A Nomad’s Life for Me: Beginner’s Guide

Yo-ho-ho, a nomad’s life for me… Sounds like a good plan for the new year, doesn’t it? Now that more and more companies give you the home office option, it’s so tempting to start dreaming of a home that can take you anywhere. It could be a month on the beach, a Kerouac-inspired road trip, or, if you’re really adventurous, a new life off the grid. Whatever the case is, you’ll need to have a good plan for staying healthy and happy while living in your new home on wheels.

Baby Steps 
If you’ve never camped in a van before, start by renting one with some friends who have experience. Give it a week and see if it’s your cup of tea. Taking a spontaneous decision to buy an RV and hit the road straight away, might be very romantic, but it’s a big step and needs a good amount of planning and know-how. That’s why starting small and taking baby steps is key on the path to your nomad’s life.

Van Sweet Van
Camper vans and travel trailers are the most comfortable option for people who enjoy the more luxurious side of camping, also known as glamping. Most of those vehicles can be connected to the electric and water supply at the campsite, as well as to the septic system.

They have a lot of indoor space — a small bedroom, a living area, and if you’re lucky, a bathroom too. The campsites usually provide most of the necessary electric lines, clean water, and sewer hoses, but if you’re a newbie, always double-check and bring along anything that’s missing. On the downside, big camping vehicles are not so easy to drive around, so going under bridges and driving through narrow roads could be tricky.

DIY, but why?
Perhaps you’re the adventurous type, you have some experience in the wild and are willing to take the next step. In that case, a good option for you might be to transform your SUV for camping or buy a second-hand van and make it over from scratch.

The main advantage is that you will save money on an expensive high-end camper and will be able to furnish and decorate your new movable home exactly how you want it. Also, you’ll be much more mobile, take up less space, and won’t depend on any campsites and the features they’ll provide you with. With an SUV, for instance, you’ll be able to access much wilder territories compared to a camper van or a trailer.

Travel light
Living in the wild is about exploring your discomfort tolerance to see what items you can actually live without. If you’re spending some nights without water and an electric supply, the must-haves are a power station, a headlamp, a portable shower, a cooler for your food, and a gas hob with wind guards if you won’t have access to a fire pit. It’s good to have a couple of sporks (fork and a spoon in one), a multi-use pot for cooking, and some metal mugs as well.

Food & water
In terms of food, it’s a good idea to have a little more than you think you’ll need in case of a force majeure. Go for shelf-stable products such as pasta, rice, rolled oats, nuts, dried fruit, and canned goods. Avoid fresh meat and dairy, as they’re likely to go bad very fast. When selecting the camping spot, make sure you have access to water for domestic needs and don’t forget to bring a water filler.

Into the wild
The closer you are to nature, the more dependent you become on its unpredictability. There’s an old scout saying to remember when starting out your nomad’s life adventure: “Always be prepared”. Research the conditions you’re going into and plan accordingly. Check the weather forecast in advance, but always bring an extra layer of clothes — the weather is usually colder than it seems in the great outdoors. Before you go to sleep, make sure you have quick access to a first aid kit and a device that connects you to the outside world in case of an emergency.

The art of sleeping under the stars

Sleep is essential for recovering from your adventures, so make sure you’ve got a sleeping bag and camping pad that can keep you warm in the winter and cool in the summer. We believe that going into the wild shouldn’t be a reason to switch to toxic synthetics and artificial materials like nylon and polyester. To allow your nomad’s life to stay on the wild side, we’ve developed premium-quality, all-natural products.

A nomad’s life

Owning and maintaining a camping vehicle is a journey in itself, and life on the road has its own philosophy. It’s all about going back to basics and giving up everything that you don’t really need. It teaches you to be happy about the simple things, like looking at the night sky filled with stars, smelling the freshness of a wild pine forest in the morning, or spending a summer with your toes in the sand… But most of all, it gives you the gift of freedom and closeness to nature.

We wish you the best of luck on your nomad’s life adventures and will be here for you when you need to get equipped.

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