We don't know about you, but here at Escapism, we find the effort of Christmas shopping almost as fun as the big day itself. And when it comes to what’s in the stocking or what’s under the tree, the more a gift helps us hatch (or execute) epic travel plans for the year ahead, the better.
With that in mind, we’ve selected some of our favourite Christmas gift ideas for travel lovers – fun stocking fillers, gear for the great outdoors, amazing experiences and a couple of bits for the kids thrown in, too. We hope you’ll find some inspiration for your Christmas shopping.
Best travel stocking fillers
Foragers' Playing Cards
Playing cards is a timeless leisure activity, but have you ever thought of purchasing a pack of cards with more than one function? Snap up this set of cards and you'll get a standard deck of cards complete with pretty illustrations and interesting facts about forageable food like fungi, wild plants, nuts and berries. While playing cards, you can brush up on your knowledge of edible delights, learning how easy they are to find in the wilderness, and how you're supposed to differentiate between poisonous mushrooms and gut-friendly berries whilst foraging. £9.99. presentindicative.com
L.L. Bean patch
As part of their partnership with the USA's National Park Foundation, legendary American outdoor brand L.L. Bean is offering a limited-edition range of patches commemorating some of the country's finest parks. As an organisation, L.L. Bean helps protect more than 400 national park sites across the USA, including Acadia, Rocky Mountain and Arches, which are all available in the brand's range of sew-on patches. Grab one and stick it on your rucksack, stat. From £8. llbean.com
Light My Fire Bio Firelighting Kit
Starting a fire with Nordic Outdoor's firelighting equipment is the foolproof way to warm your fingers and melt marshmallows on your next camping trip. Light My Fire's Bio Firelighting Kit is comprised of a durable magnesium firestell that can last up to 3,000 strikes, a tinderstick made of sustainably sourced Caribbean pine and a stainless steel spring that makes a mean skewer for 'mallows when attached to a stick. Cosy as you like. £18.95. nordicoutdoor.co.uk
Bambaw Cutlery Kit
Multi-use cutlery is the most handy way to eat food while you're out and about. If you bring your own Bambaw cutlery set to any occasion, you can dine alfresco without making your camping feast an environmental mishap. Using the fold-up fabric case, you can roll your cutlery into your bag and have it on you 24/7. This will minimise the chances of you using single-use plastic, the product that the Ocean Conservancy ranks as the second-most dangerous form of plastic rubbish after fishing nets. £10.23. bambaw.com
Be More Japan book
©RazvanPhotography
DK Eyewitness
Obsessed with J-pop superstars, Shinto scholars or street-food stall merchants? Be More Japan is the book for you. Immerse yourself in the technically fascinating world of Japanese living. The book mixes the architecture and artistry of modern Japanese lifestyle through the lens of different cultures, spaces and places - all the while providing a whistlestop tour of one of the modern world's most advanced and innovative civilisations. Printed with breathtaking landscapes and fabulous picture collages, this book is for anyone who wants to dip into various aspects of Japanese culture including entertainment, literature, fashion and food. £16.99. dk.com
Travel gifts for him
Philips BeardTrimmer Series 7000
Know a certain someone with a hairy hangover from Movember? Don't fret. The Philips BeardTrimmer series 7000 lets users trim and style moustaches, beards or sideburns without the unnecessary mess. The shaver's integrated vacuum system can capture up to 90% of cut hair, getting rid of facial flyaways. Double-sharpened stainless steel blades also allow for faster trimming, cleverly sharpening themselves by lightly brushing against each other as you trim, so you can look effortlessly stylish without any fuss. £48. philips.co.uk
Filson Rugged Twill Ranger backpack
This backpack from legendary Seattle outdoor brand Filson is perfect for those seeking out a steely workhorse appropriate for the great outdoors as well as everyday use on the commute. Woven with the brand's much-loved, 100% cotton Rugged Twill, it's designed for long-lasting use and extreme durability. Features include a padded back, easily-adjustable shoulder straps and a good old-fashioned water-resistant oil finish. There's also a pocket tucked inside the bag that can hold laptops up to 15", so you can keep computers, tablets and more dry no matter how harsh the weather gets. £250. filson.com
Tentree Kurt beanie
Soft, chic and cosy, Tentree's Kurt beanie is guaranteed to complete any look. Ethically made in Canada, this winter warmer comes in seven different colours, offering sustainability and style wrapped into one product. Sustainability, you say? Yep, Tentree plants ten trees for every item sold, with the tally currently sitting around 34 million. By purchasing a beanie this Christmas, you could help Tentree reach their aim of planting one billion trees by 2030. Nice. £34.95. tentree.com
Smartwool Merino Sport 150 Tee
New for 2019 and great for both sport and travel, this Smartwool t-shirt is perfect for those who want to be comfortable in what they're wearing but still feel on-point. Produced using the New England-based brand's core spun thread – silky merino meshed with a nylon core – you can expect a super-comfortable tee that's both durable and lightweight. The Sport 150 shirt can also be worn multiple times without washing, wicking sweat during exercise to allow for a breathable, odour-free tee for travel, adventures and more. £54.99. smartwool.co.uk
Travel gifts for her
Fjallraven Övik Knit sweater
Little known fact for you: it's not officially Christmas unless someone in the family gets a jazzy jumper. And here at Escapism, we're less about the oblique Home Alone references and Bah Humbug! fairisles, and more about well-made knits that you might just want to wear outside of the festive season, too. That's why we reckon the loved one in your life might just fancy giving Swedish outdoor brand Fjallraven's old-school Övik Knit sweater a spin this Christmas. It's goes big on cosy without being a yuletide exclusive and it's made of responsibly sourced wool from real Swedish sheep. Not bah'd. £135. fjallraven.co.uk
Dr Sebagh Sun & City protection SPF 50+
Lightly tanned skin: good; burnt skin: very, very bad. And you know what they say – you've got your skin for life, so you'd better look after it. Now it's even easier to protect your skin from harsh UVA and UVB rays with this face lotion from the experts at Dr Sebagh. It filters out pollution and light from the sun, smart phones and computers, and will leave your skin with a perfect matte finish – and even fits inside the tiniest of travel bags. Job done. £60 for 50ml. drsebagh.com
Lefrik bum bag
If you're the type of person who likes carrying essentials while on-the-go, but you still want your hands free, then this Lefrik bumbag might be the perfect fit. Strung together with an adjustable hip strap and fitting in one large compartment, this bumbag is practical and fuss free. It's also made from eco-friendly fabric using recycled polyester from PET bottles, making it waterproof and vegan – an all-round winner for anyone who's channelling environmentally friendly vibes this Christmas.
