The TrailRecon 2022 Awesome Holiday Gift Guide
Finding the Perfect Present for Your Overlander
It’s the holiday season and along with it being a time for merriment and good cheer, it can also be a time when there’s a little added stress in our lives, especially when it comes to finding the perfect present for that special someone in your life.
But don’t worry, because Brad and I have put together a gift guide of camping and off-road gear that is sure to have something for all the overlanders and on your list. From stocking stuffers to gifts that wow, we’ve come up with 16 fantastic items that are tried and true personal favorites of ours.
Don’t get me wrong, because you can absolutely have a great time without a bunch of fancy equipment, but if you want to give a gift that will enhance your loved one's comfort, convenience, or safety during their next off-grid adventure, there’s nothing wrong with that!
Without further ado, here’s our 2022 Awesome Gift Guide....
16 Great Ideas for Presents & Stocking Stuffers
If you’ve watched more than a few of our TrailRecon adventure videos, you may have noticed that we really enjoy cooking up good food on the trail. So it’s probably no surprise that we take our camp kitchen gear seriously.
We’ve been using the Full Windsor Magware utensils for a while now because we love how durable, lightweight, and compact they are. Each pack has 5 sets of knives, forks, and spoons, with each set having it’s own color, making it easy to keep track of who’s using which set.
They’re also magnetic so when you’re putting them away or pulling them out, they stick together making them super easy to stack and store. It also makes it harder to drop them in the dirt if you have butter fingers like me!
But the best thing about these utensils is that they are reusable and built to last so you won't be contributing to landfills with single-use plasticware. We’ve used ours many, many times in the past year and they still look like new!
Brad and I both love the Byrna launcher because of the peace of mind it gives us when we’re out in remote, wilderness locations. This is a non-lethal projectile launcher that gives you the ability to defend yourself against aggressive critters when you’re off the grid without causing them lasting harm.
The Byrna runs off CO2 cartridges (similar to a paintball gun but much more powerful) that can launch a .68 caliber projectile up to 300 feet per second at a threat up to 60 feet away. The CO2 cartridge is only punctured when you first pull the trigger, not when you load the launcher, which means you don’t have to worry about it leaking or being depleted before you need to use it.
There are two types of projectiles available for the Bynra: kinetic and chemical irritant. The kinetic balls are really hard pellets and these are available in regular and eco versions. With the regular version, you will need to pick up the used pellets but the eco balls are water soluble and will biodegrade. The chemical projectiles are available in either pepper spray or a combination of pepper spray and tear gas, which takes your ability to protect yourself up a notch. (Please note, the chemical irritant projectiles cannot be shipped to certain states due to restrictions).
In addition to the Byrna being a non-lethal form of protection, it's legal to carry in all 50 states so you can take it to many places where you can’t take other, lethal, forms of self-defense, making them ideal for overlanders and campers on the move.
It’s no secret that I adore my InstaPrivy and it’s been a game-changer for me in terms of my enjoyment of overlanding and staying off the grid for extended periods of time. I’ve tried several different portable toilets over the past few years and this one is, hands down, my favorite.
This portable toilet is easy to use, lightweight, and compact, which means it’s great day trips as well as well as longer overland journeys. This portable commode is very well-made and because it has four legs, it’s also very and stable.
I also like the fact that by using the InstaPrivy, we are always packing out absolutely everything and we are leaving no trace (because when you bury something, you are leaving a trace). The waste bags just get tossed in the trash like diapers, and you can even purchase biodegradable ones.
The InstaPrivy kit comes with everything you need:
- A sturdy, folding toilet
- A carrying case with straps
- Several heavy-duty, disposable waste bags
- Lots of toilet paper
- Toilet seat covers
- Hand sanitizer
- 2 waterproof storage bags
- A shovel (just in case)
This may be an unusual gift, but it just might encourage your significant other to join you on adventures!
Living in Southern California, we’ve had to adapt to the fact that most of the places where we like to camp have restrictions on wood fires. That’s why we’ve learned to embrace propane fire pits—in fact, we actually prefer them now.
