Some of the best gift ideas for backpackers who travel around the world can be relatively simple and affordable. Most backpackers travel quite light and don’t have much room so most of these gifts will be quite small!

Something as simple as an international adapter or waterproof phone pouch can be the best gift of all. You don’t need to spend much or buy a big gift to bring happiness to a backpacker!

In our opinion this list has some of the best gifts for backpackers and most of the items range anywhere from $10 to around $100.

Hopefully, this list can give you some inspiration and who knows you may even find the perfect gift for your friend, loved one, or even fellow backpacker!

Hiking the M trail in Missoula, Montana.

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Here are the best gift ideas for backpackers for 2023-2024

Lonely Planet Travel Guidebooks


There’s something comforting about having a Lonely Planet Travel Guidebook.

They have everything you need to know about the given destination and can sometimes be a traveller’s best friend.

The guidebooks are so useful and there’s a reason they’ve been around for such a long time. Any backpacker will love getting a Lonely Planet Travel Guidebook.

Another amazing thing about Lonely Planet’s guidebooks is the fact that they add a star next to their favourite recommendations.

When we lived in New Zealand, we checked out a few of them, and all the recommendations were so good! Our favourite was a meat pie from a little shop in Te Anau (Miles Better Pies). Worth checking out for sure 😉

Mosquito net

Mosquito Camping Insect Net with Carry Bag

At some point during a backpackers journey they will probably end up in Asia one way or another. A mosquito net is crucial if you’re planning on having a good night sleep and surviving all the mosquitos in Asia.

Of course, some resorts and hotels will have mosquito nets but if you’re a backpacker and on a budget that may not be the case… SO! A mosquito net can become very handy in many situations!

Passport holder

Wanderlust Collection – Passport Holder


No one needs to have a bent passport! We always use our trusty passport holders.

It’s just a more efficient way to keep your passport looking nice and never have to worry about losing it. Because, unfortunately, if you lose your passport while travelling that can cause a few problems! 😉

At the end of the day, it’s just a little easier to keep track of it when it’s in a nice passport holder.

It’s a simple but very thoughtful gift and a gift that the person will really appreciate.

Buff

Multipurpose Buffs


Ok, maybe everyone might not know what a Buff is so let’s talk about that first. They’re basically like a 10-in-1 scarf that can be used in many different ways and actually looks really good.

Most people wear a Buff as a scarf to keep warm but it can also be worn as an ear warmer. A headband, balaclava, and whatever other invention you can come up with!

It really is a multipurpose piece of fabric that everyone loves! There are tons and tons of different colours and designs to pick from!

Travel Journal


One thing most backpackers enjoy doing is documenting their journey and writing down some of their favourite memories to share with friends and family when they’re back home.

Even though nowadays we remember and document our travels with pictures and videos, many backpackers still enjoy writing in travel journals (so do, just on the internet instead).

Don’t forget to add this simple yet powerful gift for your backpacker!

Travel Checklist Journal (Travel Planner Journal)

Pest Repeller

MaxMoxie Ultrasonic Pest Repeller


We came across this in one of the Airbnbs we stayed at in Utah and there were NO bugs or spiders, whatsoever.

We were so impressed with it and definitely recommend one if you plan on travelling to any destinations that are known for their bugs (Asia, Australia, South America – literally anywhere).

It’s great because it’s odorless so you don’t have to worry about any toxic chemicals.

It’s actually just sound waves that bugs can’t stand! Absolutely perfect if you ask us for any backpacker scared of bugs!

Silver Thermal Blanket

Swiss Safe Emergency Mylar Thermal Blankets (4-Pack)


You never know when this will come in handy and for a few dollars you’ll have a bit of extra protection if you ever end up getting stuck somewhere really cold.

Especially in places like Canada where winters are freezing we’d say a thermal blanket is mandatory!

We went hiking one time in the summer and the weather was basically perfect at the bottom.

