Holiday Shopping Guide: Best Gifts For Car Lovers

More than anything else, these last two years have given us a bit of perspective on what’s most important during the holiday season. As we enter the uncertainty of 2022, we’ll take family, friends, and good health above all else. That being said… gifts are pretty cool too. So, if you’ve got an auto-enthusiast in your life that you still need to buy for, we’ve got you covered. Check out our 2021 Gift-Giving Guide below. Stocked with some of the best gifts for car lovers, you’re sure to absolutely sleigh the holidays this year.

No paid placements, no affiliate links, and no promo codes. Just a few automotive favorites we’ve come across this year!

BOLT Swivel Locking Recovery Hook

Teaming up with Monster Hook, bolt took its “one key to rule them all” technology and developed the first locking swivel hook on the market. Made from aircraft-grade aluminum, the BOLT Swivel Locking Recovery Hook ensures tamper resistance while making quick work of securing straps.

Ready for 10,000 lbs of pull and capable of swinging a full 160°, this recovery hook ensures the off-roader on your list can approach recovery jobs with confidence.

We imagine if Captain Hook had this beast attached to his wrist, not only could he have winched the entire damn Jolly Roger back to shore, but it really would have put some new gravitas to Peter Pan’s moniker of the “Boy Who Never Grew Up.” Yikes.

Forza Horizon 5

You may have that early 2000s clunker waiting in the driveway to take you to work tomorrow, but Xbox owners can get a taste of that exotic life with Forza Horizon 5. Fresh off its November 2021 launch, the latest installment in the Xbox exclusive has garnered quite the praise from fans (and a 10/10 from IGN).

This open-world installment has gamers racing across Mexico with over 500 cars at their disposal. Live out barn-find dreams by stumbling across Vipers, Jags, Ferraris and more hidden all across the desert.

Raise the bar on gift-giving this year with a game that blows the doors off traditional virtual racing. 

It’s a virtual nirvana for gearheads, as you can spend just as much time customizing vehicles with an insane amount of aftermarket goodies as you can actually racing. And in today’s world where parts availability is suspect, tuning in Forza is certainly a more sure thing.

Handpresso 12V Coffee Makers

First there was Cars & Coffee. Then Jerry Seinfeld took those two and added comedians. Now, Handpresso is pushing the C&C envelope once again by ditching the comedy and the need to stop for coffee altogether.

How about making coffee while driving…Coffee in Cars?

Handpresso’s line of automotive coffee makers sit in the vehicle’s cup holder and plug into a cigarette lighter. In just a few minutes, piping hot coffee or espresso is ready to enjoy. Choose from units that brew from pods, capsules, or ground coffee, and give a gift that truly keeps on giving — caffeine.

We consider this one of the best gifts for car lovers with long commutes or lots of travel on the itinerary. No need to waste time pulling over at service stations for crappy coffee, or spending a small fortune on the good stuff at a coffee shop. With Handpresso, brew café-quality coffee right from the driver’s seat.

Body Armor 4×4: Pike 2-Person Tent

At $1,049.99, this is certainly more of a “Say, honey – let’s treat ourselves this year!” type of gift. Having said that, the Body Armor 4×4 rooftop tent is still kind of a steal at that price.

The Pike features heavy-duty fabric, a solid waterproof rating, and corrosion resistance all wrapped up in a good-looking package. Along with the Smitty tent we recommended in our rooftop guide, this slots nicely at that popular $1K level. Unfortunately, tent prices (along with most other things) are on the rise. So scoop this baby up before it gets any higher. There’s also an available side annex room for about $300.

Hoonigan

We’d be remiss if we didn’t showcase a few of the fun designs from the folks over at Hoonigan. This year, the 80s vibes are strong with their “It’s a Living Tire Slayer” neon design plastered over a whole host of different items. The blue/pink gradient script is inspired by the 2021 Hoonigan Racing Division livery and the limited edition items are going fast. Shirts and towels are probably the more tasteful choice for the hooner in your life, but if you want to go exotic, they do have a Modernica-designed chair for $600. Steep, we know, but it would be a great garage conversation piece.

More exciting, for each dollar you spend in the Hoonigan store you get an entry to win every import tuners dream—an R33 Nissan Skyline GT-R.

Buy a shirt, get a Skyline? This has “Best Christmas Ever” written all over it.

Milwaukee M-SPECTOR 360

Working under the hood can be cathartic for some folks, but for most of us it ends in aggravation. If you’ve got a cramped engine bay and are having trouble finding a leak, a bolt, or a firewall pass-through—it can be a nightmare.

Go ahead, try to shove your phone down underneath that alternator for more light, what can go wrong?

Put a stop to amateur hour and pick up the M-Spector 360. Available with a wide variety of cable lengths and extensions, the M-Spector digital inspection camera makes it easy to see into tight areas. Plus, the rotating 2.7” screen orients the image without battling the cable, while 4 LEDs provide precise illumination—more than that old pull-down extension garage light ever could.

Kurgo Car Door Guard and Shade

After the last couple years, ’tis definitely the season to get outside — and Kurgo can help (at least on the pet front). We’ve long been big fans of the brand’s dog hammocks and backseat barriers, which keep your furry friends safe and comfortable during long rides. And the company’s long list of leashes, harnesses, and running belts are great for when you finally arrive at your destination. But recently, Kurgo released another genius product: a combination Car Door Guard and Shade that protects both doggos and window sills.

Basically, the guard keeps paws off the door frame and away from window controls, while the shade keeps pups from leaning too far out the window. Anyone who has tried to buff scratches off a door frame — or had that gut-wrenching realization that Fido just hit the window regulator — can quickly see the value in a product like this. And, at $44 a pair, this is an absolute steal!

Garmin InReach Mini

Not all who wander are lost… but for those who have misplaced their sense of direction, this could be a welcome gift. The InReach Mini is a stellar piece of communication tech that takes up very little precious room in any adventurer’s kit. No matter how far in the bush one roams, they’ll be able to two-way message loved ones, share location, and send interactive SOS alerts.

Plus, the InReach Mini allows for posting from social media accounts! Just think how badass those shared from locations will look when posting way out in the sticks.

CTEK CT5 Powersport

Unlike your daily driver, ATVs, bikes, snowmobiles, and jet skis regularly go weeks, if not months without being used. For powersports owners, the only thing worse than going into the garage and finding a dead battery is finding out about that dead battery far away from home.

Ditch the jumper cables or traditional trickle charger and get yourself a CT5 from CTEK. The Powersports edition is specifically designed for lead-acid and lithium batteries. Its small footprint means in can easily be brought along on any trip, even if you’re packing light. Featuring reverse polarity protection, dust and water resistance, and short circuit safeguards, the CT5 can be left on your craft indefinitely without the worry of over or undercharging.

Rally Pro Performance Driving Experience

Say what you want about Millennials, but they’re good at one thing: prioritizing memorable experiences over stuff. Consider taking a cue from the generational playbook, and gift your gearhead a unique driving experience.

There are loads of driving schools and racetracks around the country that offer gifts like this, at a wide variety of budget levels. (Stock car ride-alongs can be found for as little as $99 around the holidays.) If you’re looking for a big, splashy destination gift experience, though, we recommend checking out the RallyPro Performance Driving School Experience in Starke, Florida. As the first major, full-time rally school in the U.S., the FIRM serves up over 22 miles of configurable and diverse terrain on which to hone one’s skills, mastering fundamentals like handbrake turning, controlled slides, and more. The park is open year-round, with half-day (4 hours) or full-day (7 hours) courses available. Packages start at $1,050.