I’ve been on the road for just over two months, mostly van-life-ing it in my Honda CRV. Along the way I’ve had a lot of “I’m so glad I brought this!” moments as well as quite a few “Why the F&*k did I pack,” moments.
Here’s a quick list of what I’m glad I brought, wish I left behind, and think I’ll buy in the near future. You can shop items on the list by clicking them. Where possible, I linked to the exact item I use. Amazon, MooseJaw, CamelBak, and Wal-Mart are all good places to grab gear where you can usually find a deal.
Items I Use All the Time
CamelBak
Canon Rebel Camera
Keene hiking shoes
Travel towel(thinner and dries way faster than a regular towel)
Coleman backpacking burner
Inexpensive 2 Camping Pot Set
Set of 3 Mr. Clean Microfiber Cleaning Cloths
Dr. Bronner’s(for cleaning dishes and if no shower access, for cleaning myself)
Wet Ones, Wet Wipes
Lightweight First Aid Kit(my sister makes fun of me, people that have benefitted from it do not)
SmartWool socks(obsessed)
Garmin Forerunner GPS watch
Columbia Jacket(Fleece + Ski Shell)
All my underwear (so nice to have plenty!)
Stupid Things I Packed
Tool kit (though, if you had a “real” van, would probably be helpful)
Socket wrench
File with papers to sort
Too many “cute” clothes
Extra make-up
Things I Should Have Bought/Probably Will Buy
New inflatable sleeping pad (mine deflates overnight and I can’t find the hole!)
Solar Charger
Camping Chair (one that folds down small)
Two smaller stackable durable plastic containers (instead of the one large 27 gallon) one that currently houses my food
Small cooler
WiFi Signal Booster
Maybe: Coleman Two Burner Camp Stove (can cook two items at once and pots are steadier)
Maybe: SPOT GPS Messenger
