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Recommended Gear for hiking and camping for stealth camping.

November 8 2020

Tips for Car Camping in the Winter

Camping isn’t just about sandals, swimming and sunburns, it’s about getting away to find some peace. It’s about being in the fresh air and filling your senses with nature. It’s about finding the perfect spot, setting a small fire and burning things. Camping is about holding a warm cup of coffee and sitting in perfect silence as you watch elk graze in the distance. Whatever your reason, camping doesn’t need to be confined to the 3 or 4 months of summer. Cold weather car camping can be rewarding.

The very best option, if you have the budget, time and a van for converting, is to insulate the walls, ceiling and floors. If not, that doesn’t rule out cold weather car camping by any means.

Winter camping doesn’t need to be an extreme experience. Whether you are camping in your car, van, truck or tent, we’ve got a few things here that will make the night much more comfortable and possibly get you a few extra hours of sleep.

The biggest difference between camping in the summer versus the winter, is how you prepare and the supplies you bring. As my very wise and learned father always says “make a list”. So that is what we did. Though this is not comprehensive, this is our winter car camping essentials list.

Winter Car Camping Essentials

1.) Two Person Sleeping Bag

If you plan to do a few cold weather camping trips a year with your significant other, invest in a two person sleeping bag. Body heat is the best way to keep both of you warm and is better than just using blankets which always get uneven and leave someone’s toes out in the cold.

Sleepingo Two Person Sleeping Bag

Two person sleeping bag - Amazon Best Seller — XL, Cold Weather, Queen sized, Waterproof

2.) Pee Bucket

There is nothing worse than climbing out of your warm sleeping bag to go outside in the cold and pitch black, where there are probably bears. Put a few scoops of kitty litter in a lined 5 gallon bucket and you’ve got yourself a toilet! Also, you can add foam to the rim of the bucket to make a seat.

Clamp On Foam Noodles for Padding

3.) Touchscreen Gloves

You will want to have your fingers covered at all times. Make sure you have warm gloves that are touchscreen enabled. Use these gloves under your heavy duty Gor-Tex gloves or mittens to keep your hands extra warm.

Winter Gloves; Upgraded Touch Screen Anti-Slip Silicone Gel

4.) Coffee

There is a decent chance this won’t be the best night of sleep you’ve ever had, so make sure you have a way to make coffee in the morning. If you don’t want pack a french press coffee maker with you, though it is totally worth it if you do, than at least bring a french press attachment for your jet boil.

Jetboil French Press Coffee Maker for 2020

You can also make cowboy coffee – add boiling water to coffee grounds. If you have a thermos with a tight lid, than swinging it around like a windmill and the grounds will settle from the centrifugal force.

5.) Portable Heater

First and foremost, always read product directions and take all safety measures when using heaters in your vehicle. That being said, a heater will come in very handy while you are hanging out in the car and don’t want to keep the engine running to stay warm.

Mr Heater Buddy Indoor-Safe Portable RV Radiant Heater

6.) Slip on Winter Boots

Make things easy for yourself when it comes to taking your shoes on and off. Shoe laces are a winter nemesis. You never tie them all the way for a quick trip outside and so they will inevitably become loose and then drag in the snow and dirt and possibly trip you up! Save yourself a huge mess and headache and find some slip on winter boots.

KEEN Men’s Brixen Low Waterproof Insulated Shoe

Women’s Winter Snow Boots, Fur Lined Warm Ankle Slip-On Waterproof Booties

7.) Lightweight Puffer Jacket

A puffy jack is a very lightweight and highly insulative layer that takes up very little space. In a pinch, if you need an extra layer a puffy jack is perfect.

Amazon Essentials Men’s Long-Sleeve, Full-Zip Water-Resistant Packable Hooded Puffer Jacket

Winter Car Camping Hacks

Crack a window

This one might seem counterintuitive to staying warm, but if you are camping below freezing temperatures, the condensation from your breath will collect and freeze during the night. Windows don’t insulate, so cracking it wont really make much of a difference temperatures wise, but it will prevent you from waking up under a thin layer of morning breath ice.

