We’re not going to say gifting for overlanders is the easiest thing to do, but amongst our gift giving guides we’d certainly say it might have the broadest product pool. If it’s off-road related—sure, it can go on the list. Camping related? Put it on the list. Fun cooking items? Put ‘em on the list. Survivalist? Put it on the list!
Overlanding is where outdoor, automotive, and self-sufficiency activities intersect, so it’s no wonder that an overlander gift list begins at this busy intersection as well. As such, our list focuses on a bit of each category since a well-rounded selection of gear creates a well-rounded adventurer.
Recovery Gear Kit
All-in-one recovery bags come in many flavors. Indeed, you can spend as much as a winch on one. But if you’ve got someone in your life who may not have a Master’s Degree in vehicle recovery, a basic kit will feature everything they need to get the most out of their winch. A quality kit from the likes of Warn or Factor 55 will include shackles, tree protectors, snatch blocks, recovery straps, and perhaps a few other goodies. And the bag it comes in should be sturdy as well, with plenty of room for other accessories like a flash light and winch remote.
Speaking of the bag, perhaps you know that special someone does have quite an assortment of shackles, hooks, and ropes already. Maybe they are more on the off-road side of things, or just have specific items they prefer to use. Or maybe you’re just in over your head with all this recovery talk and don’t know what they might use? In that case, a premium recovery bag—again, from the likes of Warn or Factor 55—makes for a durable, great looking place to put all these goodies. Even without the gear, recovery bags make a great gift.
Along with recovery kits, first-aid and emergency kits are also something anyone who drives a car on dirt or pavement should have in their vehicle. A first aid kit should include essentials like bandages, gauze, ibuprofen, burn cream, and wipes. Kits from brands like Ready America, while not the most glamourous of gifts, are thoughtful and necessary. Not to overdo the dramatics, but having a comprehensive and accessible first aid kit could be a lifesaving decision.
Camp Chairs
How many times have you gone to some type of outdoor event and kicked yourself upon arrival as you forgot to bring a chair? Whether it’s camping, live music, or a sporting event, having a comfortable seat can absolutely make or break an experience.
Well, for overlanders, half of their time is spent out of their vehicle, so a well-built chair is at the top of the list for necessary accessories. (Unless you’re standing for effect to deliver that ghost story climax, no one wants to be relegated to standing around a campfire.)
There is no shortage of flimsy, foldable chairs available on the market. And while you may find one that sits well at a discount store, seasonal supermarket aisle, or thrift shop, how long will that realistically last? Buying a chair from a reputable manufacturer is a good way to weed out subpar options whose maker is in it for the cash grab.
If space is at a premium when packing the vehicle, then check out some of the stellar units that fold down into bags no bigger than a packable poncho. Also, keep an eye out for padded, rip-stop material and solid steel frames that can shake off being left out in the rain overnight. While not necessary, zippered pockets for storing small items are great for getting valuables up off the dirt. We love the collection of chairs offered by Dometic—from big to small, they offer something for everyone.
Just make sure whatever chair you choose has a nice deep cupholder. The last thing you’d want is a something creepy and crawly to find their way in that cold one you just cracked open.
Camping Stove
While some folks live that #vanlife with full kitchens inside their rigs, most overlanding enthusiasts who aren’t living out of their vehicles 24/7 need to set up shop outside. The centerpiece of these mobile cooking units is the stove—unless you plan on cooking exclusively over campfire. There are plenty of options to think about when shopping for a camping/overlanding stove, so let’s go through a few of the more pertinent ones.
Freestand vs Tabletop. This boils down to legs vs. no legs. If you’re frequently at a campsite with tables or have a flat tailgate, then a tabletop makes sense. They’re lighter and generally much more portable and space-saving. If, however, you plan to cook from a more remote area, then having legs is a godsend. Sure, these units take up more space, but many freestanding units also have the benefit of being more powerful.
