Disclosure: Unless otherwise noted, we own and use every item that you will see on our RV Gear pages. Our hope is that you get some ideas for what might work for you. DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH! WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR DECISIONS! The opinions expressed here our ours alone. If you use our links to purchase something, we may receive a small commission (more beer money!), but the cost to you will be the same.
Our Electric Bikes — No More Fighting Hills!
We LOVE our Electric Bikes!
We often get asked about our electric bikes. We purchased them in 2018, and the model is no longer available. They are made by i-Zip, and cost about $2500 back then. I-Zip’s Vida model is probably the closest thing on the market today. We absolutely love them!
The bikes are “pedal assist” which means that you can use the electric assist or not use it. Eighty to ninety percent of the time, we do not use the electric assist.
We have NEVER run out of battery. We typically only use about 1/4 to 1/3 of a charge on our long rides. That means we can ride close to 40 miles with no problem.
We especially like the big beefy full size tires!
The main downside to our bikes is that they are heavy (55 lbs/bike).
“We live in a hilly area in mid-Missouri. My e-bike has totally changed my ability to bike around town. I’m no longer afraid to go out and explore because I know I can always get back home, and won’t have to walk my bike up a hill!” ~Lana (2019)
Our Sena Bike Helmets — No More Yelling!
In 2021, we purchased two Sena bike helmets. Yes, they are expensive. Yes, we think they are worth it. Much like our e-bikes, these helmets completely changed our bike riding experience.
Instead of getting frustrated because one of us cannot hear the other, these helmets include mesh intercoms that work amazingly well!
Huh? What? That’s right: INTERCOMS! These intercoms reportedly work up to 0.5 miles away, and also include 9 communication channels! WE LOVE THEM!
BIKE RACKS
We really struggled with out to carry our heavy 55-pound electric bikes as part of our RV travels. We tried several bike racks, but didn’t like any of them.
You can read all about how we now carry the bikes in our tow vehicle truck bed in "Our $60,000 Bike Rack" blog. We basically created an inexpensive sliding tray design out of plywood and some scrap blocks of wood.
OTHER BIKE GEAR
ThinStem: Handlebar Rotation
Space is at a premium in an RV. We were able to fit our full-size electric bikes into tighter spaces, thanks to the ThinStem. Check out this video excerpt for how they work.
This ThinStem bike stem lets us rotate our handle bars so that our bikes take up less space.
This ThinStem kit comes with the stem PLUS pedals that pop off as well. Our bikes take up less space with this kit. AWESOME!
Bike Bag #1
Kasie likes this bike bag because it has a set of panniers for carrying stuff, if need be.
Bike Bag #2
Lana likes this less bulkier bike bag.
Bike Rack
We needed to add this bike rack to our bikes in order to better hold the bike bags.
Handlebar Phone Holder
We usually use Google maps when biking so this handlebar phone holder comes in handy
Bike Mirrors
Rechargable Bike Horn
Bike Lock #1
Presta Valves
Spare Bike Tube
Bike Pants
Blanket
This fits in in our bike bags, and is great when we take the bikes to a concert or similar outing.
CAMPING | HIKING ASSESSORIES
DEET-Free Insect Repellant
We keep this DEET-free product in the RV. We like this DEET-free product because we have dogs who like to lick!
DEET Insect Repellant
We carry a can of Deep Woods Off in our tow vehicle so that when we get ready to do a hike, we have have it handy. We only use this when the dogs are not with us.
Bear Spray
Stephen Colbert’s #1 Threat-Down is BEARS! IYKYK. If you don’t know, check out this video.
Black Light
We use this black light to check for scorpions who might be hiding under a camp chair when RVing in the desert. For more desert camping tips, check out our video.
Hydration Backpack
We own two of these hydration backpacks, and they come in different colors.
Hiking Poles
We keep these trekking poles in our tow vehicle so that we always have them handy for an impromptu hike.
Binoculars
We bought these binoculars when we started bird watching. They are also nice for spotting wildlife generally.
LifeStraw - Water Filter
We keep these LifeStraws in our backpacks for longer hikes. Let’s hope we never need them.
Auto Sealing Water Bottle
I know, it’s just a water bottle right? Well, this is the BEST water bottle I’ve ever owned. Not only does it keep the contents cool (or hot) as desired, it is also spill proof!
Clear Backpack
When our outdoor recreation involves going to a sporting event, we usually carry this clear backpack into the venue.
Outdoor Rug
Okay, an oudoor rug isn’t really “recreation,” but it does help make our outdoor space more inviting.