Survey the Area Before Dark

Hopefully you have an opportunity to arrive at your campsite before dark. If you do, check out the site well enough to know how far you are from the road, the river or lake if there is one near by and any tripping hazards in case you have to stroll out of your vehicle in the night.

Put Your Keys Near the Driver’s Seat

This might be a no brainer, but we have experience digging around pockets in the middle of the night trying to find keys. As a rule, make sure you know where your key are before you go to sleep.

Cover All the Windows in Reflective Bubble Wrap or Other Insulative Material

You’ll need to prep this ahead of time, but the time spent will be worth it. Trace each window out onto pieces of Reflectix or Thinsulate. Cut each piece a tiny bit larger than traced so that the window frame will keep them in place. Label each piece so you know which goes to which window. You can still crack a window with the insulation stuffed in.

Learn to Make Cowboy Coffee

If you don’t have a french press, or don’t want to spare the space to bring one, learn to make cowboy coffee. You can mix boiled water and coffee grounds in a thermos, then using centrifugal force, swing it in a windmill motion which will make the grounds settle to the bottom of the thermos. Then you can enjoy mostly grounds free coffee without having to bring a coffee maker.

Bring Entertainment

There is something magical about watching your favorite movie or reading a good book while being in the woods. Its a little like sweet and salty blended perfectly together. So bring a book, bring a couple books. Download some audiobooks. Also, bring a tablet and download movies and TV show episodes ahead of time.

Winter Car Camping with a Baby

Camping with babies can be a challenge, but just like anything else, how you prepare can make it a wonderful experience. We just took a camping trip with our 7 month old daughter. It was a perfect age to car camp because she is old enough to sleep through the night and young enough that she is easy to entertain.

Here are just a few things that will help keep baby nice and warm and sleep well while car camping in the winter.

Best Winter Sleep Sack/Sleeping Bag

Baby DeeDee Sleep Nest Sleeping Sack. TOG 2.5

Baby Sleeping Bag with Feet and Sleeves. TOG 2.5

Best Baby Hat for Winter

Durio Soft Warm Knitted Baby Beanies

Best Baby Mittens for Sleeping

N’Ice Caps Little Kids and Baby Easy-On Sherpa Lined Mittens – 2 Pair Pack

Best Baby Winter Booties

Hudson Baby Unisex Baby Fleece Sherpa Lined Booties

Best Baby Warm Fleece Footie Pajamas for Winter

Simple Joys by Carter’s Baby Fleece Footed Zipper Jumpsuit Pram Suit

Best Travel Sound machine

MyBaby Soundspa On-The-Go Portable White Noise Machine

Camping with a baby is like playing the lotto; you might get lucky, but probably not. Either way, it can be fun to play if you don’t take it too seriously.

Whether you are winter car camping with your kid, your dog or going it solo, it is worth the trip. You never know what you might see.

September 12 2020

Best Wall Paneling for Van Interior Design

Christie Free Reviews

This post serves two purposes, to look at practically at paneling for lining your cargo van’s interior and to give van interior design inspiration. We will look at options from a practical standpoint, as well as some fantastic ones.

Van interior design is very important. Imagine that your van is a blank page for you to write the story of your journey on. You may be on the road alone or with a furry companion, or you might be riding shot-gun to your ride or die partner with a little one in the back. Design your van for your fellowship.

Its a dangerous business, follower, pulling your van out of your driveway. You roll onto the road, and if you don’t keep your wheels, there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to.

Van interior design is an opportunity to make your dreams come true. If your dream van design is inspired by the Shire, than you are my kind of van designer, so please, please send pictures!

Your choice is up to you. We have listed our favorites but you will likely choose a combination. Again, please send pictures!

After you have installed your insulation you should be able to install wall paneling to cover the length of your walls from just behind the cabin to the back doors. That is, the insulation fills up to the rib joins of your van and this paneling will cover all.

Some important things to consider are material thickness, weight, pliability and texture.

