It’s that time of year! The holiday gift guide season is officially in full swing—lord knows there are a lot of them out there. However, unlike many others, we’ve actually tested all the gear on this list. So we’re not just out there promoting products with the best reviews or the most sales; these are genuinely items we love and recommend. So, while we can’t give you the gift of adventure, these items will help with future trips, projects, or just things around camp. Yes, it’s another gift guide, but it’s products we believe in. FYI, we’ll list the product’s MSRP, but there may be deals via our Shop Now buttons. Without further ado, here’s our second-annual Crankshaft Culture Gift Guide.
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Merrell Nova 4 Waterproof Trail Runners
Shoes are super important when you’re out adventuring. I discovered the Merrell Nova 4 Waterproof Trail Runners in the spring and quickly fell in love with them. In fact, I have three pairs now. They’re lightweight, super comfortable, and waterproof. They’re also breathable and come in a few different colors. These have been my go-to shoes for nearly six months. They have a breathable mesh and TPU upper, and 100% recycled laces and webbing too. Plus, the foam footbed is 50% recycled. I truly love these (they even come in wide widths).
MSRP: $160.00
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus Portable Power Station
Rarely have we liked a power station so much, but the EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus really won us over during our time with it on the TransAmerica Trail. Easy to use, fast to charge, and powerful, the DELTA 3 Plus has 13 outlets, can be charged in the house, by solar, or via your car. Pair it with the game-changing 800W Alternator Charger (pictured on the right), and it’ll not only recharge the power station using the vehicle’s alternator, but it can also be reversed, and you can send electricity from the power station to your rig’s battery. This means no worrying whether your vehicle will start in the morning. Both products can connect to a rich mobile app and offer lots of ways to bring power with you when going off-grid. Power station and alternator charger sold separately
MSRP: $699.00 (EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus Power Station)
Garmin H1i Plus Handheld Navigator
The Garmin H1i Plus represents a great leap forward for the Kansas-based brand. It’s the company’s first hand-held touchscreen GPS. It’s far easier to use than previous handhelds, such as the Garmin GPSMAP 67i, and it operates much more like a smartphone. However, unlike a smartphone, this unit has satellite communication and inReach capability. If you’re in an emergency and have an inReach subscription, the device’s SOS feature can send help. An inReach device has become part of our travel kit when we venture out. The H1i Plus is exceptionally full-featured, providing oodles of navigation know-how and other tech tidbits. And since it’s now all touchscreen, it’s more intuitive than ever to operate.
MRSP: $999.00
Cotopaxi Women’s Fuego Max Down Hooded Jacket
Looking for a warm, comfortable down hooded women’s jacket? The Cotopaxi Women’s Fuego Max Down Hooded Jacket might be just what you’re after. As stylish as it is warm, this jacket has two zippered hand pockets and two interior dump pockets. The whole thing packs down into an interior pocket, too. Mercedes says, “The women’s Cotopaxi Fuego Max Down Hooded Jacket is oversized, comfortable, and has roomy pockets. It also has a roomy hood and is sold in edgy colorways or black if you want a coat that’s subdued. The Fuego Max puffy features wider baffles, which keep me warm even on cold, wet, and rainy Pacific Northwest days. However, it can also be worn when temps are warmer and drier.” This jacket is made from 800-fill responsibly sourced down and has a 100% recycled shell and lining.
MSRP: $350.00
Smartwool Hike Crew Socks
I learned years ago that good socks are worth spending extra cash. Recently, I got my hands on Smartwool’s Hike Crew Socks, and I’m smitten. They’re made in the USA from the company’s Indestructawool, which is 54% Merino wool, 43% nylon, and 3% Elastane, and fit great. They’re warm, breathable, have extra padding in key places, and are really comfortable. The “virtually-seamless” toe is great too. Smartwool has been making these since 1994, and I know why they’re still popular! These are my go-to socks now.
