The 2019 RV Miles Camping and Gear Guide is here!
With camping season kicking off, we’ve got a list of some of our favorite things sure to make your next adventure a spectacular one. From safety to outdoor wear, to gadgets and campsite must-haves, the 2019
Want to hear Jason and Abby break down all the reasons why these items are on the list? Listen to Episode 88 of the RV Miles Podcast for the full discussion below:
Motorola Talkabout T800
This radio set allows you to share and track locations with your travel companions by connecting your phone via Bluetooth. You can then send messages and GPS locations up to 20 miles with no cell service. It also works like a regular two-way radio set, and doubles as a weather radio. $99 on Amazon.
Stromberg Carlson CC-255 Trailer Tray
Get some extra space on the front of your trailer with this sturdy platform, perfect for a generator, fancy roto-molded cooler, or an additional battery compartment. $205 on Amazon.
MyMedic MyFAK First Aid Kit
It’s time to take first aid seriously on the road. You could be over an hour away from the nearest medical help. Ditch the Walmart sampler first aid kit and get a real one with all the important life-saving items. MyMedic has crammed so much into this small kit. The basic is $110, and the advanced (with scalpels, sutures, burn dressing, chest seal and more) is $210 on Amazon.
Love Our Parks National Park T-Shirts
We love these superb national park-themed designs from Love Our Parks. There are tons of designs to choose from, and in many color choices. Strut in a graphic tee that shows your love for our parks. Most are about $25.
Guardians of the Gryphon’s Claw
Recruited by an eccentric zoologist and park ranger sent by the government, Sam London is whisked away on an adventure that takes him to the farthest reaches of the globe. Along this journey, Sam learns an incredible truth: mythical creatures are real and living among us in our national parks. Have your young one become a secret ranger for the U.S. Department of Mythical Wildlife and read a sample chapter at mythicalwildlife.com.
Large Pocket SPI Belt and SPI H2O Companion
A perfect companion for jogging or hiking, the SPI Belt’s zippered pouch expands to hold your phone or keys, or hides away when you don’t need it. The companion water bottle stays snug to your side instead of bouncing around uncontrollably.
L.L.Bean Boys’ Adventure Pro Pants
Rugged, water-resistant and reinforced in the seat and knees, these pants are perfect for the hiking trail or the playground. We love the zippered pockets and elastic waistband. Also available in a leggings version.
L.L.Bean PrimaLoft Packaway Vest
Also from L.L.Bean, PrimaLoft vests (available in men’s and women’s styles) pack very small, but keep you quite warm without all the bulk. It’s made with a combination of NASA-developed aerogel technology and performance insulation.
Soak It Up Cloths
These reusable-yet-disposable cloths are compastable (made from tree pulp and cotton) and absorb 20 times their weight. You can use them for cleaning your dishes, your home or your body. You can wash them in the dishwasher and sanitize in the microwave. $6.99 in a variety of camping and outdoor themed prints.
Pelican Soft Cooler
We’ve used enough useless soft-sided coolers to know what the real deal should be like, and this is it. The insulation is an inch thick, and you can use ice in it with its leak-proof zipper. It comes in three different sizes, and the stainless steel tie-downs double as a built-in bottle opener. Pelican coolers are the real deal.
Oofos Ooahh Sport Slide Sandal
Oofos’ OOfoam technology absorbs 37% more impact than traditional footwear foam materials to reduce the stress on your feet and joints. Runners swear by their sandals for recovery after a hard run. We love them for slipping on to pop in and out of the RV and for hanging around the campfire.
FMCA Membership
From Motorhomes, Travel Trailers, Fifth Wheels, bus conversions, and more, FMCA membership is the perfect companion to the RV Lifestyle. Deals and discounts include RV Insurance, Roadside Rescue, and Tire Savings Programs, and their Medical Emergency and Travel Assistance Program is included free. A yearly membership is only $60, but you can save $10 with code RVMILES19.
Luci Inflatable Solar Lights
Don’t be fooled by cheap solar lights. There’s quite the range of products out there. MPOWERED makes the real deal. In fact, they’re bright enough to replace that bucket light you’ve been hauling around. We like the Luci Connect, which pairs with a smartphone to change colors and brightness.
Luci Solar String Lights
Also from MPOWERED, these string lights can go over a picnic table or a hammock and provide plenty of light for hours and hours. The 18-foot-long nylon-braided cord includes two uniquely-designed clips to make it easy to hang in any situation.
Togo Roadlink C2 and AT&T Data Plan
The Roadlink C2 is a mobile connectivity solution that will allow you to get up to 10 devices connected even while the vehicle is in motion with multiple long-range, high-performance omnidirectional Wi-Fi boosting & LTE antennas and a fully integrated router. You can use it with AT&T and Verizon sim cards, but the just-announced Togo exclusive AT&T data plan that pairs with it is what really makes it shine. For $360 a year you can get unlimited, unthrottled cellular hotspot data.
Harvest Hosts Membership
A Harvest Hosts membership gets you free boondocking at nearly 800 great locations like wineries, museums, and farms across the country. Skip the campground on those quick overnights and stay someplace fun instead. Membership is $79, and you can get 15% off with code RVMILES.
STAND-Bi Phone & Beverage Holder
This 3-1 product holds your drink and your phone at the same time, and can handle numerous drink sizes making it perfect for your car, motorhome, golf cart, boat, stroller, or camp chair. Comes with a removable foot and a ground stake for the campsite or beach. Save 15% off with promo code SAVE.
Camco 28″ Double RV Refrigerator Bar
These tension rods are designed to keep order in your RV refrigerator during travel. They’re spring loaded to keep items in place, and extend from 16 to 28″. You can also use them in cabinets.
BEATIT G18 Portable Jump Starter
Never worry about a dead battery again. At 2000 amps, it’s one of the biggest available, and can jump even the heaviest diesel engines. You can also charge your electronics from it in a pinch. We love the included volt meter. The price is nice, too. $99.94 on Amazon.
GCI Pod Rocker Collapsible Rocking Chair
Time to give the folding camp chairs an upgrade? This chair allows you to have a rocking chair wherever you go. Perfect for sitting by the campfire or rocking the baby to sleep. It’s full-sized, and the spring action allows you to use it on any surface. $65 on Amazon.
VIAIR 450P-RV Tire Inflation Kit
For the longest time we used a cheap compressor that took 20 minutes to inflate one of our big 11r22.5 tires just a few psi. No more. Tire pressure is the most important thing to worry about on your RV, and should be checked and filled before every trip. Worry no more with VIAIR’s kit made especially for RVs. It’s pricey, but this is hands-down the best compressor available, trusted by thousands of RV owners. $350 on Amazon.
Editor’s note: some of the items on this guide were offered to us from the manufacturer free in exchange for review. Additionally, some of the items on this list are from sponsors of rvmiles.com or the RV Miles Podcast. Their products were not guaranteed a spot on this list. No compensation has been received for inclusion on our annual gear guide. Finally, some of the links provided are affiliate links, and we receive a small royalty from your purchase form the retailer. We thank you for your support.
