PRACTICAL STUFF / BEFORE YOU GO
The big vanlife packing list.
Everything I packed, considered, forgot, added later or discovered was useful after actually living on the road.
This started as my own checklist for several months through Europe. It has since become considerably less reasonable.
218 things. 9 categories. You probably don’t need all of them.
Take what fits. Ignore what doesn’t.
This is my actual long-trip list, not a minimalist weekend checklist.
Personal list
Built from what I genuinely travel with.
Long-trip biased
Several months on the road needs more than two T-shirts and optimism.
Fitness-heavy
Apparently a 32 kg kettlebell counts as luggage in my world.
Jump to a section
01 — Documents, money & admin
The boring things you really don’t want to discover are missing once you’re already three countries away.
Documents
☐ Passport
☐ ID card
☐ Driver’s license
☐ International driving permit (if needed)
☐ Vehicle registration
☐ Vehicle insurance
☐ Breakdown cover
☐ Health insurance card
☐ Travel insurance
☐ Prescriptions + copies
☐ Emergency contacts (printed)
☐ Booking confirmations
☐ Ferry tickets
☐ Copies of all documents (printed + digital)
☐ Backup USB / SSD
Money
☐ Debit card
☐ Credit card
☐ Backup card
☐ Cash (EUR)
☐ Cash (GBP)
☐ Coin pouch
☐ Emergency hidden cash
02 — Van, safety & security
The things you hope you won’t need. Which is exactly why they should already be in the van.
Roadside & recovery
☐ Reflective vest
☐ Warning triangle
☐ Spare key
☐ Tyre inflator
☐ Tyre-pressure gauge
☐ Jump starter
☐ Jumper cables
☐ Tow rope / tow strap
☐ Spare wheel
☐ Jack
☐ Wheel wrench / wheel-nut key
☐ Tyre sealant / repair kit
☐ Traction boards / grip mats
☐ Folding shovel
☐ Wheel chocks
☐ Work gloves
☐ Ice scraper
Tools & spares
☐ Toolkit
☐ Socket / bit set
☐ Adjustable wrench
☐ Pliers
☐ Multitool
☐ Multimeter
☐ Duct tape
☐ Electrical tape
☐ Zip ties
☐ Hose clamps
☐ Spare fuses
☐ Spare bulbs
☐ Spare engine oil
☐ Coolant
☐ Washer fluid
☐ Funnel
☐ WD-40
☐ Sealant / Sikaflex
☐ Spare wire / connectors
☐ Torch / headlamp
☐ Spare wiper blades
Security & fire safety
☐ Steering-wheel lock
☐ Padlocks
☐ Cable lock
☐ Hidden storage pouch
☐ Tracker / AirTag
☐ Smoke alarm
☐ CO alarm
☐ Fire extinguisher
☐ Fire blanket
03 — Clothes, footwear & laundry
Enough to cope with weather changes, training, beach days and the occasional reminder that everything eventually needs washing.
Clothing
☐ T-shirts
☐ Long-sleeve tops
☐ Hoodies / sweaters
☐ Lightweight jacket
☐ Waterproof jacket
☐ Warm jacket
☐ Trousers / jeans
☐ Shorts
☐ Training shorts
☐ Joggers / comfortable trousers
☐ Underwear
☐ Socks
☐ Warm socks
☐ Sleepwear
☐ Swimwear
☐ Base layers
☐ Cap / sun hat
☐ Beanie
☐ Gloves
☐ Belt
Footwear
☐ Everyday trainers
☐ Gym shoes
☐ Running shoes
☐ Walking / hiking shoes
☐ Sandals / flip-flops
☐ Beach / water shoes
Laundry
☐ Laundry bag
☐ Detergent
☐ Stain remover
☐ Laundry pods / sheets
☐ Pegs
☐ Small drying line
☐ Mesh wash bags
☐ Coin pouch for laundromats
☐ Foldable laundry basket
☐ Quick-dry towel for damp clothes / gear
04 — Sleep, comfort & hygiene
The things that turn a van from transport into somewhere you can actually live.
