Current Giveaway Details: July 2021

This month, we have two awesome giveaways. First, we’re giving away a Vanguard tripod and bag, with a retail value of $399.98 USD. Next, we’re giving away a set of collapsible water bottles and a collapsible drinking tumbler from Hydaway, with a retail value of $83.85 USD.

Giveaway #1: Vanguard Tripod and Bag (Open Worldwide)

Brand/Manufacturer: Vanguard
Prize: 1x Vanguard VEO 3 GO 235AB & 1x VEO Range T 48 Backpack
Retail Value: $399.98
Giveaway Open to: Worldwide

Other than our cameras and lenses, our most important pieces of photography gear are our tripod and photography bag.

A tripod lets us get photos that we would otherwise not be able to get, from long exposure shots to better photos of the two of us together. You can read all our reasons for why you need a tripod here.

We also think a good photography bag is really important. This ensures our gear is kept safe and secure when we travel, with lots of good padding and storage space for everything we need.

Since 2014, Laurence has been an ambassador for Vanguard, a global brand that designs, manufactures, and sells a range of tripods and camera accessories, including photography bags. We use and love the Vanguard range of products, which offer lightweight travel-focused products all the way through to professional heavy-duty designs.

Today, we’re delighted to be able to offer two awesome Vanguard products to one lucky winner. First, we have a lightweight Vanguard tripod, the Vanguard VEO 3 GO 235AB. This is designed to be ultra-lightweight and compact, folding down to just 13 inches (33cm), and weighing just 2.7lbs (1.22kg).

Despite it’s smaller size though this tripod is full of features, including having a detachable monopod leg, a retractable hook for adding weight, a tripod bag, a Bluetooth remote trigger, a smartphone adaptor, and an Arca Swiss compatible quick release plate system. It also extends to 53.5 inches (135cm), and has a maximum load capacity of 8.8lbs (4kg). So this will work for all but the heaviest camera setups!

Since this can also be used as a lighter monopod, this is also fantastic for those using a scope for birdwatching or wildlife viewing.

We’re also giving away a Vanguard VEO Range T 48 Backpack in the color of beige. This roomy camera backpack meets most airline carry-on specifications, whilst having space for a range of kit. It’ll hold a DSLR and up to nine lenses, including up to 400mm lenses, as well as a 16″ MacBook.

Of course, you don’t have to carry 9 lenses to get the most out of this bag! It’s super configurable, so you can use a part of it as a day pack for clothes and snacks. The external webbing makes it easy to attach extra kit, and it comes with both a removable water bottle holder and a tripod holder, which can both be attached to either the side or rear of the bag.

The bag is also very comfortable for all-day use, with an ergonomic carry harness, airflow system, and both hip and sternum straps to spread the load. It’s also very well padded to keep your gear safe, and comes with a waterproof cover to keep your equipment dry in inclement weather.

We also have an exclusive Vanguard discount code if you see something you like on their store you like, this includes tripods, bags, scopes, binoculars, cases, etc. This code will give you 20% off everything in the Vanguard store. Just use the code FindingTheUniverse for your discount! This Vanguard discount code works in the Vanguard USA, UK, Australia, Spain, and Germany stores.

Thanks to Vanguard for making this wonderful giveaway possible!

How to Enter the Giveaway

Please read the rules below to enter the giveaway:

1 – You need to be signed up for our newsletter.

If you get our monthly newsletters, you are eligible!

If you are not a subscriber, you can sign up using the form at the top of the page, or on this page.

If you’re already signed up you don’t need to sign up again and you can skip to the newsletter entry form. When you sign up for our newsletter, you’ll be sent an e-mail to asking you to confirm your sign-up. You’ll need to click the link to confirm and activate your subscription.

2. Check the rules of the giveaway

Before signing up, read over the rules (listed in detail below the entry form) to make sure you are eligible to apply. While we strive to have our giveaway open to all subscribers, some of the giveaways have geographical, residency, age, or other restrictions.

3 – Use the form below to enter the giveaway.

You must use the same e-mail address that you used to sign up to the newsletter with, as we’ll be checking e-mails this way to validate your entry. You must be an active subscriber when we make the draw to be eligible to win!

Enter the Giveaway!

Winners will be randomly drawn with the winner receiving the prize as described above.

The retail value of the giveaway is  $399.98 USD.

Applicants must be 18 years or older, have a valid email address, and have a valid mailing address.

Winners will be contacted by the email provided (so please use an email to enter that you check regularly). If a winner does not respond to email within 72 hours, another winner will be chosen.

The winner will be contacted via email by us. Prize items will be mailed by post directly to the winner from us.

