The 9 Best Mother's Day Gifts for Hikers

This Mother’s Day, we celebrate the parents who get the whole family outside: the snack-toting, kid carrier-hauling, trail crushers raising the next generation of nature lovers. Our gift picks help mom hike, paddle, and camp in comfort so she can focus on having fun with the whole family. (Or without them. Everyone needs a break sometimes.)

Patagonia Nine Trails Pack 26L: $159

This pack stashes all the kids’—and parents’—essentials for a dayhike and easily transitions for use around town, travel, or adventure of any sort. The Nine Trails has multiple exterior pockets for easy-access snacks. Padded mesh on the backpanel and shoulder straps keep the pack comfortable in heat, and the low-key styling allows the Nine Trails to transition to off-trail use. 18L/26L; sm-md/l-xl. Buy Patagonia Nine Trails Pack now.

SmartWool Women’s Everyday Exploration Slub Short Sleeve Tee: $65

This good-looking merino-and-polyester tee goes from campground to family hike to out-and-around-town with ease. Fifty percent merino keeps it soft and naturally heat- and odor-regulating, while 50 percent polyester helps the shirt dry quickly and retain its shape. A relaxed fit and chest pocket add style points. xs-xl Buy the SmartWool Women’s Everyday Exploration Slub Short-sleeve Tee now.

GSI Outdoors Miniespresso Set 4 Cup: $50

Caffeine is parenting’s most important performance-enhancing drug. Lightweight, compact, and easy to use, this little espresso maker ups your game for mornings in camp. The kit can be used on a camp stove or on a grate over an open flame and produces four shots of espresso in a matter of minutes. Moms and dads who love coffee will appreciate a gourmet espresso in the backcountry. Buy the GSI Outdoors Miniespresso Set 4 Cup now. 

Biolite Headlamp 330: $50

This is the most comfortable headlamp we’ve ever worn, with the light integrated into the headband so that it sits flush against the forehead. The lightweight (2.4 ounces), low-profile light is amazingly bright, putting out 330 lumens that make it easy to find good kindling for the campfire, or light up the trail for mom’s early morning or after dark grown-up adventures. It’s USB rechargeable, and runs for up to 40 hours on one charge on the low setting (3.5 hours on high). Buy the BioLite HeadLamp 300 now.

SealLine Skylake Dry Daypack: $100

This versatile dry bag is ideal for family canoeing adventures, fishing, or even dayhikes where heavy rain is a possibility. At 18 liters, it can fit a mom-size and a couple kid-size jackets, plus lunch. An exterior pocket is ideal for snacks and sunblock, and adjustable, removable straps make it comfortable to carry. When not in use, the bag rolls up like a towel for easy stashing. Buy the SealLine Skylake Dry Daypack now.

PrAna Kanab Pant: $79

Moms need pockets for everything from baby binkies to cell phones, trail snacks to hair bands, and these pants can handle it all. Envelope flaps mean items in the back pockets are easy to access but secure, and a large, zippered pocket on the leg is ideal for carrying a phone so it won’t fall out while Mom climbs trees with the kiddos. The pants are made of soft organic cotton with a little stretch, and have a flat, wide waistband that’s comfortable while wearing a climbing harness or loaded pack. xs-xl Buy the PrAna Kanab Pants now.

NiteIze RunOff Waterproof Wallet: $25

This fully waterproof wallet keeps car keys, money, credit cards and other grown-up valuables safe and dry, making it ideal for moms or dads who spend a lot of time on the water or hiking in wet climates. The waterproof zipper requires a firm tug to open, but then slides easily. Built-in attachment points allow fastening to a belt loop, a pack, or a boat. Buy the NiteIze RunOff Waterproof Wallet now.

Carve Designs Bali Shorts: $54

Versatility rules with these shorts. Made of quick-drying and breathable polyester spandex, they’re technically board shorts, but we love them for both on-water and dryland excursions. A wide, stretchy waistband and lack of inner liner make them comfortable for hiking and camping, the material means they’re great for canoeing, kayaking, SUP-ing, and beach days, and the side pockets add style and function for daily summer activities like hanging at the playground with the kiddos. xxs-xl Buy the Carve Designs Bali Shorts now. 

Juniper Ridge Body Oils: $18 each/4 oz.

Mom deserves to relax after chasing the kids down the trail. Help her do so with body oils in scents inspired by the great outdoors—like Cascade Forest, Desert Cedar, White Sage, Redwood Mist, and Coastal Pine (our favorite). They’re made with an antioxidant-rich base of organic jojoba, sweet almond, and coconut oils, blended with pure essential oils, and steam distilled. Even better: this company that donates 10% of their profits to protecting the wilderness through organizations like the Conservation Alliance and Pacific Crest Trail Association. Bonus points if you give this gift with the promise of a massage to go with it. Buy Juniper Ridge Body Oils now.