Sleep
☐ Mattress
☐ Mattress protector
☐ Fitted sheet
☐ Duvet / sleeping bag
☐ Pillow
☐ Spare bedding
☐ Blanket
☐ Blackout curtains / blinds
☐ Eye mask
☐ Earplugs
☐ Hot-water bottle
☐ Small bedside light
Hygiene
☐ Toiletry bag
☐ Toothbrush
☐ Toothpaste
☐ Floss
☐ Shampoo
☐ Shower gel / soap
☐ Deodorant
☐ Razor / trimmer
☐ Hair products
☐ Nail clippers
☐ Tweezers
☐ Quick-dry shower towel
☐ Small hand towel
☐ Shower sandals
☐ Wet bag for shower gear
☐ Toilet paper
☐ Tissues
☐ Wet wipes
☐ Hand sanitiser
☐ Period / personal hygiene products as needed
Comfort
☐ Mosquito solution
☐ Insect repellent
☐ Sunscreen
☐ Lip balm
☐ Small fan
☐ Extra blanket for cold nights
☐ Slippers / indoor shoes
☐ Cushion
☐ Reading light
☐ Reusable shopping bags
☐ Small mirror
☐ Clothes hooks / hanging storage
☐ Ventilation / condensation cloths
05 — Kitchen, food & water
Enough to cook properly, make coffee and avoid discovering at 21:00 that the nearest supermarket closed an hour ago.
Cooking & kitchen
☐ Induction hob
☐ Air fryer
☐ Fridge / cooler
☐ Frying pan
☐ Small pot / saucepan
☐ Kettle
☐ Sharp knife
☐ Cutting board
☐ Spatula
☐ Wooden / stirring spoon
☐ Tongs
☐ Colander
☐ Can opener
☐ Bottle opener
☐ Plate
☐ Bowl
☐ Mug
☐ Cutlery
☐ Food containers
☐ Zip / resealable bags
☐ Foil
☐ Cling film
☐ Food clips
☐ Shaker bottle
☐ Thermos / reusable coffee flask
☐ AeroPress / French press
☐ Coffee filters / coffee kit
☐ Spice storage
Food & nutrition
☐ Oats
☐ Rice
☐ Pasta
☐ Tortillas / wraps
☐ Protein powder
☐ Coffee
☐ Tea
☐ Salt
☐ Pepper
☐ Olive oil
☐ Hot sauce
☐ Honey
☐ Peanut butter
☐ Nuts
☐ Dried fruit
☐ Canned fish
☐ Beans / lentils
☐ Protein bars
☐ Carb snacks
☐ Electrolytes
☐ Dark chocolate
☐ A few easy backup meals
Water & washing-up
☐ Reusable water bottles
☐ Large drinking-water container
☐ Collapsible water jug
☐ Water filter
☐ Collapsible bucket
☐ Dish soap
☐ Sponge
☐ Scrub brush
☐ Dish drainer / drying mat
☐ Tea towels
☐ Rubbish bags
☐ Waterproof tub for wet washing-up gear
06 — Tech, power & work
The things that keep the lights on, the laptop charged and the increasingly unreasonable number of projects moving.
Tech & work
☐ Laptop
☐ Laptop charger
☐ Phone
☐ Phone charger
☐ Tablet / e-reader
☐ Headphones / earbuds
☐ Mouse
☐ Keyboard
☐ Laptop stand
☐ USB-C hub
☐ External SSD / backup drive
☐ USB sticks
☐ SD cards
☐ Card reader
☐ Portable monitor (if you use one)
☐ Webcam
☐ Notebook
☐ Pens
☐ Cable pouch / organiser
☐ Backup charging cable
Internet, photo & audio
☐ Mobile hotspot / router
☐ Data SIM / eSIM setup
☐ Power bank
☐ Camera / phone tripod
☐ Camera batteries
☐ Camera charger
☐ DJI Mic 2 / microphone kit
☐ Microphone cables / adapters
☐ Windscreens / deadcats
☐ Small light / filming light
☐ Phone mount
☐ Memory-card backup plan
☐ Offline maps downloaded
Power
☐ Main power station
☐ Secondary power station / backup battery
☐ Portable solar panel
☐ Fixed solar panel
☐ Vehicle charging setup
☐ Shore-power cable
☐ Extension lead
☐ EU plug adapters
☐ USB-C chargers
☐ Multi-port charger
☐ 12V adapters
☐ Spare charging cables
☐ Cable ties / Velcro straps
☐ Multimeter
☐ Spare fuses
☐ Small torch / headlamp
☐ Battery / power monitoring app installed
07 — Training, recovery & surf
Because apparently “travelling light” can include a kettlebell, rings, surf gear and enough recovery kit to suggest poor impulse control.
