Van life gifts ideas for your nomadic family and friends. What do you buy for a person who is travelling and who lives in a tiny space? When living in a small space like a van or RV something that is useful or needed is always the best gift option.
In my experience when living small everything needs to have a place to call home. If something new is brought into my space then something old goes out. This is basically how I have been living for the last 2 1/2 years in my Promaster van.
Everyone is different in what they feel is a necessity however small spaces can only hold so many items. Living in a van or RV usually requires practical gifts. I have come up with 8 easy vanlife gifts that I feel would be welcomed by anyone living a nomadic life.
My Top 10 Van Life Gifts
1. Gas Gift Cards
If you are a person who loves to travel and explore new places gas is used in abundance. It can be one of the largest items when budgeting for this lifestyle. A gas card is an easy and always appreciated gift for your family member or friend travelling in their van or RV.
2. Entry Fees to Parks
Entry fees or passes for US National Parks, State Parks, Canadian Federal Parks or Provincial Parks would be a welcome gift in my opinion. Most van travellers enjoy exploring and camping in these areas. A yearly or monthly pass would be enjoyed by an adventurous traveller on your list.
3. Gift Cards for Grocery Stores
Groceries are always needed and the prices are going up. A gift card to your family member or friend would be definitely used. Even if they do not need help with groceries this is an easy way to support a vanlife traveller. I often use a gift card for something I would not normally buy. Give a gift of something special they can choose for themselves.
4. Subscriptions
As a full time van traveller I often spend too much time watching shows on my phone or tablet. It is a way to relax, kill some time, spend a rainy day or just because you enjoy a great show or movie. A monthly or yearly subscription to Netflix, Prime, Acorn, Discovery + or any other streaming platform will most certainly be used and enjoyed.
An audible subscription is another idea for that person on your list who loves to listen to audio books or podcasts. A lovely gift and most likely much appreciated. I love my audio books!
More Van Life Gifts
5. New Appliances
Just like living in a sticks and bricks home, appliances break down or there is a new item that becomes a new necessity. Some suggestions would be a car vacuum, collaspible kettle (mine just broke recently), new pots, a one slice small toaster, air fryer or the tiny waffle maker.
One caveat is to check in with the person on your list to see what they need or indeed want a new appliance. When living small there is only so much space to store these kind of items.
6. USB Chargeable Fan
Living in a van one is close to the elements. Weather is often a big factor in where I go and how long I stay in an area. It is often too hot or too cold. A fan that can be charged on a usb plug is another must have on my list for those hot days.
More Personal Van Life Gifts
7. Bedding
When I first started living in my van I had 1 fitted sheet for my mattress and a top sheet I used as a blanket on those warmer nights. I did finally buy a second fitted sheet after spilling my coffee all over my bed, which I was using as my table at the time. I now have a proper table.
Showering or doing laundry every few weeks and being too tired to wash my feet before bed sometimes leaves me climbing into a “not so clean” bed sheet. A spare fitted sheet would be more than welcome as a van life gift. They can be easily tucked away and will come in handy at some point.
Another caveat, often a van or RV bed is not regular size so check with the person on your list to get proper measurements of their mattress.
8. Quick Dry Towels and Head Wraps
It is lovely to go into a bathroom and pull out a big fluffy towel but in a van these nice big towels are not always practical. A thick towel can take forever to dry in a van.
A quality quick dry Turkish cotton towel is a must in my opinion. They feel good, easily dry me off after a shower and will dry quickly. I love my head wrap as well, it soaks up the water from my hair and is easy to dry and store away. A fairly inexpensive vanlife gift to give to your loved one who is off travelling.
Less Expensive Van Life Gifts
9. Warm Socks or Slippers
A warm pair of slippers are wonderful when waking up to a cold van floor. For those extra cold nights when my feet just can’t get warm I love a great pair of fluffy socks. I have a few pairs but they are well worn and don’t come fully clean anymore. A new pair would be a wonderful van life gifts idea.
I have a pair of slip on slippers which are perfect for vanlife and they have seen better days as well. I am sure I am not alone in wanting these as gifts in a nomadic lifestyle..
10. Good Thermal Travel Mug
A great travel mug that will keep my tea or coffee warm is always a welcome gift. One with a secure lid is a must, as I can attest with my spilt coffee episode.
These are my 10 van life gifts ideas for Christmas or any special occasion where you want to buy the nomadic person in your life a present. Everyone has different ideas of what they may want or need. I think these are all very practical items and things that will be enjoyed and used every day in a van or RV lifestyle.