Van life is a really fun and exciting way to travel and during the year of 2020, we spent over 230 nights in our self-converted camper van while travelling in Japan. During this time, we have kept luggage to a minimum and realised what items are required for a successful trip.
When starting van life, it can be difficult to know exactly what items to bring. We want to share our knowledge and experience to help beginners and also give ideas to those who are already enjoying van life.
In this blog post, we will share 45 items which we believe are van life essentials for staying in a vehicle overnight and recommended goods to make van life more comfortable.
Category 1: Sleeping Items
1. Sleeping Mat
A comfortable sleeping mat is one of the most important items required for a good night of sleep while staying overnight in a vehicle.
The easiest option is to use a mat like this one from Coleman and it’s best to check the measurements of your vehicle before ordering.
Since we converted our entire van, we used foam from the Japanese company softpren and made our own bed mat. Softpren deliver custom measurements of foam based on the measurements required.
We wrote an entire blog post about how we made our bed mattress which you can read here.
2. Sleeping Bag
Sleeping bags are a great idea for van life since they keep your body warm at night but are very small and compact when packed away.
We like the sleeping bags from the Japanese company NANGA since the quality is very high. We recently purchased UDD 380DX NANGA sleeping bags for winter and we have slept in -5 degrees celsius and felt comfortable. NANGA has different models which cater for different temperatures.
In the summer, you can use a sleeping bag designed for warmer temperatures or if it’s too hot, you can use a thin blanket instead.
3. Pillow
A comfortable pillow is necessary to ensure a good night of sleep. It’s good if the pillow can also be used as a cushion so it can serve two purposes.
The Thermarest pillow is a popular choice for staying a vehicle overnight since it can also be folded compactly when not in use. There are a variety of sizes and colours available.
4. Ear Plugs & Eye Mask
Ear plugs and an eye mask might not be required every night you sleep in your vehicle but we encounter noisy nights around once every two weeks so it’s better to bring these items just in case.
It’s most common to experience noisy nights while staying at roadside stations. The reason for this is because trucks park for the night and leave their engines running, vehicles are always coming and going and young people sometimes gather and make noise.
Some overnight spots might be near streetlights which will be very bright and make it difficult to sleep so that’s why it’s a good idea to bring an eye mask.
5. Curtains
To ensure privacy in your vehicle overnight, curtains are definitely recommended. The easiest curtains or blinds to use are ones which are pre-made and you can attach them using magnets or suction cups. It’s necessary to check the window measurements of your vehicle first.
We decided to make our own DIY curtains for our van since we wanted to use colourful fabric. We wrote an entire blog post about how we made our camper van curtains which you can see here.
Category 2: Electric Items
6. Eco Flow Battery
A portable battery is definitely recommended since it can be recharged using mains electricity, solar or via the car cigarette socket and then it can power all your devices such as phones, laptops or cameras. There are many different brands of portable battery but our favourite brand available in Japan is EcoFlow.
The reason why we like EcoFlow the best is due to it’s incredibly fast recharging capabilities. The EcoFlow battery can be recharged from 0% to 80% in around 1 hour. Other brands are much slower to recharge and we previously were using a portable battery from the brand Jackery which took around 8 hours to recharge.
Since we are full-time van lifers, we are not returning to a house with the opportunity to recharge our portable battery. Therefore, we sometimes have an opportunity at a cafe, gas station or onsen to recharge and after around 1 hour, our EcoFlow portable battery is already full again.
Once full, the battery can usually provide us with around 3 days of power (please note that we use a lot of power since we work online and need to charge laptops).
Another great point about EcoFlow is that its batteries can also handle devices that use a high amount of watts, for example a hair dryer or microwave.
7. Inverter
An inverter can be plugged into the car cigarette socket to provide power while driving.
Our Eco Flow battery is usually charged via solar panels on the roof of our van so the inverter can charge devices such as laptops, phones or cameras while the engine is running.
8. Head Torch
Sometimes it’s really dark at night and having a head torch is really convenient since your hands are free to do other things while still being able to see.
We didn’t get a head torch until we had been living in our van for over 6 months and once we got it, it made our lives so much easier.
We like this head torch from the brand GENTOS since it only uses 1 x AA battery and can last for 7.5 hours.