Note you can unsubscribe from the newsletter at any time, but you must be an active subscriber when the draw takes place to be eligible to win. Draws take place within a week of the contest closing.

The data entered into the giveaway form will solely be used for the purposes of verifying your entry, checking you are an active newsletter subscriber, and contacting you if you are a winner.

Winners (first name and last initial, and country of residence) will be announced on the bottom of this page and in our monthly newsletter.

Full Giveaway Terms and Conditions

These are the full terms and conditions!

1. The promoter is: Finding the Universe & Independent Travel Cats
2. Finding the Universe & Independent Travel Cats contributors, and their family members or anyone else connected in any way with the giveaway including helping to set up the giveaway shall not be permitted to enter the giveaway.
3. The giveaway is only open to active newsletter subscribers of the Finding the Universe & Independent Travel Cats monthly newsletter.
4. There is no entry fee and no purchase necessary to enter this giveaway.
5. Route to entry for the giveaway and details of how to enter are via this blog post
6. You must be 18 years of age or older to participate in the giveaway.
7. You must fill out all the requested information in the entry form to be eligible. Incomplete entries will not be considered.
8. Closing date for entry is July 29th, 2021 at midnight EST. After this date no further entries to the giveaway will be permitted. Only one entry may be submitted per participant. Multiple entries will not be considered, and will invalidate all entries by the participant. Incomplete, incorrect, or otherwise invalid entries will not be considered. The Promoter reserves the right to verify the eligibility of all participants.
9. No responsibility can be accepted for entries not received for whatever reason.
10. The prize is as follows: 1x Vanguard VEO 3 GO 235AB, 1x VEO Range T 48 Backpack
11. Any tax liability, including import taxes and duties due to international shipping, is the responsibility of the prize winner
12. The promoter reserves the right to cancel or amend the giveaway and these terms and conditions without notice and for any reason. Any changes to the giveaway will be notified to entrants as soon as possible by the promoter.
13. No cash alternative to the prizes will be offered. The prizes are not transferable. Prizes are subject to availability and the promoter reserves the right to substitute any prize with another of equivalent value without giving notice.
14. Winners will be drawn at random from all valid entries. The odds of winning will depend on the number of entries received. Promoters are not responsible for prize fulfillment nor for any technical failures. The winning entry will be verified. A list of winners will be displayed on this page and published in the monthly newsletter.
15. Promoter reserves the right to publish winner’s first name and last initial and country of residence. Any personal data relating to the winner or any other entrants will be used solely in accordance with current UK data protection legislation and will not be disclosed to a third party without the entrant’s prior consent.
16. The winner will be notified by email within 10 days of the closing date. If the winner cannot be contacted or does not claim the prize within 72 hours of notification, the promoter reserves the right to withdraw the prize from the winner and pick a replacement winner.
17. The winner consents to providing their name, email, mailing address, and mobile contact number to the promoters for the sole purpose of enabling their prize to be delivered.
18. The promoters’ decision in respect of all matters to do with the giveaway will be final.
19. By entering this giveaway, an entrant is indicating his/her agreement to be bound by these terms and conditions.
20. The giveaway and these terms and conditions will be governed by UK law and any disputes will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the UK.
21. Images included in the giveaway post may not depict the exact prize, and are for illustrative purposes only.
22. Residents of Canada will be required to answer a skill-testing question to claim their prize.
23. Void where Prohibited

 

Giveaway #2: Hydaway Collapsible Water Bottles & Tumbler (Open Worldwide)

Brand/Manufacturer: Hydaway
Prize: 1x Hydaway 25oz collapsible water bottle, 1x Hydaway 17oz collapsible water bottle, 1x Hydaway 16 oz collapsible drink tumbler
Retail Value: $83.85
Giveaway Open to: Worldwide

Staying hydrated is important whatever you are doing, but is something that can be particularly challenging when traveling. We always carry water bottles with us when we travel so we can refill them and save on plastic waste, but water bottles and coffee thermoses are generally fairly bulky and can take up a lot of limited storage space.

Recognising this issue, Hydaway came up with a solution. Their range of water bottles and drink tumblers are fully collapsible, meaning that when they are empty and not in use, they fold down for easy storage.

The drink bottles feature waterproof seals to prevent any spills, are made of food grade silicone and BPA-free plastic, and are dishwasher safe. They’re also compatible with most vehicle cup holders.

They also offer an insulated collapsible drink tumbler which can hold up to 16oz of your favorite hot or cold beverage. This features a protective foam sleeve, and collapses down to just an inch in size, making it perfect for taking on outdoor adventures.

