Best Vanlife Tech Accessories - Live Your Best Vanlife
The 7 best vanlife tech accessories
Choosing to live the vanlife will never be for everybody. Giving up some of the comforts you've gotten used to and packing up your life to take it on the road is far from a light decision to make. However, this minimalist lifestyle doesn't have to mean giving up modern comforts. In this article, we have collected the seven best vanlife tech accessories to help you stay safe, healthy, and connected in the great outdoors.
Going off the grid can be difficult. When I first decided to move my life into a van some years ago, I wasn't sure what to take with me and what to leave behind. Learning what you can live without is a process that can take months, if not years. What you may consider a need changes, but these vanlife tech accessories will improve the time spent on the road.
Hopefully, with this list, it will be easier to decide what pieces of technology are right for you. Now, read on - by the end of this list, you’ll be ready to buy yourself a vintage Volkswagen T2 and hit the road without leaving any of the important stuff behind.
PS a quick note - if you’re doing vanlife in North America, read our Harvest Host Review to learn more about quirky and unique places to park your RV and Van for free!
The 7 Best Vanlife Tech Accessories
JBL Flip 4 Waterproof Portable Bluetooth Speaker
BigBlue 5V 28W Solar Charger
Wacaco Minipresso GR, Portable Espresso Machine
Garmin Drive 51 USA LM GPS Navigator System with Lifetime Maps
Tile Mate + Slim
Silicon Power 2TB Rugged Portable External Hard Drive Armor A80
Igloo Iceless Thermoelectric Cooler
The 7 Best Vanlife Tech Accessories: Reviewed
JBL Flip 4 Waterproof Portable Bluetooth Speaker
Who would ever go on a road trip without a portable speaker on hand? It might be sinful to do so these days. The JBL Flip 4 Waterproof Portable Bluetooth speaker is no ordinary Bluetooth speaker. This speaker ranks high on the best vanlife tech accessories list as it can connect up to two smartphones at once and will bounce between the two, taking turns at playing from different playlists.
The speaker has an impressive battery life of up to 12 hours of non-stop playing, meaning you won’t be sitting in silence during any long stretch of driving, or partying. One of the most impressive features is its waterproofing — no need to worry about any rain or spillage. And here's the best part: it can even be submerged in water, in case you feel like having a pool party, or a dance in the shower.
2. BigBlue 5V 28W Solar Charger
One of the main comforts you will end up missing when you take up the vanlife is being surrounded by plug sockets and charging ports. You may end up just having one or two ports in the van, or none if you’re kicking it in an old school model. However, you know what will be plentiful? Sunshine! You’re practically living in the great outdoors, and this is where the BigBlue 5V 28W Solar Charger comes in.
Lightweight and easily foldable, it’s a great little device to throw in and forget about until you need it. The charger has a built-in intelligence chip that will work to decide what device you’re using, and give it the fastest possible charge it can muster, which is fantastic if you are on the go. The charger has two USB ports, allowing you to charge up to two devices at once. In other words: one of the best vanlife tech accessories you can find.
What are the best vanlife tech accessories?
3. Wacaco Minipresso GR, Portable Espresso Machine
Sometimes, there are vanlife tech accessories you’ve just got to splurge on, I mean, how many of us can live without our morning cup of coffee? The Wacaco Minipresso GR Portable Espresso Machine will not let you down, allowing you to stay caffeinated, even when you’re on the road. It’s an extremely compact machine, not much bigger than a thermos, and it's exceptionally light. The most impressive part of this machine is the fact that it doesn’t use compressed air, or even electricity to get you that caffeine hit. It is hand-powered, pushing it a few times ensures it reaches optimum extraction pressure, and the coffee will begin to flow.
Each use will provide one espresso shot, but there is an add-on you can buy that will produce 100ml of espresso at the time, if you need a little bit more of a boost each morning.
