Once you get the motorhoming bug, you often find you want to go touring all year round. You don’t want to let those pesky winter months spoil your fun.
With plenty of caravan parks open all year round nowadays – or at the very least staying open except perhaps for a couple of weeks in January – it is perfectly possible to achieve such an ambition.
Even still, it does help to tour the winter months fully prepared. Prime Day (7th-8th October) could be an ideal opportunity to fill in any gaps to make sure you have everything you need to remain comfortable in your van, in the rain, sleet, snow, hail, or whatever else this winter might throw at you.
Here are just a few of the bargains worth checking out – however, the Prime Day sale ends today, so you’ll have to be quick…
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- Take a look at our pick of the Prime Day motorhome accessory deals.
- After a decade of reviewing motorhomes, the Prime Day bargains I’d be buying for a ‘van
Even if you don’t intend to do much more than walk in between your cosy van and the possibly not so cosy toilet block, you will probably still need to wrap up warm in the absolute depths of winter.
This waterproof yet breathable shell jacket with “storm level construction” should be just the thing. It comes with adjustable cuffs and a drawcord hem for a perfect fit. And if it really is absolutely freezing, you can add extra composite mid-layers for real warmth.
As it’s Berghaus, this jacket, which also features multiple pockets, would normally be a fairly hefty price. But you can get it for half price while Prime Day is on.
Helly Hansen Men’s Reine Parka was £270 now £129.49 – save 52%
As an alternative at the same price as the Berghaus jacket, this parka has the added advantage of a faux fur collar that just says “cosiness” straight away. It also comes in a variety of colours (although some may be more expensive than this navy version).
It has an adjustable hood (while that faux fur trim is detachable if it gets in the way), reflective panels on the sleeves so people can see you in the dark, and has PrimaLoft RISE insulation that is designed to provide warmth without bulk. As with the Berghaus, you also get multiple pockets.
Elite Paws Luxury Dog Drying Coat was £24.99 now £21.24 – save 15%
Don’t forget that your best friend also needs some protection from the cold if you take him or her touring – especially if a quick dip in a freezing lake or river has proved a too enticing prospect.
This drying coat – down 15% during Prime Day – can easily be wrapped around a dog of almost any shape or size, and will dry them in around 20-30 minutes. You don’t have to worry about them shaking themselves dry and spraying you, then. The smooth velvety fabric it is made of is super absorbent, unlike more traditional scratchy towelling robes which can become saturated before your pet is truly dry.
It should also function as a nice cosy covering for the walk back to the van, where you can welcome your dog in without worrying about potential damage straight away.
Gaiatop Rechargeable Hand Warmers (2 Pack) – were £19.99 now £12,79 – save 36%
You might think hand warmers are an unnecessary luxury, but they don’t take up much room and, honestly, you might think again after you have come back from a bracing March meander having forgotten where you put your gloves to find that the van heating is on the blink.
This 2-Pack – down more than a third in price on Prime Day – has a fun avocado design that should fit snugly in your hand inside your pocket. There are three heat settings and it comes with two charging cables to that both warmers can be charged at the same time. The warmers should be fully charged in two hours and provide heat for three to four hours – plenty of time for you to recover.
Osprey Changing Robe was £69.99 now £59.49 – save 15%
Sometimes in the depths of winter those caravan park toilet blocks can be chilly places to change in. Then again, you might be one of those crazy people who fancies a New Year’s Day dip in the sea. Either way, you could well find that a changing robe is that much more of an essential requirement during the winter months.
The Osprey Robe – down 15% on Prime Day – is suitable for children or adults, and comes in five different colours (all at the same price) – navy, black, camo, grey and red.
The robe lets you get changed in privacy, while providing shelter from the wet and the wind. It has an internal phone pocket, adjustable cuffs and double zip closure.
Bedsure Sherpa Fleece Throw Blanket was £25.99, now £20.99 – save 19%
Everyone loves a good throw to snuggle under during those icy winter months. This one, down nearly 20% during Prime Day, measure 2m x 1.5m, so it’s easily big enough to fit across your island bed to act as an extra blanket as well.
Double sided with velvety flannel on one side and soft Sherpa on the other, it comes in 21 different colours too (at different prices), so you should find that matches or contrasts with your van’s interior colours.
It can be washed in a normal washing machine, and put through a tumble drier too.
Portable Fire Pit was £16.99, now £14.44 – save 15%
Few things cheer up a wintry scene more than a fire, although you will probably have to get permission from the caravan park owner to light one, and you should obviously only light it outside – not even in the awning.
This stainless steel structure is collapsible, and comes with a steel mesh you put on top to hold whatever you are burning.
Once cool, it can be put back in its own carry bag that is just 13in long and 3.6in wide.
Ledlenser H19R Core Headlamp was £249.95, now £127.29 – save 49%
Even if you are lucky enough to have a motorhome with an offside services light, in the dark nights of winter it makes a great deal of sense to equip yourself with a headtorch with a powerful beam as that will leave both hands free for you to get on with the job in hand.
This isn’t just to help you see around the sides of your van, but also with all the other kinds of tasks you have to do on site, such as making your way to the chemical waste disposal or the toilet block, or even just to walk the dog.
It also makes sense to buy such a headtorch from an established brand. As I have found out to my cost, cheaper varieties often use unusual chargers that you will find tricky to replace if you lose them. They are also less likely to be well enough engineered to fit around your head comfortably.
Thanks to Prime Day, this Ledlenser model, with a 3500 lumens beam that can stretch for 300m, is nearly half price. It comes with a lithium battery, and can also be dimmed should you strike up a conversation on your travels with someone who doesn’t want to feel as if they are being interrogated.
100 LED fairy lights – was £12.99, now £11.04 – save 15%
It wouldn’t be a proper winter without you having at least one opportunity to string a set of fairy lights around your van and your awning, would it? Especially as the longer nights give you more opportunity to show off your creativity.
Go for a set of battery-operated lights, like these multicoloured ones, and you shouldn’t need to worry about tripping any fuses either. In any case, they only use up 6W. You can also adjust them with a remote control fob.
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