Van Life, Minimalism, and Our Outdoor Shower Mat with Simpler Ways Founder, Ben Quesnel
Nomads have been embracing van life for years, but when Covid came, the lifestyle blew up. Remote work enabled office workers to have a mobile desk. Travel restrictions had people swapping air travel for road trips. And, for some, the great outdoors was a needed escape from the everyday chaos and concern.
While we might be on the other side of the peak now, the wanderlust community still remains strong—as do the challenges that come with embracing life on wheels. These everyday problems are exactly what Simpler Ways solves. With its curated earth-forward selection of kits and products, it makes van living and travel more accessible for everyone. Now, the brand is bringing its favorite builders and brands to community events, too.
We chatted with van-lifer and founder of Simpler Ways, Ben Quesnel, for a peek into the brand and his own journey into minimalist living.
From Big Tech to a Minimalist Life on Wheels
When Ben Quesnel left Big Tech to embrace van life in 2018, the travel aspect was nothing new.
Wanderlust was ingrained in him from a young age. While he hails from France, he spent some of his childhood and adolescence in Asia. Traveling was a regular occurrence, with vacations being used for exploration. He then made a permanent trek across the Atlantic in 2013, coming to the U.S., where he began working for the likes of Google and Facebook.
So, Ben was no stranger to the adventure involved with life on the road. But the lifestyle itself certainly came as a significant shift.
It all began when he decided to take a sabbatical from his corporate job. He headed to South America on a months-long backpacking trip, expecting to return to “the grind” afterward. But this trip brought a moment of realization. “I was like, wait a second, this is really fun,” Ben recalls. Maybe there was a way for him to make travel more of a priority.
Seed, planted. Snowball effect, initiated.
He bought an old van, started exploring close to home in California, and began attending van meetups. His passion inevitably grew. Someone at a meetup invited him to join in on a two-week trip to Baja, and Ben left his job to tag along. “It ended up being two months, not two weeks,” he says. “And when I came back to San Francisco, I prepared for a six-month trip that ended up being four years.”
Helping Everyone Hit the Road
Ben needed a way to support his lifestyle. At the same time, he became well-acquainted with the challenges involved with a minimalist life on the road. Those problems became the roots of Simpler Ways, a curated online marketplace.
Ben founded the successful platform to fill a gaping hole in the van life space. There were websites for equipment rentals, fancy accessories, and extreme adventuring, but nothing offered the simple necessities—the basic (but best) things that nomads and aspiring nomads needed to optimize their tiny spaces and live practically.
His core mission with Simpler Ways was “to make it easier for people to hit the road,” whether for a weekend trip or a years-long excursion. “The idea was to create a safe space where people could find tips and the best products out there, but not necessarily the most expensive,” Ben explains. They do this by identifying real problems and then offering effective, practical, earth-forward solutions—in the form of user-friendly vehicle conversion kits and a curated selection of gear picks. Products are filtered by the experienced nomads behind the brand and prioritize quality, usefulness, and plpsustainability over big labels. A lot of gear comes from small businesses.
But Simpler Ways is no longer just a marketplace. A recent marriage with The Journal of Lost Time means they’re now involved in community events (as part of the Granite & Light family). The Journal of Lost Time, a media and community platform, hosts massive events for nomads, overlanders, locals, and van lifers across the country. This new marriage will bring the brands and builders from Simpler Ways to these events and spaces, fostering deeper connections and better serving that community.
Lessons in Minimalism & Tips for Beginners
While Ben might be a seasoned nomad now, embracing van life wasn’t necessarily easy.
Minimalism comes with its own set of hurdles that intimidate or deter many people, and Ben had to overcome them himself. “At this time of overexposure to products, to marketing, to things around you to like pop-ups—you name it—it's just really hard to look into yourself and decide that you might benefit from owning less,” he reflects. Simply put, “Downsizing—it’s hard.”
But there is, of course, reward. As tricky as downsizing can feel, Ben says, “Days after, you're like, wow, like I feel lighter. You feel like you kind of got rid of more than just stuff. You get rid of a certain weight.”
That’s not to say he recommends jumping right into minimalist van life. For those interested in trying that lifestyle, he suggests renting a van or throwing a sleeping bag in your car for a test run. “You have to try it because it’s not for everybody,” he admits, “but I do think everyone should experience it.”
Attending one of the meetups hosted by The Journal of Lost Time is also another way to learn more about the community and lifestyle before committing.
Van-Friendly Gear Picks
When space is limited, being selective with gear is a must. Quality, usefulness, and function are key. These are the qualities behind Simpler Ways’ gear offerings, one of which is our bestselling Mariner Mat.
According to Ben, one of the biggest problems with showering off outside is tracking dirt, mud, and other grime inside your vehicle when you’re done. The Mariner Mat solves that problem while also benefitting ocean health, thanks to its algae-based material.
“It's light, it's very easy to wash off, and it's got all those holes,” Ben explains. “You’ll take it, wash it off, and put it into the sun for about ten minutes, and the thing is dry, super light, and super slim.” Our new Mariner Mat II, which is more compact than our original version, makes it even easier to store in small spaces.
If you’re thinking about hitting the road, head to the Simpler Ways website (simplerways.co) to learn about other essential gear picks or grab that perfect interior set-up kit.
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We hope you enjoyed our chat with Ben Quesnel. For stories of surf, family, and fly fishing from a Santa Barbara native, check out this feature.
Wishing you a great time outdoors, with whatever it is that you love to do. -COD
