Are you ready to go camping this year? Here are some of my favorite tried and true camping tricks to help you get the most fun from your time in the “wild”.
The most outdoorsy of us like to go camping all year round, in all kinds of weather. It’s relaxing, and the idea of getting away from it all is just so appealing, even if there is 2 inches of snow on the ground.
There are a lot of benefits to going camping, from the relaxation and “getting away from it all” to the idea of just having down time. You can get close to mother nature, and spend time away from the hustle and bustle of daily life.
Truly, time spent in the great outdoors is never wasted.
Going camping, however, does have some drawbacks. Aside from setting up your tent on a level space, finding potable water or even a bathroom, you may have to deal with bugs or other wild animals.
Having proper camping equipment is essential to a successful camping trip. Great camping comes with great responsibility. You may be quite a few miles from being able to replenish your supplies such as food and water.
Being prepared for your next camping trip will before you go will help you have a far more enjoyable time.
Here are some of my favorite tried and true camping hacks, along with some of the best camping tips and tricks ever to help you get the most fun from your time in the “wild”.
Save Your Old Coffee Canisters throughout the Year
They will come in handy when camping because they are non breakable, and easy to clean with a tight fitting lid. Coffee canisters can store all kinds of things for you while camping, such as:
- toilet paper (there’s nothing worse than finding out your roll got wet!)
- holding condiment packages from restaurants you collected
- Storing any needed salves, essential oils or salves
- keeping both cloth and paper napkins clean and dry until use
- storing waterproofed matches and dryer lint (for fire starting)
- holding toothbrushes and toothpaste
- Keeping paper towels dry and handy.
What about Food?
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You will need to eat while camping, and unless you plan on foraging for/fishing/gathering all your food while you are camping, you have to bring some along with you.
Here are some of my favorite camping food hacks:
- Crack your eggs into a canning jar with a tight light and serve scrambled eggs for breakfast and avoid messy breakage. This will also save space in your cooler.
- Repurposed tic-tac containers make great spice holders…just clean out and dry and fill with salt, pepper, and other spices you will need!
- Pre-cut as many veggies and fruits as you can to make meal time easier
- Pre-made mixes for pancakes make breakfast a snap
- Bring a hanging organizer to keep all your essentials such as cooking utensils, pots and pans, napkins and tablewear handy and out of the way.
- keep food cold by filling containers with your drinking water and freezing before hand.
- Lemon filled with cloves will help to keep the flies away from your food.
- A plastic dishpan makes meal clean up a breeze. Just fill with soapy water and wash as you go.
- Think outside the hot dog-plan simple meals that include lots of fresh veggies and raw fruits to make meal time easier. Sandwiches, salads, wraps are all great choices that require no cooking.
- Don’t forget to bring something for starting a fire. Your fire starter can be as simple as dry newspaper, kindling found locally, or even a stash of dryer lint brought with you.
- Add a water bottle that you can refill from a water jug to help keep trash down. Having a water bottle with a filter is also great for those times when your brought water supply is dwindling.
- Don’t forget the marshmallows!
Layer Your Clothes
Of course, you probably won’t want to run around with no clothes on while camping, right?
So, you’ll need to bring some clothing with you. Clothing needs to be thought of in layers. You may experience extreme weather swings, from hot in the day to cold at night.
- Pack 1/2 of the clothing you think you need-you can always wear a pair of shorts or jeans 2 days in a row while camping.
- To maximize space, especially when tent camping, roll your clothing when packing instead of folding.
- Think outside the suitcase or backpack and bring your clothing in a soft clothing hamper, and use that to bring dirty clothing home.
- Bring extra rope to fashion a clothesline at your camping spot for towels, bathing suits and other items.
- Bring a 5 gallon bucket and clean plunger to do any necessary laundry while camping, and lay them out to dry.
Sleeping Arrangements While Camping
You will most likely want to sleep at some point. When we go camping, I like to spend nearly the first entire day “downloading” and just unwinding.
That means lots of naps. Sleeping comfortably while camping can be a struggle, with with these camping hacks, you’ll get those much desired “zzzzzs”.
- 2 or 3 light blankets will keep you warmer than one thick sleeping bag. You can also peel a layer off if you get too warm.
- If you only want to use a sleeping bag, to keep warm and dryer when sleeping, try laying foam floor pieces under your bag. This has worked great for many to also keep dry if it happens to rain.
