The Red Dot Blue Dot 2021 Holiday Gift Guide for Travelers & Photographers
The holidays are here! And we are…kindof back to normal?
By now you’ve probably seen about 10,000 of those “gift guides” – gift lists for moms, dads, husbands, wives, neighbors, friends, etc. – even travelers. The sales are starting. Here’s the secret behind those gift lists, though: They usually start with a reporter sending an email out to a huge mailing list. The reporters ask for suggestions for those gift guides, and usually the responses they get are from PR reps. (In fact, sometimes the requests say they are looking for suggestions and the PR reps should only respond if they’ll send a free sample of the item.) In other words, those gift lists usually aren’t based on personal experiences – they’re based on which PR rep sends in the item, and which company is willing to give the largest payback for each click or purchase. (That’s why certain websites seem to host no content other than “the 25 things under $25 on Amazon with great reviews” and “what you should buy your dog walker for Christmas.”)
Anyway, rather than asking PR people what their clients want us to suggest for holiday gifts, we sat down and discussed what we think are the best gifts for travelers. (Note to self: Next time, have a video camera ready.) Some of these are items we’ve received in the past, others are things we’ve bought for ourselves, and still one or two are items we’d like to receive. Although some of them are affiliate links (keeping a website up isn’t free, in fact it is more expensive than you might think!), all of them are items we personally recommend. We have focused on items that will make travel easier and more pleasant, won’t collect dust between trips, and that are either intended to be consumed or are durable enough to last. Finally, we’ve given a range of prices, so if you need a white elephant gift for $15 or less or have a budget 10 times that, you’ll find an option on our list.
If you have suggestions for other items, please list them in the comments.
Coach Class Ticket (Gifts under $35):
I may sound like a broken record on this, but it’s true – I LOVE my Eagle Creek Pack-It Specter Compression Packing Cubes. They help me pack more and more importantly, keep it organized. (Be sure to click through the various colors and prints as the prices often fluctuate for different colors. On the day we’re posting, a set of Brilliant Blue Eagle Creek Pack-It Specter Compression Packing Cubes is $27.70, while some of the new prints are $39.95.) Eagle Creek makes other, non-compression packing cubes, so if you want the compression, be sure to use the link to go right to the correct ones.
A set of travel shoe bags (we use some similar to these) is a great gift for anyone who travels. I prefer the bags over some of the more expensive shoe cubes because it means I can tuck each shoe in separately or together, but Eagle Creek does make a nice shoe cube as well.
As I said on an earlier post, having tried approximately 9,000 different options and having about 8,995 of them spill shampoo all over, these GoToob containers are the best and last forever. They do come in 2.5 ounce and other larger sizes, but I found those too large. The 1.25 ounce size holds enough shampoo or face wash for one person for even a couple of weeks. I first received them as a Christmas gift about 10 years ago and still use them on every single trip, whether for a night or 10 weeks. Even if the recipient has something else they already use, they will still be able to use these (“I have too many liquids containers that don’t leak” said no traveler ever), and these are likely an upgrade from the cheap ones they grabbed in a late night Target run and that dripped all over the inside of their 3-1-1 bag.
Our next suggestion isn’t flashy, but it will cause the recipient to think of you fondly every time they are sitting at an airport gate with two devices to charge and only one outlet: a power strip. After trying many, many options, we now use this surge protector and power strip on virtually every trip. It can charge two camera batteries, two cell phones, and two laptops all at once. This is a great gift when you don’t know what else to get, because even if they have another one, they can always use a second at home, or leave it permanently in the bottom of their suitcase so it’s one less thing they need to remember when packing. (Or they can regift it and the new recipient will love it!). This particular strip gives you a little extra reach, multi-plug ability and has a bright green cord so you won’t forget it.
For a traveler who likes to hike and camp, you can’t go wrong with bug repellent and sunblock. Repel and sunblock sticks, and Ben’s Tick & Insect Repellent Wipes are all things they can both use, and that will save them money since those are usually much more expensive at campground lodges or resorts.
A reusable water bottle is something every traveler can use. True, they may already have their favorite, but you can never have too many decent water bottles. (Especially if the recipient is prone to forgetting them at the TSA line, in the cup holder in the rental car, in the back of the airplane seat, etc.) I am obsessed to an embarrassing degree with Pathwater bottles. Even if the recipient isn’t quite as nuts about reusable water bottles, if you buy a 9 pack, you can easily keep some for yourself and use others as part of gifts for the travelers in your life. And, at under $3 each, leaving one behind isn’t the end of the world.
And this Yeti water bottle is one that Keith recommends. It of course comes in either red or blue, is stainless steel, and will last a very long time. Finally, you could pick a Yeti mug, add a box of tea or hot chocolate packets, and you’re set. We’ve found our S’well bottles to be great investments. You can fill one with water and ice in the morning, and you’ll still have cold water 12 hours later, even if it’s been sitting in a hot car.
