Simple Camping Tricks to Make Any Trip Fun and Enjoyable

Although it may not be your #1 concern while adventuring into the wild, it is almost definitely near the top of the list. Most people strictly depend on their daily coffee rituals to get them going in the morning. A morning camping in nature is no different. Avoid the stress of preparing a cup of Joe, without the normal convenience of a coffee maker, with these snazzy, little portable coffee bags.

No one wants to slide into a sleeping bag at the end of a long day only for it to be as icy cold as the crisp outdoor air. So what’s a simple solution? Boil some water about a half-hour before you plan on going to sleep and fill all your thermal water bottles with it. Slip them into the closed sleeping bag and you’re all good to go!

Acorns can be found almost everywhere, at almost all different times of the year (although the fallen nuts do make the strongest appearance in the fall months). Next time you walk past all the little shells or hats of the acorn, don’t simply ignore them! Whether you are looking for a fun trail game to play or searching for an extra way to save yourself if you get lost, these DIY acorn whistles are so useful.

Everyone loves a good scavenger hunt…especially when it involves locating fun things along the trail or near the campsite. Whether you need an activity to keep the kids busy while you set up camp, or if you and your friends are looking for something interesting to do, this scavenger hunt is popular with everyone. You can even make it competitive by offering prizes to whoever finds all the items first.

Although it may seem like a bulky item to include in your packing list for a camping trip, you’ll be surprised how useful you will find it. It can be used not only as something to cover your food to keep it safe from pesky flies, bees, and other bugs but also as somewhere convenient to hide away any lightweight objects, protecting them from blowing away in the wind.

Laundry is a quintessential part of camping, especially for longer trips. It’s unlikely that you would be willing to carry with you enough changes of clothes to equip you for an entire week (or more). So instead of carrying around a huge pile of clothes pins for when you do want to hang your laundry out to dry, collect some bread tag closures and they should do the trick perfectly!

Unless you are the type to carry around a heavy speaker with you while camping, this simple hack is a great alternative. Although most people go to nature to well…listen to the sounds of nature, some people need to change it up a bit with some tunes. In case your phone’s volume isn’t loud enough, drop it into an empty plastic cup and be amazed by the amplification of sound.

Ever wonder if there was something you could do with all the extra wine corks you have lying around the house? The perfect recycling solution has finally been found. Attach your keys to a cork just in case you drop them in the water somewhere along the way. Instead of them sinking rapidly to the bottom of the lake, the cork will keep them afloat so you can grab them quickly and store them safely.

Nothing is worse than finding yourself in the middle of nature, with a hot bowl of soup or some rice and beans, and no easy way to eat it. Of course, you always have the option to just dig right in with your hands, but some people prefer the cleaner option of having a utensil. If you’re a part of the latter group, grab an empty soda bottle and a pair of scissors to work the magic.

Although rice is almost certainly the most popular camping food of choice, there is a much-forgotten alternative that is arguably much better – couscous. Couscous is very simple to make and requires less precision with cooking temperatures, which can be especially difficult to regulate over a campfire. And don’t forget that most varieties only take a few short minutes to cook and are just as filling as their competitor.

Maintaining personal hygiene and cleanliness is one of the most important and challenging aspects of camping life. Whether it’s fingernails that are constantly covered in dirt or just the lack of consistent running water, hand washing can become a difficult task. Instead of always struggling to disinfect, consider setting up a portable hand washing station from an empty jug or bucket. All you need is a jug, pantyhose, soap, and water.

Silica gel packets seem to be an unnecessary inconvenience that appears almost everywhere, in shoes, medicine bottles, and the most unsuspecting places. Instead of throwing them away, as most people are guilty of doing on a daily basis, save them for your camping trips. These little packets are masters at absorbing liquid and humidity and maintaining freshness. They don’t include them in many products for no reason, after all.

At one point or another everyone has experienced a zipper malfunction at the worst possible time. Perhaps it was a fly pants zipper that just wouldn’t close right before a presentation or a tent that wouldn’t close right before sleep, letting in all the cold air. Bringing along a candle is a simple and easy way to prevent any zipper complaints in the future. The wax acts as a lubricant keeping zippers sliding smoothly. Just rub it on the problematic zipper and see the difference.

