Sam in Cliffs of Moher with her travelon purse

The BEST Travel Backpackers Gift Guide FOR HER In 2024

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LOOKING FOR A TRAVEL BACKPACKERS GIFT GUIDE PERFECT FOR HER!?

Is a female in your life heading out to travel on a backpacking trip? If so, you’re in the right place because this blog post includes over forty gift ideas for the traveling backpacker in your life!

You’ll find everything from stocking stuffers to clothing and accessories, luggage and organization, unique gifts, and more! As a traveling female backpacker, I assure you that these gift items provide value to the limited space that backpacking allows!

Welcome to my Travel Backpackers Gift Guide For Her post, covering all the best travel gifts including clothing, gear, stocking stuffers and more!

Travel Backpackers Guide Guide For Her: An Overview

One of the biggest challenges for a travel backpacker is fitting all their belongings into a backpack. That’s why gifting the female backpacker in your life with things that will improve her travel experience is so important. She’ll want to leave with the essentials without too much weight on her bag. After two months of backpacking abroad, I consider all these items great gifts! Let’s dive in!

The BEST Travel Backpackers Gift Guide (For Her)

Now that we know what kind of gifts are in this travel backpackers gift guide for her, we can discuss some of the benefits these gift items will bring a traveler. Beforehand, you should understand what kind of trip she is going on and the gear she already owns. Consider climate, location, lifestyle, and more when making a purchase.

Stocking Stuffers

What’s a better way to keep the gifts lightweight than to think about gifting stocking stuffers!? There are a ton of essential items that backpackers can benefit from but often don’t think about before their trip. After some experience, I can confirm that wet wipes, a good chapstick, and hand sanitizer come in clutch during my travels! Continue reading to find more great stocking stuffers or small gift item ideas!

Coin purse

Bagallini Coin Purse

One of the things that I’ve realized when backpacking is how little I want to whip out my purse. I’ve found that coin purses are so much more convenient and discrete. I’d much rather zip up my coin purse in a pocket so I don’t need to worry as much about pick-pockets or lugging around a bag.

Bagalinni is a fantastic travel luggage company that designs lightweight and travel-safe bags. The On The Go MiniPouch is a perfect coin purse you can gift a female travel backpacker. It can be attached to another bag or used on its own with RFID-blocking technology and water-resistant materials! It also comes in a few different patterns with two pouches to keep keys, cards, chapstick, cash, and coins in!

Buy The Baggallini On the Go Mini Pouch On Amazon Here 

Wireless headphones

Wireless Headphones

A quality pair of headphones is convenient for long travel days, loud hostel nights, or morning jogs. It’s a quality stocking stuffer option that will last travelers years! These wireless Bluetooth JBL headphones are lightweight and don’t take up much space in luggage. I prefer the wrap-around headphones because they’re less likely to fall out and get lost, but that is a personal preference!

Buy These JBL Endurance Peak 3 Earbuds

Woman putting on chapstick

Nivea Hydrating Chapstick

I’ve been traveling abroad for two months, and I can’t begin to tell you how sad I was when I ran out of my favorite quality chapstick. It seems like a small gift, but a nice chapstick goes a long way! These Nivea Lipcare Essential Chapsticks are one of my favorites because they are hydrating and smooth! They’re also a great stocking stuffer because they take up very little space as a gift.

Buy The Nivea Chapstick On Amazon Here

Laundry Soap Sheets

One of my favorite gifts I’ve ever received before backpacking was mini laundry detergent! These Travelon Laundry Soap Sheets are fantastic, affordable, lightweight stocking stuffers that will gift the traveler in your life up to fifty washes on the road! They dissolve into water, are biodegradable, have a fresh scent, and are great for on the go.

Buy Travelon’s Laundry Soap Sheets Here

Woman using a wet wipe on her eye to remove makeup

Wet Wipes

This gift might seem silly, but Wet Wipes can come in handy in many situations. They can be used as a napkin, to clean up a mess, to wash your face when a sink isn’t available, etcetera. I didn’t bring a pack with me before I left for my trip, but it wasn’t even a week in until I indulged in some of my own. Wet Wipes are a gift that definitely won’t go to waste for a traveler!

Buy a Pack of 3 Wet Wipes On Amazon Here

Downy Wrinkle Release is by far one of my favorite travel items. Check out more on this backpackers gift guide list for her!

