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Gift guide

Gifts for Truck Guys

If he loves his truck, skip the novelty mug. Give him the gear that gets him home when the battery dies or a tire goes soft. Every pick here was chosen on test data and real-world use, and every one earns its spot behind the seat.

Build his roadside kit (better than a premade one)

Premade roadside kits are mostly filler. These four cover the problems that actually happen:

  • A jump starter for a dead battery, no second car needed.
  • A cordless inflator to top off a soft tire.
  • A digital gauge that reads the real pressure.
  • A plug kit to fix a nail hole and drive home.

The picks 18

NOCOBoost GB40 Jump Starter NOCOBoost GB40 Jump Starter Starts a dead car or truck battery without another car, and doubles as a phone charger when the power's out. Spark-proof, so it's safe for anyone to use. Check price on Amazon AstroAIL7 Cordless Tire Inflator Instead of a $100+ inflatorAstroAIL7 Cordless Tire Inflator Our value pick, and the one to buy. Tested head to head against cordless inflators costing up to $130, it tops off his tires for a fraction of the price. Set the pressure, press go, and it stops on its own. It's loud, like most of them. Check price on Amazon JACOElitePro Digital Tire Pressure Gauge The one to beatJACOElitePro Digital Tire Pressure Gauge The most accurate gauge in a head-to-head test of 17 brands: across 10 readings, its misses added up to less than 1 PSI. A small gift he'll use every time he checks his tires. Check price on Amazon Boulder ToolsCompact Tire Plug Kit Instead of a pro Safety Seal kitBoulder ToolsCompact Tire Plug Kit Our value pick, and the one to buy. Rated the best compact kit in hands-on testing. Plugs a nail hole in minutes and gets him home instead of waiting on a tow, in a small pouch that lives under the seat. Check price on Amazon PowerbuiltHeavy-Duty Tire Step PowerbuiltHeavy-Duty Tire Step It hooks over the tire so he can stand up and reach the bed, the roof rack or the engine of a tall truck. Holds 300 lb, has a non-slip platform and folds flat to ride behind the seat. Check price on Amazon Drop StopCar Seat Gap Filler, 2-Pack The one to beatDrop StopCar Seat Gap Filler, 2-Pack The original seat gap filler. It closes the gap between the seat and the console, so his phone, keys and fries stop vanishing down there. Goes in about a minute and fits most cars and trucks. A stocking stuffer he'll use every day. Check price on Amazon Mechanix WearOriginal Work Gloves The one to beatMechanix WearOriginal Work Gloves The original mechanic's glove. A snug fit that keeps his fingers nimble enough to turn a bolt or hold a small part, with touchscreen fingertips so he can use his phone without taking them off. Pick his size on Amazon. Check price on Amazon OCOOPARechargeable Hand Warmers, 2-Pack OCOOPARechargeable Hand Warmers, 2-Pack One for each pocket, and no more buying disposable heat packs. Four heat levels, up to 16 hours of warmth on low (maker's rating), and the pair snaps together with magnets. For the deer stand, the job site or the bleachers. Check price on Amazon VIOFOA119M Pro 4K Mini Dash Cam Instead of a $300+ Thinkware or 70maiVIOFOA119M Pro 4K Mini Dash Cam Our value pick, and the one to buy. It won a head-to-head test of 11 dash cams, best of all at night, reading signs and plates as well as cameras that cost twice as much. Small and front-facing, it tucks out of sight behind the mirror. Check price on Amazon BlueDriverBluetooth Pro OBD2 Scanner The one to beatBlueDriverBluetooth Pro OBD2 Scanner Here the big name earns it. When the check engine light comes on, this plugs in under the dash and tells him what is wrong on his phone, with repair reports and no subscription. Cheap code readers only read engine codes; this also covers ABS, airbag and tire-pressure warnings. Check price on Amazon StrapinnoRetractable Ratchet Straps, 2-Pack (2 in x 12 ft) The one to beatStrapinnoRetractable Ratchet Straps, 2-Pack (2 in x 12 ft) Here we paid up for the winner. In a head-to-head test of 12 brands of retractable ratchet straps, this one came out on top for build quality and holding strength. The strap winds itself back in, so no more tangled mess behind the seat. Check price on Amazon resqmeThe Original Car Escape Tool Badger StandardresqmeThe Original Car Escape Tool A seatbelt cutter and window breaker that lives on his keychain. Made in the USA.Check the color and pack size on Amazon before you buy. Check price on Amazon LeathermanWave+ The one to beatLeathermanWave+ The multitool that defines the category: 18 tools and a 25-year warranty. Check price on Amazon Rhino USARecovery Tow Strap Instead of ARB or WarnRhino USARecovery Tow Strap Our value pick, and the one to buy. A heavy-duty strap for a steady pull out of the ditch or the mud, for far less than the big off-road brands. It is a tow strap, not a stretchy snatch strap, so it's for pulling, not yanking. Check price on Amazon JackeryExplorer 300 Power Station JackeryExplorer 300 Power Station A small power station that rides behind the seat: real wall plugs and USB ports to run a fan, lights or a laptop and charge phones at the job site or the campsite. Jackery's small power station came out on top in head-to-head testing. Comes with a carry bag. Check price on Amazon Black DiamondSpot 400 / 400-R Headlamp Badger StandardBlack DiamondSpot 400 / 400-R Headlamp The all-round headlamp: bright, waterproof and simple to use. Check price on Amazon AstroAI27-Inch Snow Brush & Ice Scraper AstroAI27-Inch Snow Brush & Ice Scraper Rated the best all-round snow brush in hands-on testing. A long brush and a tough scraper that come apart to fit behind the seat. A stocking stuffer he will use every winter morning. Check price on Amazon My MedicMyFAK Standard First Aid Kit The one to beatMy MedicMyFAK Standard First Aid Kit The serious kit for the truck. Built in the USA, real trauma gear including a tourniquet, and organized so he can find things fast. The toughest kit in hands-on testing. Check price on Amazon

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