There are lots of articles out there about van life gear. If you want reviews of the big ticket items like refrigerators, power systems, even vans themselves, this is not the post for you. This one is about the the small things: everyday items that make van (or bus, or or RV) living more comfortable. Because when your home is tiny, the little things are not really little at all. They matter.
We have almost four years’ experience paring down our van life gear to the bare essentials. And every month or two we still manage to donate a few unneeded items to thrift stores along the way. Because, if you aren’t using an a thing why keep it?
But there are a few little items we always (always!) have on hand. And we thought we’d share them with you. So, without further ado, here is our list of the ten best little vanlife things.
Pour Over Coffee Cone
In our world, coffee is no joke. The first thing I do when I wake up in the morning is set that coffee going. And this method is quick and easy.
Back in our house days, we were all about the French Press. We composted our coffee grounds for the garden and didn’t need to think about water usage, so why not? Our van life coffee system is simpler, and much cleaner… and still delicious!
We use a small pour over coffee filter, setting it first over one mug, then adding an “extra scoop” of coffee and setting it over the other mug. We heat the water on our campstove or induction cook top… or on our backpacking stove when we are on the go.
We don’t grind our own coffee (though we sure used to do this back in the house). And we have (mostly) ceased to try local boutique coffee brands. These are just too unpredictable. Sometimes they’re delicious. Sometimes they’re what we call “sour hipster coffee” which we really (really!) don’t like.
Instead, we have a few cheap(ish) go-to brands, available in most supermarkets. When we can find it, we love Kicking Horse Coffee (a Canadian brand). But when that’s not available, one of Seattle’s Best or Peet’s dark roasts works just fine. We still try local brands on occasion. But in our opinion, coffee is too important to mess with!
And cone and filter set up is easy to prep and even easier to clean up. Perfect for a small space!
Hand Sanitizer
We started our van life at the tail end of the COVID Era, and so, naturally, we took a bottle of hand sanitizer along with us. But, almost four years later, hand sanitizer is still riding shotgun in our bus. It’s a great way to save on water. We can “wash” our hands without draining our tank. And boy do we! Pit toilets, campsite clean up…. yuck!
Our hand sanitizer is posted by the bus door, ready for action anytime. And one bottle lasts months.
Quality Outdoor Clothes
Okay, I’ll admit it, high-quality outdoor clothes are my weakness. I have a stock of washable wool base layers, Darn Tough socks, jazzy rain gear and sun shirts, and on.
Most of these items were gleaned from thrift stores. Back in our house days, I spent a lot of time thrifting for my eBay side hustle. And when I came across a nice piece of gear that fit, I’d forgo listing it and add it to my closet. 10 years later, I still have these items, because well-made outdoor clothes really do last.
…which is why I totally recommend splurging in a few essential outdoor clothing items.
For example, I love my pair of Kuhl hiking pants. They are comfortable and stretchy, and rugged enough to wander with me through all sorts of rough terrain. I wear them about 80% of the time. And they have no tears or stains or worn parts.
Trust me, super functional, durable clothes, make a difference when you have limited space. They’ll do the work of several, cheaply made items and get you where you want to go.
Hats for Sun and Cold
When you are on the road, it’s important to have gear for all sorts of weather. And hats are one of the most important and overlooked types of gear.
I have a wool beanie hat that I wear almost every morning. In cold weather, this hat is truly essential. I’ve been known to sleep in it even!
And I also have a broad rimmed sunhat that I use at least as often. Because skin cancer is no joke, and I want to be able to wander worry free. When you live outside, broad brimmed hats are more than fashion– they are essential.
Dan has his two hats as well. And he wasn’t a “hat person” back in our house days. Really: if you plan to be outdoors a lot, get yourself a couple of good, comfortable, protective hats.
Clips & Hooks
When you live in a van or bus, you’re gonna want a quick way to attach, hang, and organize your stuff. Storage in a tiny space needs to be as flexible and functional as possible.
We use binder clips to close veggie bags in our fridge and to hang our gear and to keep the curtains closed, and, well, for all sorts of things. Ditto for clothespins, the old fashioned wooden kinds.
We also have a couple of fixed hooks that can hang beside our door and on the walls by our bed. It’s nice to be able to grab what you need without digging through storage bins. Hooks and clips are and easy solution for a hundred little van life challenges. So get yourself a few. They’ll be useful, I promise.