Downy Wrinkle Releaser

One unfortunate thing about backpacking is that clothing gets wrinkly no matter how neatly you pack it. One of my favorite items I brought with me is this travel-size Downy Wrinkle Releaser spray, which helps get tough wrinkles out and freshens the scent of my clothes! It works great on cotton, polyester, and linen. I wish everybody knew about this hack because it’s saved me in many social situations! The wrinkle releaser comes in a two-pack.

Buy The 2-pack of Downy Wrinkle Releaser On Amazon Here.

Tide To Go Sticks

Having limited clothing means stretching out the time between laundry days as long as possible, and you know what ruins that? Unwanted stains! Unfortunately, it’s happened to me more than once, and the Tide To Go Stick came in handy many times over. I’m kicking myself for only bringing one Tide To Go Stick with me on a YEAR-LONG backpacking trip!

Luckily, these Tide To Go Sticks come in a pack of three, so the female traveler never has to encounter the same problem I had! They work surprisingly well in between washes when you need them. I even got dirt and bright red stains out of a white flannel!

Buy A 3-Pack of Tide To Go Sticks Here

Photo of two spray mini spray bottles

Touchland Hand Sanitizer

Traveling sometimes requires public transportation, so a few bottles of hand sanitizer is a great stocking stuffer! It’s always nice to have some on hand before or after a meal or in any situation where you don’t have soap! The Touchland Hand Sanitizers are a little pricier but are hydrating, smell nice, and come in a three-pack. These make great stocking stuffers!

Buy Touchland Power Mist Hydrating Hand Sanitzer Spray Here

If you want to keep the travel backpacker in your life safe, check out this gift guide to get items for her this holiday season. Luggage locks is a great example on the list.

TSA-Approved Luggage Locks

I highly recommend getting a few luggage locks as stocking stuffers in this travel backpackers gift guide for her. These are the same ones I’ve used on my backpacking trips, and I love them because they’re small, TSA-accepted, and have cable cords that bend in any direction. I use it to lock up my belongings in hostels or luggage during travel days! They’re great for keeping travel belongings secured.

Buy A 2 Pack of TSA-Approved Luggage Locks Here

Cetaphil big and small travel bottles

3oz Hand Lotion

Nothing is worse than having dry hands! I love packing a travel-friendly Cetaphil lotion with me because I can use it on my face, hands, or body after I shower. They’re small enough to fit any backpack zipper, wallet, or even medium-sized coin purse!

I always have a spare one in my carry-on. The travel-sized lotion is a great stocking stuffer if the travel backpacker you’re shopping for is going somewhere chilly or has naturally dry skin.

Buy A 3 Pack of 3oz Cetaphil Lotions Here

Photo of the clothing I brought with me backpacking to Ecuador

Clothing & Accessories

Now that we’ve covered great toiletry options and stocking stuffers, we can get into some gift items like clothing and accessories! Since backpacking requires packing only the essentials, each article of clothing must be quality material. This category contains clothing that will last a long time and fun accessories that a traveling female may love.

Pair of wool socks

Wool Travel Socks

Backpacking means constantly being on your feet, so a great travel gift is some quality socks. Socks might not be the most glamorous gift, but as a female travel backpacker, wool socks are a hot commodity. Wool is quality because it’s moisture-wicking, odor-repelling, and quick-drying. It also prevents blisters, which is very important while traveling! I own Merrell travel socks and am pleased with them!

Buy Merrell Hiking Travel Socks on Amazon Here 

Wireless T-Shirt Travel Bra

It seems silly, but one of the things I stressed out about before backpacking was which bra to bring. I wanted something that would provide coverage, match all my tops, and be comfortable. A good travel bra is a thoughtful gift, and this Wireless T-shirt bra from Victoria’s Secret checks all of the boxes. Make sure you know their size before buying this gift!

Buy The Wireless T-Shirt Bra on Amazon Here

Sam wearing a SmartWool buff - one of the items on this travel backpackers gift guide for her!

Smartwool Buff

If you’re looking for an item in this travel backpacker gift guide for her that will keep her warm, fashionable, and safe, consider this wool buff! Before traveling, I never really wore buffs, but you can wear this wool neck gaiter as a hat, mask, or headband. You can style it in many ways while staying warm! It’s a great versatile item for any female traveler. I own a black one and use it to keep my ears warm when I’m wearing my hair up!

Buy Smartwools’ Neck Gaiter on Amazon Here

 Exofficio Travel Underwear

Good travel underwear is just as important as good travel socks. Exofficio is a high-quality travel and outdoor brand that created the Women’s Givengo travel underwear. It’s breathable, durable, comfortable, and easy to wash. I’ve linked the V2 thong, but Exofficio also offers different travel underwear on Amazon, including a brief cut, hipster cut, and more.

