2021 van life gift guide: 27 gifts that every van owner would love
Unsure what to get for your van-dwelling friend or want to share some gift ideas for yourself with your family?
When you live in a campervan or any other tiny home on wheels, space is a BIG factor when deciding to purchase or store any equipment. Even the littlest things can make a huge difference in your quality of life and what you do have becomes much more valuable and useful. Those of us that live in our vehicles tend to be a bit picky with what takes up precious space.
We created this list based on what we have used over and over again, mistakes we have made, and items our fellow van lifers have suggested to us. If you are a van lifer looking for holiday gift ideas for yourself or know someone who lives in their campervan and wants to get them something they’ll absolutely LOVE, this list is for you! This list is created to help you find more practical and useful items along with more fun and festive gear that will make life on the road a bit more relaxing or adventurous.
We’ve broken it down into a several categories:
Safety & Security: for those who desire more safety on the road
Handy & Useful: items we have found to be practical and useful in everyday life
Entertainment & Leisure: our top choices gear that helps make road life a little bit more fun
Memberships: there are a few different memberships that most van dwellers can always use
Stocking Stuffers: a few items we have found helpful in our travels and fit perfectly into a stocking
NOTE: After peaking at every item on this list be sure to head over our full VAN SHOP. There are so many things that can be great to have on the road BUT we can’t list them all. In the VAN SHOP, there are more items listed for those that are in the midst of their van build, or in their planning stages, and need more essential items.
Please note: The below post contains affiliate links. Any items we have listed where we receive affiliate revenue are items we trust and/or personally use ourselves.
SAFETY AND SECURITY
After a year on the road, these are the items we have seen the most useful when it comes to staying safe. It’s inevitable that at some point you will need at least one of these items. If you are a concerned family member or friend these gifts might give you, and your nomadic friend, some peace of mind when they hit the road.
1. Maxtrax Vehicle Recovery Board
Thankfully we have only got stuck once in the sand BUT we didn’t have any traction devices at the time. Instead, we were lucky enough to have another van lifer help get us out. This will not always be the case when you are on the road. Self-sufficiency is something we have learned is a MUST because you want to be prepared for whatever kind of adventures lay ahead.
These Maxtrax come at a higher price point compared to other traction boards but there is good reason - after speaking with other van lifers we have heard these are road-worthy and do NOT break compared to similar brands. These are on our personal wish list and I *trust* we’ll get them soon. In the long run, I think these would actually be a better investment than continuing to get traction devices that need to be re-purchased again and again. A very generous and sweet gift for a van-dwelling loved one.
3. Garmin Mini Reach
Those who live in their campervans tend to love to go off-grid and while the scenery is great we have to think about safety and the ability to contact someone if anything goes wrong. What if your van needs a tow but you don’t have cell reception or there is an emergency but you are out in the middle of the woods with no one around? This is where the Garmin comes into play.
It is an SAT communication device that allows you to trigger an interactive SOS to their 24/7 search and rescue team (satellite subscription will be required) while also allowing for 2-way messaging and location sharing. My friend recently used this while hiking in the Grand Canyon as a hiker fell ill and they had to get her out ASAP. I know for me personally that I will be getting one for my solo female van life adventures when I camp outside of cell range. The peace of mind is well worth the investment for a loved one.
4. Portable Air Compressor
There are a few reasons we have this on our list:
If you have airlifters like us then you will need to pump them up every so often and you don’t always want to go on a long search for a gas station that has a good pump (they are far and few in between).
If you need to deflate your tires for more traction on softer surfaces, like sand, you’ll ultimately need to inflate them again.
An air compressor can also be helpful for inflating bike tires or even your inflatable kayak (see #16 below).
We’ve heard great things about this particular compressor and will be purchasing one in the New Year. Brian has been eyeing this one for about 6 months and I think it’s time we got one ourselves.
5. Travel Shovel
Whether you live in a van, truck, camper, or RV a shovel always comes in handy. If you get stuck in the sand or mud you may need to dig yourself out a bit BEFORE you use your Maxtraxx or you may need it to dig a ‘toilet’ while out camping in the woods.
NOTE: During '“COVID times” public restrooms were closed in most areas and those without their own toilet found themselves using the outdoors as their restroom. While this isn’t necessarily bad we noticed a growing trend where we found LOADS of toilet paper and human waste left for all to see rather than digging a hole and burying it properly. Things like this can ruin it for others as more rules are put into place for those of us who live in vans or other vehicles. Be kind and bury your poop!
6. Battery Jump Starter
One of the last things you want to wake up to or find after a long day of hiking is a dead battery. This jump starter requires no other vehicle so you have the peace of mind that you will be able to get your battery started even if you are in the middle of the forest or desert. It’s compact and is one item we would suggest for those who plan to be off-grid frequently.
