Twelve caravan and motorhome gifts of Christmas? Start looking right here with our special Christmas gift gear guide, featuring over a dozen great idea for presents, based on recent guides published by us here at Caravan Guard insurance.
Offerings for you, or rather – and far more importantly, surely – your leisure vehicle!
Yule do!
We’ve listed some of the “star players” from our regular gear guide series as potential caravan and motorhome gift ideas this Christmas. There’s a pointer to the full gear guide with each of our gifts here. Treat yourselves – or a fellow caravanner or motorhomer. These are premium pressies. But, you know what? You deserve it!
#1. A winter wonder warmer?
Merlin 400 Smokeless Fire Pit
Chestnuts roasting… Why not? You’ll also be able to enjoy being outdoors as well as staying warm, whatever the weather, with an innovative fire pit like this.
What we said: Going smoke-free might just endear you all the more to your immediate neighbours, of course. Supplier Quest Leisure talks about the Merlin’s “clean-burn technology” – a secondary combustion action that injects warmed air through vents to create a vortex effect that, in turn, minimises smoke and enhances overall efficiency for a unit that’s designed to burn logs or charcoal.
Key features: Stainless steel including 1mm thick 316L marine grade combustion chamber; UK made; 40cm diameter fire pit; one-year warranty (extendable to two)
Expect to pay £249.99
Find out more in our gear guide to fire pits here.
# 2. A case for coolness
Vango Pinnacle 57L-80HR
If you think you might be struggling for extra capacity to keep things cool for anything up to three days through the festive season, here’s your answer.
What we said: Vango says this will keep food and drink cool for up to 80 hours (over three days) and its 57-litre capacity means it can take up to 75 drinks cans. It also has a two-door lid with a smaller opening that can be used when you don’t want to lose too much cold air. Recesses in both lid doors are designed to take up to six drinks.
For carrying, there are handles each end that drop down flat to the side recesses when not needed.
Key features: High-density polyethylene shell; polyurethane foam insulation; twin carry handles; drinks holders in the lid; weight 5.6kg; dimensions 61.5cm x 39cm x 42cm high
Expect to pay £90
Find out more in our gear guide to cool boxes for caravanning and motorhoming
# 3. Keep in touch, the wi-fi way
Maxview Roam 5G Wi-fi System
What better time than now to add a wi-fi system to your caravan or motorhome? Especially if you’re going away and want to keep in touch with the rest of the family.
What we said: 5G coverage is on the increase throughout the UK and, as Maxview says, a kit like this helps make you “futureproof”. The 5G router creates a wi-fi hot spot in your caravan or motorhome, and the omnidirectional antenna uses four cables rather than the usual two – giving you access to maximum speeds.
This kit will also connect to any existing wi-fi – for example, at your home – and repeat the signal. Professional installation is recommended, but it’s a job that is possible if you trust your DIY skills.
Features also include: CAT20 router, supplied with 5GB SIM card, 4 x 4 MiMo antenna, maximum speed 3.3Gbps, five days a week technical support, two SIM slots in router, four ethernet ports, also controllable via app,
Expect to pay £899.99
Find out more in our gear guide to wi-fi for your caravan or motorhome
# 4. Sun seeking
Truma SolarSet 100
Whether you’re going away or not through the festive season, or putting your leisure vehicle in over-winter storage where a trickle charge is still needed, a solar panel is the perfect way to keep a 12V system fully operational.
What we said: As a major supplier of solar panels to caravan and motorhome manufacturers, Truma is by some distance the market leader. It counts Swift, Bailey and Erwin Hymer Group (ie Elddis) in its key manufacturer customers.
But it also makes the same products available to private buyers, although it recommends you use a professional for the installation work.
The SolarSet 100 is its top seller from a range of panels of varying Wattages, going up to 150.
Featuring a solid panel and mounting feet to give some clearance from the vehicle roof to allow a cooling airflow, Truma says this is suitable for medium to large motorhomes or caravans. The set has all you need for a complete solar panel installation – Truma’s own dual battery charger, mounting feet, cabling, regulator all the way through to self-tapping screws.
