Wondering what to gift an intrepid adventurer soon-to-be graduate who is taking a gap year after high school? Whether they are bound for a semester of Eurailing, Hiking the Appalachian Trail, or dedicating a year of service to Americorps here are some essential items they will find useful during their gap year and beyond.
LL Bean Personal Toiletry Bag is quality, essential piece of gear for any traveler. It can also come in handy for dorm life when they get to college.
Quick Dry Towel is useful for travelers, backpackers, and volunteers sharing bathrooms or regularly on the go.
A Universal Travel Adaptor will come in handy for any gapper who plans to embark on some international travel during their gap year.
A Power Bank is an increasingly essential item for any young person, but especially one who might be relying on it for help navigating a new city, keeping an emergency communication device charged in the backcountry, or anyone living in bunk room style dorms sharing wall outlets with 12 - 20 other people.
Lightweight Notebook or Journal can be a useful item for writing down must visit restaurants, shops, and other hidden gems during travels, journaling about gap year experiences, or sketching their own masterpieces after being inspired by sights at the Uffizi or Louvre.
A Sturdy Suitcase is a big ticket item when it comes to gap year gear, but a quality piece that is versatile in many different scenarios can last decades.
Bluetooth capable Music Player that doesn’t connect to WIFI such as a vintage iPod Nano (make it more personal by loading a playlist of songs you selected)
Portable Bluetooth Speaker is a great gift for music lovers who also love to be the life of the party.
Portable Sewing Kit might seem like a boring gift, but it can be absolutely clutch at times…. Like the time our window blew off our tent on Day 2 of a 4 day backpacking trip in Iceland.
Repairing a tent window with my emergency sewing kit in Iceland
Bamboo Travel Utensil Set is a thoughtful gift, especially for environmentally conscious gappers who wish to reduce their single use plastic consumption.
Frequent Flyer Miles make a great gift for any gapper needing to travel by air during their gap year, since airfare can be one of the biggest expenses gap year students face. You may want to check with the recipient first before transferring miles in case they need to travel with a particular airline, such as with a group flight.
Portable Travel Games like Bananagrams, Uno, or Game of Things (travel size version) can help foster new relationships during the gap year.
Cash, Visa Gift Cards, or contribution to their Gap Year Fund might feel impersonal, but are always incredibly useful and appreciated by all gappers, especially those funding their experience on their own.
