How To...Holiday Shop for Hikers & Trail Lovers: Expert-Approved Picks for 2025

Half Dome in Yosemite National Park (L) & Mt Whitney (R): The respective starts/ends of the John Muir Trail, a classic trail of the Eastern Sierra!

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After completing the John Muir Trail last summer, our staff member Jake came back with firsthand insights on what makes a multi-day trek in the High Sierra truly rewarding—and what gear can make it just as enjoyable. Inspired by his journey, he put together this year’s gift guide for hikers and backpackers of all levels, featuring 8 carefully selected items that he relied on or tested in the field, from trail shoes to ultralight stoves.

The John Muir Trail is a 211-mile love letter to the High Sierra, but the Eastern Sierra is full of trails that inspire the same awe—from the PCT and other long-distance routes to local alpine and day hikes that make the mountains feel endless. They all boast breathtaking views, starry nights, and climbs that humble even seasoned hikers. If someone on your nice list is planning a multi-day trek, a weekend adventure, or even a full thru-hike next season, these 8 gifts will actually lighten their load, boost their comfort, and help them thrive from Yosemite to Whitney—or anywhere the trail takes them.

No matter which way they hike it, though, one thing's for sure: the right gear can make or break a Sierra trek. So here’s our curated list of gifts that are Sierra-tested, staff-approved, and ready for anything from high passes to hidden local gems.

It is all gear that actually matters, meals that taste like victory, and a little extra comfort along the way--these gifts have all that. Give them something they'll really use out there, and maybe, just maybe, you'll get invited on the next thru-hike. Happy holidays, from Eastside Sports. 

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1. Topo Traverse Trail Shoes

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We're starting from the ground up, because without the right shoes, they're literally setting themselves up for failure. The Topo Traverse trail shoes are a favorite around here for their comfort and lightweight feel on the trail. We recommend the Traverse, because it includes a rock plate to help keep your precious little trail paws from getting bruised on all that Sierra granite. By the time they come off the Whitney summit, their Topos will probably be looking pretty rough—just the way a well-worn, adventure-traveled pair should.

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2. Thermarest NeoAir XLite NXT Sleeping Pad

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Think they can crush 20-mile days on lousy sleep? Think again, amigo. Introducing the NeoAir XLite NXT by Thermarest, the ultralight sleeping pad that no longer sounds like a bag of chips everytime you toss and turn...so they won't be waking up half of the hikers at the resupply point when you pass through Kennedy Meadows or Vermilion Valley Resort at Lake Edison.

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3. Platypus QuickDraw Water Filter

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Need a highly effective, reliable water filter for long Sierra days? The Platypus QuickDraw is your answer. Faster than other pocket-sized solutions, it screws onto any standard bottle for quick, easy water stops. Perfect for JMT thru-hikers or anyone chasing high-mile days without carrying a ton of extra weight.

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4. Black Diamond Distance Z Trekking Poles

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These poles wouldn't be on the list if they didn't punch above their weight. These sturdy aluminum poles from Black Diamond are light enough for 211 miles, yet durable enough to come out in one piece in terrain when/where their carbon cousin's would have met their brutal pole-snapping fate.

(Pro Tip: We recommend to never use carbon poles on snow. This is a sure-fire way to break them. Ask us how we know! ) 

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5. Patagonia R1 Air Fleece Hoody

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No Eastside Sports gift guide is complete without a nod to a customer favorite. The R1 Air Fleece Hoody by Patagonia is arguably the best insulating mid-layer for active days in the Sierra. Pair it with a Houdini Jacket and you’ve got a warmth system that can handle the coldest summer temps on the JMT.

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6. Black Diamond Astro 300 Headlamp

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Simple, no-nonsense, and it actually works—the Astro 300 by Black Diamond. Although this light isn't ultralight, feature-rich, or has an insane battery, it gets the job done every stinkin' time without fail and that's why it makes this list. 

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7. MSR Pocket Rocket 2

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The MSR Pocket Rocket 2: ultralight, reliable, and the stuff of thru-hiker dreams. Attach it to any standard isobutane canister and suddenly dehydrated meals taste like magic. For a 5-star culinary twist, cook ramen, eat the noodles, then stir in instant mashed potatoes with a splash of avocado oil and some fried onions or bacon bits. Congrats--day 15 just became the culinary highlight of your JMT. Seriously, this is what dreams are made of when most trail food is basically expensive "prison chow".

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8. Mountain Hardwear Crater Lake Hoody

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Last but not least, let's protect those precious hiker hides with a breathable, lightweight layer between us and the big fiery ball in the sky. Altitude cranks up UV exposure, so when you hit the trail ready to meet Mr. Muir's spirit, pack the Crater Lake Hoody from Mountain Hardwear.

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...and last, but certainly not least...

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