It’s the season to be jolly and the perfect time to spoil the adventurer in your life with something special… Herewith our team’s top picks for Christmas 2022.
Stocking fillers
Use it (sustainably):
A versatile, eco-, and budget-friendly alternative to single-use plastics, this 1 000ml stand-up pouch is perfect for hikers and adventurers wanting to use boiling water to heat and rehydrate their meals or keep their stuff fresher longer. Weighing in at only 124g, it’s easy to clean and resistant to damage from extreme temperatures. Find it on www.foreverfresh.co.za from R169.
Charge It:
As an overlander, you are bound to find yourself in a campsite without an outlet for your devices at some point. For this, the Romoss Simple 10 is the ideal portable power bank. It uses a lithium polymer battery with a capacity of 10000mAh and is compatible with most devices, offering a Micro USB port, an Apple Lightning Port and a Type-C port. Check it out on www.r4a.co.za from R399.
Light It:
Boasting two light sources – a high-efficiency COB LED strip and an XPE LED light, both sensor activated – the Lumeno Pro headlamp is a great outdoor companion. Rechargeable with a Type-C USB cable, it has 2.5 to 8-hour work time and multiple intensity settings. Find it on www.r4a.co.za from R450.
Drink It:
The ultimate survival tool, the Lifestraw Water Purifier filters a minimum of 1 000 litres per unit, removing 99% of waterborne bacteria and viruses. Available from various camping and outdoor outlets from R365. For more information: www.lifestraw.com
For the camping enthusiast
Shower hour:
From cleaning muddy outdoor gear to showers in the bush, the Road Shower 4 provides you with hassle-free hot, pressurised water. It features welded aluminium construction, a durable powder coat finish and brass water connection fittings for durability. Weighing in at 35kg filled (and 11kg when empty), the patented 26-litre tank is mounted securely to your roof rack. It heats the water as it sits in the sun (by around 5°C for every hour the Road Shower is in the sun) – perfect for a hot shower to wash off the day’s adventures. Available from Ready 4 Adventure for R11 500:www.r4a.co.za
Cool it:
With ample storage space of 25.5 litres, five days of ice retention, and an IP65 rating for protection against water and dust, this DeWalt ToughSystem Cooler keeps beverages ice-cold and refreshing, no matter the external conditions. The cooler can be stacked to any other ToughSystem module using the side latches and is compatible with the ToughSystem Trolley. It includes can holders on the lid, a comfortable carry handle and an integrated bottle opener to ensure you can enjoy a cold one anywhere in the bundus. Find it at selected outdoor and hardware stores. For more information on the product: www.dewalt.com
Store it (Save):
You love travel. You love wine. You love drinking great wines at great destinations. Packing your wine accessories? A nightmare! Not anymore – SmartBox takes the hassle out of transporting not only wine, but also glassware! From top notch glasses to stemless options– the modular packing system caters for a variety of options and accommodates wine, whisky, and gin bottles. Created by a frustrated wine lover and traveller, SmartBox was designed to include various options, with custom moulds fitted into a standard, stackable, high lid ‘ammo box’ that will keep the contents safe, even on dusty, bumpy gravel roads! For more information: www.smartbox.co.za
For the adventure
Capture it:
No matter what your next adventure looks like, the GoPro Hero11 Black is ready to capture it all. It is rugged and waterproof up to 10 metres to give you that ultimate anytime/ anywhere versatility, shooting 5.3k video with double the frame rate, 27MP photos and enhanced low-light performance (great for star gazing). Additionally, it boasts improved video stabilisation thanks to the HyperSmooth 5.0 stabilisation with Horizon Lock (designed to keep your footage straight, even if your camera rotates a full 360 degrees). Available from various retail outlets from R11 499. For more information on the product: www.gopro.com
Ride it:
The 2022 Silverback Stride Delight Mountain Bike brings disc brakes, capable suspension, and a dynamic frame at an entry-level price. The 6061 aluminium is light and easy to control, with a geometry that combines comfort and performance. The Suntour XCE28 suspension fork with 100mm travel provides extra comfort and capability off-road, while the 3×7 speed drivetrain gives you the range of gears to tackle different surfaces and climbs. The Tektro mechanical disc brakes with 160mm rotors ensure excellent braking control in all weather conditions. Lastly, the double-wall alloy rims and 29×2.35” tyres to give you a good mix of traction and speed. Available from www.cyclelab.com from R6 999.
For your rig
It’s not inside, it’s on top:
SMARTOP is a rigid, loadable, lockable, water-resistant load bay cover. It uses super strong aluminium extrusion, and almost anything can be fastened down using the M8 nut slots. It features heavy-duty gas lifters and push locks for easy operation and boasts a 250kg load-bearing capacity. Available for most of the leading bakkie brands, from R17 299. Check out www.bigcountry.co.za for more information.
Canopy pleasure:
Built for extreme on-road and off-road use, the SmartCap EVOa Adventure canopy offers a modular stainlesssteel design to adapt to your specific needs. Steel gullwing doors provide you with effortless access to your gear, while a standard front slider ensures easy access to your cargo from the cab. SmartCap components, such as the Camp Kitchen, will turn your bakkie into a mobile feast, boasting a fold-out stove, pull-out cutting board and any utensils and crockery you would potentially need. For more information: www.sa.rsismartcap.com
