On this episode of the RV Family Travel Atlas podcast, we are bringing you our 2017 Holiday Gift Guide. It’s our annual roundup of great gifts for all the RV enthusiasts that are on your holiday shopping list.
Also make sure to check out our very special 2017 Small Business Saturday Gift Guide for even more unique and creative RV-themed gifts.
Even though the most important part of the holiday season is spending time with our family and friends, we also know how fun it is to find that perfect gift for someone special. Here is a list of some of our favorite finds from the past year.
Segment One: Stephanie’s Holiday Gift Guide
Apple Watch ($199-$399)
Okay, this is a pricey one, but it’s also one of my very favorite things. My family got me one for Mother’s Day last spring, and I am completely addicted to this thing. Originally, I thought the Apple Watch was just an expensive fitness tracker, and I do adore the rings that I have to close everyday. But I was surprised at how it also helps me stay connected without a lot of the additional distractions of my cell phone. I can receive important texts or phone calls but not get tempted by email and social media when trying to disconnect.
The latest model, the Series 3, has cell and GPS capability. If you want to save a bit of money, go for the Series 2. I have been perfectly happy with it, and while it doesn’t have the cell service, it is waterproof…a much more important feature for a mom of young boys.
Sirius XM ($60 for 6 months)
We’ve been crushing on Sirius XM since we first got a free trial in a new car years ago. It was an on-again/off-again relationship, but now that our kids are a bit older, Sirius XM is a necessary part of the road trip experience.
We love that no matter where we are in the country, we can find music that everyone enjoys…at the same time. Plus, the sports, news, and comedy stations give us a much needed range of entertainment on long car drives.
This year we decided to splurge on the streaming package and now can access Sirius XM on our phones and computers, whether we are at home or at the campground. We use it every single day and would cancel cable before getting rid of our beloved satellite radio.
Beddy’s
If you follow us on Instagram or Facebook, you probably saw the post with our first Beddy’s set on the toy hauler Happy Jack bed. Making RV beds is quite the chore…RV bunks are a downright nightmare.
I have been aware of the Beddy’s product for awhile and have heard many RVers rave about how easy they are to make and how comfortable they are to sleep in. I finally had to find out for myself.
The verdict? Beddy’s are everything they are cracked up to be and more. I love that there is no more sloppy comforter hanging over the edge of the bed causing my RV OCD to go wild. I love even more that Theo is comfy cozy at night. He can easily zip up the bed in the morning before climbing down.
We have a special coupon code for RVFTA listeners. You can save 20% with the code RV Family at Beddys.com. Make sure you tag #rvfta in your Beddy’s pics!
Essential Oils Diffuser and Accessories
A couple of years ago, I started battling stinky boy odor in the RV by bringing along our oil diffuser. Now the whole family is hooked. We have a dedicated diffuser that lives in the RV and churns out peppermint, citrus, or lavender scents depending on our mood and time of day.
If your kids like a nightlight, you can get a diffuser that is illuminated. I like this one that is easily adjustable.
I also love my Evoon oils travel bag, so I can easily bring along and safely store whatever essential oils I’m in the mood for.
Essential Oil Diffuser Necklace from Red Cactus Design ($15)
I love no frills jewelry that fits in at the campground or out to dinner with my girlfriends. Red Cactus Designs has a ton of really beautiful pieces, but I particularly adore the essential oil diffuser necklace with a dragonfly etching. I can place a couple of drops of whatever oil I choose onto the terra cotta and then catch the scent all day long.
Cabela’s Women’s Wynter Boots ($99)
When we are camping in the winter, keeping my feet warm is my personal key to happiness. I was on the hunt for a super-warm boot that would also pass as reasonably stylish.
These boots are waterproof with a Thinsulate lining. My feet are staying toasty, but I can wear them with a skinny jean and coat and not feel like Nanuk of the North. For the win.
And speaking of coats…
Cabela’s Coldspring Coat ($199)
I also wanted to break my habit of surviving the winter in a fashionable puffer coat that left me shivering if I wasn’t practically sitting in the campfire. I really dislike big, bulky winter coats, but I also dislike being cold. Humpff.
The Coldspring Coat manages to be warm without being overwhelming. I love, love, love the uneven hemline that dips in the back creating a very trendy profile.I’ve been wearing this coat with skinny jeans or leggings and all manner of shoes, and I haven’t felt like I was ready to trek to Greenland.
