Land Rover Gifts: Ideas for 4×4 Owners This Christmas

If you’re stood in a shop in December holding a Land Rover mug and wondering if it’ll do, I’ve got some good news and some bad news. The bad news: they’ve probably already got three. The good news: Land Rover owners are actually quite easy to please, once you know what makes them tick.

We’re a funny bunch. Land Rovers have a reputation for being unreliable, and we love them anyway, which probably makes us gluttons for punishment. But the Land Rover scene is also one of the friendliest and most varied of any car scene in the UK. From farm-battered Defenders to prestige Range Rovers, these cars have always been classless, and so are the people who drive them.

What gets a Land Rover owner excited? Usually one of two things: a shiny new part for their truck, or a bit of heritage. On my own 2010 Discovery 4, my favourite upgrade is a set of L663 Defender steel wheels. They give a modern Land Rover a nod back to the classic Land Rover 90 and 110 and the Defenders of the 1980s and 1990s, and only people in the know will spot it. That “if you know, you know” feeling is what a great Land Rover gift is all about.

So here’s my honest list, from stocking fillers that earn their place on every trip to the bigger kit I genuinely live with. Full disclosure: I’m an ambassador for a couple of these brands, and I’ll say so where that’s the case. Everything here is something I use or would happily buy myself.

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Stocking fillers (under £50)

If you emptied the door pockets and glovebox of my D4 right now, these would come out. None of them are glamorous, but they earn their place on every trip.

A good torch

For checking under the bonnet, finding the campsite tap in the dark or looking for whatever just rolled under the seat. Any decent make will do, but it’s worth spending a little more on one that’s tough and properly bright. A head torch is even better, because it leaves both hands free.

A phone holder and charger

Sounds boring, I know. But most of us navigate green lanes on our phones now, and a solid mount and a charger that keeps up make a long day out far less stressful. Look for a holder that grips properly, because lanes are bumpy and phones go flying. I’m a fan of the Quadlock holders and cases.

Work gloves

For handling recovery kit, clearing branches or anything muddy and sharp. A good pair lives in my door pocket and gets used on most trips.

A puncture repair kit

A tyre plug kit can turn a ruined day into a ten-minute stop and an ability to get yourself back home. It’s the sort of thing nobody buys for themselves until they need it, which makes it a very good present.

A YETI mug

Yes, they’re expensive compared to others on the market, but they’re very well made and will last for years to come. My YETI mug gets used almost daily, and there are a host of sizes and colours to pick from.

A soft shackle

Lighter and safer than a metal shackle for joining recovery kit together, and small enough to live in the glovebox. Not the most exciting thing to unwrap, but they’ll thank you the first time they get stuck.

A proper shovel

I’d recommend a Roughneck shovel: tough and inexpensive, at around £20. If I’ve learned one thing about kit for proper outdoor use, it’s this: buy the best quality you can afford, and often simple is best. Some of the best recovery equipment going is a sturdy shovel over some fancy winch!

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Gifts from £50 to £150

Silky Gomtaro pruning saw (from around £50)

This is the one nobody outside green laning would ever think of. I’ve lost count of the times I’ve had to jump out and take down an errant branch that’s grown over a lane, or one that’s come down in a storm. Any decent saw will do the job, but Silky make proper Japanese saws that cut cleanly and last for years. The Gomtaro is the one I’d buy.

A battery booster pack (from around £80)

A flat battery in a car park is annoying. A flat battery at the end of a remote lane on Dartmoor is a different story. A compact jump starter means they can get themselves going again without waiting for a passing farmer, and most will charge a phone too.

Exmoor Trim seat covers (from around £100)

Proper canvas seat covers made in the UK, and the upgrade that made the biggest difference to how my D4 feels inside. Wet dogs, muddy boots and damp waterproofs all stop being a worry. Exmoor Trim make covers for a wide range of Land Rovers, including Defenders. Mine were made for the Discovery 4 ahead of their range for it, so check what’s available for the vehicle you’re buying for.

Nick Dimbleby’s new Land Rover book (price to be confirmed)

For the heritage lovers. Nick Dimbleby has photographed Land Rovers for decades, and his new book is out in time for Christmas. The perfect coffee table book, featuring many of his unseen photos from his time following the Camel Trophy competitions. The book will soon be available via Coolnvintage.

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Bigger gifts (£150 and up)

A Cobb BBQ (from around £160)

I love my food, and there is very little that beats cooking and eating out in the wild. Chuck into the mix that you’re cooking over hot coals and it’s hard to beat. I’ve been a longtime user of the incredibly portable and efficient Cobb BBQs. A seriously good bit of kit that is permanently in my cooking ‘go-bag’.

Dash cam (from around £170)

My dash cam of choice is the Wolfbox I have installed in my own D4. It records front and rear, doubling up as a rear view camera to help improve my visibility behind. As well as being handy on the road, it’s brilliant for capturing a good day on the lanes. It’s a step up in price from the smaller gifts, but it’s a present that gets used every single day.

Wheels and tyres (budget £250 to £500 per corner)

If you really want to spoil a Land Rover owner, a new set of wheels and off-road biased tyres will be just the ticket! I run a set of L663 steel wheels with Falken WildPeak all-terrain tyres on my D4. It helps give my more modern Land Rover the look of the classic 90, 110 and early Defender. Best bought with the owner rather than as a surprise, because wheel and tyre choice can be a very personal thing!

Hutt BootCamp (from £1,380)

Full disclosure: I’m a Hutt ambassador. BootCamp is a modular camping system that fits in the back of the car, with a bed and a compact kitchen, and it’s very easy to live with. I use mine all the time for quick stops to brew up a coffee or cook some food. It turns a lay-by with a view into the best café in Devon.

Roof Space roof tent (from £3,200)

Again, full disclosure: I’m a Roof Space ambassador too. My Roof Space tent travels everywhere with me and means I’ve always got a home on wheels. It’s the most spacious hardshell tent on the market, so when it’s opened up it’s a bit of a palace up there, whether it’s just me or the whole family. It’s tough too: it’s been through some heavy off-roading and it’s still going strong.

This is the big one, so it’s a present for a very special Land Rover owner, or a very generous family club-together.

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The gift that lasts: a day out on Dartmoor

I’m biased here, because this one’s mine. But if the person you’re buying for owns a capable 4×4 and has never really used it, kit is only half the story.

A private day with Torr Overland is an investment in themselves, and one that lasts a lifetime. It’s just them, their own 4×4 and me, out on the legal green lanes of South East Dartmoor. We go through what every button and lever actually does, then put them and their vehicle through their paces, at their pace.

Whoever comes out on the day, I see the same thing happen. The nerves and apprehension they arrive with gradually fall away, and by the end they’ve got the confidence to head off on their own adventures. It’s amazing how much of an adrenaline rush you can get crawling along at a few miles per hour!

It’s £495 for the day. The gift voucher is emailed to you, so it’s perfect for last-minute buyers, and it’s valid for 12 months, so they can choose a date that suits.

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Questions people ask