Today, we’re giving away three Hydaway products:

• 1x Hydaway 25oz collapsible water bottle in Sunset color
• 1x Hydaway 17oz collapsible water bottle  in Mist color
• 1x Hydaway 16 oz collapsible drink tumbler in Icicle color

We think between them, these products should meet your travel drinking needs admirably!

Thanks to Hydaway for sending along these products for this giveaway!

How to Enter the Giveaway

Please read the rules below to enter the giveaway:

1 – You need to be signed up for our newsletter.

If you get our monthly newsletters, you are eligible!

If you are not a subscriber, you can sign up using the form at the top of the page, or on this page.

If you’re already signed up you don’t need to sign up again and you can skip to the newsletter entry form. When you sign up for our newsletter, you’ll be sent an e-mail to asking you to confirm your sign-up. You’ll need to click the link to confirm and activate your subscription.

2. Check the rules of the giveaway

Before signing up, read over the rules (listed in detail below the entry form) to make sure you are eligible to apply. While we strive to have our giveaway open to all subscribers, some of the giveaways have geographical, residency, age, or other restrictions.

3 – Use the form below to enter the giveaway.

You must use the same e-mail address that you used to sign up to the newsletter with, as we’ll be checking e-mails this way to validate your entry. You must be an active subscriber when we make the draw to be eligible to win!

Enter the Giveaway!

Winners will be randomly drawn with the winner receiving the prize as described above.

The retail value of the giveaway is  $399.98 USD.

Applicants must be 18 years or older, have a valid email address, and have a valid mailing address.

Winners will be contacted by the email provided (so please use an email to enter that you check regularly). If a winner does not respond to email within 72 hours, another winner will be chosen.

The winner will be contacted via email by us. Prize items will be mailed by post directly to the winner from us.

Note you can unsubscribe from the newsletter at any time, but you must be an active subscriber when the draw takes place to be eligible to win. Draws take place within a week of the contest closing.

The data entered into the giveaway form will solely be used for the purposes of verifying your entry, checking you are an active newsletter subscriber, and contacting you if you are a winner.

Winners (first name and last initial, and country of residence) will be announced on the bottom of this page and in our monthly newsletter.

Full Giveaway Terms and Conditions

These are the full terms and conditions!

1. The promoter is: Finding the Universe & Independent Travel Cats
2. Finding the Universe & Independent Travel Cats contributors, and their family members or anyone else connected in any way with the giveaway including helping to set up the giveaway shall not be permitted to enter the giveaway.
3. The giveaway is only open to active newsletter subscribers of the Finding the Universe & Independent Travel Cats monthly newsletter.
4. There is no entry fee and no purchase necessary to enter this giveaway.
5. Route to entry for the giveaway and details of how to enter are via this blog post
6. You must be 18 years of age or older to participate in the giveaway.
7. You must fill out all the requested information in the entry form to be eligible. Incomplete entries will not be considered.
8. Closing date for entry is July 29th, 2021 at midnight EST. After this date no further entries to the giveaway will be permitted. Only one entry may be submitted per participant. Multiple entries will not be considered, and will invalidate all entries by the participant. Incomplete, incorrect, or otherwise invalid entries will not be considered. The Promoter reserves the right to verify the eligibility of all participants.
9. No responsibility can be accepted for entries not received for whatever reason.
10. The prize is as follows: 1x Hydaway 25oz collapsible water bottle, 1x Hydaway 17oz collapsible water bottle, 1x Hydaway 16 oz collapsible drink tumbler
11. Any tax liability, including import taxes and duties due to international shipping, is the responsibility of the prize winner
12. The promoter reserves the right to cancel or amend the giveaway and these terms and conditions without notice and for any reason. Any changes to the giveaway will be notified to entrants as soon as possible by the promoter.
13. No cash alternative to the prizes will be offered. The prizes are not transferable. Prizes are subject to availability and the promoter reserves the right to substitute any prize with another of equivalent value without giving notice.
14. Winners will be drawn at random from all valid entries. The odds of winning will depend on the number of entries received. Promoters are not responsible for prize fulfillment nor for any technical failures. The winning entry will be verified. A list of winners will be displayed on this page and published in the monthly newsletter.
15. Promoter reserves the right to publish winner’s first name and last initial and country of residence. Any personal data relating to the winner or any other entrants will be used solely in accordance with current UK data protection legislation and will not be disclosed to a third party without the entrant’s prior consent.
16. The winner will be notified by email within 10 days of the closing date. If the winner cannot be contacted or does not claim the prize within 72 hours of notification, the promoter reserves the right to withdraw the prize from the winner and pick a replacement winner.
17. The winner consents to providing their name, email, mailing address, and mobile contact number to the promoters for the sole purpose of enabling their prize to be delivered.
18. The promoters’ decision in respect of all matters to do with the giveaway will be final.
19. By entering this giveaway, an entrant is indicating his/her agreement to be bound by these terms and conditions.
20. The giveaway and these terms and conditions will be governed by UK law and any disputes will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the UK.
21. Images included in the giveaway post may not depict the exact prize, and are for illustrative purposes only.
22. Residents of Canada will be required to answer a skill-testing question to claim their prize.
23. Void where Prohibited

We wish you the best of luck!