USEFUL EVERYDAY ITEMS
While we love van life, the little things like not having a level spot to sleep on can wear on you over time. These items below may seem small but can make a world of difference when you travel full-time.
7. Leveling Blocks
Brian is the biggest fan of leveling out the van and for that I am truly grateful as my leveling skills could use some work. Parking off-grid often means sleeping on VERY unlevel ground. You do not want to wake up with a headache due to an uneven van or feel like you are sitting sideways while eating so leveling blocks are a MUST. We have these exact blocks and they have held up well for the past 1 year on the road being used at least several times a week.
8. Packing Cubes
Small spaces mean you need to make the most of every square inch. We both keep all our clothes in these packing cubes and we can store about 2x the number of clothes because of the cubes as they compress everything so well. They are also helpful to neatly store seasonal items that you keep in your camper van garage or roof storage as well.
We suggest getting several different sizes to test which ones work best for your van build design because everything in vans is custom-built. We ended up using about 3 different sizes to make sure we use every nook and cranny in our bedroom cabinets.
The packing cubes below are ones we have several sizes of and they have all held up well over the last year.
9. Collapsible Food Storage Containers
I’m in LOVE with our collapsible food containers! When you live in a tiny home space is one of the most things to consider when you purchase any item. I purchased these on a whim and could not be happier about it. Along with the plastic-free bags () and the bee’s wax wrapping, we are able to store leftovers with no issues in our fridge. We initially got the round version and rectangle version but with the style of refrigeration used in campervans these days, we suggest only going with the rectangle ones as otherwise, you will lose storage. It’s not much but enough that it matters.
10. Reusable Bags
If your holiday ‘giftee’ is into sustainability and eco-friendly living than they will appreciate this for sure. We use these for everything from soup to leftovers to chord storage. We have also found these to be helpful when an item comes in a large or awkward container that doesn’t fit easily in the van but can be transferred to a bag instead (like protein powders that come in bins). An eco-friendly space saver your friend or family member will have a lot of use for! We suggest getting several sizes for different uses.
11. WeBoost Wifi Booster
If your holiday ‘giftee’ plans to work while on the road, then this is the ultimate digital nomad gift. While it will not give you a signal if you do not already have one, it will enhance your signal by 1-2 bars and that can make a world of difference. You can tether to your phone and use your wifi signal for the internet so you don’t have to go searching for McDonald’s or spend money at coffee shops every day just to get online. At first, we were unsure how well this worked so we turned it off and on 2 different occasions to see if we noticed a difference. After our little experiment, we noticed a HUGE difference. I would say this is a MUST for any van-dwelling digital nomad.
12. Awning
I don’t know what camper van enthusiast would NOT want an awning! They can help keep the van cool during the heat of summer and can also help shield the rays when you are trying to work outside. We love our awning and use it daily during the warmer months.
13. Camping Table
I am lazy when it comes to setting up any equipment (sorry B!). This table is perfect for me because it goes up easily and doesn’t take up a lot of space in the garage. It’s big enough for both of us to eat a meal on and we both can put our laptop and beverage on it too, with room to spare! It’s also easy to clean which is always a plus.
14. Vanmade Gear Window Covers
We are in LOVE with our Vanmade Gear window covers! When we first looked at the price we thought “We’ll just make our own” BUT after hearing from several different van lifers that their homemade Reflectix window covers didn’t even compare to these, we were sold. Not only do they keep the van warm in the winter and cool in the summer, but they also keep the van stealthy when we park in neighborhoods or anywhere we don’t want people to know we are inside. These are very discreet and you don’t even notice them when walking by. If there was one thing I would ask for on this list of items as a new van lifer, it would be these.
15. Rolling Duffel Bag
While this isn’t exactly something that will add pleasure to your life, I think it can help support your travels. When the van broke down, I had ZERO luggage in the van. B had our one traveling duffel and overnight backpack. I had to go to Walmart (an expensive Uber ride in the middle of nowhere) to pack up the van. BUT you also don’t have room for large suitcases. We purchased this duffel a few months back for B when he knew he was going to travel outside the van again and he LOVES it. He loves it so much I just ordered one myself because our Walmart dull broke out first time using it.
This is compact and you can use it for seasonal clothes storage when not in use. Plus, you may just decide to fly off to another country or visit family during the holidays via a flight rather than drive.
ENTERTAINMENT & LEISURE
Being on the road is already fun though these items can help turn it up a notch whether in the van or enjoying the outdoors.