Material thickness is important to consider because adding layers of material means losing living space. For example, if you are sleeping width ways in your van, that is with your head at feet at either wall, and you choose material that is very thick, you could lose inches of space. If you are over 6 feet tall it will meet that you have to sleep at an angle rather than being able to stretch out.

Choosing a heavy material might mean reinforcing your panels after every venture down a bumpy road. It also adds weight to your van which will sacrifice fuel efficiency.

Pliability is important as it will determine how you mount your material. Texture is simply important to consider for personal preference. You don’t want to choose a prickly carpet or a cold tin mold to mount right next to your bed. Or maybe you do, it’s up to you, but still important to consider!

Best Overall

1/4″ Plywood

Plywood is very thin slices of wood that are compressed and glued together. It doesn’t absorb moisture like MDF or particle board. It is relatively thin, pliable and easy to work with. It makes for a smooth surface that can be covered with wallpaper, vinyl or paint, or it can be sanded and stained for a beautiful wood finish.

For faux shiplap, cut a sheet of plywood into 48″ by 3.5″, stain and sand each piece and then secure them to the van wall horizontally, spacing each row using spacers or pennies. Be sure to rearrange the pieces when you are putting them back together on your van wall.

1/4″ (6MM) 24″ x 48″ Baltic Birch Plywood b/bb Grade one Clear face. (Box of 4). $89.99

Runner Up

Cedar planks or shiplap

Cedar planks will look fantastic and smell great in your van which, would come in handy if you are camping off a hard sweaty day on the slopes.

You can buy cedar fence pickets from Home Depot or Lowe’s and they typically come 5/8″ thick.

Be sure to secure your panels well. As with anything else that comes in sections that you use to panel your walls, it will take a hit during the normal bumps of traveling. Paneling can become loose. Walling up your van will not be the same as walling up your house. You paneling will experience a wide variety of climate conditions as well as a mobile environment. You could be starting from scratch after a few trips up a pothole ridden forest service road.

5/8 in. x 3-1/2 in. x 6 ft. Western Red Cedar Flat-Top Fence Picket. $1.97/piece

Inspiration Make your van the home of your dreams

Deciding what to put on your walls will be one of the biggest design aspects of remodeling your van. The paneling you choose will give you the homey feel you are looking for, and there are hundreds of options. You have an opportunity to design your van to look and feel like your dream home. Personally, I have always wanted an English cottage in the woods, something that looked like it belonged in a fairy tale. I want a brick chimney, ivy covered archways and leaded glass windows with flower boxes full of begonias. Ok, so none of that is really possible in a van, but taking from the idea, I can create my English cottage away from home.

Wallpaper and Decals

Your van has two walls, a back door and a ceiling that are perfect canvases to let your imagination go wild! Below are a handful of ideas that, if we had a dozen vans to convert, we would use them all. You can bring in the moon and sleep under the stars. You could create your sun soaked botanical windowsill with potted herb decals. If you have kids they might want to curl up next to a few friendly woodland creatures at bed time.

Title Wallpaper

We don’t recommend using real tile in your van for obvious reasons, however these peel and stick decals are a very convincing option.

Mediterranian Tile Peel and Stick Wallpaper

Glow in the dark moon and stars

There are a lot of moon decal options, this one had great ratings and a high quality image. Also, if you want the moon, you have to take the stars as well.

Glow in The Dark Moon Wall Decals 30cm Luminous Sticker

String of Pearls

If you have a hard time keeping real living plants alive while living on the road, you are not alone. It is hard enough to do at home! These would reach from floor to ceiling in a standard height van and they require no water or sunlight.

Woodland Animals

We bought these decals and stuck them just above the flooring for our daughter. Above them we used chalkboard paint above the animals and installed a short and shallow bench just below their chins.

Watercolor Woodland Critters Peel And Stick Wall Decals

Potted Herbs

Watercolor Forest Decals

These are very large, so be sure to measure before hand. You may have to install these before you put your bed in. These tree tops would look great poking out from behind your bedding.

