TIPS
Protect your toilet paper. A super easy hack that can keep your toilet paper from being crushed and keep it from getting wet if you accidentally drop stuff in the water or if it starts to rain. Just take a coffee can (my father’s been using cylindrical Quaker oatmeal tins for years, and they work just as well), pop the TP in, and cut a slit in the side to run the paper out of. Pack a cooler like a boss.The more space you conserve, the more room there is for beer and hot dogs. Sage is a natural mosquito repellent.Throw some on the fire every now and then, and it should help keep them away. Use Doritos as tinder.While it probably doesn’t say anything great about the nutritional content of Doritos, they actually work pretty well as kindling if, say, it just rained and you’re having trouble getting a fire lit. You can also use the lint from your laundry dryer’s filter. Conserve (and don’t lose) soap.It sucks if you drop your one bar of soap in the lake and have to root around the bottom to find it. So, instead, get a bar of soap, peel it up with a vegetable peeler, and use a single slice per bath. Pack more firestarters.It’s just circular cotton pads dipped in wax. Know your knots!As any Boy Scout knows, knots aren’t a one-type-fits-all deal. Learn a few, and it’ll make your camping (and your life) easier. |
Create a makeshift lantern. You’d be surprised how much light it provides. They actually use old soda bottles as solar light bulbs in some parts of the world. Spice that shit up. There’s no excuse for bland food, even in the middle of the woods. Use Tic Tac containers. Create a makeshift music speaker.You don’t need to bring big speakers or even a separate speaker plugin for your phone: A phone or an iPod in a ceramic mug will work just fine. Pack a backpack like a boss.If you’re gonna be moving, pack efficiently. Keep your clothes warm.Especially if you’re camping in the winter, you can keep your clothes warm by putting the next day’s clothes in your sleeping bag while you sleep. Make coffee easy to make.Just put some coffee in a coffee filter, tie it up with dental floss, and then use it as a teabag in hot water. Bring quick and dirty firestarters.If you don’t want to burn through a billion matches, do this: coat a cotton ball in Vaseline and then wrap it in a square of aluminum foil. When it’s time to use it, cut an X in the foil, pull a bit of the cotton out, twist it into a wick, and light it. It should last about 10 minutes. Carry a portable charcoal grill.Charcoal in a cardboard egg carton. Light the carton. Fire started. Seriously, guys, you can cook virtually anything in foil.Three cheese potatoes. Burgers. Sausage. Lumberjack breakfast. Pineapple upside-down cake. Nachos. All in foil. |
1. Roll Your Clothes: Save space by packing your outfits rolled together. Also, a brilliant idea for kiddos!
2. Family Packing List: A great way to stay organized as you’re packing your whole family up for a trip!
3. Personal Packing Lists: These individual lists are perfect for letting the kids get packed themselves – saving YOU time and giving them some responsibility they can handle.
4. Mini Medicine Cabinet: Taking tons of bottles takes up tons of space – what a great way to be efficient!
5. Shower Cap Covers: Use this packing idea especially on the way home, to keep all of the camping dirt in its place.
6. Packing T.P.: An essential that no one really wants to discuss – keep your toilet paper dry with this trick!
7. Eggs in a Bottle: Instead of worrying about breaking eggs along the way, crack all the eggs you’ll need into a bottle!
8. Straws: Pack medicine (or spices) in straws and seal the ends with heat!
2. Family Packing List: A great way to stay organized as you’re packing your whole family up for a trip!
3. Personal Packing Lists: These individual lists are perfect for letting the kids get packed themselves – saving YOU time and giving them some responsibility they can handle.
4. Mini Medicine Cabinet: Taking tons of bottles takes up tons of space – what a great way to be efficient!
5. Shower Cap Covers: Use this packing idea especially on the way home, to keep all of the camping dirt in its place.
6. Packing T.P.: An essential that no one really wants to discuss – keep your toilet paper dry with this trick!
7. Eggs in a Bottle: Instead of worrying about breaking eggs along the way, crack all the eggs you’ll need into a bottle!
