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- Best Gift Ideas for Travelers and Backpackers [UPDATED FOR 2024]
Best Gift Ideas for Travelers and Backpackers [UPDATED FOR 2024]
Our List of Ultimate Gift Ideas for Travelers
Expensive presents!
Ok, let’s start at the sharp end shall we. If you’ve buying your significant other something or you’re just feeling pretty generous, or you’re rich, which ever it is, if you want to spend bit then here’s our gift ideas for travelers at the top end!
Action Camera: GoPro
Having an action camera is the perfect travel companion, whether or not you think you’re going to be particularly adventurous or not!! The GoPro has become a staple of the photography kit of any traveller, offering waterproof casing which can be taken SCUBA diving, or just in the swimming pool if that’s more your thing! It is also extremely compact and lightweight meaning it doesn’t take up precious space in your bag. This thing can literally go anywhere with you and it’s perfect for capturing all your adventures with stunning wide angle images, burst shots and HD video!
You can also accessorise with floaty backs so it doesn’t sink, selfie sticks and heaps of different mounts which can be combined or given on their own and is on of the best gift ideas for travelers.
Find it Here:
And Accessories Here:
Compact Camera: Sony RX100
For those wanting top quality photos without both the cost and the bulk of a DSLR our top camera would have to the Sony RX100. It offers huge a 20MP, 1 inch sensor and also full manual mode for those wanting to be a little more creative, or several auto settings which capture stunning images. We recently took a trip without our DSLR for the first time to Switzerland and relied on this compact instead, a decision we never regretted! At the moment there are several versions out depending on your budget. The mark 5 is the newest and most up to day but of course the most expensive, we have the mark 3 and it does a great job! It also has a fold out screen for those selfies!
Find it Here:
Our Favourite Camera Bag
Wandrd PRVKE 21
We absolutely love the Wandrd Prvke!
Its mega comfortable when when fully loaded. Has side access so you can grab your camera on the go. The material is weather resistant and there’s even a secret passport stash pocket!
There’s an expandable upper section with a roll top to keep gear separate from your camera.
A mirrorless camera system: Sony a6500
If you are wanting something a little more advanced than a top end compact or just a little bit more control then you could go with a mirrorless set up. We travel with both our mirrorless camera, compact and go pro so any of these would be wonderful ideas as gift ideas for travelers.
Sony a6000/ a6300/ a6500
The Sony a6500 offers 24mp images with an APS-C sized sensor, which is what is inside most non top end DSLRs. It allows you to change lenses with the Sony e-mount range (We had a set of 3 sigma prime lenses) but it also very compact and light. A perfect compromise for those wanting top quality and control but without lugging around heavy gear.
Find it Here:
Recommended Lenses for Sony a6000 – a6500
Our Favourite Travel Camera & Lens
Sony A7IV & Sony FE 24-105 f4
The Sony a7IV is the perfect travel camera. Offering incredible image quality, great portability and a varied lens selection.
Our favourite travel lens is the Sony FE 24-105 f4. it’s a great all-rounder, super sharp and a perfect focal range for travel.
ipad
Keeping entertained on long flights, buses, trains and even 2 day boat trips is hard going at times. Sure, you can revel in the romanticism of the journey, but that wears thin when you’re flying from NZ to the UK, or on a 23hr night train through China! An ipad is a great midway device that gives you much more screen space and scope than just your phone making it easier to play games and watch movies. You can even download from Netflix too which means you can still watch your favourite shows offline and on the go. ipads are also light and compact too meaning they easily slip into the back of your bag. It’s also a lot easier to play games such a GTA on there too with the bigger screen. They also take photos just like an iphone too and depending on your needs negate the need to bring a laptop along.
Find one here:
READ MORE:See Our Guide To Travel Photography Here
Nintendo Switch
Ok, we’ll admit it, we’re pretty into our gaming but travelling long term we do miss our Xbox and Playstation! Lets face it, there’s only so many movies and TV shows you can watch on those long long journeys and we often get to the point when we’ve been on that many flights in one day that we need something else to keep us entertained! The Nintendo Switch is idea as it is compact and small and can be played as either a handheld gaming device or connected to the TV like a larger gaming system. The controls too also detach so you can play by yourself or with someone else which makes it a perfect choice for something different on our list of gift ideas for travelers.
Mid Range Gifts!
Backpack/ Luggage
If you’re looking for a more practical gift for the travellers in your life then why not go for some luggage or a backpack. Investing in a good backpack that will last all the challenges it comes across on the road is a great purchase. We’ve had our backpacks coming up to 3 years now and despite a few scuffs here and there, they are holding up perfectly and ready for more adventures in the coming years! We carry with us two main bags, our large pack on the back and our smaller pack on the front.
Our Favourite Backpacks
Osprey Fairpoint/ Fairview
We’ve used the Osprey Fairpoint/ Fairview for all our backpacking adventures over the past 5 years and highly recommend them!
The main area of the pack opens like a suitcase, which is great for using packing cubes to keep everything organised and they even come with a detachable day pack!
