Do you have a friend or family member that loves bikepacking and do you want to give him or her a personal and affordable gift? By reading this post, you’ll discover the best affordable bikepacking gifts.
Finding a unique, thoughtful gift can be challenging, but if he or she is a bikepacking or cycling enthusiast it will become as easy as a downhill ride. Here’s what bikepackers value:
- Compact, because using the limited space as carefully as possible is important
- Good quality. I recommend spending a bit more: buy cheap, buy twice
- Lightweight
- Easy-to-use
Another advice is to try to discover which cycling podcasts your friend or family member listens to, it’s likely they sell their own merchandise.
10 affordable bikepacking gifts
Mug
- If they happen to create their own content you can put their logo on it. Or if they have an Instagram page with their bikepacking adventures, you could put their Instagram name on it.
- Also, to make it personal you can give a mug with the logo of their favorite cycling team/cycling podcast, or a route map of a previous bikepacking trip.
Cap
- Caps are very popular among bikepackers. Its features like protection from the sun and rain are useful. I found that many bicycle-related brands sell caps with their logos.
- In fact, a few brands that sell cool caps are: The North Face, Live Slow Ride Fast, Patagonia, Bikepacking.com and Salomon.
Playing cards
- A thoughtful gift for a bikepacking friend is a set of cycling-themed playing cards.
- Many web shops let you design personalized playing cards. Add cycling-related images to create a unique and meaningful gift.
Camp kitchen gear
- Utensils, spork, cutlery, cookware.
- Advice: we bikepackers love foldable gear.
- For example, stores like Decathlon or REI have a wide range of items.
Beanie
- A versatile gift that provides warmth on cool days and chilly nights.
- Brands like The North Face, Icebreaker, Columbia, and Patagonia offer durable, high-quality options, perfect for bikepackers.
E-reader books gift card
- An E-reader book gift card is great. That way your friend can choose his/her own reading material.
- Make sure to choose the right gift card for their e-reader: Kindle and Kobo, for example, require different gift cards.
Small, transparent storage bottles
- Maybe not the fanciest of all, but it’s a very handy item for bikepackers – Choose a bottle no larger than 100 ml and transparent to meet flight regulations.
- Overall you can definitely apply the higher price, better quality rule here. I’ve had plenty of cheap ones from drugstores that broke quickly.
Inflatable pillow
- I remember that during my cycling trip through Norway I used my clothes as a pillow because my inflatable pillow gave out. It was then that I really appreciated the convenience of my inflatable pillow. Without it, you find yourself constantly shuffling clothes in and out of your bags.
- Also, an inflatable pillow takes up almost no space and its weight is insignificant.
Book (compact and lightweight)
- You can buy some books as a ‘pocket’ version. These are ideal for people traveling, because they are more compact.
- Alternatively, if you already know about your friend or family member’s newest bikepacking plans, you could buy him/her a travel guide about the country or region in question.
Chamois cream
- During long-distance or multi-day rides, chamois cream will give your friend extra comfort.
- Also, some of them have antibacterial effects, reducing infection risks.
- Chamois cream prevents skin irritation when cycling long distances.
Thank you for reading! I hope you found this guide helpful. Good luck in your search for the perfect gift for your bikepacking friend!
Feel free to check out my Instagram, where I regularly share travel stories, hiking guides, and tips and tricks. I’d love to have you along for the journey!
– Bart
