Products You May Like
Are you dreaming of hitting the open road, traveling to new places, and living a minimalist lifestyle? If so, van life may be just what you need! Living in a van is a unique and exciting way to explore the world and experience a sense of freedom and adventure.
However, before you hit the road, you’ll need to make sure you have the right gear to make your van life experience comfortable, safe, and enjoyable.
The Bearfoot Theory team has over 10 years of collective experience traveling in all types of vans and in this blog post, we’ll explore the top van life essentials to help you prepare for your journey and make the most of your time on the road. From cooking and safety gear to storage solutions and outdoor furniture, we’ve got you covered with all the must-have items for your van life adventure.
Van Kitchen Must-Haves
Camp Stove
Eureka Ignite Plus
This has been my go-to van stove for years. I love that it has an auto-ignition button (no lighter needed!), excellent simmer capabilities, and can fit two 12-inch pans. There is also a slightly smaller version available that fits two 10-inch pans.
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Cooking Table
GCI Outdoor Slim-Fold Cook Station
I prefer to cook outside whenever possible to enjoy the outdoors, have more space, and prevent a smelly van. This table packs down flat for easy storage and has tons of counter space and hooks for your kitchen gear.
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Nesting Cook Set
Stanley Even-Heat Camp Pro Cook Set
Storing pots and pans in a van can be difficult so I love this nesting set that includes a pot, a frying pan, and a saucepan plus utinsels. Plus, it’s induction friendly for those with induction stoves!
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Coffee Maker
Aeropress Go Travel Coffee Press
Leave the Keurig (too much power!) and glass French Press (too breakable!) at home and start your mornings using the Aeropress. This travel coffee press will change your mornings!
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Water Filtration System
Clearsource RV Water Filter
It’s super important to have a water filtration system in your van if you fill up from public water sources like campgrounds and gas stations that may have old or rusty pipes. I just installed this in my third van and am happier with the peace of mind.
**Save $25 at checkout by using the link below. Discount applied at checkout**
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Small Cooler
RTIC Soft Pack Cooler
Heading out for a paddle? Lounging at the beach? It’s always nice to have a small cooler to stash snacks and drinks in outside of your van fridge and RTIC keeps everything chilled for hours.
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Everyday Van Essentials
Durable blanket
Rumpl Blanket
I’ve used Rumpl blankets in my van since 2016 and they’re an absolute essential, especially if you have dogs. Dog hair doesn’t stick to these blankets (just shake em’ outside the van) and they’re fully machine washable.
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Portable Shower
Geyser Systems w/ Heater
If you don’t have a permanent shower in your van but still want the luxury of hot showers, this is for you. Geyser Systems uses less than 1 gallon of water and has an internal hot water heater. It’s perfect for rinsing off yourself, your pets, and your gear without wasting a ton of water.
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Portable Power Station
EcoFlow RIVER Pro
BFT team member Courtney fully powers her lights, fan, and electronics using the River PRO, but a portable power station is also great to have as backup even if you have a more robust system. We love EcoFlow because it charges from 0-80% in less than 1 hour using an AC outlet, which is significantly faster than other brands.
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Emergency Toilet
Cleanwaste Go Anywhere Foldable Toilet
Public lands are getting restricted due to trash and human waste being left behind. If you don’t have a permanent toilet system in your van, we strongly encourage you to travel with an emergency toilet when going #2 outdoors just isn’t possible, like crowded dispersed campsites or sensitive desert landscapes.
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Van Gear For Your Outdoor Living Space
Camp Chair
Helinox Sunset Chair
I’ve tried a lot of camp chairs over the years and I keep coming back to this one. I love the supportive high back and that it’s relatively lightweight at 3lbs 4oz. It’s packable and can be easily stored in the van.
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Outdoor Mat
CGEAR Sand-Free Mat
Having an outdoor mat is essential for keeping dirt, dust, and sand out of your van (or at least creating a buffer 😉). We love this one because it’s more packable than a traditional rug and it filters out fine sand and dirt.
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Outdoor Table
REI Co-op Camp Roll Table
If you want a multi-purpose table, this is a great option that rolls up to the size of a large camp chair. It has adjustable legs so you can easily cook, eat, or play games on it.
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Awning
MoonShade Portable Awning
Having an awning is essential if you’re traveling in hot, sunny places. We love our MoonShade because it’s portable and can be set up on your side or back doors, plus it packs down small. We even tested it in windy conditions and the MoonShade holds up!
*Save 10% by using the code BEARFOOTTHEORY at checkout*
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String Lights
MPOWERD Luci Solar String Lights
Create some camp ambiance with these MPOWERD string lights! These are a great way to brighten up camp and best of all, they’re charged by the sun (or a USB). We especially love having string lights at camp when burn bans mean no campfires.