Buy Exofficio Women’s Travel Underwear on Amazon Here

Sam wearing an Eddie Bauer down jacket

Eddie Bauer’s Down Jacket

I bought this Eddie Bauer down jacket one year before winter in Arizona. I was pleasantly surprised when I found a nice down for $50 on Amazon and loved how warm it kept me throughout various seasons. Later, when I was shopping at a mall in Ecuador, I found the same down jacket at an outdoor store marked up three times the price I paid for it!

This Eddie Bauer down jacket is affordable and a great jacket option for traveling. The down is super compact, very comfortable, and fashionable. This down jacket is a great gift option if the female backpacker you’re shopping for doesn’t own one.

Buy Eddie Bauer’s Down Jacket Here

Pair of Outdoor Research wool liner gloves

Lightweight Wool Gloves

Outdoor Research Wool Liner Gloves are a lightweight gear option for gifting. They’re a fantastic in-between-season option that is small, lightweight, yet warm. I was gifted these for my birthday one year and love pulling them out on chilly evenings out on the town when traveling. They’re also touchscreen-compatible, so I can use my iPhone when wearing them!

Buy Outdoor Research Lightweight Gloves Here 

Sam wearing a lightweight outdoor research beanie

Outdoor Research Hat

Another lightweight cold-weather gift option is an Outdoor Research Wind Pro Hat. This hat is extremely lightweight and packs down nicely into luggage. It can worn on its own or underneath a warmer wool hat for colder temperatures. It’s moisture-wicking, so on sweaty hikes, I’ve found it to be the perfect hat to keep me warm yet dry. While not the most fashionable hat ever, it does the job well.

Buy The Outdoor Research Wind Pro Hat on Amazon Here 

This travel jewelry binder is one of my absolute favorite items on this travel backpackers gift guide for her!

Travel Jewelry Binder

If you’re shopping for a backpacker who loves jewelry, look no further than this travel jewelry binder! I brought this with me to Ecuador and am so happy I did! With limited clothing options to choose from every day, accessorizing is one way I keep things fun and cute with my outfits.

This BAGSMART Jewelry Binder is unique because it offers space for necklaces, dangly earrings, rings, studs, and more. You can add or remove binder sheets based on preference.

Buy The BAGSMART Travel Jewelry Binder Here

Ambiance Brown Tinted dry shampoo with refill

Dry Shampoo Powder & Brush

One of the best things I ever bought for myself was this Powdered Dry Shampoo. Dry shampoo usually comes in aerosol bottles, but those run out quickly. Buying dry shampoo in powder form prolongs the product and works fantastic for the days between showers. I buy the brown-hair tinted dry shampoo, but there are options for blondes and redheads. You can also buy Ambiance dry shampoo refills!

Buy Non-Aerosol Dry Shampoo Powder on Amazon Here

Travel Gear

Next up, we have essential travel gear that will benefit any travel backpacker! These items are helpful and will add to the travel experience. When in doubt, consider the type of trip they are doing and go from there. Let’s cover some gear items a backpacker will enjoy receiving as a gift!

Black portable charger

Portable Charger

Portable chargers are handy in many situations, but more so on the road. From personal experience, there are days when I’m out on the town or hiking all day long and don’t have an outlet to charge my devices. A portable charger is the solution to that issue. It also comes in handy on public transportation when outlets aren’t available.

Buy A Portable Charger Here

A universal adapter is essential for a travel backpacker and I include all the details in this gift guide

Universal Adapter

A universal adapter is a must-get if you’re looking for a gift for someone traveling overseas! This universal adapter converts to US, Australian, European, and UK outlets. It comes with four USB ports, one USB-C port, and one plug-in. It’s also ideal to have it so you can charge multiple devices simultaneously!

Buy the Universal Adapter on Amazon Here 

Osprey Packing Cubes

Packing cubes are a classic gift for travelers who want to stay organized. This Osprey Packing Cube Set comes in a three-pack, perfect for backpackers. Packing cubes can be a hit or a miss for a traveler. For example, Dylan enjoys using packing cubes, but I like the rolling method so that I can see everything in front of me!

Buy Osprey’s 3 Set Packing Cubes On Amazon Here 

GRAYL Waterbottle

GRAYL Water Bottle Filter

If the female backpacker you’re gift-searching for is going overseas and needs to drink filtered water, a water filter is a great option. They’re often a little bit pricier but work wonders. After doing a ton of research, Dylan and I decided on these GRAYL Water Filters because they filter the best, in our opinion.

