Six years in my van taught me one thing about stuff. If it doesn't get used every week, it doesn't stay. There's no room for clutter in a house on wheels with limited storage.
So this list is what lives in my van right now.
My name is Suzanne. I'm into two decades of slow nomad life. Many years with the backpack. Many years at sea. The campervan has been my home base for six years now. I mostly navigate between Spain, Portugal, Morocco and the Canary Islands, going with the seasons. And occasionally I exchange the van for a trail or a sail. Sometimes you also find me on the longer trails together with my dog.
Updated October 2026.
My quick picks for van life gifts
Small and useful
A shampoo bar, a Kula Cloth, USB Christmas lights and a nice mug.
For the van kitchen
A Bo Camp kettle, a masala dabba, the Omnia oven and a salt and pepper grinder.
Warm and cosy
woollen socks, a woollen beanie, slippers or a natural linen bed cover.
Bigger gifts
A Kildwick compost toilet, a Starlink Mini, a Garmin inReach Mini 2 and a mini projector.
Not a thing at all
A week on the road as road buddy, or something for the diesel fund.
Small van life gifts that find a spot
As vanlifers we like small things. We only have so much space to put them. I'm still driving around with a rather big straw mat I bought in Morocco for 50 dirham. It earned its place and I'm using it. But it's maybe not the smartest choice.
These small useful items are much more likely to find a spot in the van.
A shampoo bar. I have the same one for over a year now. They last and come without plastic fantastic. Perfect for washing in the sea or a river.
A Kula Cloth. I have one. It's a pee cloth that clips to the outside of your backpack. Handy for every woman who hikes, camps, sails or lives in a van.
A Culo Clean travel bidet. I have this one too. It turns any plastic bottle into a bidet. Less toilet paper to carry and less waste.
A titanium or wooden spork is a spoon and fork in one. I use mine more for hiking, really. Sea to Summit makes nice ones.
USB Christmas lights. A string of LED lights is always hanging in my campervan. It brings so much ambience. It was a present from my mum and it wasn't easy to find at the time. She scouted for it. It's not on batteries or anything. You just plug it into a USB port. It doesn't take much power at all.
A nice mug for the morning tea or coffee with a view.
Reusable produce bags, a cup and a straw. So you never have to take plastic at the market or the café.
Reusable tea bags for your own herbal mixes.
A small notebook for routes, road dreams and the expenses nobody wants to count.
A good map. If someone is planning to go somewhere you know about, a nice map is really cool.
Gifts for the van kitchen
Cooking in the van can be such a joy. It adds so much to the experience.
A good cooking pot and pan. We can only have one or two, so it better be a good one.
A nice tea kettle. Most of us don't have the power for an electric kettle, so we boil our water on the stove. My mum gave me my Bo Camp kettle and I use it multiple times a day.
A nice teapot or teacup. Also really cool.
A masala dabba. I have one, of course. It's the round Indian spice tin with little cups inside. All your spices in one tin with one lid to lift. Mine has a double layer for whole cinnamon sticks, leaves and nutmeg from my travels.
A nice salt and pepper grinder.
A mortar and pestle, or a good grinder for coffee and spices. The Rubitec hand grinder needs no batteries or power. I have had mine for many years. I have one for the spices and one for the coffee.
The Omnia stovetop oven. It sits on your gas stove and bakes bread, cake and casseroles. No real oven needed.
A nice cutting board that you use for every meal.
A nice coffee maker for the morning cup. That's also really nice to have.
Really good quality spices or herbs. Loose ones, so you can mix your own.
Water and washing
A Maunawai water filter. I tried out many and my favourite for years is Maunawai. It's a small family business. They have a hiking edition but also a small one to fix in the van. It turns any water into yummy healthy water. And you never have to buy water and create waste. Here is my full review.
A good bottle to go with it. A titanium bottle or a Tritan one lasts for years. A stainless steel bottle is also nice.
A reef-safe sunscreen. Mineral based, for the ocean we swim in.
A menstrual cup. It takes almost no space and there's no waste.
Warm clothes and bedding for van life
Nice warm woollen socks. Your feet will thank you on cold mornings.
A nice woollen beanie. Super useful.
A good pair of slippers. Also very useful.
A nice warm sweater. We only wear one or two different ones, so it's nice to have a nice one.
A good pair of sweatpants. Also very nice.
A nice bed cover. We probably have only one. Linen or cotton in natural fibres is amazing.
Gifts for cosy evenings in the van
Two BoCamp camp chairs. My parents got me these after they vanlifed for a month with me. I love them. And when friends visit, they have a comfy seat too.
A mini projector for movie nights in the desert and rainy days parked up. I have one.
Nice little games. They can be really cool for the evenings. You can find them on Etsy.
