Are you looking for the perfect gift for the camper or RV enthusiast in your life?
Boy, do we have the solution for you!
(Even if the gift is for yourself. Don’t worry, we won’t tell anyone.)
If you’re a regular visitor of the Grateful Glamper blog, you know we have an adventurous spirit ourselves—we’ve spent consecutive months on the road with our kids, seeing everything from the Florida Keys to the best KOA campground in Colorado and everything in between.
Along our journeys, we’ve had the opportunity to not only test a ton of camping and RV-related products but even develop our own products which you can view in the Grateful Glamper store here.
In today’s post, we’d like to share with you some of our favorite hidden gems and must-haves so that you, your family, and your closest friends can be better prepared for the great outdoors. Some are functional, others are fancy, and some are just for fun, but they’re sure to be a hit whether you’re getting them for yourself or as a great gift for your favorite outdoors enthusiast.
So… Are you ready to discover the best hand-picked gifts for RVers and campers?
Let’s dive in!
Insulated, Soft-Sided Cooler Backpack
It’s a cooler that’s also a backpack.
Talk about a great idea, right? What else can we say other than this thing is awesome. It’s surprisingly big too—we can easily fit lunches and drinks inside it for all four of us. If you really wanted to, you could fit up to 30 cans (of sparkling water, of course) into it with room for ice.
It’s tough too. We’ve carried ours to picnics, tossed it around in the RV, and even took it hiking with us once, and it’s not any worse for wear. While I admit we haven’t submerged it in water to find out, the manufacturer also claims that this cooler backpack is waterproof. I believe it since we haven’t had any leaks from it, even after the ice inside has melted. We love ours—this is a great gift idea.
LifeStraw Personal Water Filter
The LifeStraw is one of the most interesting products we’ve ever come across. In a nutshell, you can place it in just about any water source you can find, including brackish, murky, or otherwise unappealing water, suck on the end of it, and get clean, filtered water. Each straw provides nearly 800 gallons worth of use and removes 99.9999% of bacteria (that’s four “9’s”).
While we haven’t had to use ours in a legitimate “survival” situation, we’ve had a ton of fun using it to drink from water sources just about anywhere—even the super gross-looking ones. It’s become a bit of a family game to challenge each other to use it in increasingly questionable water sources (don’t judge us, this is how we bond, all right?). Needless to say, it’s worked amazingly every time.
LED Camping Lantern
Oh sure, you could get a flashlight, but where’s the fun in that? Get your gift recipient into the camping spirit with these super-bright, long-lasting LED camping lanterns. They’re compact and light, but trust me when they say they put out a ton of light—we picked up the four-pack, and they’re very effective.
We especially like to hang them by their handles around our campsite, which not only lights up the area but really adds to the ambiance. Oh, and did I mention that they’re waterproof and made from aircraft-grade materials, meaning that they can drop up to 10 feet without being damaged?
Cast Iron Pie Iron
You know, even though they call these things “pie irons,” we’ve never actually made a pie with it. Although I’m sure you could. What I can tell you is that the hot, toasty sandwiches you can make with this cast iron cooker are absolutely fantastic—they’re not only a big hit with the kids, we love them too!
This is a great gift if you’re looking for something functional, fun, and affordable. While this cast iron has been pre-seasoned, you might want to go ahead and season it again before use (this is good practice for any product billed as “pre-seasoned” in our experience). Get it, season it, and give it to someone who loves hot sandwiches. (Or pies? Maybe?).
StakeLight Tent Stake
There’s nothing more satisfying than coming across a product that looks like a gimmick but actually works really well in practice. These StakeLight tent stakes are bright, actually function well as tent stakes, and work for up to 24 full hours in “strobe mode” (flashing, basically).
If you have them in the regular mode, e.g., just on, they’ll run for about 10 hours on a single triple-A battery. Our kids like them at night because it makes answering the call of nature just a bit less scary since they can see exactly where their tent is.