No matter how much tick repellent you apply to keep these persistent and pesky critters away from you, there is always the chance that one of them will make their way through and attach themselves. Since tick-born illnesses can be quite dangerous, it’s very important to remove the tick as soon as possible. This kit, complete with soap, cotton balls, and tweezers will do the trick.

Despite how useful and convenient pop-up tents can be, they oftentimes have the nasty habit of closing in on themselves at the most inconvenient times. Or other times, if it’s raining outside, the water pools up on the top of the tent leading to its collapse. All of this can be prevented with one simple item – a pool noodle. Lodged in the corner as shown in the photo, all your problems will be solved.

There are times when paper plates will let you down. Perhaps the wind is too strong and the paper plate does not have the strength to endure its gusts or maybe your clumsiness caused your entire dinner to tumble to the ground. Either way, there is always a backup plan. In case you are clean out of plates, take a frisbee, flip it upside down, and pile your food right on top.

One of the most important parts of every campsite is keeping it safe, especially from potentially dangerous outsiders. Whether it is a small mouse or a big snake or even a roaming hiker, you want to keep yourself and your belongings safe. What’s a great way to do that? Set up a literal barrier of string around the perimeter of your campsite and attach the string to a mousetrap.

Matches are perhaps singlehandedly the most important thing to pack for any camping trip. Whether you are cooking your own food, building a fire to keep warm, or just lighting candles so you can see in the dark, you don’t want to be left without matches. The problem is that most matchboxes are not waterproof. Add in a little bit of rain and they’re are as good as useless.

Eggs are a staple for breakfast all around the world, offering interesting breakfast varieties from sunnyside up to scrambled to omelets. There’s no need to break your morning tradition and skip the eggs, even if you are on a camping trip. Of course, it’s nearly impossible to bring along fragile eggs that are still in their shells, but there’s an easy solution. Crack however many eggs you need for your trip and store them in a bottle.

Although most true camping and hiking lovers would invest in a waterproof backpack, not everyone considers that a priority. Even if you don’t have a waterproof backpack, you’re going to want to waterproof the contents of your backpack. Instead of packing your items directly into your bag, put them first in a plastic bag. Then store them inside your backpack, sealing it to keep all the water out.

What’s the simplest way to have mess-free bars of soap for everyone to use? Soap shavings! Instead of passing around one big bar of soap that gets wet and soggy and drippy, shave off small slivers of one bar and ration them out to users on a single-use basis. It saves resources, helps with clean-up time, and ensures that you can avoid carrying around a partially used, wet bar of soap all the time.

Who in their right mind doesn’t love a good hammock? Whether it’s a nice and comfy hammock chair or a good old-fashioned hammock hung between two trees, everyone loves relaxing and enjoying the sounds of nature while gently rocking peacefully. And what could be better than a portable hammock chair that attaches to the back of your car? You can relax and take in the beautiful view from anywhere in your hanging car hammock chair.

There is no way your mother will let you leave on a camping trip without bringing along the essentials in case of an emergency. Basic first aid items are critical. No one wants to be left suffering from a cut that needs to be disinfected or a wound that needs to be bandaged. So what is better than a mini first aid kit? Everything you need stored in an empty prescription bottle.

Getting lost on what was supposed to be a relaxing hiking trip is most likely not on anyone’s to-do list. Many people use off-the-beaten-path routes or simply don’t have a good sense of direction, and here is where trail markers come in handy. Buying some biodegradable marking tape and marking your route as you go is a surefire way to prevent yourself from getting lost in the large abyss of the countryside.

Although this is more of a packing tip rather than a camping hack, don’t forget to bring along the duct tape! Never underestimate the power of this remarkable, waterproof tape. Whether you need to patch a rip in your tent, protect your feet from blisters, bandage a wound or seal a broken item, duct tape has you covered….literally. The practical uses for duct tape are endless.

Ok, now despite the fact that some of these items are large and bulky (and may be difficult to carry around with you on your hiking trip), this hack is useful to know. What can you do if you desperately need to wash some clothes while in nature? Grab a bucket that has a hole in it, a plunger, and begin. The suction capabilities in closed space create a functional washing machine effect.

Hiking and camping almost certainly will involve, at one point or another, some mud…probably lots of mud. Your shoes will probably be the hardest hit. Even just a few minutes in a somewhat muddy area will leave your shoes heavy and covered. How can you prevent that mud from spreading to all your clean clothes and belongings? Shower caps are a great way to protect and contain muddy items.

