Minimalist van-dweller wardrobe part 1: men

It’s time to talk clothing. What does a nearly-all-season wardrobe look like for van dwellers?

Ever since Chris and I lived out of our backpacks for a year in Latin America, we’ve been refining and perfecting our moderately minimalist, capsule wardrobe. We each have two milk crates (four total) for storing our clothes, outerwear, undergarments and shoes.

Benefits of a Minimalist Wardrobe

1. Less hassle/headache. Fewer clothes takes the hassle out of deciding what to wear every day. Traditionally successful men and women have adopted this idea too.
2. You only wear your favorite things. You’ll always love how you look because your wardrobe only has things you love.
3. Save money. You’ll still need to buy clothes to replace ones that are worn out, but overall you’ll save money that you can use on experiences.

Need help deciding what to bring in your van, or just want some tips on how to pare down? This two-part blog post will highlight how Chris and I decided what goes in our wardrobe.

Criteria for Chris’ Van-Dweller Wardrobe

• All-Season Layers: Enough t-shirts for warm weather locations, with options for layering in the cold
• Activity-Appropriate: Chris hikes, plays golf, and swims in rivers, but he also enjoys a sit-down restaurant
• No Formality Needed: Chris’ work doesn’t involve face-to-face meetings in business attire
• Easy-Care Fabrics: We spend a lot of time outdoors and wash in laundromats
• Quantity: We try to last between 10-14 days before needing to do laundry

Chris’ Minimalist Wardrobe at a Glance

While these aren’t all the exact items, the colors and styles are very close to my actual wardrobe

Full Packing List / Item Descriptions

• Crew-neck cotton t-shirts (9)
• Polo shirts (2) — one is quick-dry fabric, suitable for hiking
• Long-sleeve, button-down cotton shirt
• Flannel button-down shirt
• Long-sleeve base layer / thermal shirt
• Jeans
• Convertible hiking pants — can be pants or shorts
• Khaki shorts
• Exercise shorts
• Swim trunks
• Sweatshirt
• Half-zip pullover sweater
• Rain jacket / windbreaker
• Puffer jacket
• Baseball cap
• Sneakers (2) — one for exercise and one for everyday wear
• Hiking boots
• Water shoes
• Shower flip-flops
• Brown leather belt
• Underwear (12)
• Socks (17)

What He Doesn’t Bring

Chris and I have a box of clothing we keep in our basement in San Francisco that has some clothing items we don’t need all the time, but would be too costly to replace. That includes a suit, dress shirt, tie, dress shoes, snow jacket and snow pants.

What Do You Think?

What would you add, subtract or replace? Any ideas or tips to share? Let us know in the comments! Stay tuned for part two: a minimalist wardrobe for van-dwelling women.