Hershey’s S’Mores Caddy
If you’re a subscriber to the Grateful Glamper newsletter, you might remember this product from a few weeks back when we first showcased it. Here’s an update: we still love this product. It’s adorable and functional, and who doesn’t want an excuse to make s’mores? It works so well as a gift because your recipient won’t be expecting it, and s’mores always put a smile on everyone’s face. It’s a gift that the recipient will truly look forward to using.
Adventure Medical Kit
All right, so a medical kit isn’t quite as cheerful or fun as a Hershey’s S’mores caddy, but by golly, if they ever need it the person who receives this gift from you will surely be glad you decided to give it to them—we carry two of these with us, one in our bag for day trips and one stashed away in the RV.
It has everything you could need, ranging from bandages to sterile gauze dressings. What I like about it the most is that the bag it comes in is actually really sturdy, so I don’t have to worry about anything spilling out or accidentally losing important components. Give the gift of responsibility with this one!
Coleman 2-Burner Propane Camping Stove
If you really want to impress your RVing/camping gift recipient, this is a great pick. We love this gas camping stove because it’s so compact—and yet works so well. It can really pump out the heat too, with a total of 20,000 BTUs of pure cooking power. Since there are two burners, you can actually be quite versatile with what you decide to make. I like to use it to make breakfast, with eggs on one side and grits on the other. Coleman has been around for a long, long time, and this is just another testament as to why.
“The Muncher” Titanium Multi-Utensil Tool (Includes Spork!)
This is such a fun little gift idea, but just because it’s cute doesn’t mean that this titanium utensil tool doesn’t mean business—you can do more than just scoop up pork n’ beans with the spork on this bad boy, thanks to the many different tools built right into it. It opens bottles, fires flint, cuts cords, works as a screwdriver in a pinch, and even does a downright fantastic job at peeling potatoes. This and the Coleman above and your gift recipient will never go hungry in the wild again. It’s glamping gourmet!
Waterproof “Dry Bag” Compression Sack
We love, love, love these waterproof dry bags. They’re ultra-durable. The manufacturer claims that they’ll last for years, and while we’ve only had ours for about six months, it’s not hard to believe this claim. Unlike most other compression sacks, the shoulder strap on this model from Earth Pak is durable and feels strong. You can really give it a tug without worrying about it becoming unclasped or dumping out all of your valuables.
Bottom line? This is an incredibly rugged product, perfect for anyone who wants to carry gear that they cannot afford to get wet, like an expensive camera or smartphone (it even includes a 6.5-inch waterproof phone case).
French Press Coffee Maker with Travel Bag
I admit it… we’re probably what you would call coffee snobs.
I mean, sure, after a long day on the road in our RV I’ll reluctantly slurp down some bad gas station coffee, but let me tell you, the coffee you can make with this French press is so, so good. We originally picked ours up for our outdoor adventures exclusively, but I’ve found myself pulling it out and using it at home on more than a handful of occasions.
The best thing about this French press is just how durable the thing is. We keep ours well protected in the included bag, but it has a scratch-resistant coating that means it’ll last forever and look good at the same time. The perfect gift for the coffee drinker in your life (even if they’re not RVers).
20oz Stainless Steel, Vacuum Insulated Coffee Hydro Flask
This is the thermos to end all thermoses.
It runs a little on the pricier side, but boy does it work. As a matter of fact, I’ve put coffee into it that I made with the French press mentioned above, and it really stays hot for a long time. With the lid on, you can keep a beverage piping hot for up to six hours, and cold for up to 24 hours—yes, a full day.
I also really like that it’s made of food-grade stainless steel and is BPA and phthalate-free, which means that I don’t have to worry about drinking strange chemicals alongside my coffee. Possibly the best solution we’ve found for hot and cold drinks.