The Ignik FireCan, which puts out a lot of radiant heat, has become our favorite, go-to fire pit for staying warm when the weather gets chilly. And because there’s no wood being burned, there’s no smoke to get in your face and make your eyes water.
We love the design of this little fire pit, which is shaped like an ammo can, making it pretty compact for stowing away in the back of our Jeep. It also has four small legs that fold down flush with the bottom and have little rubber pads so it doesn’t slide around and scratch things up inside our rig.
One thing we really love about our portable fire pit is that when it’s time for bed, all we have to do is turn it off. No need to assign anyone to a fire watch or spend time making sure coals are out. Set up is just as easy—simply remove the lid, pop open the legs, and attach the hose to your propane can.
Speaking of…check out the next gift idea on our list!
5. Ignik Outdoors Gas Growler, $149:
This small portable propane is great not only because it works with the Ignite FireCan, but it’s also refillable. Brad loves the fact that he doesn’t have to carry around a bunch of the little green disposable propane bottles, which aren’t very convenient or environmentally friendly. Whenever we’ve been on a trip, we’ve always been able to find places to refill our growler, including RV and farm stores.
It also comes with a nice carrying case with molle webbing that protects the tank and allows us to keep it nice secure when we’re on the road and the trail.
Safety is our first consideration when we outfit a new rig, and that includes adding a fire extinguisher. As soon as Brad discovered the Element Fire Extinguisher, he replaced his old, bulky traditional extinguishers with this smaller and mightier version. And due to its more compact size, it’s easier to secure it in a variety of different, easy to reach locations inside our vehicles.
Even though the Elements extinguisher is smaller than a traditional extinguisher, it lasts about 50 seconds, which is much longer than a regular fire extinguisher. It also doesn’t leave any messy residue and works on several different types of fires, including alpha (wood, paper, and other common combustibles), bravo (gas and other flammable liquids), charlie (electrical), and kilo (cooking combustibles like oil and grease).
Nothing says "your special" like giving the gift of safety!
7. Vector Offroad Goose Down Quilt, $349.99:
This cozy quilt would make a terrific gift for that special someone on your list who has been especially nice.
Brad and I absolutely love the Vector Offroad Goose Down Quilt because we really don’t like being cold and the power of its 800-fill goose down has kept us warm and toasty on many a chilly night, including a few that were below freezing.
The quilt comes with a stuff sack and an additional storage sack, which makes it easy to condense down for storage. But when you pull it out of the bag and give it a good fluff, it puffs up nicely and is plenty large enough for two people to share (even with someone who likes to steal covers).
Some might call this down blanket a luxury item but I’d call it a necessity, especially when camping in frostbite-inducing weather.
At the end of a day on the trail, there’s nothing Brad and I love more than sitting around a campfire, relaxing, and enjoying good conversation about the day’s adventures.
Brad’s all-time favorite camp chair for doing this activity is his Front Runner chair. He’s a huge fan of how quick and easy it is to set up and the fact that it’s a single unit without a bunch of poles or pieces to set up before sitting down.
Made of steel, this chair also sturdy and durable—he’s had this chair for a few years now and it’s holding up great—and it folds down flat, which makes it easy to pack and store.
This heavy-duty canvas bag is the perfect accompaniment to the Front Runner chair. It holds up to two chairs, prevents rattling when you’re on the trail, and protects the chairs and your gear when stowed in your vehicle.
10. GSI RAKAU Picnic Table, $49.95:
When I’m relaxing at camp, hanging out in my camp chair, I like to have a convenient place to set things down like a plate of food, a book or magazine, my glasses, and a few other odds and ends.
That’s why I love our little GSI RAKAU table. It’s the perfect height for our camp chairs and the surface has plenty of space for all the things I like having within arm's reach without being so big that it’s a chore to set up and pack away. It even has two nifty wine holders on each side so your wine glasses (I’d recommend the plastic version for camping) don’t take up table space.
This lightweight table has a bamboo table top and aluminum legs that are nice and stable as well as quick and easy to fold out and fold back in—it takes about 10 seconds to set it up.
