12 Christmas gifts for travellers 2025

1. Vallon sunglasses

Soon, Peter will be heading to Antarctica and will need eyewear fit for three months of glare from glacial snowfields and icebergs. The Vallon Heron Glacier Cat 4 glasses are purpose-built for mountaineers and ski tourers. With ultra-dark Category 4 lenses, they deliver maximum protection against blinding UV rays and reflected glare. The leather side shields and wraparound fit block peripheral light, keeping your eyes safe and focused even in the harshest conditions.

Vallon Peter’s Vallon glacier and Waylons glasses

He’ll also be packing a pair of Vallon Waylons for his further travels. Their rounded, retro-inspired frames evoke classic explorer style while offering full UV protection and high-clarity optics for long days under the sun.

Buy from Vallon

2. His & hers Craghoppers fleeces

The Craghoppers Women’s Grange Half Zip Fleece and Men’s National Trust Rawthey Half Zip Fleece make the perfect winter pairing. Both are crafted from soft, recycled materials that offer lightweight warmth without bulk – ideal for layering on frosty morning hikes or cosying up after a day outdoors.

Craghoppers His & hers Craghoppers fleeces

The Grange brings a flattering, feminine fit and everyday versatility, while the Rawthey combines rugged styling with eco-conscious design and supports the National Trust, helping to protect the wild places you wander. A thoughtful gift for adventurers who prefer matching their spirit of exploration – not just their gear.

Buy from Craghoppers

3. Water filter

When your adventures take you off the beaten path, reliable hydration is non-negotiable. The Platypus 3L QuickDraw Gravity Filter delivers effortless, fast-flow filtration –  no pumping, no fuss. Simply hang it, fill it, and let gravity do the work while you set up camp or enjoy the view.

Platypus The Platypus QuickDraw Gravity Filter delivers fas filtration

Its ultralight design and compact packability make it ideal for trekking, bikepacking, or overlanding, while the microfilter removes bacteria and protozoa to keep every sip safe and refreshing. Durable, smart, and designed for life on the move, this is the kind of gear that turns “roughing it” into pure freedom.

Buy from Amazon

4. Travel towel

Lightweight, fast-drying, and unbelievably packable, the PackTowl Personal Ultralight Microfiber Towel is a small piece of gear that makes a big difference on the road. Designed for travellers and outdoor adventurers who count every gram in their pack, it soaks up impressive amounts of water and dries in a fraction of the time of a regular towel.

PackTowl Lightweight, fast-drying, and unbelievably packable

Whether you’re diving into alpine lakes, rinsing off after a trail run, or hopping between hostels, its silky-soft fabric feels great against the skin and stows away in seconds. From backcountry camps to far-flung beaches, this towel proves that even the lightest essentials can make life on the move a little more comfortable.

Buy from Amazon

5. Packing cubes

Packing cubes have been a revelation for me. They have changed the way I pack and made life on the road so much easier. I no longer find myself pulling out a pair of black trousers when I’m really after a black T-shirt, or rooting around for a fresh pair of knickers. 

I use Eagle Creek’s Pack-It Essentials Set to organise tops, bottoms and smalls. Take my word for it: add these to your Christmas shopping list and you’ll change someone’s life.

Buy from Eagle Creek

6. travel pillow

Sleep comes easy when you’ve got comfort dialled in, and the Therm-a-Rest Cinch Pillow proves that great rest doesn’t have to stay at home. Designed for campers, road trippers, and red-eye adventurers alike, this ultralight pillow features a cinch cord adjustment that lets you fine-tune firmness and shape for perfect support – whether you’re under the stars or on a long-haul flight.

Therm-a-Rest This ultralight pillow features a cinch cord adjustment

Its soft, brushed fabric feels cosy against the skin, and it compresses down small enough to disappear into your pack. Durable, versatile, and endlessly comfortable, it’s the kind of travel essential that turns any stop into a place worth resting.

Buy from REI

7. World travel adaptor kit

Smartphones, cameras, Kindles, laptops, electric razors, epilators and myriad other gadgets all require charging on the road, be it via mains or USB.

