a gift for a traveller

June 10, 2009 11:27 AM

My partner is about to go backpacking meditating in India for over a month. I'll be missing his birthday--what useful, light gift(s) can I get him in the $50 range?

I'm in Victoria BC, and I've been busy and have put this off to the last minute, so something available in Mountain Equipment Coop or Coast Mountain Sports etc would be good.

What did you find surprisingly useful when you went backpacking?

posted by stray to travel & transportation (18 comments total)

When you say backpacking, do you mean, like, traveling with all your stuff in a backpack, or, like, actually living off the grid with all your supplies in a backpack?
posted by nitsuj at 11:32 AM on June 10

The cheapest might be a little out of your price range, but a handheld GPS device is something I would have loved when I was traveling. When backpacking, to be able to see on a map exactly where you are at anytime is a great advantage.
posted by Digital_Man at 11:35 AM on June 10

Good question nitsuj. More the former--he's spending three weeks in an ashram meditating, so he'll have basic amenities there. After that, it's still up in the air, but I think he'll staying in cheap accommodations and taking trains, etc.
posted by stray at 11:37 AM on June 10

titanium cooking pots. campmor.com has good selection and prices
posted by Redhush at 11:39 AM on June 10

I don't know what kind of travels he'll be doing in the evening hours, but hand crank flashlights are pretty keen. Or if he'll be away from a reliable source of warm water and doesn't mind lugging some around, camping showers can be rather nice.
posted by filthy light thief at 11:40 AM on June 10

It's a bit of a hassle now but I find a decent pocket knife or belt knife/multitool invaluable.
posted by Mitheral at 11:41 AM on June 10

ceramic water filter
posted by goethean at 11:42 AM on June 10

Katadyn Hiker MicroFilter.
posted by coolguymichael at 11:44 AM on June 10

Here is something else - a USB flash drive loaded with PortableApps. When I'm traveling, I always carry two of these loaded with these.

I keep one easily accessible, and one in my zippered pocket under my pants. In addition to the PortableApps, I also keep PDFs on them of scans of my passport, medical record, birth certificate, etc. etc.

Those devices are small, but probably in your price range and have proven invaluable to me while backpacing. For me, carrying a laptop was out of the question, but this was the next best thing.
posted by Digital_Man at 11:45 AM on June 10 [1 favorite has favorites]

I second goethean's suggestion. He doesn't want to get Delhi Belly! :)
posted by Hanuman1960 at 11:45 AM on June 10

Not related to backpacking, but travelling in general: is he taking a camera? If so, perhaps a nice bag or some accessories.

A journal.

Maybe some of his favourite snacks or candies that won't be available there.

A little first aid kit? Include medicine for an upset stomach (it's bound to happen at some point).

And since he's going to be in India during the monsoon season, a bunch of good quality mosquito repellants - various kinds (i.e. the kind he'll put on his body, the kind he'll place around his room, maybe something to protect his face while hiking, etc.)
posted by yawper at 11:54 AM on June 10

This ultraviolet water purifier is double your price range, but is much smaller than the usual water filters.
posted by carolr at 11:55 AM on June 10

A good, bright headlamp. Really nice in India where power cuts are common and lighting for going to the toilet at night tends to be lacking, etc.
posted by Emanuel at 12:28 PM on June 10

Fenix P2D flashlight - compact and handy. Other good suggestions at KK Cool Tools.
posted by cranberryskies at 12:50 PM on June 10

A really cool compass. That's it. It's useful, thoughtful, and symbolic.
posted by dchrssyr at 1:13 PM on June 10

A Leatherman Multi-Tool would probably be invaluable.
posted by Aleen at 1:42 PM on June 10

This ultraviolet water purifier is double your price range, but is much smaller than the usual water filters.

As a wilderness backpacker, I don't trust those things one tiny iota. Plus, they don't remove sediment or improve the flavor.

A pump microfilter is far superior.
posted by Netzapper at 1:49 PM on June 10

Unless there have been radical improvements in the past few years, portable water filters are way too heavy and clunky for backpack-type travel. Also, if his ashram is one that caters to Westerners, there's a good chance they'll have filtered water.

Some suggestions:

A small super-absorbent travel towel
Postcards of your home city to give as gifts to local kids
A headlamp, for middle-of-the-night bathroom trips
One of those little handheld fans. Unless he's going to be in the mountains, it is hot this time of year in India
A pair of those lightweight zip-off convertible trousers/shorts. Dorky, yes, but so good for travel in Asia, especially during the monsoon.
A Hindi phrasebook
posted by lunasol at 1:59 PM on June 10