I have camped most of my life. Everything from Boy Scouts and backpacking to trailer camping and car camping (what I mostly do now). I have learned some things along the way. I think it would be a good idea to make a list of tips for all to see to make our experience better. Also if you have ever googled camping tips or camping hacks you get a regurgitated list and many ideas are just plain dumb. So I say lets get a list together with useful tips.
Welding gloves for use around the campfire (you can get them real cheap at Harbor Freight).
2) Battery operated lanterns are the best way to go. The propane (or white gas) lanterns are loud, large, and attract to many bugs. A decent camp lantern can be had for $20. You can get several and still be less bulky. Also you don't need to light up your campsite like a football stadium. A little bit goes a long way.
3) Multiple coolers instead of one giant cooler. This allows you to organize things better and keep the cold longer. Maybe have a beverage cooler and a food cooler. On long trips I do a long term "freezer" cooler with stuff I will use on the last 1/2 of trip. That way I never need to open the cooler until later saving the ice.
4) Freeze plastic containers of ice (used milk cartons or fruit juice containers or gatorade bottles). Ice will keep longer and everything less soggy. I prefer not to use gallon containers. To bulky and it does not seem to cool as well as multiple 1/2 gallon containers. If and when it does melt you can drink the water and still put cubed ice inside.
5) Preparing food ahead of time (before you leave) is a very understated thing to do. This can leave you with less dishes and more time for nothing
6) I avoid plastic food storage containers. They are bulky and take up a lot of room. Plus you need to clean them and still store them until you get home. Plastic bags or disposable container are better.
7) I use some cheap tie down straps to secure my tablecloth to the picnic table. One on each end prevents the table cloth from sliding or blowing away. (one again can be had for on the cheap at Harbor Freight). The size is greatly adjustable for any picnic table size.
8) Expensive coolers….WHY? I know they look nice and are made better but do you really want to leave a $400 cooler laying around your campsite while you are out? They are proven to only keep things cooler for only a little bit longer. Not nearly enough to justify the price.
9) The foam interlocking floor tiles for your tent floor. These things are bulky but hugely worth it to me. You can cut to size for any tent. Not only do they keep things softer for sleeping and kids playing but they also keep you warmer at night. They also extend the life of your tent floor.
10) I have gone the extra mile to reduce “bags”. What I mean by this is everything has a bag. Not everything needs a bag. For example my camp chairs do not need a bag. My tent is in a large duffle and the tent poles do not have there own bag (only the tent stakes). The less bags the less things to unpack when setting up and repack when leaving. Plus less to store while camped. I do store things at home in there bags (that is where things usually get the brunt of damage ironically).
11) Water container need not be to big. The five gallon containers are very heavy and bulky when full. Makes it hard to move and not everyone is strong enough to move it. Of course you do not need to fill it all the way up but they are bulky to transport if not using it to full capacity. I recommend the 2 gallon size. Unless you have a large group and go through lots of water quickly.
Of course with any of these your mileage may vary.
Welding gloves for use around the campfire (you can get them real cheap at Harbor Freight).
2) Battery operated lanterns are the best way to go. The propane (or white gas) lanterns are loud, large, and attract to many bugs. A decent camp lantern can be had for $20. You can get several and still be less bulky. Also you don't need to light up your campsite like a football stadium. A little bit goes a long way.
3) Multiple coolers instead of one giant cooler. This allows you to organize things better and keep the cold longer. Maybe have a beverage cooler and a food cooler. On long trips I do a long term "freezer" cooler with stuff I will use on the last 1/2 of trip. That way I never need to open the cooler until later saving the ice.
4) Freeze plastic containers of ice (used milk cartons or fruit juice containers or gatorade bottles). Ice will keep longer and everything less soggy. I prefer not to use gallon containers. To bulky and it does not seem to cool as well as multiple 1/2 gallon containers. If and when it does melt you can drink the water and still put cubed ice inside.
5) Preparing food ahead of time (before you leave) is a very understated thing to do. This can leave you with less dishes and more time for nothing
6) I avoid plastic food storage containers. They are bulky and take up a lot of room. Plus you need to clean them and still store them until you get home. Plastic bags or disposable container are better.
7) I use some cheap tie down straps to secure my tablecloth to the picnic table. One on each end prevents the table cloth from sliding or blowing away. (one again can be had for on the cheap at Harbor Freight). The size is greatly adjustable for any picnic table size.
8) Expensive coolers….WHY? I know they look nice and are made better but do you really want to leave a $400 cooler laying around your campsite while you are out? They are proven to only keep things cooler for only a little bit longer. Not nearly enough to justify the price.
9) The foam interlocking floor tiles for your tent floor. These things are bulky but hugely worth it to me. You can cut to size for any tent. Not only do they keep things softer for sleeping and kids playing but they also keep you warmer at night. They also extend the life of your tent floor.
10) I have gone the extra mile to reduce “bags”. What I mean by this is everything has a bag. Not everything needs a bag. For example my camp chairs do not need a bag. My tent is in a large duffle and the tent poles do not have there own bag (only the tent stakes). The less bags the less things to unpack when setting up and repack when leaving. Plus less to store while camped. I do store things at home in there bags (that is where things usually get the brunt of damage ironically).
11) Water container need not be to big. The five gallon containers are very heavy and bulky when full. Makes it hard to move and not everyone is strong enough to move it. Of course you do not need to fill it all the way up but they are bulky to transport if not using it to full capacity. I recommend the 2 gallon size. Unless you have a large group and go through lots of water quickly.
Of course with any of these your mileage may vary.
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