When the temperature drops, it can be tempting to stick your caravan into storage and be done with it until the mercury rises again in the spring. But by doing that, you’re missing out on a lot of fun – during the colder months campsites are quieter, attractions are much less busy and you’ll be able to enjoy crisp, peaceful mornings.
The key to winter caravanning is to make sure you have everything you need for you and your travelling companions to stay warm – you’ll enjoy your trip much more if you do.
This Black Friday is a great time to stock up on kit at discounted prices – which is why this year I’ve taken a close look at those products which will not only save you money, but also make your cold-season touring that much better.
So what are you waiting for? Here are my suggestions for the brilliant bits and pieces that can help you stay warmer this winter.
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Mia&Coco Electric Heated Blanket was £44.99 now £36.33 (save 19%)
Heating yourself rather than the space around you is a great way of staying warmer during the winter, and this attractive electric heated blanket that I spotted on Amazon looks like a great buy if you’re looking for something to keep you warm in your tourer. At 120 x 160cm it’s a good size, and it features 10 temperature settings to choose from. The auto shut-off feature is great for added peace of mind, and it’s simple to wash in the machine, too.
Silentnight Hotel Collection 13.5 Tog Duvet Double was £40 now £26.65
Is the duvet in your caravan warm enough for the winter months? Tourers can become very cold overnight, so to keep yourself comfortable it’s essential that you choose the right bedding.
If your duvet needs replacing – or if you fancy a second one to double up – then this double model from Silentnight is definitely worth a look. It’s 13.5 Tog and should keep you warm during the coldest of nights thanks to its hollowfibre polyester filling. It’s machine washable, and other sizes are available at discounted prices this Black Friday, too.
Dimplex OFRB7N 0.7kW Mini Oil Free Radiator was £75 now £50
If you want to use a separate radiator on tour it’ll need to be one that’s low wattage – and this neat little unit from Dimplex looks as though it will do the job nicely. It doesn’t offer a huge number of features other than a dial on the side that controls the temperature, but requires just 700W of power, so it’s usable on electric hook-up. Automatic cut-off and frost protection are other welcome inclusions, as is the three-year manufacturer warranty and the heater’s compact dimensions (it’s just 45cm tall).
Electric foot warmer was £29.99 now £21.04 (save 30%)
Do your feet get cold when you’re away on tour? Mine do – it feels as though they always take much longer to warm up than the rest of me. So I’m tempted by this electric foot warmer to take away with me when I go away in the van this winter.
It has a trio of temperature settings, and will suit anyone who wears shoes up to a UK size 11.5. You can use it on electric hook-up because of its 100W power consumption, and the lining can be removed and is machine washable.
Heated gilet (price dependent on size)
I think this is a really clever idea – it’s a wearable gilet that hides the fact that it’s also heated by a rechargeable battery pack. If you enjoy getting out into the fresh air during your winter caravan tours, this could be an ideal product for you.
Handily, four different sections of the gilet can be heated, so you can choose which you’d prefer and when. There’s a choice of three heating levels, too. Four sizes of the gilet are available, and all were available with a Black Friday discount of 19% when I checked.
Rechargeable Hand Warmers was £14.99 now £9.89 (save 34%)
Okay, so we’ve got your feet covered thanks to the foot warmer above – but what about your hands? Fear not, we have a solution for those, too. Check out these Rechargeable Hand Warmers on Amazon, which you simply slip into your pocket to do their stuff on a cold day. You can choose between three temperatures, allowing you to find the best option for the conditions, and they clip together magnetically when not in use, for easy storage. When charged, the warmers should provide up to nine hours’ worth of heat.
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