The 2023 Christmas Travel Gift Guide

Looking for a gift for your fellow globe-trotter? Ditch the TK Maxx scramble for pleather luggage tags and packing cubes, and take a peek at the Escapism Christmas gift guide.

We've got everything covered – from earplugs, wavy cargo pants and coolboxes for festival fanatics to waterproofs, beanies and wellies for the outdoor enthusiast. Plus, there is plenty of gear to elevate that inflight experience, including an eyemask with built-in headphones to get those cruising altitudes z's.

Whether it's stocking fillers or gear that will last you a lifetime, Christmas gifts that inspire adventures are truly the best. Here's our guide to some of the very best travel gifts for Christmas 2023.

The best travel gifts for Christmas

North Face '73 Parka

The North Face doesn’t mess about when it comes to making really warm coats. The brand has put in the hours at every notable summit across the planet. North Face’s Parka ‘73 is no exception. Born 50 years ago in 1973, the Parka soon became a cult item for those who wanted to hold onto their body heat and look damn good doing so. The technology has changed a little in a quarter century; jackets are now made from recycled fabric and feature 600-fill recycled down insulation. But, if you’re looking for a jacket that’s a certified all-round-er, the North Face Parka ‘73 is a savvy investment that will go the extra mile.

£450, thenorthface.co.uk

YETI Roadie 24 Coolbox

For those who want to get out and stay out for the long haul, YETI products are made with the adventurous in mind. The Roadie 24 Coolbox is a virtually indestructible cool bag, featuring extremely effective insulation that will keep its contents appropriately chilled or warm, depending on what the season calls for. Alongside this, it boasts a tough-as-nails design that will stand up to the most exacting off-road trips, as well as a strap for peerless on-the-go portability. Built tall to accommodate those critical and often hard-to-fit bottles of wine and slim enough to squeeze behind the driver’s seat, this YETI coolbox will become as permanent a fixture to your road trips as Fleetwood Mac is on the radio.

£200, uk.yeti.com

H&M Move Move 3-layer shell jacket

Since the lockdowns, everybody and their mother seems to be making tracks for the great outdoors, or at least dressing like they’re venturing out on a multi-day ramble. However, it’s no new thing for the Swedes, who live in a country where roughly 96% of the land is uninhabited wilderness. You can rest easy that you’ll be well attired whether on the moors or on the streets wearing H&M Move, the Swedish fashion brand’s new collection, which looks to revolutionise fashion-forward sportswear with pieces that are stylish, functional and of incredible value. We’re particularly fond of the StormMove 3-layer shell jacket.

£139.99; hm.com

66°North Mælifell Hat

If you’re like us, you probably feel a little disconcerted by how swiftly late summer sunshine segued into hoary late autumn frost. It’s often at this seasonal junction that one realises they’re in the market for warm and wonderful headwear. Stroll through East London and you’ll notice that fisherman hats are more or less de ri- gueur, the autumnal fashion equivalent of decorative gourds. 66°North’s brand-new Maelifell hat is perhaps the king of them all. Created by Australian photographer and influencer Benjamin Hardman, who moved to the island nation of Iceland, the hat was designed with his favourite, eponymous volcano in mind, and comes in a moss green colourway. It’s an investment piece for sure, and will keep your dome protected and your cool credentials in good nick.

£50; 66north.com

Muck Boot Company Calder Boot

We see you with your 15-year-old pair of wellies collecting cobwebs in the back of the cupboard. Isn’t it time for an upgrade? Behold the Calder boot from The Original Muck Boot Company. As the name might imply, these guys are more than ready for muddy squelching with a 100% waterproof design, durable outsole with aggressive tread and quadruple rubber heel reinforcement. Hugely versatile, the boots marry style, functionality and comfort – with a lower height and lighter neoprene design that makes them super convenient to throw on during your many yuletide strolls. They’re perfectly built for the Great British winter. Plus, they have NZYMTM for odour control and moisture management technology – making them the perfect gift for dad’s fusty feet.

£135; muckbootcompany.co.uk

Marshall Middleton Speaker

Big and loud isn’t always the company you want on holiday. Unless it’s a Marshall speaker. The Middleton Speaker is the perfect vacay companion, combining Marshall’s iconic yet durable design with great sound quality, 20+ hours of playtime and a sturdy IP67 dust-and-water-resistant build make it as ready for festival mud as it is for beery, sandy towels on beach days. What’s more, the speaker lets you host a multi-speaker stack session, so you can join other Middleton speakers to create colossal sound that will more than fill any space. Plus, it’s got hassle-free Bluetooth pairing as well as a quick charging and a sustainable design made from 55% post-consumer recycled plastic from used electronics. Time to pack those holibob playlists with dance-floor-ready bangers.

