Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/hiker-resting-near-fire-and-tent-during-travelling-4314203/

There’s nothing quite like planning a camping trip to embrace the spirit of adventure. Being in nature and surrounded by the great outdoors makes you feel refreshed and alive. Whether you’re a seasoned camper or planning your first trip, there are many little camping hacks that can make a big difference to your trip.

An incredible 77 million households in the USA are home to someone who goes camping, with the number of households who go camping increasing steadily as each year passes. In fact, even before the Covid-19 pandemic, it was estimated that one million new families per year were deciding to take up camping.

The reason people are increasingly drawn to camping is about escaping the daily routine of work and life. In particular, individuals and families feel both healthier and reinvigorated when they spend time outdoors. For many, camping feels like a return back to a healthier existence, with so many people spending their daily lives in cities surrounded by pollution and digital devices.

Most people practice the art of camping over many trips. They hone and refine how they like to camp, learning something new from each trip. Indeed, this can be part of the fun. But if you’re looking to take a few new camping hacks and ideas with you on your next trip, here are some top tips for getting the very most of your camping trips.

Plan Meals

If you take some time to plan your meals carefully in advance of your camping trip, you’ll have a more fun and efficient cooking experience. Think about each ingredient you’ll need for each meal, and plan meals that are easy to cook in one or two pans. Organize fresh meals for the first day, as it’ll be easier to keep the ingredients cold. Freeze some ingredients in advance to make them last longer if you can.

Think about easy dry and canned ingredients you can use for the last days of your camping trip. Tinned potatoes, beans and pasta sauces are ideal ingredients that can be easily cooked without the need to keep them refrigerated before use.

Explore Nature

The point of being in the great outdoors is to enjoy the flora and fauna around you. Even if you notice just one new tree or creature on each camping trip, you’ll gradually become more knowledgeable about the great outdoors. Bring waterproof notebooks and pens to note down your observations, and invest in some night vision goggles to get a sense of your surroundings after the sun goes down.

Fire Starters

Bring a few different supplies with you to help you light a fire, just in case one method of fire starting fails. There’s nothing worse than camping in the rain without being able to light a fire. Yet as soon as that fire is going, the coziness of the campfire makes camping in the rain just a little bit magical.

Tucking away some matches, a lighter and some easy kindling from home is a good plan. A few discarded newspapers and cardboard tubes from kitchen rolls make great kindling. Make sure you pack them in plastic bags to keep them dry. Remember that dry wood makes cleaner and less smoky firesLinks to an external site..

Think Lighting

It can be a great shock to many first-time campers just how dark it is when the sun goes down. When you’re out in nature, there are no street lights or electric light switches! And if you think the torch on your cell phone is the answer, you only have so long until it will run out of battery.

Tuck away a few battery-operated torches in your belongings, and make sure they have new batteries before you set off on your trip. Bringing a few weatherproof solar lights can also be a great help. You can leave them out during the day to charge, then they’ll last the night if you need an extra source of light in the evenings.

Prioritize Sleeping Equipment

The make or break moment of many camping trips is how the sleeping equipment stands up to the test. Your tent is the first priority – ensure it is water tight and that you know how to put it up before you go away. Invest in good quality sleeping mats and sleeping bags – you’ll be surprised just how cold it can be sleeping outdoors, even during the warmer months of the year.

One simple camping hack if you think you may get cold is to bring a hot water bottle. You can even fill it up with warm water you may have otherwise discarded, for example water used to cook potatoes or pasta.

Create an Atmosphere

If you have a magical picture of your camping area in your head, why not make it a reality? Bring along some battery powered fairy lights and some clothes pegs, and attach them to the trees or on your tent in the evenings. It will make your campsite look truly enchanting.