9 Items that make #Vanlife better!

We’ve been living full time on the road in our 2019 Ram Promaster 2500 which we built ourselves for over a year now. Even though we sacrificed a lot of comforts to move into a vehicle, we’ve found there are a few key items that make vanlife that much more comfortable for us. Would I call these essentials? No, but they are most definitely nice-to-haves and will definitely increase your quality of life.

The best part about this list is they aren’t just for people who live on the road! Anyone can enjoy them no matter what you live in!

Disclaimer: Some of these items are from brands that we have worked with either in the past or currently, but we are not being paid to write this blog. These are items we truly believe in and are tried, tested, and true. These contain affiliate links, which gives us a small commission at no extra cost to you! We also have a bunch of discount codes in BOLD. Cause who doesn’t love saving money?

THE BEST SHEETS IN THE WORLD!

#1 Our Sijo Home bedding set - These are at the top of our list for a reason. We use the TempTune comforter and have different options for bedding including the eucalyptus and french linen sheets. The eucalyptus is amazing at regulating body temperature so whether it’s hot or cold outside, we’re able to keep relatively comfortable. Make sure to use code “meghanandmatt” for 20% off!

#2 Tushy Portable Bidet - There’s a good (and obvious) reason why this is #2. A reality of vanlife is you aren’t going to shower every day so that can get uncomfortable for obvious reasons. You might as well have a clean butthole and this is much more Leave-No-Trace friendly. WARNING: Don’t use it in your composting toilet!

#3 Our Moonshade Portable Awning - This is absolutely one of the most fun parts of our van. Whenever possible we set this up and it takes less than 5 minutes to set up and break down. When it’s packed up it’s small and about the size of a 2 person tent. It looks cool, keeps the sun and rain away from our campsite, and for its price it really stands out. And add in the MoonWall and you’ve got some nice privacy from that annoying neighbor who parked too close to you. Don’t have a van? You can attach it to any SUV, Truck, tree, fence, you name it. Moon offers a variety of anchor points that allows flexibility to attach to whatever surface you may encounter. Guess what, “MeghanandMatt” will save you $30!

#4 Our Voited Travel Blankets - These are a relatively new addition to the van but they’re definitely nice to have! We use them for throw blankets, outdoor picnics, and we plan to bring them on all our flights! Best part about them besides that they’re made of recycled material is that they pack into themselves and function as pillows! Use code “MeghanandMatt” for 10% off your next purchase!

CAN SHAVING GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS?

#5 Leaf Shave Razors - If shaving is something you do, this razor is the one for you. Made from metal and 100% plastic free, this company is all about making a difference in the shaving world. Don’t get hung up on the price. The upfront cost may be a deterrent but once you factor in how cheap the replacement blades are, you’ll be saving boatloads of money in the long run. Get 10% off using code “MeghanandMatt”!

#6 A good towel - A good towel is worth 1,000 words. Or something like that. We’ve used a variety of towels on our travels and really liked using ANACT for our showers and Nomadix for all of our outdoor adventures. They’re both sustainable options and Nomadix has some sweet designs and color options. Both are quick drying which is absolutely essential when you live in a small space.

#7 Reusable Bottles/Containers - We absolutely love our Klean Kanteen Camp Mugs, Water Bottles, and Food Storage containers. They’re sustainable, durable, reliable, and they look good too. We don’t go anywhere without a reusable bottle.

#8 Stasher Bags - Ah yes, you love living on the road and enjoying traveling but how can you pack snacks without running through dozens of plastic baggies? You know those ziplock bags that you use once then throw away and they sit in a landfill for another hundred plus years and some poor bird chokes on it? Congrats, you just killed a bald eagle. I hope you sleep well at night. Or maybe you like to buy your weed in it. Stop that. Tell your dealer to switch to reusable stasher bags and you get a discount just like they do at the grocery store. I bet that will work. Anyways, wow, how’d we get there? Stasher bags are absolutely amazing at storing food whether its hot or cold. Not to mention great for making ramen bombs on backpacking trips.

#9 Beeswrap - while we’re on the topic of saving the world, you can do your part by using Beeswrap wraps for your produce storage. No more struggling to find the lid for that random Tupperware container you can’t wash, we use these Beeswrap wraps to keep our cut produce fresh. They’re easy to use: just cut them to size, wrap the produce, and wash with warm water when you’re done. Once they get past their prime, toss them in the compost!

These are just a few of our favorite items we use on a daily basis that really make our life on the road that much more comfortable or convenient! If you have any questions drop ‘em down below or shoot us an email or DM on Instagram!