Mammoth Queen-Size Double Sleeping Bag
You’ve probably never seen a sleeping bag this big. Usable all the way down to zero-degree temperatures, this “mammoth” sized bag is ultra soft, has a strong zipper on both sides, and has plenty of room for two. It even comes with a compression sack to store it in (though I must admit it’s not as good as the Earth Pak dry sack listed above, it works well enough). This is a great camping/outdoors gift for a couple who wants to snuggle up on those cold camping nights.
SunJack 15W Solar Charger
This has to be one of the coolest technological innovations we’ve had the pleasure of using. The SunJack is a portable solar panel that you can set on the ground, strap to your backpack, or place anywhere with sunlight. It comes with a high-capacity power bank that gives you the ability to charge a smartphone roughly five times or so, but it can be used to power any USB device such as a tablet or portable music player.
It outputs 2.8 amps of power, which if you’re not electronically inclined—like me—works with pretty much everything you’re likely to have. It’s also quite durable and weather resistant, so you don’t have to constantly worry about breaking it while you’re outside. It folds up too, so you can tuck it away somewhere until you need it. This is a great gift for the outdoor enthusiast who loves checking their Facebook messages in the great outdoors!
Happy Camper 3-Piece Kitchen Bundle
All right, so this isn’t a particularly useful gift compared to a lot of the other things we’ve shown you so far… but c’mon! Look at how cute those little salt and pepper shakers are. The salt and pepper shakers look like little campers and they dispense quite well (ever have a novelty salt and pepper shaker set that didn’t really work well? It’s a bummer.) The towel is also of reasonably good quality and will look adorable hanging on your gift recipient’s RV stove handle. If you’re shopping for a decorative, cutesy gift, this is a good choice.
Campsuds Outdoor Multipurpose Soap (It Pretty Much Works for Everything)
I have sensitive skin, so I’m pretty particular about the kinds of soaps I use. I’m a fan of unscented castile soap and essential oil on most days, but we decided to try out Campsuds because people just rave about it. I’m pleased to report that it did not disappoint.
This multipurpose cleaner is environmentally safe and biodegradable, and it works for just about anything. We’ve used it to wash our hands, wipe down the dash of our RV, do a few dishes, and I even experimented with it as hair shampoo. It’s a great gift for minimalist campers and RVers who don’t want to have to lug around a bunch of different products.
Clip-On Towing Mirror
As long as they won’t take it as a commentary on their reversing skills, this is an awesome gift for anyone with a trailer (campers, boats, and so on). These clip-on towing mirrors are durable, and big, and give you a much better view of whatever is behind you on the road. My biggest concern was that the clips wouldn’t be strong enough to resist the wind, but I was proven wrong when we took them down the freeway. There are two clamps, so the mirrors stay quite secure. This is a wonderful, practical gift for friends or family who tow anything.800ml Platypus Wine Preserver
There’s a big problem with wine and camping. Unless you plan on using the entire bottle (such as with friends, of course!), it always feels like a bit of a waste to open your wine since you know it’s not going to taste the same the next time, and the third time you might as well just have saved your money.
These brilliant little pouches have been designed to minimize oxygen exposure to your wine and thus maximize its lifespan. Open a bottle, transfer your wine to one of these, and you’ll be able to enjoy great-tasting wine in every glass. This is a great camping gift for anyone who likes to enjoy a glass of wine with a fire-cooked meal, but who doesn’t want to let a whole bottle go to waste. Great product, great gift!
Activated Charcoal Odor Eliminator Air Purifying Bags
Let’s be honest. There’s one thing that RV enthusiasts really don’t discuss that often, but it’s a bit of an open secret, isn’t it? That’s right—your RV can get pretty smelly, especially when you have your entire family packed in there during the summertime. If you have pets you might as well just accept your fate now… or should you?
These little air purifying bags are one of the best solutions we’ve found to eliminate odors year-round in our RV. They work exceedingly well and, best of all, do so by using all-natural activated charcoal without the chemicals and “fragrances” you’ll find in other non-natural products. Give the gift of good-smelling air to your friends and family!
