Photo by strike0 via iStock
The holidays are coming in hot, which means it’s crunch time for getting your loved ones some killer overlanding and off-roading gifts.
But what do you get them if you’re stumped?
We’ve got some excellent gift ideas for the outdoor adventure enthusiasts on your list. Each item listed below will bring a big smile to their face and gives them a functional product that will make overlanding or off-roading all the better.
Without further ado, here’s our recommended holiday gifts for under $1,000!
2022 Holiday Gift Guide: Planar Heaters Diesel Air Heater Autoterm 2D-HA
One of the best gifts you can give the overlanding enthusiast in your life is a diesel air heater. Trust me – I’ve had this very one installed in my Turtleback Expedition Trailer for the last year to provide heat to my rooftop tent. It’s been a game-changer, to say the least!
The beauty of a diesel air heater is that you get instant, dry heat to your tent, camper, or van. With dry heat, you don’t have to worry about condensation, and in turn, there’s no concern about moist clothing or bedding.
Additionally, since the heating unit isn’t inside your sleeping quarters, there’s far less worry about carbon monoxide poisoning. For example, my diesel air heater is installed in the nose of my trailer (as shown above), and the heat is ducted up to my rooftop tent. So, I get fantastic heat without the danger of poisoning, and I don’t smell any exhaust fumes, either.
Over the last year, I’ve used this heater in all sorts of locations and all kinds of weather conditions, and in every instance, it’s performed like a champ and I’ve had a toasty warm tent to sleep in. It’s been ultra reliable and easy to use – things that your loved one will appreciate in a Christmas gift!
This particular unit runs on either 12-volt or 24-volt power and diesel. With 2kw of power, you get plenty of heat (7,000 BTUs), even for winter camping when the outdoor temperatures take a significant nosedive. And since this heater is fuel efficient – it uses about one liter of fuel for five hours of operation – you can stay toasty warm without burning through your fuel supply. See this bad boy in action in my video below:
One of the best features of this diesel air heater is the wired controller unit (you can choose between a digital or analog controller). Either way, you can adjust the heater’s settings from the comfort of your bed or sleeping bag! On those chilly winter mornings when you need just a little bit more heat before you get out of bed, having a remote to control a heater like this is a Godsend.
On top of all that, this heater is extremely easy to install (it comes with a basic installation kit) and operates at high altitudes – which is a must for folks like me who mostly camp in the mountains. Likewise, this heater is quiet so I can actually get some sleep while it’s running. Not all diesel heaters can claim that!
Not to let the cat out of the bag…I’ll have a one-year review of this heater coming up soon. But what I’ve shared here today are the highlights of what I’ve enjoyed about this heater over the last 12 months. It’s been one of the best investments I’ve made for my overlanding setup by far, and it will do the same for the overlanding enthusiast on your holiday shopping list!
Learn more about the Planar Heaters Diesel Air Heater Autoterm 2D-HA
2022 Holiday Gift Guide: Sunflare XPLOR Solar Series
One of the best features of the Sunflare XPLOR solar series is that you have three options from which to choose for your loved one’s holiday gift. With three power output levels, you can tailor your gift to their specific needs. Here’s what I mean…
If your loved one is the type of overlanding enthusiast that mostly takes quick weekend trips, the 10-watt XPLOR Weekend panel is an ideal choice. Or, perhaps they take three-day or four-day trips that require a little more juice. In that case, the 126-watt Adventure panel is the way to go.
Of course, if your loved one enjoys much longer stays off-grid, the 180-watt Expedition panel is what you should give them this holiday season. With a couple of these panels on their rooftop tent or trailer, they’ll have all the power they need!
Aside from giving you a strong selection of different options, the Sunflare XPLOR series also offers plenty of amenities.
For example, these panels are flexible, so they adapt to the curvature of a roof or side panel on a trailer, RV, boat, or hardshell tent. Despite their flexibility, these panels are built ruggedly tough to withstand the rigors of use in difficult weather and tough environments.
Another benefit of the XPLOR series of solar panels is that they’re easy to install. It took me a matter of minutes to install my Expedition panels on my rooftop tent. It’s a matter of cleaning the surface and using the provided double-stick tape to mount the panels. Since the panels are so lightweight, the double-sided tape offers all the sticking power you need!
The fact that these panels are so light is yet another benefit. We need to fill our vehicles with a lot of gear for overlanding and camping trips, so shedding a few pounds with lightweight solar panels is a nice bonus.