Watercolor Pine Tree Peel and Stick Giant Wall Decals

Watercolor Birch Tree Decals

Another forest tree option for bringing the woods into your van.

Birch Trees Peel And Stick Giant Wall Decals

Grass Decal

Brick Wall Decal

You could cover a whole wall with these sections, or just cover the wall behind a sink or kitchen area and bring old world style into your van.

Self-Adhesive Brick Wallpaper Rust Red Brown Paper Fireplace Backdrop Peel and Stick Wall Decor

Open Window to Garden Decal

Ok, I’ll admit that this is a little cheese, but who can resist waking up to this face every morning. There are a dozen other versions of the open window decal, but this one really embraces the heart of the concept.

Creative Wall Sticker – A Curious Giraffe Sticking Its Head into an Open Window

Stained Glass Window Decal

This one will go on your window, so if you have one to spare and don’t plan on looking out of it, you could class up the place with a beautiful piece of stained glass art.

Peony Wall Decal

This is a beautiful decal that would take up a whole wall in your van, but it might just be exactly what you are looking for.

Murwall Pink Peonies Wall Decals Floral Wall Decal Peel and Stick

Paint

Start with sanded plywood walls and a couple of coats of primer and you will have a fresh blank canvas for anything you like. Paint your walls solid, stencil or hire your favorite artist to give your interior some character. You can use chalkboard paint to create a canvas you can change up daily.

Chalkboard paint

Stencils

Real or Faux Tin and Copper Panels

Whether you use real tin, copper or faux (made of PVC), these panels are a great option for either a wall or ceiling to add depth and character to your van’s interior.

Copper (PVC) Tile

Milan PVC 2′ x 2′ Glue-up or Lay-in Ceiling Tile

Black faux tin panels

Tin Panels

Wainscoting or Beadboard

Wainscoting is a traditional type of wall paneling that can introduce a classic and clean look to your van. It can be used in a variety of ways, but typically it is installed at the base of a wall with baseboard trip at the bottom and it stops about two or three feet up the wall.

Ekena Millwork WPKP56X04DS Deluxe Shaker 8′ Length PVC Wainscoting Kit, Heights up to 56″ (12″ – 15″ Adjustable Wall Panels), White

Markerboard

Markerboard is clean looking, white and bright and handy if you need to take notes in a pinch.

Whiteboard Sticker Paper Sheets, Easy Peel and Stick Dry Erase Contact Paper Upgrade 11 Ft Extra Wide, Self Adhesive Wall Paper Roll for Classroom, Planning, Office, Kid Painting, 3 Dry Erase Markers

Vinyl

Vinyl comes in patterns to resemble brick, tile, old barn wood and just about anything else you can image. It is very thin and easy to install.

Modin Rigid Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring

camper van insulation for winter and summer

September 2 2020

5 Best Cargo Van Insulation Options

Christie Free Reviews

Comfort is key to thriving on the road, so whether you will be camping in warm or cold climates, you need to insulate your van. Cargo vans do not come insulated, so that the metal body is the only thing between you and the elements, so it makes your van a great oven in the summer and a freezer in the winter. Think about anytime your car has been sitting out in the hot sun all day; you don’t want your skin to touch that metal. If you do one thing to prepare your van for camping, besides throwing in shag carpet and a bed down, you need to add insulation.

The best way to insulate your camping van will involve a variety of materials, although you can make your van insulation process as involved as you like. Understanding how insulation and how heat flow works will help you choose the right type of insulation, because you will better understand the purpose of the materials you will be working with.

Insulation works by providing resistance for heat flow. Heat flow works in 3 ways: conduction, convection and radiation.

Conduction is how heat moves from one object to another, like when your hot car seat burns the back of your legs.
Convection is how heat moves through air or liquid, like how warm air rises and cooler more dense air falls towards the floor.
Radiation is heat traveling in a straight line from an object, like how you warm yourself standing by a fire. Insulation acts as a barrier or a boundary for these types of heat flow. The better you insulate the more control you will have over the maintained temperature in your van.

