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With less than two weeks until Christmas, here are some gift ideas that I consider my “must-haves” for camping. These are items I either already have in our camper or they are on my wishlist for the near future. (Hint, hint Kristin!)
(For links to products, click on the pictures.)
One of my favorite items for set-up/tear-down is this Camco socket. It allows me to use my cordless drill to raise and lower my scissor jacks. (This and a power tongue jack helps to prevent me from sweating up a storm before climbing into the van for a long ride home … so I guess it could be considered a gift for her as well!)
Kristin suggested that I include some “cool camping clothes,” but really we guys will wear just about anything on a camping excursion. So here’s a Life is Good “Happy Camper” shirt to make my wife a happy camper about this post.
This back-up camera would be very useful if you don’t have one of two things: a back-up-camera 
For less than $5 at Amazon.com this is a great movie to keep in the camper. When things break or the trip is not going well, just watch this movie and you will realize that it could be worse. A word of caution to the newbie campers out there: Yes, you do have to empty your own sewage tank, but I personally have never had an experience like Robin Williams does in this film. Although … we have friends who could relate.
Most guys I know are picky when it comes to selecting a camping chair. This fall I was instructed to buy a new chair since my previous chair was “too big and bulky”–i.e., not compact and space efficient enough for long travels in the camper. So I chose a chair much like this one as it is technically a bag chair but it is built for hunting and thus it is of higher quality than most bag chairs. Not all bag chairs are created equal!
On my wishlist this year is a new GPS since mine was stolen out of my car earlier this year. I have done a lot of research and have narrowed my search to two units, both of which are specific for campers/RVs. My research indicates that the Rand McNally (first picture) has more RV features, while the Garmin is really a trucker GPS reprogrammed for camper/RVs. Typically, Garmin users who buy another brand tend to complain that other brands do not keep a GPS lock, and those who have had Magellan/Rand McNally in the past complain that the Garmin interface is confusing. Bottom line: Both are great units; you’ll probably be most satisfied if you get the one that is made by the brand you know and prefer.
If you have any more ideas to share about great gifts for the campers in your life, be sure to leave a comment over on the Facebook page.
Photo Credit: freedigitalphotos.net, by thephotoholic
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