Ten Christmas gift ideas for tradies and heavy machinery buffs

Christmas is just around the corner, which means it’s time to splash some cash for the loved ones in your life. Sure, socks and jocks are easy to get, but they’re boring.

If a friend or family member currently works in the construction industry, is looking at a career in the sector, or just loves anything construction and machinery, here are ten gift ideas that are sure to delight.

Anyone who works in the industry will be familiar with the Caterpillar brand, which is synonymous with quality construction machinery, but what most might not know is that the company has its very own range of smartphones.

Forget the iPhone, if you’re a tradie, you need one of these.

Caterpillar offers a range of smartphones spanning different screen sizes and battery capacities, but its range topping Cat S62 Pro is where it’s at. Caterpillar even branded it ‘The ultimate work phone’.

First things first, the phone is built to last. It features a high grade aluminium body and the latest toughened scratch-resistant Corning® Gorilla® Glass 6. It is housed in a non-slip rubberized TPU that can protect the phone from any drops or shocks it may encounter. In addition, it is also dustproof, sand proof and vibration proof, which is very handy in a construction environment.

However, what really set this apart from Cat’s other smartphones, or from any other smartphone, is the thermal imaging ability that comes standard with this model.

Powered by FLIR, which is the expert in the thermal imaging product space, users of the Cat S62 Pro  will be able to capture images with thermal details in order to identify possible dampness, leaks or blockage in pipes or job sites, for example, and rectify the issues ASAP.

And of course, it also lets you make phone calls, surf the internet and take normal pictures like any other smartphone could. It features a large, fast charging 4000mAh battery, as well as dual SIM slots and expandable memory via microSD.

Available from: Harvey Norman/The Good Guys

More information: Catphones.com

Another gadget we think is worth a look at for the tradie in your life is a sturdy, high quality pair of earmuffs that double up as headphones that the wearer can use to take calls or simply listen to music while they work away.

It connects to the user’s mobile phone wirelessly via Bluetooth, which means they don’t have to worry about getting tangled up in cables.

It has high passive noise attenuation of 31dB, effectively protecting users’ ears from loud noises around construction sites or in machinery.

A robust boom microphone lets users answer calls clearly and not have to worry about surrounding noise muffling their voices.

Available from: Absafe.com.au

More information: Honeywell website

There’s nothing worse than eagerly opening your lunch box at lunchtime only to munch into a stone-cold meat pie. Sometimes you just don’t have time to run into the lunchroom to heat up your lunch, or you just can't be bothered waiting in line to use the microwave.

This heated lunchbox is the perfect solution and will make sure your lunch stays warm until the moment you tuck into it.

It plugs into a 12-volt auxiliary power outlet in cars or certain machinery, and has a stainless steel insert that will heat up to 70 degrees to keep your food warm.

With a 1.5-litre capacity, you can store any type of hot food you wish in there - from meat pies to fried rice to a steak sanga. It even comes with a set of cutlery stored neatly away in the lid.

Available from: Catch.com.au

More information: Lion.net.au

If the gift recipient lives and breathes the great outdoors, this will make the perfect gift. In fact, this Australian made 100Ah lithium portable dual battery system can be used just about anywhere for both work and play, whether it be to power work tools at a job site or to charge up phones and run fridges at a camp site.

The REDARC GoBlock features nine products in one compact unit plus two accessories in the box (12v accessory socket charger and a mains AC wall charger) and over the air updates.

Its DC DC charging technology allows the system to charge at a rapid rate and gives the user the full 100Ah of power in around two hours.

All the components are housed in a tough aluminium case, rugged enough to be lugged around and used in just about any environment and condition.

Not only can it power tools or gadgets on the go, it has a Smart Battery Recovery feature that can help you restart your or a friend’s vehicle and get back on the road in under 15 minutes.

More info and available from: REDARC.com.au

Most safety eyewear is not fashionable, and fashionable eyewear is not ideal for use on worksites. Realising this, Perth-based tradie-turned-entrepreneur, Tim Lewis, set out to create a range of trendy glasses that one can wear from the worksite to the beach.

SafeStyle’s range of eyewear includes a variety of different styles and colours, but the ‘Classic’ Black Frame tinted with UV protection is one of the top selling products due to the classic look and feel of the glasses.

