Gear up for adventure
Vanlife Essentials
Gear up for your off-grid adventures
Discover the gear we use on the road for vanlife adventures — from camp kitchen essentials to off-grid tech, and outdoor must-haves.
After 700+ days on the road, 300+ unforgettable stops, two full laps of Australia, countless remote camps, and 80,000+ kilometres of outback roads, we’ve learned this: The right vanlife gear doesn’t just make your trip easier — it can make or break your adventure.
Kitchen Essentials
Cooking on the road isn’t just about feeding our hunger—it’s a ritual, a little luxury in the outback, and sometimes a test of patience when space is tight, the bugs are extreme, and the winds are howling.
Over 700 days of vanlife, we’ve found the gear that actually makes cooking in a rolling kitchen fun (and not a fight).
Camp Kitchen
Room for two burners, a windshield to block the wind, and enough space to prep and cook like pros under the stars, plus storage for cooking gear and food. This Spinifex Camp Kitchen is perfect for long stops at epic campsites.
Butane Gas Cooker
Quick, reliable, and simple to use. Our Campaster butane stove allows us to cook-up delicious meals anywhere we stop. Plus, they’re easy to store and cheap to buy. And butane provides another option if a town runs out of gas (has happened to us twice).
BBQ & OVEN
Great for a quick BBQ and doubles as an oven. We use our Weber Baby Q to whip up a Sunday roast, Friday night pizzas, and homemade scones. Big flavour, tiny footprint.
Upright Compressor Fridge
After killing a three-way fridge on the Gibb River Road, we switched to an upright compressor fridge and haven’t looked back. Bushmans Fridges are top-of-the-range, and rightly so. Steady temperatures, off-grid reliable and don’t drain too much juice.
Chest compressor Fridge
The CFF 45 Portable Fridge Freezer is a solid piece of kit for vanlife. It’s a good size without being too big, so it doesn’t take over your whole canopy. Super efficient, it keeps food and drinks chilled without putting too much strain on your batteries. We ran this alongside our van’s upright fridge, giving us extra space for food storage when heading off-grid and away from shops.
Travel Mug
Cold drinks stay icy in the sweltering outback, and hot drinks stay warm in cold weather. No spills, so great for driving and enjoying a bevvie during setup and pack-down. Our Yeti Coolers indispensable.
Pots & Pans
Nesting Pots & Pan
This nesting pots and pan kit is stackable, compact, and perfect for pasta, stir-fry, or anything in between, without cluttering the van. Every centimetre counts when it comes to making everything fit.
Campfire Grill
For when the fire’s going and you want that smoky, open-flame flavour and total off-road camping vibes. Lightweight, portable, and campsite-ready. We cooked on our Campfire Mesh Grill over open flame every night on ‘The Gibb’.
Fire pit
Kings Portable Steel Fire Pit
This Portable Steel Fire Pit keeps your fire off the ground, which means you’re able to use it at the many campsites and caravan parks that don’t allow fires on the ground. Slots into small storage areas in the back of our 4×4, plus it’s durable and pretty cheap.
Camp Oven
Slow-cooked meals and roasts are a dream with this Campfire Cast Iron Camp Oven. Durable, portable, and perfect over coals, fire, or a gas cooker.
Sink & Airer
Compact, lightweight, and versatile. This Adventure Kings set is prefect for washing dishes, rinsing gear, or drying clothes without taking up precious van space. Folds down flat for easy storage between camps.
Water Carrier
Water on demand, wherever we park. This SCA 15 litre carry can is simple, reliable, and a great size to store and carry. We reckon 20-litre jerries are a tad heavy for day-to-day use.
Coffee Maker
Tiny, lightweight, and capable of barista-grade coffee anywhere we roam. For us, the AeroPress Coffee Maker is essential for early mornings, mid-drive fuel-ups and bit of bush luxury.
MILK FROTHER
Adds a little café magic to dusty road-life mornings. This small, rechargeable frother is perfect for lattes or cappuccinos on the road.
kettle & cooker
Tiny, ultra-portable and ready to boil water anywhere, fast. The Jetboil Stash is perfect for coffee, instant meals, or a quick hot drink on the move—because every minute counts when you’re chasing your next adventure.
Outdoor Living
Life on the road isn’t just about what’s inside the van. In fact, we reckon the best moments happen outside.
Over 700+ days of vanlife, we’ve learned which gear turns a campsite into a comfy, super functional, and magical space. Here are our must-haves.
