What should I present to my friend for his birthday?

Posted by Feisty_Spend_1992@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 33 comments

My friend turns 18 in 2 days and I want to get him something that’s actually thoughtful and useful.

He’s really into hiking and is part of a mountain leaders group, so he’s not just a casual hiker.

The problem is - I’m kind of clueless I feel like his family will definitely get him hiking-related gear, and I don’t want to end up duplicating something or getting something basic he already has.

Budget is flexible but not crazy.

what would you actually appreciate getting in this situation? Or what’s something a non-hiker could give that would still feel thoughtful? Or should I need to buy something else like clothes or shoes?

I really appreciate your thoughts! Cheers :)x

[-]

Ok_Monitor_7897@reddit

Perhaps a nice/personalised compass. I like the symbolic nature of a compass for an 18 year old as well - an 'oh the places you'll go' feel.

Or a pair of binoculars...

[-]

wildflower12345678@reddit

Tickets to a concert. Half day hire of a narrowboat. Rally driving experience. Everyone will be getting him hiking stuff. Get him an experience for something else.

[-]

True_Peanut_8092@reddit

You can get bracelets that you can add beads on for achievements - Notch is one brand, there's definitely others. And they customise the beads. So if you know he's done particular routes/peaks you could get a bead for those. I got for one for a nibling to add race lengths and swim distances to.

Or maybe a race-at-your-pace medal subscription like Conqueror where you log your hiking distances against a virtual walk like the Camino or Route 66 - you can buy a gift certificate good for any medal so he could pick his own challenge. I'm not a great hiker so I generally pick a 1500km one but take a full year to walk it. It gives me motivation to keep moving when it's cold and wet and I'd rather sit on the couch and eat cookies.

If he's someone who travels to hike other countries, then a scratch-off map of the world could be fun.

[-]

Specialist_You346@reddit

What a brilliant reply. We have the Notch bracelets and we did Conqueror during lockdown. Have you thought of being a present consultant?

[-]

elouise93@reddit

Is a present consultant a real job? I thought about doing it once upon a time but couldn't figure out how to price it

[-]

True_Peanut_8092@reddit

Thank you, that's so kind of you. I'm only any good if it intersects with my own interests or things I've already bought for family with similar interests 😀 I'm married to someone with no hobbies and I never have any ideas there!

[-]

FolkyWanderer@reddit

Maybe a Swiss Army knife, such as a Victorinox hiker. Around £24.

[-]

Remarkable_Bet_4131@reddit

And get done for carrying a blade? Great idea.

[-]

FolkyWanderer@reddit

Ah, the ignorant. You can legally carry a manual, non-locking folding pocket knife with a cutting edge of 3 inches or less without needing a specific reason. The Victorinox hiker falls into the uk legal carry category.

[-]

Remarkable_Bet_4131@reddit

Bollocks try taking one into a nightclub.

[-]

FolkyWanderer@reddit

Well obviously you wouldn’t be allowed into a nightclub with a Swiss Army knife, or many other private venues. Nor would I be allowed in with my carpenters compass, hammer or even a sharp pencil! OP stated her friend is a keen hiker, thus my recommendation. I’ve carried a uk legal carry knife for most of my adult life, as is my legal right, and have yet to be “done”. A little common sense goes a long way.

[-]

Remarkable_Bet_4131@reddit

Ah so there are some restrictions on carrying them. Do you really think we need more knives on our streets.

[-]

FolkyWanderer@reddit

You’re right, A sensible person/knife enthusiast that uses a pocket knife for practical uses such as cutting up their daughters apple on a day out is absolutely the same as a thug/gang member carrying a kitchen knife with intent to cause harm to others. In fact, why don’t we just make possessing any object with a cutting edge or pointy end illegal. Come on, do behave.

[-]

Remarkable_Bet_4131@reddit

So if you were on a day out with your daughter and someone tried to attack her just after youd cut up her apple. You tried to defend her but was fighting a loosing battle Would you use the knife ?

[-]

FolkyWanderer@reddit

Actually I can give you a true story; over a month ago I had some drunk nutcase walk past our house and walk straight up to me and punch me, no provocation, no warning, just hit me because he thought I had a problem with him (I didn’t). My daughter was next to me crying with my wife next to her. Never did I think to pull my knife out of my pocket and retaliate with it. That’s not what a knife is to me. It’s not a weapon, it’s simply a tool to make life easier for me. If I’m taking a beating, then so be it. I won’t resort to stabbing someone because of it.

[-]

Skanedog@reddit

Why on earth would you take one into a club?

[-]

Remarkable_Bet_4131@reddit

Protection ?

[-]

Mondaycomestoosoon@reddit

A dead sheep further up from where he’s just taken a drink from a stream …

[-]

Outside_Machine3699@reddit

Do they use Strava? My friend’s a big runner and I gifted her a Strava Pro subscription for the year, went down a treat! Alternatively, less hiking based (as they may be sick of getting those gifts) you could gift a proper sports/thai/ physiotherapy massage.

[-]

boomerberg@reddit

Membership to the Swiss alpine club (UK branch) used to be pretty cheap for young people and includes a very comprehensive international accident/insurance policy and very good discounts at mountaineering huts in Europe. Encourages him to look further afield and plan an alpine adventure!!

[-]

Sad-Grade6972@reddit

A voucher or gift card for a store selling outdoor gear, so he can put it towards something of his choice might be nice for him!

[-]

Pyjama365@reddit

If a voucher outright seems too impersonal, I was going to suggest a lower-cost item like a basic hat from an outdoors store (like Go Outdoors/Mountain Warehouse/Blacks) plus a voucher from the same place for the rest of what you would have spent. Then there's an actual 'thing' from you (/a gift receipt if you picked something unsuitable?), but some of the value is left to the friend's more knowledgeable choice to pick.

[-]

Remarkable_Bet_4131@reddit

The greatest gift a man can recieve is alchol. Hes prob bored sick of hiking get him bottle of malt whiskey.

[-]

jn1802@reddit

Hikers are outdoors people, so I would find a local raptor centre and buy an experience event.

[-]

Gnome_Father@reddit

Fire steels are pretty cool. You can get really nice hand forged ones from hobbyists.

[-]

Beginning-Annual-860@reddit

Not strictly hiking related but how about a leathermans multi tool? You can personalise them too..

https://uk.leatherman.com/collections/multi-tools?sort_by=price-ascending

[-]

When replying to submission/post please make genuine efforts to answer the question given. Please no jokes, judgements, etc. If a post is marked 'Serious Answers Only' you may receive a ban for violating this rule.
Don't be a dick to each other. If getting heated, just block and move on.
This is a strictly no-politics subreddit!

Please help us by reporting comments that break these rules.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.