Best Van Life Gear at REI
Rounding up what you need to live in a van? This is my favorite van life gear available at REI that I use every day on the road.
When I was packing up my first Sprinter Van in 2016 for full-time van life, I struggled with figuring out what type of van life gear I needed to bring with me on the road. It’s so easy to overpack when you are living in a small space, and if you aren’t using something at least once a week, it’s not worth the precious space it takes up.
Seven years and three Sprinter vans later, I’ve got my van life packing checklist dialed – from cookware to recovery gear, clothing, furniture and more.
While this isn’t always the case, when possible, I like to buy my van life gear at REI. They have a great return policy if something doesn’t work out, and I also get 10% back in the form of Member Rewards every spring. So for you van lifers looking to gear up, in this blog post, I share the best van life gear I’ve bought from REI.
Sponsored by REI Co-op
REI Co-op is my favorite outdoor gear retailer and a long-time supporter of my work here at Bearfoot Theory. Their 1-year return policy for Members is hands-down the best in the industry, and Members also get 10% back on their purchases every year.
This post may contain affiliate links.
Van Life Kitchen Gear
REI has some great staples for cooking at camp including stoves, dishware, camp coffee makers and more. For more recommendations, see my camp cooking essentials checklist.
Eureka Ignite Plus 2-Burner Camp Stove
Even though I have a small induction stove in the van, I prefer to cook outdoors as much as possible to have more cooking space, minimize power consumption, and avoid overpowering food smells in the van.
I’ve had the Eureka Ignite Plus 2-Burner Camp Stove for several years and highly recommend it. It has awesome fine-tune temperature control, is extremely quick to set up, fits two 12″ pans, and easy to clean.
YETI Rambler Mug
An insulated vacuum mug like the YETI Rambler Mug is a must-have van life item for those early mornings on the road. It will keep your coffee hot for hours, prevent it from spilling in your dash, and save you from using disposable cups when getting your morning fix at the gas station.
AeroPress Go Travel Coffee Press
Finding the perfect coffee maker for van life can be a challenge – your traditional coffee maker is probably too bulky and a glass French Press is a recipe for disaster. That’s why I love the AeroPress Go Travel Coffee Press. It’s super compact, lightweight, and easy to use, making it the perfect addition to your van life setup.
The AeroPress Go comes with everything you need to make a delicious cup of coffee, including a scoop, stirrer, and filters, all of which fit neatly inside the press for easy storage. Plus, it’s made from durable materials, so it can withstand the wear and tear of life on the road.
For instructions on how it works, see my detailed Aeropress review.
Coleman Refillable 4.25 lb Propane Tank
Most of the propane tanks you can buy at the grocery store weigh 20 pounds. They are bulky and heavy, and frankly, I don’t love carrying that much propane in my vehicle.
Instead, I use a smaller 4.25 pound Coleman propane tank that I can refill when it runs out. It’s much easier to pack and comes with a 4 foot hose that I use to hook up my camp stove.
Snow Peak Tableware Set
I recently upgraded all of my plastic tableware in my van to this stainless steel Snowpeak Family Tableware Set. It’s a 4-person, 16-piece set that is lightweight, stackable, and cleans very easily. They look so much nicer than my old plastic dishes, and they are safer to eat on too.
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Van Life Furniture and Accessories
I’ve tried a lot of different camp furniture over the years. For van life, I try to find the perfect balance of camp furniture that is comfortable that doesn’t take up too much room. Here are my favorite pieces I’ve bought from REI over the years.
Helinox Sunset Chair
A solid camp chair is a must for van life, and the Helinox Sunset Chair has been our favorite for many years. I love how supportive they are and how the high back allows you to sit back and relax, which is nice compared to some of the chairs out there with lower backs.
At less than 3 ½ pounds, it’s very lightweight and packable. Even when it’s put together, it’s not too bulky and we can store two of them on our bed in chair form. That means we never really need to pack them down when we are moving campsites and our chair is always ready to go.
Chair Alternatives: If the Helinox isn’t for you, there are a few other chairs I really like that I’ll quickly mention. If space is no concern, I also really like the Dometic GO Compact Camp Chair and YETI Trailhead Camp Chair. Get more details on these in my roundup of the best camp chairs.
GCI Outdoor Compact Camp Table
If you planning on doing a bunch of off-grid camping, then most of the campsites you stay at won’t have a picnic table. This GCI Outdoor Compact Camp Table is a cinch to set up, breaks down flat, and gives you a place to put some appetizers and a drink while you enjoy the sunset.
