We definitely lived a minimalist life on the road; we bought a used mini-van, finished it out with a cheap futon, and packed everything on in!
There were a few things we could NOT live without though! Most of them were inexpensive, a few we splurged on, but all were necessary to a happy and healthy #vanlife experience. Read on to find out my favorite and most useful items after a year on the road living out of our van.
This post may contain affiliate links; view the Hook Yarn Carabiner disclosure policy for details. Affiliate links provide me with a small commission for every purchase you make at no cost to you. These donations allow me to continue to produce free patterns and content on my blog. I am so appreciative of any support you give to me and my small business. Purchasing yarn or products through the links on this page is one way to do that.
TWO-BURNER PROPANE STOVE
First up is our trusty two-burner propane stove! This lightweight and super easy to use stove was our entire kitchen. Small and easy to store, it boiled water, stir-fried up vegetables, and even baked cookies for us! It is inexpensive and extremely reliable, definitely a keeper.
REFILLABLE PROPANE TANK
In order to make the propane stove more efficient, we purchased a one gallon refillable propane tank. Instead of buying single-use canisters, we used our tiny propane tank (this thing is seriously small and only weighs about fifteen pounds full!) and could last about a month on a single fill. Plus, propane is very inexpensive in small amounts and it would almost always cost under five dollars to fill. We loved that we were not wasting resources, by avoiding the single-use canisters, and that it was so easy to store and use.
ALUMINUM FOLDING TABLE
This lightweight folding table was integral in our cooking and organization while on the road. It allowed us to cook next to the van and chop and prepare food in the van, usually on top of our cooler. The table is very lightweight and super-easy to snap together. It was easily stored under our bed and could be put together in just a minute or two. When we stayed at destinations for long periods of time we would leave it set up, but it was no problem to set up and take down every time we moved.
SOLAR SHOWER
When you are on the road, and especially when you are mostly living near climbing destinations, showers are few and far between. They can also be expensive. Our solar shower was invaluable. It is a simple clear bag with hose and nozzle that rolls up when empty for easy storage. In the morning we would fill it up, stick it on top of the van, and leave to go climb for the day. By the time we would get back it would be nice and warm and we were ready for our post-climb shower! What more could you want?!
DR. BRONNER’S LIQUID SOAP
Is it soap? Is it shampoo? Is it laundry detergent? It’s all of these and more! We found one thousand and one uses for this amazing bottle of pure-castile liquid soap. We always buy the peppermint version and it just cuts through dirt and grime. Plus you can wash clothes with it, wash your hair and face with it, clean your dishes, shoes, and gear with it- it is universal! And also biodegradable, organic, and very concentrated, so it lasts forever.
STOVE TOP OVEN
The Omnia Oven was a blast to use on the road. While our propane stove could do nearly everything we needed, it did not allow us to easily bake anything. And who can go a year without cookies?! This stove top oven was a gift from family and gave our cooking variety without being difficult to use or taking up much space.
TWINKLE LIGHTS
Twinkle lights made our van a home. I strung them up around the roof of the interior and every night we would have a soft, homey glow to cook and read by. We generally lived by headlight when the days got shorter, and these twinkle lights softened the lighting and helped the van feel cozy and happy. They run by battery and usually last a month or so before needing new batteries.
YETI ROADIE 20 COOLER
This was our big splurge, the biggest ticket item, and our most prized possession on the road. This YETI cooler rocked! It was on our way to Baja California that we realized our old, crappy cooler was not going to cut it in the heat- so we upgraded. This beast will hold ice for days, dry ice for a week, and will even keep bears out! We actually almost never used ice or dry ice. Dealing with the watery cooler and food day after day was not our bag, so we just didn’t use it. At night we would open it up and put it outside where the freezing desert nights would cool everything down, and in the morning we would shut it up and stick it in the shade and try not to open it. I really can’t rave about this cooler enough. Just the other day it kept a couple of cans of beer cold in hundred degree heat (with no ice) for five days. Unbelievable.
ENO HAMMOCK
What self-respecting road trip would be complete without a hammock? To be real, though, living out of a van does not give you much lounging space. And everyone needs a place to lounge on their rest days! The ENO hammock packs up tiny, goes up easy, and is so comfortable! I watched too many sunsets to count in ours and got lots of crocheting in while I was at it!
Love this post! To add one YETI pro tip: we also got sick of dealing with a watery cooler, but we hit on a really nice solution of using a dry bag to isolate our (melting) ice from the food in the cooler. It worked great! Keeps everything cool without slowly turning everything to mush.
Love it! Yes, if ice is necessary that is perfect way to keep your food dry. Watery coolers are the worst!