I’ve been living full-time in my ’98 Chevy Express (her name’s Betty) for about two years now. Started in Durango, worked my way through Arizona and Utah, currently posted up in Bend trying to figure out my next move.
When people ask about van life essentials, they want to know about solar setups, fridges, water systems. But there’s this one simple item that’s made a bigger impact on my day-to-day than my $800 solar panels.
A portable stool. Seriously.
Betty’s Space Problem
Betty’s a 135″ wheelbase Chevy Express. Not a Sprinter. Just a regular cargo van I converted over three months in my buddy Jason’s driveway in Durango.
I’ve got 6’2″ of interior length for my bed platform, a 2-burner propane stove, 12 gallons of water storage, and about 3 feet of standing room. Everything has to earn its place.
First month on the road I brought a $40 REI folding chair. Used it twice. Thing took up half my under-bed storage. Needless to say, it ended up being donated to some backpackers in Moab.
The Real Problems
Meal prep sitting on the floor = back pain after 20 minutes
Working from my laptop in bed = terrible posture, neck hurts
Cooking on my camp stove standing up = gets old when you’re making chili for 30 minutes
Hanging at campsites = either stand around or sit in dirt
I needed something that worked for all of this. Compact, adjustable height, actually comfortable.
How I Found It
January 2024, Hidden Valley campground in Joshua Tree. Met this couple from Seattle, they had their van parked next to mine. The guy was cooking breakfast on a little camp table and sitting on this compact stool.
I asked him about it. He said it was a NUMANU collapsible stool, cost him like $45 on Amazon, he’d been using it for eight months straight. Showed me how it folds down real compact like.
I ordered the Standard size model that night from Joshua Tree’s sketchy Verizon signal. Got it sent to to my friend’s place in Flagstaff then went by and picked it up two weeks later.
I used it that same day for meal prep. Sat at the right height for chopping vegetables on my cutting board. My back didn’t hurt. Took me way too long to figure this out!
How I Actually Use It
Inside Betty for meal prep – Set it at 12 inches. Chop vegetables on my cutting board without hunching over. Made butternut squash soup last week, sat comfortably the whole time.
Cooking outside – Camp stove on my fold-out table, stool at around 16 inches. Cooked chili last Tuesday at a spot near Crater Lake, sat the whole 40 minutes. Back didn’t hurt.
Freelance work – I do graphic design remotely. Laptop on my lap desk, stool adjusted to whatever height works. Did a 6-hour client project last Thursday, moved the stool between inside and outside Betty three times.
Campsites – Mesa Verde last month, hung out with some other van lifers for three hours. Everyone sitting around a fire pit. I had my own seat, could adjust height to match the log everyone else was on.
Van maintenance – Changed Betty’s oil two weeks ago. Sat on the stool instead of kneeling on gravel. Way better.
Space Efficiency
Betty’s got 42 square feet of living space total. I measured.
Standard NUMANU stool: 2.5 inches folded, 2.2 pounds, extends to 18 inches. Lives clipped to my gear by the side door.
Got the XXL model later in April when I was in Sedona. Wider seat (11.8 inches), goes to 19.7 inches, 3.5 pounds. I use that one more for work sessions and campsite hangouts. Standard one comes with me on day hikes.
Both on Amazon and the actual NUMANU’s site. Lifetime warranty matters when you’re using gear daily in sand, mud, rain, whatever.
Why It Works for Van Life
Van life = optimization. Can’t waste space on single-purpose gear.
This stool: compact storage, multiple uses, holds 620 pounds (Standard) or 1000 pounds (XXL), works on any terrain (as long as it’s at least semi level).
Used it on rocky ground in Zion, sandy beach in Oregon coast, concrete at Walmart parking lots, mud in Washington. It still works beautifully after 14 months!
Other Van Lifers Are Catching On
Guy at Dispersed camping spot outside Moab asked me about it three weeks ago. Showed him how it worked, he ordered one on his phone right there. Saw him two days later, he’d already been using it.
Starting to see more at climbing areas and BLM land. Not flashy enough for Instagram but practical enough that people buy them after seeing them in use.
Real Talk
Van life content shows aesthetic builds and beautiful locations. Reality is dealing with limited space, broken gear, constant compromises.
I’ve got a $1200 Renogy solar setup, a $600 Dometic fridge, $400 in water tanks and filtration. The $45 collapsible stool gets used more than any of that stuff.
That’s what actually matters – gear you use daily that solves real problems.
For Other Van Lifers
Don’t sleep on simple gear that improves daily life. Everyone obsesses over solar panels and electrical systems. Those matter. But the unglamorous stuff – like having somewhere decent to sit – makes van life actually sustainable.
A portable stool: under $50, weighs 2-3 pounds, folds to nothing, solves multiple problems daily.
Two years into living in Betty and it’s still one of my best purchases. Right up there with my solar panels, which cost 15x more.
If you’re building out a van or already living it, add a collapsible stool to your setup. Won’t get you Instagram followers but it’ll make your actual life better. And that’s the point.
