What to buy travellers for Christmas

5. Penguins in knitwear: could anything be cuter?
These little 23cm penguins have been hand-knitted
by volunteers across the world from excess jumpers
donated to help clean penguins up following oil spills.
Proceeds go to the Phillip Island Nature Parks
Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, in Victoria.
$24.95 each, penguins.org.au

Nomads may not have any halls to deck, but don't leave your travelling kin out in the cold this Christmas. Gift vouchers may get a frosty reception, and sables slipped under the tree are impossible to pack. But on-the-go power banks for smartphones are a plum prize, as is the classic gap-year present, the Swiss Army knife – with a seasonal twist.

Give a gift that will remind wild rovers of home, or something to lug it all in, who after all, doesn't love a great bag? Whether your intention is to tame wanderlust or gear up for an adventure, there are gifts for glampers and trampers, lounge lizards and wildlife warriors, for bachelors and babes. These cracking gift ideas are sure to have the traveller in your life jingling on their way.  

1. Slice your stollen or carve up the Kris Kringle with the new, oh-so-Christmassy, Swiss Classic Army Knife, the "Lollipop". At 58mm, it'll fit on a keyring and includes a screwdriver, tweezers, toothpick and blade. $35.95, victorinox.ch.

2. Wear your world with an Atlas pages infinity necklace by Melbourne-based artist Catrine Berlatier. The necklace is made from used pages of old atlases, intricately woven and folded into beautiful forms. The jewellery ranges from 63cm to 149cm. From $365, egetal.com.au.

3. The vivid illustrations of the animal kingdom among the ruins of Angkor Wat is the setting for The Last King of Angkor Wat, the new children's book by Graeme Base, the author of Anamalia, which has sold more than three million copies since its publication in 1986. $26.99, penguin.com.au. 

8. Glamping starts with the tent, and the new Lotus Pearl is the coolest in the campsite. The new two-person version of the Lotus Belle range weighs 8.5kg, packs into a little carry bag, and is breathable and waterproof, not to mention achingly chic. $450, lotusbelle.com.au  

4. Nothing says Sydney more definitively than our own Harbour Bridge, aka The Coathanger. So give the quintessential Sydney gift with this Coathanger coathanger. $4.95 each, bitsofaustralia.com.au.

5. Penguins in knitwear – could anything be cuter? These little 23cm penguins have been hand-knitted by volunteers across the world from excess jumpers donated to help clean penguins up following oil spills. Proceeds go to the Phillip Island Nature Parks Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, in Victoria. $24.95 each, penguins.org.au

13. Trust Lonely Planet, trust their travel products. The travel publisher's range of gear includes locks, bags and these handy foldaway water bottles that pack down neatly in your luggage when not in use. Available in lime (pictured), cool teal and blue. $9.95, travelgoods.com.  

6. Keep light-fingered cyber thieves at bay with this new card holder: the low-tech look hides a shield that blocks transmission of data from your credit and identity cards. Comes in classic cowhide with a money clip, featuring a blue or red strip. $39.95, zoomlite.com.au.

7. As the tagline says, the only bug you'll worry about is the travel bug when this mosquito repellent band is near. Worn on your wrist or even hung from a bag, the Para'kito is a refillable band with a pellet of blend of essential oils that is effective for 15 days, safe even for babies and mums-to-be. $24.95 (includes two pellets), au.parakito.com.

8. Glamping starts with the tent, and the new Lotus Pearl is the coolest in the campsite. The new two-person version of the Lotus Belle range weighs 8.5kg, packs into a little carry bag, and is breathable and waterproof, not to mention achingly chic. $450, lotusbelle.com.au

Magellan eXplorist GPS. 

9. Bundle your skincare essentials into one neat bag with the Jojoba Company Travel Essentials Pack. Includes a 15ml jojoba oil and 20mls each of cleanser and creams for day, night and hands. You won't be packing any artificial perfumes, parabens, sodium lauryl sulphate or mineral oils, or anything tested on animals. $24.95, thejojobacompany.com.au.

10. Urbane urbanites know Melbourne brand Crumpler means innovative kit: the Vis-a-Vis cabin bag, now in look-at-me green, has a sturdy, lightweight shell that zips up and is reinforced by wraparound fabric handles, for the quick grab. It includes a built-in TSA lock and a clothes compression system that keeps your gear where you packed it. 55cm cabin bag, $445, crumpler.com.

11. Never again get caught in an airport with a flat phone and the wrong power adaptor. The Eves Power Bank charges smartphones and tablets quickly and without mains power. Available in lime green or pearl white and weighing 80g, it even works on products not emblazoned with an apple. $54.95, navycrockett.com.au.

14. Move over, big sister. Ginja swimwear is designed by brother-sister team Tammy and Dax Bykerk, who also design Baku swimwear. The Serengeti Lace-Up Plunge Maillot, from the Spring-Summer 2014/15 range, is available in sizes 6 to 16. $149.95, ginjaswimwear.com.au. 

12. Celebrate the season with your little dears, wrapped in a Cuddledeer toddler towel. Made by British brand Cuddledry, they are a pesticide-free, cotton-bamboo blend, which means they're extremely absorbent and quick drying.  Super festive, their decorations include a spotty back, antlers and a red nose. $89.95, thestorknest.com.au.

