Gift ideas for people who feel at home in the mountains, whether that means skiing, hiking, swimming, sport, a slow walk or simply spending the day outside.

Buying for someone who loves the mountains can seem easy. There is an endless supply of outdoor equipment to choose from.

But people who spend a lot of time outside often already have the things they need. And when it comes to technical equipment, they tend to have their own preferences. The skier may be particular about their gloves. The trail runner already knows which vest works for them. The person who hikes every weekend probably does not need another water bottle.

So before buying equipment, look, ask or investigate. Find out what they already own and what they actually need. And if the answer is nothing, look beyond the equipment. Think about what else could make the time they spend in the mountains even better.

Give them something new to do in the mountains

Someone can love the mountains and still experience them in the same way most of the time.

Maybe they always ski but have never tried snowshoeing. They hike but have never spent a night in a mountain hut. They love swimming but have never explored one of Switzerland’s mountain lakes. They usually go for long walks but might enjoy an outdoor fondue, a sunrise breakfast or a weekend combining the mountains with a spa.

The gift could be an experience, a guide filled with ideas, or simply a plan you have made yourself.

And if you can, go with them.

A gift idea

A book for discovering somewhere new + a date already kept free to explore one of the places together.

Give them something they will always use

There are some things outdoor people can accumulate too many of. There are others that disappear every weekend.

Snacks are firmly in the second category.

Ski day, hike, climbing session, bike ride, afternoon by a lake or a family walk: something good to eat is rarely redundant.

Good roasted nuts, chocolate, something homemade, their favourite trail snack or something from a local bakery can all work, even for someone whose equipment cupboard is completely full.

It does not need to be permanent to be a good gift. Sometimes something you know they will actually use is a better choice than another object they need to find space for.

Think around the day, not only about the activity.

If someone already loves spending time in the mountains, you do not necessarily need to improve the sport itself. Think about everything that happens around it.

These things are not hiking or skiing equipment, but they can make the whole day considerably better.

A skier might appreciate recovery oil and a spa reservation. Someone who loves easy mountain walks might enjoy a beautiful guide, a picnic and a day planned together. A trail runner might appreciate their favourite snacks and a recovery massage. Someone who mostly loves sitting by a mountain lake might be happiest with an outdoor game, something good to eat and a day planned there.

You do not have to love the mountains in the same way

This is especially useful when you are buying for a partner.

Maybe one of you would happily ski all morning while the other would rather be in the spa. Great. Meet for lunch.

They might want a four-hour hike while you prefer a short walk. Join them for the easier section and book somewhere for dinner. They might want to trail run while you would rather take the cable car.

Sharing someone’s interest does not necessarily mean doing exactly what they do.

A good gift can connect the thing they love doing with something you love too.

Help them discover what comes next

If they already know every obvious place nearby, give them a reason to look somewhere else.

A guide can be particularly good because it does not prescribe one specific trip. It gives them possibilities.

You can also do the research yourself. Find three places they have never been and put them inside their card. Make a shared list of mountain huts, lakes, spas or regions you would like to discover together.

The research can be part of the gift.

A Maison Myrthus combination

Our Between Trails set was designed around the time spent outside rather than one particular sport.

Or take the same idea and build something more specific around the person you are buying for.

For someone who wants to explore more

Outdoor book + snacks + a planned day together.

For someone who comes home exhausted but happy

Recovery oil + a massage from you + their favourite dinner waiting at home.

For the social mountain lover

Weikky + snacks + a drink + an afternoon picnic.

For your partner when you do not share their enthusiasm for the same activity

A mountain guide for them + a spa reservation for both of you.