This is the time of year when people hang up their stockings, hoping for a visit from a fat bloke with a beard… Here’s an interesting option to that. Keep your feet warm this winter with a pair of Merino socks from the ARB Outback Survival Kit. Made from Australian Merino wool, these socks are a must have for any four-wheel drive enthusiast. Designed for maximum breathability, stylish and the ideal Christmas gift! Good price, too at only £14.

Website: www.arbil.co.uk 

This classy ARB travel mug is the perfect travel accessory for your next adventure or camping trip. Designed to fit in most vehicle cup holders, the travel mug incorporates an easy grip handle and twin seal lid for quick seal closure. With double wall stainless steel construction, it comes in a handy 450ml capacity. All for only £9.99. Another good Christmas option from Arbil is the WARN hands free working light. Complete with hooks and magnetic hands free connectors, this light is ideal for attaching to the underneath of a bonnet. The WARN 24 LED work light comes complete with three AAA batteries. Good value at only £7.00.

Website: www.arbil.co.uk

With the cold weather, now’s the time to consider fitting winter tyres to your 4×4. This month we have heard of a new tyre to add to the potential list from Toyo. Despite being called the Snowprox S943, this is not just a snow tyre, but like all winter tyres are designed to work when the temperature drops below that 7degC line. It is available in sizes from 165/70/14 up to 224/45/17. You can call your local tyre retailer or go on line for more details and prices.

Website: www.toyo.co.uk 

Lazer Lamps Limited has just launched a new race-spec R-2 twin-LED unit, ideal for motorsport applications. The Lazer R-Spec 2 is ideal for nighttime competition use, giving a claimed 20 per cent brighter per LED than similar products. The set-up has aluminium housing, flexi-mount system and electronic thermal management. With a multi-voltage unit, working between 9v and 32v, it has a hybrid beam pattern for a good balance of distant lighting and close-up visibility. The R-spec is claimed to be the first LED lamp to produce 1000 lumens per 10w – equal to the brightness of two Halogen high beams. The aluminium body helps dissipate the heat from the LEDs, allowing them to maintain a 2080 lumen output.

Website: www.lazerlamps.com 

You will have all seen the stunning Defender Icon models in this magazine and we can believe there are a lot of Defender owners who think, ‘if only….’ Now it seems if you cannot afford the whole thing, then you can give your Defender a touch of Icon class by fitting these superb RS edition sport seats. Specially designed to fit all Land Rover Defenders without rubbing side panels and B posts, the seats are available in XS black half leather trim to match most late XS Defender models. Nene Overland also has a wide range of leathers, trim, designs, stitch patterns and colours to match your Defender. They are available by mail order or you can get them fitted at Nene Overland. Telephone for more details on 01733 380687, or check out the specific Icon website.     

Website: www.defendericon.com

The new Isuzu D-Max is winning over a lot of new pick-up fans. Next issue we have our 4×4 Pick-up Of The Year and the D-Max fares well in that. Auto Styling, the UK manufacturer of hardtops for pick-ups now has a new model design for the D-Max. Based on the company’s Classic range, the truck top has an integral ladder rack, high roof and wipe down interior. It can be supplied in white gel finish or colour coded to the pick-up. Auto Styling provides a full range of hardtops for D-Max models for commercial and leisure applications, which are all available from the Isuzu website, www.isuzu.co.uk and from www.autostylinguk.co.uk. The Isuzu D-Max Single Cab Truckman Classic costs £1100.00 (plus VAT) in the gloss white finish.

Website: www.autostylinguk.co.uk 

Extreme 4×4 now has new seven-inch LED headlights. Each light has a three year warranty, is “E” marked and has sealed beam technology with polycarbonate lens and sealed electronics. The headlights are claimed to offer 50 times the life of compatible Halogen lights, making them perfect for off-road use. The lights are available in left and right-hand drive format and come with the H4, three blade connector system. For more details, contact the guys at Extreme 4×4 on 01255 411411 or go online.

Website: www.extreme4x4.co.uk 

It is estimated that by 2015, all new vehicles will be fitted with DAB digital radios, but just three years ago that percentage was below five per cent. This means that the vast majority of vehicles on the roads cannot receive digital programmes. Now, quite apart from the fact that any music enthusiast must listen to Radio 6 Music (only available on digital) there will come a time when FM ceases, so a conversion kit seems a good idea to us. Indeed, the government is due to announce when the ‘switch over’ to DAB will happen later this year. This new kit has been produced by Celsus, which when fitted upgrades your existing car audio system. You can buy direct (at a cost of £149.99, inc VAT) by going online to DAB Motion. You will also find out where your nearest installer is located, and you should be able to get this fitted for a total of around £200.

Website: www.autostylinguk.co.uk 

A comprehensive new collection of touring products from ARB is now available from the team at Arbil. The range of awnings, walls, windbreaks and mosquito nets are available in two sizes, both made from the same lightweight 300-denier Oxford polyester. The new 2000mm wide awning is compatible with the majority of vehicles, for longer vehicles 2500x2500mm is also available. The windbreaker option is cleverly angled to direct winds over the top of the awnings. To learn more about this new range, call the guys at Arbil on 0845 600 4556, or go online to the Arbil site.

Website: www.arbil.co.uk 

In our Winter Preparation feature in the last issue we mentioned the snow sock. This is a great ‘get-you-home’ option for when the weather turns. You slip these covers over your tyres and they give considerably more grip and traction. A lot easier to fit than chains, and don’t give any nasty vibrations when driving. Auto Styling is able to supply ISSE’s Snow Sock, together with a great many other special winter products. Check out the comprehensive website.

Website: www.autostylinguk.co.uk