Gift Guide | Gifts for Vanlife $50 – $100
Gifts for vanlife can be so hard to find, especially for people on your list that don’t need a lot of stuff. Like people that live in vans! We can help give you tons of ideas for the minimalist on your shopping list with our Holiday Gift Guides. Check out our other gift guides for a wide variety of products and price ranges:
Gifts for Van Lifers Under $25
Ultimate Gifts for Vanlife | $100 – $1000
Whether you’re shopping for a van lifer, a traveler, or an outdoor adventurer, these gifts for vanlife are sure to make someone’s holiday extra special.
And if YOU are a van lifer, traveler, or outdoor adventurer, please share this list with your friends and family. Purchasing through our links will support us, keeping our journey going, and it costs you nothing extra.
We only recommend products that we either personally own, or would be willing to spend our own money on. We would never stand behind a product that we wouldn’t use ourselves.
GIFTS FOR VANlife UNDER $50
French Press
Morning rituals are important, even when you’re on the road. The French Press with Bru-Stop from Planetary Designs is a great gift for everyone. It works with coffee or loose leaf tea, comes in several different sizes, and it’s stainless steel so you don’t have to worry about breaking it while traveling.
Hammock
ENO – Eagles Nest Outfitters SingleNest Lightweight Camping Hammock, Powder Blue/Royal
These Hammocks are great for just hanging out! You can pair it with the strap system for one great gift. Hammocks are one of our Top 10 Favorite Vanlife Accessories!
ENO – Eagles Nest Outfitters Atlas Chroma Hammock Straps, Suspension System, Red/Charcoal
Shovel
You hope you will only need a shovel to go to the bathroom, but a shovel is also great to have in case you get stuck.
Every road tripper should have one. Just in case. The IUNIO folding shovel is multi-purpose and compact.
Leveling Blocks
Finding level ground is one of The Worst Things About Vanlife. But these Leveling Blocks are one of our Top 10 Favorite Accessories and they make our lives so much easier. They’re essential for any nomad sleeping in their vehicle.
First Aid Kit
Hopefully you don’t encounter any issues while on your epic adventure, but it’s best to be prepared. It’s important to have a first aid kit that has a variety of equipment you would need to perform basic first aid. This first aid kit is a great way to make sure you can take care of minor issues on the road.
Jumper Cables
It happens to all of us. We leave a dome light on and suddenly the battery is dead. Make sure you have yourself covered by keeping jumper cables in the van at all times. Look for a set like these on Amazon that are at least 20 feet long, and a heavy gauge.
Even better, check out the Electric Jump Starter in the Gifts Under $100 section.
Tow Straps
Tricky situations call for high quality gear. Tow straps are an essential piece of equipment for anyone who is driving off road, making it one of the best gifts for vanlife.
This set from Rhino USA is a full kit and has everything in it to get you out. Except for the tow vehicle of course!
Propane
A lot of travelers use these 1-pound propane cans for cooking, but they’re not fun to buy. The ability to run a camp stove, portable heater, or portable shower is a great gift!
Hatchet
Any outdoorsy person worth their salt should have a hatchet in their vehicle. This 14″ Camping Hatchet is perfect for tiny living, and it made of forged steel and genuine leather. You can use it to make a pile of firewood and enjoy a nice warm crackling fire for the evening.
Multi-Tool
If you don’t have room for a lot of tools in your tiny home, then you should at least have a multi-tool like this one from Gerber. You can use it for all sorts of projects, and they always come in handy.
Storage Bins
Living in a small space means that organization and compartmentalization are key. These storage bins from Remington are water-tight, stackable, and heavy duty. They won’t break with all of the wear and tear during travel and you can keep all of your gear in one place.
These bins are on our list of our Top 10 Favorite Vanlife Accessories.
Pop-Up Privacy Tent
Whether you’re changing, showering, or going to the bathroom, these pop-up privacy tents are awesome! They fold down to a compact size when not in use and are super lightweight. We like this one because it is 75″ tall, making it easier for taller people to stand up inside while showering.
Personal Water Filter
Any outdoor adventurer should always be aware of hydration. Keeping a compact and easy-to-use water filter like the SimPure Gravity Water Filter Straw on hand is an great option to make sure you never go thirsty and have clean water. It uses gravity to filter your water, so you don’t have to pump it.
Portable Power Bank
Adventuring can require a lot phone power. Whether it’s using maps, looking up trails, or playing music, your bound to need a recharge at some point. Have an Anker Power Core Portable Power Bank charged up and ready to go so that you can keep on keepin’ on.
Van Conversion Book
Aside from blogs, YouTube, and social media, there are very informative books about how to convert a van. Reading a thorough guidebook like this one can help guide the aspiring van lifer on your holiday shopping list through the process of converting their own van.
Hiking Book
There are a lot of great hiking books out there, but in a van, you have to choose only the best to keep with you. A book that is a compilation of “Best Of” hikes is always a good choice. This book had a ton of great hikes all across North America and will help any adventurer feed their wanderlust.
Camping Cookbook
Amazing meals can be had while camping too. From snack foods to gourmet meals, there are a ton of camping cookbooks out there to give every camper dinner ideas. The New Camp Cookbook has some great recipes for fancier fare. And The Great Outdoors: 120 Recipes for Adventure Cooking has a wide range of recipes for every camp cook!