- To keep flies and mosquitoes away, keep your tent zipped up as much as possible.
- Some natural bug spray or bite stick will also help keep the bugs away
- Cots or hammocks can be comfortable to sleep in, but the cold can blow underneath you. They are best in summer camping.
And, for those other items you bring while camping:
- Use a clothespin to keep your toothbrush from coming in contact with the ground.
- A bin of stacking boxes is a great way to keep your personal items organized, such as underwear, shampoo, brushes and extra towels.
- Add a hatchet or saw to your gear in case you need to cut firewood into smaller pieces.
- Add a few plastic bags for garbage or sanitary disposal.
- A roll of duct tape can come in handy for fixing emergency tears in the tent.
- Make sure you have your first aid kit with you in case of emergencies.
- An extra battery operated lantern or flashlight. Bring extra batteries, too.
- Extra rope. For all the reasons you CAN’T think of right now. You won’t be sorry to have it along.
- Notebook and pen for studying plants around you.
- From Teri at HomesteadHoney “Keep a Rubbermaid container packed with camping essentials, including designated plates, bowls, cups, and utensils, so packing is a breeze.”
- From Colleen at Grow Forage Cook Ferment “we would always raid empty (unoccupied) campsites for firewood, especially at popular campgrounds or after busy weekends.”
If you plan on going foraging while you are camping, read this post first!
What did I miss? What are some of your favorite “camping hacks”? Will you try some of these awesome camping tricks? Be sure to pin this to your favorite board for later
Heather’s homesteading journey started in 2006, with baby steps: first, she got a few raised beds, some chickens, and rabbits. Over the years, she amassed a wealth of homesteading knowledge, knowledge that you can find in the articles of this blog.
One pot cooking is super easy for camping too! I love your ideas – clever lady!
One thing that I feel is essential to every camping kit is a at least 100ft of paracord, I usually bring 3 100ft hanks of this stuff. It can be used to replace a broken shooelace, it can be used to hang clothes, you can unthread it and use it for fishing or even sewing. The limits of this essential camping tool are primarily limited by your imagination.
THAT IS A GREAT ADDITION!! Thank you for that! I don’t know why I didn’t think of it, because my sons are both boy scouts and wear like 10 of those paracord bracelets!
If you are tent camping I would suggest tarp under the tent to protect the floor from rocks and sticks, a tarp on the floor of the tent in case water comes in during a heavy rain, and a last tarp owner the tent to protect it from sun exposure. Happy camping!
a tarp is a great idea! thanks for adding that!
YES ! A tarp under the tent and another inside that goes up the sides about 6 inches, keeps the inside nice and dry when the rains come !
ooh! that’s a GREAT idea! Thanks for sharing!
Take a toilet roll.
Lots of Ziploc bags.
Really consider whether your clothes will be suitable for what you need to be doing, it is too late when you have spent the day uncomfortable in your clothes.
Enjoy it, my favorite ever time.
Ziploc bags are a GREAT addition!!
The tic tac containers for spices is a brilliant idea! Unfortunately, we don’t consume them. I just pick up the usual culprits at the dollar store every season, and what doesn’t get used camping ends up getting used at home. Since we have a pop up camper, we have a lot of items that are stored in it for the season. One item I would add is solar lights. You can get them cheap, at the dollar store. They are good for marking things you might bump into at night, decorating your campsite, and so on. I keep bullion cubes on hand (I know, the sodium….) but on cool evenings you might want something to warm you up, I use larger storage bowls for dishwashing, so multipurpose. I carry fabric softener sheets. I place them under/over mattresses and throughout the camper when it gets closed up for travel. Broom and dustpan, even if the smaller handheld kind, for all kinds of clean up. We also carry a shepherds hook to hang a lantern in whatever strategic spot we need. Sheesh, I think I could go on and on. Think we’ve been camping for a while LOL?
those are GREAT additions! Thanks for sharing, I love the idea of solar lights!
Great tips.
One thing (besides my pot & frying pan) I plan to bring on my next camping trip is my seldom used wok. It comes with a base that would be ideal to put right on the camp pit that most camping sites have.
That’s a GREAT idea! Thanks for sharing that! I’ll be packing my seldom used one for that reason, too!!!
I like to make baked potatoes or baked yams while camping in the morning poke your potatoes then wrap in foil really well then use a shovel to move your hot coals places the potatoes in the fire pit and cover with the hot coals by dinner you have hot baked potatoes