What’s also cool about this little table is that with the legs folded down it can double as a cutting board, making it a multi-use piece of camping gear…and it’s always good to have gear that serves more than one purpose.
11. NEBO Franklin Slide Rechargeable Flashlight and Worklight, $44.95:
Brad has been using this little 500-lumen flashlight for years and he loves it! It’s our go-to flashlight whenever we’re at camp.
You can use it like a traditional flashlight but it also has a strong magnetic base and slides open to reveal a second light along the barrel so you can use it as a work light. If you need to do some vehicle maintenance in the dark or you need a little extra light around camp with your hands free, you can easily attach this to any nearby metal and carry on.
Another great thing about the NEBO flashlight is that it’s rechargeable and the charge lasts a really long time—no more worrying about bringing a bunch of heavy batteries with you.
Just be mindful that the light is pointed away from you when you’re sliding it open—this light is blindingly bright!
Stocking Stuffers
If you’ve been a TrailRecon fan for a minute, you may have noticed that Brad loves his morning coffee. You might even say he’s a little obsessed with it. So, when he had the opportunity to partner with our friends at Got Your Six Coffee Company, he was like a little kid on Christmas morning!
Working with Got Your Six to create this coffee also means we’re helping veterans and first responders because the company donates a portion of their profits to several nonprofit organizations that support them.
After some seriously fun taste-testing of several different coffees, we selected the roast and flavor that is now the TrailRecon Adventure Blend Coffee. It’s a course grind (perfect for percolators), custom roasted for a rich, dark brew with hints of maple bourbon.
This coffee goes great with any breakfast at camp and we know we’ll be enjoying at home on Christmas morning with my homemade cinnamon rolls!
When you’re off the grid and away from a shower for several days, you can get a little ripe. And while I get that camping means getting a little dirty, as far as I’m concerned there’s no need to throw personal hygiene completely out the window.
That’s why I absolutely adore Klean Freak’s body wipes. They keep me feeling fresh and smelling good when I’m out on the trail. These handy wipes are perfect for taking a “shower” first thing in the morning or a quick wipe down before bed.
These wipes are soft and lightly scented...my favorite is the lavender (don’t tell anyone, but Brad seems to like that scent too).
The mixed bag of individual wipes not only make perfect stocking stuffers, they’ll give you an opportunity to try all the scents (and the unscented) to see which one you like best.
This little lighter reminds me of a mini-blowtorch, because it’s got such a strong flame. With it’s flexible tip, it’s perfect for lighting your fire pit and propane stove.
The Ignik Refillable Lighter also helps reduce waste in our landfills since it’s completely reusable—when it’s out of juice, just refill with butane and your back in business.
15. GSI Outdoors Glacier Stainless Pint Set, $29.95:
I think these GSI cups are amazing not only because they’re made of durable stainless steel, but also because they’re great for stacking, making them easy to store in my camp kitchen where space is at a premium.
I also love that unlike flimsy plastic cups, I can use these over and do my part to protect the planet. We’ve been using these for a while now and they’ve practically indestructible so I know we'll be using these for years to come.
Something else I really like about these pint-sized cups is that they’re all a different color so you don’t accidentally grab someone else’s beverage.
You may have noticed a bit of a theme here…Brad and I really, really don’t like to be cold! With these little Ignik hand warmers, problem solved!
They’re great because they come in little individual bags that are so easy to use and perfect for tossing in your pockets or even sliding in your shoes to warm them up before you put them on.
To use these Ignik hand warmers, all you have to do is open the bag and give it a shake—within minutes they’re nice and toasty, ready to warm you up! They also last up to 10 hours, which is longer other warmers we’ve tried, so you don’t have to use as many of these.
These hand warmers are also environmentally friendly. The outer packaging is recyclable and the warmers themselves are biodegradable.
Happy Holidays!
We hope this guide with some of our favorite things helps you check a few names off your holiday list. But if you still need some ideas, feel free to browse around the TrailRecon store and you’re sure to find something for that special overlander in your life.
May your season be merry and bright and the coming year bringing you goodness and joy!
Regena and Brad
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