R-Value: How well a material prevents heat flow is measured by an R-Value (the R stands for resistance). The higher the R-Value the more effective the insulation will be. R-Values are displayed at a certain value per thickness.

Best Overall Van Insulation

THINSULATE

R-Value 3.1 for 1 inch thickness | $2.25 per square foot (1 3/4″ thick) | $787.50 for 350 square feet

Thinsulate is a brand of insulation manufactured by 3M. It is a synthetic insulation that is hydrophobic, which means it is resistant to moisture and therefore resistant to mold and mildew. It was originally used in clothing; gloves, coats, boots, and other winter wear. It can be pricier than some other options, but it is worth it for the high R-Value, ease of installation, resistance to mildew, and it is also great for sound proofing your van.

Pros:

Easy Insulation
Can be used for walls, ceiling, floors and windows
Hydrophobic; resistant to mold and mildew
High R-Value for thickness
Good for sound proofing

Cons:

Expensive

Additional Supplies needed for installation:

Best Natural Van Insulation

Havelock Wool

R-Value 3.5 for 1 inch thickness | $1.20 per square foot (2″ thick) | $420.00 for 350 square feet

Havelock Wool is great option for insulation and by far the best natural option. It has a high R-Value, it is water/moisture resistant, and it easily fits into the nooks and crannies of your van. The only drawback to wool is that it can be difficult to install as you can’t use spray adhesive with it.

Not considering the ease of installation, wool would be our first choice, so consider it a close runner up to Thinsulate. As for the difficulties with insulation, you will need to get creative. There are plenty of example of people simply taping their insulation in place until they install their wall paneling, or weaving twine or fishing line over the wool like a web to hold it in place. It might be tricky but once you get it in place, it will serve you well, winter and summer.

Pros:

Can be used for walls, ceiling, floors and windows
Easy to stuff into nooks and crannies
Hydrophobic; resistant to mold and mildew
High R-Value for thickness
Good for sound proofing

Cons:

Difficult to install

Additional Supplies needed for installation:

Best Insulation for Floors

Polyiso Rigid Foam Board

R-Value 5 for 1 inch thickness | $1.53 per square foot (1″ thick) | $534 for 350 square feet

Rmax Thermasheath-3 1 in. x 4 ft. x 8 ft. R-6 Polyisocyanurate Rigid Foam Insulation Board — Polyiso “Polyisocyanurate” Rigid Foam Insulation Board, best for van floor insulation

You might not realize it, but heat can be lost through the floor of your van. You will loose a little bit of height but you need to insulate your floor as well. In addition to providing heat flow resistance, insulating your van floor will level out the floor and make it more comfortable to walk on or kneel on if you have a low ceiling.

There are three types of rigid foam board insulation; EPS, Polyiso and XPS. The Polyiso foam board will give you the highest R-Value per ft. XPS is a close second but for roughly the same price, you should go with the top performing product, the polyiso foam board.

As you probably have noticed, the floor of your van is not flat and smooth, you will want to fill in the gaps with a malleable insulation like Thinsulate or wool and then put your polyiso rigid foam board insulation on top. You can secure it using foam board adhesive, so it is easy to install. To finish the look of your van, add plywood and vinyl on top for a nice finish.

Pros:

Completely water proof
High R-Value
Easy to install

Cons:

Not suitable for all surfaces

Additional Supplies needed for installation:

Best Insulation for Windows

EZ-Cool

R-Value 8 for 1/4 inch thickness | $0.84 per square foot (1/4″ thick) | $295.54 for 350 square feet

Don’t forget to insulate your windows! You will also want to make your windows lightproof, especially if you plan on doing any stealth camping, so insulating all your windows and windshield will solve a couple of problems. The best insulation for windows is Ez-Cool, which is a multi-layered synthetic foam insulation with reflective foil on either side. It is only a ¼ inch thick, but despite being thin, it has a great R-Value.

