CHRISTMAS SHOPPING NEEDN’T be stressful this year, because we’ve come up with a list of great gifts for motorhome owners.
Whether you want to add it to your own Christmas list or treat someone else with a new gadget or cute item, we’ve got all sorts of possibilities for every budget.
Clever Kombi Camper by Ian Blackwell www.kina.co.nz NZ$95
Love retro campers? Here’s one modelled out of wood by New Zealand designer Ian Blackwell. Each one is individually numbered and comes with an owners certificate, to be cherished as much as your life-size ‘van! It also has a removable lid, so you can keep trinkets inside.
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Hippie Campervan Ribbon www.notonthehighstreet.co.uk £9.50
Jazz up your wrapping with some polka dot or geometric ribbon with vintage campervan designs.
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Camping mug by Snowden Flood (www.snowdenflood.com) £15.50
Everyone loves a brew, so why not get one of these lovely camping-themed mugs for your favourite motorhomer? Warm yourself up with nearly a pint of your favourite hot drink, sit back and relax in your ‘van.
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Campervan iPhone Case www.notonthehighstreet.co.uk £21.95
Declare your passion for campervans on your phone with this colourful range of iPhone cases. Made in South London using scratch- and fade-resistant hard plastic, it will protect your phone plus it can be personalised by adding initials to the license plate. Available for iPhone 4/4S/5/5S and soon the 5C.
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Entertainment in style www.emmabridgewater.co.uk £130
This Emma Bridgwater design will look great in your ‘van, plus it has DAB and FM radio and an iPod dock (available for phone iPhone 4 and 5). It is easy to tidy away, has up to 15 hours of battery life and is portable; the perfect companion when you’re on tour.
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Practical pitching help www.pitch-pal.co.uk £9.95
‘Pitch Pal‘ is a three-in-one gadget to help you get your caravan in the perfect position on the pitch. Taking into account the best sun or shade positioning for your ‘van and awning, finding satellite signal and ensuring your motorhome is level. Pretty handy.
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Outwell melamine set www.outwell.com £26.99
It may not be picnic weather, but lightweight melamine is always useful for trips away in the ‘van. This set is made out of bamboo and is biodegradable when buried, so you can help the environment out, too!
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Motorhomeoholic Gifts www.caravangifts.co.uk Prices from £9
This website has lots of gift ideas for motor-caravanners, from ‘a motorhome is for life not just for christmas’ aprons, to ‘merry motorhoming’ t-shirts.
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Campervan toaster www.prezzybox.com £39.95
Have more fun in the kitchen with this camper van toaster. It is compact, has space for toasting two slices at a time and has adjustable settings so you can have your toast just how you like it.
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Motorhome mad www.zazzle.co.uk Prices from £1.75
You’ll find a selection of bumper stickers, hats, t-shirts and mugs with fun motorhome designs, such as ‘tiny home, huge yard’. Plus there are cute illustrated cards with campervans on! A great website to get stocking fillers for the motorhomer in your life.
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Gift subscription to Practical Motorhome £39.99
Why not treat someone to a copy of their favourite magazine? Whether they’re in need of some reading material on their e-reader or love to get a magazine through the door every month, you can get them 13 issues for £39.99 – saving 27%.
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Motorhome beer cooler www.bobilstore.com £3.50 inc. P&P
This neoprene stubby holder will keep your drink cold while you relax in the ‘van. Perfect for a trip away!
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Count the pennies www.motorhome-accessories.com £5.00
And the money for your next trip will be saved up in no time… these cute VW camper money boxes are great for making small savings. It all helps!
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Tickets to an Outdoor Show www.thecaravanandcampingshow.co.uk £8 for adults
If you buy advance tickets to one of the big shows, such as February’s Caravan and Camping Show at the NEC, you’ll save some money and also have a great gift. If you have a friend shopping for a new van or just want some holiday ideas for the season ahead, this could be perfect.
Splurge on cleaning www.dyson.co.uk £229
Keep your caravan or car spick and span with the portable, hand-held Dyson DC58 vacuum cleaner. It is light and has triple the suction power of any other hand-held thanks to its V6 digital motor. It has twenty minutes run-time, perfect to clean up spills while you’re away on tour or even a thorough clean when you get back.
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Hiker’s insoles www.superfeet.co.uk £40
If you refuse to give up hiking, whatever the weather, you may find these insoles from Superfeet useful.The design gives extra control, stability, balance and shock absorption while reducing heel lift and foot fatigue and minimising risk of blistering. It is also moisture resistant and has an antimicrobial treatment to keep those smells at bay. The merino wool helps to insulate against the cold.
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Extra-special cycling www.snooper.co.uk £699
The new Snooper E-bike Strada folds into a handy storage bag for easy transportation, and has a range of 20 miles at up to 15mph. The light-weight hydro-formed frame means this electric bike weighs only 26kg. You can even set the level of battery-powered assistance you want, which is especially useful for challenging hills. This would be the perfect way to explore the countryside around your campsite.
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Craghoppers Gloves www.craghoppers.com £20
Keep your fingers warm while you set up the motorhome with Craghopper’s soft-shell gloves. They offer protection from rain, snow and wind but with more freedom of movement than heavy duty gloves. With a velcro wrist adjuster, pairing grip to keep the pair together and palm grip so that you can still do everything you need to.
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Handpress Portable Espresso www.handpresso.com £95
If you like good coffee wherever you pitch up, this gadget is right up your street. You generate the power as if using a bicycle pump, use either ground espresso coffee or Easy Serving Espresso pods and add 50ml of hot water. It is light weight and compact, weighing only 480g and comes in either white or silver.
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Warm and snuggly www.resultclothing.com hat: £4 scarf: £7.85
Keep warm in stylish Fair Isle patterned knitwear. The high winds and low temperatures we’ll be facing this winter may put you off touring, but with the right wind protection and cosy knits, you can keep exploring to your heart’s content. With a hat and scarf in this Nordic-style print, you can stay warm even in high winds.
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Bryony Symes
Practical Motorhome
4 December, 2013