Christmas Gift Guide for RV Owners, VanLifers, Campers

 

Looking for great gifts for friends or family members who just got their new van, are more seasoned RVers, or perhaps serious campers? Check out these ideas—each one from hubs and my personal use and travels with Vangie, that are sure to please anyone living the dream! You can see more on many of these items at Travels With Vangie: Best Camping Gear Including Resources

More EC Gift Guides Here

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After much research and paying particular attention to reviews, we opted for these CGO Pico camping chairs. We love them … very study, extra comfortable, and they fold up so compact it’s hard to believe there’s a chair in there!

 

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Yep, this contraption screws onto a propane canister is a stove. As shown, it has the pot attached. Smaller vessels are available for heating soup, chili, etc.

We’ve tried other methods of boiling water for coffee, but this is without a doubt the fastest and best. And it is considerably cheaper than its competitor, JetBoil. It comes apart, folds up and fits in a small mesh bag, which makes it super mobile.

 

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We didn’t have our 17-inch, tabletop propane griddle when we started, so we can make reliable comparisons. This little Blackstone can do anything. The camp stove we had prior? Not so much. In fact, it was an unreliable piece of junk.

This tabletop propane griddle cooks, grills, fries like a high-end appliance. And it cleans up like a breeze. Everything—from bacon, to pancakes, steak, fried rice, stir-fry, hot dogs, fish, fried potatoes, and pizza—comes out extraordinary on this Blackstone.

 

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Adding the stand with the side table moved things up a notch. We no longer require a table to set it on. With the adjustable legs, we can ensure it is level in any terrain. We can be off-grid out in the boonies and cook up a storm like a couple of wannabe home chefs.

 

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This book takes readers on a fascinating trip that will enable them to get rid of their boring lifestyles and wake up wherever they want. The author explores what it takes to hack a nomadic lifestyle in the 21st century with road tips, tricks, and details from American van dwellers. The book is a good manual for readers who dream of living in a van and getting rid of the routines that have come to rule their life.

 

 

This bunk mattress warmer (which works perfectly on our full-size mattress) radiates heat from below allowing you to relax into a deep and restful sleep. This safe and efficient bunk warming pad keeps the chills away on cold winter nights. Perfect for use in trucks, RVs, Campers—any place you have a 12-volt style outlet.

 

 

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Berkey Water Filters

BERKEY HOME

We no longer need to carry bottled water, which saves a lot of space in our camper van. This travel-size Berkey Water Filter fits under the sink inside the van. When we get to our destination it’s easy to carry out, fill up with whatever water is available (we have a 24 gallon water tank onboard we fill with city water, so that is often the source). Even if all we could find is pond water, this Berkey will filter produces amazing purity. While all Berkey products can appear at first to be pricey, once you do a thorough cost analysis, it becomes affordable. Knowing we have safe, pure, clean, tasty water available at all times is an excellent comfort!

 

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Lava Box Portable Campfire

LAVABOX $245.00

There are portable fire pits, but then there is Lava Box. It is better than anything we considered or tested. It’s built from an ammo box and comes with lava rocks. Connected to our 10-pound propane tank, the flame it creates is more robust and higher than all the competition. Made right here in Colorado, we are so happy with this purchase. Check it out here.

 

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This is the set up we use—Lava Box and Ignik Portable Propane tank. Great gear.

 

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Handiest little fold up sturdy table, ever. It would be difficult to list all the ways we use these (we have two, could use more!)

 

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Fast, easy way to light any fire fast—campfire, barbeque, and fireplace. Starters leave no odor and burn completely. They’ll even light after being submerged in water. Non-toxic, odorless. 30-year shelf life.

 

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Up to 900-lumen  Cree LED sweeps bright light over the length of about two football fields and reaches nearly 1000 ft. Fully zoomable from wide to narrow beam. Features 5 adaptable settings: High / Medium / Low / Strobe / SOS. Tough and reliable. Designed for use in heavy rain.

 

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MoonShade is a portable vehicle awning that offers reliable coverage, day or night, to our outdoor sites. With a variety of anchoring systems—magnets, suction cups, etc., it sets up easily and attaches to almost any sturdy structure. MoonShade provides 9ft by 7ft coverage but packs down tight and weighs only 8 lbs, making breakdown and storage a breeze.

 

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Coffee snobs that we are, having fresh, properly ground coffee is a must have. We just added this hand burr grinder to our gear. It is sweet—once we figured out that unlike other grinders where 6 or 7 is the finest grind, on this Vivaant the 6 or 7 is coarse! Nearly sent it back, but then woke up. Now that we have that straight, I don’t think we could find a better option. It comes apart to make it another compact piece of equipment.