Use Ez-Cool to make window covers. Cut pieces of Ez-Cool out in the shape of each window. You can Thinsulate to the back (van facing side) of each cover for added insulation and then add fabric on top of that to dress it up. The Ez-Cool does have enough structure to it that if you cut the sections to be just slightly larger than each window, they should stay tucked into place. If they do not, you can always get magnetic clips that will hold it into place.

Pros:

Great for insulating windows
High R-Value for being very thin
Reflective side helps keep radiant heat away
Easy to install
Cheap

Cons:

R-Value diminishes in cold
Not a great insulator for the whole van.

Additional Supplies needed for installation:

Best Budget Van Insulation: insulate your whole van for less than $100

Reflectix Double Reflective Insulation

R-Value 3.5 for 3/10″ thickness | $0.27 per square foot (3/10″ thick) | $108.44 for 400 square feet

reflectix is the cheapest way to insulate your van — Reflectix BP48050 48-Inch-by-50-Feet Square Edge Bubble-Pack Insulation

Reflectix is your best option for a budget insulation. It is thin but flexible so it will fit into crevasses of your van. It is easy to install; you could use double sided tape, adhesive or even a heavy magnet will hold it to the van wall. It wont keep your van completely warm or cool, but it will take the edge off. If you are in a hurry to get some insulation in, reflectix is a fast and cheap option.

Pros:

Cheap
Easy to install
Great for insulating windows

Cons:

R-Value diminishes in cold
Additional layers doesn’t add the same R-Value
Adding layers is difficult to install
Not good for sound proofing as it makes a crinkly foil sound as it heats up

Additional Supplies needed for installation:

Best Performing Insulation

Spray Foam

R-Value 6.2 for 1 inch thickness | $1.65 per square foot (1″ thick) | $577.20 for 350 square feet

Spray foam has a high R-Value and will fill every square inch of your van and will serve as your insulation for floor, ceiling and walls. It is resistant to mold and mildew and it will not settle, meaning you won’t have to reapply it after it dries.

We rated the Thinsulate above spray foam for two main reasons; ease of installation and level of permanence. Spray foam gets everywhere! It is very messy and it will take a great deal of planning before you spray to make sure that you do not cover anything you will need access to one day. It is also permanent, so if you do cover a wire bundle or a vent that you will one day need to fix or open, you will be cutting through insulation to do it.

It is also a very expensive option. The cost for applying a 1 inch layer to 350 square feet is about $577, however, you will likely be applying twice that thickness which will run you over $1000.

Pros:

Highest R-Value
Completely moisture proof
Great for sound proofing
Will not settle

Cons:

Difficult, complicated and time consuming to install
Improper install can bow the sides of your van
Expensive
Permanent and could be detrimental to doing repairs later on

Additional Supplies Needed for Installation:

F.A.Q.

Does R-Value Double if you add another layer of insulation?

It depends on the insulation. With most types of insulation, adding additional layers also adds air space in between each layer, so each additional layer would not add the same R-Value. With spray foam insulation, however, adding additional thickness, say another inch for two inches total, would double the R-Value for one inch of thickness.

Do you need to insulate a campervan?

You do not need to insulate a campervan, but keep in mind where you will be camping and what the climate might be like. Another factor to consider is how long you will be living in your van. Insulation will increase your comfort level over time.

Do I need to be careful of moisture absorbing insulation?

Yes. Moisture breeds mildew and mold which, prolonged exposure to, can be bad for your health and it can be detrimental to your van conversion. You might loose all your work to rot! Choose an insulation that is moisture resistant and be sure to seal everything up well.

What other materials will I need to install installation?

It depends on the type of installation. Below each type above there is a list of additional supplies you will need to install that particular type of installation.

Should I insulate my floor?

You can get away with throwing down a nice plush run in your van for a little while. If you plan to make vanlife a long term arrangement, than yes, you should insulate the floor of your van. In addition to preventing heat flow (in and out of your van), it will also make a big difference in sound proofing your van and will provide you with a much quieter ride.

How much does it cost to insulate your van?

