Camping is a wonderfully restorative activity that charges your internal batteries in ways you can’t even describe. One helpful hint is to make yourself as comfy and happy as possible by preparing a little bit beforehand. Here are 8 DIY camping tricks to use before your next adventure into The Great Outdoors that will make your trip even better.
1. Not That Much Duct Tape
Duct tape is ridiculously useful at home, so imagine how nice it is to have for a variety of reasons while camping. However, it is a bit bulky, and many times you probably don’t need an entire 250-yard roll. Try wrapping 10-20 yards around the water bottle you plan to take. It only adds a little bulk to the bottle and will be so convenient for when you inevitably need a piece.
2. Meals Prepped and Vacuum Sealed
Investing in a vacuum sealer is a smart idea if you’re a regular camper. Having your meals prepared already and in extreme space-saving conditions will be a lifesaver on the trail. You can be sure your meals are healthy and fresh without having to do all the chopping at camp. Simply cut open the bags and heat. Spend that time going for a stroll and listening to the sounds of the forest.
3. Protect Your Valuable TP
Wet toilet is almost worse than no toilet paper, and no toilet paper is a drag while camping. Sure, you can use nature (think leaves and grasses), but taking the extra time to toss your roll of toilet paper into a nice, dry coffee can is a marvelous idea. Bonus points for threading a makeshift handle on the can to carry it easier! Make sure you burn or carry out your toilet paper.
Source: Shutterstock4. Keep it Hot, Keep it Cold
It’s less of a DIY but is definitely a good idea to plan ahead with this one. With the plethora of thermos and coffee mug style beverage containers on the market, you can surely afford one of your own. This is totally worth the indulgence! Making coffee on a campfire is no easy feat, and you’ll be glad yours is hot hours later. (Same goes for cold cocktails with limited ice in the evenings!)
5. Ready-made Scrambled Eggs
Everybody likes a big batch of scrambled eggs cooked over a morning campfire, but carrying a dozen fragile eggs is a drag! Simply crack all the eggs into a bowl and beat them prior to leaving. Grab a reusable, sealable water bottle and put your eggs into that instead. Voila! Eggs ready for cooking and no broken shells while hiking.
6. Firestarters Out of Egg Cartons
While on that egg theme, save the cardboard cartons of your eggs for several dozens leading up to your camping trip. Before leaving, get a bag of charcoal briquettes and place one briquette in each egg slot of several cartons. These are your firestarters! Light the entire carton on fire and what is left are your smoldering briquettes that will be ready for grilling shortly.
Source: Shutterstock7. Enhance Light With Water
If you are car camping or hauling water in, this is a nice trick for you. Simply strap your headlight around your gallon of water (a clearish water bottle works too) facing in towards the water. The water spreads the light around and creates an ambient glow for your campsite and/or inside your tent. Starlight is glorious, but it’s nice to see a little better when you’re trying to put on your PJs and brush your teeth.
8. Shrink Your Spices Down
Most food tastes pretty delicious after a long day hiking but don’t skimp on flavor just because spices can be bulky. Either buy a little set of small spice containers so you don’t have to bring your full bottles, or make your own with something as simple as tic tac holders. Whatever you do, don’t forget the salt. Bland food is the worst while camping!!
Final Thoughts….
Bring a pen and paper along to make notes next time you have a camping adventure. It’s nice to jot down thoughts about what you liked about your supplies, as well as ideas for your next trip. It will come in handy in the future! Comfort and preparedness are the keys for a successful trip.