The Ceptics World Travel Adapter Kit is the perfect solution for those who seem to pack boundless numbers of cables and adaptors when heading out on the road.

The adapter kit works in over 200 countries and territories and can charge up to five devices using only one outlet. It is surge-protected and features two US plugs, two USB ports, a fixed USB cable and six country-specific connectors.

Buy from Amazon

8. Power bank & solar charger

Peter carries a fair amount of electronics on his various treks and climbs, including two cameras and a smartphone. All of these need power, so a reliable power bank and solar charger make life a lot easier.

BioLite A power bank is one of the best practical Christmas gifts for travellers

We like the BioLite Charge 80 PD Power Bank and the Goal Zero Nomad 20 Solar Panel. Both pieces of kit are designed to withstand the stresses of outdoor use while being compact enough to fit into your hand luggage.

The power bank can charge a 13-inch laptop or multiple smaller devices, while the solar charger can power smartphones, GPS devices, headlamps and other rechargeable USB devices.

Buy from REI

9. Aspinal of London passport cover

A stylish friend of mine once told me that you can get away with buying cheap clothes if you team them with quality accessories: shoes, bag, belt, wallet. With that in mind, this Aspinal of London passport cover is a worthy investment. 

Aspinal of London Aspinal of London passport cover

Hand-crafted from full-grain leather and lined in contrasting suede, it’s durable enough to accompany travellers on years of adventures. A slip pocket stores boarding passes and other paraphernalia while the personalisation service adds a thoughtful touch. There is a range of colours and materials, but you can’t go wrong with this classic red (or ‘Smooth Cognac & Espresso Suede’ to be more accurate).

Buy from Aspinal of London

10. Chrome Kadet sling backpack

On city breaks, Peter opts for the Chrome Kadet Max because it strikes the right balance between practicality, security and durability. The 15-litre single-shoulder sling backpack is large enough to fit a laptop and all daily essentials but small enough to slip under the seat in front on flights.

Chrome A sling bag for the demands of a busy lifestyle

As it’s a sling, the bag can be moved around to the front of your torso for easy and secure access. It also features a secondary seatbelt-style buckle that can be quickly released. The strap is reversible, so it can be carried over the right or left shoulder. Inside, there are plenty of compartments, pocket,s as well as clips for attaching keys. 

Finally, the bag is also water-resistant, well-padded and comes with a lifetime warranty against material or workmanship defects, making it ideal for the demands of an active lifestyle.

Buy from Chrome Industries

11. SURI electric toothbrush & UV travel case

Every year, more than four billion toothbrushes – enough to circle the globe 12 times – end up in landfills or our oceans. The brush heads of the SURI electric toothbrush are made from plant-based corn starch, and the bristles are from castor oil – materials that are bio-based as opposed to petroleum-based plastics.

SURI Keeping it clean: sustainable electric toothbrushes

The body of the brush is made from aluminium, which makes it long-lasting and easily recyclable. Furthermore, SURI will recycle the heads for free in the UK and the US. 

But it’s not just sustainability that makes this a superb Christmas gift for travellers. With a 40+ day battery life, this is the ideal electric toothbrush for the road, as there’s no need to pack a charger. 

If you do go away for longer, then the UV light clean and charge case kills 99.9% of harmful bacteria in just one minute. Finally, it doesn’t have a battery built in, which makes it TSA airport-safe.

Buy from SURI

12. Smartwool comfies

My brother recently saw me wearing my (very) worn Smartwool socks and said, “Isn’t it about time you replaced those?”

I looked at him sourly and said, “You can pry my Smartwool from my cold, dead feet.” (Of course, my feet wouldn’t be cold because I’d be wearing my Smartwool.)

In case I’m not being clear: I’m a fan. Okay, so I mostly wear mine around the house while Peter wears his as they were intended (on hikes, climbs and misadventures), but either way, they are one of the best Christmas gifts for travellers you can buy.

Peter uses a variety of their products, from base layers and t-shirts to underwear and, of course, socks. From the slopes of Aconcagua to the trails of the Yorkshire Dales, they have never failed to keep him warm.

Buy from Smartwool