If you have any questions or concerns about the giveaways, please let us know in the Comments section below or email us directly.

Past Winners

Here is a list of our past giveaway winners:

June 2021:

• Janet B. of Texas, USA was the winner of the Cornwall Mystery Box, full of prizes from the region of Cornwall, retail value of over $100.

May 2021:

• Linda H. of British Columbia, Canada was the winner of the $100 Localbites cooking class voucher
• Carol C. of Texas, USA was the winner of the $200 Plum Guide voucher
• Lou F. of England, UK was winner of a Taotronics Mesh WiFi system (2 pack), a retail value of GBP £209

April 2021:

• Phil H. of England, UK won a Netgear Nighthawk M1 4G mobile hotspot and router which has a retail price of $349.99 USD.

March 2021:

• Robin M. of England, UK, won a Vanguard VEO 3 GO 204CB carbon fiber tripod worth $199.99, as well as a VEO GO 34M KG shoulder bag worth $69.99.

February 2021:

• Raymond S. of Maryland, USA was the winner of a $120 Context Travel gift card for use for any virtual travel seminars or courses
• Anisa A. of England, UK & Sumandeep K. of England, UK were the winners of 18 travel-related books

January 2021:

• Kim C. of Ohio, USA was the winner of the Standard Luggage Travel Backpack  giveaway worth $228 USD
• Brooke P. of Spain was the winner of our tech travel bundle giveaway worth approximately $117 USD

December 2020:

• Michelle P. of Minnesota, USA was the winner of the Travel Gifts made in USA giveaway worth $262

November 2020:

• Louise H. of England, UK won a box full of travel-related gifts made in the UK worth $195
• Bianca P. of North Carolina, USA won $100 worth of PortaPocket travel gear
• Wendy S. of England, UK won £100 of ASDA Photos credit for photo printing and photo gifts

October 2020

• Stephan G. of California, USA won a copy of our travel photography course worth $129 USD

September 2020

• Charlotte T. of Alberta, Canada won a $125 USD voucher good towards any products on the Koy Gear online store
• Sarah D. of Belgium won a France mystery box filled with hand-selected French treats and gifts, worth over $150 USD.

August 2020

• Skye T of South Dakota, USA won an AKASO Brave 7 LE Action Camera, worth $142.99 USD
• Samantha W. of England, UK won a $150 Civitatis voucher to use on any ticket, tour, or activity of her choice

July 2020

• Julie D. of England won a 2-night stay in a 4-star hotel in Bali, Indonesia, plus 2 guided tours with ForeverVacation. The prize was worth around $500 USD

June 2020

• Will E. of Rhode Island, USA won a 3-year NordVPN VPN subscription with a total retail value of $125.00

May 2020

• Rae H. of England, UK won a watch, cuff links, leather cord organizer, a travel coffee mug, a travel photography course, & several other travel gifts with a total retail value of $534.85
• Pamela S. of New York, USA won her choice of travel inspired home decor items from Etsy, worth $125

April 2020

• Joyce W. of Wales, UK won a Kameleon Rose Ultimate Travel Dress and 5 Way Cardigan, worth GBP £146
• Nick B. of Italy, Wayne K. of South Africa, and Kandy K-L. of Michigan, USA won a copy of Skylum Luminar 4 photo editing software worth USD $89 each
• Susan C. of Ohio, USA who won a travel coffee maker of her choice, worth up to USD $100

March 2020

• Anthea H. of England, UK who won a cashmere scarf, jewelry, and travel gifts with a value of over $500
• Kate W. of Ontario, Canada who won a USD $200 voucher for any walking tour on the Take Walks website

February 2020

• Scott F. of England, UK won two 2-day Paris Passes, worth 260 euros
• Regina R. of Portugal, won a copy of our travel photography course worth 129 euros

January 2020

• Ricky J. of North Carolina, USA won two framed prints of our photos, worth $125
• Jodie R. of Australia won a Tropicfeel bundle including 1 pair of Canyon shoes, 1 pair of Havasu flip flops, 1 Cruiser backpack, and 1 reusable Shopper bag, with a value of $166

December 2019

• Janni N of Denmark won a pair of Vallerret Photography gloves and Beanie, with a retail value of $136
• Louis D. of Illinois, USA won a GetYourGuide gift card worth $250

November 2019

• Kiara G of England, UK won an Ovcio Featherlight cashmere scarf worth $125
• Barbara C of Idaho, USA won her choice of gifts worth up to $200 from our gift guide for travelers and gift guide for photographers.