Dometic GO Compact Camp Table
If you’re looking for a larger table surface you can cook on or eat dinner at, I love our Dometic GO Compact Camp Table. It folds in half for easy storage and takes less than 20 seconds to set up. You don’t have to screw any legs in, and it has three different heights. It’s also easy to wipe clean, unlike camp tables that have lots of slats.
CGear Multimats Original Sand-Free Mat
The CGear Multimats Original Sand-Free Mat is a must in my opinion. We have the large size which is 10×10 feet, and it creates a nice patio for our front door. This mat is lightweight and compact compared to a traditional outdoor rug, making it easy to store in your van and it really does wonders for keeping dirt out of my van.
I’ve been using this mat for years, and it’s really stood up against rain, UV rays, my dogs’ claws, and shows little signs of wear and tear.
Rumpl Blanket
I’ve been using Rumpl Blankets since I got my first Sprinter Van back in 2015, and I’m fully convinced it is the best van life blanket out there. The two-person original puffy is very warm and is slightly larger than a queen size.
It spans the width of a Sprinter Van, so you won’t be fighting with your traveling companion for covers. They come in a bunch of vibrant colors, but even better, they are machine washable and the material is perfect for those who have a dog that sheds. The dog hair doesn’t stick and you can quickly give the blanket a good shake outside for a quick clean in between washes.
ENO DoubleNest Hammock
There is a lot of downtime in van life. Why not make your time at camp more comfortable with an ENO DoubleNest Hammock. This two-person hammock is durable, easy to hang with the ENO Atlas Straps, and is a comfy place to snuggle with your dog and a good book.
Van Life Electronics
One of the best things that separates van life from other types of camping is the fact that you have power. Here are some of the electronics I carry in my van that you can get at REI.
EcoFlow RIVER Pro Portable Power Station
If you need some extra power in your van, the EcoFlow RIVER Pro is a compact portable power station that provides a reliable and efficient source of power for van lifers. With 720Wh capacity and multiple charging ports – including USB, USB-C, AC, and DC – you can power everything from your laptop to a fan.
BFT team member Courtney uses the RIVER Pro in her van to charge all electronics and it makes a great backup power source even if you have house batteries. I have one that I use on tent camping trips with friends and at festivals where I’m not recharging my batteries from my van’s engine.
The RIVER Pro is incredibly easy to use and can be charged using solar panels, a cigarette outlet while driving, or a wall outlet. What sets the EcoFlow apart from other power stations is that it can charge from 0-80% in 1 hour if plugged into a wall outlet – so in a pinch, you can easily recharge at a coffee shop in no time!
MPOWERD Luci Portable Solar String Lights
Create better camp ambiance with the MPOWERD Luci Portable Solar String Lights. I love these for stringing up at camp to have nighttime lighting, and the cord tucks into the unit making them super portable and easy to store when not in use. You can charge these string lights via the built-in solar panel or by plugging them into a USB charger.
Van Life Clothing at REI
When it comes to my van life clothing checklist, I look for functional pieces that I can layer depending on the weather. I also want clothing that doesn’t stink after 1 day so I can wear it many times in between washes.
REI Co-op Expandable Packing Cube Set
Packing cubes are an easy way to stay organized when you are living in a van. In my Sprinter Van, Ryan and I each have two of these REI Coop Expandable packing cube sets in different colors for our clothing. Pants go in one large cube, shirts in another. Underwear, bras, and socks go in the small cubes. Get the gist?
Packing cubes mean each time you need to grab a new pair of socks, you aren’t digging through a huge messy duffel bag or drawer. Another big advantage is when you are packing up your van for the first time, the packing cubes help you set limits for the amount of clothes you are going to bring. I like that they have handles so if you are staying with family and friends, you can easily carry them into the house.
Patagonia Nano Puff Jacket
Having a packable, lightweight, yet warm jacket is a must for van life. I’ve worn Patagonia’s Nano Puff jacket for years and love how versatile it is for hiking, lounging at camp, and everyday wear. It packs down super small so it doesn’t take up a ton of room in your van either. Read my full review of the Nano Puff.
Patagonia Capilene Cool Daily Shirts
The Patagonia Capilene Cool Daily Shirts are my favorite for everyday wear and hiking while I’m traveling in my van. They are lightweight, offer sun protection, fold up small, and can be worn several days without washing them. I usually have 6-8 of these with me on any given trip. I prefer the long-sleeve, but they also come in short-sleeve and tank top versions.
Arc’teryx Beta SL Rain Jacket
You never know what kind of weather you’ll get caught in as a van lifer, so having a quality rain jacket that won’t keep you stuck inside your van is a must. I just got this new Arc’teryx Beta SL Rain Jacket. Not only does it have all of the features I look for in a rain jacket like excellent performance, pit zips, an adjustable hood, and pockets, the women’s version only weighs 10.6 ounces. It packs down very small, so I can throw it in a duffel in my garage for a rainy day.