4. Garmin Drive 51 USA LM GPS Navigator System with Lifetime Maps
This one should’ve been quite the obvious pick as great vanlife tech, but with the number of smartphones around in today’s society, some people may forget about the good old GPS. The Garmin Drive 51 USA LM GPS Navigator System with Lifetime Maps comes loaded with lifetime maps of the USA, meaning that you’ll never get stuck between a national park and the other. Alerts will pop up for speed cameras, dangerous curves, and railroad crossings to ensure you stay on top of your surroundings.
While robotic, the Garmin Real Directions feature will help cut out some of the frustration we all feel when being directed by a GPS. It uses recognizable buildings and landmarks to help you find your destination, rather than just a street name you may not recognize. Tripadvisor ratings will pop up on the screen for points of interest, making it easier to choose a dinner spot on the fly.
Vanlife tech accessories? We’ve got you covered!
5. Tile Mate + Slim
If there’s one thing we’re all guilty of, it’s losing or forgetting our belongings when we travel. Whether that is your phone, your keys, your wallet, or that favorite band t-shirt you bought ten years ago, we’ve all done it. When you’re always on the move in your van, you’re even more likely to lose things. Introducing, Tile Mate + Slim. These little tracking devices will make life so much easier, allowing you to ring your lost item if you are within the 200-feet Bluetooth range, causing it to make noise to hope you locate it faster.
The Tile app has a map that shows you where and when you left something behind, ensuring you never forget something ever again, but also a quick retrieval if you do. Can’t find it on the map? The app can contact the entire community to help locate your item using their Bluetooth. The Tile Mate is one of the vanlife tech accessories to consider buying if you tend to lose your precious belongings while on the move.
6. Silicon Power 2TB Rugged Portable External Hard Drive Armor A80
These days, we all rely on some vanlife tech to fuel our adventures, whether that is a laptop for work, a phone to stay connected with friends and family, a camera to document your memories. The list goes on and on. Just because you’re now living out of a van, it doesn’t mean you won’t be needing any of this stuff. Perhaps you’ve taken up a job that allows you to roam the world because you can work from your computer. The Silicon Power 2TB Rugged Portable External Hard Drive Armor A80 is here to help with all of your storage needs.
Never run out of hard drive space; this hard drive can carry a whopping 2TB of files. Excellent for the outdoorsy life, the hard drive is both shockproof and waterproof, meaning it won’t be phased from a little drop out the back of the van if it happens.
7. Igloo Iceless Thermoelectric Cooler
When switching from ordinary life to van life, you’re probably going to miss having a fridge full of food at the ready at all times. Vans are small, so keeping things compact becomes a necessity. The Igloo Iceless Thermoelectric Cooler is here to help with that. Worry not about ending up with damp bedsheets, as the cooler does not need ice to run. It employs a brushless motor and a convection fan to circulate cold air, which leaves you with even more room for food and drink.
But where do I plug it? Do not worry. The Igloo Iceless Cooler is a great vanlife tech that will plug right into the cigarette lighter, meaning even those older car models will be able to accommodate it. The molded handles provide a secure and comfortable lifting or carrying experience. Have no doubts about how cold it will get - the inside cools down to 36 degrees Fahrenheit below the outside temperature.
So, what are the best valife tech accessories?
So, What Are The Best Vanlife Tech Accessories?
There are many different vanlife tech accessories that different people consider to be necessities, but compacting them all down into an easy to read list is quite the feat. Brand reliability, cost, size are all aspects that you should consider when deciding what pieces of gear are right for you. Everybody lives their adventure differently and relies on technology at different rates.
In this article, we hope to have provided you with a starting point for your vanlife journey by presenting the 7 best vanlife tech accessories we think will make a great addition to anyone’s haul. Hopefully, after reading through this list, your shopping list has gotten a bit smaller, so you can focus on hitting the road.
If you do happen to be reading this from a vintage van in the middle of nowhere, perhaps you find our van life essentials list useful as well. Make sure you check back in the future for more tech and travel gear updates!