A Kobo Clara e-reader. It has a backlight, so you don't need an extra light to read in the van.
One really nice towel. We probably only have one, or a beach towel. So it better be a nice one.
A poncho towel. I have one and it's really nice. The handmade ones on Etsy are beautiful.
A yoga mat. You're in the most beautiful places. Great to get the yoga practice going.
A good head torch. For vanlife I recommend the Decathlon head torch. The Mactronic I recommend more for hiking, because it's much lighter. But it needs to recharge more often.
A good first aid kit, a Food for Free pocket guide for foraging, and a real paper book. Here are my favourite reads.
Gifts for vanlife with a dog
Is there a dog in the van? Then a good dog pillow and a good drinking bowl are really nice gifts. They come back every day. Read how my dog did on the Fisherman’s Trail.
Bigger van life gifts
These are the big upgrades. If you go big, talk to your vanlifer first or let them choose the model.
A bicycle or a surfboard
If the van allows, it's really amazing to have a bicycle or a surfboard.
A compost toilet
I have the Kildwick Hydro in my van. Here is my full review. Other good ones for a van are the Boxio, Trelino, Separett and Cuddy. The Trobolo is a solid one too, but it didn't fit my van. I compare them all in my compost toilets post.
A Starlink Mini
I have a Starlink Mini. It means I can work from almost anywhere the van goes. You can switch the plan on and off every month. With my link you get a free month.
A Garmin inReach Mini 2
I've had the inReach Mini for many, many years now. It works fine. Most important is that you can be found in case it's needed. You can check the weather with it too. It's also a gift for the people at home, because they can follow your route. Here is my full review.
What do you give a vanlifer who has everything?
Often the best gift for a vanlifer isn't a thing at all.
Be the road buddy and come along for a week. Drive together to the next stop and cook together in the van.
Something for the diesel fund. An envelope for the next leg is more useful than almost any object. We're always saving for the next ferry, the next border or the next mountain pass.
Come visit. Vanlife can get lonely. A few days of company where we're parked is a real gift.
Words of encouragement. Most family and friends don't quite understand this life. Saying you respect the choice means a lot.
Something you made. A spice mix you blended yourself. A bread delivered to the van. Nobody can buy that.
An online course in a skill they've been wanting to learn. Try Udemy, Coursera or Skillshare.
A gift card, if you're not sure. REI in the US. Bever or Decathlon in Europe.
And buy local first. Second-hand before new. Etsy for handmade. Here's why that matters.
Wrap it simple too. I use an old newspaper or a tea towel with a piece of string. More ideas here.
For the vanlifer who wants to go further
Going to Morocco with the van? I made a guide with all my spots on one map. Wild camps, surf spots and desert hot springs. It's out now.
Is your vanlifer also curious about sailing? Ocean Nomads is a global eco-adventure community. It's for people who want to live a little wilder, explore a little further, and do it with good people. Email ahoy@oceannomads.co for a gift card.
FAQ: gifts for vanlifers
What is the best gift for a vanlifer?
Something small and useful. If it doesn't get used every week, it doesn't stay. In my van that's my Bo Camp kettle, my masala dabba, my USB Christmas lights and my shampoo bar. For a bigger gift, think of a compost toilet or a Starlink Mini.
What are good small van life gifts?
A shampoo bar, a Kula Cloth, a spork, USB Christmas lights, a nice mug or a good map. Small things are much more likely to find a spot in the van.
What do you give a vanlifer who has everything?
Something that isn't a thing. Come along as road buddy for a week, or put something in the diesel fund. A visit where they're parked is a real gift too.
What is a good Christmas gift for a vanlifer?
USB Christmas lights. They bring so much ambience in a van and don't take much power at all. A nice tea kettle and a mug go well with them.
What should you not give a vanlifer?
Big decorative things. There's no room for clutter in a house on wheels. Gear on batteries that can't charge by USB is annoying too. When in doubt, ask.
What is the best compost toilet for a campervan?
I use the Kildwick Hydro. The Boxio, Trelino, Separett and Cuddy are good ones too. I compare them all in my compost toilets post.
What is a good van life gift for him or her?
Think about what they use every day. Warm woollen socks, a nice sweater, a good head torch or a nice mug work for anyone. For women who hike or camp, a Kula Cloth is really handy.
What are good campervan gift ideas on a small budget?
A shampoo bar, woollen socks, a good map, reusable tea bags or USB Christmas lights. Small things that get used every week.
Stay a little wilder.
With love, Suzanne
Wild at heart? Let's be friends.
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Read next
Gifts for hikers: gift ideas from 2,500 km on foot
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Best compost toilets for vanlife, campers and boats
Vanlife in Morocco with a dogBlack Friday outdoor deals, the conscious guide
All my vanlife storiesWatch on YouTube
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