Mother’s Day Gifts for Moms Who Hike

It doesn’t matter how good one’s sense of direction is, sometimes it’s easy to get turned around. If your mom likes to hike alone (like mine does), making sure that she has off-grid, out-of-cell-service access to maps is a really big deal. Even if it just offers some peace of mind.

OnX is one of the best GPS apps for hiking trails, its memberships are affordable (starting at $30/year), and it’s easy to use. With it, Mom can see the cross-section of any hike, the distance, slope angle, elevation gain, water sources, landmarks, and campsites. Other fun elements of the app include adding waypoints and keeping track of mileages and hikes. And she can download the map to use it no matter how far out she gets.

It’s amazing what a difference a good pair of sunglasses makes when you’re on the trail. And it’s amazing how a pair of Ombraz will change your sunglasses-wearing experience. The shades are armless and fit onto your noggin with a comfortable cord that cinches snugly with two sliding adjusters. Not only does that improve the durability, packability, and functionality of sunglasses, our testers found it makes them harder to lose as well.

The Teton is one of Ombraz’s newest frame styles. And they’re fly. The Tetons have a Wayfarer-inspired design with square lenses and classic angles. So they not only serve you well on the trail, but they’ll look good with mom’s everyday wear too.

Okay, so maybe it isn’t specific to hiking, but what mom wouldn’t love a plush, down blanket that she can wear like a poncho? The Honcho Poncho from Therm-a-Rest has been a popular item for a couple of seasons now, but this is the first year they’ve made one using down instead of synthetic insulation.

The poncho has snap-button sides that allow you to open it up like a blanket or keep it closed like a poncho. It even packs down into its own kangaroo pouch for storage. This is a great item for Mom to keep in her car in case she gets cold at the trailhead. It’s comfortable, it’s warm, and it’s one of those things she’ll use more than she thinks she will.

Who doesn’t love to hike in pure Merino wool comfort? And who doesn’t love it even more when that Merino wool is odor-resistant, non-itchy, and thermoregulating? That is Ibex’s specialty. And the brand’s Journey Crew is a perfect example and one that Mom will absolutely love when she sets out for a hike.

The shirt is made from Ibex’s one-quiver, do-everything, “Weightless Wool.” It’s soft to the touch, comfortable on the skin, lightweight, and looks great. It’s an adventure shirt that will serve the adventurous gal in your life well.

Rain jackets are one of those pieces of gear that you are extremely grateful for every time you need to pull it out of your pack. They provide shelter from the storm, they keep you warm, they keep you dry, and they can be used both on and off the trail. They’re versatile, and they’re necessary. And if you buy one as a Mother’s Day gift, every time she uses it, you’ll come to mind.

Marmot has been making its best-selling PreCip rain jackets out of completely recycled materials since 2018. It’s also PFC and DWR free. And in Fall 2022, the brand upgraded with the PreCip Pro to offer a slightly elevated 3L version. They look great, they’re lightweight, they’re sustainably made, and the PreCip is covered with Marmot’s limited lifetime warranty.

Wondery is a brand made by women for women. The brand’s mission is to inspire more women to get outside doing active things. Wondery organizes workshops and events for women and supports nonprofits empowering women in the outdoors. Their products are all women-specific and made with extremely high quality and attention to detail.

The Isabel pants feature a stylish jogger silhouette that looks great on the trail or on the street. They’re made from a durable but comfortable cotton-spandex blend that offers mobility and moisture-wicking when you’re working up a sweat. And the waist is adjustable, so the fit is precise. And, best of all, all Wondery products come in inclusive sizing options from XS-4XL.

A good pair of hiking boots become your best friend when you put a lot of miles into them. They stabilize your ankles, breathe so your feet don’t get hot, provide traction so you aren’t slipping all over the place, and protect your feet from roots, rocks, and other hazards.

The AKU Rockets are brand new this season, and they’re the fastest hikers the brand has ever made. Designed with dynamic fit technology, the boot’s heel tension adjusts naturally to match the natural stride sequences of the wearer. That increases comfort and stability. And with the brand’s proprietary Flight Traction lug and Megagrip outsole, traction is increased over other hiking boots by 10%. What better gift could you give than the gift of sure-footedness?

One of our editors recently praised the Speedgoat 5 for its improved traction, better fit, and lighter weight than the previous Speedgoat model. The Vibram Megagrip outsoles are dotted with beefy 5mm lugs to increase bite and stability. For trail runners who tackle loose and rocky terrain, this technical shoe is up to the task.

If comfort on the trail is a high priority, consider the Columbia Facet 75. This new hiking boot is made with a durable mesh upper that is both very breathable and totally waterproof. A Techlite Plush midsole provides cushion comfort for every step and delivers extremely smooth transitions. And under all that is an Adaptrax outsole that grips and grabs slippery or jagged terrain easily.

The Facet 75 is great for casual trail hiking and running. And they’re stylish enough that you won’t have to change between the trailhead and town. They’ve got all the fashion of a street shoe with all the function of a hiker.