Contest: What’s your favorite travel gear? (Win a $50 Sears gift card)

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:

DeWalt 12-volt Flashlight from Sears

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.

So, what gear do you never leave home without?

How to enter

About Jake Semmel

I'm a blogger and round the world traveler. I'm always on the lookout for new places to scuba dive, hike and ski.