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 gifts for bikepackers!
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 (Using the limited space as carefully as possible is important)
- lightweight
- good quality (I’d recommend spending a bit more: Buy cheap, buy twice)
- easy-to-use
Another advice is to try to discover which cycling podcasts your friend or family member listens to, since it’s likely that they sell their own merchandise. This makes a great, personal gift.
10 affordable gifts for bikepackers:
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.
- 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
- Don’t ask me why, but 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.
- Some brands that sell cool caps are: The North Face, Live Slow Ride Fast, Patagonia, Bikepacking.com and Salomon.
Playing cards
- It’s a great gift that your bikepacking friend can use for free-time at camp. Consider giving playing cards that are related to cycling/bikepacking.
- There are web shops that let you make personalized playing cards. If you are creative yourself, or you know someone, you can give cards with related images to make it very personal and unique.
- Some online stores offer personalized playing cards. Get creative yourself, or ask for a friend’s help.
Camp kitchen gear
- Utensils, spork, cutlery, cookware
- Bikepackers love foldable gear
- Stores like Decathlon or REI have a wide range of items.
Beanie
- Will keep your bikepacking friend’s head warm during chilly nights.
- A couple of brands that sell cool and high quality beanies are: The North Face, Icebreaker, Columbia, Patagonia.
E-reader books gift card
- An E-reader book gift card is great. That way they can choose their own reading material. Yet, it’s important to check the compatibility of the gift card with their specific e-reader. For instance, Kindle and Kobo e-readers require different gift cards, so make sure you choose the right one.
Small, transparent storage bottles
- Maybe not the fanciest of all, but it’s a very handy item for bikepackers to have. Make sure it’s max 100 ml and transparent so that the bottle is allowed on flights.
- You can definitely apply the higher price, better quality rule here. I’ve had plenty of cheap ones from drugstores that broke quite 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, or desperately searching for something buried in the pile of clothes.
- An inflatable pillow takes up almost no space and its weight is negligible.
Book (compact and lightweight)
- You can buy some books as a ‘pocket’ version. These are ideal for people traveling, because they are more compact.
- 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
- For long-distance or multi-day rides, chamois cream will give comfort.
- Some of them have antibacterial effects, reducing infection risks.
- It 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!
