Okay, Ill be the first one to admit publicly that buying gifts for the holidays can be a pain in derriere. When it comes right down to it, how well do you know someone and how do you know what he or she likes? Buying for kids is great because you can always peak at the letter to Santa. Unfortunately, most adults have given up writing to Santa and you really dont want to read through there other letters. Fortunately, this isnt a problem if you are buying for a hiker.

Hiking Gifts

Despite the relative simplicity of hiking, there are lots of gadgets you can give as a gift. Here are a few ideas that may sound iffy to you, but will be cherished by your hiking friend.

1. Boots The old clich is, these boots are made for walking. When it comes to hiking, the boots make the man or woman. Fortunately, you dont need to know anything about styles, sizes or brands when buying boots as a gift. Selecting hiking boots is a very personal thing, so your hiker will exchange them for their boots of choice. Dont be offended. This is par for the course with hiking. Simply figure out the price you are willing to pay and make your choice.

2. Digital Handheld Compass Yep, even hiking has gone digital. Who wouldve thunk it? Digital handheld compasses are a recent phenomenon and popular with hikers. They do the same thing as a non-digital compass, but have the advantage of beingwell, digital. The HighGear brand is solid and you can expect to pay $50 to $60.

3. Hydration Waist Packs Hikers consistently face the threat of getting dehydrated while hoofing it around Gods green earth. Hydration packs help prevent this by letting the hiker carry water comfortably. Youll have a choice of waist, shoulder and full on backpack systems. The waist packs are the best. You can expect to spend in the $30 to $45 range and Amphipod is a good brand.

4. Nomad Hiking Journals A little self-promotion here. Nomad Hiking Journals are compact writing journals that let hikers keep notes and diaries of their hikes. They can record whom they hiked with, the route, weather conditions and funny little events occurring during the hike. You can click the link at the bottom of this article and expect to pay between $10 and $25 depending on the size.

If youre looking for gifts for hikers, consider yourself lucky. The equipment tends to be inexpensive and last a very long time.