Also included is a spoiler system to help prevent damage from overhanging branches. Expect to pay a similar price for the semi-flexible version of all this, featuring the Truma 1002 solar panel.
Dimensions are 1263mm L x 535mm W x 70mm H. Weight 8.8kg.
Key features: SDC 10 automatic charger, monocrystalline cells, plug-in connection, maximum charging voltage 14.8
Expect to pay £342
Find out more in our gear guide to caravan and motorhome solar panels
#5. Wrap up warm and stay dry
Montane Phase Jacket
Time to check how well your outdoor jacket is performing. Here’s a top quality product, albeit with a price tag to match, for the outdoor lady in your life.
What we said: Phase is a highly waterproof three-layer, 40 denier Gore-Tex jacket with a longer than normal back and a two-way front zip (i.e. it can be opened and closed from the top as well as the bottom).
A little thing, but the loop is so practical for hanging when wet…and the zipped inside pocket will just take a (smaller model) iPhone…
Key features: Sizes 8-16, choice of three colours, fully taped seams, YKK Aquaguard front zip and internal storm flap, two zipped hand pockets, internal map pocket, grown-on hood with adjustment and wired peak, adjustable hem
Expect to pay £300
Find out more in our gear guide to outdoor clothing
# 6. Get on two wheels
Batribike Omega
If you haven’t already invested in an electric bike (or two), maybe now’s the right time?
What we said: Light weight – just 21.2kg with standard Eco battery, 18.6kg without – is just one of the key factors here. The Omega also comes with seven-speed hub gear and front hub motor. The low 2amp charge current makes it an attractive proposition if you’re recharging whilst on a campsite, too – with charging time between two and four hours, even from flat.
The step-through frame makes it particularly easy to get onto this bike – a top consideration for many users
Key features: Shimano Nexus gears, 250Watt Promovec motor, 26in wheels, Tektro Vee brakes, battery upgrade options, maximum total load 120kg, green or white colour
Expect to pay £1,499
Find out more in our gear guide to electric bikes
# 7. Lights fantastic?
Outdoor Revolution 4 in 1 Lumi-Solar Fan Lantern
As the days get shorter and nights get darker, you may well welcome some extra interior lighting in your leisure vehicle. Especially something that offers versatility in terms of its functions.
What we said: Innovation abounds in the Lumi lighting range from Outdoor Revolution. This is a great example. It’s a portable LED lantern that has a fold-out hanging hook and can even be used hand-held.
It’s rechargeable, via either its own solar panel or a USB port that can also, in turn, be used to charge other electrical devices. It also incorporates a three-speed fan.
The LED lights have three levels of brightness, including dim night-time setting, full bright for use as a ceiling lamp and a mosquito-safe amber.
Dimensions are 14cm diameter and 11cm high.
Key features: Integrated 2,000mAh powerbank, fold-out light panels, typical working time four-eight hours, 0.4kg total weight
Expect to pay £21.99
Find out more in our gear guide to caravan and motorhome lighting
# 8. Stay in? Watch TV?
Vision Plus TV 23.5in
What’s Christmas without the chance to watch what’s on the box?
What we said: The newest model from Vision Plus, and it’s the largest screen yet. Like all the models in our gear guide, it’s designed specifically for leisure vehicle use, with features such as the facility to operate it from mains electricity or a 12V supply.
Very generously specified – this comes with a DVD/CD player, remote control, headphone socket, one-touch tuning, terrestrial TV recording function and lots more.
A stand is supplied, but it can also be removed for wall-mounting. It weighs just 2.9kg (including stand,).
Key features: 23.5in screen, NiCam stereo sound, HD terrestrial and satellite tuners, voltage protection, carry handle, lifetime product support, three-year guarantee
Expect to pay £349
Find out more in our gear guide to leisure vehicle televisions
# 9. Warm up with a portable heater
Swiss Lux Swivel Ceramic Fan Heater
Winter is surely a great time to keep warm and cosy in your caravan or motorhome? If you want to bolster your existing heating system with an efficient, mains-operated heater, how about something like this? It’s low-wattage, and you can switch between two power settings – 750Watts or 1.500Watts. The whole unit swivels to disperse heat effectively and it comes with a thermostatic control as well as an automatic cut-out if it’s toppled accidentally.