13. Trust Lonely Planet, trust their travel products. The travel publisher's range of gear includes locks, bags and these handy foldaway water bottles that pack down neatly in your luggage when not in use. Available in lime (pictured), cool teal and blue. $9.95, travelgoods.com.

14. Move over, big sister. Ginja swimwear is designed by brother-sister team Tammy and Dax Bykerk, who also design Baku swimwear. The Serengeti Lace-Up Plunge Maillot, from the Spring-Summer 2014/15 range, is available in sizes 6 to 16. $149.95, ginjaswimwear.com.au.

17. Travel beautifully with this cyclo travel sling from small start-up Ethnotek. Their black base bags are water-resistant nylon, decorated with a removable panel handwoven by local artists across the developing world. The Cyclo Travel Sling Bag, Indonesia 6, includes hidden pockets for phones and glasses and a secure passport pocket at the back. $89.95, rushfaster.com.au. 

15. Channel your inner Hansel & Gretel and leave "digital breadcrumbs" when you're in the woods, with the hand-held Magellan eXplorist 610 walking GPS. It includes a camera, compass, topographical maps with features such as campgrounds, and lets you record your journey en route, so you can always find your way home, even without a GPS signal. $479, magellangps.com.au.

16. If you can't get to New Caledonia, or have fond memories of a visit, keep the love going with these bathers by Australian designers We Are Handsome, who were inspired by the island nation's blue lagoons and tropical greenery.  One-piece, $225, string bikini, $165, wearehandsome.com.

17. Travel beautifully with this cyclo travel sling from small start-up Ethnotek. Their black base bags are water-resistant nylon, decorated with a removable panel handwoven by local artists across the developing world. The Cyclo Travel Sling Bag, Indonesia 6, includes hidden pockets for phones and glasses and a secure passport pocket at the back. $89.95, rushfaster.com.au.

23. It's time to head north to the sun, with Adelaide designer Sally Phillips' Elm dress in the bag. Pictured in Turkish Sea colour, the Montenegro print dress has a v-neck and ¾-sleeves and is two-way stretch silk, the travelling girl's best friend. Don't pack the iron. Also available in black. $449, sallyphillips.com.au.  

18. Team your resort wear with these Devonshire sunglasses from British designer Paul Smith. Fresh from his new Resort 2015 lookbook, there's a vintage take on the frames, which come in five colourways including the Stripe + Brown, also available as an optical frame. $300, 1800 034 217.

19. When work catches you without a desk, the Logitech Keys-to-Go portable keyboard packs light, at just 180g, and will wear coffee or sunscreen with ease. Compatible with all iPads and iPhones, tuck it into your pocket and go. Available in black, red and bright teal, it measures 242mm x137mm x 6mm. $79.95, Logitech.com.

20. Waterbabies, alert! LifeProof nuud cases turn iPhones and Samsung Galaxy handsets into an underwater video camera, without bulky housing, letting you use the touch screen as usual. Bonus points for being shock, snow and dirt-proof to US military standards. iPhone 6 and 6+ nuud cases coming soon. From $79.95, lifeproof.com.

25. If you plan to follow the sun this Christmas, the Solarmonkey Adventurer will become your new best friend. The solar charger works with phones and tablets, games consoles and sat-navs, cameras and even head torches. The charger holds two to three full phone charges. Hang it from your backpack to recharge on the go, or cheat and plug it into the wall. $149.95, paddypallin.com.au.  

21. Celebrating Christmas far from home? Bring the scent of the season with you with this new, limited-edition Christmas candle by Palm Beach Collection. Infused with citrus peel and cedar, the soy-based wax candle will transport you back to the homeland in a flicker, offering 80 hours free from homesickness. $41.95, palmbeachcollection.com.au.

22. Sneak away with this sweet overnighter from Mrs Darcy. With a cotton outer and gold zip, it's 57cm long and the shoulder strap lets you travel with gay abandon. Love the print? Team with matching robe and slippers. Indigo blues overnight bag, $109.95, adaanddarcy.com.au.

23. It's time to head north to the sun, with Adelaide designer Sally Phillips' Elm dress in the bag. Pictured in Turkish Sea colour, the Montenegro print dress has a v-neck and ¾-sleeves and is two-way stretch silk, the travelling girl's best friend. Don't pack the iron. Also available in black. $449, sallyphillips.com.au.

Panamas are on a roll. 

24. Nothing says "holiday" better than a jaunty Panama hat, and this rollable version, made from the hat's traditional fibre, Ecuadorean Toquilla leaves, bounces back into shape no matter how many old-school guidebooks have been placed on top of it. Available in M, L and XL, $129, betterbrands.com.au.

25. If you plan to follow the sun this Christmas, the Solarmonkey Adventurer will become your new best friend. The solar charger works with phones and tablets, games consoles and sat-navs, cameras and even head torches. The charger holds two to three full phone charges. Hang it from your backpack to recharge on the go, or cheat and plug it into the wall. $149.95, paddypallin.com.au.