October 2019

• Ian F. of England, UK won an AKASO V50 Elite action camera worth $140.
• Stephanie L. of California, USA, Heather S. of Ontario, Canada and Christopher S. of New York, USA won a Wanderchain and set of 10 engraved tokens from The Wander Club. A $67 value each. Jill T. of Pennsylvania also won a Wanderchain.
• Jarna P. of Finland won a Tinggly holiday gift card, a $119 value.

September 2019

• Linda K. of Michigan, USA won a 3-piece Happyluxe travel set. A $88 value.
• Catherine R. of Ontario, Canada won a pair of travel shoes of her choice. She chose a pair of Sorel Joan Explorer winter boots, a $150 value.

August 2019

• Cynthia R. of Arizona, USA won a $150 gift credit to use to book camping and glamping sites on Hipcamp.
• Kelly J. of New Zealand won her choice of a set of Shacke Pack packing cubes, a Vera Bradley travel pill case, and a Zoppen travel wallet.

July 2019

• Julie W. of Michigan, USA won a Vanguard VEO 2 GO 235CB carbon fiber tripod and a VEO GO 34M bag with a total value of USD $339.98. Philip B. of England, UK won a VEO 2 GO 204AB aluminum tripod with a value of USD $149.99. Megan K. of England UK, William B. of North Carolina, USA, and Robin S. of Ontario Canada each won a VESTA Mini Tripod with a value of USD $43.99 each.
• Rachael B. of Ohio, USA, won a RavPower Filehub Plus travel router with a value of USD $42.99.

June 2019

• Ashley S. of Florida, USA won a USD $150 voucher for ScotteVest travel clothing of choice.
• Iain M. of Scotland, UK won a My Webspot Individual Edition WiFi Hotspot and a 20 day usage pass with a retail value of USD $299.

May 2019

• Gerri T. of Wales, UK was the first prize winner for the online travel photography course and Skylum Lumniar photo editing software, worth USD $198. Abbas K. of Turkey and Patsy B. of Canada also each won a free copy of the Skylum Luminar editing software.
• William T. of Georgia, USA who won a Pad & Quill TechFolio Pro Cord Organizer worth USD $140

April 2019

• Rotem A. of Israel, Cassandra C. of Missouri, USA, and Carolina R. of Argentina, each of whom won a day tour of their choice for 2 persons from Iceland Travel worth up to USD $700
• Sheila H. of England, UK who won a Melifluos travel wrap worth USD $32
• Carolyn  E. of England, UK who won a Happyluxe travel wrap worth USD $56
• David S. of Wisconsin, USA who won 3 custom vintage travel posters from Just Go Travel Studios worth USD $135

March 2019

• Delyna B. of Australia, who won a Rabbie’s Tour in the UK or Ireland worth up to USD $500
• Goretti R. of Catalonia, Spain, who won a Sony compact camera valued at USD $200

February 2019

• Becky P. from London, England, UK who won a tour from Travel Talk worth up to USD $1,200.

January 2019

• Anissa E. from Washington D.C., USA, who won a USD $200 voucher for use to buy a backpack on the Arcido store
• Anke K. from South Africa, who won a USD $200 voucher for any walking tour on the Take Walks website

December 2018

• Michelle B. from Germany, who won a Travelccessories Toiletry Bag & Travel Laundry Kit with a retail value of USD $100
• Russell C. from England, UK, who won a 5-piece Manta Sleep travel package with a retail value of USD $90

November 2018

• Toni K. from Kentucky, USA, who won OOO Traveling luggage with a retail value of USD $298
• Gary R. from Ontario, Canada, who won a Tinggly Best in the World travel gift card with a retail value of USD $119

October 2018

• Tracy C. from Australia, who won a free lifetime subscription to our travel photography course with a retail value of USD $129
• Vicki L. from the USA, who won a custom Passport Map with a retail value of USD $129

September 2018

• Toni A. of Evansville, IN, USA won a Vanguard VEO 2 235CB Carbon Fiber tripod with a retail value of USD $199
• Kevin C. of Wales, UK won a Thule Subterra Carry-On 55cm with a retail value of GBP £215