Shopping for someone who lives the van life? We’ve got you covered.
The holidays are coming up fast, and if you’ve got a friend or family member who’s out there living the van life (or at least dreaming about it), we’ve pulled together a list of gift ideas that’ll actually get used.
This isn’t some generic ‘top 10 camping gear’ roundup. We reached out to our team here at Geotrek (a bunch of experienced van lifers ourselves) and polled our Facebook community of 579 van owners to find out what they’d actually want to find under the tree, and what’s genuinely worth having on the road.
Kitchen & Cooking Gear
1. Stanley 14-Piece Wildfare Go Cook Set ($45)
Every square inch counts in a van, and this 14-piece cookset gets it. The whole thing nests together. Open the 1.65-quart saucepan and you’ll find two 16-ounce bowls tucked inside. The spatula and sporks go from compact to full-sized, and the cutting boards double as trivets. Works on induction, propane, gas, whatever you’ve got.
Why van lifers love it: Packs small. Works on any heat source. Lasts forever.
2. Bodum Gooseneck Electric Kettle ($40)
A simple electric kettle is one of the most efficient ways to heat water in a van. Need hot water for coffee, tea, instant oatmeal, or rehydrating a meal? Plug it in, press go, and you’ve got boiling water in a couple minutes. The gooseneck spout gives you precision pouring for pour-over coffee, which is clutch when you’re chasing that perfect morning cup at 8,000 feet.
Why van lifers love it: Fast, efficient, doesn’t heat up the whole van.
3. Bialetti Moka Express ($50)
The Moka Express has been making stovetop espresso since 1933. Fill the bottom with water, add your grounds, set it on your cooktop, and listen for the gurgle. Our advice: get a bigger size than you think you need. If it’s too small, you’ll be running it twice every morning. Note: if you’re using an induction cooktop, you’ll need the Bialetti induction adapter plate.
Why van lifers love it: Real espresso, no electricity required (works on any stovetop), iconic design.
4. Cuisinart Air Fryer Toaster Oven ($220)
This is the ultimate van kitchen appliance. You can cook a steak, bake cookies, air fry vegetables, reheat takeout, basically anything. The air fryer function means crispy food without a deep fryer mess. And cleanup? Line it with aluminum foil, cook your meal, toss the foil. Done.
Why van lifers love it: One appliance does everything. Easy cleanup. Actually makes cooking in a van enjoyable.
Comfort & Coziness
5. Rumpl Original Puffy Blanket (2-Person) ($200)
This one came up constantly in our Facebook poll. The Rumpl packs down smaller than you’d expect for a queen-sized blanket, and it’s made from recycled materials with a water-resistant ripstop shell. Warm enough down to about 45°F, and it’s got a cape clip so you can wear it hands-free around camp.
Why van lifers love it: Packs small. Warm. Weather-resistant. Looks good in every van photo.
6. Heartprint Threads Queen Blanket ($135)
If you’ve seen our van photos on the Geotrek website, you’ve probably noticed these blankets. We get questions about them all the time. They’re handcrafted in Ecuador from 100% acrylic, super soft, and they’ve got these beautiful mountain and nature patterns that just fit the van life aesthetic. Plus, for every blanket sold, they donate one to someone in need.
Why van lifers love it: Comfortable. Beautiful patterns. Good vibes.
Shop Heartprint Blanket
7. Nomadix Quick-Dry Towel ($40)
Home towels are bulky and take forever to dry. Nomadix towels are the opposite: lightweight, quick-drying, antimicrobial, and they pack down to almost nothing. Great for showers, beach days, hot springs, whatever. Made from recycled plastic bottles, too.
Why van lifers love it: Dries fast. Doesn’t get funky. Tiny when packed.
Shop Nomadix Quick Dry Towel
8. Kelty Two Person Loveseat ($130)
Another Facebook favorite. This two-person camping chair sits low to the ground (about 13 inches), which means you’re not blocking anyone’s view at a show or towering over the campfire. The 600D polyester is dog-claw-proof, there are insulated cup holders big enough for a 40oz Hydroflask, and the carry wrap doubles as a dog mat. Several people mentioned their dog immediately claimed it as their personal throne.
Why van lifers love it: Comfy for two. Low profile. Built like a tank.
Shop Kelty Loveseat
On-the-Road Gear
9. Geotrek Leveling Blocks ($50)
Sleeping on an angle is miserable. These leveling blocks help you get your van flat when you’re parked on uneven ground. Simple, effective, and they pack down easy. Pick these up at our shop in Boulder.
Why van lifers love it: Solves a real problem. Everyone needs these.
Available in-store at Geotrek HQ, Boulder
10. Gregory Storage Bins ($33)
These packable storage bins (or duffel bags, depending on size) help you maximize cabinet space. Stuff your clothes in, compress them down, and suddenly you’ve got room for more gear. They’re made from durable 900-denier ripstop polyester with a water-resistant coating. Trevor grabbed a set off Amazon and uses them constantly.
Why van lifers love it: Compresses clothes. Makes cabinet space actually usable.
Shop Gregory Storage Bins
11. Geotrek Storage Bags (Set of 3) ($200)
Extra pockets mean extra places to stash small gear. Especially popular with our rock climbing customers who have a ton of little items that need homes. Keeps things organized and easy to find.