8. Straws: Pack medicine (or spices) in straws and seal the ends with heat!
9. Cooler Racks: Keep your food dry by keeping it away from melting ice.
10. Pack Spices: These containers are perfect for pills, condiments or spices!
11. Packing Condiments: Instead of tons of bottles, keep the small packets from restaurants.
12. Pack Dryer Sheets: Stick them in your bag to prevent weird smells and stick them underneath the tablecloth to keep bees away!
13. Camping Notebook: Create a notebook with EVERYTHING you need stored in one place.
14. Menu Planning: Printables perfect for helping you organize each meal at the campsite.
10. Pack Spices: These containers are perfect for pills, condiments or spices!
11. Packing Condiments: Instead of tons of bottles, keep the small packets from restaurants.
12. Pack Dryer Sheets: Stick them in your bag to prevent weird smells and stick them underneath the tablecloth to keep bees away!
13. Camping Notebook: Create a notebook with EVERYTHING you need stored in one place.
14. Menu Planning: Printables perfect for helping you organize each meal at the campsite.
15. More Packing Ideas: Check out all these additional ideas for packing – everything from packing the car to back up rain gear!
16. Snacks to Pack: Tips on what to bring and what to leave at home.
17. Sleep Warm: Everything you’ll need to bring and need to know in order to sleep at night. Plus, try out this Warm Water Bottle Hack.
18. Wildlife Knowledge: It’s important to plan ahead and stay informed about what to do if you encounter wildlife.
19. Duct Taped Water Bottle: Pack it by attaching it to a water bottle. We used to always say ‘Duct tapes fixes everything.’ Not totally true, but there are a TON of Duct Tape Hacks.
20. Mason Jar Dispenser: Perfect for down-sizing any liquid, this mason jar hack is EASY to make and saves so much space!
16. Snacks to Pack: Tips on what to bring and what to leave at home.
17. Sleep Warm: Everything you’ll need to bring and need to know in order to sleep at night. Plus, try out this Warm Water Bottle Hack.
18. Wildlife Knowledge: It’s important to plan ahead and stay informed about what to do if you encounter wildlife.
19. Duct Taped Water Bottle: Pack it by attaching it to a water bottle. We used to always say ‘Duct tapes fixes everything.’ Not totally true, but there are a TON of Duct Tape Hacks.
20. Mason Jar Dispenser: Perfect for down-sizing any liquid, this mason jar hack is EASY to make and saves so much space!
21. Belt Tool Holder: Since table space is always at a premium, use a belt as a place to store kitchen essentials.
22. Picnic Blanket: Not all campsites are equipped with a picnic table. This blanket is PERFECT for camping – it stores nicely and has a strap and sewn-in insert to make folding easy!
23. Shower Caddy: Keep everything you need for a trip to the bathroom in one handy place!
24. Super Dry Towel: Regular towels take up SO much space, but these little ones are space-efficient and fast drying!
25. Crayon Fire Starters: Got old or broken crayons lying around? Make use of them at your next camp outing!
26. Trick Candles: Pack trick candles for windy camping trips so that if the wind blows them out, they’ll relight themselves! You can get some relighting trick candles here.
22. Picnic Blanket: Not all campsites are equipped with a picnic table. This blanket is PERFECT for camping – it stores nicely and has a strap and sewn-in insert to make folding easy!
23. Shower Caddy: Keep everything you need for a trip to the bathroom in one handy place!
24. Super Dry Towel: Regular towels take up SO much space, but these little ones are space-efficient and fast drying!
25. Crayon Fire Starters: Got old or broken crayons lying around? Make use of them at your next camp outing!
26. Trick Candles: Pack trick candles for windy camping trips so that if the wind blows them out, they’ll relight themselves! You can get some relighting trick candles here.
27. Bowls for Pets: Camping is the perfect pet-friendly trip and we LOVE that these bowls come complete with portable storage!
