Collection: Gifts for Her

How to Choose an Outdoor Gift for Her

The easiest way to buy outdoor gear for someone else is to start with the activity rather than the product. A hiker, a runner, and someone who walks the dog in all weather want different things, and each of those points to a short list. The sections below sort the collection that way.

Hiking gifts for her

For a hiker, the gift that gets used most is the layer she reaches for on every trip. A stretch-woven softshell hoodie is the piece to know: it handles wind, light weather, and scrambling, and it is the kind of layer the hiking line is built around. Hiking pants in a full-length or ankle cut cover cooler-weather hiking, and a lightweight insulated hoodie adds warmth without bulk for high-output days. For someone who already has the basics, a lightweight cap or a pair of gaiters fills the gaps most hikers carry.

Rain and cold-weather gifts

If she is outside regardless of the forecast, a waterproof three-layer rain jacket is the women’s rain shell Outdoor Research is known for, and a three-layer rain trench is the longer cut for town. An ultralight jacket packs down small enough to live in a daypack year-round. For cold rather than wet, a wind jacket or a softshell hoodie handles wind and chill on active days.

Sun protection she will use year-round

Sun protection is not seasonal in much of the country, which makes it a gift that gets worn long after the holidays. A technical sun hoodie, in a pullover or full-zip style, is the option for high-output days, and a long sleeve sun tee is the everyday version. A sun hat covers the face and neck on water and trail alike.

When you do not know her size

Accessories sidestep fit entirely and still get daily use: hats, caps, neck gaiters, gloves, and gaiters all run in broad sizes. If you want to give a layer, most women take their usual top size, and the collection runs XS through 4X so the range is there. Every piece is backed by the Infinite Guarantee.

Shopping for someone else too? Shop the full gift collection.

FAQs

What is a good outdoor gift for a woman who hikes?

Start with the layer she wears on every trip rather than a specialty item. A stretch-woven softshell hoodie works across seasons and conditions, which is why it gets more use than a piece bought for one type of weather. If she is already equipped, hiking pants or a good cap are the pieces most people replace rather than own in multiples.

Do these gifts come in Plus sizes?

Yes. The women’s range runs XS through 4X across the collection, and the Plus range carries the same technical construction as the rest of the line rather than a simplified version. Sizing is consistent with everyday clothing sizes, so her usual top size is the right starting point.

What outdoor gift works for a woman who is not especially outdoorsy?

Pieces that work in town as easily as on trail. A sun hoodie, a packable rain jacket, or a fleece all get worn on ordinary days, which makes them safe when you are unsure how technical she wants to get. Sun protection in particular gets used year-round in most of the country, including places where the season never really ends.

Is sun protection a year-round gift?

In much of the country, yes. Sun exposure is a constant in the Southeast and the Southwest and on any water, which is why a sun hoodie or sun hat is worn well past summer. It is also the category people rarely buy for themselves, which is what makes it work as a gift.

*Pro accounts are for personal use only. Purchasing items for others could result in changes to your account status.