Going camping can be a lot of fun and these days there are so many great accessories and tools to help you have a great experience. Whether you’re heading out glamping, really roughing it, or even staying in an RV, there are some great camping hacks to be aware of.
Take a look at these simple tips to help you make the most of your next camping experience.
Camping in the Rain Hacks
First things first. If you head out camping in the rain, you run the risk of having wet gear and no one wants that. Of course, you can set up a tarp or a rain cover for the tent but you also need to be able to protect all your gear from the rain.
You can pack things up in garbage bags to help keep them dry but there is one specific hack we want to share here. When you’re packing your bags and your gear, use trash liners to place all around your bags on the inside. This way, you line your bags and place a protective layer around your items.
And you don’t have to just carry around trash bags of gear either. Trash bags are inexpensive so this is a great way to protect your clothes and sleeping items. We much like the Aluf Plastics 33 Gallon Liners. These liners are touch and best of all are packed neatly in a star-sealed coreless roll so bags will disperse one at a time.
Ditch the Pillow
If you’re trying to save room with your camping, you need camping storage hacks to do so. Everyone needs a pillow, right? But what if you could simply make your own pillow packing the gear you will be taking anyway?
How do you do it? Well, instead of packing a pillow, just grab an empty pillowcase. Stuff that pillowcase with the clothing items that you plan to take on the trip. You reduce storage for the space that the pillow will take. You also have a made-up pillow that will be cozy for bed.
It’s a great way to serve a dual purpose and save some room in your packing practices.
Kitchen & Cooking Hacks
There are several great hacks for your cooking items that you need to take camping with you. Of course, you can pack a portable grill or simply rely on a campfire for your cooking needs. However, if you’re camping you likely have food and a cooler to carry along with you.
Unless you are backpacking, you probably are bringing along several kitchen items that you need camping food hacks to help with. Try to place food items in the cooler as it will be more secure. Other food items should all be safely packed in latching totes.
One of the best cooler hacks is to bring along a sled or some flat palette that you can use to load things up and drag them to your campsite. This is particularly helpful if your cooler doesn’t have wheels.
Here are a few great dollar-store camping hacks for your food and kitchen supplies.
- Use foam tubes or PVC pipes to secure knives
- Use Tic Tac or small containers to bring seasoning and spices
- Keep it simple with compact and lightweight items
- Prep and plan meals before you go. check out this post we just published on 5 great make-ahead
- Make ice blocks with gallon jugs to prevent melted ice messes
All of these things can be quite helpful!
Keep Mosquitoes Away
You can repel mosquitoes using some of those herbs and spices you packed for the kitchen goods. Did you know that sage repels mosquitoes? If you can bring some dried sage with you, it will be beneficial. We are big fans of the Organic Biokoma Sage. This product is from a small business brand that we love and support.
Just toss a little bit of sage in the campfire and allow it to burn. The smoke will smell nice and keep those pesky fliers away! No citronella candles or heavy lanterns to pack. And if you forgot your bug spray, no problem there either!
Camping Hacks to Stay Cool
Are you finding it hard to cool down or stay cool when you’re camping? Perhaps you ended up in a very hot location or somewhere humid. There are several things you can do to help with this.
The best thing to do is bring along a portable fan. You can set this up inside or outside of your tent to move some air. If you have ice, try setting a bowl of ice in front of the fan to pass some cooler air for you.
Opening up the tent during the day or even pulling the tent down can be helpful too. If you’re able to take tarps and rain flies down, this helps allow air to circulate so much more. All of these small things can help you stay much cooler.
RV Camping Hacks
Finally, if you’re staying in an RV, there are some things that can help your stay be more smooth. You’re going to need camping organization hacks to help keep things stored inside the camper without taking up excessive space.
Here are some great camping trailer hacks to put to use!
- Command strips can provide handy storage even in tight spaces. Use these for flashlights, brooms, tools, and more
- Small appliances work best and you won’t have to rely on fire for everything. Many campers recommend an Instant Pot to make cooking easy with your RV. You might also try an air fryer if you prefer. Better you can try this Instant Pot Duo – Electric Pressure Cooker and Air Fryer Combo. This little magic gadget comes with specifically designed lids for each function. So instead of having to pack 2 electronics all, you need to carry is this combination of electronics.
- Make sure you have some basic tools just in case there are any simple repairs that need to occur. You never know when you might need some screws, an electrical tester, or even a screwdriver for a simple fix. We like the Cartman 148 Piece Tool Set. The tools are organized well in a sturdy container and can be stored easily.
Camping is an Adventure!
Camping is meant to be an adventure. But you can still plan for a great trip with these simple camping hacks. Whether you need to know how to pack lightly or keep things safe, we’ve got you covered. It’s always best to be as ingenuous as possible and pack light while making sure you have everything you need.