 

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This Kalita Wave coffee dripper is something fantastic, and I can’t figure out what makes it so different. Normally pour-over method of coffee brewing is so slow! But something about the design of Kalita makes it so fast—maybe as fast as my Bunn coffee maker at home! And since it sits right on top of our coffee mugs, no pot needed. Just add the grinds to the Kalita with filter, pour in the boiling water from Stryker, and seconds later fresh hot amazing coffee … anywhere we find ourselves.

 

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• Double Walled Insulated
• Splash Proof Lid
• Cup Holder Friendly
• Condensation Free
• Premium 18/8 Stainless Steel
• BPA Free – Non-Toxic
• Hot for 8 Hours
• Cold for 24 Hours

Can you tell how much we love our Happy Camper tumblers?

 

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Perfect for the compact (super tiny) spaces in an RV, Van, or tent! These precise measuring devices collapse, to take up only a fraction of the space of fixed kitchen tools. Really fun!

 

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This 16 volt, lithium battery cordless vac is a winner! The runtime is excellent, holds a charge well, strong suction and fade-free power. Does not have to be stored in its charger, only when it requires recharging. Excellent option for a small space like RV, van, or tent. Best inexpensive handheld cordless vac out there!

 

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Spending all day in an RV is no excuse to eat dry cereal instead of fresh veggies. With this collapsible cutting board, the RV kitchen gets one step closer to perfect. The BPA-free cutting board has a non-skid base and pops-out into a bowl when it’s time to mix what’s been chopped.

 

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A good, basic survival knife for camping, fishing, hunting. Comes with multi-tool key chain and safety sheath.

 

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This lightweight yet powerful light is ultra-lightweight and easy to fasten on caps, hats, and helmets for hands-free lighting. This LED light is minimalist and rechargeable, making it the perfect companion for all outdoor activities from mechanical repairs to caving, running, and hiking.

 

 

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Repel mosquitoes without chemicals or sprays on your skin. No lotions or DEET to apply. No smoke, flames, or citronella. Not a messy trap. This Thermacell rechargeable mosquito repeller creates a 20-foot mosquito protection zone—80% more area than previous models. So portable and super easy-to-use, one-button keeps mosquitos away.

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For the outdoor enthusiast who wants to capture the adventures! Shoot stunning video with up to 5K resolution, perfect for maintaining detail even when zooming in with this GoPro HERO9 waterproof action camera wit front LCD and touch rear screens, 5K ultra HD video, 20MP photos, 1080p live streaming webcam and stabilization. Amazing!

 

 

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This is a very affordable, highly reliable portable power to fill every outdoor power need. Charges cameras, drones, phones, tablets, laptops, flashlights, hand warmers … you name it, this Jackery does the job. Comes solar power ready (solar panels sold separately.)

 

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So your rig is secure, you’re ready to hit the bike trails or hike another fourteener. Where do you keep your valuables? You can’t carry everything with you and most RVs are not super secure against break-ins. This trailer hitch vault is the answer—a good place for your extra set of keys, cards, cash, and other valuables.

This secure key vault inconspicuously allows you to keep your valuables secure at all times during outdoor activities where that might usually be a hassle.

The hitch receiver is constructed from high-impact aluminum and is a vault that combined with the HitchSafe provides the most secure location on your vehicle to store spare keys and other personal items.

The HitchSafe easily installs and uninstalls in seconds with no tools required.

 

 

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Whether you’re coming or going, the remedy for pre-trip chaos and forgotten toiletries is right here!. An exhaustive checklist of everything you could ever need on a trip, this organizational tool will help even the most forgetful to arrive and depart fully equipped.

 

 

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Make four delicious waffles in minutes with this  8” diameter nonstick machine. The cooking surface heats evenly and quickly, resulting in perfectly cooked waffles. Experiment with different recipes and make hash browns or homemade paninis using the Express Waffle Maker. Simply plug in your appliance and you’re ready to cook! Perfect for small spaces and people on the go! Choice of 3 colors.

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This is not a doormat—it’s big at 8′  x 11′ and large enough to define a beautiful outdoor area for chairs, table, grill, and so forth. Lightweight and compact. Easy to fold or roll for easy storage. Includes a carrying bag.

 

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Living off the grid means paying careful attention to your battery power. The last thing you want is an energy hog for anything plugging into your rig’s power. With this monitor, you can find out what appliances are best for your travel. Simply connect these appliances to the Kill A Watt EZ, and it will assess how efficient they really are. I’ll let you read about all the additional benefits and uses for this great little monitor.

 

 

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This is one thing you really need but hope to never have occasion to use. It’s an emergency escape tool that is many tools in one. It has a seatbelt cutter on one end, a window breaker too with the hardened sharp and heavy carbon steel points on the other. Comes in 2-pack so you can keep one in the tow vehicle or RV glove compartment, another in a door pocket or armrest.

 

 

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This travel coffee maker brews coffee or tea on the go so you can drink from the same container when it’s ready. Now you can enjoy your morning cup of Joe wherever you are! It’s well-insulated to keep that coffee hot for hours.

