In real life, camping isn't as glamorous as in the movies. You may miss the comfort of your home at first. But, hey! Don't get us wrong: it's a fantastic experience that everyone should try at least once. We've prepared a few hacks that will make your camping trip easier. It's not rocket science. You don't need many tools, just some creativity, and you'll be fine. So, we guarantee you'll learn some DIY hacks to save money while having fun. Are you ready? Let's go!
Filter your coffee in no time!
Some people say that a good cup of coffee is like an elixir of life. Are you one of them? You could skip this hack and read the next one if you said no. The following hack would blow your mind if you said yes, especially if you are in the middle of nowhere on a chilly night.
The best part is that a coffee maker will not be necessary. But it will be of great help if you take some coffee grounds and dental floss with you. What's next? Boil the water, put the ground coffee in the filter, tie it with dental floss, and let the water absorb the flavor for a couple of minutes. Then you can enjoy a delicious cup of coffee effortlessly.
Warm-up your sleeping bag
When camping, it's essential to maintain a comfortable temperature. But you may not always have access to fire in a cold place. We want to share a tip that could be very useful for you. We know that you don't want to freeze to death during those days, so keep reading to discover this handy trick.
Take a pen and paper and write this down, so you don't forget it. The first thing you have to do is boil water and put it in glass bottles. Please, do it at least half an hour before bedtime. Then, take those bottles and leave them in your sleeping bag for a few minutes. Then, when you're finally ready to sleep for the night, you'll have a warm bed.
Make a natural whistle
Explorers need to have a portable first-aid kit. They also need other tools to deal with any emergency—for example, a whistle. Yeah, having one of those in your backpack would come in handy if you get lost in the forest. However, what if you forget the whistle at home? Houston, we have a problem! But, don't worry, there is always a solution for every issue.
Nature is very wise. Really. Once you learn a few tricks, you'll feel more at ease. Let's go back to the whistle. Did you know that you can use an acorn cap to substitute them? That's right, and you can find one in the forest! Hold the hollow part as shown in the picture, blow into it, and voilá! Now you have an eco-friendly whistle.
Bread tags as clothespins? Yes
We aim to simplify your camping experience, but there's no escaping the cleanup, no matter how much you try. We would like to grant you the wish not to do the washing while camping like Aladdin's genie, but, as you might have noticed, that's not possible. Instead, however, we'll give you a few tips to hang your freshly washed clothes without using traditional clothespins.
First, we have to ask a random question: do you like bread? If your answer is “yes,” it is a good sign because you need a lot of bread tags for this hack. Instead of using clothespins to hang your clothes, you can use them. If you know someone who buys a lot of bread, you can ask them to save the tags for you.
Use a cake carrier as a guardian
What utensils do you prefer to carry when away from home for a few days? Some people take cardboard or plastic plates and other utensils when camping because they weigh less. So we need to show you how to save these resources, not only for yourself but also for the planet!
If you leave your plates and silverware out on the floor, there are two options: they can get lost or can get dirty. You can use a cake carrier to keep them protected to avoid this. In addition to saving the dishes from getting lost and becoming unusable, you'll also avoid using too much water.
Keep your children focused and happy
Let's say you decided to go camping for the first time with your children. There are many myths about taking children on these adventures, so you might think it will be a tedious experience for the kids before you even try it. If you're worried about that, lighten up! There are many things they can do to have fun.
In the forest, there are a lot of activities to do. For example, how about collecting different types of plants and natural elements? Take a look at the photo above. You can also bring a template like the one in the picture to guide the kids in their search. It will help them stay focused and connected to nature as they learn.
Don't lose your keys!
Camping near the sea or a beautiful lake is one of the greatest pleasures in the world. However, if you're going near the water, you have to be careful with your keys! Nobody wants them to fall to the bottom of a lake. So, what is the best option? Leave them in the tent or keep them with you?
Some people will tell you not to carry your keys with you, and we understand why. But imagine you want to go fishing and don't feel confident leaving your keys in the tent, whatever the reason. Well, tie them to a cork from a wine bottle! The keys will float if you drop them in the water.
How to turn up the music in the forest
Many people go camping in search of peace, adventure, and relaxation. However, that doesn't mean the party should stop. If you're a music lover and want to hear more than just the wind, some animal sounds, and your thoughts, we've got a trick you'll love. You'll have no excuse not to do it unless you want to meditate all day long.
You can use your phone to play music for one or more people at a party. But what if the speaker on your phone is too low? Simple! Use a cup (empty, of course) to amplify the sound. Your ears will thank you!
Make a DIY plastic spoon
Reusing whatever resources you might have at hand is always an excellent choice. While we know how harmful plastic can be, giving it a second use instead of just one use is possible. If you took a refill bottle on your adventure, we have an option for you to give it a second chance.