28. Storage Cart: Even if this is supposed to be for the beach, it’s really ideal for any outdoor adventure!
29. Unbreakable Cups: Cups that don’t crack or break when they’re dropped (and they WILL get dropped).
30. Self-Cleaning Washcloth: It seems odd and totally contradictory but it seems to work!
31. Tin Can Luminaries: The CUTEST way to light up your campsite. It feels kind of vintage too, dontcha think?!
32. Collapsible Bucket: Buckets are a necessity, but it’s not necessary to try to awkwardly fit them into the car.
33. Wax Fire Starters: Homemade and simple technique for helping your fire to get going, using some cotton facial pads like these.
34. Mason Jar Tiki Torches: DIY torches – you can even fill them with oils that will repel insect, like this stuff. Don’t you love when things are dual purpose?!
28. Storage Cart: Even if this is supposed to be for the beach, it’s really ideal for any outdoor adventure!
29. Unbreakable Cups: Cups that don’t crack or break when they’re dropped (and they WILL get dropped).
30. Self-Cleaning Washcloth: It seems odd and totally contradictory but it seems to work!
31. Tin Can Luminaries: The CUTEST way to light up your campsite. It feels kind of vintage too, dontcha think?!
32. Collapsible Bucket: Buckets are a necessity, but it’s not necessary to try to awkwardly fit them into the car.
33. Wax Fire Starters: Homemade and simple technique for helping your fire to get going, using some cotton facial pads like these.
34. Mason Jar Tiki Torches: DIY torches – you can even fill them with oils that will repel insect, like this stuff. Don’t you love when things are dual purpose?!
35. Pool Noodles: Bring pool noodles cut into smaller sections with a slit down one side. They’re perfect for storing cords, hanging towels and holding cards.
36. Pencil Sharpener Fire Starter: Use a shavings to create the perfect kindling.
37. Solar Lanterns: No electricity needed to keep your campsite well-lit.
38. Spork: Cut down on the utensils you need to bring – this is an all in one tool!
39. Campfire Sage: Sage is a natural insect repellent – use it to make a more inviting camp atmosphere.
40. Match Mason Jars: Keep matches together and essentially water-proof so your fire is ready right away.
36. Pencil Sharpener Fire Starter: Use a shavings to create the perfect kindling.
37. Solar Lanterns: No electricity needed to keep your campsite well-lit.
38. Spork: Cut down on the utensils you need to bring – this is an all in one tool!
39. Campfire Sage: Sage is a natural insect repellent – use it to make a more inviting camp atmosphere.
40. Match Mason Jars: Keep matches together and essentially water-proof so your fire is ready right away.
41. Fitted Sheet Over Crib: Just bring an extra fitted sheet and keep your little bit safe from sun and bugs.
42. Activities in the Dirt: Let the kids completely embrace the outdoors – let them play in the dirt!
43. Activity Bags: Because somehow, boredom always seems to creep in with the littles.
44. Color Fires: As if fire wasn’t cool enough… make it glow in fun colors!
45. Road Trip in a Box: Unless you’re camping in the backyard, you’ll definitely want to create this entertainment kit for the trip TO the campsite!
46. Camping Kid Bed: You’ll totally use this even if you’re not camping. Envision trips to the grandparents or even hotel rooms without enough beds. What kid wouldn’t love their own, private tent?
47. Nature Hike Bracelet: There is really no way that this craft could be any easier. PLUS you don’t have to carry all of the things they pick up along the way!
48. Camping Charades: The classic and hilarious game, with an outdoor/camping twist!
42. Activities in the Dirt: Let the kids completely embrace the outdoors – let them play in the dirt!
43. Activity Bags: Because somehow, boredom always seems to creep in with the littles.
44. Color Fires: As if fire wasn’t cool enough… make it glow in fun colors!
45. Road Trip in a Box: Unless you’re camping in the backyard, you’ll definitely want to create this entertainment kit for the trip TO the campsite!
46. Camping Kid Bed: You’ll totally use this even if you’re not camping. Envision trips to the grandparents or even hotel rooms without enough beds. What kid wouldn’t love their own, private tent?
47. Nature Hike Bracelet: There is really no way that this craft could be any easier. PLUS you don’t have to carry all of the things they pick up along the way!
48. Camping Charades: The classic and hilarious game, with an outdoor/camping twist!