Full-Time Van Life Packing List

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When I first had the notion that I wanted to live out of a van, I was overwhelmed thinking about how to pack an entire life and lifestyle into a van to survive life on the road and all four seasons. What do I need? What items will I have to give up? How many clothes should I bring? Your own packing list will be very dependent on the type of life you plan on leading on the road as well as where you plan on traveling. In this article I’ll break down exactly what I carry with me in Venus.

Clothes

Disclaimer: I carry more clothes than the average Vanlifer. This is because I can, gosh darnit!

I am a solo traveler which means that all my storage can be for whatever I please. I also don’t carry any kind of outdoor gear such as climbing equipment, bikes, or skis, so I have even more storage for whatever I please. Living minimalistically and living in a van means you have to choose what is important to you. For me, expressing myself though my clothes and my style is something that is important. You’ll also have to think about what you will be doing while traveling. I knew that I would be doing everything from hiking and camping to working and going out in the city with my friends. As such I have a variety of clothes that double in their usage. I have:

7 t-shirts, 3 tank-tops, and 5 long-sleeve shirts (a mixture of outdoor shirts and regular shirts)
6 pairs of leggings, 3 pairs of jeans, 3 pairs of shorts, 2 pairs of dress pants, and 2 skirts
3 dressier shirts and two formal dresses (I have 4 weddings I’m attending this year alone)
Two pajama sets – one for summer and a heavier set for winter
3 sweaters, 2 sweatshirts, 2 fleeces, 1 vest, 1 athletic zip-up
1 jean jacket, 1 (faux) leather jacket, 1 rain coat
1 puffer jacket and 1 outer jacket shell
2 bathing suits, 4 bras, and enough socks and underwear for 2 weeks
Hiking boots, running shoes, 2 pairs of Converse, 3 pairs of dress shoes, shower shoes, snow boots, and slippers

Here’s a shameless homage to my favorite pair of pink pants that have been with me all over the country.

All the clothes I wear for an entire year through all four seasons fit into two storage containers.

Could I cut down more? Sure. But I don’t have to, so I won’t!

Kitchen

What type of food you’ll be cooking will determine how much gear you bring with you. In general I carry the kitchen basics.

Silverware set (4 knives, forks, and spoons) and knife set (3 different types of knives)
Can opener, bottle opener, scissors
Mixing bowls, measuring cups, and Tupperware containers for food storage
Spatula, mixing spoons, grill spatula
A frying pan, a small pot, and a larger pot with lids
Cutting board and cast iron skillet
Plate set (4 plates and 4 bowls)
2 coffee mugs and a French press
Coleman two-burner stove

Camping

Thermal sleeping bag, four-person tent, and a hammock
Hydration backpack and extra water bottles
Mosquito net for the back door of the van
2 folding chairs and a folding table
Lanterns, flashlights, and headlamps
Matches and a fire extinguisher
Cooking grate for campfire cooking
Rope and an axe for cutting wood

Toiletries

Shampoo, conditioner, face wash, body wash, razors
Face lotion, body lotion, deodorant, sunscreen
Feminine care products and makeup
Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, mouthwash
Baby wipes (great for EVERYTHING)
Bug spray, aloe vera gel, band-aids, basic first aid kit
Cold medicine, Ibuprofen, Emergen-C, Tums, cough drops, and any meds you might need

Automotive Essentials

The last thing you want is to be stranded on the side of the road because you ran out of coolant or DEF. I carry a few basics with me to always be prepared.

DEF fluid (this needs to be replaced every 5,000 miles)
Coolant
Windshield washer fluid (especially in the summer in peak bug season you’ll go through a LOT of this while driving) as well as Windex to clean off your windshield when the fluid just isn’t cutting it
Jumper cables and a trickle charger (this is a way to charge your solar batteries if you’re not in sunny weather)
Extendable windshield scraper for ice and snow