Smaller Backpack:
On the front we use the Osprey Flare 22 backpack, it’s great for keeping everything safe and has just enough room without being too big. I keep my laptop, mirrorless camera, compact and GoPro in here as well as documents. It has lots of different compartments and sections which is really useful, especially the internal zip section that is great for passports and wallets etc. It’s also a great size for hiking and day trips too so it’s a really useful item on our list of gift ideas for travelers.
Larger Pack Ideal for Backpacking and Long Term Travel: Osprey Farpoint 70
If someone you know is heading off backpacking next year then why not get then the best backpack out there and save then the hassle and expense. We have been doing a lot of research ourselves on all the available packs and the common consensus is that the Osprey Farpoint 70. It opens up like a suitcase, comes with detachable/ attachable day pack and offers great support alongside tough and lightweight material. We’ve used these for non stop backpacking for almost 3 years and they have been perfect for us. Lots of room, detachable smaller pack on the front, room to carry extra items too and how it opens is really idea for packing and unpacking rather than top loaders.
Kindle
Another one for the entertainment list, the kindle is a great travel companion for those who love to read but of course you can’t bring along heaps of books when you’re travelling. It’s a great way to keep entertained once again on long journeys but also because of its low light output its an ideal way to read before bed without disturbing others in the room or impacting your sleep the way your phone does. It is also great on battery life too for those overnight or multi day journeys with no access to chargers. For us this is one of the best items on our list of gift ideas for travelers.
Multipurpose Swiss Army Knife
When travelling a multi purpose knife is always handy to carry around, especially if you are hiking or camping a lot. These come in handy for all sorts of situations you might come across where you need to light a fire, cut rope or even just open a bottle of wine! They can literally be a lifesaver!
Stocking Fillers and Cheaper Gifts
Base layers
Travel can be unexpected and the weather is never predictable. When we set off around South East Asia and Australia we never expected to come across cold weather! But luckily we had packed our base layers with us just in case and they saw us through some pretty extreme temperature changes. Base layers are ideal as they are so light and compact in comparison to packing large jackets and really do help keep you warm. You can also get some for hot weather that wick away the sweat and protect from sunburn too.
Find it Here:
Air Travel
Amongst the best gifts for travelers is air travel – it’s the is the simplest way to give someone the opportunity to achieve an air travel dream through skyhours. You can offer your loved ones as many skyhours as you wish, where one skyhour is one hour of flight time. What’s even better is that these can be used for unlimited destinations starting at 30 minutes for only $30. These hours are cumulative, and the lucky person receiving this awesome gift will have full control over all travel details – they can fly on any date, alone or with companions, to any destination with over 350 airlines.
Scratch Map
If you are anything like us you will love this! Every time you go somewhere new you get to scratch off a new section of map, I can’t tell you how satisfying that is! For the well travelled friend this is the perfect way for them to show off where they have been. And if you feel extra generous you could even get them a cork board to put it on and a few pins for each city they have been to like we have done!
Documents Holder
Travelling can often mean carting around loads of documents, confirmations, bookings, tickets, money just to name a few! So we have this handy documents holder to keep everything in one place from Passports to Boarding Passes! It also has a cool vintage travel design which I love and also comes with matching purses and bags if you feel like getting carried away!
Dry Sacks
These are a great budget purchase that come in so handy and when it comes to practicality these are top of the list of gift ideas for travelers. The primary function of these is of course to keep everything inside dry, you can use them almost like packing cubes and separate out the contents of your bag, from clothing to cameras and laptops, keep them organise and most importantly dry! We also take these out and clip them to ourselves when canoeing, or doing water sports. You can keep your phone and non waterproof camera inside but also if you fill them with air they can act as a floatation device which could come in very useful.
Find it here:
Guidebooks
We love guidebooks, they make planning a trip so much easier and also get us super excited when we read all about the amazing things we could be getting up to! Guidebooks are relatively inexpensive and can also be easily thrown into a suitcase or backpack for the journey or used before hand for trip planning! Gifting someone a guidebook is a great way to give them endless opportunities for amazing experiences!
Portable Battery Packs
This is one of the most useful pieces of kit we carry around with us making it a perfect addition to our list of gift ideas for travelers. It holds around enough power to charge your iPhone over 5 times before needing to be powered back up itself, it also has two USB ports so we can each charge our phones and cameras up at once. Not only does it mean never running out of battery whilst on the move, which could also save your life if you are stuck needing help somewhere! But also it helps keep your tech safe in dorms, no longer do you need to leave your phone charging on the floor all night, but you can charge it right next to you or even whilst stored inside a locker! Don’t tell anyone, but it’s also perfect for playing Pokemon Go too!
A Rugged Hard Drive Or Pen Drives To Backup Your Memories
Storing your photos and memories when you travel is a constant battle and keeping everything backed up is so important. Bringing along a travel proof external hard drive and also some smaller more portable and durable pen drives is the idea way to keep everything safe and backed up just in case.
