Best REI gifts 2026: 21 expert picks for everyone on your list

Sponsored by REI. This guide is part of our holiday partnership with REI Co-op, and every pick links to REI so you can shop it in one place.

Gift shopping for outdoorsy people is easy to get wrong. Gear is personal, sizes are a minefield, and the person you're buying for probably already owns three headlamps.

This guide solves that. I've chosen 21 gifts from REI's holiday lineup that I'd actually give (and in many cases, gear I've tested and recommend year-round), organized by the person you're shopping for.

One more reason REI is my one-stop gifting recommendation this year: the REI Gift Center is fully updated for the holidays, returns are painless, and REI Co-op members get 10% back on eligible full-price purchases.

Quick picks

• Best gift for runners: Hoka Clifton 11, $155
• Best gift under $30: Darn Tough Hiker Micro Crew socks, $26
• Best big-ticket gift: YETI Roadie 15 hard cooler, $200
• When in doubt: an REI gift card, any amount

Gifts for runners

1. Hoka Clifton 11 road-running shoes

Price: $155 at REI

The Clifton is the running shoe I recommend most often to everyday runners, and the 11 is the best version yet: a new engineered mesh upper, softer sockliner, and the same effortless cushioned ride that has made this a daily trainer icon for over a decade.

They run true to size, so if you know their size, this is about as safe as a running shoe gift gets. It comes in men's and women's versions, including wide widths.

2. COROS PACE 4 GPS watch

Price: $249 at REI

COROS makes my favorite value running watches, and the PACE 4 is the one I point beginners and marathoners alike toward. It weighs just 32 g with the nylon band, the AMOLED touchscreen is bright and sharp, and battery life is a class-leading 41 hours of GPS (up to 19 days of daily use).

If you're weighing watch brands for your runner, my COROS vs Garmin comparison breaks down which suits which kind of athlete.

3. Shokz OpenRun Pro2 headphones

Price: $179.95 at REI

Open-ear headphones are the single best upgrade for runners who train outside, because they keep ears open to traffic. The OpenRun Pro2 pairs bone conduction with an air-conduction driver for real bass, runs 12 hours on a charge, and charges by USB-C.

4. Salomon Adv Skin 5 Set hydration vest

Price: $145 at REI

For trail runners and marathon trainers, Salomon's Adv Skin is the benchmark hydration vest: a snug, bounce-free Sensifit wrap, two included 500 ml soft flasks, and 5 liters of storage for layers and snacks. It's the vest you'll spot at every trail race start line for good reason.

5. REI Co-op Swiftland waist pack

Price: $44.95 at REI

I've tested a lot of REI's Swiftland running line, including the Swiftland TT hydration vest, and it consistently punches above its price. This bounce-free waist pack holds a phone, keys, and snacks in 1.25 liters of recycled ripstop, and at 3.5 oz you forget it's there. A great gift for runners who hate carrying things in hand.

Gifts for hikers

6. Patagonia Nano Puff insulated jacket

Price: $229 at REI

The Nano Puff is the layering piece every hiker ends up wanting: 60 g PrimaLoft Gold Eco insulation that stays warm when wet, a 13 oz packable build, and recycled fabrics sewn in a Fair Trade Certified factory. Available in men's and women's versions.

7. Patagonia Torrentshell 3L rain jacket

Price: $189 at REI

One of the most trusted rain shells in the outdoors: a 3-layer H2No waterproof build, pit zips, a PFC-free DWR finish, and it stuffs into its own pocket. For hikers in wet climates, this is the gift that gets used constantly. Also in women's sizes.

8. Smartwool Classic Thermal Merino crew base layer

Price: $125 at REI

A 250-weight merino base layer is cold-weather hiking's most useful layer, and Smartwool's Classic Thermal is the gold standard: naturally odor-resistant, warm, and comfortable across a huge temperature range. Men's and women's versions available.

9. Darn Tough Hiker Micro Crew cushion socks

Price: $26 at REI

Darn Tough makes the socks I recommend most, and the Hiker Micro Crew is the pair I'd gift first: merino comfort, made in Vermont, and backed by a genuine lifetime guarantee. Socks as a gift stopped being boring the day Darn Tough started making them. Men's and women's sizing.

10. Black Diamond Spot headlamp

Price: $59.95 at REI

Every hiker needs a reliable headlamp, and the new Spot is an REI staff pick for a reason: 450 lumens, waterproof to IPX7, and dual-fuel so it runs on AAAs or Black Diamond's rechargeable li-ion battery. A perfect gift because nobody regrets owning a spare.

11. REI Co-op Trailmade pants

Price: $79.95 at REI

REI's house-brand hiking pants are quietly excellent: stretchy, quick-drying, UPF 50+, with a zip thigh pocket for valuables. They fit a wide range of body types (men's and women's, including petite sizes), and at this price they leave budget for a second gift.

