Gifts for the Beginner Backpacker
The beauty of backpacking is that once you have the gear you need - you're set - all you need is a trail. Choosing the right gear can be overwhelming. As our backpacking community continues to grow, we field questions at our shop on a daily basis about what gear we'd recommend for the adventure at hand. We pride ourselves on using the gear we sell, and are happy to demo their features in our shop. For the beginner backpacker, here are our top nine gift recommendations.
#1. A durable camp stove that won't break the bank.
An incredible little stove for the price. Boiling 1 liter of water in just 3.5 minutes, combined with weighing only 2.6 ounces, you literally will not know this stove is in your pack until you need it.
#2. Make packing and organization easier.
Sleeping bags are bulky. Compression sacks take away the bulk, making room for the rest of your gear. Worth every penny.
A Granite Gear Classic. We designed these stuff sacks to easily compress lofty items such as sleeping bags and clothing to a nearly rock solid state. The unique design evenly distributes the stress of compression and prevents bulging. The original—often copied but never equaled. Accept no imitations!
Features:
- Compress your lofty items to a rock hard state without bulging
- Designed for years of use and abuse. Accept no substitutes!
#3. Ultralight medical kit.
Always have the basic tools for an emergency when you're out there.
#4. Maps. Maps. And More Maps.
Maps are the most basic tool for inspiring a new adventure. Every time I get a new one, I'm sucked in for days, weeks, or even months. Complete with hiking, biking, ATV, snowmobile and equestrian trails; noting boat launches, campgrounds, trail shelters and a bunch of other points of interest; all on super durable weatherproof, tear-resistant paper. We have 500,000 acres of public land in our backyard, and winter is for planning.
• Waterproof • Tear-Resistant • Topographic Map
National Geographic’s Trails Illustrated map of Allegheny North delivers unmatched detail and valuable information to assist you in your exploration of this scenic national forest. Year-round recreation activities abound in the Allegheny National Recreation Area, Hickory Creek Wilderness, Chapman State Park, Allegheny Islands Wilderness, Kinzua Creek, and Tionesta and Hearts Content scenic areas. Created in partnership with local land management agencies, this expertly researched map delivers unmatched detail and helpful information for experienced outdoor enthusiasts and casual visitors alike.
This map can guide you off the beaten path and back again with miles of mapped trails including a portion of the popular North Country Trail, the Pennsylvania Highway Bike Route, the Allegheny Snowmobile Loop, and groomed cross country ski trails. Trail use is easy to identify, whether you’re traveling on foot or by bike, horse, or motorized vehicle. Trail mileage between intersections will assist you in choosing the path that’s right for you. River mileage is shown on a popular portion of the Allegheny River. The Longhouse Scenic Byway is noted for those wishing to take in the scenery by car. Many recreation features are noted as well, including campgrounds, boat launches, swimming areas, fishing access, interpretive trails, and points of interest. The map base includes contour lines, shaded relief, and elevations for summits, passes and many lakes.
Every Trails Illustrated map is printed on "Backcountry Tough" waterproof, tear-resistant paper. A full UTM grid is printed on the map to aid with GPS navigation.
Other features found on this map include: Allegheny National Forest, Brokenstraw Creek, Conewango Creek, Hickory Creek Wilderness.
Details:
- 4.25" x 9.25" folded; 25.5" x 37.75" fully opened
- Scale = 1:70,000
- Map revised - 2013
#5. Navigation.
Even if you're carrying a GPS, you should always have a compass on hand. If your beginner backpacker doesn't have experience with map and compass, you may want to consider bundling this with a book on how to safely navigate.
Unsinkable Guide
The Silva Guide 426 is a compact sighting compass that's great for any outdoor activity. The lightweight polypropylene baseplate floats, a great feature for any water or near-water adventure! The compact size slips easily in a shirt pocket, readily available for all excursions.
Features
- 2° graduations
- Full-size sighting mirror with V-sight
- Inch and millimeter scales
- Declination scale
- Lanyard
Specs:
- 2.25" x 2.75"
- 0.9 oz.
#6. A cookset that'll take a beating.
Everything you need to cook for one or two, nested in one pot to save space.
Light and compact two-person cook set.
The Trail Lite Duo Cook Set delivers all the lightweight, space-saving benefits of a minimalist cook set, without forcing you to be Spartan about what you cook. The system features a tall 2 liter hard-anodized aluminum pot that accommodates two and keeps the menu options open. The dish set includes two color-coded MSR DeepDish™ Bowls and Insulated Mugs, which nest perfectly inside the pot for all-in-one packing convenience and space-maximizing efficiency. The folding, locking handle keeps it all in place inside your pack as you cover the miles.
- Compact: Nesting design fits two DeepDish™ Bowls and Double-Wall Insulated Mugs inside pot.
- Sized for Two: Two-liter, hard-anodized aluminum pot keeps the weight down and provides plenty of capacity for two people.
- BPA-Free: Hot and cold-safe polypropylene DeepDish™ bowls and double-wall insulated mugs.
- Room for More: Mugs have room for MSR® Folding Utensils and can also fit a PocketRocket™ or MicroRocket™ stove.
- Includes: 2.0 L Hard-Anodized Aluminum Pot w/ Ceramic Nonstick Coating, Clear Strainer Lid, (2) Double-Wall Insulated Mugs, (2) DeepDish™ Bowls.
Made in Thailand
#7. A trusted headlamp.
We offer several lighting options, but the remix is one of our bestsellers. Simple and lightweight design with a combination of a single Maxbright LED and 3 Ultrabright LEDs, meets durable and water resistant at a great price point.
#8. A good nights sleep.
Sleeping pads come in all shapes and sizes. Not only do they provide a cushion between you and the surface you're sleeping on, they also provide warmth between the two. The Therm-A-Rest Z Lite Sol is a great beginner sleeping pad, both in price, comfort and weight. We toured the Therm-A-Rest factory in late 2015 - an incredible company with a lot of research that goes into every product.
Lightest most compact closed-cell mattress.
Still a favorite of the ultralight elite, the Z Lite mattresses are our lightest, most compact closed-cell mattresses. The original Z Lite feature a compact accordion-style shape and heat-trapping dimples. The proprietary foams are softer on top for extra comfort and denser on the bottom for extra durability. Wherever you’re headed, a Z Lite mattress is the right choice for ultralight warmth, durability and comfort.
#9. The ability to try out multiple shelters and backpacks.
The beauty of backpacking is that once you have all the gear you need - you're set - you just need a trail. But finding the right shelter and pack can be tough... do you want a tent? Or are you thinking about a hammock setup? How big of a pack do you need? What are the features you want in your pack? What if it's not comfortable when you get out there? All great questions, and ones we hear often. An AO Gift Card gives the beginner backpacker the ability to rent equipment - tents, hammocks, packs, stoves, water filters - before they buy.