Memory Cards for Cameras
Continuing the theme the next great stocking filler is some memory cards for you travelling friend so they have enough space to capture all their adventures to show you when they get home! I know I am always in need of new and spare memory cards and they are always a bit of a pain to keep buying, so this would be perfect for us for a stocking filler or go to along with a larger present such as a camera. Most cameras take SD cards and Go Pros take Micro SD.
Camera Bag and Accessories
So maybe the camera are a little out of your price point but for the camera enthusiast why not get them instead something to keep those expensive cameras safe. Whilst travelling it’s important to have a good camera case as life on the road can be pretty rough. Bags get banged around and you take your camera into some pretty harsh conditions. You might want to ask before what type of camera and lenses they have to be sure to get them the perfect case!
Our Favourite Camera Bag
Wandrd PRVKE 21
We absolutely love the Wandrd Prvke!
Its mega comfortable when when fully loaded. Has side access so you can grab your camera on the go. The material is weather resistant and there’s even a secret passport stash pocket!
There’s an expandable upper section with a roll top to keep gear separate from your camera.
Find it here:
Packing Cubes
Packing cubes are the perfect way to organise your backpack and make it so much easier to keep everything in place. I honestly would never go travelling, long or short trips without them now we’ve used them! You can keep all your clothing separate and tidy instead of just throwing everything in! Combined with a backpack that opens up or a suitcase it’s even easier to keep your bag in order and a great stocking filler on our list of gift ideas for travelers.
Find it Here:
The Gift of Travel: How About Helping With The Trip Itself!
An Incredible Travel Experience
If you’re really not sure what material present you’re friend or family member would love then why not gift them an incredible travel experience instead!! This way you can give them something truly memorable! Gift like this are also perfect too because they can be given to someone who is already travelling or lives far away from you! This is one of our top gift ideas for travelers and the most fun for sure!
Book a Tour
Best Place to Book Tour
As much as we love independent travelling, sometimes the best way to access certain places, experience local culture and get real authentic information is on a tour.
For the best trips, tours and guides we always use Get Your Guide.
Travel Insurance
If your friends and family are anything like us then getting travel insurance is probably the last thing on their mind and also one of those annoying expenses. So why not organise it for them and take the stress out of it for them!
Safety Wing Travel Insurance
The Best Insurance for Nomads
No one likes buying insurance, but equally everyone hates skyhigh medical bills! Get yourself covered so you can enjoy your trip worry free!
Here at The Roaming Renegades we love Safetywing Insurance because it’s designed for nomads, you can buy it when you’re already abroad and it’s kickass!
Click the button below to get a quote on your insurance provided by Safetywing.
What’s On Your List of Gift Ideas for Travelers?
Our Favourite Gear
Osprey Backpack
These Osprey bags open like a suitcase & we’ve used them for 5+ years. They even have a detachable day pack and are super comfortable and tough.
Camera Bag
The Wandrd Prvke 31 with side access is an awesome camera bag for any trip. It’s even got an expandable separate top section and hidden passport pocket.
Sony a7 IV
The Sony a7 IV is our go to travel camera. It’s a lightweight and portable full frame camera that offers amazing quality and a great range of available lenses.
Sony 24-105mm f4
The Sony 24-105mm f4 is the perfect all round travel lens with a mega useful range. It’s also super sharp and light for its type.
Memory Foam Travel Pillow
This memory foam travel pillow is ideal not only whilst on planes or buses but as an extra pillow in hostels & guest houses.
Dry sacks
Dry sacks are great to use as waterproof organisational bags for inside your backpack. We always put our SSD in one!
Dry Bag
A heavier duty Dry Bag is great for boat trips and larger items and can be worn as a stand alone.
Macbook Air
A lightweight but powerful Macbook Air is our go to laptop for all our blogging and photo editing on the road.
iPhone
We also always have our trusty iphones which are great for organising our trip, photography, maps, entertainment and more!
Sony RX100 VII
Our Sony RX100 VII is our go to selfie camera with it’s 1 inch sensor, articulating screen & compact size.
Go Pro 11
A GoPro is a must whilst backpacking. This tough & waterproof action cam can go anywhere with you!
USB Universal Adapter
Grab an all-in-one travel adapter with USB slots so whatever country you’re in you know you can charge your gear.
Portable Battery Pack
Keep your phone, camera and other gear charged on the road with a portable battery pack. Great for night buses.
Trail Shoes
Trail shoes are a great all round travel shoe for comfort whilst on a city break or hiking.
Waterproof Jacket
No matter where you’re travelling to a waterproof jacket is a must! Invest in a good one!
Manfrotto Befree Tripod
The super lightweight and easy to use Manfrotto Befree is our go-to travel tripod for photography
We trust the 2TB Sandisk Extreme SSD to back up all our important documents and photos on the road.
Hard Case for SSD
We keep it safe on the road with our trusty YINKE Hard Case for SanDisk Extreme SSD.
Packing Cubes
Packing cubes help keep everything organised in your pack.
Rain Cover
Keep everything even more protected with a rain cover for you backpack!
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