In this post, we are sharing another list of essential camping tips. We cover camping tricks and hacks for your tent, keeping warm, camp cooking and more!
Whether you are an experienced camper or a complete beginner, there will something for you to learn in this list to make your next camping trip even more fun and enjoyable.
Read part 1 here!
Tips for the tent
1. Check your tent before you leave home
Before packing your tent into the car, get it out and pitch it in the garden. Check that everything is there and in working order before you head off, especially if you haven't used it in a while. Check for damage and that all the pegs and components are there.
This is also a good way to practice putting the tent up so it's a breeze at the campsite! Doing this will give you a fresh idea of how much space you have and will assist you with packing and organising.
2. Check the ground you're pitching your tent on
Double check that the ground you are going to put your tent up on is as even as possible. The last thing you want is to be pitched on a slope, even if it is small. Also check for rocks, big sticks and rubbish which can affect the comfort levels in the tent and even cause damage.
3. Use a mallet or hammer for tent pegs
Using your foot to push tent pegs into the ground will most likely cause them to bend and make them useless. You also risk giving yourself an injury. A mallet is a must! If you don't want to invest in one, someone else camping will have one you can borrow or just use a rock.
4. Ban shoes inside the tent
There's nothing worse than having met and dirty footprints rubbing up against all your stuff inside a tent!
Having a no-shoe rule inside the tent is important to keep the tent clean and dry, especially in wet weather. Leave wet shoes outside the tent and pack a pair of slippers to keep your feet warm inside.
5. Always pack duct tape
This is essential for repairing your tent should a tear occur (which can happen to anyone!). Duct tape is also handy to have around for sealing food bags, fixing broken objects such as glasses or a leaking water bottle and so much more!
6. Make sure your tent is dry before you pack it away
If you store a damp tent, it can lead to mould and shorten the tent's lifespan. However, tents are quite often damp, especially in the morning or when it's wet.
It may not be possible for your tent to dry at the campsite before you leave and that is okay. Just make sure you take it out to dry properly when you get home. Pitch in in the garden or lay in on a flat surface inside.
7. Use windbreaks to create privacy around the tent
Consider pitching windbreaks around the outside area of your tent to create more privacy in your outdoor area, if that makes you feel more comfortable.
Tips to keep warm & dry
8. Pack plenty of spare clothes to keep dry
It is vital to stay dry when coming to maintain your happiness! Sometimes getting wet is unavoidable so always pack a spare set or two of clothes in case the ones you are wearing get wet. Be sure to pack quality materials that retain heat and dry fast such as merino. Trust us when we say it is worth investing in quality fabrics for outdoor pursuits!
9. Don't wear tight layered clothes
Layers are essential when camping in colder weather. However, if you wear your layers too tight, it can have the opposite effect. This is because tight clothes slow circulation and you will end up with cold extremities.
10. Keep a close eye on your body temperature
The best way to stay warm is to not let yourself get cold in the first place. As soon as your start to feel a chill, figure out what is causing you to feel cold and find a solution. It is harder to warm up once you are already cold!
Therefore, it's always best to maintain a comfortable body temperature instead of waiting for numbness to set in before doing something about it.
11. Take an umbrella with you
Sometimes you just want to avoid rain falling on your body. An umbrella is an easy way to avoid the full force of the rain without having to get geared up in wet weather gear. Umbrellas are also handy to help others stay dry in your group.
12. Keep your clothes for the next day inside your sleeping bag
It can feel almost impossible to get out of your sleeping bag to get changed on a chilly morning in the tent. A quick camping hack to overcome this is to have your clothes for the next day in your sleeping bag with you. This means they'll be nice and warm for you and you can even get changed inside your sleeping bag!
You can also put damp clothes in the bottom of your sleeping bag to dry them out overnight!
13. Pack hot water bottles
This is an easy and efficient way to stay toasty in your sleeping bag overnight. Simply pour in boiling water and you will keep yourself warm throughout the night. It can even be nice to carry one around with you on a cold day!
14. Don't wear too many layers when sleeping
This is another counterintuitive tip but you can stay warmer at night by wearing fewer layers. Sleeping bags are designed to retain the heat coming off your body and so more heat will get through to the sleeping bag if you aren't wearing lots of layers which will in turn keep you warm!
15. Line your backpack with a rubbish bag
This will protect the contents of your backpack from getting wet. There is nothing worse than a backpack full of wet clothes!!
Packing tips
16. Bring home comforts with you
If you have space in your car to pack any comforts from home, then do! Bring your favourite comfort items to help you feel cosy and safe on your camping trip. Whether it is your favourite wool jacket, your luxury pillow, a fluffy robe or even a lucky teddy bear, there is no harm in bringing them as long as there is room!
It is also a great idea to bring floor cushions with you to create a comfortable and inviting space to hang out inside the tent.
17. Take a lantern AND a handheld torch
Handheld torches are amazing for camping and are an essential item to pack. However, it is also extremely handy to take a lantern (or two) with you as well. You can hang the lanterns from the roof of the tent which creates better light throughout the tent that you can utilise handsfree! This is perfect for reading or for rummaging through your belongings at night. Head torches are also really great to have on hand as well.
18. Bring a red light headtorch
Following on from the previous point, it's a great idea to pack a head torch with a red light setting. Red light is a considerate way to light your way outside throughout the night whether you are inside your tent or outside.
The red light setting will allow you to see where you are going without blinding other campers!
19. Create a designated camping cooking supplies storage box
Use a designated storage container as your kitchen camp box. Put all of your camping cooking supplies in here such as stove, pots, pans, dishes, cutlery, rubbish bags, oil, salt & pepper, dish soap and so on in there! This makes packing the camp kitchen a breeze and you will never forget anything.
Food & cooking tips
20. Create one-pot meals
One-pot meals are ideal for camping. They are simple and make cleaning up a breeze! There are many things you can make in one pot such as pasta, curries, rice and veggies, chillis and stews. Plus there is nothing better than a pot of warm and nourishing food when you're camping!
21. Take extra fuel for the stove
Whether you are cooking on a campfire or a gas stove, make sure you take more than enough fuel for cooking. It's not uncommon to go through more fuel than you expect and it is always better to have too much rather than not enough.
22. Start collecting condiment sachets
Mini condiment sachets of sauces are perfect for camping! Start creating a little stash every time you come across a spare sachet to take with you on your next trip. They are light, small and so easy to pack.
Other random camping tips
23. Store your rubbish in the car
When camping it is so important to leave the campsite better than you found it. One of the best ways to do this is to take care of your rubbish and make sure it all comes home with you. A downside of this is that you need to be careful to keep it away from animals who are hungry for a feed at night or when you are away for the day.
Make sure you keep your rubbish in your car when you are sleeping or away from your campsite. The last thing you want to wake up in the night to is a bear foraging around your tent!
24. Bring boredom busters for kids
If you are camping with kids, you've probably heard 'I'm bored' a thousand times! Especially if they don't have access to their beloved devices when the weather turns bad.
Get a box and fill it with things to keep them busy and entertained if they don't know what to do with themselves or the weather isn't good for activities. Books, games and crafts are all excellent things for them to get stuck into when boredom sets in.
25. Bring incense to keep the tent smelling fresh
Camping gear is quite often stored in a must garage or shed. They may not smell so great, especially if you have to battle wet weather. A great way to easily keep your tent smelling nice is to burn some incense to clear away any musty odours without adding artificial scents from air fresheners to the tent.