Note: This jacket is available exclusively to REI Co-op Members through 9/30.
Van Life Bathroom & Hygiene Staples
These are items I use in my van for going to the bathroom and maintaining hygiene since I don’t have a shower or permanent toilet in my van.
Cleanwaste Go Anywhere Portable Toilet
This Cleanwaste Go Anywhere Portable Toilet is one of the best toilets for van life if you don’t want to dedicate a bunch of space in your van to a bathroom. It’s a foldable toilet that you can set up inside your van or behind a bush, and it uses a simple wag-bag system to collect the waste. When you’re done, you simply throw the bags into the trash, rather than having to look for a dump to drain your portable toilet.
REI Co-op Quick Dry Multi Towels
No matter what else you pack in your van, quick-dry towels are a must-have piece of van life gear. We have 5 or 6 of them stashed throughout the van in different sizes. We use them to dry dishes, our dog, our bodies, and to stash in our day packs for lake hikes.
They don’t get a funky musty smell like regular towels, and they also fold really small, so they don’t take up a bunch of room like a bulky beach towel.
No Rinse Bathing Wipes
No shower, no problem. I had an indoor shower in my first Sprinter Van, but I found I rarely used it…so I scrapped the indoor shower in my second and third vans.
At least once a week, we find ourselves at a campground with hot showers, and swimming in lakes and rivers in between keeps the dirt at bay. In between, these No Rinse Bathing Wipes are also a good van life staple to have around. They are gentle on your skin while wiping away the dirt and grime, making you feel just fresh enough when you’ve gone a few days without a shower.
Geyser Systems Portable Shower w/ Heater
If you don’t have a permanent shower set up in your van but want the luxury of hot water, look no further than Geyser Systems Portable Shower w/ Heater. BFT contributor Courtney used the Geyser for over a year and loved how versatile and easy to use it is. She wrote a full Geyser Shower review if you want more details.
The Geyser Shower can also be used for washing dishes, rinsing off gear, or bathing your pets.
Van Life Safety Items
There are some essential pieces of recovery gear that you will need to look for elsewhere, but there are a few important safety items you can get at REI that I always recommend you carry.
Garmin InReach Mini 2
One of the best parts of van life is putting your cell phone away and going to areas far away from service. The only issue with that is what if you have an emergency – whether that be a mechanical breakdown or a medical emergency – and your cell phone doesn’t work?
My partner Ryan is a Type 1 Diabetic, so being prepared when we are in the van or hiking is always something that is on my mind. One of our most important pieces of van life gear is a Garmin inReach Mini 2. It allows us to send custom text messages no matter where we are or to call for medical help if we are in a serious situation. It also has a GPS and some helpful navigation tools for when your navigation apps on your phone won’t load.
Gerber E-Tool Folding Spade
Got stuck on the beach? This Gerber E-Tool Folding Spade is going to make it 1000x easier than trying to dig yourself out by hand. This shovel folds down small and is easy to store inside your van. You can also use it to dig a hole when pooping outside if you don’t have a toilet in your van.
Adventure Medical Kits Mountain Series Hiker Medical Kit
Along with the Garmin InReach, having a basic first aid kit in your van is important. The Adventure Medical Kits First Aid Kits are a good place to start with basic meds, blister treatments, and wound dressings.
While these kits probably won’t save your life, it could get you through a pinch until you drive your van back to civilization. In addition, it’s always a good idea to supplement your store-bought first aid kit with anything that you might need for your personal medical needs.
Travel Items
Lastly, here are a couple of travel related things that I always carry with me in my van.
America The Beautiful Annual Park Pass
An America the Beautiful National Park Pass allows you to access to over 2,000 federal recreation sites, including national parks, forests, wildlife refuges, and more, making it an excellent advantage for van lifers who love to explore and spend time in nature.
Additionally, the pass can save you a lot of money in entrance and camping fees, which can add up quickly if you’re visiting multiple parks. The pass is valid for one year, so if you plan to visit 3 or more Parks, this pass is the best deal.
National Geographic Road Atlas Adventure Edition
Google Maps tells you the quickest way to your destination, but if you’re looking to take the scenic route or you don’t want to get lost when you don’t have service, it’s nice to have a paper atlas in your van. I really like the Benchmark Atlases for individual states or the National Geographic Road Atlas for road trips spanning the country.
More Van Life Gear
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What are your favorite van life gear must-haves? Or what questions do you have about van gear? Leave a comment below and let us know!
