Clothing can sometimes be the hardest item to pack when leaving on a trip or moving into a new living arrangement. It’s important to find a good balance of clothing that not only fits your weather needs, but also will not overcrowd your van and leave you with no storage space! We’ll help you sort out some of the must haves of clothing with this list. In addition, there are some luxury items that make living like a nomad so much easier and much more convenient. Let’s start by looking into some of the most useful and important items to make a part of your van life!

#1 – SCOTTeVEST Jacket

When looking for a jacket or vest, it’s important to look for one that can be of use to you for every situation possible. This jacket not only is good for the cold weather, but comes with detachable sleeves that turn it into a vest during the summer heat! The ScotteVest Jacket comes with 25 pockets. When you’re living a life constantly on the go, the ability to store more items on your person is more practical than ever! This vest is super durable, being that it is made with cotton blended with Teflon for stain and water resistance. This vest has compartments for quite literally anything you could think to carry with you. From passports, to water bottles. It has a patch on it that is meant specifically for cleaning sunglasses and prescription glasses. Pockets dedicated to loose change, your keys, your phone, earbuds, pens and everything else of importance! It weighs just over a pound, making it extremely lightweight. It also comes in a multitude of sizes, so be sure to pick the one that suits you best for the best fit and comfort! If you do use one of the pockets for a water bottle or a particularly heavy passport, the vest comes with a weight balancing system that makes it feel comfortable and feel like weight on your shoulders. This is truly a jacket to beat all jackets. You’ll never want to wear another jacket again after having used this one! It comes with an added bonus of an intricate system of wire sleeves that allow you to charge your phone and loop your ear buds up towards your ears without them getting tangled! Of course, with quality such as this, you’ll be paying quite a pretty penny. However, if you’re willing to make the plunge and splurge for it, this will be the only jacket you’ll ever need for traveling.

#2 – Columbia Men’s Watertight II Waterproof Rain Jacket

When you’re in need of a jacket that will keep you dry in the rain, you’ll need to make sure you get a jacket made specifically for raining conditions! Don’t settle for cloth jackets that will get drenched in a slight drizzle. Instead, you may want to go for the Columbia Men’s Watertight Rain Jacket. This jacket is not only sleek and stylish, but effective at the job it was made to do! The outside is made with 100% nylon, while the inside lining is made from 100% polyester. It’s comfortable, effective, and affordable too! It comes in more colors than one can count, so there’s no end to the amount of options for you to choose from. It can be folded away pretty easily, and because of its waterproof material, it can dry off quickly so it doesn’t get everything in your van wet if you’ve been outside for long. It has a few pockets on the sides, an abrasion resistant chin guard and a pull over hood. There are a lot of different size choices to choose from too, so be sure you read the size guides carefully before deciding on one to buy! Overall, this is a great addition to your van life wardrobe, and an absolute must if you plan on doing outside activities at all.

#3 – Joob Joob Women’s Comfy Bohemian Tapered Elephant Harem Loose Yoga Travel Pajama Lounge Pants

Don’t be fooled, both women AND men will be thanking us for recommending these pants! Bohemian yoga pants are truly some of the most comfortable pants you will ever wear. If you’re looking for great pants to wear around your van during a day that’s too hot to be outside, this is a great pick! You can also wear them outside if you don’t plan on doing anything that may risk ruining them. These pants come in a variety of different styles to choose from, so you should be able to find some that fit your liking. It’s recommended to hand wash these pants only, which fits in line with van life for the most part as you most likely won’t have access to a washing machine very often. These pants come with a side pocket, so you can still carry some basic belongings with you, like your phone. They’re also made ethically and cruelty free, so you can feel good about your purchase knowing you’re not supporting any inhumane practices. The Loose Yoga Pants are made from 100% Rayon, making it very soft and lightweight. These are perfect for the summer or just any warm weather that you feel like relaxing in. Just be mindful when wearing these, for as comfortable as they are, they are not the most durable of fabrics and can rip and tear if you’re too rough with them!

#4 – 5 Pack: Men’s Dry-Fit Moisture Wicking Active Athletic Performance Crew T-Shirt

Quite frankly, you’re probably not going to be worrying about wearing the same shirt for a week but you probably want it to be clean so this 5 pack is a great option, especially since it comes in so many colors! The Real Essentials 5-pack t-shirts are really a staple item for van life as moisture-wicking material will have much better durability than a regular cotton shirt, so try and avoid those. These shirts are lightweight as well which means not only will they provide comfort on the scorching hot days, but they’ll also be easy to pack. If you’re planning on doing a lot of outdoor activities with these, be aware that the white shirts will easily stain and get dirty. Try to go for a darker color if you can, but if heats a big issue then the white may be your best beat at beating the heat. The make is of 90% Polyester and 10% Spandex. They fit well so long as you read the size chart properly and pick the best fit accordingly! It helps protect against harmful UV rays and is perfect for workouts, running and physical activities. They also come tag free, so you won’t have to worry about any annoying itchy tags poking your neck. Overall, a pack of 5 shirts is an extremely good deal at the price it’s currently listed at, so it’s a great deal for living life in or out of your van!