9. LED Lights
It’s important to use lighting that is not reliant on the vehicle. It’s tempting to use the vehicle’s lighting but if it’s left on for a long period of time, there might be an increased risk of the vehicle having a flat battery in the morning which would be a huge inconvenience.
We like this small lantern from snowpeak since it’s compact and the batteries last for a long time. It doesn’t take up much space in the van and it also has a magnet so can be attached to metal easily.
For permanent lighting inside our van, we use 3 LED lights which are attached to the ceiling with double-sided sticky tape. Each light requires 3 AA batteries (we use rechargeable ones) and we need to change over the batteries around once per week.
10. Fridge
Our 21L fridge is from the Japanese company Sawafuji and we highly recommend it. It’s a great size for storing around 3 days worth of food for 2 people and can be used as a fridge or freezer.
When we first started van life, we didn’t think we needed a big fridge but once summer started we decided to get one and now we couldn’t live without it!
We wrote an entire blog post about our fridge which you can read here.
11. Power Board
A power board is a really useful item to bring since sometimes at campsites or cafes, there might be the opportunity to charge devices.
If you have a power board, you can charge multiple of your devices simultaneously which saves time.
Category 3: Summer Items
12. Mosquito Nets
If you plan to do van life in the summer months, then mosquito nets are definitely required unless you want to end up being bitten alive!
We use stretchy mosquito nets on the front windows and then customised nets on the sliding door and back door areas.
We wrote an entire blog post about mosquito prevention measures which you can see here.
13. Mosquito Coils
Mosquito coils are a must if you plan on enjoying vanlife during the summer months. We use mosquito coils inside and outside the van.
Since we often cook outside in the summer, we light the mosquito coils and then wait 20 minutes for any mosquitos to leave the van before closing all the mosquito nets. We also use mosquito coils outside if having a bonfire.
14. Fan
During the summer months, we use a fan everyday to help keep us cool since we don’t have air conditioning in our van.
The fan can easily be charged via USB and can operate all night if fully charged. It made a big difference during the hot and humid summer months.
Category 4: Winter Items
15. Hot Water Bottle
A hot water bottle can help you stay warm during the winter months. Our best tip is to boil the water before it gets dark and cold outside.
The worst thing is having the van nice and warm but then all the cold air escapes when you go outside to boil the water for the hot water bottle!
We recommend using a rubber water bottle since water bottles with hard metal or plastic exteriors take up more space when not in use. We prefer to use hot water bottles over electric blankets since no electricity is required.
16. Heat Reflective Window Covers
If you plan to do van life in the winter months, then heat reflective window covers are definitely recommended. It’s possible to make your own or purchase pre-made ones online.
We saw other people using heat reflective window covers and were a bit sceptical. However, it started to get cold and we made our own DIY window covers. They have made a huge difference and help keep a lot of the heat inside the van.
Check out the video below where you can watch us making our DIY window covers.
17. Thermal Clothing
Category 5: Cooking Items
18. Cassette Stove
If you plan on cooking or boiling water in your van, then a cassette stove is definitely recommended.
We have 2 cassette stoves in our van. Our favourite stove is the “Snow Peak HOME & CAMP Burner Stove” since it’s excellent quality and we purchased it after receiving many recommendations from our viewers on YouTube.
We also use a small Iwatani stove since it’s very small and fits on our cooking table perfectly.
19. Wind Breaker
A wind breaker is a really useful item since it blocks all wind from touching the flame on the stove. If it’s windy, the flame becomes smaller and the amount of heat being produced reduces. This also wastes gas.
On a very windy day, it might take 20 minutes to boil a pot of water but by using the wind breaker, the same pot of water can boil in 5 minutes.
We always try to cook outside if possible. It’s tempting to cook inside the vehicle however, it’s important to always be aware about the risks of gas leaks.
20. Thermos Flask
If you plan on making your own delicious coffee every morning, this high quality thermos flask is the best solution for keeping coffee warm for up to 8 hours.
This flask never leaks and also has a lid, so there is no risk of the coffee spilling everywhere if it’s accidentally knocked down.
Cold drinks can also be kept cool during the summer months in this flask.
21. Bowls & Plates
If you plan on cooking or eating in your van, then having bowls and plates will be very useful.
