You’re often greeted with a look of horror when you tell people you’re going camping, as they imagine shivering on the cold ground while doing unmentionable things with possibly rash-inducing leaves.
Calm down, guys. Camping isn’t actually that bad if you do it right. And be honest with yourself. Don’t pretend like you’re Les Stroud and then end up miserable for the next few days. Once you’ve decided where you’re going, there are still lots of little things you can do to make your trip easy and comfortable.
1. Make a list before you go.
This seems obvious, but write down every single thing you’re going to need before you start packing. This way, you’ll be sure not to forget anything.
2. Learn to make a proper fire.
No, dumping out a bunch of charcoal brickettes and dousing them with lighter fluid doesn’t count. You’ll look like an idiot. Many campgrounds will actually sell bundles of wood complete with a starter stick and instructions on how to build a stable fire that will last you all night.
3. Cook with tinfoil.
Cooking in tinfoil is perfect for grills and fires because it keeps moisture and flavor locked in. It can also double as a serving tray.
4. Put pancake batter in a plastic squeeze jar for breakfast.
You will need a pan to cook said pancakes, but pre-made batter in a squeeze bottle makes preparing breakfast easy and neat.
5. Pack frozen bottles of water in coolers.
Plastic bottles only, please! These blocks of ice will keep your food cold and cut down on the amount of bagged ice you’ll have to buy and transport. Once the water melts, you can drink it. If you have a decent cooler (like, not a Styrofoam one), the jugs should stay frozen for a few days.
6. Make a reading light from a headlamp and a water jug.
A headlamp strapped around a jug of water will give you a pretty decent lamp. Just remember that when a light’s on in a tent, other people can see your silhouette. So turn it off before doing anything weird.
7. Keep toilet paper in a coffee container.
If you’re really roughing it and there are no outhouses or bathrooms on your campground, this is a good way to keep toilet paper clean and dry before use.
8. Make toothpaste dots if space is an issue.
Squeeze out dime-sized dots of toothpaste on a paper plate and let dry for about two days. Then sprinkle with baking soda, pop off the plate, and store in a Ziplock bag. Now you don’t have to carry the whole tube.
9. Make one-time-use soap leaves for bathing
These little wafers of soap are great for camping because you don’t have to lug around a soggy soap bar in a Ziplock baggie, which is gross. You can buy them, or you can even make your own by slicing soap into thin wafers. They’ll dissolve after one use. If you’re going to be bathing in a natural body of water, use a biodegradable soap like Ivory.
10. Make an acorn whistle.
If you get separated while hiking, you can make whistles from acorn caps to call out to your friends. Or just annoy everyone else in the campground. Whatever. Here’s how.
11. Keep first aid supplies in a mint tin.
Tweezers, Band-Aids, pins, and a spare bit of tissue all fit easily inside one of these. You can even throw in a mini lighter.
12. Use sage to keep mosquitos at bay.
Sprinkle some dried sage on your fire to keep the bugs away. Plus, it smells nice!
13. Store tape on water bottles.
Instead of bringing the whole roll, just wrap as much tape as you think you’ll need around a plastic water bottle. If you want to use it, just peel some off.
14. Bundle six-pack plastic rings together to make a pan-scrubber.
These things are great for scrubbing caked-on food out of pans. Just make sure that they get properly disposed of when you’re home.
15. Avoid breaking glasses by using silicone cups.
They’re also easy to pack, since they’re collapsable.
16. Three words: Bailey’s-dipped marshmallows.
Yeah, you’re going to want to try this.
17. Make your own sangria.
Get the recipe here, because drinking while camping is a thing.
Remember, as with any trip, planning is everything. You can enjoy camping, stay safe, and remain (relatively) clean if you take time to plan and have the right equipment.
