With the holidays quickly approaching, now is as good a time as any to start thinking about what to gift your favorite RVer (even if that RVer is you!).
From education opportunities to must-have gear to family-friendly ideas and more, we’re sure you’ll find something here that’s perfect for your gift-giving needs!
This article contains Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, Escapees RV Club may earn from qualifying purchases.
Whether they’re new to RVing or have been at it for years, any RVer can attest that this lifestyle is a never-ending opportunity to learn something. Just like a sticks-and-bricks house and your daily driver vehicle, RVs need ongoing maintenance. Between their sewer, fresh water, electric, and propane systems, something often needs tweaking, tightening, cleaning, etc. It’s also very handy to understand how RVs handle road hazards differently, requiring a different set of skills than driving your average four-door sedan.
Thankfully, there are several ways RVers can brush up on this information! Help your cherished RV stay safe and secure as they travel with the gift of education.
Ask any outdoors enthusiast and they’ll tell you one of the biggest pains of camping (even in an RV!) is dealing with mosquitos. Whether they’re enjoying the breath-taking beauty of Alaska or heading south of the border to sunny Mexico, and anywhere in between, mosquitos dampen their outdoor experiences much of the year. Thankfully, Escapees-favorite Thermacell has a wide variety of tested and recommended products that answer this very concern. Our resident gadget guru, Mark Nemeth, has reviewed and recommended several Thermacell products over the years, including their lanterns and their newer backpacker model. As someone who travels often to Alaska and is familiar with their beastly mosquitos, he’s fond of their effectiveness. “It really does the job on pesky insects, even those legendary blood-suckers up north.” Thermacell even sent us their newest device, their E-series, to try out. With a 20 ft radius and rechargeable battery, it’s a fantastic gift for RVers who enjoy campfires, happy hours, and more, soaking in the fresh air and scenery.
Speaking of campfires, we’ve found RVers love propane fire pits, including our own team! “We’re very happy with it. It puts out a lot of heat and takes minimal storage space,” says Melanie C., vice-president of Escapees RV Club. She and her family use theirs often while camping because of the convenience and ease of use. These self-contained campfires are handy for a variety of reasons, including
There are several different brands on the market to choose from, but we’ve found RVers tend to favor Camco’s Big Red Campfire. It’s available from a variety of retailers (which may explain it’s prevalence) including Amazon, Camping World, hardware stores, and more, making it an easy RV gift. A handy companion to your portable campfire is a tailgater strap to secure your propane tank in your truck bed during travel!
It’s the nature of RVing to get out and explore, whether that’s on foot or behind the wheel. Sometimes, RVers find themselves in tight spots at awkward times, which is when emergency tools come in handy!
Garmin InReach is a great option for a satellite communicator that does so much more. With features such as location sharing, weather updates, two-way messaging, and more, it will keep your loved one connected even when their cell phone is out of signal. This is perfect for the backroad-loving traveler, such as off-road enthusiasts, backcountry camper, and through-hiker. Avid RVers and off-road explorers (and Escapees staff), Brandon H. and Kerensa D. love theirs for the safety it offers while they’re off-grid. “You can make emergency calls, stay in touch with others in your group, and keep an eye on the weather even if your cell phone has no signal.”
For those times when the light on their cell phone just won’t cut it, having a reliable, bright flashlight is super useful. Olight’s Baton II comes highly recommended by several on our team. In addition to being rechargeable (no heavy batteries to keep on hand!), it is lightweight and easy to carry. RVers love it for maintenance work, too, since it comes ready to clip to a hat brim for those times when they need to work with both hands AND light their view at the same time.
What to get the accident-prone home cook? In the tight spaces of RV kitchens, accidents easily happen. A space-saving, and skin-saving, solution is to get your favorite RVer an OveGlove! These handy (😉) oven mitts withstand up to 540 degrees and protect all sides of your hands and fingers for even the trickiest juggling of hot dishes with thick heat-resistant fabric and textured grip.
Another RVer favorite is the Instant Pot! These multi-purpose cookers can take on soups, frozen meats, rice, and more, even baking cakes and breads. (One of our directors shared her thoughts on this gadget in this article.)
Want to level up the Instant Pot? Add an air fryer lid and suddenly there isn’t much an Instant Pot can’t do!
For RVers on the move, travel-friendly gifts are key! Here are a couple of digital gifts and subscriptions your favorite RVer may appreciate, especially since they don’t have to track them down via mail.
Lovers of roadside stops will find fun in the Next Exit guide. What was once a popular book is now available as an app, too! This is a great resource helping passenger seat navigators plan ahead for rest stops, interesting places to stretch their legs, and more.
Fuel gift cards are always appreciated!
An America the Beautiful pass (otherwise known as a national parks pass) is a fantastic gift for the explorer in your life. One pass covers:
To help them track their progress as they visit each of these gorgeous spots, you can pair the pass with a scratch-off map like this one!
Other options you may find appealing are gift memberships to organizations that help RVers find inexpensive (and sometimes free) camping options!
A membership to Campendium.com is another great way to support your favorite RVer’s travels! In addition to campground reviews, they offer information on cellular coverage, maps of public lands, and more, going beyond the standard RV park review. While this useful website does have a free option, signing up for a membership brings more benefits such as additional filtering options, map overlays, and more.
This is by no means an exhaustive list of tools, gadgets, and resources RVers use and enjoy, but we hope it gets you started! As with anything you hope to send an RVer, make sure you plan ahead for where they’ll be when your gift arrives!
Did you like this post? Pin it to Pinterest!
Fairbanks, Alaska is home to the famed “midnight sun” with twilight illuminating the very brief summer night. During the seven-day Midnight Sun Hangout, you’ll join in the celebration of the summer solstice–when the sun dips barely below the horizon for just over an hour–in Alaska’s northernmost major city.
100 Rainbow Dr.
Livingston, TX 77351
Phone: 936-327-8873
Email: clubbusiness@escapees.com
Fax: 936-327-4388
Copyright © 2023 Escapees, Inc. All rights reserved. | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Terms of Service
Stay up-to-date with Club news, blog posts, events, and more. This bi-weekly newsletter is full of everything you want to know.