Stocking Stuffers for the Footloose

One of the best travel gifts I ever received was a small Swiss Army knife. I have used it dozens of times and in dozens of ways, from slicing cheese in France to trying to dismantle a jammed train door in China. Although I can’t carry it in my hand luggage on airplanes anymore, it will still go with me in my checked bag.

Eye shades and earplugs are among the favorite items of Federica Bressan, 20, of Friuli, Italy, who explored North America by rail this fall. They proved especially valuable when she slept in shared rooms at hostels or napped on long train rides.

If friends or family members are planning a backpacking adventure, here are ideas for great lightweight, compact gifts for the holidays. You’ll find most of these items at outdoor equipment stores:

* Instead of a traditional sleeping bag, consider a fleece sleeping bag, which is more compact and can be opened into a blanket (handy for chilly overnight rail or bus rides). Travelers who stay in hostels often carry a sheet sleeping bag, which can easily be made from a folded sheet.

* A headlamp, which is great for reading at night in shared hostel rooms. Choose a compact model that can be adjusted from a wide area of illumination to a focused beam. Also check the number of hours the lamp will run without changing the batteries.

* Swiss Army knives (I like the Climber model for travelers) and Leatherman multi-tools. The corkscrew, bottle opener, can opener, scissors, screwdriver, pliers and blades that lock into place are most helpful.

* A money belt or pouch worn under clothing. Look for material that won’t chafe and resists dampness, because perspiration can smudge signatures on traveler’s checks and important documents.

* Sturdy day packs. Choose models made of material that can’t be sliced easily by thieves; a reinforced bottom because that’s what gets the most wear; and strong zippers with tabs that can be locked together.

* Small, inexpensive binoculars. Bushnell offers models such as the Powerview, which costs $20 or less and folds down to 11/2 by 3 inches.

* A guidebook and a durable, lightweight journal. Make sure the guide reflects the traveler’s style and has been recently published or updated. Generally, good guides for budget travelers include books by Lonely Planet, Let’s Go and Moon Handbooks.

* An overnight backpack. Consider giving a gift certificate or taking the traveler shopping with you to get the most comfortable fit. The prospective user should try packs on with weights inside and check for a well-padded hip belt (for distributing the weight from the shoulders); heavy, durable zippers that can be locked shut; and a reinforced bottom. I recommend an internal frame: The less dangling outside, the less that can get caught and damaged by luggage handling equipment in airports. (You can also solve this problem by giving a lightweight pack cover.) Many packs can be converted to a suitcase by sliding the shoulder straps under a flap.

* Cash in the currency of the first country the traveler will visit, at least enough to cover costs for the first 24 or 48 hours. It will help visitors ease into a foreign environment when they are still fuzzy from jet lag.

* Stocking stuffers under $10: antibacterial hand cleanser; a small durable alarm clock (for travelers who don’t have a watch with an alarm); first-aid and sewing kits; a whistle (a favorite is Fox Forty); a small compass that fits on a key chain (great for getting bearings in foreign cities); and small durable locks for luggage and lockers in hostels.

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Lucy Izon is a Toronto-based freelance travel writer and author of “Izon’s Backpacker Journal.” Her Internet site is www.izon.com.