£269.99 marshallheadphones.com

Loop Quiet Earplugs

Festivals, club nights and gigs can be epic, but you shouldn’t sacrifice your hearing as a consequence. Forgoing hearing protection might not seem like a big deal at the time, but tinnitus, ear pain and noise-induced hearing loss further down the line is not a prize you want to win. Luckily, Loop has got your back (or rather your ears) with its earplugs. Not only are they a doddle to use, but there’s a whole range of different settings to keep your ear drums safe and, er, sound, including noise sensitivity, travel, sleep, motorcycling and music events. Plus, they stay in place no matter how hard you’re cutting shapes. Trust us, we’ve tried them.

£19.96; loopearplugs.com

VOITED Ripstop Blanket

VOITED has got you covered, quite literally, with outdoor and adventure products that have been crafted with the future of the planet in mind. The brand has recently introduced the recycled Ripstop outdoor camping blanket – a 4-in-1 PillowBlanket, which is insulated, machine washable, and made from 100% recycled plastic bottles. It’s the ultimate shape-shifter, folding into a sleep sack and snapping to become a waterproof cape. Plus, the water and stain-resistant material makes it the perfect companion for van life, hiking, picnics and the beach.

£102; voited.co.uk

Adidas Terrex Multi Rain RDY 2.5

For those looking for high-performance technologies that aren’t going to cost an arm and a leg, but will certainly keep their limbs warm and dry, the Adidas TERREX range is worth a recce. From coats, trainers, thermals and more, reaching personal best performance has never been easier. One of our favourites from the range is the 2.5-layer rain jacket. Essentially, it’s foul-weather kryptonite which is stormproof, lightweight and stowable enough to pack into your pocket. Cut for a range of full, natural movement, you can hop, skip and jump your way through any setting without feeling restricted. Plus, it’s windproof, waterproof and breathable for total comfort. Whether you’re raiding a peak or your local supermarket aisle in the rain, this jacket is more than a triple threat if you ask us.

£160; adidas.co.uk

Gramicci Canvas Wide Patchwork Pant

Gramicci Gadget Pant

Born in a garage in Ventura, California in 1982, Gramicci established itself as the go-to brand for hardwearing, rugged clothing that prioritised free range of motion above all else. In other words, a staple item in any self-respecting rock climber’s wardrobe. In recent years the brand has gone gangbusters in the Japanese market – quite literally ‘big in Japan’ – and relocated its main office to Tokyo. However, its cult appeal is very much global, and Gramicci recently opened its first IRL shop in Covent Garden, London.

£140; gramicci.co.uk

Keen Jasper

What began as a low-profile climbing-inspired approach shoe has evolved into a fashion mainstay. The KEEN Jaspers are designed for all-day comfort. Whether it’s a trekking holiday in the Highlands or grabbing a blondie at Broadway Market, there are few places where these shoes won’t fit in.

£95;keenfootwear.de/en

Gill Aqua Parka

Whether you’re a water sports veteran or novice, getting the best equipment is crucial to making the most of the ocean – but where to start? From rash vests to buoyancy aids, we defy you to find a type of marine apparel that Gill doesn’t excel in. One of our favourite items is the Aqua Parka – a waterproof, windproof and breathable changing robe that’s ideal for a day by the ocean, whatever the weather might be. Intentionally oversized so you can change under it, and featuring a high loft thermal lining, this is the perfect gift for any surfing, wild swimming or paddle boarding enthusiast this Christmas.

£150; gillmarine.com

Snoozeband

Sleeping on a plane might be as impossible as enjoying midflight moussaka, but Snoozeband has come to the rescue with an ingenious solution. The Snoozeband is a cushioned eye mask that wraps around your head to block out light with inbuilt Bluetooth headphones to lull you straight to sleep.

£44.99; snoozeband.co.uk

Anker Nano Power Bank (30W, Built-In USB-C Cable)

Picture this: you're at a festival, and you've lost your pals; you go to text your friends "front left", and then in that moment, your phone dies. An all too common occurrence, right? Well, not anymore with the Anker Nano Power Bank. With hours of battery life, 50% faster charging and a built-in USB-C cable so you can charge devices and the power pack simultaneously, the plight of dead phones, speakers, and Kindles is a thing of the past. Your pocket pal for road trips, camping, trekking and beyond, the Anker Nano Power Bank is simply electrifying.

£49.99; anker.com