Life Unplugged: How I Stay Powered on the Road

Sophie didn’t think she’d need much charge for van life – isn’t it all nature time and being offline? In reality, a good power setup made things easier, and took the stress out of the day-to-day.

There’s a certain magic in waking up somewhere new every morning. Some days it’s beside a lake so still it mirrors the mountains, or somewhere deep in the heart of Fiordland National Park. Others, it’s the wild stretch of Kaikōura coastline with nothing but the sound of waves and the smell of salt in the air.

Living life on the road has its way of stripping things back. You learn what really matters: an incredible sunset, a warm meal, good company, a reliable coffee setup, and enough charge to capture it all.

While van life is about escaping the rush, it’s also about staying connected to the people who follow your journey, to your work, and to those spontaneous ‘Where should I head next?’ messages that can decide your day.

Van life is all about being adaptable

The Reality Behind the Dream

When I first hit the road, I had this idea that I’d be off-grid, off-line, and off-everything. I’d live a simple life, shoot content in golden light, and upload it later when I found a good place with a strong Wi-Fi connection, romanticising life on the road as I sipped my coffee, laptop in the window – real Carrie Bradshaw vibes, you know? 

Just heaps of this, right?

But real life looks a little different when your work is your lifestyle. The same camera that captures a sunrise also needs to deliver edits to the client. The phone that tracks your hikes also doubles as your map, hotspot, and occasionally, your lifeline.

And when you’re parked in the rainforest, miles from the nearest power point, watching your battery drop from 20 percent to 10, the dream can quickly start to feel like a nightmare.

That’s where mophie changed the game for me.

A Life Untethered

Van life is about freedom, the ability to go anywhere, stay as long as you like, and live on your own terms. But freedom’s not really freedom if you’re chained to the next charging point.

mophie has become my quiet travel companion – one I don’t think about until I really need it. Their powerstations and charging hubs mean I can spend days off-grid without worrying about my phone dying mid-GPS route, or my laptop cutting out mid-edit.

More power means more time in nature

Whether I’m shooting content deep in Fiordland, uploading footage from a remote car park, or simply wanting to watch a movie under the stars, Mophie keeps me connected and capable.

Their Powerstation Pro 20K has saved me more times than I can count. It charges my phone, camera batteries, GoPro, drone, and laptop all from one compact device that fits perfectly in my gear drawer. No scrambling for cables, no waiting for turns, no panicked ‘please make 5% last’ prayers. Just reliable power, anywhere.

The Small Things That Make a Big Difference

It’s funny that people assume that being on the road means you’re constantly chasing adrenaline or picture-perfect views. And while there’s plenty of that, the reality is that the small moments are the best ones.

Morning light through the blinds. Coffee brewing while the laptop uploads a client gallery. Editing a reel in the back of our Jayco van while rain patters on the roof. Honestly, it’s a life I never knew I needed and a life I crave. Van life isn’t for everyone, but it is most certainly for us. 

The pros kind of outweigh the cons!

Those moments are only possible because I’ve found a way to keep my tools and myself fully charged.

I don’t need a wall socket or a powered campsite. With Mophie, I’ve built my own version of staying connected and plugged in, and one that fits seamlessly into my lifestyle, not the other way around.

Creating, Anywhere

As a creator, I’ve learned that inspiration doesn’t wait for Wi-Fi or a full battery. Sometimes it hits mid-hike or halfway through a storm. Sometimes it’s a fleeting moment of light that you know you’ll regret missing.

Having gear that lets me stay ready and stay powered makes all the difference.

My Powerstation Mini 5K is always with me. It sits in harmony with my phone, charging it while I shoot, hike, or post on the go. It’s so easy I barely think about it, which is the best kind of gear. 

Keeping your phone topped up is essential when you’re a creator

When you’re trying to live in the moment, the last thing you want to think about is whether your tech can keep up.

Freedom, Recharged

The more I travel, the more I realise that power really does equal possibility. Sometimes, random adventures, shoots, or that golden sunset can pop out of nowhere. Reaching for your camera or phone, which is down to the dregs of juice, is one of the most heartbreaking moments as a photographer. 

It’s the ability to extend a trip by a few days because you’re not worried about finding a powered site. It’s being able to edit content on the edge of a mountain, to capture a sunrise shot before anyone else wakes, to reply to clients from the middle of nowhere.

Two different kinds of recharging

mophie isn’t just about charging devices; it’s about enabling our experiences in the backcountry and on our New Zealand adventures. It’s always about saying yes to the long road, the spontaneous detour, and living that off-grid life on the most scenic campsites with the best view you’ve ever seen.

Stay Connected, Stay Powerful

Van life isn’t always glamorous, but it’s always real, and in the middle of all that chaos and beauty, I’ve built a rhythm that works.

I move where the light is good. I create when inspiration strikes. I stay connected when I want to share it and powered when I need to work. That’s the beauty of this life: the freedom to roam, without losing connection to what matters.

With mophie, I don’t worry about running out of battery on my gear or on my journey. They keep me fully charged out here, where power doesn’t come from the wall.

Inspiration comes pretty easily when this is your desk