Every traveler can use a small daypack that takes up almost no room in their suitcase. I love the Rick Steves version ($24.99 normally but often on sale) but this one is highly rated, less expensive, and comes in more colors. For a higher end option on a day pack Keith often uses his PacSafe Backpack. It will hold a small Fogg or Think Tank camera bag inside along with everything else you need for a day. It also serves as a good carry-on personal item.
A scratch-off world map is a fun way to track where you’ve been. We have a different one that doesn’t seem to be available anymore, but this one is pretty close.
Give their favorite travel snack, or an assortment. No one really needs one more thing to dust. But some of the best travel snacks are ridiculously priced at airports. Even so, how often have you found yourself at an airport trying to decide between a $6 bag of Boom Chicka Pop or $4 RX Bar knowing you could’ve bought them at the grocery store for less than half the price? If you know a snack they like, order a case of it on Amazon, or if you don’t know what they like, go to the grocery store and pick up several options. (I recently bought 12 different granola/RX/protein bars at Trader Joe’s for about $20.) Or, try our favorites.
You could also put together a travel first aid kit for them. We’ve previously shared what we always have in ours but a travel first aid kit can be a hassle to put together, so in addition to a gift that’s useful, it’s likely to be a gift they’ll appreciate.
Slipper socks are another item you can never have too many of (said no man, ever), and the amount of benefit they can provide when the recipient is in a hotel with cold floors will far exceed the cost. Although we don’t have these specific types, all are well-reviewed, machine washable, and less than $10 per pair. These have the added bonus of coming in pig and panda styles while these offer lavender and vitamin E built into the socks.
I used to participate in a Secret Santa for members of a travel group I belonged to. My favorite gift was one that is easy to give to anyone, not expensive, and yet something they’ll return to year after year – a globe Christmas tree ornament. You can find a similar one here, here, or a version with more sparkle here.
Every traveler has had that moment right before a trip when you have to rush off to buy travel sized toothpaste, mouth wash, etc. Make the trip cheaper by giving the recipient a gift card for Target so all those little last minute things can be covered. Or, put together a 3-1-1 bag of sample sizes. (A family member always collects and gives us all the travel sized toothpastes and dental floss she can talk the dentist out of, and it always saves us a bunch of money as well as removes the stress of that trip to the store.) If you’re doing a white elephant gift exchange, a travel tooth brush, toothpaste, dental floss, mouth wash, Woolite packets and/or travel-size Febreeze and some hand sanitizer will come in under $15, is gender neutral, sure to fit, and will likely be fought over.
Coming in last, but certainly not least, is your very own Red Dot Blue Dot Tog Tee Limited Edition custom design t-shirt. They come specifically in women and men cuts and are a fantastic gift in high-end packaging for any camera or photographic enthusiast. You can find them at the Red Dot Blue Dot Store and at only $40 they make a fantastic gift. But $40 is $10 dollars over what is promised in this section so maybe a Red Dot Blue Dot soft release is something you would consider for those shooting with a Leica, Rollei, Plaubel, or film camera.
If you are buying for a photographer, extra memory cards are also a great option. Keith exclusively uses SanDisk memory. 32GB offers a great price point right now.
Economy Plus / Extra Leg-Room (Under $50):
OBVIOUSLY the most desired holiday gift for an avid photographer, traveler, or both is a Red Dot Blue Dot t-shirt. Did we already mention that you can can order those at the Red Dot Blue Dot Store? And that they come packaged in a reusable tube that makes wrapping and gift giving a cinch? Ok, we did, but it IS the Red Dot Blue Dot website so you can’t blame us, right? (More than one satisfied customer has said that opening their box from Red Dot Blue Dot was like opening a present.) You can even have the shirt shipped directly to the recipient – we’ll add a card with a hand-written holiday greeting so you won’t have to do a thing. AND because we have all had the experience of ordering early to ensure holiday delivery, only to find the package was delivered much earlier than we intended, if you’d like we will hold your holiday orders and send them out December 10 – in plenty of time for holiday delivery but not so early it’s obvious you were trying to get the person off your list!
Keith likes Eagle Creek packing folders for packing dress (or Hawaiian!) shirts. The advantage over the cube is that you can put more in one place, and the folding board means you are almost guaranteed no or very few wrinkles. (On the other hand, if you unpack from the compression cubes and hang the clothes in the bathroom, the wrinkles generally fall out anyway.) Keith has had the same packing folders in a variety of sizes and colors for more than 15 years – as long as you don’t fold them, they are very durable. This one is a good option to get started with.
If you know where the recipient plans or hopes to travel next, a great gift can be a couple of guidebooks for that location, or even a guidebook and a photography book for that destination. If they’ve always wanted to go to Ireland, for example, give them the Rick Steves Ireland book, Ireland Impressions by Nancy Lehrer, and a pint of Guinness. For a family member who has always dreamed of India, how about a copy of India Unposed by Photographer in Focus Craig Semetko, Rough Guide India, and some tea from India.
