15 (Husband-Approved) Travel Gift Ideas for Him

Finding the perfect travel gift for your husband can be a fun (frustrating?) challenge, especially when you want something that is both practical and thoughtful. Whether he’s a seasoned globetrotter or loves staying active outdoors, the right gear can make every adventure more enjoyable and hassle-free. In this post, I’ve curated a list of 15 (husband-approved) travel gift ideas for wherever his adventures take him next.

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1. Western Rise Movement Shorts

These ultra-light, versatile men’s travel shorts are perfect for anyone with an active lifestyle. They’re moisture-wicking and quick-drying… plus they offer all-day comfort with four-way stretch and water resistance. Designed for active movement (and able to double as swim trunks), these movement shorts from Western Rise feature a secure zip pocket, breathable fabric, and a lightweight feel ideal for any adventure.

Why we love them: These are Jonathan’s favorite travel shorts, as they’re incredibly comfortable, pack well, are versatile, and look amazing.

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Western Rise Movement Short: Ultra light and ultra comfortable—and they look great, too.

2. QALO Silicone Rings

Silicone rings are a durable, comfortable alternative to traditional metal bands, ideal for travel as they’re lightweight, flexible, and inexpensive. Perfect for active adventures or places where valuables are at risk, silicone rings provide peace of mind without sacrificing style.

Why we love them: After losing my engagement ring during a hike in the Canadian Rockies 🙃, we only wear silicone rings while traveling. These rings are great for adventures, working out, hiking, Via Ferratas, rafting, and any other outdoor sport. These rings are also great for trips to cold or hot climates (when temperatures can cause fingers to shrink or swell).

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QALO Silicone Rings: These rings are comfortable, durable, and built for an active lifestyle. (Here’s the exact ring Jonathan wears.)

3. Adventure Gear (Paddle Boards, Snow Shoes, etc.)

Adventure gear is a fun gift idea for travelers! If you’re shopping for someone who loves being on the water, inflatable paddle boards make an excellent travel gift, offering a durable design for all skill levels. Each board supports up to 350 lbs and is ideal for adventurers looking for a reliable, easy-to-use paddle board wherever the journey takes them.

Or, if your loved one prefers to stay on land, consider snow shoes, cross-country skis, or other gear for climbing, cycling, and more. We head to Yellowstone each winter for snow showing, photography, and wolf watching—and we love shopping on REI for great, well-tested gear.

Heads Up: These paddle boards are expensive, but they’ve gone on incredible sales during Prime Days and Black Friday / Cyber Monday. When they do go on sale, it’s usually through a limited amount of lightning deals—so keep an eye out around big sale days and weeks to try to grab these on mega discount!

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ROC Inflatable Stand Up Paddle Boards: The extra wide design is perfect for all skill levels.
Retrospec Drifter 21/25/30 Inch Snowshoes: These are our Yellowstone snowshoes, which come with trekking poles and multi-terrain attachments for winter trails.

4. Ridge Merino Wool T-shirts

Ridge Merino t-shirts combine sweat-wicking and odor-resistant Merino wool with durability and comfort. Designed with a modern, slightly slimmer fit, this versatile tee provides sun protection, quick-drying performance, and a luxurious feel for any activity.

Why we love them: This is my all-time favorite travel t-shirt on Jonathan, and he says it’s his favorite to wear… win-win! (In other words, this t-shirt looks amazing and is incredibly versatile.)

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Ridge Merino Men’s Journey T-Shirt: Slim fit with a modern crew neck. (The rum raisin color is a fantastic-looking red/maroon.)

5. Hybrid Dress Shoes

Hybrid dress shoes are the perfect shoes for seamlessly transitioning from the office to exploring town. With lightweight construction, shock-absorbent cushioning, and the classic dress-shoe look, hybrid dress shoes make a great travel gift as they combine all-day comfort with a luxury finish.

Why we love them: Traveling while working means balancing work and play. Having a shoe that can quite literally take you from meetings to sightseeing—without blisters or pain—is crucial.

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The Crossover™ by Wolf & Shepherd: A hybrid dress shoe designed for comfort in business and casual settings—and everything in between.
Amberjack “The Original” Comfortable Dress Shoes: Dress shoes built with soles using hiking boot material for support, stability, and better traction on the go.
Cole Haan Original Grand shoes: Blending performance and style to offer dress shoes that are lightweight and cushioned for ultra comfort.

6. Justin Classic RayBan Sunglasses

These Ray-Ban sunglasses bring an updated twist to the classic Wayfarer style, featuring larger rectangular lenses, vibrant color options, and a unique rubberized frame finish. With a range of classic and statement-making colors, these durable and iconic sunglasses are the perfect addition to any travel day.

Why we love them: They’re effective and look fantastic!

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Justin Classic Ray-Ban Sunglasses: Jon wears the Matte Rubber Black frame with Light Grey Lenses.

7. Gossamer Gear Mariposa Backpack

These ultra-lightweight backpacks are fantastic for long-term adventures! Although they’re traditionally used for backpacking trips, we got them for our three-week road trip through Alaska because they’re ultralight, fit a LOT, and are incredibly comfortable to wear for extended periods of time.

Why we love them: Traveling extensively with these lightweight backpacks is great because you’re super mobile and can bounce between cars, trains, planes, hikes, and more with ease.

