National Park Hats and Sweatshirts: Embroidered Gifts for Every Park Lover

Some people collect fridge magnets. Park people collect places: the first sunrise at Arches, the long drive into Glacier, the campsite in Joshua Tree where nobody slept because the stars were too good. An embroidered hat or sweatshirt is a way to carry one of those places with you after the trip is over. We have just released a whole run of new national park designs, so here is a guide to choosing one, for yourself or as a gift.

Hats for the parks of the Southwest

Utah and Arizona parks are made for a cap: big sun, red rock and long trails. Each design is a colourful embroidered badge on a washed cotton dad hat, the kind of hat that looks better the more you wear it.

Mountains, glaciers and giant trees

For the hikers who measure a trip in elevation gain. Glacier and Mt Rainier are favourites with people from the Pacific Northwest and the northern Rockies, while Sequoia and Redwood make a thoughtful gift for anyone who has stood under those trees and gone quiet.

East Coast and swamp-country parks

The eastern parks get less attention but have some of the most loyal fans. Shenandoah is the weekend escape for half of Virginia and Washington, DC, Everglades is where many people see their first wild alligator, and Congaree is the park you only know about if you have really been looking.

Vintage-style national park sweatshirts

For colder trips and cosy evenings back home, our park sweatshirts take the look of a classic souvenir crewneck and stitch it instead of printing it. Embroidery keeps its colour and texture wash after wash, which is why stitched souvenirs have always been a park favourite.

How to pick the right park

1. Choose the park with the story. The best gift is the park where something happened: a proposal, a first big hike, a family road trip. Ask casually which trip they still talk about.
2. Hat or sweatshirt? A hat is easy to gift because the adjustable strap fits most people. A sweatshirt is the bigger, cosier gift, but you need their size.
3. Start a collection. Many customers buy one park per trip. If they already own one, a second park is a natural follow-up gift.

Prefer something to stitch onto a backpack or jacket? Our national park patches guide covers that side of collecting, and every park we stitch is in our national park collection.