Give them a gift certificate. If you know the recipient’s preferred airline, you can always get them a gift card for that particular airline. (And if you’re buying gift cards for several people, you can usually find them all on Amazon or at Staple’s. You can find Amazon’s entire gift card assortment here.) If you don’t know their favorite airline or hotel chain, we’ve never met a traveler on this planet who can’t find something they need or want at REI. And if you think they have every packing item, clothes item, shoe, mosquito wipe, etc. they need from REI, consider other stores with a great selection of items for travelers. Amazon has everything you can ever need, and a huge selection of travel books.
When all else fails, no matter how much of a “no chain, local coffee shop only” traveler the recipient says they are, they will still find themselves in a city where they need to get on Starbucks’ WIFI. And since they can easily load the gift card into the app and not have to carry it around, Starbucks gift cards can be another great choice. While you can go to your local Starbucks to pick out a gift card, you can also order them through the app or on Amazon.
Business Class ($50+):
A travel coat. We’ve talked before about the Patagonia Nano Puff, but one of the best Christmas gifts we’ve ever received were LL Bean jackets with hoods. Like the Nano, they pack down small, but unlike the Nano, they have hoods, which make them great when you find yourself without a hat as you’re freezing in Wyoming’s winter-like October weather.
Camera bags. Camera bags can be incredibly personal, but Keith – after trying (and, Amy thinks, buying) many, many options, recommends an all-purpose grab and go bag for every day use that you won’t worry about getting wet, dirty, or worn. For these purposes the Think Tank line of bags is fantastic. The Retrospective 4 2.0 is a really great travel bag that will fit inside other bags and has been a regular companion for over 5 years. If you use this link you will get the best pricing, a gift from Think Tank, and free shipping in the USA.
If the recipient is in the market for a new carry-on bag, our luggage recommendations will help. One note: The TLS Motherlode discussed in the post has had an update, then another update, then another. In an example of incredible customer service, Ebags express shipped a brand new one to me when I managed to bust the handle on my beloved bag after taking it to something like 20 countries. There are some distinct differences so be sure to check out the most recent reviews and keep an eye out for our update to that post, coming soon.
Every person who travels with an iPad knows that the iPadOS has opened up so many new options for the device. One of the best tools to utilize these options is the Hyper Drive USB-C 6-in-One Hub for iPad. This allows you to connect small hard drives, memory cards, and a host of other accessories that can turn your iPad Pro into a mobile office.
If you want a great gift for a Leica or small mirrorless camera enthusiast, the Tamarkin Camera straps are first class. Made from genuine Horween Leather in Chicago, Illinois, these straps last forever and are compact so you can hand hold your camera whenever you want. This is also a really important time to shop local. Local camera stores provide more service than the big chains ever could. When you shop local you join a community of friends that provides incredible learning opportunities. Tamarkin Camera, in Chicago is the local camera shop for the entire country. Give them a call, you are sure to get great service. If you want one of these fabulous straps, click here.
First class ($150+++):
Every traveler looks for a way to travel lighter. For many, the iPad has been the solution. While varying greatly in price depending on what options and features you get, for around $800 you can have a mobile office that fits inside most camera bags. Check out the options at Apple, or try Amazon for savings during the holiday season.
For the person into photography, but in need of a small camera for travel, try the Leica D-Lux, or the Leica CL cameras. For somewhere between $1000 and $4500 you can have a fantastic Leica Camera that will be a travel companion for many years to come. Again, we have no affiliate link for this, but we strongly recommend Tamarkin Camera in Chicago, Illinois, from past experience. We know from our own experience that the staff at Tamarkin Camera is willing to work within your budget, explain everything, and is a great source of information. Every time we have been in a bind, forgetting a charger, or needing a battery they go out of their way and we hear this from many customers. Their tag line, “America’s Premier Leica Specialist,” certainly lives up to the hype. Used Leicas are a fantastic way to build a system, and Tamarkin is the best place to look for high quality used equipment.
Finally, don’t forget about giving a quality fine art photographic print. Photographers put an incredible amount of effort into their work, and there is nothing better than seeing that work hang on your wall. Many of these artists will have print sales and specials for the holiday season, so don’t forget to seek out your favorite photographer and consider buying a print. Stumped on where to start? Check out our Photographer in Focus section.
There will be a special sale on Keith’s photography in the coming weeks! If you have your eye on one in advance you can email him directly at krs@reddotbluedot.com.
And right now you can get a series of Patrick Stromme prints on his website at https://www.patrickstromme.com/prints
We’ve told you things we recommend, and here are some we don’t recommend. Passport covers – we each used one in the past but then found they take up extra space and you’re constantly having to take the passport out of the cover to present it at immigration, thus probably causing more wear and tear than if you’d packed it on its own. Toiletry bags. With the insistence on clear Ziplock bags all over the world, toiletry bags seem pretty unhelpful unless you know the recipient normally travels by car or train, or they check bags. (In which case, tell them to read our tips on how to do carry-on only!)
Share your ideas for gifts in the comments below, and please share this post with your social media!
Happy Holidays!