Now despite the fact that frozen water and ice are essentially the exact same thing, it may be a better idea to ditch the ice cubes and bring along frozen water. Fill up jugs or big bottles with water, freeze it and use it instead of ice. Ice can melt and essentially be deemed useless after its coldness disappears. However, if you use these jugs, the water is perfectly usable!

Little is more dreaded from the outside world than the horrendous buzzing and humming of a mosquito, hovering and waiting to launch its attack. No one wants to wake up in the morning covered in itchy and unbearable mosquito bites. To prevent that, before bed, make a small bundle of sage and place it on top of the campfire. The smell often repels the mosquitos, keeping you safe during your slumber.

Recycling is always a good thing, especially when you can reuse something as cute and useful as a Tic Tac container. These small plastic boxes are perfect for storing and carrying a whole array of useful things. With herbs, spices, and salt, you can make a gourmet camping dinner thanks to these small and easy-to-transport containers. You could even bring along some baby powder or cleaning materials in these mini boxes.

Whoever said that the only sweet thing that could be roasted over a campfire was the marshmallow? How did this food claim its dominance over the campfire world? Next time you set up a campfire, don’t shy away from trying other, lesser-known options for sweet and tasty snacks. Although the good old-fashioned s’more is a beloved classic, roasted candies, like Starburst, should share some of the spotlight.

No judgment here…it could happen even to the best. Just in case you somehow run out of firestarters or lose the ability to start a fire from the kindling you gathered from the shrubbery, there is still hope. Grab your snack bag of Doritos and light it on fire (removed from the plastic of course). The flame will last just long enough for you to get a real fire going so you don’t grow cold or hungry.

These snazzy foam-like floor tiles aren’t just for kids, as you might be eager to assume. The puzzle-like pieces are ideal for lining the bottom of your tent to ensure a comfy and cushioned night’s sleep. Although some people like the feeling of the bumpy and uneven earth beneath through their thin tent lining, others are more used to the modern comforts of a mattress and cushions.

You have spent over a week camping and hiking. You are sick and tired of eating the same foods for breakfast every day. And then you remember the bottle of pancake mix that you prepared in advance for this trip. Stored in an empty ketchup bottle, this premade pancake mix can be a lifesaver when you’re craving a luxurious breakfast in the woods. Squeeze out the mix for the perfect mini breakfast pancakes.

Although some camping sites do offer somewhat luxurious amenities such as public bathrooms or port-a-potties, it’s likely that at some point you’ll have to answer the call of nature in the most natural way possible. Instead of carrying around an entire roll of toilet paper with you every time you have to go, make this handy toilet paper holder, complete with a string handle to carry it with ease.

Everyone loves travel-sized items. To see our favorite, everyday products, marketed in cute and mini packing is not only satisfying but thoroughly adorable. However, not all products are available in travel size, and sometimes even travel size is too large. That’s where these mini straw containers are useful. Melt one side of a cut piece of straw together, fill it with your product, and close the other side by melting it together.

One of the biggest challenges of cooking in nature is not simply the washing of the dishes, but more so how to dry the dishes without getting them all dirty again. Next time you’re struggling with this, grab your belt, wrap it around a tree and find some pegs or hooks to attach to it. Hang your dishes there to dry comfortably, keeping them far away enough from dirt to stay clean until the next use.

Coal is a messy substance. And a bag of coal is a heavy thing that most people would like to avoid carrying around. However, many people choose coal to help start their fire during a camping trip. Looking for a way to keep it both light and tidy? Fill an empty egg carton with pieces of coal where the eggs normally would be. Close it up, set it on fire, and voila!

Maybe you forgot your lantern or perhaps your flashlight broke along the way. Regardless, there is always a backup plan. Take your head torch and attach it to a gallon of water or a water bottle. Make sure the light faces the bottle and water themselves. The combination will cause a bright lantern effect on the container allowing you to roam about your camp freely with a reliable source of light.

These extended and long candles may seem a bit weird at first glance…why would anyone need a candle that long? But think about how useful it will be when you want to create a nice barrier of light around your campsite. You can’t just place a candle on the ground, you might start a forest fire! So these candles attached to a long stick are the best solution. They’re also great to create a romantic ambiance for a special night.