“Kill A Watt” Electricity Monitor
Something we learned pretty early on in our RVing career is that no matter how nice your RV is, it still isn’t a house, at least insofar as things like, you know, electricity are concerned. You have to manage your power load and not go overboard, otherwise, you’re going to trip your circuit breaker. Things can get especially challenging when you’re at a campground with a 30-amp power supply, rather than a 50-amp, which—thank heavens—is quickly becoming the norm.
This little device is called the “Kill A Watt” because that’s exactly what it’ll help you do—you can use it as a way to monitor which devices and appliances are taking up the most power. You might be surprised to find which things are sucking up all the juice.
If you’re interested in optimizing your RV’s power load, this will do it. It also has plenty of uses back at home too, since you can essentially apply the same principles to discover where you’re overusing energy in your house. If you’re looking for the perfect gift for a “tech junkie” RVer, this is the one!
Magnetic Spice Jars
These amazing little magnetic spice jars are exactly the kind of idea that you see and wish you had come up with. My biggest concern with these was that the magnets weren’t going to be strong enough for RV travel, but my fears were unfounded. They stick to any magnetic surface remarkably well (such as a refrigerator door).
I suppose it helps that spices are pretty light, and these bottles hold about 1 and ¾ ounces worth of your favorite spices. Keep your big spice jars at home and refill these little guys for your trip and you’ll be in good shape. This is an excellent gift for any chef on the road!
RV Home Mat With Carry Case
If you’ve been following our story on Grateful Glamper for a while now, you might already recognize this little guy! It’s a product we carry at our other company, Aroma Outfitters. This is one of my favorite products that we offer because it’s such a brilliant little contraption. If you’re tired of the chemical smell of car fresheners, you’re going to want to pick one of these up for yourself and as a thoughtful gift for anyone you know who drives a car, let alone an RV.
Allow me to explain for the uninitiated: this little diffuser clips to your car vent. Inside is a washable felt pad (there are spares too, it comes with 12 replacement pads). You put a drop of your favorite essential oil on the pad (I prefer lavender or peppermint) and enjoy the benefits of aromatherapy on the go. It’s fantastic, and at under eight bucks makes for a very affordable gift indeed. Get one!
Grateful Glamper Family Camping Logbook and Journal
I wanted to wrap up this list with perhaps the best gift you can give someone, including yourself: the gift of timeless memories with their loved ones. Pictured is our very own Grateful Glamper family camping journal and logbook, which is a product that we’re actually very proud of. It’s not just a book of blank pages: inside, you’ll find room to journal, a log to place your adventures on for up to 36 different camping trips, and prompt questions to get you started.
We have an alternative version of this camping journal available here, with a different cover. On the back cover is one of our favorite quotes and something that our family has learned to live by together. It says, “Roads were made for journeys—not for destinations.”
The person you give this gift to will thank you for it, but real gratitude will come years and years down the road. What journeys will you go on until then?
How Will You Make Memories With Your Loved Ones? Remember, Roads Are Made for Journeys—Not Destinations!
We hope that this post has given you the inspiration you needed to pick the perfect gifts for the RVers and campers in your life (and maybe that’s you!).
If you’d like even more inspiration, make sure to check out the official Grateful Glamper YouTube channel where we chronicle our adventures, share helpful tips every “glamper” needs to know, and tell our story about how we managed to leave the 9-5 life behind and achieve time and location freedom.
It’s been a lot of fun sharing these products with you. We’ve truly had great experiences with all of them, and we’re confident that you will too. Which ones did you pick up? How do you plan to use your new gear?
Let us know in the comments below or say hi to us on Facebook or Instagram. We can’t wait to hear about your own camping adventures!
Until next time, wishing you safe travels from the whole family here at Grateful Glamper.
Love it I go camping every chance I get and always take lights and icechest and smores
We purchased two of the Hershey’s s’mores caddies for gifts and included marshmallows, graham crackers and Hershey bars. It’s a great way to give something that can be used not only to carry to campfire outings, but used as storage as well. The s’mores fixings can be stored in them! How convenient is that?