Take a look at the picture above. That spoon used to be part of a soda bottle. You'll be amazed at how sturdy it can be. You can use it if some of your utensils get lost or just to put your creativity to work. Wrap the handle with tape to avoid accidents, though.
Replace rice with couscous
It can be pretty stressful to think about the food you have to take to the forest or anywhere else you want to camp. If you're one of those who love rice, you should know that cooking it well has its secrets and it is not always easy, so let us give you a simple solution that will save you a lot of time and trouble.
How about choosing a tasty, healthy, and easy meal instead? Some couscous is a great idea! The best part is that it is effortless to cook. You can cook them in just 5 minutes in boiling water (in a bowl, for example) and nothing more, plus you can combine them with so many different veggies!
Keep thieves away
When you choose this type of activity, you are looking for adventure, relaxation, connection with nature, family, friends, or yourself. But we all know that no one is safe from malicious people who want to steal your belongings.
There is, however, a way to catch thieves or at least scare them away from their goals. In this case, you can place a tripwire and a glow stick in a mousetrap the same way you see it in the picture. The sound will tell you if someone is trying to steal!
Use frisbees as plates? Yes, it is possible
This tip may sound weird, but it's pretty useful. We all know that accidents and forgetfulness are inevitable. What would you do instead if you lose, drop, or forget your plates at home? If you enjoy playing frisbee, you have the perfect solution in front of you.
Have you ever thought about it? Using frisbees as plates is a perfect option to get you out of trouble. The curved shape keeps food from spilling on the floor. Just make sure they are spotless before using them, and that's it (don't forget this step if you don't want to eat dirt and germs).
No more water in the tent with pool noodles
Pool noodles can work as a real lifeguards even outside the pool. Just think of how helpful they can be while camping! If you decide to go to an area that is usually rainy, believe us, it would be good to bring them with you. Keep scrolling to find out why.
You may find it hard to believe, but these items help keep everything dry. Well, everything inside your tent, of course. If you place it at the top, as you see it in the picture, it will help keep the rain out of the tent. A great idea, isn't it?
Bye-bye, ticks
Camping in the forest is like stepping into a new universe full of wildlife. We've already discussed the topic of scaring off thieves, but how can we ignore these little creatures that sometimes make us cry for help? Yes, we're talking about ticks. You can try some hacks while camping to keep them away from you.
Take a bottle of liquid soap and absorbent cotton with you. If you notice a tick on your skin in the middle of the forest, you can soak a cotton ball with soap, place it on the tick for 20 seconds, and wait for it to come off. That's all it takes!
You better don't throw away the silica gel
Someone has to tell this uncomfortable truth: almost no one knows what to do with the silica gels that come in some shoeboxes, appliances, and other products. If you don't know either, don't worry, you're not the only one. Don't despair, though. If you're thinking about camping soon, they will come in handy.
A helpful way to use the gel instead of throwing it in the trash can is to put it inside your pots and pans. Why? Well, to keep them from rusting since silica gels prevent moisture. Now you know what you can do with them.
Use a candle to close your zipper
The grandmothers in the world want you to know this secret. The next time you're desperate because a zipper won't close, you should know that the solution is closer than you think. If it happens with your tent when camping, you can fix it in no time. Do you want to know how to do it? Keep reading.
What do you need then? A candle! Say what? Yes, just an ordinary candle. You have to rub it on the zipper, and it will slide smoothly. The wax from the candle works as a lubricant that will get you out of trouble in no time.
Design a handwashing station
Comparison is impossible. Some simple processes require more organization while camping than at home. Washing your hands, for example, is one of them. Is there a way to make it easier? Of course! Today, we will show you a simple alternative that will make that tedious task way less complicated.
You can create a hand washing station. Find a tree near your tent, tie a jug of water, and a translucent sock to hold the soap bar. This way, there will be more organization by always having the portable wash in the same place, and you'll avoid the danger of moving it at night.
Protect your matches easily
It's a fact: you need to light a campfire when you go camping. It's essential for cooking or keeping yourself warm. And, if you don't want to do it by rubbing two stones together, like in the old days, you'd better take good care of your matches.
Aside from not losing them, keeping the matches dry is crucial. Protect them from spilled water or being dropped in a lake if you don't want them damaged. Use an empty plastic container to put them in and stick the sandpaper to light them. A simple hack that will make your camping experience less problematic.
Transport eggs safely into the woods
What do you like eating during an adventure in the woods? How about starting the day with some toast and an omelet? You might think it's too complicated because eggs are so delicate to transport from one place to another, but we have the solution.
For this mission, you need a transparent jar that can be hermetically sealed. Pour the eggs into a cup, and once you check that they are in good condition, pour them into the jug. And that's it! Please make sure the eggs are refrigerated adequately as they might get spoilt.
