shape depending on how many liters of water you need to carry on your adventure.

The quick-drying Limitless Run Sling, available in 2L, 6L, or 8L capacity sizes, allows you to carry some essential items in the pockets while you’re on the move. All sizes have a detachable waist strap so that you can keep the sling secure while you’re hiking.

Don’t Forget the Coffee

Early morning starts demand a little pick-me-up to get you going. If you’re camping or away from home, make sure you bring along a few coffee travel packs from Malu Coffee. Simply open the package, tear open the filter, position in your mug, and pour over hot water.

The Malu Variety Pack includes multiple flavors so you can continue your oh-so-important coffee ritual no matter where your adventures take you.

For a Fitter Experience in the Outdoors

For hikers who want a bit more of a challenge in their day, choose weighted gravity sportswear from OMORPHO. Build strength, stamina, and speed with their expertly designed vests, tank-tops, shorts, and tights, created with a bit of extra weight.

The washable G-Tank, for example, has just under one pound of extra weight placed on the torso for an added challenge. If your day hike is training for a longer multi-day romp in the outdoors, then active wear from this brand will be your best friend.

Fun for Kids

If traveling with kids, a big concern when hiking is making sure that little ones are drinking enough water. For something fun and innovative, choose an air up water bottle, which flavors water through scent. Yep, you read that right—scent.

Fragrant pods, made with natural ingredients, are placed on the outside of the bottle so when you sip the water through the straw, you smell cherry, orange, mango, watermelon, or other aromas without adding anything extra to the actual water. Genius.

Eco-Minded Goods

Quick-drying and moisture-wicking fabrics are important to consider when planning for a hiking trip. To protect yourself from the sun while hiking, choose a sun shirt that is not only lightweight and packable for travel, but also, sustainably made.

The stretchy and environmentally-safe and stylish Suray Sun Shirt from Coalatree protects hikers from damaging UV rays, which is super important if you plan on hiking in full sun or above the tree line. Odor-resistant and built with a side pocket, this is one of the best shirts on the market.