The Green Lane’s 2024 Christmas Gift Guide
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1 week ago
Motoring editor Jeremy Taylor and Jessica Talbot-Ponsonby open the advent calendar to reveal their pick of the year
It’s (almost) Christmas – here’s The Green Lane’s 2024 big, fat gift guide for motoring enthusiasts!
7 Great Christmas Gifts For Car Lovers
J-TP – So, what have you bought me this year?
JT – Obviously, James Bond’s Aston Martin DB5 and a pair of sustainable slippers. Well, one of the two anyway.
Shall we just get straight into our annual gift guide of great presents to suit all pockets?
Yes, just like the middle aisle in Lidl, there’s something for everyone here…
Classic Car Hamper
Forman & Field, Thank You Hamper For Her, £137.50
If anyone ever sang for their supper, it’s soprano Katherine Jenkins. The Welsh diva recently released a signature gin named Cygnet – perfect for the 12 days of Christmas as it’s flavoured with 12 botanicals. The award-winning tipple includes bee pollen, lemon balm and rose petals. Cygnet is best served in a Forman & Field hamper – foodies can nibble on chocolate, vine-wrapped goat cheese and some rather excellent royal fillet of smoked salmon, all packed in a sustainable wicker basket.
Off-Road Wellies
Le Chameau, Chasseur Neoprene Lined Boot, £330
Wellington boots were headlines news last month. Environment Secretary Steve Reed wore a pair of £420 Le Chameau’s for a rural excursion – at a time when farmers are struggling more than ever. Putting politics aside, at least Mr Reed’s choice of footwear was made with environmentally-friendly leather and wool. Other Le Chameau boots, like the Chasseur Neoprene are vegan-friendly. Handmade in Morocco, they also boast a robust sole and heel that are perfect for bundling across a field in an ancient Land Rover.
Brilliant Bicycle Lock
Hiplok, DX1000, £299.99
Electric bikes cost thousands of pounds – without an attack-resistant lock, it would be madness to leave one unprotected on the street. The Hiplock D-Lock is the best defence against thieves armed with an angle grinder, thanks to graphene composite technology tested to the max. The British company offers various locking systems that are great for bicycles and motorbikes alike – as seen here on The Green’s Lanes favourite electric motorcycle, the super-cool Maeving RM1S.
Nice Ice Scraper
Halfords, Ice Scraper with Weatherproof Mitt, £4
Sometimes simple ideas work the best. While many cars boast a heated windscreen, or a pre-heat ventilation function for the cabin via a phone app, the long-serving ice scraper is still with us for now, at least. Instead of a kettle of hot water or a Visa card to clear ice, this ice scraper is attached to a waterproof glove and perfect for keeping hands warm and dry when prising the ice from the car windscreen on a frosty morning.
Car Vac
Samsung, Jet 95 Pro, £429
A cordless vacuum sucks the chore out of cleaning a car. Sweet wrappers, crumbs, muddy paw prints – a handheld gets the job done. If an exorbitantly-priced Dyson is beyond reach, try this superb Samsung. It’s not the cheapest but for all-round cleaning performance, the battery-powered Jet 95 Pro is all you need. Key features include 49 minutes of cleaning power, a free-standing charge base and an emptying system that won’t leave you cursing. For tall folk, it has an extendable wand arm too.
Motorcycle Tank Bag
Moto-Detail, Tank Bag, from £24.04
The automotive version of a wicker basket on a bicycle, a tank bag has become the ‘must have’ companion for motorcyclists on the go. They are easily attached to the top of the fuel tank by strap, magnet or a neat locking system fitted to the fuel filler. Available in all shapes and sizes, bikers can stuff mobiles, maps, wallets or whatever is needed close to hand by the handlebars. This Moto-Detail bag is a modest 4-litres but perfect for all those small items that otherwise are stuffed in a jacket pocket.
Hot Hotel
The Oberoi, rooms from £250 per night
For a money-no-object splurge, the hottest hotel (literally) we visited this year was The Oberoi, in New Delhi. As temperatures edged towards 50°C, it was even too warm to jump in the outdoor pool! One of India’s all-time great hotels, guests arriving by car are greeted by a concierge with an equally impressive moustache. Stylish, relaxed and effortlessly chic, ease off the aches of travelling in an epic spa.
