With an explosion in popularity as of late, more people are taking to their vans to live a life on the road, but one internet expert takes a closer look at the tools they may need to do it right.
– More and more people living a nomadic lifestyle out of their vans.
– Interest in the van life has exploded thanks, in part, to social media posting trends.
– A fast and reliable internet connection, even in remote areas, named as one of the most essential tools for van living.
– Interest in the van life has exploded thanks, in part, to social media posting trends.
– A fast and reliable internet connection, even in remote areas, named as one of the most essential tools for van living.
Van life, the nomadic lifestyle trend that sees people living out of their vans, is becoming much more popular over time. A study from Moneybarn showed that the term had grown in popularity year on year since 2018, with an increase of searches by 216% in 2022 by comparison.
“Van life is one of the major living trends that has shot up over the past years,” says Sean Carroll, a broadband expert. “But one of the necessities of the nomadic life, and one of the key things that allows people to enjoy it, is a good internet connection.”
Carroll a tech expert from Spacelink Installations, has taken a look at five of the main tools those looking to live that van life need to ensure that they have at the ready. They are as follows
1. Reliable Internet Connectivity: Portable and reliable internet devices are vital for van life. Most people living on the road work nomadically, as well, meaning they need internet technology that can provide strong coverage in remote areas, with satellite internet like Starlink providing the most reliable coverage.
2. Backup Power Solutions: Living entirely out of your van can drain its battery fast, and as such, having some means of backup power for your technological devices, whether it’s a chargeable generator or a solar power system, can help.
3. A Compact Kitchen Setup: Healthy living out of a van demands that you’re able to prepare meals effectively. Tools like a propane or induction stove, collapsible cookware, and a portable fridge for perishables are crucial.
4. Portable Shower and Toilet: Most vans don’t include necessary plumbing, making composite and cassette toilets as well as solar-powered showers essential for daily living.
5. Navigation and Safety Tools: Ensuring your safety on the road is key, which includes installing a GPS system and keeping an emergency kit with first aid supplies, a multi-tool kit, and a portable jump-starter.
“The question of how to use tech to approach the connectivity problem in remote areas has been a concern for a while now,” says Carroll. “But recently, satellite-powered internet connections, like the Starlink technology used by Space Link, has helped solve this challenge.”
According to a Statista report published in RV Pro, 3.1 million people lived the “van life” lifestyle in 2022, an increase of 63% from the start of the year. Amongst these people, only 9% are unemployed, indicating the need for fast internet speeds as a means to stay connected to their work.