Heads Up: This backpack is an investment, so watch for sales around Black Friday and Cyber Monday, which are great times to take advantage of discounts.

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Gossamer Gear 60 Mariposa Backpack: Jon has the Gray Backpack in Pack Size Medium.

8. Coalatree Evolution Joggers

These joggers are odor-resistant thanks to coffee grounds woven into the fabric, offering an effective solution to odor control as you sweat. Designed for travel, they pack into their own pocket for convenience and feature quick-drying fabric to keep you dry and agile for on-the-go adventures.

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Coalatree Evolution Joggers: Lightweight and packs small. Also surprisingly warm and odor-resistant. (Jon has them in green and gets tons of compliments.)

9. Gore-Tex Terrex Hiking Boots (Adidas)

These shoes feature soft, supportive knit uppers and waterproof membranes that keep feet dry and breathable, with abrasion-resistant layers for added durability.

Basically, they’re comfortable and have great traction for any trail.

Why we love them: Hiking boots are hard to get right, but once you do, you never want to wear anything else. That’s how Jon feels about these boots, which he luckily stumbled upon at an REI… after tearing a hole in his other boots during our three-week Alaskan roadtrip.

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Adidas Terrex Free Hiker GORE-TEX 2.0 Hiking Shoes: Lightweight, waterproof comfort for every hike.

10. Ridge Merino Wool Hoodie

We love odor-resistant fabrics, like Merino wool, for packing less and doing more between washes. This travel hoodie is a great gift for anyone who loves to hike or enjoys outdoor adventures, as it provides enough warmth during cool days but is also lightweight enough for sun protection on hot days.

Why we love them: These hoodies are super comfortable and perfectly balance the need for lightweight warmth on cool mornings and sun protection on hot days.

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Ridge Merino Lightweight Wool Hoodie: A natural UPF of 30+ makes this the perfect layer for adventures in the sun.

11. Travel Wallet

A travel wallet keeps important items like passports, tickets, credit cards, and currency organized and secure. Unlike a regular wallet, travel wallets are designed to hold everything in one place, minimizing stress on-the-go. Look for ones with RFID-blocking technology for added security.

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Travando Mens Slim Wallet with RFID Blocking: Offers 11 card pockets and a slim design ideal for carrying business cards, credit and debit cards, bills, etc.
Buffway Slim Minimalist Front Pocket RFID Blocking Wallet: Slim but functional, with 8 credit card slots and RFID blocking technology.

12. Spotting Scope or Binoculars

A spotting scope or binoculars make fantastic gifts for wildlife watchers and photographers, offering a closer view of animals in their natural habitats without disturbing them. Whether headed on a safari, wolf-watching in Yellowstone (Jon’s favorite!), or even birdwatching close to home, spotting scopes and/or binoculars are great gifts for anyone who enjoys seeing wildlife.

Why we love them: Wolf-watching in Yellowstone National Park is one of Jonathan’s favorite hobbies. Wolfs are especially elusive animals, often staying a quarter mile off the road or more. Binoculars and spotting scopes take wolf-watching to a completely new level, as you can see pups playing and packs hunting from a respectful and safe distance away.

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Celestron Ultima 80 Angled Spotting Scope: Praised for its clear image quality and durable, waterproof design.
Nikon PROSTAFF P3 10x42 Binocular: Well-rated for their sharp optics, lightweight build, and excellent low-light performance.

13. Travel Backpack Cooler

A travel backpack cooler is a fantastic gift for anyone who loves outdoor adventures, like hiking, camping, and fishing. Backpack coolers keep food and drinks chilled for hours, making it easy to enjoy fresh snacks or cold beverages while exploring remote locations hands-free.

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YETI Hopper BackFlip 24 Soft-Sided Cooler Backpack: Known for its rugged durability, leakproof design, and excellent insulation.
IceMule Pro Backpack Cooler: Praised for its lightweight, waterproof construction and reliable cooling performance for up to 24 hours.
TOURIT Cooler Backpack 32 Cans Capacity: A budget-friendly cooler well-rated for its insulation and spacious, leakproof design with room for 30 cans.

14. 32 Degrees Ultra-Light Packable Jacket

This jacket offers premium warmth without bulk, providing breathable insulation that’s lightweight and comfortable. Designed for travel, the jacket folds easily into its own compact bag, making it perfect for layering on the go.

Why we love them: Looks great, works with any outfit, and provides the perfect amount of warmth while staying lightweight.

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32 Degrees Ultra Light Down Packable Jacket: Regular fit, great for layering, traveling, and cold weather.

15. Gorilla Bow Travel

This packable strength-training set is great for resistance-based workouts on the go. For loved ones who often stay in short-term rentals, don’t enjoy hotel gyms, or want a way to work out while camping, consider this gift idea!

Why we love it: Easy to pack and offers a gym solution for long-term travelers. We spent months living out of short-term rentals while roadtripping the US and used this travel gym, alongside trail runs and hikes, to stay consistent with our exercise routine no matter where we were.

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Gorilla Bow Travel: Awesome, packable mobile gym for resistance-based workouts on the road.

Happy Gifting!

We hope you enjoy these 15 (husband-approved) gift ideas for the travelers in your life! To save this gift guide on Pinterest for later, hover over the image in this post and click on the red “Save” button that pops up in the upper lefthand corner of the image. (If you’re on mobile, you might have to tap the image first to see the red ‘Save’ button.)