The Ultimate Holiday Van Life Gift List 2023

Watching TV on a phone or a laptop can get very annoying. Most van lifers love to indulge in a show or a movie at times. Give the gift of entertainment and they’ll be so grateful. We have loved setting ours up and getting cozy in bed to watch a show. Get your projector here!

The nomadic lifestyle usually involves lots of travel. For us, it is long drive times and seemingly endless highways. Listening to books can really make the hours on the road fly by. We’ve already listened to four books in less than two months!

Sadly, your van life friend may not be able to fit a bookshelf into their tiny home. That doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be able to read. Get them a kindle so they can read anywhere and always have a new book ready to go.

is one of the more expensive items on the list, but it’s also one of the most helpful. As van lifers, we are always looking for a way to charge all our devices. Gift them additional solar so they can stay connected.

If you want to gift your friend some more solar, but at a much lower cost, consider this one. We have been using this every day for some extra charging power. We just leave the charger on the dash and it soaks up all the sun to plug in our small electronics.

These are one of the most popular van life products right now and for a good reason. These shades connect to the van to create an awning. This is a popular way to have your living space spill out into you campsite. We can’t wait to use ours on sunny days in the desert to create our own little space.

Vans or RVs can start to feel really small. When mostly camping and chasing the outdoors, hammocks are a wonderful way to set up a cozy spot between two trees. It’s a great gift for those who like to just relax.

To add to the already growing outdoor living space, this foldable camping chair are a perfect addition. We tried a lot of the collapsible versions, but they were just not comfortable enough. This chair easily folds up and you can set it up in less than a minute, plus you’ll never want to stand up! It’s perfect for relaxing by the fire.

There’s nothing quite like pulling up to an alpine lake or river and getting out on a paddleboard. The inflatable paddleboards are a necessity on a van life gift list. They allow for endless possibilities and adventures and only take a few minutes to blow up.

A wonderful alternative to the hammock. All these couches need is fresh air. It’s also fun to use them, because you run around to get the air into the couch. A perfect way to capture the day, tie it off, and rest on its beauty.

Now, this item is for those van lifers who like to spend some time outside of their van. It’s for the adventurers that like to get out into the backcountry and away from it all. Get them one of the best backpacking tents around! They’ll put it to good use.

Okay now this may be my favorite addition to this year’s van life gift list. This raft blows up within minutes with the same method as the inflatable couch. It works so well that we were honestly shocked! It also only weighs 2 pounds and takes up very little room.

Having comfortable shoes to slip on when jumping in and out of the van is key. A good pair of slippers will keep your feet warm and are also good enough to wear outside as well. I love my slippers that keep me nice and toasty.

I have now purchased my fair share of fleeces to wear in the van. These are a great staple for a van life wardrobe, because you can wear them to chill or you can wear them to workout. Their versatility makes them a perfect choice for an already limited wardrobe

These are the kind of item that make me smile when I wear them. They are cozy and they are warm. It’s so nice to have a pair of pjs that I can wear in the winter and hey, if I need to step outside, it’s not a problem.

Mmm who doesn’t love to snuggle up in a nice pair of fuzzy socks? Often, the floor of a van is the coldest part of it. Help your loved one keep their toes warm by getting some nice warm socks.

I used to be someone that thought winter hats were silly. Then, I got older and realized my ears were constantly freezing. Hats are small and lightweight, but they are also so important for heat retention. Try to stick to a neutral color so that they can be worn with almost any outfit.

Some van lifers will splurge for an expensive heating system. However, a lot of them will opt out of that and rely on blankets and layers. You can help by purchasing one of the most popular heaters in the van life community.

Wow, we did not realize how much we would need these until we moved into the van. Our front seat floors get soo dirty and it is frustrating to constantly dust bust them. These removable mats let can be shaken out and will keep the space clean.

If you haven’t heard of Turkish towels, let me tell you why they are so great. These towels repel sand, quickly dry, are very compact, and super absorbent. It’s the only type of towel we use in our van.

I personally believe you can never have too many blankets, but I might have to limit myself in the van. Get a warm blanket that will keep them warm all winter long and remind them of you when they use it.

If you were to ask me what item we use most in the van, then I might have to say the Aeropress. Every single morning has to start with one cup of coffee (or two or three). It’s compact and it makes the very best coffee.

Do you know that the nomad in your life loves smoothies? This is a great thing to have in the van. It is so easy to use, it helps with nutrition, and it is compact. It’s the ultimate van life kitchen appliance.

It can get annoying to turn the oven on and use up propane or electricity. If your loved one is a coffee or tea drinker, they will appreciate this kettle. Dylan uses it every day to make his cup of joe.

These are especially helpful for people who have less storage for kitchen essentials. We use our strainer most times we cook, but we don’t even have any big bowls. We’ve relied on our pot for a mixing bowl. Help those van lifers out and get them these tools.

It’s hard to think of fun recipes to make in a small space. We use this camping cookbook every week to try a fun new recipe. It’s a great way to mix things up in the kitchen. It also helps with inventory management and easy cooking steps for a limited kitchen.

Another great gift for the coffee lover in your life! This is the perfect way to get a caffeine boost. Dylan loves having this Nanopresso around when he wants more than just a french press or pour over.

We love being as sustainable as we can in our van. Bee’s Wrap helps keep your food fresh and you can reuse them over and over again. Get some for your nomadic friend or for yourself!

Similar to the wraps, this helps with our sustainable goals. We love using reusable silicone bags to store snacks, pack sandwiches for hikes, or protect items from water.

Look, if you really don’t know what they need or want, then a gift card is your best option. I’m sure they have a growing list of needs or wants in the van and this will help them get those things.

Chances are the nomad in your life will end up at one or two national parks. This pass costs $80 and lasts for a whole year. Meanwhile, the entrance into one park can be $50. This pass is a game changer. It only lasts for a year, so if they already have one, they will need to renew it at some point anyway.

I think that string lights add ambiance to any situation. They can hang them up in their van to make things more festive or use them outside their van to set up camp. A fun and small addition to any van. Plus, these are solar powered!

Personally, I love playing games. Sadly, our van doesn’t fit a lot of games so we depend on small portable ones. We have a few games in our van that are fun and portable including Exploding Kittens, Settlers of Catan, and Kombio. They’re perfect for a van game night.