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 2025.
The best travel gifts for Christmas
Jones Howler snowboard + Mercury FASE bindings
Jones Howler snowboard
David Harrison
Jeremy Jones and company continue to turn out heavy-hitting snowboards with a pronounced freeride accent, and the Howler might be the most exciting yet. Built in collaboration with Victor De Le Rue and Elena Hight, it is a directional freeride board for riders who want to turn steep, technical terrain into a playground. A minimally tapered shape pairs with a hybrid full camber profile for serious pop, edge hold and high speed stability, which means it feels as happy cutting through the chatter at last lifts as it does threading trees or pointing it down a spine. In short, quiver killer energy with authority to mix it up and stomp big air. Match it with the Mercury FASE and the setup really sings. Power, precision and pop, with less faff and more laps. Taken together, you have a rig that’s locked in and ready to rip. Freeride flow, fully matched.
£589 (board), £299.99 (bindings); snowboard-asylum.com
Haglöfs Vassi GTX Pro II Jacket Men
Haglöfs Vassi GTX Pro II Jacket Men
David Harrison
Haglöfs’ flagship freeride shell is for storm days and steep lines. The new PFAS-free three-layer Gore-Tex Pro ePE fabric is tough, breathable and reliably waterproof. You get a helmet-compatible hood, slanted backpack-friendly ventilation zips and a stretchy snow skirt with a rubber grip to seal out spindrift. Storage is generous with an overabundance of pockets, plus a discreet goggle wipe. Premium protection with zero compromise.
£700; haglofs.com
Salomon s/pro supra dual boa 120 ski boots
Salomon s/pro supra dual boa 120 ski boots
David Harrison
Salomon’s S/Pro Supra Dual BOA 120 boots take the faff out of fastening. Twist the twin BOA dials and you’re locked in with a snug, even fit that feels more spaceship than ski boot. The flex is firm, the response instant, and comfort levels high enough to keep you lapping all day. Light, sharp and custom mouldable, it’s proof that performance and pleasure can finally share the same boot.
£570; ellis-brigham.co.uk
Montane nordes softshell trousers
Montane nordes softshell trousers
David Harrison
Built for serious mountain days, these softshell trousers combine wind resistance, stretch and breathability. They move easily over varied terrain and keep you comfortable through climbs, scrambles and cold weather.
£275; montane.com
Cardo packtalk
Cardo packtalk
David Harrison
Like having a group chat on two wheels. Crystal-clear audio and hands-free voice control mean no more shouting through helmets or hand signals gone wrong. Sync your playlist, joke mid-ride, and stay linked up wherever you go.
£400; ellis-brigham.com
Inselberg prism Belay jacket
Inselberg prism Belay jacket
David Harrison
Trap heat where you need it, breathe where you don’t, and shrug off light snow or mist without weighty bulk. Add in smart body-mapping and stretch moves, and you’re ready for cold, exposed moments with no shivering regrets.
£360; inselberg.com
Keen hightrail waterproof hiking shoe
Keen hightrail waterproof hiking shoe
David Harrison
Performance, meet style. A grippy sole keeps you steady on slick trails, while the cushioned midsole and roomy toe box mean all-day comfort. Breathable protection marries a fresh design.
£125; keenfootwear.co.uk
Anon Merak WaveCel Helmet
Anon Merak WaveCel Helmet
David Harrison
Anon’s bomber helmet blends WaveCel cellular tech to absorb both impact and rotational forces. With 19 ventilation channels, a BOA dial-fit system and magnetic buckle, it’s built for long, confident days on the slopes.
£310; burton.com
Thule Chasm 130L Duffel
Thule Chasm 130L Duffel
The Thule Chasm 130L Duffel is the duffel you’ll want when you’re heading out for more than a weekend. In other words, it’s expedition-ready. Built tough with welded seams and water-repellent tarpaulin, this bag takes a mountain downpour in stride. The 86cm design grips a ton of gear – think ropes, boots, layers – and the tunnel-mouth zip gives you full-length access for swift packing. Use as a backpack or carry it with stowed shoulder straps when you don’t need them. Smart lash points and stack-friendly shape make it primed for the basecamp. Strap in.
