Are you considering taking the plunge and living in a van? Maybe you already do live on the road but feel like you’re missing a few things. This post will cover the Top 10 MUST-HAVE van life essentials. Anything from coffee makers to cleaning tools, these are sure to make your time as a nomad just that much more comfortable!
A quick note: I’ve excluded things like appliances or solar panels as those depend on your specific build. All of these accessories are pretty universal and will be handy to nearly anyone living on the road!
Top 10 MUST-HAVE Van Life Essentials
1. Aeropress Go
The original Aeropress has been the gold standard for making great coffee with a very portable footprint. Apparently not portable enough because the amazing people behind Aeropress decided to take it one step further with the Aeropress Go. Significantly smaller and more intentionally portable, the Aeropress go is the perfect travel coffee maker for someone who really cares what their coffee tastes like!
If the 8 oz capacity isn’t enough for you, the full-sized Aeropress is a fantastic option, and still quite portable. If you go this route, there are even options for hand burr grinders that fit into the plunger of the full-sized Aeropress.
Although gooseneck kettles are the absolute ideal way to brew coffee, they are less necessary with an Aeropress, and we all know how they aren’t all that portable. If you are looking to save space, and most van-lifers are, there’s a portable electric kettle that compresses down to 1/4 the size and saves you a ton of space while storing!
2. Black and Decker Beyond Dustbuster
If you’ve spent more than a few days on the road you know that your rig gets DIRTY and FAST! You’re constantly dealing with a new layer of dirt and dust on the floor along with crap in every nook and cranny.
Obviously, it doesn’t make any sense to keep a full vacuum in your van but a small dustbuster does a great job! Outside of having a fairly short battery life, this thing is awesome! Good suction, easy to empty, and can be stored on a wall hanger. Can’t beat it!
3. Quick Dry Travel Towel
This is one of those small things that will come in SO handy in SO many situations. Depending on what size you get, it can be used as a beach towel, shower towel, hand towel, dish towel, etc. The awesome thing about this one in specific is that it packs down very small and light, and after using it, can be dried out very quickly compared to normal towels. This saves you lots of space and time. Plus they’re only $10. Not much more you can as for!
4. Collapsible Food Storage Containers
These things are absolutely awesome! We’ve had glass food storage containers like this that were awesome just the way that they were. The problem was that they took up so much space! We’ve all dealt with the super unorganized Tupperware drawer/cabinet!
That’s what’s so awesome about these. When they’re not being used, or even at low capacity, you can pack them down so they store using much less space. They are also freezer, microwave, and dishwasher safe which doesn’t really compute in my head honestly. These are a must-have!
5. Car Jump Starter
Thankfully we’ve never had to use one of these but there will come a day when we will. Everyone will kill the battery at some point by leaving a light on or a door open. It’s going to happen. If you have your van’s electrical system running through your alternator and car battery, it’s even more likely to happen!
Given how small and inexpensive this thing is (compared to getting towed!), there’s absolutely no reason not to have it in your van. I’ve linked this particular model because it’s got enough power to jump large diesel engines as well. I’m looking at the skoolie and ambulance crowd out there!
Don’t forget the added bonus of being able to help friends or strangers who need a quick jump.
Take a quick second to check out our post about how to prepare financially for van life. That’s one of the biggest things holding people back from making the leap to a nomadic lifestyle. If we can help get you there, we want to!
6. Travel Laundry Washing Bag
Given the nature of van life, showers won’t come all that often. This leaves us searching for ways to alleviate the smells. Let me tell you that spending $5 every week or two at a laundromat is not the way.
This portable little laundry bag is a lifesaver and makes washing clothes so convenient! Just add water and a bit of soap or detergent and mash away. It’s easy to do, quick, and it’ll pay itself off in a few uses! Plus, it packs down to fit into the palm of your hand!
7. Camping Chairs
If you feel that you’re all ready to live out on the road, stop and think for a moment. “What will I sit on outside?”. This is such an easy thing to overlook and not realize until you are without an outdoor chair.
These chairs are highly reviewed, inexpensive, and pack down very compactly since they are built with tent rods. While you’re at it, pick up a Camping table to go along with these. In case you’re preparing dinner outside, need something to play cards on by the fire, or need an outdoor workspace!
8. Hammock
This is one of those things that isn’t quite necessary but can make your van life experience quite a bit more enjoyable. One of the main reasons we’ve adopted this lifestyle is to get outdoors right?! Well if you’re able to work on just a laptop or are looking for a change of scenery while reading, hammocks are so nice to have.
This particular model is a double hammock. I prefer to go this way whether traveling as a couple or an individual. Having the extra space doesn’t hurt and is awesome for when there are two. Never know when you’ll meet that special hammocking buddy! There are a ton of super cheap hammocks on Amazon. I’d personally avoid the really, really cheap ones. Ellie and I own this specific hammock and it’s been GREAT! The material is strong and durable and it packs down really small.
9. Fire Extinguisher
These last two items are a bit less exciting but significantly more important than anything else on this list! These could save both your van and your life, so don’t take them lightly.
We all know what a fire extinguisher is used for. The one linked here is specifically designed to put out electrical and flammable liquid fires making it perfect for van or bus life! It’s not all that big so having one in the rear of the van and the cabin is a legitimate option.
While you’re at it, pick up a Fire Blanket. These are great for use in the event that your fire extinguisher doesn’t work or isn’t able to get out the whole fire. They’re tiny too. Don’t sacrifice here. You’ll probably never need to use it but that is absolutely not a reason to not get one.
10. Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detector
Again, not super exciting, but this is an absolute must-have if you are living in a small space. You’d never live in a house without one of these. It makes absolutely no sense to live in a much smaller space without one, especially if you have a stove or diesel heater.
The reason that I recommend this specific model is threefold. 1) It looks much nicer than many of the other models out there. 2) It syncs right up with Google’s apps and will notify you when there’s smoke or carbon monoxide while you’re away. 3) It integrates right with Google Nest if you use their cameras or other hardware in your van.
Again, do not make any sacrifices here. It really is a matter of life and death
Conclusion
Well, that wraps it up! These are out top 10 MUST-HAVE van life essentials.
Thank you so much for stopping by and checking it out!
As always, Ellie and I will be posting every Sunday, so be on the lookout for that! Make sure to subscribe to our email list below to be notified of every post! In the meantime, Check out our socials!
