10 thoughtful Christmas gift ideas for tradies

Another year has just about whizzed by, which means that Christmas – and hopefully some well-earned days off to recharge the batteries – is on the horizon.

Yes, we know the spectre of Christmas shopping can bring on a nasty eye twitch for so many, so we've made it easy for you with 10 gift ideas for a family member and/or friend who’s a tradie or just loves anything construction and machinery.

And there’s nothing like the warm glow when you hit the present jackpot – so everyone wins!

Let’s get started.

After some hard yakka, the last thing you want at break time is a warm can of pop.

It doesn’t have to be like that if the Dewalt Cooler Tool Bag is part of your armoury – for work and also play.

Made from canvas, it’s 28cm wide and has zippered compartments galore to meet your cool storage needs, including a lower section which holds up to eight cans. And, of course, it can also hold your tools and other miscellaneous items.

Carriage is via a handle and/or adjustable shoulder strap.

More information and to purchase: amazon.com.au

Anyone who’s ever had their pride and joy stolen will know that sickening feeling all too well, which for tradies is often exacerbated by the thousands of dollars’ worth of tools and equipment caught up in the abhorrent crime.

Of course, insurance often comes to the party, but what if it doesn’t have to reach that juncture?

That’s where the LiveTrack Stealth GPS Tracker can be your best friend with its GPS positioning capability. The GPS tracker is designed to be hidden in your car and, once that’s done, it’s paired with an easy-to-use app which is iOS and Android compatible.

If a vehicle is removed from a pre-determined geo-fence boundary, or is interrupted from parking mode, push notifications will alert the driver of the vehicle’s route – and eventual destination – in real-time before the authorities are called in.

A closed process that crooks aren’t aware of. Sounds like a winner to us!

The 38g tracker also comes with a built-in lithium-ion battery backup, and the app holds seven days of location history.

Of course, the tracker can also be fitted to other vehicles and valuable assets such as excavators, loaders, boats, motorbikes or ATVs.

There are cellular and tracking fees associated with the tracker.

More information and to purchase: ultimate9.co

Gone are the days working in the harsh elements with Digger Lid's Pro Excavator Enclosure, which was described by the company as tougher and lighter than ever.

Available in four sizes and designed to fit 60 types of mini excavators, the Pro Enclosure is made from PVC-coated polyester and fitted with sturdy double stitching, zips, buckles and door straps.

Side and rear clear PVC windows ensure operators get optimum vision around the machine when working. Once it's time to pack up for the day, operators simply roll down the window coverings on all sides for storage.

There’s also a side-opening vent to ensure the Enclosure does not interfere with the machine’s cooling system, and a double-sided door zip for quick and easy side entry.

More information and to purchase: diggerlid.com.au

A hard day out on the site deserves some reward, and this Shiatsu massage seat cushion is just the ticket. It provides deep, invigorating circular and pressure-point massage to help soothe stiff muscles. And better still: take it to work and use it at lunchtime as well!

Designed primarily for the back region, the mobile cushion has four deep-kneading modes across multiple ‘zones’, a soothing heat function and an adjustable strap to secure it to any chair.

There’s also a remote control for easy operation, leaving you to sit back and enjoy the knead. And as long as it takes: dinner can wait…

More information and to order: shavershop.com.au

If you have one of these you might not need the massage seat mentioned above!

The ProChoice back brace provides extra support when working, and increases intra-abdominal pressure to reduce the weight placed on the spine and joints. It also prevents the spine tying itself in knots when the going gets tough and you’re in some precarious positions.

The belt has adjustable 35mm wide elastic braces and clips, elastic outer panels for even more back support and tapered support panels. It comes in five different sizes, starting from 72cm (waist measurement) all the way up to 137cm.

For more information and to purchase: bigsafety.com.au

When working all day out at the job site, especially on scorching hot days, keeping hydrated is paramount.

This Oasis jug with 3.8-litre capacity is the ideal paraphernalia to do the job. It can be used to contain hot or cold beverages and keeps them hot for 12 hours or cold for up to 24 hours, the manufacturer claims.

The double-wall jug is made from stainless steel, which makes it highly resistant to rust and odour.

It has a leak-free seal and handy fast-pouring spout, and comes with an ergonomic carry handle for portability.

More information and to order: myer.com.au

That's right, an apparatus that does three things at once – play music, light the way ahead, and keep your bonce warm.

Tradies often start their day at the crack of dawn and in winter, when mornings are dark and freezing, this beanie would be most useful as they make their way to work.

The Bluetooth headset connection doesn't only allow for listening to music, but also lets wearers field calls hands-free.

The integrated LED light illuminates the path ahead so wearers can see what they're doing or where they're going clearly at all times.

It’s available in four colours, and the continuous working time is six hours with a two-hour recharge for the lithium-ion battery.

It’s washable, but don’t forget to take out the electronic parts beforehand.

For more information and to purchase: catch.com.au

A hard-earned night out needs a big bold scent, which brings us to Thirst by VB.

If your friend or family member loves the beer, they'd be delighted to know they can now wear it.

Carlton & United Breweries, the maker of the iconic beer, has teamed up with Australian perfumeries to produce the scent, which forms part of the new ‘grooming’ range.

Infused with VB's very own hop extract, Thirst is a refreshing combination of bitter citrus and icy aromas with a sweet hoppy accent to finish.

Straight from the worksite to the pub? No problems with 75ml of Thirst by VB in the glove box!

For more information and to purchase: chemistwarehouse.com.au

My father was a truck driver, and some of the permanent cracks on his hand were, err, big enough to drive a semi through.

He was lucky he didn’t go down with some shocking infections, but nevertheless, the pain was intense.

His remedy? Some fashionable-for-the-time barrier cream, but the same old cracks and drying would reappear. However, my dad would have been a different man if he’d used a bona-fide cream from Aussie Man Hands.

Aussie Man Hands' hand repair cream is all-natural, containing healing ingredients such as shea butter, jojoba oil and three different vitamins.

If you think your loved one deserves more than just a tub or two of hand cream for Christmas, Aussie Man Hands also offers gift boxes containing hand creams, lip protectors and soap bars.

For more information and to order: aussiemanhands.com

It’s not all about work for our tradies, and one of the fastest-growing sporting pursuits is mountain bike riding.

Downhill mountain biking, particularly, is a major test of rider and machine, with abrasion an ever-present reality.

One way to minimise the potential scrape damage is with extreme sports socks, which are knitted with cut-resistant Para-aramid yarns at the ankle and calf.

Nylon and elastane also form part of the outer shell, and inside, it’s bamboo and nylon.

More importantly, the socks are waterproof which means you can wear them for kayaking or hiking too, where mud and water is part and parcel of the activity, and you want to keep the feet warm and dry at all times.

The socks are available in four sizes: small, medium, large and extra large.

For more information and to purchase: outdoornature.com.au