Moms who hike are the coolest. They’re out there enjoying nature, introducing their babies or kids to the trail and the outdoor lifestyle, or just sharing a meditative stroll through the woods with them. Or maybe they’re using nature to escape from their kids for a quick moment of peace and relaxation. Either way, it’s inspiring and exulting to see the moms out there beating the ol’ dusty trail.
And what could be a better Mother’s Day gift than some cool new hiking gear? Then every time she laces up her hiking boots, puts on her sunglasses, or pulls out her rain jacket, she’ll be thinking of you. And every time she goes out for a hike, you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing she’s prepared with the gear you got her.
Here are a few of our favorite Mother’s Day gifts, compiled from some of the best outdoor products we’ve found this year. They’re all perfect for any mom who likes to hike.
Hiking Accessories Moms Will Love
Flowering Plant Families of the World
The “Pocket Guide to Flowers of North America” is a handbook made for moms who like to hike. It’s full of over 500 pretty illustrations and quick descriptions of flowers so your mom can identify them as she cruises along the trail; it’s a useful book, but it’s also a fun one to bust out with friends and start naming flowers.
It’s small enough to fit in a pack. And at 9.6 ounces, it’s light enough to carry on any hike. And your mom will be surprised how often she ends up using it.
The Parkside Flask
Forget plastic or glass cups. When momma needs a glass of wine, she can bust out this slick little 3-in-1 tumbler and pour one for herself and a friend. It has a 750mL capacity (exactly enough volume for one bottle of vino). It also comes capped at both ends with stainless steel cups that are easily removed when happy hour starts.
The Parkside flask is perfect for beach outings, picnics at the park, or backcountry après. It comes in four colors: parosol grey, rosé, cypress (pictured), and granite.
Yakima’s MOD Drawer System
Organization makes a world of difference when you’re camping, or heading to the trail. The Yakima MOD Drawer system makes it easy to keep your gear tidy and tucked away inside your vehicle. It maximizes your storage space, keeps things clean and protected, and can be customized with any other MOD series product.
When GearJunkie reviewed the MOD drawer system, our tester called it a “‘HomeBase” for any adventure vehicle. She said her experience from installation to use was flawless. This is the kind of thing that will help Mom keep her car organized and adventure-ready.
onX Backcountry
It doesn’t matter how good one’s sense of direction is; sometimes it’s easy to get turned around. If your mom likes to hike alone (like mine does), making sure that she has off-grid, out-of-cell-service access to maps is a really big deal. Even if it just offers some peace of mind.
OnX Backcountry is one of the best GPS apps for hiking trails. Its memberships are affordable (starting at $30/year) and it is easy to use. With it, Mom can see the cross-section of any hike, the distance, slope angle, elevation gain, water sources, landmarks, and campsites.
Other fun elements of the app include adding waypoints and keeping track of mileage and hikes. She can also download the map to use it no matter how far out she gets.
Ombraz Teton Sunglasses
It’s amazing what a difference a good pair of sunglasses makes on the trail. And it’s amazing how a pair of Ombraz changes your sunglasses-wearing experience.
The shades are armless and fit onto your noggin with a comfortable cord that cinches snugly with two sliding adjusters. Not only does that improve the durability, packability, and functionality of sunglasses, but our testers found it also makes them harder to lose.
The Teton is one of Ombraz’s classic frame styles, and it’s fly. It has a Wayfarer-inspired design with square lenses and classic angles.
Therm-a-Rest Honcho Poncho Down
OK, so maybe it isn’t specific to hiking, but what mom wouldn’t love a plush down blanket that she can wear like a poncho? The Honcho Poncho from Therm-a-Rest has been a popular item for a couple of seasons now. But Therm-a-Rest now offers it with down instead of synthetic insulation.
The poncho has snap-button sides that allow you to open it up like a blanket or keep it closed like a poncho. It even packs down into its own kangaroo pouch for storage. This is a great item for Mom to keep in her car in case she gets cold at the trailhead. It’s comfortable, it’s warm, and it’s one of those things she’ll use more than she thinks she will.
Hiking Apparel for Moms
PAKA PAKACLOUD Fleece
Moms love soft stuff, and the PAKA PAKACLOUD Fleece is one of the softest garments we’ve encountered. It’s made from a blend of alpaca wool sourced from the Andes Mountains and polyester. PAKA works with indigenous Peruvian women, who are employed at four times the local wage rate to make its alpaca wool products.
PAKACLOUD is the first alpaca fleece garment from PAKA. It’s three times lighter than sheep’s wool, twice as warm, and its softness rivals cashmere. It’s one of the most functional and comfortable natural fibers around. And the alpaca fiber is traceable back to its roots in the Andes.
Kora Outdoor Yushu Yak Wool Base Layers
Comfortable base layers are a gift that’s hard to go wrong with. And the garments offered by Kora take comfort to the next level. The brand uses 60% premium yak wool with 40% superfine merino to make incredibly soft-feeling tops. The material naturally breathes but insulates well against those chilly mornings before you hit the trail.
The Yushu quarter zip is one of my favorite tops all year round. It looks great but feels even better against your skin.
Mountain Hardwear Stryder Short
Swim, hike, climb, or lounge around in these versatile trunks from Mountain Hardwear. They might seem like a basic pair of shorts, but they can be worn throughout the summer on a myriad of adventures. The recycled nylon is lightweight, 40 SPF, and dries fast. It’s comfortable enough that I don’t mind hiking in them. And if I happen across a nice creek or stream, I have no reservations about taking a dunk.
The women’s version of these shorts comes in four fun colors and patterns that Mom will love.