Training
☐ Training shoes
☐ Training shorts
☐ T-shirts / tops
☐ Kettlebell
☐ Gymnastics rings
☐ Parallettes
☐ Jump rope
☐ Resistance bands
☐ Wrist wraps
☐ Lifting straps
☐ Weightlifting belt
☐ Chalk
☐ Hand grips
☐ Rucking backpack
☐ Ruck weight / plate
☐ Small gym towel
☐ Shaker bottle
Recovery
☐ Foam roller
☐ Massage ball
☐ Mobility band
☐ Collagen
☐ Creatine
☐ Protein powder
☐ Electrolytes
☐ Magnesium / ZMA
☐ Vitamin D
☐ Pre-workout
☐ Carb powder
☐ Basic pain relief
☐ Recovery cream / gel
☐ Compression / support wraps if needed
Surf
☐ Surfboard
☐ Wetsuit
☐ Surf leash
☐ Surf wax
☐ Fin key
☐ Spare fins / screws
☐ Changing mat
☐ Wet-gear bag
☐ Surf poncho / changing towel
☐ Water shoes / reef shoes
☐ Sunscreen
☐ Dry bag
☐ Surfskate
☐ Helmet / pads for surfskate if used
08 — Outdoor & everyday vanlife
The chairs, cleaning things, bags and miscellaneous bits that somehow become essential once the van is your actual home.
Outside
☐ Camping chairs
☐ Outdoor table
☐ Picnic blanket
☐ Beach towel
☐ Day backpack
☐ Tote / shopping bag
☐ Dry bag
☐ Umbrella
☐ Small outdoor light / lantern
☐ Headlamp
☐ Portable solar panel
☐ Extension cable
☐ Levelling ramps
☐ Ground mat
☐ Water shoes / sandals
☐ Reusable shopping bags
Everyday vanlife
☐ Physical map / road atlas
☐ Van dimensions written somewhere obvious
☐ Height reminder for Petal
☐ Parking / overnight apps installed
☐ Offline maps downloaded
☐ Small notebook + pen
☐ Coins for parking / laundromats
☐ Reusable tote for showers
☐ Small backpack for gym / shower trips
☐ Storage crates / boxes
☐ Packing cubes
☐ Hooks / carabiners
☐ Velcro straps
☐ Bungee cords
☐ Spare bags
☐ Small sewing kit
☐ Scissors
☐ Lighter / matches
☐ Spare batteries
Cleaning
☐ Handheld vacuum
☐ Small broom
☐ Dustpan
☐ Microfibre cloths
☐ Cleaning spray
☐ Disinfectant
☐ Window cleaner
☐ Kitchen roll
☐ Rubbish bags
☐ Small bin
☐ Cleaning gloves
☐ Scrub brush
☐ Sponges
☐ Condensation cloth / squeegee
☐ Shoe / sand brush
☐ Air freshener if wanted
09 — First aid, health & emergencies
The things you hope stay packed away for the entire trip.
First aid
☐ First-aid kit
☐ Plasters / bandages
☐ Blister plasters
☐ Sterile gauze
☐ Medical tape
☐ Antiseptic wipes / spray
☐ Tweezers
☐ Small scissors
☐ Disposable gloves
☐ Thermometer
☐ Cold pack
☐ Elastic bandage
☐ Burn gel / dressing
Medication & health
☐ Regular medication
☐ Prescriptions / copies
☐ Basic pain relief
☐ Anti-inflammatory gel / cream
☐ Antihistamines
☐ Stomach / digestion medication
☐ Rehydration salts / electrolytes
☐ Sunscreen
☐ After-sun
☐ Insect repellent
☐ Mosquito treatment
☐ Any personal support / braces you regularly use
Emergencies
☐ Emergency contact list
☐ Health insurance details
☐ Travel insurance details
☐ Breakdown-assistance details
☐ Local emergency numbers saved
☐ Backup phone charging option
☐ Hidden emergency cash
☐ Spare bank card
☐ Spare key
☐ Copies of important documents
☐ Small emergency food supply
☐ Drinking-water reserve