Camp Chair
Comfort on the road isn’t optional, especially when it’s your full-time gig. But it’s all about balancing comfort with space! The Drifta Stockton chair hits the mark on both. It reclines, packs down small, and feels like a throne after a long day exploring. Perfect for sunsets, stargazing, or just chilling with a cold drink at camp. Plus, it’s got a little bit of style to match.
Camp Table
Lightweight, compact, and quick to set up. The Drache Kozi Slat Table folds down small enough to stash anywhere, making it essential for meals, coffee, games, or relaxing at camp.
Camp Chair
Spinifex Comfort Series 2 Seater Sofa
This Spinifex 2 Seater camp chair doubles as a lounge for slabbing out separately, or relaxing together. Ideal for romantic ‘happy hour’ sunsets, or just taking a break from the heat. Comfortable, sturdy, and easy to pack — a worthwhile luxury for vanlife or road trips.
Hammock
Lightweight, portable, and perfect for stretching out between trees or on your campsite frame. Great for napping, reading, or just enjoying the view after a day of adventure. Durable and quick to set up, this Alton Hammock turns any spot into a private chill zone.
floor matting
Don’t get us wrong, we love having sand between our toes and feeling one with nature. But when you’re pulling up for a long stint somewhere super sandy, it’s definitely nice to have. The Ultramesh Tarp helps keep dirt and sand out of the van, and makes camp feel a bit tidier and more organised. Lightweight, easy to roll up.
Screen
Perfect for blocking the sun, wind (or nosy neighbours), while chilling out under your van or 4WD awning. The Companion Conventional Privacy End is easy to attach, lightweight, and adds instant comfort and privacy to any campsite setup.
FLY MESH
When the flies and bugs are hectic, this OZtrail Gazebo Mesh Inner keeps your campsite comfortable, bug-free, and stops you from losing your mind! It’s made for a gazebo, but we’ve also used it on our car awning without too much trouble. Wouldn’t travel up north without it, unless you like eating flies.
head net
Sea to Summit Head Net
Seriously critical for keeping flies at bay, while you eat, sleep, or relax. We started our first lap of Australia without head nets, and invested as soon as we travelled above Geraldton on the West Coast. A good quality head net is a serious must for outback travel – if you want to be in a positive state of mind.
Lighting
Kings 12v Dimmable LED Strip Light
These LED strip lights are gold (and cheap)! Easy to hang, small to store, and super energy-efficient. Lights up campsites really well, so great for cooking dinner outside, or just hanging out after dark. No straining your eyes to see if there’s a bug in your vino.
Lantern
Coleman 1000 Lumens LED Lantern
Because you can never have too much light – no matter how star-spangled the sky is. Great little moveable gadget to light up your campsite after dark. This Coleman lantern is compact, rechargeable, and great relaxing out under the stars.
Headlam
A headlamp is essential for cooking after dark, late-night bathroom runs, or navigating paths without disturbing others. We love this Nitecore rechargeable unit.
Speaker
JBL Flip Portable Speaker
Tunes on the road are a non-negotiable. Music makes epic places even more next-level and sets the vibe at camp, whether it’s a sunrise coffee or a sunset dance. We love the JBL Flip because it’s a as rugged as us, waterproof and small to carry.
FAN
Outdoor Connection Breezeway 12V Fan
When the heat is intense, this 12v fan keeps the air moving and tempers the sweltering evenings for a good night’s sleep. Lightweight and compact, it’s perfect for a van or awning, and packs a serious punch. We’ve tried a few fans but this one is at the top of our list, and it doesn’t cost the earth.
head net
Kings Premium 48L Dirty Gear Bag
Hooks onto your van or car’s spare wheel to store rubbish, laundry, or extra gear. We predominantly use this Dirty Gear Bag as a rubbish bin when we’re off-grid for extended periods. Much better than storing rubbish in our 4×4 canopy – and the animals still can’t get to it.
Van door mat
This handy artificial grass door mat keeps dirt, sand, and mud out of our van and adds a small touch of home at every campsite. Lightweight, easy to clean, and essential for high-traffic entries.
Tech & Power
On the road, staying powered is non-negotiable. From keeping devices charged and the lights on to keeping your fridge cranked, your tech and power gear can make or break a trip.