We recommend bowls and plates made from plastic or enamel since they are less likely to break. Glass or china crockery is more likely to smash while driving or washing the dishes.
We use bowls and plates from the brand Coleman and they are great quality and easy to clean.
22. Cutlery Set
A good quality cutlery set is useful and we recommend to only bring one per person. We originally brought many spoons and forks with us but they were not necessary and just took up valuable space. The below cutlery and chopstick sets from Snow Peak are popular with people who travel by van.
23. Cookware Set
If you plan on cooking for yourself or boiling water for coffee or miso soup, then a good set of pots and pans will be necessary.
Nowadays there are many compact options available and the pots can be stored inside each other. We carry 1 pot, 1 pan and 1 kettle with us in our van.
24. Silicone Coffee Dripper
Making your own coffee saves money and you can make it to your preference. (We always add soya milk to ours!)
We love drinking coffee and everyday we make our own coffee using this silicone coffee dripper. Since it’s made from silicon, it’s flexible and can be stored easily.
25. Foldable Bucket
We use this foldable bucket every day in our van for storing dirty dishes if we don’t have access to a tap.
It’s also really easy to carry the dishes to the washing area if they are in a bucket.
The bucket is made from silicone and is very compact when stored.
26. Water Container
If you plan on cooking or want to carry drinking water, then a water tank is a good idea.
We carry a 10 litre water container with us which we fill up at campsites and parks.
We use this water for drinking, making tea and coffee and making rice. A 10 litre water tank usually lasts us for 2 days worth of water for 2 people.
27. Food Storage Containers
Food storage containers are really useful for storing leftovers or food which can easily become rotten once its package has been opened.
When we cook in the evening, we always make extra food which we can eat for lunch the next day since it saves us time and money.
After visiting the supermarket, we also try to remove food like sausages from the packaging and store them inside the fridge in food storage containers since it takes up less space.
Category 6: Campsite Items
28. Compact Chair
During your travels, the weather might be nice and there might be the opportunity to sit outside so it’s a great idea to pack a chair.
The best type of chair to bring is one which is comfortable yet can be stored compactly and does not take up much space.
We like this style of chair and have seen many other people using this same chair so it seems to be popular among van lifers.
29. Compact Table
If you plan to stay at campsites during your trip, it’s recommended to pack a small outdoor table. You can eat outside while enjoying the beautiful weather and views.
We recommend this table since it can be stored compactly when it’s not being used and it also includes a lantern stand.
It’s not a very large table but we feel it’s a good balance between table size and how much space it takes up inside our vehicle.
30. Campfire
One of the most fun things about staying at a campsite is having a campfire and being able to cook delicious food over the fire. In the winter months it’s also a great way to keep warm!
This stye of campfire is a popular choice among people staying in vans since it’s easy to set up and can be stored compactly when not in use.
31. Tarp
If you plan to stay at campsites, a tarp can be a great way to protect you from the blazing sun or pouring rain.
A really popular tarp with van lifers in Japan is from the Japanese camping brand OGAWA. The tarp is available in different sizes so you can choose a tarp depending on your vehicle size.
The tarp is attached to the side of the vehicle using suction cups. This tarp is great at protecting you from getting wet and pretty much adds an entire room onto the side of your vehicle.
The OGAWA tarp is an expensive purchase but if you plan to use it for many years then it’s a good investment.
32. Washing Line
A washing line is a really useful item to pack if you plan to stay at campsites, especially in the summer months.
You can hang any wet towels or if you do laundry by hand, you can also hang wet clothes to dry.
Category 7: Shower / Bath Items
33. Wash bag
A strong and durable wash bag is a requirement for living in a vehicle since you will be using it everyday when you visit the bathroom or a hot spring.
Inside our wash bags, we keep a toothbrush, toothpaste, hair comb, face wash, face cloth, shampoo, conditioner, razor, deodorant and body soap.
Ruth has a separate small bag for her make-up.
34. Towels
Towels are definitely necessary items to pack if living in a van.
We have used many different types of towels during our 220 nights of vanlife and we have finally discovered the best type of towel to pack.
These small and fast drying towels are the best towels to use since they don’t take up much space and after visiting an onsen, can be hung on a hanger and hung in the cab area of the vehicle.
