12 Christmas gifts for travelers

12 Christmas gifts for travelers

Our annual list of 12 Christmas gifts for travelers, whether they're bookworms, photo buffs, adrenaline junkies or culture lovers

This year would be the year life returned to normal. Instead, we found ourselves in a strange liminal space of tainted plans and half-lives. Some tried bravely to reclaim their lives - Peter, for example, managed trips to Switzerland, Greece and Cyprus - but many others of us withered in this new reality, like trees distorted by the persistent wind.

This state of listlessness has swallowed up so much of our time. Like most couples, Peter and I alternate in our roles of cheerless and cheerful. When he's feeling down, I pick him up and he does the same for me. This year, however, we both felt joyless at the same time. My efforts to convince him not to waste another year pursuing his ultimate dream were aimless at best, dishonest at worst. In truth, he finally has years of peak fitness – and two have just passed him by.

We also both missed a second chance to go to Antarctica (our trip postponed from 2020 to 2021 has been postponed again). Several smaller trips were canceled and my latest novel, Next of Kin, was launched with a smaller book tour.

This time has caused us to re-evaluate a few things, starting with our move to the Yorkshire Dales. We really enjoyed our time here, but living so far away from friends and family made us realize we didn't want to be here. We both firmly believe that you can change your life if you don't like it. With that in mind, we put our house up for sale at the end of October, accepted an offer within a week, and now find ourselves in another liminal state: waiting for the sale to close.

We don't know where we will spend this Christmas, but we plan to return to London shortly - a prospect that fills me with joy. We hope that, like us, you find some reasons to be merry this Christmas. To help you celebrate the end of this year as always, here's our list of the best Christmas gifts for travelers, divided into pretty and practical gifts.

Pretty Christmas gifts for travelers

1. Aspinal of London passport cover

Aspinal of LondonAspinal of London passport cover

An elegant friend once told me that you can buy cheap clothes if you combine them with high-quality accessories: shoes, bag, belt, wallet. With that in mind, this passport cover from Aspinal of London is a worthwhile investment.

Handcrafted from full-grain leather and lined with contrasting suede, it's durable enough to accompany travelers on adventures for years to come. A slip pocket stores boarding passes and other essentials, while personalization services add a thoughtful touch. There are a range of colors and materials available, but you can't go wrong with this classic red and blue.

Buy from Aspinal of London

2. Vintage globe

Fair useA vintage globe is more than just a decorative accessory

Peter bought The Franklin Antique Globe for his father a few years ago and we bought one when we moved into our new home.

The globe serves as a decorative accessory and a reference point, but is also a great conversation starter. Guests often comment on a surprising finding, whether it's the fact that the Pacific takes up almost half of the world or that there's only one country between Finland and North Korea. Of course, if you're not traveling, the next best thing is to dream about it.

Buy from Stanfords

3. Engraved pen and diary

Atlas & BootsThe Amalfi diary personalized with Peter's initials

I tend to enter my notes and reminders directly into my phone, but Peter prefers a physical journal. He travels with a beautiful refillable medium Amalfi leather journal personalized with his initials and a Waterman Hemisphere fountain pen.

These classic gifts are perfect for travelers who dream of distant lands, long cross-country journeys and the romance of a bygone era. (Let's face it: we all know one of these.)

Buy from Pen Heaven

4. Sundial and compass

PRThe perfect gift for budding explorers

It is sometimes said that we are the middle children of history - born too late to explore the seas, born too early to explore the stars. Would-be explorers longing for a bygone era can make do with this striking compass.

It is made of highly polished brushed brass and features a unique sundial function and a fully functional nautical compass. It comes with a protective case and a separate brass lid that can be personalized with a message of up to 90 characters.

Buy from John Lewis

5. The Atlas of Beauty

The Atlas of BeautyChristmas Gifts for Travelers: The Atlas of Beauty

Sometimes books come along and make a splash for a season, then live a quiet existence because next year there are new books and new gifts. The Atlas of Beauty does not deserve such a fate. Released to much attention in 2017, it is an equally magnificent gift today.

Photographer Mihaela Noroc's collection celebrates women from 50 countries around the world and shows that beauty is everywhere, regardless of money, race or social status. Showing women in their native environments, from the Amazon rainforest to markets in India, London streets and parks in Harlem, it proves that beauty comes in different shapes and colors.

Buy on Amazon

Practical Christmas gifts for travelers

6. Power bank & solar charger

Atlas & Boots

Peter used the PowerTraveller kit on Aconcagua

Peter carries a whole host of electronic devices with him on his various hikes and climbs, including two cameras and a smartphone. All of this needs juice, so a reliable power bank and solar charger make life a lot easier.