£179.99; thule.com
Mammut Aconcagua
Mammut Aconcagua
The Mammut Aconcagua ML Jacket is a robust stretch fleece that sits right where a mid-layer should, primed for both performance and comfort. Made from Polartec® Power Stretch® Pro, it’s warm, elastic and abrasion resistant. It features a high collar with a flat chin guard, backpack-friendly side zip pockets and raglan sleeves to avoid pressure points under a harness or pack. It’s not waterproof or windproof, so don’t test it in a blizzard, but slip it under a shell and you’ll be smugly toasty while your mates wonder why they ever trusted cotton.
£160; mammut.com
Arc’Teryx Micon 37 Backpack
Arc'Teryx Micon 37 Backpack
Meet your backcountry best friend. Built for big vertical days with lots of ups and downs, the Arc’teryx Micon 37 is the backpack that you want to take on tour, superpowered for both one-day missions and multi-day hut-to-hut expeds. It has space for everything you need and nothing you don’t, with clean lines that move as fast as you do. There is room for skins, shovel, avalanche probe, ice axe, rope and the all-important pocket bacon, all wrapped in weatherproof fabric that laughs at inclement weather. The fit is dialled and balanced, hugging close on the climb and staying solid on the descent. From tours to couloir drops, this is the pack that always wants one more lap.
£260; arcteryx.com
Peak Performance Vertical Gore-Tex Pro Bib Pants
Peak Performance vertical gore-tex pro bib pants
These babies will keep you dry when the sky opens up. Built with Gore-Tex Pro that shrugs off snow and sleet, they’ve got tough reinforcement at knees and seat to resist abrasion when things get technical. The high bib is cut for layering balance, and the slim, articulated legs deliver freedom of motion without flapping in gale-force wind. Zips at the hips and hems ease on/off with boots. Perfect for steep tours, icy couloirs or bomb runs in a blizzard – throw on a pair of these and prepare to power through the powder.
£600; peakperformance.com
Suunto Vertical 2
Suunto Vertical 2
The Suunto Vertical 2 is built for people who think downhill is the best direction. With a glare-busting AMOLED screen, pinpoint dual-band GPS and free offline maps, it’s as comfortable in the Alps as it is on Ben Nevis. Battery life runs for days, even when you don’t, while an LED torch, barometer and route guidance keep you dialled in above the treeline. Add in 115 sport modes, 100-metre water resistance and Suunto’s famously bombproof Finnish build, and you’ve got a mountain partner that doesn’t flake when the weather turns.
£529; suunto.com
Oakley Flow Scape
Oakley Flow Scape
We’re really excited about these goggles. Oakley just blew the field of vision wide open with their new Flow Scape goggle: 60% bigger than ever before. That’s right, Oakley has pushed the lens closer to your face with a conical design so you see more mountain, less frame. Add in a pair of Prizm™ lenses, anti-fog coating, and their magnetic-free Switchlock™ tech for lightning-fast swaps, and you’ve got goggles that adapt faster than the weather. Vision Rapt face foam hugs your features so you forget it’s even there. Welcome to the next level of visibility.
£325; oakley.com
Finisterre Wool Eyre Roll Neck Jumper
Finisterre Wool Eyre Roll Neck Jumper
This jumper is made for that sweet spot between slope and sofa. Knitted from a soft blend of wool and recycled fibres, it’s warm enough for après-ski beers on a snowy terrace yet refined enough for dinner after. The roll neck keeps the chill out while the relaxed fit layers easily under a jacket or over thermals. In a rich chestnut hue that looks as good by the fire as it does in the mountains, this is one jumper you’ll keep reaching for long after the lifts close.
£135; finisterre.com
Fjällräven Abisko Friluft 35
Fjällräven Abisko Friluft 35
David Harrison
Some backpacks are just bags with straps. The Fjällräven Abisko Friluft 35 S/M is more like a portable life coach – reminding you to drink water, carry snacks and stop sweating the small stuff (literally). Designed for warm and humid adventures, it keeps air moving across your back so you don’t arrive at the summit looking like you’ve just run a marathon in a raincoat. Forget sweat patches; the only lines you’ll be dealing with will be finding the perfect ascent. The build is classic Fjällräven: tough but light, sustainable but stylish, wearing its trademark Swedish engineering on its sleeve. When a backpack does this much heavy lifting, the least you can do is give it credit – and pack snacks.
