Image courtesy of J. Helgason, Shutterstock

Many equipment guides in outdoor communities tend to focus on clothing and larger items-such as tents, camping stoves, and backpacks. However, we all know that many good things in life are packed in the smallest package.

With this in mind, we decided to highlight some of the best stocking fillers for outdoor enthusiasts. Since the items on this list are designed to fit inside stockings, they (generally, anyway) fit both on the purse and on the smaller side-which means, rewards, they are also great for travel.

From items that are used in large quantities throughout the year to small things that can really save lives, here are the 12 best stocking fillers we picked for outdoor enthusiasts:

HydraPak UltraFlask 600 is technically a "soft flask", but it is indeed one of the tomato-tomato and potato-potato transactions. For all intents and purposes, this is a collapsible water bottle-and one of the best.

Due to its compactness and ultra-light weight, the foldable water bottle is closely related to trail running and is the best stocking filler for all types of outdoor sports enthusiasts. This particular bottle will collapse when you drink it and eventually compress to almost nothing. When full, the soft material can fit into almost any pocket or compartment. Finally, even with ice cubes, the wide-mouth opening is easy to fill.

An avid outdoor enthusiast will find the uses of a good headlight are endless: running or hiking at night, camping, stargazing, fishing before dawn or after sunset, in the event of a power outage or other emergency... ...exist!

Our first choice for headlights is the BioLite 750 (we also rated it as the best overall choice in our article on the best headlights for trail running). This model has an impressive eight lighting modes, a unique flush design, and the ability to charge while wearing/in use-this is easily our favorite feature.

One of the best socks for outdoor enthusiasts is the American Beautiful Pass, also known as the National Park Pass. These passes include access to thousands of federal recreational sites within a year, including national parks, monuments, and wildlife sanctuaries. They even include day usage fees and allow you to reduce campsite expenses in many national forests!

Considering the most popular parks such as Yosemite and Zion, the cost of entering each car is 35 US dollars, only 80 US dollars a year, a beautiful American pass is definitely a bargain.

If you like this idea, but want a more regionally focused alternative, consider giving away annual state or county park passes.

The personal water filtration system is not only one of the best stocking fillers for outdoor enthusiasts, but also one of the most practical systems. Drinking contaminated water can cause many problems, including gastrointestinal and nervous system problems. The reality is that you just don’t know whether the water in remote areas is safe.

Water filtration systems like Sawyer Squeeze Water Filter solve this problem. Just fill the bag from the water source and install the filter-it's like a screw cap water bottle cap. That's it, you have safe water! The entire system weighs less than 3 ounces, and Sawyer even made an adapter for the water bag so that you can fill the water bag without taking it out of your backpack!

Portable device chargers or power banks are a must-have for any outdoor enthusiast. After all, when you reach the top of a mountain or when wild animals come into view, you can't risk that your phone battery runs out!

We like this Anker power bank because it has both wired and wireless functions, allowing you to charge up to three devices at the same time. It can also charge devices quickly, so you can charge your phone while eating snacks or lunch.

When we discuss the topic of device charging, another excellent stocking for outdoor enthusiasts is a rechargeable battery. Items such as headlights and flashlights usually use AA or AAA batteries, and they burn surprisingly fast.

Carrying a bunch of extra batteries with you is not entirely practical (or economically advantageous or even safe), but fortunately, rechargeable batteries provide a good option. This economical setup offered by Amazon includes AA and AAA batteries, as well as a convenient charging compartment. Charge the battery at home between adventures, and you never have to worry about your headlights running out!

We can continue (continue...) on the importance and benefits of high-quality socks. For outdoor enthusiasts, they are the most important. They keep you warm, dry and overall comfortable, prevent you from blistering, and-in the eyes of many people, most importantly-can extend the time you spend outdoors.

We have written many articles about different types of socks for different activities (hiking and trail running are just two examples), but our favorite pair of socks is the Smartwool PhD Pro Endurance series. They are available in women's and men's versions and have many benefits. It is worth noting that they are very durable and have many interesting prints.

Hey, no one says that you can’t be fashionable when you spend time outdoors.

Even if the person you are buying does not live in a particularly cold climate, a hand warmer is one of the most useful socks for outdoor enthusiasts. Once the sun sets, even in midsummer, the temperature of the Alps and the lakeshore often drops sharply.

Whether it's sunrise hiking, fishing, hunting, camping, or any other outdoor activities, hand warmers (just like high-quality socks) can allow you to spend more time in nature. We are big fans of Aurora Heat's handmade reusable heaters, made from sheared beaver hair. If you don't need something so strong, or you are looking for a more wallet-friendly option, these reusable packaging are convenient and affordable (not to mention more environmentally friendly than disposable heaters).

Let's face it, time in nature means you will (and stay!) dirty. During the countless hours we spent outdoors, we tried various cleaning methods: baby wipes, microfiber towels, drinking fountains, and dish soap... But many of them can lead to greater confusion or a lot of waste.

Ethique's shampoo bar can solve these two problems. There are many variants, including some designed specifically for babies and pets, as well as sensitive skin, dandruff, etc., but we prefer the "adventurer" suit. This two-piece package includes a Tip-to-Toe stick that can be used as shampoo, conditioner, soap and shaving, and a Flash stick for laundry and cleaning. As a bonus, Ethique's products and packaging are 100% vegan and recyclable.

If you spend a lot of time outdoors, bruises and skin irritation are tedious and inevitable realities. We have discussed the many benefits of squirrel nut butter as an anti-chafing product for runners, but this is just the tip of the iceberg.

This versatile miracle is suitable for any type of outdoor enthusiast, from the most casual to the hardest. It is an excellent stocking filler. The all-natural ointment is completely waterproof and can be safely applied to any part of the body, making it an effective and soothing treatment for eczema, insect bites and even diaper rash.

Anyone who camps, hikes, backpacks, or otherwise goes out frequently may have at least a few freeze-dried meals. However, this particular area has made great progress in recent years, so please consider giving away a few meals and presenting your gifts to some new brands.

There is certainly nothing wrong with old shops like Mountain House and Backpacker's Pantry, but with innovative brands such as Heather's Choice and Pinnacle Foods, you can completely upgrade your freeze-dried meal game. Heather's Choice meals are paleo-environmentally friendly (no dairy, gluten or soy), while Pinnacle Foods’ meals are delicious and fit in a safe-burning bag. Oh, they are also small family businesses!

The last one is not technically a "thing" because most memberships are intangible and don't necessarily come with a physical card​​. However, giving away premium members is definitely one of the best stockings for outdoor enthusiasts!

No matter what the person’s specific interests are, there are some apps, memberships, or clubs that suit them well. Some of our important recommendations include REI’s lifetime membership (only $20, and 10% of your total annual spending can be returned as a membership bonus every year!), or Gaia GPS, OnX’s premium membership, or AllTrails, all of which are Allows you to access excellent downloadable maps.

Taryn Shorr is an avid outdoor enthusiast, frequent traveler, and photographer from southern Arizona. She lives to have the opportunity to explore outdoor activities at home and in new destinations, and firmly believes that nature is a form of healing and religion.

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