How many Burners? Two is generally the standard here—just think of how many you use when cooking on your house stove. But if space is at a premium and you plan on only making one thing at a time, one-burner stoves are plentiful and tend to cost less. Of course, on the other hand, if you’re cooking for many people at once most of the time, 3+ burner units may be a good idea. Daisy-chainable options are also available, so you can always start small and add more burners later on.
BTUs, or British Thermal Units, is the measuring stick for how quick you’ll be able to cook your food. 10,000 BTUs is a pretty standard burner rating, and can cook food/boil water in a serviceable amount of time. But if you’re looking to really fly through prep and cook time and get to the eating part, 20,000 BTUs is a great choice.
Portable/Camping Coffee Maker
Sure, if you’re near civilization or at many campsites/parks, getting that morning cup of joe might be as easy as driving a mile or two down an access road. But for many of us who are hours away from the nearest Starbucks or Dunkin’, getting that morning pick-me-up might be a bit more of an ordeal. And sipping that sunrise cup of coffee can be the difference between being able to power through a morning hike or throwing in the towel at the first steep incline.
Thankfully, whether you (or your beloved overlander) are fine with instant coffee or are a bit more discerning, there are many choices when it comes to portable coffee makers.
For simple brewing, there are several stainless-steel, plastic, and ceramic funnel-shaped drip makers that just require a filter and the coffee of your choice. Here at Parts Via, we’re fans of coffee presses, as we think they produce a superior tasting brew. That’s why we recommend the GSI Outdoors JavaPress series. Just add your favorite coffee, pour in water, stir, steep, and press for a delicious, coffee bar-grade brew. (And if coffee isn’t your thing, it also makes a great cup of tea.) Starting at just $40, the JavaPress makes a wonderful stocking stuffer gift that the overlander in your life is sure to get plenty of use from on the trail.
Whatever you choose, it’ll be a much better choice than lugging along that Mr. Coffee or Keurig maker and looking for power to plug it in. Simple, lightweight, and cheap—portable coffee makers are a must for those chilly mornings in the wilderness.
Portable Speaker
Great for the home or campsite, a quality Bluetooth speaker is a must for music lovers. Whether it’s the Grateful Dead, Phish, or DMX, a little music can make waking up a bit easier and make those walking tacos taste a bit better. We know they’ve been around a while, but the sound quality, feature sets, and battery life of modern Bluetooth speakers have come such a long way in the past decade. Speaking of battery life, if you do have a unit from years past, many times the battery life just isn’t what it once was. It’s time to upgrade.
A few things to consider when buying a Bluetooth speaker:
Do you want something the size of a pack of gum to be able to clip to your backpack? Maybe something a little bigger that can satisfy a group around a campfire? Or do you want something the size of a nightstand that will wake up sleeping children two counties away?
Battery Life. The longer the better. If you’re always near a place to charge, or keep it plugged in, you can get away with those only rated for a few hours. But a dead speaker is a vibe killer.
Most speakers these days are capable of Bluetooth calling, but a few of the cheaper ones may not have the capability and/or built-in microphones.
Extra Ports/Connectivity. Some speakers have extra ports to charge other USB devices. This is a great feature to have, but will drain your speaker’s battery considerably. If you’ve got an old legacy device that doesn’t have Bluetooth, like an iPod, then make sure to grab a speaker that has an auxiliary input to connect it. And before you laugh at having an iPod, think of the remote places you plan on traveling to. Are you sure there’s a cell signal?
Sound Quality. This is our number one concern. If you can’t test it before you buy it, at least read reviews. Is the bass too thin? Do the highs crack at max volume? Do the mids sound muddy? Having instrument separation and a wide sound stage may not matter to some, but getting a speaker that’s neck and neck with your own phone speaker isn’t ideal.
Hopefully something on this list helps you gear up for the holiday season and surprise the overlanding enthusiast in your life with a gift that's both practical and bound to ignite their sense of adventure—happy shopping!