Gifts for Campers: Ideas That Stay Put in a Motorhome

Campers are hard to buy for. They already have most things, and whatever they don't have usually won't fit in the storage lockers anyway. If you're after gifts for campers, you need ideas that are small, genuinely useful and don't rattle on the road. Here are our favourites for motorhomes, campervans and tents, whether for a birthday, the start of the season or Christmas.

What campers actually want

Three rules apply in almost every van: no drilling, space is tight, and everything should stay put, even after the gravel track to the pitch. Good camping gifts are compact, versatile and need no tools to fit in.

Camping gifts that fit in any locker

• Head torch: the classic. For the walk to the shower block, rummaging in the rear locker or reading in bed.
• Collapsible bowl and water carrier: flat as a plate when folded, washing-up bowl or water supply when open.
• Levelling ramps: anyone who has slept on a slope knows their worth.
• Rechargeable fairy lights: turn the awning into a living room in the evening.
• Microfibre towels: dry quickly and take up a fraction of the space.
• Stovetop espresso maker or pour-over: coffee with a view is half the holiday.
• A campsite guide or travel journal: for planning and for the memories afterwards.
• A deck of cards for rainy days: small, light and saves the evening.

A gift for motorhome owners: soap that stays put

In a motorhome washroom every centimetre is spoken for. A soap dish slides around, liquid soap can leak, and it all ends up in the basin. That's where Soapi comes in: a magnetic soap holder. A bottle cap goes halfway into a bar of soap, the bar hangs from the magnet on the wall and dries all the way round. No dish, no slime. Soapi holds bars up to 250 g, and since 2023 it has made its way into more than 250 shops, with 4.88 out of 5 stars from over 1,600 reviews.

Soapi works with anything that can take a bottle cap, so solid soap or solid shampoo. One in the washroom for the shower, one by the sink for washing hands. On the road, bars have two real advantages: they can't leak, and they save space because no bottles need to come along. You'll find suitable bars in our soaps and shampoos.

To be honest about it: Soapi sticks on with a waterproof adhesive pad and only holds on smooth surfaces such as tiles, glass, mirrors, stainless steel or varnished wood. Clean and dry the spot first, then press the pad on firmly. Not on painted or wallpapered surfaces, please. And on a bumpy road you can simply take the bar off for a moment and pop it in a box. All the details are in our instructions & FAQ.

Ready to give is the Starter Kit for €14.95: one Soapi in the colour of your choice, a lavender soap from Marseille, 100 g, handmade in Marseille, and a cleaned bottle cap.

Keys by the door, not in your pocket

Van key, gas locker key, bike rack key: there are often more in a camper than you'd think. The magnetic key holder for €11.95 sticks next to the door on a smooth surface such as metal, glass or varnished wood and holds the steel key ring with a strong magnet, even a heavy bunch. Same technology as Soapi, same rule: smooth surfaces only.

A camper bundle with Mix & Match

For camping friends who deserve the full kit, try Mix & Match: pick 5 products, pay €50, free shipping within Germany. One idea for a motorhome: two Soapis for washroom and sink, a key holder, a solid shampoo by Skargard and a shower soap by KLAR. Alternatively there are soaps by Blaull, Grete Manufaktur or the soap from Marseille. Add a head torch from the outdoor shop and the bundle is complete.

Gifts for campers: FAQ

Does Soapi hold while driving?

The magnet holds the bar securely on the wall. On rough tracks we still suggest taking the soap off briefly so nothing flies around the washroom.

Can I hang a washing-up sponge on Soapi?

No, Soapi only holds bars with a bottle cap pressed in, so solid soap or solid shampoo.

Which surfaces in a motorhome does it stick to?

Smooth ones such as glass, mirrors, stainless steel, tiles or varnished wood. Clean well, let it dry, press firmly.

Safe travels

The best camping gifts are small, practical and have a fixed spot. For more on soap as a present, read how to gift solid soap nicely, and for more everyday helpers see small, useful gifts. Put your camper bundle together here: go to Mix & Match.