MSRP: $24.00
Turtlebox Ranger Speaker
We’ve tested a lot of Bluetooth speakers, but we recently got the Turtlebox Ranger, and it really raises the bar. The sound quality is amazing with crisp highs and deep lows. It’s one of those speakers you look at and think—I can’t believe that big sound is coming out of such a small speaker! Its dimensions are 9.5” H x 3.15” W x 3.15” D, and it can belt out 105 dB of sound. The 25.2 Wh Li-ion battery is charged by USB-C, too. It’s also ruggedized for adventure and IP67 waterproof. You can read Mercedes’ full review via OVR Magazine. But trust us: this thing rocks.
MSRP: $250.00
Houscly Portable Car Vacuum
For my birthday in July, my mother bought me this handheld portable vacuum, and yes it’s spelled “Houscly.” I cannot tell you how often I’ve used it both in the house and in the car. From cleaning nooks and crannies in the car, to sucking out debris in the engine bay—this thing has been great. Plus, it has nozzles that allow it to also blow air out the back. It’s great for blowing dirt and dust out of the dashboard, inflating an air mattress in the van, and much more. It includes two filters, a host of attachments, and a tote bag. Plus, it’s USB-C rechargeable. Really, this thing is freaking fantastic, plus it’s not super expensive. (Thanks again, mom!)
MSRP: $59.48
‘On the Wrong Path: Breakdowns, assaults, crooked cops, floods and other things which should never happen while crossing Africa (Around the World in 10 Years)’ by Pablo Rey
This is the second book by traveler, fellow Delica owner, and friend, Pablo Rey. Pablo and his former partner, Anna, traveled the world for years in a Delica Star Wagon and wrote about traveling eastern Africa in this book.
On the Wrong Path talks about their incredible tales of breaking down in Sudan, to off-road journeys through Ethiopia and Kenya. Rey, originally from Argentina, is a great storyteller with a witty sense of humor. He and Anna’s African adventures are sure to keep your interest piqued and give you an incredible perspective of what it’s like to traverse that great continent in a 4WD van. (Rey’s previous book, The Book of Independence: It’s not about what you’ll do after you retire, it’s about what you do before you die, is another great read. While it doesn’t need to be read first, it is a good primer for On the Wrong Path.)
MSRP: $19.50
Quad Lock Phone Mounts
We learned about Quad Lock at the 2025 Overland Expo West show and have been using their products since May. These are likely the most secure mounts on the market. Twist your phone onto the mount, and it locks on—and it isn’t going to fall off. We used a suite of their products on the TransAmerica Trail and Alcan 5000 Rally this summer, and continue to use them in all four of our vehicles. We currently use everything from their vent mount (pictured here), Windshield/Dash Suction Phone mount, and mounts we’ve configured best to suit our needs via the Quad Lock 360 Kit Builder. You’ll need a Quad Lock phone case or adhesive adaptor for your phone, but it’s worth it (and their cases are very good).
MSRP: $39.99 (vent mount)
MSRP: $59.99 (Heavy Duty Windsheild/Dash Suction Phone Car Mount)
Crankshaft Culture Swag
Want to support Crankshaft Culture and let people know you’re a gearhead? We offer a host of shirts, hoodies, stickers, and hats with our crankshaft logo (and a few other fun shirts). All are high-quality products that can be bought via the Crankshaft Culture Store, or by clicking the Shop Now button below, which will take you to our official eBay Store. We’d love your help in promoting Crankshaft Culture and our belief that every vehicle is an adventure, and that we’re united by horsepower!
MSRP: Starting at $16.50
Andy Lilienthal is an award-winning writer and has written professionally since 1999. He has over 13 years in the automotive aftermarket working at companies including Warn Industries, Bushwacker, and Lund International. Editorial works include writing and photography for off-road print magazines, to new-car reviews online. He’s a photographer with images in multiple magazines, blog sites, and The New York Times.
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