Quick and easy. Simply add coarsely ground coffee, hot water and seal the lid for a delicious, freshly pressed cup in minutes. Comes with complete instructions.

 

 

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Fast gourmet popcorn in the microwave! This beautiful, durable, temperature-safe borosilicate glass device makes for better popping experiences. No oil or butter required, no chemicals involved. We received this as a gift from friends many years ago and I can promise that it makes the best popcorn ever.

 

 

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OK these are perfect for RVing. With sturdy soles, comfy plush lining, and slip-off styling, these house shoes/slippers for both men and women with their affordable price and multiple choice of colors, they’re right there new perfect. And if you’re not careful, they just might become your full-time vacation footwear!

 

 

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This super sturdy, lightweight aluminum ladder comes with one-button retraction! And so compact. Safe to Use: No more pinched fingers! The telescoping ladder’s high-quality construction ensures that each section expands and retracts safely. Intelligent locking pins hold the sections in place and prevent sliding, and the ladder will retract smoothly and slowly. Exactly what you need on board to reach every area of your rig with plenty of convenience and ease.

 

 

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You find the perfect camping spot, back in the rig flawlessly, open up, set up, and sit back to enjoy a beautiful campfire and breathtaking view. And then it hits. Your bonfire starts smoking up the area beyond belief! You rush to close on the windows on your RV and what a mess. Know what I mean?

Well, no more with the Solo Stove Bonfire, the world’s most unique fire pit that pushes the limits of both combustion airflow efficiency with its outdoor design and all-stainless-steel construction. It was painstakingly engineered to provide a backyard or camping fire experience that cannot be duplicated. 

 

 

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A photography book celebrating the nomadic lifestyle and community of vanlife through interviews, essential advice for living on the road, and more than 200 photos of tiny rolling homes.

 

 

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Give the RV or van owners on your list the gift of warm feet; they might just love you for life. Choice of colors and sizes from $47. Really awesome!

 

 

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9,000-BTU radiant heater for spaces up to 225 square feet. Approved for outdoor/indoor use (with proper ventilation); clean-burning; nearly 100% efficient. Fueled by propane. 

 

 

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This is one of those nice-to-have emergency items. Many van-goers and RVers may have jumper cables already, but this setup allows them to self-jump their own vehicles.

The NOCO Boost Plus G B40 1000 Amp 12-Volt UltraSafe Portable Lithium Jump Starter and Car Battery Booster Pack is the gift of peace of mind for those heading off the beaten path.

 

 

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Staying organized in an RV or campervan can be incredibly difficult—trust me. Even though you have fewer possessions, you also have very limited storage.

Packing cubes like this Travel Organizer Cubes Set can make it easier for your friendly van-dwellers to keep their tiny space nice and tidy. These cubes can also be used to keep things in order in your suitcase when you travel for work or play. Six colors.

 

 

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The hammock is made of super-strong 210T parachute nylon material. This soft, breathable, and mildew-resistant nylon cloth will last for a long lifetime. The high-grade nylon triple interlocked stitches maximize hammock strength for your ultimate safety. Five colors to choose from. Comes with carrying bag, too. Super easy to set up and pack up.

 

 

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This collapsible trash bag holder makes it easy to keep campsite trash in one spot and under control. Clips along the top inside edge securely attach to prevent bags from slipping down. Super convenient. When collapsed, stores away easily.

 

 

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The ultimate camping stove for preparing coffee, soup, or dehydrated meals on the trail, in the RV or campsite. A highly coveted item for RV and VanLifers!

 

 

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These nesting mixing bowls have wide non-slip bases, easy-carry handles, and are lightweight. A new improved stainless-steel mesh sieve and a large colander complete the collection of food preparation items. Great cooking prep set for gifting, new home cooks, bakers, RV camping, and small kitchens.

 

 

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This richly illustrated book from the travel experts at National Geographic showcases the best travel experiences in every state, from the obvious to the unexpected. Sites include national parks, beaches, hotels, Civil War battlefields, dude ranches, out-of-the-way museums, and more.

You’ll discover the world’s longest yard sale in Tennessee, swamp tours in Louisiana, dinosaur trails in Colorado, America’s oldest street in NYC, and the best spot to watch for sea otters on the central California coast. Each entry provides detailed travel information as well as fascinating facts about each state that will help fuel your wanderlust and ensure the best vacation possible.

In addition to 50 states in the U.S., the book includes a section on the Canadian provinces and territories.

 

 

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Removes bacteria & parasites from water as you drink. The microfiltration membrane removes 99.99% of waterborne bacteria (including E. coli and salmonella), and 99.999% of waterborne parasites (including giardia and cryptosporidium). One LifeStraw filters 1,000 gallons of water with proper use and maintenance. A must-have for all outdoor adventurers.

 

 

 

 

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