16. Inflatable Kayak
If you watched our video this past year where we went kayaking on Lake Crescent in the Olympic National Forest then you know we love our kayak! We are big fans of the Tahe Inflatable Kayak because we spent A LOT of time looking for a travel-friendly kayak but all the ones we found were cheaply-made, took far too long to inflate, or were too heavy or big for our purposes. This kayak is literally perfect for van life. It comes in a backpack which fits all the necessary gear - air pump and ores, (their air pump is amazing too). We’ve had multiple people come up to us while using it and telling us their Amazon kayak felt flimsy compared to ours.
17. Mini Projector
Projectors are seen all over Instagram when you search for #vanlife. You can put up a simple white sheet inside or outside the van and you have your own personal movie theatre. This one is about the size of a soda van and has blueooth. A sweet gift for your movie-loving nomads!
18. Bluetooth Speaker
While there are many great Bluetooth speakers on the market we prefer our JBL mini speaker because you can hang it from a hook. This makes it a lot easier to use when you are cooking, working on your laptop, or using the counter space for other activities. It works so well and is so travel-friendly that we take it to the beach or even on flights when we go on vacation. It’s also waterproof!
19. Superlite Travel Yoga Mat
I just discovered this yoga mat and put it in my Amazon shopping cart immediately. It takes up less space than a regular yoga mat, is lightweight, and foldable. A perfect gift for fitness enthusiasts and yogis. It’s also made of sustainable materials and has a zero-waste manufacturing process.
MEMBERSHIPS
These memberships have made a tremendous difference in our lives and we can imagine that any other van dweller would be just as happy to have them gifted to them as well.
20. AAA MEMBERSHIP
We recently broke down due to overheating in the desert. We did not have a AAA membership so we called right away and signed up. BUT we didn’t realize there was a 5 day waiting period before you could actually use the service. By that time you either have racked up quite a hefty tow bill or you are stuck where you are at for 5 days. Not ideal by any means. If safety is a concern for your loved one then this would be an excellent choice!
TIP: be sure to sign-up for the RV membership or you might be denied the tow when it shows up due to the size or weight of the camper van.
21. Harvest Hosts Membership
A Harvest Host membership will allow your giftee to stay safely overnight at over 2,300 properties such as wineries, farms, breweries, and more. We love staying at Harvest Hosts when we want to meet new people and get recommendations from locals about things to do in the area. This membership pays for itself with just a few stays and you get to experience a whole new way of camping!
*From now until 12/31/21 you’ll save 20% off your gift membership by using our referral link*
Tip: When signing up, use the gift recipient’s information – their name, email address, and rig type. If you want to keep it a surprise, you can set up the membership under your email address, then change it to the recipient’s email address under “settings” when you give them the gift.
STOCKING STUFFERS
These items would make great stocking stuffers and while small, they can be a worthy investment for any friend or family member! They may not all look very exciting but they are definitely needed on the road.
22. Pepper Spray
As a woman, I tend to think about safety precautions more than Brian does. Though carrying personal pepper spray is a smart choice no matter what your gender or how you identify. Being in the middle of the woods with no cell reception, you need to have a plan for if someone comes knocking on your door or if you are in the middle of a city and someone tries to break in at night (we did have this happen once). Just make sure you know how to use it AND have it handy (re: in a place you can easily grab it at night and/or during the day).
23. 4-way Spigot Attachment
As we travel around the country we have noticed that some water spigots at gas stations were missing the lever that allows you to turn the water on Brian found this 4-way sillcock and it has literally changed our lives. This is one of those small yet highly impactful items EVERY van lifer needs. It has several different attachment sizes and you just attach it and voila! Water.
24. Gravity Water Fill Adaptor
Another item that goes along with the above spigot attachment is this hose attachment which makes filling up water by yourself a lot easier. If you try to fill up your water with a hose, you have to hold it to ensure the hose doesn’t go flying everywhere along with the water. With this, we are both able to fill up the water on our own without having to worry.
25. Bee’s Wrap
These are great for those who want to be earth-friendly and have limited space. Sometimes you just need to wrap up half an apple or onion for later! I suggest getting 2 of the 3-packs. When not using, they take up barely any space in the van.
26. Gift Cards For Fuel
This is the one thing we are always excited to receive as a present. You always need gas, especially when you live in your van and want to visit new places! Because there are so many different places to fill up, I would choose whichever one you feel is best for your recipient.
27. Gift Card For AirBbnb
In case of emergencies, or for a little break from van life, this is a great gift card to have on hand. We have stayed at more than a handful of Airbnb’s while traveling because we had to get out of the van for our own mental health or because we wanted to experience in an area in a more luxurious and spacious way. This also can be handy in the event that the van needs repairs and you need a place to stay for a night or two.
We hope this gift list will be of help to you this holiday season! May your van dwelling friends appreciate all the effort you have put into finding them that perfect gift!
Let us know if you found this helpful or if there are any other items you would add to this list.
Blessings,
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