In the morning, the sunlight will heat up the cab area and quickly dry the towel. We purchased around 12 towels (6 towels each) and use a fresh towel every time we visit a hot spring.
35. Biodegradable Soap / Shampoo / Laundry Detergent
If you plan to do laundry or take a shower in a place where chemical based products could damage the environment, then biodegradable shampoo, body wash and laundry soap are recommended.
We like the products from the New Zealand based company Ethique since they have a strong environmental ethos. All the products come in a bar form so in addition to being safe to use in nature, they also reduce plastic waste.
Category 8: Other Useful Items
36. Smartphone Holder
When travelling to new places, it’s really important to set the directions on your smartphone or car navigation before setting off. This suction clip is extremely strong and will hold your smartphone securely while driving.
We have been using this smartphone holder for almost one year and highly recommend it.
37. Compact Bag
A small bag to hold items such as your wallet, phone, business cards, glasses, chewing gum and a local map is recommended.
We recently started using bumbags and they are brilliant since they can store our valuable and useful possessions safely but don’t take up much space. When we started living in our van, we both brought big bags with us and they were always in the way.
We like the size of this bag from the brand North Face and it has many pockets inside.
38. Heat & Humidity Meter
It’s really useful to have a battery powered device inside the vehicle which can always provide you with the time, temperature and humidity level.
We use this device everyday to check the temperature and it helps us understand the driving conditions (for example, if the roads might be frozen).
39. Dehumidifier
Dehumidifiers are definitely recommended for the inside of your vehicle since condensation builds up while sleeping and can cause dampness.
We always have 3 dehumidifiers in our van, 2 in the back and 1 in the cab area where we hang our towels.
Dehumidifiers are required all year round but need to be changed frequently during the summer months when humidity levels are extremely high.
40. Crocs
Crocs are extremely useful for living in a van since they can be stored on the step area of the door and when you are parked up for the night, they can be worn for coming and going to the toilet.
They are the easiest type of shoe to put on since they don’t have any laces or required any effort.
We wear our normal shoes during the day while travelling then store them on the floor of the passenger’s seat at night and use crocs for moving around.
41. Dustpan and Brush
A dustpan and brush is definitely necessary if you would like to keep your vehicle nice and tidy.
Even if you don’t wear shoes inside your vehicle, it’s inevitable somehow that dirt and dust will get inside.
We clean our van every morning and sweep all the floors.
Category 9: Full-Time Van Life
42. Roofbox
If you plan to spend many nights in your vehicle, have a hobby which requires a lot of equipment such as fishing or if you are travelling as a couple, then a roof box can be a nice addition to your vehicle.
Our roof box is full of camping equipment such as our bonfire, tarp, table, chairs, fishing equipment, tent, hiking backpacks, hiking boots and a tool kit.
If you plan to add a roof box to your vehicle, it’s important to be aware of the new vehicle height since there might be some issues with entering indoor car parks or restaurant drive-throughs.
Our roof box is from the Japanese company INNO and we are extremely happy with it.
We made a video about how we installed the roof box which you can see below.
43. Solar Panel
Japan is generally a sunny country and installing a solar panel is a good idea if you plan on doing trips which are longer than a weekend.
A solar panel can provide power to recharge a portable power supply. We use these solar panels from the company RENOGY.
We also made a video and wrote a blog post about our solar system which you can see here.
44. Pocket Wifi Device
A pocket wifi device is a great idea you plan on using a lot of internet while you travel in your vehicle.
We have 5GB of data on our phone plan but we usually require more than this since we want to watch YouTube videos, call family on skype and do work online.
We use an unlimited pocket wifi from the company FUJI WIFI (which uses the softbank network). It’s quite expensive so if you don’t need unlimited wifi, there might be other cheaper options available.
45. Tablet or Kindle
If travelling alone or for an extended period of time, having a tablet or kindle is a good idea for keeping yourself entertained in the evenings.
They don’t take up much space and a tablet can be used for browsing the internet, watching YouTube videos or video streaming such as Netflix. A kindle can be used to download electronic books. We do prefer physical books but there is not enough space in our van to carry lots of books!
Everyday, amazon offers daily deals on books so you can find great books by famous authors for a cheap price.
We have made many videos about van life in Japan, check some of them out below.
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