Father's Day Gift Guide: The Best Gifts for Walkers and Hikers
If the dad in your life is happiest on a hill, a trail or a towpath, a generic gift won't cut it. The good news: the right outdoor kit is easy to get right, lasts for years, and gets used every single weekend. This guide rounds up the best Father's Day gifts for walkers, hikers, trail runners and Nordic walkers — at every budget — plus a fail-safe option for anyone leaving it late.
What's a good Father's Day gift for someone who loves walking?
The most useful gifts are the ones he'll take on every walk: a lightweight folding trekking pole, a good pair of gloves, or replacement tips, baskets and grips for poles he already owns. If you're not sure of his exact setup, an adjustable pole or a gift voucher lets him choose. LEKI poles are made in Europe, built on a repair-first design, and have spare parts available for around ten years — so they're a gift that keeps going.
The standout gift: a folding trekking pole
For a present that genuinely impresses, a folding carbon trekking pole is hard to beat. It packs down small enough for a rucksack lid or a suitcase, weighs next to nothing, and turns every walk — from a Lakeland fell to a coastal path — into an easier, steadier one. The Makalu FX Carbon folds away in seconds and adjusts to his height, while the lighter Makalu Lite is a brilliant all-round telescopic option. Both use LEKI's Aergon grip and Speed Lock system, so they're comfortable to hold and quick to set up.
Best for: the regular hill walker or weekend hiker who would never buy themselves something this nice.
For the trail-running dad
If he is more likely to run the trail than stroll it, the Ultratrail FX.One is the pole the professionals use — it folds to pocket size, clicks in and out in an instant, and is light enough that he will forget he is carrying it. On longer days and big climbs, poles save his legs and let him push harder on the descents.
Best for: the trail runner, fastpacker or anyone training for an ultra.
For the Nordic or fitness walker
Nordic walking turns an ordinary walk into a full-body workout, and the right poles make all the difference. The Traveller FX.One Carbon and Speed Pacer poles use LEKI's Nordic Shark grip system for a secure, powerful hand connection — ideal for fitness, recovery or simply getting more out of a daily walk.
Best for: the dad keeping active, or anyone walking for their health.
Smaller gifts that always get used
Not every great gift is a big one. If he already has poles, the accessories are where you cannot go wrong:
- Trekking pads and rubber tips — for quiet, sure-footed walking on hard paths and pavement.
- Replacement baskets and Flex Tips — to keep his poles ready all year, from summer trails to winter snow.
- Aergon grips and straps — an easy comfort upgrade for long days.
- Gloves and leather balm — for the colder, wetter walks he will do anyway.
Best for: a thoughtful add-on, or a gift on a smaller budget that still feels personal.
Why a LEKI pole is a gift that lasts
LEKI has been making poles in Europe since 1948, holds more than 250 patents, and designs its poles to be repaired rather than replaced. The FX folding system lets the lower sections be swapped at home in minutes, and spare parts are available for around ten years from launch. So unlike a gift that is forgotten by July, a good pole gets used for a decade.
Ordering for Father's Day? Do not miss the cutoff.
Order by 2pm on Thursday 18 June and choose DPD Saturday Delivery to get your gift in time for Father's Day on Sunday 21 June. Left it later than that? A LEKI gift voucher is delivered instantly by email — the perfect last-minute gift that still lets him choose exactly what he wants.
Father's Day gift questions, answered
How do I choose walking poles as a gift?
If you know his height, you can pick a fixed or folding pole to suit — as a rough guide, multiply his height in centimetres by 0.68 for an approximate pole length. If you are unsure, choose an adjustable telescopic or folding-adjustable pole, which fits a wide height range, or a gift voucher so he can pick his own.
What if he already has poles?
Go for accessories: replacement tips, baskets, grips and trekking pads are inexpensive, always useful, and show you have paid attention to his kit.
I have left it too late for delivery — what now?
Send a LEKI gift voucher. It arrives instantly by email, never runs out of stock, and lets him choose exactly what he wants. It is the ideal last-minute Father's Day gift.
Are walking poles a good gift if he has never used them?
Yes. Poles reduce the load on knees and ankles on descents, improve balance on uneven ground, and make long walks noticeably easier — most people wish they had started using them sooner.
Shop Father's Day gifts
Browse trekking poles, trail running poles, Nordic walking poles, accessories and gift vouchers — and remember to order by 2pm Thursday 18 June for Father's Day delivery.