For the best insulation job money can buy, plan on spending about $1000. You will likely be using multiple forms of insulation and that will also including final external paneling like plywood or vinyl.

You can, however, easily insulate your van on the low end and save yourself a few degrees with only a few hundred dollars.

August 18 2020

5 Must Have Subscription Service for Life on the Road

Christie Free Reviews

Life on the road has a glamorous ring to it. Picture yourself arm out the window, wind in your hair, going 80 MPH with your best friend (human or not) sitting likewise, riding shot-gun. Maybe you have tunes blazing, maybe you have a podcast bumping, or maybe you are deep in the weeds in conversation on topics only the road can open up. Its a picture of carefree living.

What this picture doesn’t show, is that you’ve been on the road for 6 hours already today and this is your third day in a row of driving. It doesn’t show that you have listened to this playlist or this podcast start to finish 5 times already and that you are driving 80 MPH because your sick of the road and you just want to get there already!

Take a deep breath. Its all very normal. Still, we don’t want you going 80 MPH or taking your hands off the wheel to search your phone for a new playlist, so these are 7 memberships and subscription services that will make your life much easier help you stay safe and sane on the road.

AAA Emergency Services

AAA offers 5 levels of service; Classic, Plus, Premier, RV Plus and RV Premier. Pricing will depend on what state you purchase your membership in. We live in Washington and pay $99 for AAA Plus service. We have had to be towed over 30 miles before and were very gratefully we had the Plus package. We recommend at least the Plus level of service. They cover running out of gas, locking yourself out of your car, dead batteries, flat tires, getting stuck in ditches, plus hundreds of discounts. No brainer!

America the Beautiful National Park Pass

This pass pays for itself after 2 visits to any National Parks in the US. Yellowstone, for example, is $35 a day to enter, this pass is $80 and is good for a full year from the month of purchase to enter all National Parks in the US an unlimited number of times. Buy the pass, go crazy, try and visit all 62 of them!

Audible

Trust us you will get sick of your favorite music, especially if you are travelling solo. Sign up for Audible. Even free podcasts will get dry. There is no substitution for a good audiobook. Benefits include; staying awake on the road, its an adventure within an adventure, it will keep you company, learn something new, finish a book finally. Cons include; none.

Movie and TV Streaming Services

Netflix | Hulu | Amazon Prime

Did you know you can download movies from your preferred video streaming app? Well you can! Not all titles are available for download, but a good deal of them are.

Just look for this symbol near TV episodes and movies. Still confused? Here are some instructions for Netflix downloading.

Download new movies and TV episodes when you have wifi and enjoy a night in or a movie before bed from the comfort of your home away from home.

Google One

Google’s storage plans start with 15 GB for free and go up to $19.99/year for 100 GB. Its worth the peace of mind of having your photos and videos backed up.

August 16 2020

12 Best Coolers for Van Camping

Christie Free Reviews

Top products in hard coolers, soft cooler, rolling coolers, large and small coolers Prices range from $27 to $399

Camping doesn’t mean you have to live on granola bars and peanut butter sandwiches alone. It is very rewarding to eat a delicious meal while you watch bison graze in grasslands in the valley below your epic camping location. A solid and reliable cooler will make the difference between surviving and thriving while camping.

Buying a cooler doesn’t need to be a hand-wringing, hair-pulling, painful experience, but it is important to do a little research. We are here to help with a few ideas on how to buy the right cooler for your freestyle camping needs.

The answer to keeping food cold while you are camping is dependent on a few of factors;

How big of a cooler do you need?

Even if you are camping in a smart car and have very little room to spare, you will be glad to have even a small cooler for essentials like meat, milk or eggs.

How long you want your ice to last?

Will you need ice for 3 days or 10 days? Typically the longer you want ice to last the more expensive your cooler will be. If you are camping at Walmart parking lots along your journey, you can easily change ice every few days. On the other hand, if you will be away from services for weeks at a time, it is worth getting a cooler with a high insulation rating. A solid well insulated cooler will also keep the smell of your food from wafting up the nose of a hungry curious grizzly bear. Have you seen a bear try to break into a yeti cooler?