Waterproof your backpack
One of the biggest challenges when camping is keeping everything dry, especially if you're going somewhere that tends to be rainy or near lots of streams. A waterproof backpack is ideal, but we'll show you how to keep everything safe if you don't have one.
There aren't too many secrets here. For real, this is a piece of cake! It would be best to have a plastic bag to put your stuff in before throwing it in your backpack. If your bag gets wet, this will help prevent the water from getting to the objects inside.
How to cut soap for one-time use only
Are you going to travel with a lot of people? Are there at least three or more people? If the answer is yes, we want to share a secret right now. For us, it's essential to distribute resources when camping. We're also interested in keeping everything clean. Yes, soap too.
When preparing everything for the adventure, cut the soap into small pieces to be used only once. You can separate them into thin layers with a peeler or knife. Doing this will help keep the soap from getting dirty from handling.
Find the perfect camping chair
Remember the freedom you felt playing on the swing when you were a kid? That back-and-forth motion, hair over your face, laughing with friends? If you were a swing lover, you probably love hammocks now that you're an adult. And if you love hammocks, you'll love this chair.
Okay, it's not a swing, but it's also fun and quite comfortable. There are chairs like the ones pictured here that you can strap to the back of your car. It's not precisely a DIY, but it is a highly convenient way of combining comfort and joy while enjoying the landscape.
Reuse some medicine bottles for the first aid kit
When camping, you should never forget a first aid kit. You will probably have to leave some things at home, but medicines are necessary. Of course, you'll go with the best attitude, but keep in mind that accidents and illnesses happen, so you should be prepared for any complications.
If you want to save space, we recommend the following trick. Do you have empty medicine bottles at home? Perfect! Put some of the essential medicines in them. You can also use this hack to take them with you when away from the tent. The great thing is that it will also help you keep pills, ointments, or adhesives safe and dry.
Get back safely to your tent with biodegradable marking tapes
Is it your first time hiking? Are you planning to climb a new mountain? Whether you're alone or accompanied, it's essential to stay on your guard along the way when you're learning a new route or going into a large forest to avoid getting lost.
Marking trees is one way to remember your route back, but how can you do it without damaging the wilderness? Use biodegradable marking tapes and put them on the trees – this way, you won't have any trouble getting back, and nature will thank you for it.
Friendly reminder: always pack duct tape
We already talked about carrying your medicines with you, right? Now, we want to remind you of something just as important: duct tape. You'll need it in more situations than you ever imagined, whether new to this or an experienced camper.
Duct tape can help you repair many things: a leaking water bottle, a chair, a tent tear. It's also great for making ropes, sealing food, covering a blister, or it could even be handy for making a temporary ankle wrap in case of a sprain. The uses for duct tape are unlimited.
Make a washing machine with a bucket
Some people are not willing to give up the comforts of home to go camping. There will be no kitchen, no bathroom, no dryer or washing machine; hence, you have to be resourceful. There are, however, many things that will make your days easier. Today we want to show you some.
If you stay for several days and need to wash clothes but don't want to hand-wash, you can use a bucket with a hole in the lid and a plunger (please, get a new one and not the one you already used in the bathroom). Let your clothes soak for a few minutes. Then, using the strength of your arms, use the plunger as if it was a washing machine drum. Repeat the process until you feel your clothes are clean.
Here's how to keep your shoes clean
Going camping is not a good excuse for your shoes to stay dirty for days. Remember that the longer you take to clean them, the harder it will be to remove the dirt. But relax; we're not judging you. We want to share a hack that will prevent your shoes from getting dirt after you clean them.
If you go hiking and come back with muddy shoes, try to wash them as soon as possible when you get to the tent. Please place them in old shower caps when they're dry and store them somewhere dust can't reach them. That's it!
Give ice a long life
How do you carry ice in your ice cooler when you go camping? In a bucket, or maybe crushed? If this is true for you, we would like to suggest a different option to preserve the ice better and keep your food for longer. Do you want to try it? Well, you should!
Rather than carrying ice in cubes, how about having it in gallons of juice? By doing so, it will last much longer without melting. And, when it melts, you can drink the water you brought yourself. Go ahead, give it a try; you can thank us later.
Keep mosquitoes away with sage
What animal do you fear most in the forest? If you see movies like “The Revenant” or “Into the Wild,” you probably think of bears or, like most people, maybe you're scared of snakes. And, yes, while the risk may be there, you're more likely to encounter a cloud of blood-thirsty mosquitoes.
If you want to sleep without mosquitoes driving you up the wall, you should have a repellent in your bag. But if you're up for trying something much more natural, you can use sage. How? Throw a bunch and toss it on a bonfire. If you have enough, do it once an hour and forget about mosquitoes overnight.
