Van Life Reality: What Instagram Doesn’t Show You
After nearly six years living in a van, I’ve seen the lifestyle evolve from a fringe movement to a full-blown social media phenomenon. Instagram makes it look perfect—breathtaking mountain vistas, pristine interiors, and effortlessly curated moments. But van life is far more than carefully filtered snapshots. The Truth About “Instagram-Perfect” Vans One thing I’ve noticed: the nicer the van, the less people actually use it. Those $100,000+ luxury builds? Many owners rarely travel in them. Why? Often, these vans are more about status than adventure, or the owners need to maintain a steady job to afford their vehicles. Ironically, simpler, more affordable setups usually see more real-world adventure. Lower overhead gives travelers the freedom to actually hit the road. Real Challenges of Van Life Adventure comes with challenges that Instagram rarely shows. Chasing snow, for example, brings closed roads, limited daylight, and inevitable breakdowns in freezing, wet conditions. I’ve ...