How much of your budget will you spend?

A really good cooler is a big game changer for having a relaxing and luxurious camping experience. We recommend spending at the top of your budget for two reasons; premium ice retention and long-lasting product life. There are other places where you can save a dime. Since every budget is different, we will show coolers in a range of prices.

Best Coolers for Ice Retention

We are starting with the best performing coolers on the market, so we will also start this section with the best of the best performer. The YETI Tundra cooler is top of the line, boasts 10 day ice retention and bear proof design. This cooler will last you for decades of adventures. Put stickers all over it and let it remind you of great times.

Yeti Tundra 65. Shone in Coral, comes in White, Tan, Sea-foam Green and Midnight Blue. Starting $349.98.

The Orca Hard Cooler is another top of the line cooler for performance and durability. It may be less well known than Yeti, but its performance just as strong.

Orca Hard Sided Classic Cooler White 58 Quart. Starting $339.99.

The Lifetime hard cooler has a similar style build to the popular high end brands like YETI and Pelican, but it is far more affordable. Ice retention is still very high at 8 days. This cooler has excellent reviews and is a great option if your budget is tight.

Lifetime Durable Performance Cooler (77-Quart), Grey. $186.25

Best Small Coolers

For those of you camping in a smart car or traveling by bicycle, we will take a look at the best small coolers. Small is in the eye of the beholder, but 14 to 20 quarts is a nice size for a picnic. You can fit about 6 cans and sandwich fixings in a 14 quart cooler.

Igloo Playmate The Boss Cooler. 14.8 QT. $28.99

ENGEL Cooler/Dry Box 19 Qt - Tan. $64.95 — ENGEL Cooler/Dry Box 19 Qt – Tan. $64.95

Pelican 20 Quart Elite Cooler in Seafoam. Starting $149.99

Best Soft Coolers

Soft coolers are perfect for day trips or short overnight trips. They wont keep ice frozen for days at a time, but they are lighter than hard coolers and much easier to handle. We use our soft cooler for boating trips, picnics and bringing cold beer and ice cream to our friends for BBQs.

The AO cooler has fantastic ice retention and is at a great price point. It is light weight and comes in four sizes; 12 cans, 24 cans, 36 cans and 48 cans.

AO Coolers Original Soft Cooler with High-Density Insulation. 24 cans. Charcoal. $69.99

The RTIC soft coolers have a handful of advantages; they promise leak proof, lightweight, high quality performance. They also have anti-microbial lining to prevent bacteria and odor.

RTIC Insulated Soft Cooler Bag, Leak Proof Zipper, Keeps Ice Cold for Days, 30. Starting $99.99

This is not a Yeti commercial I swear. This is the cooler we own, so we are giving it a quick shout out. It is waterproof so its perfect for boating.

YETI Hopper M30 Portable Soft Cooler. Navy $299.98

Best Rolling Coolers

Just about every well known cooler brand has a version with wheels. If you come to the conclusion you want a Pelican or an Ora or a Yeti, but also want a cooler with wheels, chances are you will find one. If you are not concerned with brand, these are three coolers in different price points we have read great things about.

Coleman is a name you can trust in affordable camping supplies, but can you trust its quality? In the case for this cooler, you can. It boasts, keeping ice for 5 days in 90 degree weather. It doubles as a table and a bench. It is also the cooler my dad has used for the last 10 years.

Coleman 100-Quart Xtreme 5-Day Heavy-Duty Cooler with Wheels, Blue. $99.99

Igloo is another great name in affordable camping gear. Same question… same answer! It boasts 5 days of ice retention and indestructible stainless steel handles.

Igloo Glide Pro 110 Roller, White. $136.75

If you are determined to spend money on a high quality rolling cooler, check out the Pelican Elite Cooler on Wheels. It has a 360 degree freezer-grade insulating gasket and can keep ice for up to 10 days.

Pelican Elite Coolers with Wheels, White. $390.95