The construction and design of these panels are also worth mentioning…
Unlike silicon-based solar panels, which are prone to cracking, these panels are made of stainless steel. This makes them super strong and durable, but as I mentioned earlier, they’re flexible and lightweight. It’s a perfect combination!
The bypass-diode technology used in these panels is worth a mention, too. Traditional solar panel cells are in a series, so if one cell in the series is in the shade, the entire series of cells stops working. Bypass diodes take care of this problem. With a bypass diode on every cell, shading on certain cells doesn’t affect any of the others, and electricity continues to be generated.
As if that’s not enough, Sunflare XPLOR solar panels come with a 25-year warranty for power output. That kind of peace of mind, coupled with superb build quality and performance, makes these panels an ideal holiday gift idea!
Where to Buy Sunflare XPLOR Solar Panels:
2022 Holiday Gift Guide: REDARC Weekend Escape Battery Charger Kit
If the person you’re shopping for enjoys taking short overlanding adventures to get away from it all, they’ll want to have the REDARC Weekend Escape Battery Charger Kit with them…
What’s so great about this kit is that it enables overlanders to have some creature comforts while still being off-grid. A cold fridge? You bet. Fresh food? Absolutely! Run an inverter? No problem! This is a dual-battery setup, so it comes with everything needed to add a second battery to a vehicle. The second battery can then run accessories like a fridge, an inverter, or other 12v devices. 
When driving, this kit will help keep both batteries topped off, and since it prioritizes green power, you can throw a solar blanket on the ground to charge up the batteries at camp. And with a dual voltage monitoring gauge, it’s easy to keep a close eye on the performance of the batteries to ensure the voltage is where it needs to be – not under or over.
Camping off-grid is all about freedom, and with this kit from REDARC, you get just that!
Learn more about the REDARC Weekend Escape Battery Charger Kit
2022 Holiday Gift Guide: KC FLEX ERA 4 Lights
The FLEX ERA 4 lights are the newest available from KC, and they certainly build on KC’s stellar reputation as the best lights in the business.
With high-intensity output and long-lasting durability, these lights would be a great addition to any overlanding or off-roading rig. Each light has an independent amber LED backlight and a machined accent bezel to go along with customizable beam patterns.
Add to that an incredible 7,912 lumens at 5000K and a lux of 1,800 at 10 meters, and you begin to understand just how effective these lights can be on dark trails.
At just 5″ x 5″ x 3.27″, these lights are small enough to be mounted virtually anywhere – on a bumper, A-pillar, the roof – you name it!
Learn more about the KC FLEX ERA 4 Lights
2022 Holiday Gift Guide: Warn VR EVO 10-S Winch
Yet another critical piece of gear overlanders and off-roaders need is a good winch, and you just can’t go wrong with Warn…
This standard duty winch comes with a synthetic rope and a 10,000-pound capacity that’s good enough for vehicles like large SUVs, Jeeps, and 1/2-ton trucks. It’s got a series-wound motor and planetary gear train to deliver fast speed when the winch is under load. It also has a high-performance Albright contactor for improved reliability.
Warn has given this winch excellent durability with IP68-rated waterproofness. It comes with a two-in-one remote, a cast-aluminum tie-plate, and a limited lifetime warranty, too.
This is truly a gift that keeps on giving and offers the person on your holiday shopping list something that they can use and enjoy for years and years to come. What’s not to like about that?
Learn more about the Warn VR EVO 10-S Winch
2022 Holiday Gift Guide: SMRT 2M Straight Awning
An awning to accompany a rooftop tent can make overlanding trips even more comfortable. After all, it’s kind of tough to hang out in a rooftop tent, so some protected outdoor living space is a nice addition.
In this case, the SMRT 2M Straight Awning attaches to a SMRT rooftop tent quickly and easily.
When fully extended, this awning offers 52.6 square feet of coverage and measures 76.5 x 99 inches long.
Like SMRT tents, the awning is made from 280g ripstop polyester/cotton canvas tent material with a 1,900 mm PU coating and a UPF 40 rating that resists weather, mold, and mildew. It is also breathable and quick drying.
The SMRT awning offers stainless-steel hardware and an aluminum frame that again provide durability and longevity.
With the awning, you also get collapsible twist ‘n’ lock aluminum poles that adjust to varying heights when opened. These poles are super easy and quick to set up, too.
When your favorite overlanding enthusiast is ready to leave camp, the awning packs away into a slim package (80 x 5 x 3.5) and is protected by a water-resistant travel bag.
It really is the best of all worlds – it’s a durable, well-made product that’s easy to set up and easy to take down, plus it’s price is far below our $1,000 budget. What more could you ask for in an overlanding holiday gift?!