£225; fjallraven.com
Rab torque pants
Rab torque pants
David Harrison
Looking for a pair of trousers that will hold up to train rides as well as they do rappelling down a crag? Rab’s Torque Pants have been around the block, giving wearers the freedom to negotiate any terrain. Engineered with durable softshell fabric and high-wear reinforcements, they excel in warmer climates.
£105; rab.equipment
Blundstone #584
Blundstone #584
David Harrison
Arriving just in time for the wet and windy winter months, the Blundstone #584 features water-resistant premium leather with sealed elastic seams and butter-soft Thinsulate®insulation. Lump in the trademark design and your tootsies might just be the toast of the season.
£210; blundstone.co.uk
Aeropress Go Plus
Aeropress Go Plus
David Harrison
Portable yet rugged, the AeroPress Go Plus blends shatter-proof Tritan™ with stainless steel, offering 3-in-1 brewing, leak-resistant travel tumbler and smooth, versatile coffee on the go – anywhere for a tour pour.
£84.99; aeropress.com
Suri all-inclusive travel set
Suri all-inclusive travel set
Everything you need to freshen up on the fly: the SURI All-Inclusive bundle goes from hostel bunk to luxury suite with your toothbrush, UV travel case, paste and Tyvek wash bag in tow, for top dental care on the go.
£103; trysuri.com
Nite watch alpha z clipper race
Nite watch alpha z clipper race
David Harrison
Designed for endurance, the Alpha Z Clipper Race boasts Swiss precision, sapphire crystal, tritium glow and full Clipper branding – crafted to face seas, storms and even the lengthiest layovers.
£590; nitewatches.com
Hoka stinson evo og
Hoka stinson evo
David Harrison
The Hoka Stinson Evo OG is a maximalist throwback with modern muscle – part trail crusher, part streetwear flex. While it looks like something a mountain goat might wear to Glastonbury, there’s substance beneath the style. Let’s start with the midsole, because you won’t miss it. A slab of oversized EVA foam gives the Stinson its trademark bounce, with enough cushioning to absorb alpine descents and gravel grinds without hammering your knees. Pair that with Hoka’s early rocker geometry and you get a shoe that encourages smooth, rolling strides that make you feel faster than you probably are. It’s not for everyone. But if you’re reading escapism, it’s probably for you.
£160; hoka.com
Klättermusen vidre ss jacket
Klättermusen vidre ss jacket
David Harrison
It’s summer; it’s raining. In the UK, those two statements aren’t mutually exclusive. But what do you do when it’s too wet to go unprotected and too warm to wear a shell? Grab the Vidre Jacket, built from ultralight ripstop with a mesh yoke to release heat. It’s a jacket that shrugs off drizzle without turning you into a boil-in-the-bag meal.
£250; klattermusen.com
Soundcore AeroClip headphones
Soundcore AeroClip headphones
Designed to relieve in-ear discomfort, these open-ear clip-on earbuds let you enjoy music pressure-free so every run sounds amazing. Featherlight and flexible, they stay secure for all-day wear.
£129.99; soundcore.com
Oakley Eye Jacket Sunglasses
Oakley Eye Jacket Sunglasses
Featuring Prizm black polarised lenses that maximise contrast, enhance visibility, and reduce glare, these shades are built for biking. Inspired by the original 1994 Oakley Eye Jacket – they’re functional and fly in equal parts.
£194; oakley.com
Ventete aH-1 collapsible bike helmet
Ventete aH-1 collapsible bike helmet
Look stylish, stay safe in this micro-collapsible bike helmet from Ventete. Using pressurised air to inflate and pack flatter than a laptop, it deflates in 30 seconds – ready to slip into a bag, suitcase or pocket.
£350; ventete.com
Sea to summit pursuit plus si mat
Sea to summit pursuit plus self-inflated mat
A good night’s rest is a game changer, and this mat will ensure that you sleep like a baby in the wildest settings, whether that’s at a festival or in a fen; good for four seasons, sustainable, warm, and dead cosy.
£175; seatosummit.co.uk
Big agnes tiger wall ul2
Big Agnes tiger wall ul2
Featuring featherweight nylon and poles that practically pitch themselves, the Tiger Wall UL2 is your go‑to getaway pod for any adventure you might tackle; inspired by Big Agnes’ no-faff ethos, roomy enough to stay married.
£424.99; bigagnes.com
