Watch: This Influencer Just Got Real About What Vanlife Is Like in Winter

On staying warm in winter

 

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While Broderick has a diesel-powered heater in her van, that’s not all you need to stay warm. She advises making sure your van is well-insulated as you build it, and also suggests double-pane windows to avoid drafts. And to keep their feet warm, they have extra foam panels they put on the floor during winter to keep their toes off the cold laminate floor.

“The first step for staying warm is insulation,” she told Matador. “The first winter we spent in the van we didn’t have a heater, but our insulation was a life saver. My tips for staying warm when you don’t have a heater are to get a really warm sleeping bag, sleep with a hot water bottle, if you can have a hot shower before bed do that, and wear really good thermal layers.”

On showering in winter

 

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Broderick’s van doesn’t have a shower (they use an outdoor solar shower in the summer), but her job at a climbing gym comes with a helpful perk: access to showers in the locker rooms. If you’re planning on vanlifing through the winter, you’ll definitely need some kind of membership to ensure you have access to a hot shower nearby. Don’t forget your college-style shower caddy!

On the pros and cons of vanlife in winter

 

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While parts of being a vanlifer in winter are tough, like sweeping snow out of your van and having your plumbing freeze, other parts are simply wonderful, like having a beautiful winter wonderland outside your front door.

And by the way, Broderick doesn’t have Wi-Fi in the van, but says that their unlimited phone plans are enough to work. Just remember that you’ll need to stay in an area with good cell service if your vanlife plan includes tethering internet from your phone.

On the extra steps you have to take in the morning

 

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Mornings when you’re a vanlifer in winter include a few extra steps you may not have to take if you stayed in a hotel. That includes having to remove your window insulation and possibly having to unfreeze all your water bottles and jugs. When it’s -20 degrees Celsius (about -4 Fahrenheit), Broderick has to run the van for about 20 minutes to warm it up enough to drive it somewhere to use the restroom. From there, she boils her (hopefully unfrozen) water to make coffee, bundles up in gloves and an insulated jacket, and heads out to wherever the day takes her.

On getting ready for bed in the winter

 

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Broderick’s bedtime routine isn’t drastically different between winter and summer, though they do have to make sure to fill their diesel tank before going to bed to power their heater.

If you’re wondering why Broderick doesn’t just drive south, there’s an easy answer (aside from the fact that her fiancé’s job is in Toronto). “We are both climbers and skiers so it’s really important for us to be able to travel to destinations where we can do those activities,” she says. “Also, we’ve been able to save enough money to buy a house living this lifestyle and not having to pay rent. We will travel to climb and ski every weekend and anytime he [Alejandro] can get time off!”

Want more winter vanlife tips? Broderick has even more videos and tips about the pros and cons of vanlife on her TikTok account.