Don't forget about cooking spices
Eating delicious food is one of the best pleasures in life. An excellent excuse to show off your culinary skills wherever you go. Even in the forest, you can make finger-licking good dishes. But if you want to give it a special touch, you must take the right ingredients, for example, spices.
How do you keep spices from getting all over your car before you get to the forest? Try candy packs like the ones in the picture. Their size is perfect. It will make it easy to handle the spices and prevent them from spilling. Remember to write the name on each of the containers to avoid confusion.
Make a comfortable space in your tent with floor tiles
Going camping doesn't have to mean sleeping poorly. Yes, we know that sometimes sleeping in a tent is not exactly the most comfortable experience. Still, there are several ways to make ourselves more comfortable. Try this hack, and your whole body will thank you.
It's a fact that the tent floor is thin. And there's no room to carry all the pillows from home. That's why these floor tiles are great for sleeping more appropriately. The best part is that you can pack them quickly, and they don't occupy much space because of their size.
Keep the flame burning
One of the essential things when camping is bonfires. We need them to cook, keep us warm, and keep animals and insects away. Today, we want to give you a weird but effective trick to keep your campfire burning.
Doritos! Yes, we didn't go crazy; this is the answer. Try this hack only when you don't have fire starters. No one wants to waste their Doritos making fire. However, it works great for your bonfire to be big enough, then you can throw wood chips on it to keep it going.
A new way to eat your Starburst
Are you planning to go camping with the kids and want to try something different to eat? We think it's lovely! After all, we're looking to connect with new and exciting experiences on these kinds of trips. Keep reading if you want to find out how to make your ordinary camping food better.
Roasted marshmallows are a classic, but have you ever tried roasted Starburst? You should! You can also put it on top of a roasted marshmallow, and the flavor explosion will be double. Legit! But hold your horses, and don't forget to cool it down a bit before eating it.
Make perfect pancakes
We all love pancakes. Well, at least most of us do, so it would be a terrible punishment to forbid us the pleasure of eating pancakes even if we're in the woods. Especially for the kids. However, you're probably wondering how to carry all the ingredients.
A great idea is to prepare the mixture at home and pour it into a mayonnaise or ketchup bottle that is very clean. Of course, you should keep them refrigerated. Additionally, we recommend cooking the pancakes on the first or second day of your trip in the morning to prevent damage.
Try this toilet paper hack
Do you remember the trick we shared with you about the single-use soap? Well, we have another idea that will also be very useful to take care of the hygiene of all your camping mates. This time we refer to the toilet paper.
To save paper and keep it clean, you can put it in a container like the one in the picture and make a small opening vertically on one side. This way, everyone will not have to touch the paper every time they go to the bathroom and better control its use.
Save space with straws
We know that saving space is vital when camping. Just like when you go on a plane trip, and you can't take all the clothes in your closet, the same principle applies in this case. However, there are ways to choose wisely and distribute what you need in a better way.
For example, you can use straws to carry cosmetics or other types of creams that you need. To make it work, you have to melt one opening, pour the cream you need with the help of a syringe and then melt the other part to seal it and prevent it from spilling.
Dry your kitchen utensils with a belt
Did you realize that you didn't take a cloth to dry your pans after starting the trip? OMG! Well, okay, don't worry. We have the solution. You can also dry them creatively by simply using a different technique. You'll need a belt and hooks like the ones you see in the picture.
The first step is to find a tree near your tent. Yes, trees are everywhere, duh! Then, you'll need to tie the belt around it and attach the hooks. This technique will help you save time and prevent moisture on your utensils.
Make an express fire starter
How do you carry the coal when you go camping? Isn't it a pain to bring the whole bag? It takes up a lot of space. However, now that we know this trick, we couldn't help but include it in the list so you can put it to work, too.
You'll need two things: an empty egg carton and the coal. Put the coal in the carton to transport them to the place where you will camp. Then, when you make the campfire, light the whole carton. And voilá! A quick, simple, and ecological idea.
Decorate with candles and some sticks
When camping with the whole family, especially when there are young children around, it always comes in handy to do fun activities. For example, storytelling is a blast. You can have dim lighting inside the tent to add an exciting component while telling stories or even having dinner
First, you will need to open a small hole in the candles. Once opened, insert a wand and put heat on it to melt it properly and stabilize it. Then, choose an area near the tent or car to place the candles, and you are ready for your romantic dinner or storytelling session.
Create a DIY lamp with a bottle
Who said it's impossible to apply your decorating skills in the woods? Here's a lightning technique that you might like. You can put it into practice on a special night. To make it possible you need some candles and large sticks.
Using a clear plastic gallon and a head flashlight, you can make your lamp. The only step is to tie the flashlight to the bottle, ensuring that the light shines into the bottle. However, we recommend not keeping it on for too long to prevent the plastic from overheating.