Happy Holidays, friends! If you’re still hunting for a great gift for your travel buddies (or yourself), here are my favorite things from this year.
Just a note, everything here is stuff I’ve personally tested and use myself. There are no paid placements, these are all personal recommendations from me. I love these things, and I think you and your friends & family will, too!
Gifts under $50
Sharpie Markers, Multi-Color Pens & Weather-Proof Notepads
I keep Sharpie markers everywhere in my house, garage, and vehicles. The colored ones are great to have, too, especially if you have kids doing school projects.
And multi-color pens are great for keeping my notes color-coded and organized. I also keep these everywhere, and this 24-pack is so cheap you can gift them to friends, too!
Lastly, these All-Weather Notepads are perfect for keeping in the car…the paper is tougher, so they won’t get shredded from being thrown in the glove box, and the flip-top design makes them easier to write on while traveling.
Tire Plug / Repair Kit
I’ve not only fixed my own tires several times, but also helped others on the trail (usually folks in rental cars with “all season” tires). If you/they don’t already have a tire plug kit, this should be on the must-get list.
They’re not expensive, and they can be a lifesaver! I just added this kit to my GX470, and have this more basic kit in my camper van. If you shop around, just make sure you get ones with metal T-handles for the actual tools…plastic ones aren’t strong enough.
Charging Sockets w/ Battery Readout
Most of us run lights, charge phones, and power gadgets while we’re parked, and these handy 12V car sockets not only add 2x30W USB-C outlets (plus an 18W USB-A port), they also show your starter battery’s current charge so you know when it’s time to crank the car to keep it from dying!
Wiring kit is included, and they’re an easy swap for the OEM lighter port on most vehicles. There’s even an on/off switch if you don’t want the LED display on all the time.
Jawbreaker Mini multi-tool
The Jawbreaker Mini is cheap, compact, and has a surprising number of tools on it for basic repairs. There’s even a small poker for removing SIM cards from older phones, which is useful for a variety of weird things beyond that, too.
It’s a little heavy as a keychain, but the carabiner clip lets you hang it on a belt loop, backpack strap, whatever. It’s less than $10 on Amazon, making it a great stocking stuffer. Just don’t try to bring it on a plane, there’s a small box cutter blade on it.
Gifts for $50 to $100
Fenix LD15R Right Angle Flashlight
Not only is this tiny light very powerful and has a dedicated Red LED for night vision, the 500-lumen Fenix LD15R has a magnetic base that sticks to my car’s frame so I have both hands free to work. And unlike headlamps, once I’ve aimed it, it keeps the light on the task no matter where I’m looking.
It’s also super compact, so it’s easy to stick into tight spots under the hood and vehicle, or even clip it to your shirt. It runs for almost 3 hours on high, too, plenty of time to finish most jobs. There’s even flashing modes for emergencies. I use this all the time, and highly recommend it.
Huckberry Proof 72-Hour Merino Wool T-Shirts
I’m a huge fan of wool for travel because it goes for days of consistent wear without stinking, so you’ll find several options using this material in this gift guide. These Huckberry Proof 72-Hour Merino T-Shirts add a tiny bit of nylon (13%) to reinforce them so they hold their shape and last longer than 100% wool.
I spent six weeks in Japan with just three of these T-shirts and got by with only a couple of laundromat visits. These are pretty much the only tees I pack for road trips, they hold up very well, and are super comfy, making them well worth the $72 price.
Gifts from $100 to $250
Foxwell NT360 Pro OBD2 Scanner
If your overland rig is of a certain age, there are almost certainly lights that pop on and off all the time. The Foxwell NT360 Pro plugs into any vehicle with an OBDII port, and this model upgrades with anti-lock brake and airbag system testing and more, plus it can test your battery and alternator, too.
I had the NT301 first, but upgraded to this one for the enhanced features and it’s still cheaper than a single visit to a mechanic just to have them check the lights. Even better, it can also reset warnings if you’re doing your own maintenance, clearing those lights for you.
Paka The Hoodie
Paka’s The Hoodie is 100% made in Peru from sustainably sourced alpaca wool, is incredibly soft, perfectly fitted for athletic bodies, and comes in five perfect colors. It’s stretchy without feeling loose, so it layers great under a jacket. And for just $139, it’s a freakin’ steal compared to other high quality wool sweaters. Available in men’s and women’s.
Uncharted Supply Co. First Aid Plus+Gear Repair Kit
I like Uncharted’s First Aid+Gear Repair kit because it combines basic first aid supplied and instructions with emergency preparedness items like a flashlight, waterproof matches, chemical lights, and even duct tape and needle-and-thread.
They’ve also just updated it with blister care, burn gel, reusable zip ties, and even a pocket for medicines…which is a nice touch because I’ve overpacked mine adding basic OTC meds and extra bandages. The Velcro-strapped back panel lets you mount it to MOLLE panels, and it’s highly water resistant.
STKR FLi Over-Lander light pole
STKR Concept’s FLi Over-Lander 10′ telescoping light pole is one of my favorite things I got this year. It sheds a huge amount of light, has an amber mode for easier night vision, and lasts for hours and hours even on full 2600-lumen brightness.
If you routinely camp off-grid or just want better area lighting for backyard parties, this will probably be your new favorite thing, too. Read my full review here, and use code AWOL for 10% off.
Danner Mountain 600 hiking shoes
The Danner Mountain 600 bridges the gap between hiking boot and running shoe, combining the best of both for outdoorsy travel. They look and support like a hiking boot, but the outsole is softer and the mid-body more flexible like a running shoe.
Combine that with a cushy Vibram midsole, grippy Fuga tread, and 10 different colors to choose from, and they make a perfect travel shoe that can handle any terrain, remain comfy on long treks, and dress up even the most rugged outfit. I had high hopes for these, and they lived up to the hype straight out of the box.
The Big Splurge
Solar Chargers & Generators
The Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Plus (also on Amazon) is a boosted version of their popular “1000” series that stores 1,264Wh of power and can push it out at 2000W, enough for some power tools and other high-draw items (like some hot plates and coffee makers!). This bundle includes two of their extremely durable solar panels, too, just make sure to add any necessary extension cables.
The Bluetti AC180 w/ 200W Solar (also on Amazon) is a little bit less expensive, but also a little less powerful with 1,152Wh capacity and 1,800W output. It has more AC and DC outlets, though, so you can plug more things into.
Happy Holidays!
Here’s wishing you all safe and abundant travels through the New Year and beyond. Good gear makes every adventure more enjoyable, but at the end of the day, it’s the experience and sharing the journey with family and friends that really counts. Cheers!
Adventurous Way of Life covers the best new gear, gadgets, and tech for those who dig the outdoors, health, fitness, camping, cooking, overlanding, vanlife, and the adventurous active lifestyle. Subscribe here to get our periodic newsletter recaps by email.
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