Buy The GRAYL Water Filter on Amazon Here 

Inflatable Ultralight Pillow

We should all move away from traditional airplane neck pillows and switch to ultralight, inflatable travel pillows. These are compact and so small you can fit them into a backpack without hassle. You can inflate the pillow to your liking for comfort and pack it away when you don’t need it. I originally bought mine for camping but use it on airplanes, trains, and buses when I want extra comfort when traveling.

Buy The Cocoon Ultralight Inflatable Travel Pillow Here

Sam wearing her lightweight travel towel, one of the items on this backpackers gift guide for her

Travel Towel

In many hostels, they charge you to rent out a towel. While it’s usually only a few dollars or less, the costs can add up! Plus, if you have your towel, you can bring it to the beach, pool, hot springs, or any other water activity! These Sea To Summit Drylite Towels are quick-drying, odor-repelling, and lightweight. Dylan and I love ours!

Buy A Sea To Summit Travel Towel Here

Sleeping Bag Liner

This sleeping bag liner goes hand in hand with the inflatable travel pillow! The liner packs into a small stuff sack so you can grab it or pack it away when needed. The silk material is comfortable, soft, and lightweight. It’s great for chilly flights, hostel bedding, and any situation that requires extra warmth!

Buy The Cocoon Silk Mummy Liner Here 

Silk eye mask

Silk Sleep Mask

Next up on the list is a silk sleep mask. It’s a great gift that keeps a backpacker comfortable during their travels! It is great for long flights, bright hostels, loud airports, or any situation that is difficult to sleep in. They’re soft and come with a travel case. I’ve never used one. However, I know many women who do!

Buy This Silk Sleep Mask On Amazon Here 

Travel Medicine Kit (OTC)

It’s common for travelers to want to bring over-the-counter medicine before traveling somewhere new. However, taking a bunch of different bottles of medicine can add weight quickly!

This small travel medicine kit has everything you’d need so the female traveler in your life can start their trip lighter and add later if needed! It has everything from pain relievers to antidiarrheals, allergy relief, motion sickness relief, and more!

Buy A Travel Medicine Kit Here 

carabiners are a great travel backpackers gift and I go over why in this guide for her!

Carabiner 2-Pack

Carabiners are always a great item to have when backpacking. They allow travelers the gift of empty hands! They provide more luggage storage by allowing backpackers to hang things from their packs! I use carabiners to velcro my Teva sandals to the outside of my bag to utilize my luggage space as efficiently as possible!

Buy A 2-pack of Coleman Deluxe Carabiners Here

Unique Gifts

Now that we’ve covered the essentials, we can get creative and think of the next part of this travel backpackers guide: unique gifts for her! This category will depend on her interests! Is she a reader, photography lover, writer, yogi, or activity lover!? Does she enjoy getting ready in the mornings!? Is she creative and outdoorsy!? If you know the travel backpacker well, these can be great travel gifts!

GoPro Hero 12

GoPro Hero 12

A GoPro is a fantastic compact and affordable adventure camera for all photography lovers! It’s a high-quality camera for water and outdoor sports, and did I mention it is small!? There are two cameras, so viewers can watch the adventure live as it unfolds! I have a GoPro Hero Session I’ve been using for eight years. That speaks volumes about how durable these cameras are!

Buy The GoPro 12 Black On Amazon Here

Kindle

Kindle + Kindle Unlimited

A Kindle is a phenomenal gift for traveling readers! The Paperwhite Kindle is super lightweight with a glare-free design and 16GB of data! Another great gift is purchasing Kindle Unlimited so they can read for free! It’s a great item to own to pass the time on trains, planes, buses, at the beach, or before bed!

Buy Amazon Kindle & Kindle Unlimited Here

GetYourGuide Giftcard

If the travel backpacker chick in your life LOVES to do activities or tours when traveling, you can give them the gift of experience! GetYourGuide offers gift cards for worldwide tours, attractions, and activities in many destinations worldwide! Instead of gifting money, gift them the unique opportunity to explore a destination!

Buy a GetYourGuide Gift card Here

Travel yoga mat

Travel Yoga Mat

If the travel backpacker in your life enjoys yoga, this travel yoga mat is the most compact one I’ve seen yet! It folds like a small blanket (1.5mm) yet maintains good mat material! This microfiber travel yoga mat is non-slip, moisture-absorbing, easy to wash, and made with natural rubber.

