Rating:

0.0 (0 votes)

TUCSON - Tis the season for shopping madness!

In need of gift ideas for the hiker in your life? Here's what experts say are some of the hot holiday hiking buys.

The "Survival Pod" may be a small stocking stuffer, but it could save a life. Summit Hut's Lauren Dreyfuss said, "You have a knife, a fire starter flint, fire starting tinder, duct tape. Just three inches but that's enough sometimes".

To compliment the "Survival Pod", Dreyfuss suggests a book on area hiking trails. "The Tucson Hiking guide by Betty Leavengood gives you all the major trails, plus trail profile so you know what kind of elevations you're getting into. It has some nice pictures, gives you directions to the trailhead", said Dreyfuss.

Have a hiker with bad knees? Trekking poles can help keep them going. There's several features trekking poles have to offer, from the type of grip to anti-shock poles that conform to the terrain. Regardless of the features, you can't go wrong.

From saving knees to shielding the sun, every hiker needs a good hat. Many types have ventilation on the top & have wide brims to get a lot of sun protection.

Last year's hot item was the Five Fingers shoes. This year, there's another version out that's even slimmer. It's called the Evo Skin from Innovate. Dreyfuss said, "It's medical-grade silicon. There's practically nothing between me and the ground".

Be aware that these shoes aren't made for everyone. They are mostly used by expert hikers.

To see the Summit Hut Holiday Hiking Gift Guide, click here.