Racking your brain over what to give someone who rarely has cell service, keeps all of their belongings in a backpack, and spends most of their days in the middle of nowhere?

Fret not–we’re here to help with a list of 10 awesome gifts (in no order) that your chainsaw-wielding, eye pro rocking, dirt-caked trail worker will appreciate. (Applicable for interns too!)

1. Socks

You might roll your eyes at the first contender on the list: socks have acquired a bad rap as the leader in disappointing gifts, but every seasoned trail worker knows a solid pair can make or break a hitch. Quality socks are pricey these days, so you’ll score a lot of points when you hook them up with a few good pairs. Darn Tough and Smartwool make attractive, dependable socks that are sewn here in the US. Both brands use Merino wool, which is naturally insulating and odor-fighting, and promises to keep feet dry to prevent blisters.

2. Entertainment

Trail workers can’t veg out on the sofa to surf the latest Netflix additions at the end of a long day. Instead, they’ll likely bust out camp chairs in the dirt, yank off their boots, and relax until someone yells “DINNER!” (or complains about their foot odor). But there are plenty of technology-free ways to pass the time until the next burrito bowl. Portable versions of nearly every board and yard game are readily available online (check out this backpacking bocce set), decks of cards can be personalized around the web for late-night Euchre sessions, and hacky sacks are inexpensive and can be stuffed into even the most chock-full of packs. Help your trail worker unwind with a rad, portable game for the long and winding road.

3. Multi-Tool

You’ve got a fork jammed in the bottom of your backpack (or was that it under the passenger seat?) The can opener is buried at the bottom of the kitchen kit, you left your knife in your tent, and you haven’t seen your tweezers since your last prickly pear run-in. Solve this conundrum in one purchase and get your crew member a versatile multi-tool. The Swiss Army knife still holds a place in the lineup, but Leatherman is arguably the most well-known manufacturer. Companies like Gerber and SOG are worth checking out too. Most sites offer customization, so ask your trail worker what tools they use most to ensure efficiency.

4. Tarp(s)

You might not score points for glamour, but you’re aiming for practicality with this one. Tarps are lightweight, versatile, incredibly inexpensive, and can totally save the day (or night) when you really need them. Tarps can be bought in place of more expensive tent footprints (the cheapest footprints come in around $20, with costs rising quickly into the $50 range) to protect the bottom of your tent during long hitches. They are light enough to stick in your daypack and use as a lunch shelter on rainy days. You can set up a tarp over your rainfly during big storms for extra protection: key for desert crews during monsoon, or Eastern crews…basically all season. Tarps can be used to block the wind, which comes in handy for desert crews. They can even be set up off the front of a tent for extra vestibule space. The possibilities are endless, and since you can snag tarps from REI starting at $5 or find them for sale in most drugstores, there’s nothing to lose.

5. Parks Pass

The gift that gives all year round. A National Parks Pass is your trail worker’s ticket to over 2,000 public lands throughout the country for an entire year from the purchase date. With the recent increase in admission prices to many public lands, the Parks Pass pays itself off even quicker–you’ll spend $70 in two visits to National Parks, making the $80 pass well worth it. Plus, 100% of the money you spend on the pass goes on to benefit the National Parks–so you’ll get to feel good about the cash you’re spending, the Parks will benefit, your trail worker will be thrilled…It’s a win-win-win. You can pick up a Parks Pass at various sites online, any National Park or Monument, or from your local REI.

6. Sleeping Pad

A super-packable, super-comfy sleeping pad is one of the best investments you can make, but plenty of trail workers go without. Many end up sleeping on cheap fold-up foam pads, or old half-length Thermarests from the 80’s they found at the thrift store and have to wake up to re-inflate every night (I may be speaking from personal experience here…) Being well-rested is essential to recharge the energy needed to swamp for a sawyer, swing a doublejack, or puzzle through rockwork problems all day. If you want to make sure your crew member is getting adequate beauty sleep, surprise them with an awesome pad like this one from Big Agnes. It’s worth it to spend the extra cash on an insulated model, which will keep them off the cold ground and boost core temps during chilly weather.

7. Plant ID Handbook

There’s a good chance your trail worker had to travel to another state for their position, which means it’s likely their first time experiencing the plant life of that area. Plant identification is invaluable knowledge for just about anyone, but it’s especially handy for those who will be up close and personal day in and day out with flora that could potentially be poisonous or contain irritants. Where does stinging nettle grow? How can you identify poison oak throughout the seasons? Answer these burning (pun intended) questions for your trail worker and get them a plant identification guide for the region their crew is based in.

8. Portable Stove

Each of our crews is outfitted with a complete kitchen kit, so they already have everything they need when it’s time to chow down. But portable camp stoves like the PocketRocket from MSR still come in handy–maybe they just want to boil a quick cup of water for tea before bed once in a while and don’t want to get out the big stockpot, or maybe they go on backpacking trips during their off-days and want to have dinner options besides a can of soup cooked in the fire pit. The PocketRocket boasts a boiling time of just over three minutes for one liter of water, so your trail worker can have their ramen on the summit in a flash.

9. Wool Sweater

Wool is a literal lifesaver. It keeps you warm even when wet, it’s great for layering, and it’s breathable. Better yet, you can find excellent wool sweaters at your neighborhood Goodwill or Savers for just a few bucks. At some point in their season, your trail worker could be chest-high in a field of invasive Russian thistle or crashing through thorny vines in the middle of a transect, so it may be better to save your money on that brand new, high-end down jacket and find them a sweet wool sweater on the sale rack at the thrift store.

10. Gear Repair Tape

Working on a trail crew can mean occasionally braving extreme weather, living out of a tent for up to 8 days at a time, bushwhacking, and of course, challenging and sometimes repetitive physical labor. If it sounds like working a season on a crew may wreak havoc on your gear, that’s because it can. Whether you’ve acquired that dreaded ever-widening tear on the floor of your tent right during the middle of a rainy week, or a manzanita branch slashes through your outer layer, you’re going to want to fix things fast. Gear Aid Tenacious Tape is a great go-to when you’ve got holes to mend, but for those really haphazard crew members, you may want to spring for a more extensive kit.

Whatever your budget, we hope this list gives you some unique gift ideas for the trail worker on your list!