Buy The Travel Yoga Mat On Amazon Here

Heatless Curler

A heatless curler is a unique gift for the girlies who like to look cute when traveling! Instead of carrying around a heavy curler, they can wear these lightweight silk heatless curlers overnight to wake up with curls! I’ve heard it works best on naturally straight or wavy hair. I got great results from using one, and if I cared about my doing hair more, I would’ve brought it along with me!

Buy This Silk Heatless Curling Set on Amazon Here

Travel Journal

Travel Journal

One of the best ways to reflect on traveling is through journaling. If the travel backpacker you’re shopping for enjoys writing, a travel journal is a sentimental gift. It has pages with prompts to reflect on fifteen travel destinations, and a place for photos. There’s also a bucket list page and blank pages in the back!

Buy The Travel Journal Here 

Pixi Multi-Use Blush Stick

One of the best things about Pixi’s Blush Stick is that it’s a multi-use makeup item that is a three-in-one! You can use it for blush, lipstick, and eyeshadow! It’s also hydrating and moisturizing and works on sensitive skin. The Cheektone color is a formula that matches your PH to give you the perfect color. You can find three different colors and shades on Amazon!

Buy Pixi Blush Sticks On Amazon Here

Kula Cloth

Kula Cloth

Another unique gift option that is perfect for a female traveler who will be spending some time outside is a Kula Cloth! It’s an anti-microbial pee cloth that is reusable, washable, and great for the environment. I find it handy to have on a hike while traveling! Plus, you never know when you’ll run out of toilet paper without any on hand.

Shop A Kula Cloth On Amazon Here 

Sam walking the streets of Greece with her REI 40L Rucksack

Luggage & Organization

Last but not least, we have luggage and organization options! These include everything from a lightweight daypack and a safety purse to a travel laundry bag! Read on to see which travel backpacker gift will be perfect for her.

Sam with the Sea to Summit 20L Day pack - an essential item on this travel backpackers gift guide for her

Sea To Summit 20L Lightweight Day Pack

Dylan and I brought this Sea to Summit Ultralight 20L Day Pack with us to South America, and it works fantastic for days in the town. It packs into a tiny pouch with a carabiner, taking up no room inside our backpacks. It’s perfect for when you need more storage than a purse allows! It comes in various colors and has water-resistant material.

Check Out This Sea To Summit Daypack Here

Travel Hanging Toiletry Kit

Hanging Toiletry & Jewelry Bag

BAGSMART is one of my favorite travel luggage brands on Amazon, and they have this adorable toiletry and jewelry hanging organizer for a great price! My biggest regret before leaving for my trip was separating my toiletries into multiple different stuff sacks. I wish I had indulged in this toiletry bag to keep everything organized! I’d recommend buying the medium size because you’ll still want to ensure it doesn’t take up too much luggage space!

Buy The BAGSMART Hanging Toiletry & Jewelry Organizer Here

Travel Laundry Bag

A unique gift I haven’t seen promoted very much online is the travel laundry bag! I bought Dylan this STNKY Laundry Bag for his birthday to separate our dirty clothes from the clean ones in our backpacks. You can throw your dirty clothes and the laundry bag in the wash so you’ll never have to touch your dirty clothes when washing! We’ve used it ever since we left and would recommend it to everyone!

Buy The STNKY Travel Laundry Bag Here

Sam in Cliffs of Moher with her travelon purse

Travelon Anti-Theft Purse

A safety purse is a great gift to ensure her safety while she travels. Travelon is a fantastic brand that sells anti-theft purses and luggage. This adorable Boho-style Crossbody Clutch is a cute and thoughtful gift big enough to carry all the essentials around the town. It’s small enough to pack into a backpack yet big enough to hold a wallet, cell phone, passport, hand sanitizer, chapstick, and other items.

Buy The Boho Clutch Crossbody Travelon Purse on Amazon Here 

Sea To Summit Dry Bag

You can’t go wrong with a gift that doubles as luggage storage and a way to keep things dry! This Sea To Summit Dry Bag is a fantastic accessory for any backpacking trip. It provides peace of mind when going to the beach, canoeing, or spending time on a body of water. There are a variety of different sizes and colors you can purchase depending on your budget and after considering their travel style.

Buy Sea To Summits Lightweight Dry Bag Here

Sam half sleeping on a bus in Ireland

Wrapping Up: Travel Backpackers Gift Guide For Her

There you have it, forty-two different gift ideas for a traveling backpacker in this guide, specifically for her. This post has given you gift inspiration as the female traveler in your life prepares for their trip! Happy shopping!