Unlike most sunnies or glasses on the market, SafeStyle’s glasses are certified to Australian & New Zealand safety standards and are suitable for use on work sites. It features side shields for extra protection and shatterproof polycarbonate frames and lenses.

Customers can also opt to add prescription lenses with their SafeStyle glasses.

More info and available from: SafeStyle.com.au

Cool Hard Hats customised hard hat

Speaking of fashion, why not add some pizzazz to your loved one’s life and work by getting them a unique, custom design hard hat?

Why opt for plain white hard hats when you can have your favourite band or footy team splashed across your helmet?

Australia-based company, Cool Hard Hats, designs, prints and hydrodips the hard hats at their workshop in Western Australia. They offer three different types of helmets – wide brims, MSA V-Gard caps and broadbrim helmets – and hundreds of designs to choose from.

They are also fully compliant with Australian, New Zealand and British safety standards and are built tough to withstand the elements and debris in construction, mining and industrial settings.

Certain hard hat types, such as the wide brim ones, have vents on the top of the helmet for increased air circulation and comfort.

Don’t fancy any of the designs? You can design your own helmet, or add your own company logo and name on it.

Before you place an order, do check that the gift recipient’s workplace allows the use of custom hard hats, as some job sites require employees to follow a colour code when it comes to helmets.

More info and available from: Coolhardhats.com.au

If your loved one’s work boots look a bit worse for wear, then it’s time to get them a new pair. Considering the hazardous conditions tradies work in, they absolutely need the best and toughest footwear they can get their hands on to ensure they and their feet are properly protected.

Blundstone released its #984 work boots earlier this year which the brand says is a combination of style and substance.

The stone colour nubuck leather exterior is water resistant while the inside and sole of the boot are packed with safety and comfort features including a steel toe cap, thermal regulating bamboo lining, electrical hazard resistance, heat resistant outsole, Comfort Arch footbed and more.

Blundstone says the boots are ideal for people who spend long days on their feet, whether it be at work or in the great outdoors.

Available from: RSEA/ Totally Workwear

More information: blundstone.com.au

This one is for all the construction machinery fans out there. LEGO’s newest Cat bulldozer set might be the closest most people can get to operating a heavy machine.

This mammoth kit contains 3854 pieces that will prove to be a fun yet challenging build for even the most seasoned LEGO builders. The best part is, the fun doesn’t stop after you finish the build.

The dozer is controllable via Bluetooth and the CONTROL+ app, with the builder able to steer the dozer around, lower and tilt the blade or raise and lower the rear ripper and ladder.

It even comes with adjustable tracks that can be tightened and loosened, just like a real dozer.

The attention to detail with this build is quite remarkable, with LEGO replicating every single detail of the Cat D11 to a T – down to the exact colour, graphics, sprockets and cylinders.

More info and available from: LEGO Brick Megastore

Bring and drink your coffee anywhere with Yeti’s durable travel mug. Its 20oz (nearly 600ml) capacity allows the user to stay hydrated or caffeinated all day.

It comes in a variety of fashionable colours including red, taupe, navy and teal, and sits comfortably in the cup holder of your vehicle or machinery.

Its key feature is a Rambler StrongHold lid which is leak resistant and keeps your drink inside the tumbler through any bumps on the road or uneven terrain in the field.

Double-wall vacuum insulation ensures your drink stays warm or cold for hours, because no one likes the taste of cold coffee.

The quality Duracoat colour means the beautiful exterior on your mug won’t peel or crack even after multiple turns in the dishwasher.

More info and available from: au.yeti.com

Forget the bulky toolboxes and storage cases, tradies can now transport their tools with ease and in style with Milwaukee’s Ultimate Jobsite backpack.

Milwaukee says its backpack has the most durable hard moulded base on the market, as well as 1680D Ballistic nylon fabric and rugged metal zippers that provide utmost durability.

It features 48 pockets in total including 2-hard shell pockets for tradies to store their tools and electronic equipment in.  

Milwaukee also claims the harness features more padding than other similar backpacks on the market, providing users with utmost comfort.

Available from: Total Tools, Sydney Tools and more

More infornation: Milwaukeetool.com.au