Top 15 Best VanLife Gift Ideas
The winter holiday season is here, and Christmas is just a few days away! Whether you are looking to treat yourself or searching for the perfect last-minute gift for your favorite van lifer or adventurer, we’ve got you covered!
Camp furniture, cookware, emergency outdoor equipment, and more. Through our years of experience building vans and traveling the roads, we have gathered some of our favorite items for outdoor adventuring and compiled this list of the best last-minute gift ideas for the #VANLIFE
We have grouped the following list into three simple categories: Necessities, Lifestyle, and Food & Drink
NECESSITIES:
1) 12 Volt Portable Air Compressor Kit
A vanlifers worst nightmare is having their adventure cut short. A good portable air compressor is one of the best ways to ensure you are equipped for any adventure. Driving around in a heavy camper van, tire pressure is very important to monitor, especially if you are taking your van on various surfaces. From rocks, to pavement, to sand, a good portable air compressor will keep your tires at the ideal pressure for any conditions you may encounter. There are so many options to choose from — we linked an example above.
2) Traction Devices — Example: MAX TRAX RECOVERY BOARDS
Keeping a trustworthy traction device in your van is crucial for any time you may experience bad weather or unpredictable terrain. While chasing the next adventure, rugged terrain can often lead to the most beautiful views, but getting stuck is always a reality. Along with a portable air compressor, traction boards could be your savior from getting stuck. Some states (like Colorado) even have a traction law that will require you to have some form of traction device, whether that be chains, tire socks, or traction boards. Not only are Max Trax Recovery Boards super useful and at times essential, they also make your van look even cooler. After all, safety is cool!
3) Emergency Communication Device
There are many emergency communication devices on the market. Generally, they will all work to give you satellite communication even when there is no wifi or cell service of any kind. One of the more popular options is the Garmin InReach. Some devices require a paid subscription for the device to work. With so many options, we recommend doing your own research and finding the perfect device for your adventure plans. Whichever device makes you feel the safest is the right device for you!
LIFESTYLE
A luxury camper van is perfect to travel the world and see some beautiful sights, but in order to truly experience the world, it is important to spend some time outside the van. Perhaps nothing is more useful for some outside the van relaxing than a lightweight, folding camp chair. There are many options available on Amazon, REI, or any other outdoor store, but any option will work great in a van. They all pack away small so storage is not a problem, and they are a very comfortable seating option outside your van (especially when compared to a rock).
A portable and folding camp table is another ideal accessory for any outside-the-van activity. Perfect for food prep, playing games at camp, or using as a side table around the campfire. Lightweight and easily packable, a good folding table can be perfect when the weather is nice and you need a little extra space around your campsite.
6) Hammock
Another must-have accessory for any adventurer is a good hammock. For those times you don’t want to use your folding camp chair, or maybe the ground surface is a bit uneven, a hammock is a perfect way to relax almost anywhere. Simply find two sturdy trees and assembly take only a minute or two. Amazon or any outdoor store like REI will have plenty of options, but we love the company Eagles Nest Outfitters (ENO) - they make single and double hammocks, so you can enjoy hanging around solo or with a friend!
Easily one of the most useful gifts for the adventurer is an America the Beautiful - The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass! Purchase directly from the national park service, this is a annual pass that makes for an excellent gift. Generally speaking, most national parks will charge an entrance fee, so after just a few visits The America the Beautiful pass will pay for itself and be well worth it. The pass will grant you access to all sites managed by the National Park Service, Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Bureau of Reclamation for a whole year — no need to find some change when you get to the gate, this pass has got you covered!
So say you already have the National park pass, or maybe the full pass is a little out of the budget, what else makes a great gift? A National Park Passport is a great fun gift for someone who likes to document their adventures. A national park’s passport is a small booklet that has pages to place stamps and stickers from each national park. This is an affordable and fun way to commemorate each visit to one of America’s beautiful parks.
9) Rumple
A favorite among many vanlifers is a Rumpl Blanket! As seen on shark tank, this blanket has become a vanlife and camping essential. With multiple options to choose from, you can stay warm and cozy while keeping with your own personal style. Rumpl blankets are lightweight, durable, comfortable, and easily package. Not to mention they are also water and dirt-resistant, so can be washed with ease.
10) Headlamp
A trusty headlamp is crucial for an enjoyable adventure inside or outside a van. Whether you want to go on a beautiful night hike, or just need to find your way around the campsite at night, a headlamp will keep you seeing clearly long after the sun has gone down. One recommendation is to get a headlamp with a red light mode. This is super important for any adventure in a dark sky location where regular light will ruin the view. Red light helps to preserve the dark sky and makes it much easier for the eyes to adjust to the darkness. Many headlamps include this feature along with a strobe light feature for emergencies.
FOOD AND DRINK
11) Dr. Bronners Castille Soap
When traveling in a van or anywhere outdoors, it is important to respect, preserve, and protect the natural environment as best we can. One of the easiest ways to do that is by using environmentally friendly products. One of the best around is Dr. Bronners All-In-One soap products. Easily one of the best products to have in your van, Dr. Bronners 18-in-1 Pure-Castille Liquid Soap is the only cleaning agent you need, which saves space and the planet at the same time.
From Dr. Bronners - “Only the purest organic and fair trade ingredients—most products vegan and certified to the same organic standards as food! No synthetic preservatives, no foaming agents. Body, hair, face, mouth & teeth—food, dishes, laundry, mopping, pets—Dr. Bronner’s is the very best for human, home, and Earth.”
12) LifeStraw
A LifeStraw is not necessarily a van life essential, however, it can be very nice to have, because it is both cool and practical when you are in a pinch. Whether you are on a hike and ran out of water, or you accidentally drained your entire water tank and need something to drink, a LifeStraw is a safe and reliable way to access clean drinking water from almost any source. A LifeStraw is a portable, personal straw with tons of filtration power, protecting against 99.999% of bacteria, parasites, microplastics, dirt, and more! But Wait There’s More! For every LifeStraw product purchased, a school child in need receives safe drinking water for an entire school year!
13) AeroPress GO Travel Coffee System
While there are countless options for preparing your morning cup of joe in a van, one of the favorites far and away is the AeroPress Go travel coffee press. With a super simple and compact design, the AeroPress is perfect for van life. Storage is simple and low profile. The device is easy to use and clean when you're done. Plus, it is compact enough that you can take it with you when you leave the van behind for an outdoor adventure. All of that, and the flavor is fantastic (although that does depend on your choice of beans).
14) Non-Stick Nesting Cookware with REMOVABLE HANDLES
One of the biggest challenges of vanlife is storage space. A constant on the mind of any vanlifer is how to store all their adventure gear and living supplies in such a small space. When it comes to the kitchen, one of the most important storage solutions is finding a cookware set that easily nests together to minimize the storage space used. Be sure to find a cookware set where the pots and pans do not have handles — one removable handle for all items keeps storage simple. Many sets like this can be found on amazon, Walmart, or other outdoor stores like REI.
15) Reliable Drinkware
Last but not least, it is important to have reliable drinkware. Finding a water bottle or tumbler that will not leak, spill, or easily tip over is very important in daily life and especially in vanlife. The last thing you want in the small space of a van is your coffee or wine spilling and staining your living space. You especially do not want your drink spilling and smelling up your van for hours or days to come. Thus, we suggest finding stylish and functional drinkware that you can trust. There are so many options (Yeti, HydroFlask, Stanley, etc.) that we will leave it up to you to decide which one is right for you.