For many backpackers, keeping mealtime as easy as possible is the name of the game. For others, slowing down and appreciating every dinner under the stars is worth spending a little more time hunched over a campstove. If you’re shopping for a backpacking gourmet, these 10 gifts are their ticket to a yummier, deeper culinary experience on the trail.
Testers customized this kit to the trip: For car-camping they packed the entire 12-ounce set, comprising a 10-ounce insulated mug with a spillproof lid and a reusable mesh coffee filter and cone. When backpacking, some opted to bring just the fold-flat stainless steel filter (weighing .28 oz) and perched it atop an ultralight cup. Either iteration results in a proper day-starter. Buy Now
This set vastly improves camping’s least glamorous chore. With a 10-liter capacity, the collapsible sil-nylon “sink” speeds dish cleaning for a group, and the included scrubber tool is genius: Encasing a 1.6-ounce bottle of biodegradable Wilderness Wash, it includes a strip of nylon bristles and a scraper tool that effectively tackle messes. With the washcloth and towel, the whole enchilada weighs just 9.5 ounces. Buy Now
What puts this mug ahead of the pack is the comfort of its handle: Even with the weight of a steaming 12-ounce pour, the broad titanium band made sipping feel like a vocation. Double-walled construction prevents burned lips or digits, the press-fit lid contains sloshing, and it’s light enough (6 ounces) for backpacking. Buy Now
Yes, at 1.5 pounds, it’s weightier than titanium cookware, but this stainless steel set facilitates better simmering—and it easily crosses over into the car-camping realm where gourmets can warm sauces, sauté foraged fungi, and boil pasta for two (made easy in the 2-liter pot). Buy Now
Concocted by a Tennessee hiker who craved a gourmet version of crushed red pepper, this five-pepper blend delivers multi-dimensional flavor that’s perfect on everything from bland dehydrated meals to deluxe car camping feasts. It brings the heat, too, thanks to a diabolical mix of serrano, jalapeño, habanero, Thai, and long hot cayenne peppers. Buy Now
When speed- and weight-savings were paramount, testers backpacked with these 1-ounce packets of instant coffee and were genuinely surprise at the quality drink that resulted. “Bright and graceful,” reported one happy java snob, who admitted that while a pourover may still brew better coffee, this freeze-dried version (made by Swift Cup using Oslo’s craft-roasted beans) earns high praise for both convenience and flavor. Buy Now
Like Shutterfly—for chocolate bars—this company lets you design your own custom wrapper for its specialty sweets. Upload smiling faces of your hiking buddies, draft your text, and choose your colorways to create a hilariously unique and yummy memento. For friends of thru-hikers, there’s no greater gift to drop into a resupply box. Buy Now
Give the gift of speedier trip planning: Created by a long-distance hiker and dietitian, Backcountry Foodie designs recipes and meal strategies that are customized to backpackers of all stripes—including vegetarians, vegans, and those with food allergies. Basic $36 memberships provide access to a vast database of trail-ready recipes, while meal-planning packages (priced at $48 and $72) include expert-led forums, shopping lists, food plans and how-to’s for on-trail energy management. Buy Now
This nesting tool stacks an impressive array of utensils and tools (including a vegetable peeler and bottle opener) into a compact, 2-ounce package. Think of it as a Swiss Army Knife for the camp kitchen. Buy Now
For the ounce-counter on your list, consider this minimalist (1.7 oz) water filter, which lets hikers drink a lot while carrying very little. Just fill a standard narrow-mouth bottle with suspect water, screw on this 4-inch filter cap, and drink. The fast flow rate (3 liters per minute) allows for big gulps, and the filter blocks bacteria and parasites. Buy Now