GIFTS FOR VANLIFE UNDER $100
Voited Outdoor Blanket
Every traveler needs a durable, multi-purpose blanket. Outdoor blankets from Voited are the perfect choice because they are super warm, made of rip-stop fabric, and can be worn as a poncho or used as a blanket. It even folds up into a pillow! There are a bunch of super cool designs to choose from too!
Nesting Pots & Pans
Keeping stuff tidy and compact is essential in vanlife. Rather than using regular pots and pans, a set that nests is perfect for tiny living. These are also one of our Top 10 Favorite Vanlife Accessories.
You can find the the Primus Prime Tech Pot Set on Amazon and they are one of the best gifts for vanlife.
Two-Way Radios
Sometimes you end up in a caravan with others and need to communicate between vehicles. Or maybe you and you’re partner are hiking in different areas and need a way to communicate. These Midland 36-Channel Two-Way Radios have a 38-mile radius and should keep you in touch.
Electric Jump Starter
What’s one step better than jumper cables? An Electric Jump Starter can help get you up and running without hving to rely on anyone else for a jump. The GOOLOO 800A Peak 18000mAh SuperSafe Car Jump Starter with USB Quick Charge is a great option.
Shade Shelter
When you’re on the road, you’re bound to get into some hot or rainy weather. A shelter like the Kelty Noah’s Tarp is quick and easy to set up, and you can put it anywhere. Set it up independently or create an awning off of the side of the van. The poles are sold separately here.
Headlamp
Camping means many nights under the stars. A headlamp is a great accessory to have because it allows for hands-free movement and is super small.
The Petzl ACTIK Core Headlamp is a great choice because it is super bright and has a USB-rechargeable battery.
Camping Table
Whether you’re hanging out around the fire or serving up a fancy charcuterie board, a table is a camping essential. Fold-up tables like the Trekology Portable Camping Table come in a few different sizes and break down small for easy storage in a van.
Jet Boil
A Jet Boil is a perfect stove to have around for quick meals. When you don’t need to make a large meal or just need to boil water super fast, this is the stove you need.
Even if you have a regular camp stove, a Jet Boil is a great addition to your camp kitchen.
Omnia Sweden RV Oven
At just over $100, the Omnia Sweden RV Oven is a perfect gift for the nomad chef on your holiday shopping list. Many travelers don’t have an oven in their rigs, but this device enables you to bake on your stove top! From brownies, to bread, to pizza, it can do it all!
Portable Propane Heater
No matter where you travel, you may experience some chilly nights. Keep warm with an indoor-safe portable propane heater like the Mr. Buddy Heater. It’s built-in safety features will ensure you can use it without worry and keep the chills at bay.
Amazon Kindle
When you live in a small space, there’s not a ton of room for books. A Kindle from Amazon is the perfect solution for every traveling bookworm. There are thousands of free books through Amazon Prime, or through your local library.
Camp Chair
When out in nature, it’s nice to be able to sit down and enjoy the peace and quiet in a nice comfy chair. Helinox makes great-quality chairs that are collapsible, compact, and lightweight. They’re perfect for people who live in small spaces!
We wanted a compact chair with a higher back, so we bought the Sunset Helinox Chair. They’re one of our Top 10 Favorite Vanlife Accessories!
National Parks Annual Pass
America’s National Parks are some of the most iconic places in the world. Every adventurer has their bucket list and the perfect gift for them is an annual pass to the National Parks.
Spotify Premium Membership
Going out into the unknown means that you’ll probably loose cell phone service. And if you’re streaming music, you’ll loose your tunes too. Make sure your road trip doesn’t go quiet with a Spotify premium membership, which allows you to download music to your device for when you don’t have service.
There are a ton of gifts for vanlife to choose from within all of our gift guides.
Hopefully you have some great ideas for the outdoors adventurer, traveler, or vanlifer on your holiday shopping list!
If you have any questions about these products, how we use them, or any other gift ideas, please contact us! We always love hearing from you!
Dear Greg and Jess
Thank you very much for your fantastic website. It is amazing that you show people where to start and what steps to take towards their healthy lifestyle – vanlife, outdoor adventure and travel. I hope more people will know about your website and follow your guidance.
Kind regards,
Andrey
Hi Andrey, thanks so much for the kind words! We love living this lifestyle and enjoy sharing it with others!
We have tow straps, jumper cables, and a snow shovel on our list this year!! Love your recs!
Those are definitely good items to have on your wish list! You can never be too prepared to get yourself unstuck!
Hi, Jess and Greg,
This is such an excellent list! Some of them could be nice gifts even if the recipient is not a traveler or someone who lives in a van. I might even include one on my wish list for my next gift exchange lol.
The good thing with Amazon and all those online platforms is we can get what we need from the comfort of our homes. We don’t have to step outside.
I will be looking into the list more carefully and see what I can get my parents for Christmas.
Thanks for this this together. Happy Holidays!
Hi Enrique, thanks so much for the feedback! We love sharing this lifestyle with others and are so excited to hear that the gifts for vanlifers gift guide was helpful to you. Hopefully you get what you want from Santa this year! 😉
Jess & Greg