Learn more about the SMRT Tent 2M Straight Awning
2002 Holiday Gift Guide: Camp Chef 24 in. WIFI SmokePro SG Pellet Grill & Smoker
While this 24-inch grill and smoker from Camp Chef isn’t something you’re likely to take on a long overlanding trip, it is something that’s great for backyard BBQs.
As you’d expect from Camp Chef, this sucker is loaded up with tons of amenities and features that make cooking an enjoyable process.
For example, there’s integrated WiFi and a Bluetooth PID controller that helps you maintain the optimal cooking temperature. You cos get two meat probes and two meat probe ports so you can check on the doneness of your food without having to lift the lid.
This bad boy also has a smoke control dial with settings from 1-10 that enable you to get the perfect amount of smoke on your food. The low-glare digital display makes it easy to see the unit’s settings, even in bright sunlight.
Camp Chef has also incorporated a pellet hopper cleanup and an Ash Kickin’ Cleanup system that makes cleanup super simple.
With a full-sized upper shelf, a direct flame that reaches 650 degrees, and compatibility with many different side attachments, this is a great gift item for the outdoor enthusiast on your list!
Learn more about the Camp Chef 24 in. WIFI SmokePro SG Pellet Grill & Smoker
2022 Holiday Gift Guide: weBoost Drive X RV Cell Phone Signal Booster Kit
The best part of getting out with my truck and trailer is the prospect of spending time outdoors, away from it all, and taking a little time to unplug from the world. A lot of us undertake adventures specifically for these types of adventures!
But we live in a connected world, and having access to a reliable cellular signal is important for those of us that need to do a little work while we play. Besides, having a strong cellular signal is useful for emergency situations, even though the hope is you don’t need rescuing.
That’s where the weBoost Drive X RV Cell Phone Signal Booster Kit from Wilson Amplifiers comes in…
This booster provides 4G coverage (and is 5G ready) for multiple devices with a desktop indoor antenna and a spring-based RV antenna. The boosted signal is ideal for using the phone, sending texts, streaming videos, and checking email.
It can be used on all U.S. cellular carriers and with any mobile phone. Better still, since this unit is designed for RV use, so it can be used while your rig is in motion or while you’re parked at camp.
This device is FCC-certified and carrier-approved. And since there’s no monthly fees, it’s a gift that you pay for one time, and your loved one gets to use for years and years to come.
If you ask me, the best holiday gifts are the ones that you can use over and over again – something with utility that doesn’t just take up space in a closet or on a shelf. That’s precisely what you get with the weBoost Drive X – a fantastic gift idea that keeps on giving, AND it’s well below the $1,000 threshold!
Learn more about the weBoost Drive X RV Cell Phone Signal Booster Kit from Wilson Amplifiers
2022 Holiday Gift Guide: Rhino Rack Pioneer Platform
I’ve got one of these bad boys on my Jeep and it has proven to be a highly valuable accessory for my overlanding and off-roading adventures. The rack is completely modular, so it can be used in conjunction with all sorts of accessories.
There are mounting channels all over the place, which enables you to carry anything from your bike to recovery gear to a jerry can on top of your vehicle.
Made from powder-coated aluminum and fiberglass reinforced nylon, this rack is extremely durable yet lightweight at the same time. With the large, flat surface, you can add crossbars, cargo boxes, baskets, and other gear-hauling accessories as needed.
When you’re overlanding or off-roading, having additional space to carry gear is essential. And with the Rhino Rack Pioneer Platform, that’s precisely what you get! This rack looks good, is highly functional, and is a gift that will keep on giving for years and years to come. Talk about a great gift!
Learn more about the Rhino Rack Pioneer Platform
2022 Holiday Gift Guide: Tyger Auto Sport Bar for 2020-2022 Jeep Gladiator
If the overlanding enthusiast on your holiday shopping list drives a 2020-2022 Jeep Gladiator, the Tiger Auto Sport Bar is a fantastic gift option.
Not only does this bar look cool, but it adds functionality to the Gladiator with light mount brackets for LED light bars.
The heavy-duty carbon steel construction is durable enough on its own, but with a powder-coated black texture, this sport bar is even more durable for years and years of use. Better still, the bar is compatible with most ti-fold tonneau covers, so your loved one can have the light bar and still use their cover to protect the gear in the truck bed. Nice!
To top it all off, this sport bar requires no drilling for installation, so installing it is a breeze. There’s a five-year warranty, too!
Learn more about the Tyger Auto Sport Bar for 2020-2022 Jeep Gladiator