An hour later we were standing in deep snow up to our knees! In situations like that, it’s definitely important to have an extra layer of protection.

I still remember the day we were in Madeira and stayed in a hut so we could hike to the top of Pico Ruivo for sunrise and I remember vividly I wish I had that silver thermal blanket.

It was one of the worst sleeps of my life because I was so cold and that silver thermal blanket could have made our sleep so much better!

Power Bank

INIU Portable Charger


Nowadays we use our phones all the time! If you’re backpacking in a foreign place where you might not understand the language and might have to use your phone more your battery will get drained quicker.

I can’t even count how many times a power bank has saved us. Especially now that we live in a world where half our documents, flight tickets, and whatever else is all digital and on our phone.

Good or bad we depend on our phones a lot so it’s good to know you can always charge it if you have a power bank handy!

Neck pillow

Twist Memory Foam Travel Pillow


I don’t know about you but every time we travel on a long flight or a long bus ride and don’t bring a neck pillow it seriously feels like our necks are in pain for the next 48 hours.

It’s so painful and it takes a few days just to get back to normal again and a neck pillow can fix all that!

Neck pillows are so useful for backpackers who are always travelling all over the place. They also don’t take up too much space, so they’re super convenient.

Whoever is getting the gift will definitely thank you down the road for this one!

Adapter

JMFONE International Travel Adapter


This is an item you truly don’t appreciate until you go backpacking.

Getting to a new country to realise none of your chargers connect to the outlets is a pain in the but.

How are you going to let your family or friends know you’re travelling with a dead phone? An adapter may be one of the handiest items for a backpacker.

There are some super small adapters that take up almost no space and can be used all around the world!

An adapter really is the perfect gift for a backpacker!!

Waterproof phone pouch

Universal Waterproof Case


Even though some phones nowadays claim they are waterproof, how much can we seriously trust that?

Knowing backpackers (like us), they tend to be spontaneous and sometimes end up in places that are a little too wet for a phone. Whoops!

But with a waterproof pouch, no backpacker has to worry about getting water damage on their phone. As long as they use it, of course! 😉

Amazon Kindle

Jo reading on her Kindle

Most backpackers are (literally) fighting for every inch of space in their backpacks.

Books are something we personally love to bring on our trips, but they often get down-prioritized because they take up so much room and weight. Not ideal when you’re low on both.

Thankfully, in today’s day and age, it’s possible to get a plentiful amount of books all on one small device.

So, if your friend or family member loves to read then a Kindle may become their best friend while traveling! Don’t forget to add a book or two on it 😉

Travel containers

Travel Bottles sincewo Travel Containers


Travel containers are perfect for backpackers who are travelling light and don’t want to bring too much.

Especially if you’re flying and only have carry-on luggage or a backpack.

These containers are the perfect size if you’re looking to bring a small quantity of a certain product, so you can bring your shampoo, body lotion, or whatever you absolutely need while you’re backpacking.

They really do make travelling easier and sometimes you don’t notice it until you start to use them. Then you realise you can never live without them again!

Travel patches

This is a fun gift idea for those who have a backpack! You can buy them travel patches of the places they’ve been to that they can stitch on their backpack!

We have friends who do this and it looks so cool once there are a bunch of them on there. Plus, this is a really good conversation starter amongst travellers 😉

Alternatively, you can also get them stickers that they can put on their water bottles. I know this is very popular amongst Americans!

Views of Ramona Falls in Oregon.

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Recap of the best gifts for backpackers

We hope this list has helped you get inspiration for what you can get your favourite backpacker. This list will periodically change as we continue to travel and get new ideas to add to the list.

New inventions get created all the time that also make life on the road as a backpacker easier! If you have any questions feel free to reach out and we’ll do our best to help you out!

Remember think small when purchasing a gift! Most backpackers don’t have much space and some of those small and simple gifts are the best things you could buy for them!

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