Gifts for campers and cozy season

12. YETI Roadie 15 hard cooler

Price: $200 at REI

The most giftable YETI cooler: 15-quart capacity (22 cans or 16 lbs of ice), a hands-free carry strap, and the near-indestructible build the brand is known for. It's the right size for beach days, tailgates, paddle boards, and the back seat.

13. YETI Rambler French press, 34 oz

Price: $110 at REI

Camp coffee, solved. The double-wall vacuum insulation keeps coffee hot between pours, and the GroundsControl filter stops the brew after plunging so the last cup tastes as good as the first. Works just as well on a kitchen counter as a campsite table.

14. The North Face ThermoBall Traction booties

Price: $75 at REI

Camp booties are one of those gifts people never buy themselves and then wear daily all winter. ThermoBall insulation keeps feet warm, the grippy outsole handles frosty porch runs and campsite errands, and they slip on and off easily. Men's and women's versions.

15. Patagonia Lightweight Synchilla Snap-T fleece pullover

Price: $139 at REI

The Snap-T is a design classic that works around a campfire and around town. Velvety midweight recycled fleece, the signature 4-snap placket, and a chest pocket for essentials. There's a reason this silhouette hasn't changed much in 40 years. Also in women's sizes.

Gifts for kids and families

16. REI Co-op Kids' Overnight Bundle

Price: $159 at REI

The best value gift in this guide for outdoorsy families: a Kindercone 25 sleeping bag, a self-inflating Kindercamp pad (R-value 4.5), and a Roadtripper 30 duffel to carry both. The bag cinches down to grow with your kid, so this covers sleepovers and campouts for years.

17. Patagonia Baby Nano Puff insulated jacket

Price: $99 at REI

The toddler version of the hiker favorite above, with the same warm-when-wet PrimaLoft Gold Eco insulation and a hand-me-down ID label sewn in, because this jacket will outlast more than one kid. Sizes 2T to 5T.

18. Camp Snap screen-free digital camera 2.0

Price: $74.95 at REI

A point-and-shoot with no screen, so kids (and adults) stay in the moment and get the film-camera surprise of reviewing shots later. The 2.0 adds six built-in filters, kid-friendly locking settings, and around 500 photos per charge. One of the most fun gifts of the season.

Stocking stuffers under $50

19. Tiny Tents Tiny Tent

Price: $29.95 at REI

A fully functional, cat-sized tent, complete with rainfly, zippered mesh windows, and a stargazer roof. It's the most reviewed-and-loved novelty item REI sells, and the correct gift for any household where a cat and a camper coexist.

20. Smartwool Performance Hike light cushion crew socks

Price: $25 at REI

Merino hiking socks, made in the USA, with light cushioning and mesh ventilation zones for all-day comfort. If your giftee runs warm or hikes in milder climates, these are the lighter-weight alternative to the Darn Toughs above. Men's and women's fits.

21. Hydro Flask Micro Hydro bottle, 10 oz

Price: $27.95 at REI

A palm-sized Hydro Flask that keeps drinks cold for 24 hours or hot for 9, with a removable clip strap for bags and belts. Genuinely useful (lunch boxes, morning coffee shots, trail cocktails) and small enough to actually fit in a stocking.

More ways to save at REI this season

REI Outlet gift deals. From now through the end of the year, REI Outlet has gifts at up to 40% off, plus a dedicated Outlet stocking stuffers page that's worth a scroll before you finish your list.

The membership deal. Become an REI Co-op member, spend $50, and get $30 toward a future purchase. The earn period runs through November 12, 2026, so if your giftee isn't a member yet, a membership plus any pick above effectively pays for itself.

$30 will be issued as a member bonus card. Offer valid 9/8/26-11/12/26. Member bonus card is a single-use promotional card. Terms and conditions apply.

Gift cards always work. If sizes or colors feel risky, an REI gift card (physical or e-gift) lets them pick, and e-gift cards save last-minute shippers every year.

FAQ

What are the best gifts at REI this year?

The standouts from REI's holiday lineup are the Hoka Clifton 11 for runners, Darn Tough Hiker Micro Crew socks as the best gift under $30, the YETI Roadie 15 cooler as the big-ticket pick, and the REI Co-op Kids' Overnight Bundle for families.

Does REI have gifts under $100?

Yes, plenty. From this guide alone: Darn Tough and Smartwool socks ($25-26), the Tiny Tent ($29.95), the Hydro Flask Micro Hydro ($27.95), the REI Swiftland waist pack ($44.95), the Black Diamond Spot headlamp ($59.95), the Camp Snap camera ($74.95), REI Trailmade pants ($79.95), and the Patagonia Baby Nano Puff ($99).

When is the best time to buy gifts at REI?

REI Outlet gift deals run from October through the end of the year at up to 40% off. REI also runs major sale events through November and December, so keep an eye on this page: I'll be updating it as each one goes live.

Are REI gift cards a good gift?

Yes. They never expire, work online and in stores, and e-gift cards arrive instantly, which makes them the best last-minute option for outdoorsy people.

If you haven't already, signup to our free newsletter, for more quality outdoor content like this. -Alastair

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