Van Life Gift Guide
We’re stoked to share these van dweller gift ideas to make Christmas, birthdays and other occasions a little easier in a campervan!
We get it. We’re hard to shop for. And you’re not going to get your vanlife loved ones nothing for the holidays.
This leaves our friends and family continually wondering what to get us, as people who are trying to live a minimal, space-efficient, nomadic, cost-effective lifestyle.
That’s why we’ve put this list together – all items have been test-driven and come highly recommended from our vanlife family to yours! Your mileage may vary though, so don’t be afraid to ask about your van dweller’s personal needs and home specs. Prices were updated December 2019.
Disclaimer: All links are associated with my Amazon affiliate account. Basically, that means the cost is the same for you (whether you purchase here or by searching for things yourself), but using my link may pass on a small cut of the transaction to help support the website and future projects/tutorials. Any support is greatly appreciated!
1. 3-Quart Instant Pot | $59.86
We have the Duo Mini 7-in-1 Instant Pot (3-quart) and it is a game changer. Even with the “mini” in its name, everything we’ve made has been enough for 3-4 adults (or the 2 of us with leftovers).
Plus, it’s super energy efficient for a kitchen appliance (700 watts) and cuts our cooking time down to a fraction when we’re ready for dinner – see this 3-minute tortilla soup. Check the dimensions with your vanlifer so they can make some room (11.81 x 10.51 x 10.98 inches) and invite you over for dinner!
Lexi’s favorite gift, possibly ever.
2. Oontz Angle 3 Wireless Portable Bluetooth Speaker | $29.99 Every nomad needs a Bluetooth speaker for their rig, and we’re partial to this one. It’s got a solid range if you’re prone to setting up wider camp, connects to our phones quickly and consistently across environments, and it’s tiny, especially for the badass sound quality you get.
It doesn’t take too long to charge (via micro USB), and is then good to go for a few days of intermittent use. It isn’t necessarily waterproof, but this thing is rugged (we once drove around for a day with it chilling on our ladder outside the van, totally fine when we finally found it) and claims to be rain-proof/splash-proof.
3. RV Vent Insulator & Skylight Cover | $8.99
These are small, inexpensive things that make a world of difference for keeping the van warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
They’re designed to fit snugly into the standard 14” ceiling vents any RV/van/skoolie will have, don’t require any installation or customization (rare in the boondocking game), and are easily one of the most inexpensive and useful additions to our van’s weatherproofing. Ask your friends how many vents they have and grab one for each – we have the ones with the reflective surface.
Vent insulation: so tiny, so powerful.
4. Guaranteed Spots to Park Across America | $50-$80/year
As fun as nomadic living is, finding a place to sleep every night (especially on long-haul trips) with a rig of any size can be a challenge if you don’t want to pay RV or campsite fees and don’t need the hook-ups those entail.
To solve that issue, we’re loyal fans of Harvest Hosts and Boondockers Welcome. These services charge one annual fee to grant access to a huge network of places across America where travelers with self-contained rigs, who don’t need water/electricity hook-ups each night, can meet great people and park in beautiful places.
Depending on your vanlifer’s preferences of community, either (or both!) make a great gift. Harvest Hosts is focused mainly on wineries, breweries, museums, and other commercial interest spots, while Boondockers Welcome includes people’s private property. The guests are just asked to call ahead and confirm their hosts have space for the night.
We personally use both services and it makes our travels so much simpler. Plus, there’s nothing like ending a long travel day with an IPA or glass of wine at someone’s family-owned business!
5. Endless Entertainment | $9.99 and up
Traveling means having plenty of time to explore your interests, and with all the different services out there now, there’s no shortage of ways to fill those drives.
For the drivers, Audible has a massive catalog of audiobooks that make the stretches of road fly by. Then to fill quiet weeknights by learning new skills, check out Masterclass, Udemy, Codecademy, or Brit + Co.
Brit + Co. offers plenty of art classes, but also practical business-building courses for the aspiring influencer.
6. Magnetic Spice Rack + Tins | $27.95/12-pack
After moving into our van full-time, this was one of our first purchases. These magnetic wall plates come with strong adhesive, and they were easy to mount on our kitchen backsplash. The spice tins really do stay on (no matter how hard we hit a bump or whip a turn). Getting our massive collection of spices out of the cabinets and into an accessible, easy-to-see display has brightened up the kitchen, made cooking simpler, and given us back valuable storage space.
We’re happy with our two 12-packs (24 total), but this is totally dependent on what your vanlifer’s spice situation currently looks like. Double-check whether they need the magnetic wall plates as well, or if their rig has a fridge that can accommodate these tins out of the way.
Cooking dinner with the magnetic spice rack (and the Flatirons, and the whiskey…) in the background.
7. SensorPush Wireless Thermometer - Temperature & Humidity + G1 WiFi Gateway | $150
This one is going to be especially useful for the doggos of vanlife. No one ever wants to leave their dogs at home, but we know it has to happen sometimes. As long as you have WiFi (we recommend the Verizon Jetpack!) this Gateway/Sensor combo will send you alerts via text or e-mail when the temperature in your van goes beyond the set limits.
We always make sure our buddy is comfortable with plenty of food, water, and either heat or cooling (depending on the season). There’s a greater peace of mind that comes in when you can see the temperature and humidity in your rig when you’re not in it.
We know you’re really here for the dog pics.
8. The Perfect Blanket | $28.72
The first few months of vanlife, we found ourselves constantly in the market for a new blanket that wouldn’t be too hot, or too cold, or too small, or too delicate to get dirty (and wash regularly). It was actually when we were stuck in a massive snowstorm in Wyoming that we found our favorite one from Wal-Mart. This thing is so warm but still lightweight, and has zero issues going through every washer/dryer.
Do a little digging to find out what kinds of colors and temperatures your vanlifer prefers, and spring for the King size (pro-tip: it’s hard to hog the blanket when the blanket is so massive).
John modeling his/our favorite blanket. This face tells you everything you need to know.
9. Laundry Bag + Folding Caddy | $13.99 + $14.88
Laundry piles up for everyone, but when space is tight, that pile can’t sit just anywhere. We strongly suggest a basic laundry bag with straps so you can lug it to the nearest laundromat (and avoid mesh – breathable sounds nice, but even better is locking down that laundry smell when you live in your car). This can get tossed into the laundry with your clothes, too, and hang on a wall, under the bed, or if your rig looks like ours it can go in the back of the closet.
And when its time to load clean, folded clothes back into the van, a collapsible laundry caddy can’t be beat. It folds up to nothing when not in use for easy storage, snaps into shape quickly, and has a surprisingly massive capacity.
10. LED Light Strip | $27.98
Okay, this one isn’t strictly necessary, but it does take your tiny home on wheels from homey to downright cozy. This light strip comes with sticky backing for easy install, works via a controller on your phone or a tiny remote, and seems to have literally endless options for coloring (read: mood lighting). The power draw is incredibly low, and with varying brightness levels you can set whatever scene you want.
What gifts did the boondockers in your life appreciate? Let us know in the comments!