Why van lifers love it: Turns unused space into storage.
Available in-store at Geotrek HQ, Boulder
12. Geotrek Ski Box ($1,250)
This is one of the pricier items on the list, but if someone on your list is an avid skier or snowboarder, it’s worth it. These ski boxes mount to the back doors of any Sprinter and give you exterior storage without taking up interior space. We install them here at our shop in Boulder.
Why van lifers love it: Exterior storage without a roof rack. Keeps interior space clear.
Available in-store at Geotrek HQ, Boulder
Van Life Essentials
13. Camco TastePure RV Water Filter ($20)
This little filter screws onto the hose spigot when you’re filling up your fresh water tank. It filters out sediment, chlorine, and bad tastes before the water even gets into your tank. We offer a filter that goes on your faucet in our Geotrek builds, but filtering the water twice is even better. Simple, cheap, and makes a real difference.
Why van lifers love it: Clean water. Dead simple to use. Super affordable.
14. Husky Rechargeable Work Light ($20)
These magnetic LED work lights from Home Depot are shockingly useful. Pop them anywhere on the exterior of your van (the magnets stick to metal) and point them wherever you need light. Rechargeable, super bright, and cheap enough that losing one isn’t the end of the world.
Why van lifers love it: Magnetic mount. Bright. Cheap. Works anywhere.
15. NOCO Boost Jump Starter ($100)
This is one of those things you hope you never need, but you’ll be so glad you have it when you do. The NOCO Boost packs enough lithium power to jump your starter battery if it dies. It also works as a backup power bank for phones and devices, and it’s got a built-in LED flashlight. Essential for any off-road camper van.
Why van lifers love it: Peace of mind. Compact. Multiple uses.
16. Trelino Composting Toilet ($600)
Okay, we have to talk about this. Everybody poops, and in a van, you need somewhere to go. Composting toilets are our preferred option. They separate liquids from solids, which keeps the smell way down and makes cleanup easier than chemical toilets. Trelino makes quality units in different sizes. The Evo L is what we typically use in Geotrek builds
Why van lifers love it: No chemicals. No smell (really). Easy to clean.
Tech & Connectivity
17. Sonos Move Bluetooth Speaker ($449)
Bluetooth speakers are way simpler than building out some elaborate sound system in your rig. The Sonos Move 2 sounds incredible, runs for up to 24 hours on a charge, and it’s IP56 rated for dust and water resistance. Works on WiFi at home and switches to Bluetooth when you’re out in the wild.
Why van lifers love it: Great sound. Long battery. Built tough.
Shop Sonos Bluetooth Speaker
18. Starlink Mini ($300)
The Starlink Mini is the most portable version of SpaceX’s satellite internet system. It fits in a backpack, uses about 25-40 watts, and delivers 100+ Mbps download speeds basically anywhere on the planet. Setup is literally pull it out, plug it in, wait a few minutes. For remote workers or anyone who needs reliable internet off-grid, this is it.
Why van lifers love it: Internet anywhere. Simple setup. Actually works in the middle of nowhere.
Shop Starlink Mini
Subscriptions & Memberships
These last few are perfect stocking stuffers for the van lifer who already has everything. No physical clutter, just access to incredible experiences.
19. America the Beautiful National Parks Pass ($80)
This annual pass covers entrance fees at over 2,000 federal recreation sites, including all the national parks. One pass gets you and all passengers in your vehicle into any park that charges an entrance fee. If your van lifer friend is hitting even two or three parks this year, they’ll get way more than $80 worth of value out of it.
Why van lifers love it: One pass, all the parks.
20. onX Offroad App Subscription ($100/year)
This is a go-to for finding dispersed camping on BLM land. The app shows public vs. private land boundaries, trails, campgrounds, and lets you download maps for offline use. You can filter by what kind of vehicle access is allowed and see exactly where you’re legally allowed to camp for free.
Why van lifers love it: Find legal free camping spots. Works offline. Shows who owns what land.
21. Harvest Hosts Membership ($100/year)
Harvest Hosts is like Airbnb for van camping. You pay an annual membership, and then you get unlimited free overnight stays at thousands of locations across the US and Canada: wineries, breweries, farms, museums, golf courses. Instead of paying a camping fee, you support the host by buying a bottle of wine or some farm-fresh eggs.
Why van lifers love it: Unique stays. Safe parking. Support local businesses.
Geotrek Merch
22. Geotrek Bamboo T-Shirt ($30)
Our newest t-shirts are made from bamboo fiber. Super soft, like Lululemon-quality fabric. Very on-brand for Geotrek since we use a lot of bamboo materials in our van builds. These are only available here at our shop in Boulder, so if you want to grab one as a gift, you’ll have to make the trip to headquarters.
Why van lifers love it: Crazy comfortable. Exclusive.
Available in-store at Geotrek HQ, Boulder
That’s a Wrap
Van life is all about doing more with less, and the best gifts are the ones that earn their space in a rig.
Got questions about any of these? Drop us a message. And if you’re local to Boulder, come by the shop. We’d love to meet you.
Happy holidays from the Geotrek crew.