£26. lefrik.com
El Camino jewellery
Personalised gifts that are tasteful and high quality can be hard to come by, which is why it's well worth checking out El Camino's bespoke range of jewelry this festive season. With tons of different charms and beads to choose from you can personalise your necklace or bracelet with the names of destinations you've visited, meaning your favourite travel memories are always, er, close to hand. All necklaces and bracelets are made using fine materials including surgical-grade stainless steel, high-strength cord and sustainably sourced woods and coconut. From £21.99. elcaminobracelets.com
Travel gifts for them
S'well x BBC Earth reusable water bottle
Big Attenborough fan? Yeah, we thought so. You'll probably like this, then: BBC Earth (the good folk behind Planet Earth II, Blue Planet II and new series Seven Worlds, One Planet) and S'well have teamed up to make a series of four limited-edition water bottles emblazoned with some of the most iconic shots of the natural world. There are penguins, there are Northern Lights, there are Aussie sea turtles and there are most definitely underwater scenes from some of the Beeb's very best natural history TV. It's a must in any nature lover's stocking this year. £35. swellbottle.com
Horizn studios M5 carry-on
This German-engineered, super-tough cabin bag (pictured centre-right) is the perfect partner for any regular traveller: a zip pouch on the front lets you easily stow laptops (up to 15"), tablets, phone chargers and travel documents, while a removable powerbank under the handle means you'll never run out of juice on the go. Inside, there are plenty of zippable compartments for fuss-free storage, as well as a bag to separate your dirty shoes. Oh, and the wheels? They're crafted in Japan to help you slide through the airport with ease. £320. horizn-studios.co.uk
The Wave surf voucher
Located just outside Bristol, The Wave is England's first inland surfing lagoon, serving punters of all abilities with more than 1,000 safe, rideable and consistent waves an hour. Vouchers can be put towards a one-off surf lesson or a series of sessions, so that your lucky recipient can make some fab memories and gain some great skills without the disappoint of a bad surf day on the coast. Whether you know a seasoned surfer, or want to give someone a running jump into the sport, a Wave voucher is a great gift for all. £10-£100. thewave.com
Canopy & Stars gift card
Know someone who needs a weekend away from the city? Easy: grab them a Canopy & Stars gift card. With more than 700 locations to choose from across the UK and Europe, customers can stay in some seriously beautiful destinations. Whether you're into glamping and UK short stays, or just want to experience a more rustic way of life for a couple of days, there's tons to choose from. From the majestic Lake District to destinations located in the wilderness of the Jurassic coast and Devon, you're sure to find somewhere rugged and restful. Choose your own price. canopyandstars.co.uk
Vertical Chill ice climbing experience
Vertical Chill
Give the gift of thrill-seeking this Christmas with a Vertical Chill ice climbing experience in Manchester or London. Vertical Chill is an exciting and immersive experience that anyone can enjoy, offering customers the chance to try real ice climbing without the whole frozen waterfall thing. Sessions are run by fully qualified instructors, with the cost including rental of all of the necessary outerwear and equipment. It's perfect for the intrepid explorer that wants to experience the thrill of mountaineering, without having to trek far and wide to do so. £75. vertical-chill.com
Snow Peak Pack & Carry Fireplace
Camping outdoors in cold winter conditions can be an icy experience, but you can enjoy snowflakes and pine trees without the frostbite with Snow Peak's Pack & Carry Fireplace. Made from thick chrome-coated steel and built at Snow Peak HQ in Japan, this portable and condensed fireplace is one for the outdoors lover in your life. And – if you're feeling funky, you add a fireplace grill for a fully fledged wood-fired barbecue experience. Just in time for watching the fireworks on NYE. £179 for Fireplace, from £54 for Fireplace Grill. snowpeak.co.uk
Scratch Map X Edition
Scratch Maps are perfect for budding travellers who want to mark which destinations they've traveled to in a unique and personalised way. Scrape away at the map's removable foilin and you'll can unearth a glinting underlay, displaying destinations, fact and more on a world map. The X Edition has added languages, creatures and food, so you can keep tabs on which countries you've visited and how many cultures you've had the chance to experience so far. £23.95. scratchmap.co.uk