#5 – Farm to Feet Damascus Lightweight Crew Merino Wool Socks

Socks are probably one of the most important articles of clothing that really don’t get mentioned as much as they should be. Not only do they protect your feet and ankles from ticks and insects, but from cold weather and rashes from rubbing on your feet with your shoes while walking. Farm to Feet Damascus Lightweight Wool Socks are a high quality make of socks that will leave you feeling great and happy that you splurged a bit for a good pair of socks. They come in 4 different styles and 4 different sizes. Make sure to pick the size that fits you best depending on the size chart, otherwise you could not only face uncomfortable walks in the future, but they are not as effective at keeping out cold if they don’t fit right! These socks are made from 100% merino wool, which are great for hikes and shock absorption of the shin, calf and targeted areas of the foot. These socks are thinner and keep your feet warm, dry and reduce friction that could cause irritation of the skin. Don’t neglect your foot wear, especially when living a life that is so heavy on walking and traveling! If you buy quality items for your feet, you’ll be thankful for it later!

#6 – Yogalicious Nude Tech Half Zip Long Sleeve Jacket with Front Pockets

Even when it’s hot out, you’ll need something lightweight and breathable that not only has pockets but protects from those pesky bugs in the warmer weather! The Yogalicious Tech Half Zip Jacket will do just that. The version shown here is specifically the women’s version of the jacket. However, there is a men’s version available as well that will give you similar, if not the same, quality and function. This specific version for women comes with a large front pocket that can store a lot for your belongings, leaving your hands free for other activities. This high quality jacket is made from 86% Polyester and 14% Spandex, which helps it to conform to your body shade and ensure you have full range of motion. The material is very soft and comfortable to wear on top of being extremely stylish and fashionable! If you plan on doing outside activities often, then you should look into this brand for women’s jackets that will give you great quality for a reasonable price. They have a similar brand just for men as well, so those will be more fitting of men with the same quality as the women’s jackets!

#7 – Freeze Defense 3in1 Men’s Winter Coat Jacket Warm Parka w/ Insulated Snow Vest

Now a jacket truly cannot be more essential than this 3 in 1 winter coat. This heavy-duty fully insulated winter coat has a removable lightweight vest which you can wear by itself on warmer days. You can also wear the coat without the vest. The vest itself is also reversible so that it’s either all black or gray. This coat ensures that you’ll be set for any winter activities in extremely frigid regions! As a vest, it’ll ensure that you won’t get too warm as summer winds down to fall or winter turns to spring! When worn together, it will keep you warm and dry and fit to you comfortably as it has an adjustable hood, waist cord, and wrist cuffs. It has 9 roomy pockets to hold almost anything you could possibly need to carry with you! The vest itself has 2 side zippered pockets on the colored side, and 2 side slash pockets on the black side. Its versatile design makes it perfect for almost any weather conditions you’ll encounter throughout your travels!

#8 – Maleroads 3 in 1 Beanie for Men and Women

If you’re looking for a unisex hat that is both stylish and versatile, this Maleroads 3 in 1 Beanie is it! It comes in 8 different colors; but if you decide you don’t like the pattern you’re wearing one day… the material is reversible! So not only is it multi-functional, but it is also multi-colored! Not only can it be used as a trendy beanie but it also functions as a neck warmer for the winter or as a face mask for your next ski trip (or let’s be honest, any outing these days). It’s fitted elastic frame makes it essentially one size fits all. This hat is as soft and snug as they come! Its lightweight texture makes it suitable for almost any weather conditions whether you’re protecting your face/neck/head from the cold or you’re just looking to stay trendy in the warmer seasons. It’s great for both indoor and outdoor use!

Wrapping things up…

The clothing items we put on this list are definitely an asset to add to your van life. Everyone has different needs when it comes to what kinds of clothing they’ll need for which environment they’ll be staying in. However, making sure you’re prepared for any kind of weather is very important for living your best van life. When choosing what to pack and take with you, make sure you haven’t forgotten to bring spares! Wet clothes can take time to dry, so having something to wear in the meantime is a smart idea!

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