How to Live in Your Van
Gear tips from a couple that’s perfected the art of road life
For Brianna Madia, #vanlife is not about the van, or the Instagram photos, or the custom builds— it’s about living outside. She and her husband Keith moved into their 1990 Ford E350 (affectionately called “Bertha”) over a year ago and now spend their time working from the road and exploring the American West.
They've made some minor customizations to Bertha but didn't go overboard. “I see people doing months-long van build-outs, spending a fortune, and it’s totally unnecessary,” she says.
Here's the gear they use to keep it simple.
Yakima SkyBox 21 Cargo Box ($600)
This was a huge game changer for storing all of our climbing and mountain biking gear. Before the SkyBox, we had to transfer all the gear from our bed to the front seat before we went to sleep. Now we can keep it organized in separate backpacks in the SkyBox which locks, so we don’t have to worry about it getting stolen.
Garmin inReach Explorer+ GPS ($400)
We spend half of every week out of cell service, usually in slot canyons. The inReach is a text messenger and SOS device that provides a lot of peace of mind for us and our families when we're off-the-grid.
Hydro Flask Food Flasks ($30)
We don’t have a fridge, but these things will keep yogurt and fruit cold for two days. They also keep leftovers warm in colder months.
Rumpl Puffy Throw Blanket ($100)
It’s oddly expensive, and I scoffed at it at first, but this blanket is actually perfect for sleeping in the desert, where it starts off too hot for a sleeping bag, but gets chilly at 3 a.m. It’s also great for wrapping around your shoulders and staring off into the distance for the perfect #vanlife Instagram photo.
Yakima LoadWarrior Rack ($300)
If you have the space on top of your van, adding extra roof storage is the bee’s knees. We use this basket-style rack to strap down our off-road jack and shovel for hard times, and also for things like our Oru kayaks, which don’t fit inside the roof box.
Coleman Classic Camp Stove ($70)
We met a guy who told us he has had the same Coleman camp stove for 43 years. Apparently, these things never die. Now we're personally going for 44 years.
REI Co-op Camp Roll Table ($65)
We used to put our Coleman stove on top of plastic food bins and sit in the dirt while we made all our meals. We recently decided to splurge for an actual table and sit in chairs like normal people.
Snow Peak Folding Coffee Pour Over Brewer ($30)
This little folding piece of metal makes the best cups of coffee ever.