Ibex Journey Long-Sleeve Crew
Who doesn’t love to hike in pure merino wool, anti-stink, thermoregulating comfort? That is Ibex’s specialty. And the brand’s Journey Crew is a perfect example. The shirt is made from Ibex’s one-quiver, do-everything, “Weightless Wool.” It’s soft to the touch, comfortable on the skin, lightweight, and looks great. It’s an adventure shirt that will serve the adventurous gal in your life well.
Marmot PreCip Eco Pro
Rain jackets are a piece of gear that you always feel grateful for when you need to pull it out of your pack. They provide shelter from the storm, keep you warm and dry, and can be used both on and off the trail. They’re versatile, and they’re necessary. And if you buy one as a Mother’s Day gift, you’ll come to mind every time she uses it.
Since 2018, Marmot has been making its bestselling PreCip rain jackets out of completely recycled materials. They’re also PFC- and DWR-free. Recently, the brand upgraded with the PreCip Pro to offer a slightly elevated 3L version. They look great, are lightweight, and are sustainably made. The PreCip is covered by Marmot’s limited lifetime warranty.
Wondery Isabel 3.0 Pants
Wondery is a brand made by women for women. Its mission is to inspire more women to get outside and do active things. Wondery organizes workshops and events for women and supports nonprofits empowering women in the outdoors. Its products are all women’s-specific and made with high-quality materials and attention to detail.
The Isabel pants feature a stylish jogger silhouette that our tester said looks great on the trail or on the street. They’re made from a durable but comfortable cotton-spandex blend that offers mobility and moisture-wicking when you’re working up a sweat. And the waist is adjustable, so the fit is precise. And, best of all, all Wondery products come in inclusive sizing options from XS-4XL.
AKU Rocket DFS GTX
A good pair of hiking boots becomes your best friend when you put a lot of miles into them. They stabilize your ankles, breathe so your feet don’t get hot, provide traction so you aren’t slipping all over the place, and protect your feet from roots, rocks, and other hazards.
The AKU Rockets are supposedly the fastest hikers the brand has ever made. Designed with dynamic fit technology, the boot’s heel tension adjusts naturally to match the wearer’s natural stride sequences, increasing comfort and stability. The brand’s proprietary Flight Traction lug and Megagrip outsole increase traction by 10% over other hiking boots. What better gift could you give than the gift of surefootedness?
Merrell Women’s Moab 3
The Moab series from Merrell has been one of its most successful hiking shoes of all time. And for good reasons: The shoe is designed to provide maximum comfort, stability, and durability on the trail. Merrell’s Super Rebound Compound offers shock absorption in the heels for a smooth midfoot transition.
The Moab 3 is updated from the Moab 2 with partially recycled fabrics, more supportive insoles, greater cushion, and grippier Vibram outsoles. GearJunkie named them the Best Budget Hiking Shoes in our guide to the Best Hiking Shoes for Women. For moms who are out on different trails and want a versatile hiking shoe, the Moab 3 is a great option. And the new women’s color schemes are all pretty flashy, to boot.
HOKA Speedgoat 5
One of our editors praised the Speedgoat 5 for its improved traction, better fit, and lighter weight than the previous Speedgoat model. HOKA dotted the Vibram Megagrip outsoles with beefy 5mm lugs to increase bite and stability. For trail runners who tackle loose and rocky terrain, this technical shoe is up to the task.
Columbia Facet 60 OutDry
If comfort on the trail is a high priority, consider the Columbia Facet 75. This new hiking boot has a durable mesh upper that is both breathable and totally waterproof. A Techlite Plush midsole provides cushion comfort for every step and delivers extremely smooth transitions. Under all that is an Adaptrax outsole that easily grips and grabs slippery or jagged terrain.
The Facet 75 is great for casual trail hiking and running. And they’re stylish enough that you won’t have to change between the trailhead and town. They’ve got all the fashion of a street shoe with all the function of a hiker.
How to Shop for Moms Who Hike
Think About Your Mom, Where She Hikes, and What She Needs
Every mom has different needs. My mom can be directionally challenged sometimes and has gotten lost on hikes alone in the past. I bought her a year-long subscription to onX Backcountry for Mother’s Day last year. Similarly, I know she always gets cold hands when she skis. So, another year, I bought her some heated gloves.
Think about your mom, what she needs, and how you can make her life easier. Consider her hobbies, activities, or sports and where she does them. Check out her hiking gear and look for anything that needs an update or is worn out. Be thoughtful and deliberate with your shopping. It won’t just help guide you toward the best gifts for your mom; it will also make them mean something more to her.
Get Creative With Your Gift Ideas
Gifts can be hard to think of, and materialism can be exhausting. So think outside the box when you’re shopping for your mom who hikes. Plan a hiking trip with your mom. Rent a place to stay near an area she wants to hike and make a weekend out of it. Or book a heli-hiking trip for two (yes that’s a thing) with a company like CMH Purcell.
Learning things together is also a great way to celebrate. Sign up for a mushroom foraging class. Or see if there are any outdoor tours that sound interesting. The possibilities are endless!
When in Doubt, Keep It Simple
I can get carried away when I’m brainstorming for Mother’s Day gift ideas. When I catch myself shopping inflatable tents that attach to Tesla vehicles, I remind myself: Keep it simple. Often, the best gift is the one your mom will use the most. Getting her a really nice sun hat, a really comfortable fleece, or even a pair of socks that she’ll use every time she hikes is never a bad way to go.
You could even make a gift basket full of small essentials and basics like sunscreen, buffs, water bottles, emergency whistles, and more.