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Portable Fire Pit
LavaBox
Want to have a safe campfire, even during burn bans out West? We travel with this small propane fire box that’s relatively compact and packs into itself for easy cleanup and it’s been perfect for Leave No Trace safe campfires year round.
*Use the code BEARFOOT at checkout to get 10% off*
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Van Life Clothing Essentials
Hiking Boots
Oboz Sypes Low Waterproof Hiking Shoes
I love these hiking boots because they’re lightweight, breathable, perform well in all kinds of terrain, and can double as town shoes without looking too much like hiking boots.
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Sandals
Teva Universal Trail Sandals
These are a great choice for van life because they are versatile and durable enough to handle various outdoor activities, including hiking and water sports. Their comfortable design and adjustable straps also make them easy to slip on and off.
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Packing Cubes
REI Co-op Packing Cube Set
Packing cubes are essential for staying organized in the van. Instead of having to pull out a bunch of clothes looking for a specific item, you can just grab the cube you need. I have one for tops, one for bottoms, one for undies… you get the idea.
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Sun Hat
Wallaroo Sedona Hat
Having a hat is great for sun protection when hiking and spending time outdoors, but let’s be real – we also love that wearing a hat can hide how long it’s been since we last washed our hair. I’ve worn the Sedona hat for years and it’s held up well on all my adventures.
**Get 20% off Wallaroo hats with code BEARFOOT20**
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Cozy Layers
Selk’Bag Wearable Sleeping Bag
We got Selk’Bags last summer and are totally hooked. If you’re someone who runs cold, this is a van life essential for those chilly nights at camp. It even has pockets to store your phone and keys!
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Outdoor Slippers
REI Co-op Camp Dreamer Booties
Outdoor slippers are also a game changer for comfort in the van – these feel like sleeping bags for your feet! I love slipping these on to walk our dogs at night or during chilly mornings and the rubber sole keeps them protected.
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Must-Have Recovery & Safety Gear
Recovery boards
Max Trax
Some dispersed camping roads are sandy or become muddy after rain so having a way to self-recover if you get stuck is important. These are our #1 must-have recovery accessory!
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Battery Jump Starter
Hulkman Jump Starter
Having a battery jump starter is essential for van life because it allows you to easily jump-start your vehicle without having to rely on external assistance, which is important if you plan to camp in remote areas.
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Portable Air Compressor
Viair Air Compressor
With the miles we put on our vans, tire pressure is something to monitor closely. Airing down your tires before driving on soft surfaces (like sand) helps you avoid getting stuck, however, you need a way to air back up your tires when you get back to pavement.
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Satellite Communication Device
Garmin InReach Mini 2
Having a two-way satellite communication device for van life gives ultimate peace of mind, especially if you camp often in places without service. A few years ago, our Sprinter battery died in winter when we were camped somewhere without service, and I was able to message my Dad with our location so he could reach out to AAA for us.
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Folding Shovel
Gerber E-Tool Folding Spade
Having a shovel is a multi-functional van life essential. From digging catholes to use the bathroom to digging yourself out if you’re stuck to putting our campfires, a shovel is a must. We love this one because it folds down for easier storage.
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Carbon Monoxide Detector
Kidde Carbon Monoxide Detector
Living and sleeping in a small space where you may have a heater, fridge, or stove that uses propane means you need to install a carbon monoxide detector to avoid a potentially dangerous situation. We love this one because it has a digital display that updates every 15 seconds for the most accurate reading.
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Essential Van Life Memberships
Campsite Finder
The Dyrt Pro
The Dyrt is a really useful app for finding campsites (both paid and free) and their Pro membership also gives you access to offline maps, map overlays for NFS/BLM land, discounts on campgrounds, and more.
**Use our link to get 30 days FREE of The Dyrt Pro (Note: Use the code “Bearfoot” if signing up on mobile.)**
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Campsite Finder
Harvest Hosts
Stay at more than 2,300 unique properties such as wineries, farms, breweries, museums, and more with a Harvest Hosts membership. You can also add on Boondockers Welcome which adds access to 3000+ private properties across the US as well.
Where to sign up
Hiking Trail Finder
AllTrails+
This is our favorite app for finding local trails while traveling. The free version provides basic functions like searching for nearby trails and getting directions to the trailheads, but the Pro version has a lot of extra features (like offline maps), which are especially helpful when camping off-grid.
**Use the link below to get a FREE 7-day trial of AllTrails+**
Where to sign up
Annual Park Pass
America The Beautiful National Park Pass
Lots of van lifers hit the road to explore America’s National Parks. Save money on entrance fees by buying an annual pass which allows you unlimited entry for 12 months from your purchase date.
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Are we missing any van life essentials from our list? Let us know in the comments!