Segment Two: Jeremy’s Holiday Gift Guide
Coleman Triton InstaStart Two Burner Propane Stove
Jeremy has been claiming for a long time that he was going to learn how to make camp breakfast, but this was the year he finally did it. And like so many folks before him, he learned on a Coleman propane stove.
Cabela’s Outfitter Series Cast Iron Griddle
Jeremy didn’t consult me when buying a cheap, thin teflon coated griddle to make his pancakes. But the learning curve was steep and before long he had learned that you always cook with cast iron at the campground. Pair this cast iron griddle with the Coleman camp stove an you have a great gift for the camp cook in your life.
Don’t Call Them Trailer Trash, by John Bronkowski and Michael Closen ($19)
If you know someone who needs a little entertainment while their RV is winterized, get them this humorous coffee table book filled with pictures of vintage posters and RV-themed memorabilia.
Nebo Slide or Nebo Slyde King Flashlights ($25/$40)
Both of these flashlights have the same basic features, but one takes batteries and one is USB rechargeable, so you can choose based on personal preference. Its a 300 lumen flashlight and 200 lumen work light combination. There is a powerful magnetic base. Plus, Jeremy loves the packaging. Which is a pretty big deal.
Nite Ize Gearline Organizational System ($16)
We love their gear ties, and now we love this nifty contraption also. It’s a gear line made from rugged, wear-resistant webbing and you can hang it horizontally or vertically wherever you need to–in a tent, the RV storage bin, garage, or boat. There are a variety of carabiner clips and gear ties so you can switch it up according to what you need to store.
Southwire Surge Guard 34850 50 Amp ($299)
Every single RV owner should also have a surge guard. Southwire is a reputable family owned company in Georgia that has quite a reputation in home wiring across America. This Surge Guard is rated 120/240V, 50 A-3850 Joules. It continuously monitors and displays the voltage and amp draw, and protects against power surges, reverse polarity, and miswired pedestals.
UE Wonderboom Bluetooth Speaker ($85)
About the same size as a grapefruit, this bluetooth speaker takes up very little space but has a big 360-degree sound. We can play our music at the picnic table or campfire without broadcasting it to our campground neighbors. A small loop on the speakers allows us to hang it with a Nite Ize gear tie. Plus, it’s waterproof so we don’t have to worry about the common spilled beverage at our family dinner table.
Cabela’s Mens Roughneck Flannel Lined Stonewash Shirt ($42)
Warm, but not too warm. Casual, but easily dressed up. Jeremy and I rarely agree on his clothes, but we both love this shirt. It comes in a variety of colors, so you can get a couple and rotate through.
Cabela’s Men’s Pinnacle Gloves with Gore Tex ($75)
It’s the year of Gore Tex around these parts. It took us a while to realize that Gore Tex is possibly the most amazing thing in the whole wide world. First we fell in love with the rain coats…then it was the hiking boots. Now we’ve moved on to the seasonably appropriate Gore Tex glove. These are waterproof but breathable (of course) with PrimaLoft Gold insulation. A soft nylon cord goes around the wrist so you can take the gloves off without having to shove them in your pockets.
Segment Three: Under the RVFTA Christmas Tree
We really try hard to find gifts for the boys that will encourage their love of the outdoors and offer us an opportunity to have fun as a family. This year, we are giving them an archery set, so we can all learn a new hobby together.
We talked to some Outfitters at Cabela’s and they recommended the following gear to get us started. We’ll keep you posted as we go!
Genesis Camo Compound Bow Kit ($230)
Multiple Outfitters independently recommended this bow kit to us because they said it was great for young, beginning, or adult archery. The draw weight is adjustable from 10-20 pounds and the kit includes a belt, quiver, arm guard, and arrows.
Cabela’s Barricade Archery Target ($45)
You gotta give them something to aim for, right?
Polaroid Pic-300 Instant Film Camera ($65)
We are still on the fence about this one. The polaroid camera is back and our kids had a blast with this one that was highly recommended by some friends. However, we are not sure if our boys are into the camera enough to justify the purchase of polaroid film (an expense that could add up).
We wish you a very happy holiday season!
Stephanie + Jeremy
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