Camping is not an easy business and requires experience and expertise to navigate the challenges it poses. Whether it is protecting oneself from bugs or wild animals to getting sound sleep in the wild, it is good to know of some hacks to make your camping experience as comfortable as it can be. Here are a few camping hacks from the professionals on how to camp like a pro and not make any rookie mistakes.
- Use That Body Heat
A major challenge out in the wild especially at night is dealing with the cold. Depending on the area and time of year, the nights can be particularly chilly. A neat trick is to wear your pajamas underneath your regular clothes a few hours ahead of bedtime so that your body heat warms them up. When you’ll remove your regular clothes at bedtime to get into your sleeping bag, you’ll be more snug and warm. Buying a sleeping bag with better thermal abilities is always a plus although they do come at a higher price tag.
- Fold Instead Of Roll
For obvious reasons, toilet roll is a prized commodity when you are camping. However, it takes up quite a bit of space when you’re packing as toilet rolls can be very large. Employ the trick of simply removing the cardboard roll and folding the toilet roll like a wad of tissues. This means you’ll be able to pack several which are bound to come in handy.
- A Snack And Fire Starter Combo
Starting a fire is very tricky especially if you don’t have a ton of experience. The easiest and most helpful camp hack ever is to use Doritos! Doritos are a tasty and much-loved snack but did you know they function just as well as kindling? If you’re missing the proper equipment for a fire or are simply at a loss with getting it started, pop out a few Doritos and they will help you get those legs burning in no time!
- Bugs Are No Joke
Bugs can not only spread disease and cause dermatitis but will also stand in the way of you getting a night of restful sleep. While any camp guide or camp expert will tell you to never skimp on the bug and mosquito repellant lotion if you’ve forgotten it you can use sage growing in the wild to help you out. If you keep some sage burning, it ought to keep most of the nasties at bay.
- Getting Comfy
Forgetting a pillow is a common mistake especially among less experienced campers. No matter what they tell you, you definitely need a pillow when you’re sleeping on the ground! If you’ve forgotten your pillow however take some of your thickest clothes and fold them under your head when you get into your sleeping bag. You may even end up warmer than you would have with a pillow!
- Make A Kit For Nighttime
The nighttime is one of the hardest times when you’re out camping because wild animals could get dangerously close, there are fire hazards to worry out, the biting cold, the bugs, and just about every other nighttime terror you can think of. As preparation for the night make a kit that you can simply keep in your tent or roll into your sleeping bag.
Include several items in the kit like a bottle of water, bug repellant, a flashlight, tissue or toilet paper, an absorbent microfiber cloth, warm socks, earplugs, emergency medication, a snack like a granola bar anything else you consider essential. Some people even keep bear repellant spray!
- DIY Lantern
Although you or someone in your group will undoubtedly travel with a lantern for nighttime use, you can also make a DIY lantern by attaching your torch to a large see-through bottle of water. The torch must point inwards and that will cause the light to go through the water magnifying its range. Your homemade lantern is ready.
If you are willing to make the investment a solar lantern is also very handy in most camping situations as it charges all day and then can be used for nighttime. You can search online for the ‘best solar generator’ available and that can be used to power anything from lanterns to your phone or tablet and is an all-around multi-use device to have in your camping arsenal.
- Keep Those Hands Washed
When you’re out in the wild you can easily get stomach problems because of unwashed hands. Concoct your own handwashing station (which is especially helpful if you’re camping with children) out of an old laundry detergent container or any large container. Lay it down sideways after filling it up.
