The difference between a good camping trip and a great one is usually a handful of small tricks. These 15 camping hacks are simple, cheap and tested by campers everywhere. Try a few on your next trip and you will wonder how you ever camped without them.
Sleep Warmer and Better
1. Put tomorrow’s clothes in your sleeping bag. They stay warm overnight and you will not have to pull on ice-cold clothes in the morning.
2. Use a hot water bottle. Fill a sturdy, leak-proof bottle with hot (not boiling) water and slide it into your sleeping bag at your feet 15 minutes before bed.
3. Insulate from the ground. Most cold nights come from below, not above. A good sleeping pad matters more than a thicker sleeping bag.
4. Pitch your tent on high, flat ground. Low spots collect cold air and rainwater. Lie down on the spot before you stake it out to check for roots and rocks.
Light Up Camp the Smart Way
5. Wear a headlamp, always. Hands-free light makes cooking, setting up and late-night bathroom trips much easier. Switch to red mode to keep your night vision and avoid blinding your friends.
6. Make a lantern out of a water jug. Strap a headlamp to a gallon jug of water with the light facing in. The water spreads the light and fills the whole tent with a soft glow.
7. Use glow sticks on guylines. Tie a glow stick or reflective cord to each guyline so nobody trips over them in the dark.
Cook Faster and Cleaner
8. Prep meals at home. Chop vegetables, mix pancake batter and marinate meat before you leave. Store everything in zip-top bags in the cooler.
9. Freeze water bottles instead of buying ice. They keep your cooler cold for days and become drinking water as they melt.
10. Pack a “camp kitchen box.” Keep a plastic bin stocked with your stove, lighter, utensils, spices, soap and paper towels so you never forget the basics.
11. Boil water with the lid on. It heats much faster and saves fuel, which matters on longer trips.
Stay Organized and Comfortable
12. Use a shoe organizer. Hang an over-the-door shoe organizer inside your tent or on a tree to hold small items like sunscreen, bug spray and flashlights.
13. Bring a doormat. Put one outside your tent door to keep dirt and leaves out of your sleeping area.
14. Keep bugs away naturally. Burn sage or rosemary on the edge of your campfire, wear light-colored clothing and keep sweet food sealed.
15. Leave no trace. Pack a small trash bag and take everything out with you. Drown your campfire, stir the ashes and drown it again before bed or leaving.
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Final Tip
Do a test run in your backyard before a big trip. Setting up your tent and stove at home is the easiest way to find what is missing. For a complete packing list, see our essential camping gear checklist.