Leslie in front of our Coleman Tent, wearing one of our indispensable headlamps
Admit it: You have a few special items that you can’t leave home without.
Whether you’re camping in the wilderness or staying in the heart of the city, chances are you bring one or two tools in your pack that make life much easier.
With that in mind, we’re excited to offer our latest contest!
The prize
We are giving away a $50 gift card from Sears! The card can be used at any Sears or K-Mart retail store or online.
We purchase camping and travel supplies at these stores and can attest to their high quality. Here’s a tip: When you win, stock up on the Coleman line of outdoor gear!
You’re just a few steps away from winning the $50 gift card. See below for entry details…
Our favorite gear
What type of gear will you stock up on if you win the $50 Sears gift card? Here are a few of our picks:
This DeWalt 12-volt Flashlight sells on Sears.com for $39.99.
Flashlight: Whether you’re camping or rooting around a dark dorm room for your toiletries, a flashlight comes in handy. When we’re camping, a standing flashlight allows us to read and play cards in our tent without having to grip a flashlight in our teeth. That’s priceless! Check Sears.com for flashlights, like the DeWalk 12-volt F ($39.99).
Duct tape: So simple, yet so versatile. We use tape to repair anything and everything, including backpacks, suitcases, tents, jackets, and more!
First-aid kit: Always useful, particularly when backpacking without health insurance in a region with no hospitals. (Ahem, Laos).
Swiss Army knife: This has a number of uses, such as chopping food, cutting tent ropes and, perhaps most importantly, opening wine and beer bottles.
Head lamp: The first several times we camped, we carried hand-held flashlights. We were constantly annoyed when trying to strategically prop one up while brushing our teeth or using the bathroom. Once we got a couple of head lamps, getting around in the dark was a breeze.
Hammer: This may seem like an odd pick for a traveler, but a hammer comes in handy when you’re camping. If you’ve ever tried to dig tent stakes into a bone-dry bed of dirt, you know what we mean! Visit Sears.com for a wide selection of Craftsman hammers ($17.99 & up).
Note: If you don’t want to be singled out by airport security, check your hammer instead of bringing it in your carry-on luggage. Ditto for a Swiss Army knife!
Near the end of my year-long trip with my trusty backpack, filled with duct tape and other essentials.
How to enter
1. Visit Sears.com to find more essential tools that will help you have a better travel experience.
2. Leave a comment below and tell us what item you absolutely cannot live without while traveling.
3. “Like” Downtown Traveler on Facebook and leave a comment on our Facebook page confirming that you’ve entered the contest.
4. BONUS: Qualify for extra entries each time you tweet about the contest using the hashtag #searstravelgear. Here’s a sample message you can paste into Twitter:
Contest from @downtowntravel: What’s your favorite travel gear? Tell us + win a $50 Sears card! http://bit.ly/hMrXHx #searstravelgear
Good luck! Enter now through 11:59pm EST on Tuesday, April 12th.
The fine print
Contest is open to international residents. As long as you have a mailing address and we can ship you the gift card, you can enter!
Contest will remain open until 11:59pm EST on Tuesday, April 12th. Winner will be chosen through a random drawing and will be notified on Wednesday, April 13th.
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Well, I think it’s time I FINALLY get a back pack…
Go for it! You can probably get a pink backpack with gems on it- hehe 😉
I could NEVER travel without an iPod touch…(http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_SPM2797455502P?prdNo=13&blockNo=13&blockType=L13). Can’t possibly survive without internet!
Thanks for your entry, Aaron! I’m an iPhone addict myself. Although we didn’t bring any phones or laptops on our RTW trip. That would have made it so much easier 😉
I have a Coleman mini compass keychain. It’s great when you’re in a foreign country, you have your guide book, and have no idea if you are walking the correct direction. It’s small, portable, and since it’s on a keychain you can easily secure it to your backpack.
That’s a good one! A compass would come in handy for camping too.
zip-off pantalones!
Isn’t that for strippers? lol
Duct Tape is a big one- and if we are trying by car, an extra phone battery charger… just in case something happens to one of them!!
Agreed! I couldn’t function without duct tape– it’s a must 🙂
I cannot survive without my flask of Ole Grandad whiskey. I like to travel with family. He is kind of ornery sometimes, but good company.
lol! I’m sure whiskey makes adventure travel even more exciting…
I can not survive without out my backpack, it has multiple compartments for stuffing all my travel goodies and lots of outside pockets for stashing things away!
Thanks for entering the contest, Alyson! Good luck 🙂
Mosquito repellent! DIE in the tropics without it! LOL
I hear you!
I don’t leave home without my trusty flip flops (I keep a pair in my luggage permanently) and Kindle 🙂
Love flip flops. They double as shower shoes too! Thanks for the comment 🙂
While my favorite thing for traveling is a back pack, I think I am really going to invest some money in a good first aid kit with two young kids! 🙂
Smart move. You never know when you’ll need one!
Facial wipes from Duane Reade, or Korres.
Facial mist (toner) from Caudalie; you gotta keep your face hydrated after you wipe your face.
A packet of Hall Defense Lozenges in Cherry with Zinc and Echinacea.
Facial wipes (or baby wipes) come in handy. So true!
My camera! And backpack 🙂
Ooh, a camera is a good one! I never leave home without one (even if it’s on my phone).
Ohh fun! I bought my camera bag from sears, but now I have too many lenses and need a new one, so that’s what I would buy!
Very excited to enter the contest/I need tools to build my cavy CoCo a new cage. -Lauren Hillary!
The Coleman Palmetto Sleeping Bags. We had those when we moved across country, slept in them in six states while wind whipped and coyotes howled. Lost them to a slobbering Mastiff named Jerry when we lived in California. He also liked them…
My camera!!! I would leave my shoes and socks behind before I set out with my trusty Canon!
I always travel with a MagLite flashlight–helps for reading maps and finding addresses in the dark!
I have to have my Sigg water bottle.
I could not leave behind my camera!! I would just die without it..also,in my camper, I can not camp with out my microwave!!
I know not to mess with you guys if you take a hammer with you! I’ve become rather obsessed with taking my Antibacterial hand spray away with me – its all those TV adverts telling us there are germs everywhere!!