Our list of gear assumes you already have a dual battery management system - second battery and chargers - installed in your van, and an auxiliary battery under your bonnet or in your cab.
solar
These Renogy solar panels are lightweight, simple to pull out, and plug in within seconds — no stuffing around. They fold down compact and slim, so stash easily behind the passenger seat or wherever you’ve got a spare nook. Tough, waterproof and efficient, they’re ideal for long bush stays or beachside camps when you’re parked up and chasing every bit of sun.
Battery management
This compact isolator keeps our auxiliary battery charged efficiently from our car’s alternator while we drive. It allows us to run accessories likes fridges, lights and inverters from our under-bonnet auxiliary battery without flattening our starting battery. Note. Battery isolators work best with older cars that have fixed-voltage alternators. Newer cars with a smart isolator require a DC-DC battery charger.
Solar controller
This MPPT unit sits under our glovebox and maximises the efficiency of our solar panels, charging our auxiliary battery faster. Perfect for long off-grid stops. The digital screen also allows us to see the amps coming in, which is super handy. Note. We self installed without too much difficulty.
Power cord
Anderson extension leads are 100% essential for connecting solar panels, fridges, lights and other accessories to your power source/battery system. Having extra leads on hand makes campsite setups easier, and allows you to chase the sun with your solar.
Power cord
You’ll need traditional 240v (house power) leads for plugging into campsite power points, to keep your van and devices powered. We carry both 5m and 20m leads. Especially handy for plugging the car fridge into power.
Adaptor
An ampfibian will enable your caravan or campervan to be plugged into mains/house power. Perfect for getting your van fridge cool before hitting the road, or topping up your battery charge after a long off-grid stretch.
Soldering kit
A battery shunt helped us make our battery system smart. It tracks exactly how much power is being used, coming in via solar, and left in our battery so we don’t get caught off-grid without juice. A simple, low-cost way to manage your system better.
Inverter
This compact inverter is handy for charging our laptop and chainsaw batteries off our car’s 12V system while we drive. Perfect for for meeting our 240v power needs while offgrid, and without drawing too much juice from our batteries.
Adaptor
A multimetre is a compact, must-have tool for troubleshooting your van’s electrical system. Measures voltage, current, and resistance, helping you quickly diagnose and fix battery or wiring issues.
Soldering kit
A Butane Gas Blow Torch, as well as a soldering kit, is essential for quick repairs and electrical work on the road. The butane torch, coupled with a good collection of soldering wire, leads and plugs, lets you solder connections on the go, keeping your van’s systems running smoothly.
Off-Road & Recovery Gear
When you’re chasing remote tracks, tackling sand dunes, or exploring the far corners of Australia, the right off-road and recovery gear isn’t just handy—it’s an absolute no-brainer.
From the corrugated tracks of the Gibb River Road to the tip of Cape York, and countless remote missions, we’ve learned the importance of having the right gear to recover your rig, when there's no one else in sight, and move safely and confidently into rugged terrain.
Recovery boards
Bogged on the beach, get yourself moving again with some recovery boards. They’re compact, lightweight, and tough enough to pull your van or 4WD out of sand, mud, or soft dirt. Essential for any off-road adventure where the terrain can get tricky.
Shovel
Handy for digging out tyres, clearing paths, or even creating a quick fire pit, not to mention bush bathroom stops. Lightweight, durable, and packs downsmall so easy to stash.
Compressor
We’ve used our compressor countless times to top back up after lowering tyre pressure for corrugations and long stretches of remote, sandy beaches. Compact and easy to use, it’s also great for airing up after plugging a puncture. Note. We wouldn’t recommend our current Repco unit (it lacks power). If we had our time again, we’d go for something more heavy-duty like this.
Deflator & gauge
These deflators are really quick and easy to use for lowering tyre pressure for sand driving and rugged tracks. Plus, get an accurate read on your tyre pressures out in the bush.
Off-Road Accessories
For getting yourself, or others, out of tricky spots. It’s a must-have for serious off-road adventures. Note. Pair the snatch strap with a dampener to add safety by reducing snap-back risk during recovery.
Tyre care
We would have been stuffed without a tyre repair kit on the Gibb River Road, after running over a screw that had rattled loose from another rig. It lets you fix punctures on the go like a pro. Easy to use and essential for remote travel, where help can be hours away.
Inverter
We use a handheld UHF radio when reversing or scouting ahead. Paired with the fixed UHF unit in our car, it lets us communicate clearly when there’s no phone reception.