High Quality Sleeping Bags
Many people “vanlife” with heaters. We’ve got no grudge against that. But we didn’t include a heater in our van — or bus — build. Why? Well, we were hoping not to complicate things too much. Attaching a diesel heater to the underside of the bus seemed like a challenge to install. And really, even in the bus we have no extra space for it.
We do carry a small portable electric heater. But we have yet to use it. Why not? Sleeping bags. Super warm, washable down sleeping bags.
Lucky for us, we already had our bags when we hit the road; they were part of our backpacking gear. And let me tell you, they make a world of difference on cold nights! I often unzip my bag and use it like a blanket. It is so cozy! And, as they are made for backpacking, they stow away small when not in use.
Another bonus: Our sleeping bags are on hand for backpacking trips and other adventures away from the bus or van.
Like quality outdoor clothes, sleeping bags don’t come cheap. I believe mine was almost $200 back when I bought it. But if you add up the times I’ve used it — 4+ years’ worth of days — it costs less than a penny a day. A Bargain after all!
Portable Fans
Hot weather is really tough on the road! To my way of thinking, baking in the bus is much more challenging than bundling up for frigid temperatures. And in the last few years, we’ve developed all sorts of ways to cope with extreme heat.
Our favorite way is to pick up and go somewhere cooler. Higher altitude really helps. Shady forests — especially with water nearby — are another go to.
But sometimes you just get stuck in a hot place.
That’s when our portable 12 volt fans really come in handy. They weren’t super expensive, and they have been sturdy and dependable for over three years now. They use very little power and clip onto all sorts of surfaces so you can direct your own refreshing breeze whichever way you need it to go. Paired with open windows and a ceiling fan, they circulate a a lot of air and make the swelter bearable.
Shower Kit
If you don’t have your own shower in the van or bus (we don’t), you are going to want to keep a kit handy. A shower kit — anything from a “toiletry bag” to a bucket — streamlines the public shower experience. We keep all essential items: shampoo, nail clippers, razors, soap, etc., etc. in our kits at all times. This cuts down on time and frustration when we are heading out to clean up in at a Planet Fitness, campground shower, rec center, truck stop, etc.
Ours shower kits, hang on hooks in our bus closet and we can grab them, along with towels, change of clothes and shower shoes at a moments’ notice. The kit helps streamline the process and makes “showering wherever” part of a routine. And with your kit, you’ll never find yourself in some random shower stall without shampoo… or soap… or whatever else you might need.
Slip-On Camp Shoes
There is really nothing better than a pair of slip-on camp shoes by the door of the van or bus. It’s amazing how many times a day we trek in and out of the bus when camped. And slip on shoes streamline that process tremendously.
I wear my 15 year old pair of yellow crocs more than any other item. Taking them off at the door keeps me from tracking dust and debris into the van and they protect my feet from the dreaded southwestern “goatheads” and equally dreaded Florida “sandspurs” and all sorts of other pokey things far and wide.
I use them as shower shoes, and hot springs shoes, and beach shoes too! This isn’t a plug for crocs. (I know they’re a little goofy.) Any durable slip-on shoe should do the trick for you.
A Snack Bag Full of Healthy Snacks
If you are roadtripping for a week or two, have at the junk food. Chips, gummy bears, bags of oreos. Why not? But if you’re planning a longer term adventure, we suggest packing a few healthier options. We have really worked on developing some healthy delicious strategies for the road and a designated “snack bag” is one of them.
Ours is insulated and zips closed. In it, we keep dried fruit, rice cakes, nuts, apples, Lara Bars, homemade popcorn, figs (Dan cannot resist them), low salt Triscuits and what ever else we’re into at the moment. Because we really would eat all the bad things if we relied on convenience stores and fast food.
Having healthy snacks at the ready is key on longer drives, and our snack bag makes for easier access. We keep it within easy reach, just behind the front seats. And because it zips closed, it doubles as extra food storage. Win-win!
What are we missing?
So there you have it: 10 small essential “items” for van or bus life! We believe these often overlooked items really do make a world of difference, and most aren’t break-the-bank expensive.
But this list is not the end all and be all of van life comfort. We are undoubtedly missing a few things.
We’d love to hear from you. What small, essential items are on your vanlife list?
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