For his climb of Aconcagua last year, he packed a Powergorilla charger and a foldable solar charger for Falcon 21 from PowerTraveller.

Both parts of the kit are designed to withstand the rigors of outdoor use and function even in extremely cold temperatures. The Powergorilla can charge devices up to 88W/24V (such as a laptop), while the solar charger can charge 5V and 20V devices such as laptops and netbooks under 40W, tablets, smartphones, GoPros and GPS devices.

Buy from Powertraveller

7. Packing cubes

Eagle CreekGroundbreaking packing cubes

I started using packing cubes on my horseback riding trip to Montenegro and it was a revelation. It has changed the way I pack and made life on the road so much easier. I no longer find myself pulling out a pair of black leggings when I'm really after my black cardigan, or digging around for a fresh pair of underwear.

I use Eagle Creek's Pack-It Isolate Cube Set in XS/S/M to organize tops, bottoms, and small items. Take my word for it: add these to your holiday shopping list and you will change someone's life.

Buy from Eagle Creek

8. Smartwool comfort

Merino wool is ideal for base layers

Warm clothing is important to us. From base layers to down jackets, it's worth investing in the right gear for the right environment. Merino wool offers excellent breathability and moisture wicking, meaning it is ideal for base layers.

Smartwool is one of Peter's favorite brands. He uses a variety of their products, from base layers and t-shirts to underwear and of course socks! From the slopes of Aconcagua to the paths of the Yorkshire Dales, they have never failed to keep him warm.

Buy from Smartwool

9. World Travel Adapter Kit

Smartphones, cameras, Kindles, laptops, electric shavers, epilators and countless other devices need to be charged on the go, whether via mains power or USB.

The Ceptics World Travel Adapter Kit is the perfect solution for those who pack a seemingly endless amount of cables and adapters when they travel.

The adapter kit works in over 200 countries and territories and can charge up to five devices using just one outlet. It is surge protected and features two US plugs, two USB ports, a solid USB cable and six country-specific ports.

Use Ceptics' international adapter finder to find the adapter that suits you best.

Buy from skeptics

10. Aria Snorkel Mask

I enjoy snorkeling, but I constantly have to fiddle with a fogged up mask. When I swam with whale sharks in Djibouti, I had to repeatedly surface to remove the water from my mask, meaning I missed valuable moments with these majestic creatures. The Aria Full Face Mask from Ocean Reef is a game-changer.

With patented air circulation technology, it guarantees no fogging. It has a 180° panoramic view, allows users to breathe through their nose and prevents water from entering. Accessories include a corrective lens, sports camera mount, selfie stick and Snorkie Talkie, an innovation that allows you to communicate while snorkeling!

Buy from Ocean Reef

11. Portable WiFi Hub

As travel writers, having unlimited global Wi-Fi makes our lives so much easier considering how many hours we waste watching progress bars advance at an unbearable pace over slow connections.

We used our travel simulation extensively

Keepgo offers a range of different data options for its portable Wi-Fi hotspots and world SIM cards. We use Keepgo's international WiFi hotspot so we can get online while traveling. The device generates a secure WiFi connection over local 4G mobile networks in over 120 countries.

12. Osprey Luggage

When it comes to luggage, Peter has it all. He has daypacks, backpacks, camera bags, duffel bags, carry-on luggage, rolling luggage and even a range of hybrids! After years of testing different kit bags, he now swears by Osprey.

His favorite backpack is an Osprey Exos 38 backpack, which weighs just over a kilogram. It is super light, spacious, durable and suitable for most camping and trekking trips, including shorter wild camping and winter mountaineering trips. Another great option is the Levity 45, which only weighs 800g, although it holds more!

Atlas & BootsPeter's Osprey Farpoint Wheels 36

For longer expeditions he uses an 85 liter expedition backpack and his suitcase is a Farpoint Wheels 36 for carry-on luggage and a Rolling Transporter Wheeled Duffel 60 for checked luggage.

Kia has an Osprey Tempest Pro 18 daypack that's cool and comfortable with enough space for your essentials. When it comes to suitcases

Stocking fillers

Additionally, there are a whole range of stocking stuffers that are useful for active travelers.

• Bieten Sie keine Papaya an: ein Leitfaden für Ihre erste Reise um die Welt
• Ohrstöpsel
• Augenmaske
• Faltbare Zahnbürste
• Stirnlampe

Personalize your gift

Customize any of the above holiday gifts for travelers with die-cut stickers from StickerYou. The user-friendly editor makes it possible to create customized stickers for every traveler. Upload your own artwork or select from the art library to create sticky graphics. There are also options for creating travel-themed stickers for luggage, fridge magnets, or turning your travel photos into stickers.

Main image: Shutterstock

      .