What we said: 750Watt or 1,500Watt? The choice is yours with this unit that also offers a generous spread of warmth thanks to its oscillating function. It also comes with an infinitely variable thermostatic temperature control as well as three fan speeds (including cool).
It sits some 26cm high, 19.5cm long and 16.5cm wide.
Key features PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) ceramic heating disc, automatic cut-off, oscillator switch
Expect to pay £35.99
Find out more in our gear guide to keeping warm in your caravan or motorhome
# 10. Get out for some special cooking
BioLite FirePit
Such is its versatility, this came up in not one, but two of our recent gear guides – Cooker Alternatives and Fire Pits
What we said: A smokeless fire pit that’s bang up to date, thanks to BioLite’s patented airflow technology (there are 51 air jets that inject the fire with oxygen) and what it calls an X-ray mesh body. That means it replicates the effect of a campfire, pushing out its heat in all directions (just like a fire).
But, add wood or charcoal and you can cook over its grill grate. And you can also control the fan intensity and flame size either manually, or remotely via the (supplied) Bluetooth app.
Key feature is a 12,800mAh power pack that runs a fan for anything up to 30 hours. Re-charging is via a USB port (cable supplied).
A griddle and a lid are among the options available here, should you wish to extend its cooking capabilities. It’s 68.6cm x 33cm x 26.7cm high, extending up to 40.1cm with its legs folded out.
Key features: Fire pit or grill flexibility, folding legs, removable grill, weighs 8.98kg
Expect to pay £269.99
Find out more in our gear guide to motorhome and caravan cooker alternatives
# 11. Time for a quiet cuppa?
Quest Braunton
Things can get pretty hectic during the festive celebrations. Make time for yourself and sit down with a fresh brew. You know you’ve earned it.
What we said: A low wattage, 0.6-litre collapsible kettle, where the handle also folds away into the lid for an even smaller pack size, making it a very handy product to have when your storage space is at an absolute premium.
Dimensions when up are 13,5cm high with an 18.4cm diameter. It folds down to 10cm high x 13.5cm diameter.
An ideal accompaniment, especially if you’re a loose-leaf tea lover, is Quest’s Edgcumbe, a 0.9-litre stainless steel and glass teapot complete with filter.
Key features 750Watts, automatic cut-out switch, power indicator
Expect to pay £32.99
Find out more in our gear guide to caravan kettles
# 12. Take a break…A windbreak!
OlPro Beach 4 pole compact windbreak
Perfect for a bit of extra pitch privacy. Or indeed stopping any unwanted breezes. Choose the right design and you can make quite a statement on-site, too.
What we said: A traditional windbreak design with a very modern look. Each poles is in three sections, helping it pack down to 66cm x 12cm x 12cm and a very lightweight 3.4kg. When up, total length is 480cm, height to the top of the fabric is 125cm
Key features Polyester fabric, collapsible steel poles, guyropes and pegs
Expect to pay £35
Find out more in our gear guide to windbreaks for caravans and motorhomes
Just starting out, so very interesting to see what’s out there. Thank You.
I agree with D. Briggs, absolutely…fires? Maybe not such a good thing.
Love the T.V. That’s a good upgrade I’m sure.
All very practical for the outdoor life
Very informative, affordable, & all practiable
I love it
None of these are for us but good information if you’re looking for something similar
I appreciate advertising is necessary, but would like to comment on a couple of your items listed.
Fire Pits: I have not visited a single site this year which allows a fire pit on site!
Some of the items listed are way beyond the average caravanner’s financial position in respect of prices, certainly beyond mine anyway.
Very Good
Quite good
Quite possibly the best “best of..” review I have read in a long time. Every selection makes sense and is extremely well explained.
Useful Info
I find all your articles very interesting and really helpful thank you
PS. Subject to my recent reply Brilliant,Brilliant, Brilliant
I have complaint!!!
My wife has just seen your lovely list of presents, now this is going to cost ME money!!
Brilliant, Brilliant, Brilliant