Brits will spend £1.5 billion on unwanted gifts this year, according to research from card company, thortful, with bubble bath topping the list of uninspiring presents.
While it’s easy to reach for the novelty ties and joke jumpers, there are plenty of alternatives if you’ve got a leisure vehicle enthusiast on your list.
Owning a caravan, motorhome or campervan offers endless possibilities for practical and fun ideas whatever your budget.
Switch it up
Here, we look at the top ten list of uninspiring gifts and add suggestions from the CaravanTimes team as possible alternatives.
Bubble bath – pegless washing line
The chances are your recipient hasn’t got a bath tub in their caravan or motorhome, but they will still want to feel fresh on the road, which means cleaning some clothes.
A pegless washing line, which can be attached to various places both inside the vehicle or outside, is a practical gift that will be used again and again.
Bath bombs – duct tape
They say a bath can solve all your problems, but in the world of camping, this title definitely goes to duct tape, which now even comes in a variety of bright colours and patterns to jazz up your gift.
Many breakages can be given a rudimentary if not permanent fix with duct tape, from rips to handles falling off essential items.
Novelty socks – flint and steel set
Campers much prefer to keep their feet warm by a fire than with a pair of socks emblazoned with Santa’s face on them.
Matches can get damp and lighters run out of fuel, but a traditional flint and steel fire starting set will always provide your friend with a spark when they need one.
Slogan mugs – enamel mug
An enamel mug is a camping staple for a reason. They’re practically indestructible and easy to attach to a rucksack for an impromptu sharing of a flask of coffee while out on a wintry walk.
Step away from the silly slogans and choose a simple design or one adorned with a picture of a vintage camper for a winning present.
Clothing they don’t need – Club membership
Clothes can be expensive, making it a shame when they sit unworn in the wardrobe all year, but if you have a fairly substantial budget there’s something much more suitable for the leisure vehicle fan in your life.
Membership to the Caravan and Motorhome Club starts at just £63 a year and comes with a whole host of benefits they’ll be able to take advantage of.
Underwear – headtorch
Help them get to the toilet block in the middle of the night or find their underwear at the back of a storage locker with a headtorch.
These small gadgets are worth their weight in gold around a motorhome or caravan park, as they allow you to be handsfree, so it’s worth stashing them all over the vehicle.
Slogan T-shirt – changing robe
Whether it’s a waterproof or simple towelling version, a changing robe is an essential bit of kit for campers, which can be used in a variety of situations.
They’ll throw it on to get warm, sit outside, to check something on the site at night or to head to the loo. It can even offer some changing privacy in a vehicle with multiple occupants.
Books they won’t read – a Martin Dorey book
Novels are a question of personal taste, but all caravanners and motorhomers will get plenty of use from a book by Martin Dorey.
From the Camper Van Cookbook to his Take the Slow Road series, there’s something that covers all areas of leisure vehicle life.
Useless kitchen gadgets – useful kitchen gadgets
Space is always at a premium in your caravan or motorhome, which makes gadgets a lot more useful than at home, especially in the kitchen.
Whether it’s an Aeropress coffee maker, a folding drainer or a set of pans with one detachable handle, space-saving gadgets are a great Christmas gift idea.
Bad smelling perfume – insect repellent
If you want to give your loved one something to make them smell different, try a DEET-free, non-greasy insect repellent.
Upon opening it, they can flash forward to those balmy summer nights sitting outside their caravan or motorhome and know they wont be pestered by biting insects.
Photo credit: Pexels/G_Masters
