1. Tic Tac

Your food at camp does not have to be tasteless or lack flavor. You can still make food taste good. So, pack some delicious spices in empty Tic Tac containers. This way, you get to eat delicious food while you are out camping.

3. Packing eggs

Eggs are nutritious plus they’re easy to make which is why they make a great addition to your packed goods. However, if it is your first time bringing eggs along on your camping trip, how should you pack them? You need to crack them, whisk them, and put them into a sealable jar or bottle. 

Before you close the lid, though, throw in some seasoning so you do not need to do it while at camp. Make sure that the container or bottle is placed in a cooler bag along with other food items. Moreover, you can hard-boil them!

4. Vacuum-sealed food

Before you go camping, make sure to vacuum seal the food that you will cook on site. By doing so, you get to maintain their freshness, while they remain safe inside your bag. Moreover, vacuum sealing allows for food to be stored for longer periods of time.

5. Condiment station

When out camping, you still need some condiments to prepare delicious meals. Set up a condiment station using a muffin tin. Pour the condiments into the tin for easy serving.

6. Kitchen utensil organizer

You need to have a place for your kitchen utensils, especially when you are cooking at the campsite. Of course, you do not want to just throw everything in a bag. Use a shoe organizer, the plastic one that comes with a hook, so you can hang it on a tree to use. This way, you get to save more space in your bag and keep your utensils organized at the same time.

7. Pan organizer

Having your cooking tools and utensils organized makes cooking when camping so much easier. For your pans, use a belt and wrap it around a tree and hang your cooking utensils and pans. This way, cooking will be more convenient as you will have everything right in your reach.

8. Emergency spoon

No spoon, no problem! Just cut out the bottom of a water bottle and you get an instant spoon!

9. Emergency bowl

Do you need more bowls for soup? Get a 1 to 2-litre bottle, cut its lower portion, and ta-da! The perfect bowl!

12. Use silica gel packets to keep your camp cookware rust-free between uses

There are so many uses for silica gels due to their strong ability to suck up moisture. Have a pack of them with you when you are out camping and use them for your camp cookware to prevent rusting.

13. Use gallon jugs of water as ice packs in your cooler

Instead of bringing ice on a camping trip, freeze gallon jugs of water instead. What makes them a good choice is that they won’t crack as they expand. So, as the ice warms and turns into water, you get drinking water.

15. Cotton balls

Aside from the last tip to use Doritos chips when starting a fire, dip cotton balls into Vaseline and store them away in zip bags. This way, you can start the fire easily by throwing those cotton balls into the fire.

16. Paper plates

There are many ways paper plates can help you during your camping trip. For one, you can use them for eating. On the other hand, when you’re done using them, you can use them as a fire starter as well.

18. Tissue & wax

Another first starter tip is to use matches wrapped with tissue paper and dipped into wax.

20. Chewing gum wrapper & battery

Here is another fire starter idea—use a chewing gum wrapper and a short circuit to a battery. Make sure that you wear protective gloves for this! The first thing you need to do is tear the wrapper and turn it into an hourglass shape. Touch the foil to the positive and negative battery terminals. You will notice the paper wrapper ignite and you can use that to light a tinder or a candle.

21. Sand paper

For an easy way to light up your matches, just glue sandpaper to your match holder and you can light it up anywhere and anytime you want!

22. Mosquito repellent

There are so manymosquitoes when you are out camping, and you have to protect yourself. Make sure you bring mosquito repellent with you. There are a lot of brands out there, and you can even use sage to deter these pesky bugs. When you are out camping, the more things you have to repel mosquitoes with, the better!

24. Mosquito net

Protect your face from mosquito and other bug bites by using a mosquito net. You can get a hat that comes with a mosquito net so you can keep your face protected at all times.

25. Treat bug bites

Sometimes, bug bites happen when you are outdoors, especially if you have forgotten to reapply mosquito repellent. Instead of scratching the affected area, an excellent way to treat it is with a deodorant. Deodorant contains the same ingredients as anti-itch creams.

26. Mosquito trap

Make our own mosquito trap with simple ingredients and tools:

• 2-liter soda bottle
• razor knife
• Duct tape
• Black construction paper or spray paint
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• A cup of hot water
• 1 package of dry active yeast

Slice off the top section of the bottle—now, you have two pieces. The neck section resembles a funnel—so, remove the cap and insert it into the body of the bottle. Make sure there is enough space at the bottom of the bottle. Now, you need to secure the funnel by using your duct tape.

When the trap is done, it is time for the mosquito bait. Add 1/4 cup of brown sugar to 1 cup of boiling water. Mix thoroughly until the sugar is dissolved. Let the mixture cool at the right temperature and then add the yeast, pour it into the bottle and you have your mosquito trap ready!

27. Mosquito bites

As mentioned in a previous point, deodorants contain the same ingredients as anti-itch creams, which is why it is perfect to relieve yourself of bug bites, such as the ones from mosquitoes. Moreover, it can help reduce the inflammation of the bitten area.

28. Liquid soap plus cotton balls = No ticks

Get rid of ticks by soaking a cotton ball in liquid soap. Swab the tick with the soapy cotton ball several times and hold it lightly on top of the tick so that it is touching. Within seconds, the tick will dislodge itself and come away from the stick stuck to the cotton ball.

29. Grits repel ants

Ants can be a huge problem when out camping. When you are about to set up your tent, sprinkle grits around anthills. The ants will eat them, but unfortunately, it will make them explode. This may not be the most humane way to repel ants, but it is an option.

30. Portable potty

You can make a portable potty while you are at camp. All you need are a few supplies, such as a five-gallon bucket. Here are the things you will need:

• Utility knife
• Wire cutters
• Clamps
• 1/2” polyethylene pipe wrap insulation
• Large compostable garbage bags
• Sawdust
• 5-gallon bucket
• Toilet paper

Cut the pipe insulation the length of the rim of the bucket. Fit it along the rim and adjust as needed. Slide the handle of the bucket to one side and cut the wire as close to the center of the handle as possible. Separate the wire of the handle where you made the cut and slide the toilet paper where you have made the cut. 

Line the bucket with a garbage bag to keep the container clean after each use. Replace the pipe wrap and use the clamp to secure it to the rim when in use. When done, sprinkle sawdust in the toilet to absorb moisture and cut down odors. When the bucket is full, all you need to do is remove the garbage bag, and bury or dispose of it.

31. Toilet paper holder

Use an empty coffee can, or just about any can or slim bottle as a toilet paper holder and dispenser.

32. Instant faucet

Do you need instant access to a faucet to make hand washing so much easier? Use a syringe and insert it into a cap of a water bottle!

33. Instant shower room

Most hula hoops are collapsible, which means you can take them easily with you wherever you go, especially when you are out camping. You can even use a hula hoop to make a shower room. All you need to do is find a tree, assemble your hula hoop and drape a shower curtain over it and tie it to a tree.

34. Instant shower

Of course, when you have a shower room, you need a shower. All you need to do is hang a bag of water and punch holes with a fork and you get an instant shower head!

35. Improvised shaver

Forgot your shaver? No worries! You can get rid of the “bush” in the woods. Strap a shaving blade to a comb using a paper clip and shave away!

36. Tent line protectors

Your tent line protectors will act as a line marker. A tent line protector is a lightweight tensioned cable that helps secure the tent to the ground. Line markers will help keep your tent intact as it shows where your tent is, especially at night. Line protectors prevent accidents around the tents, such as tripping hazards.

38. Compass

A compass is an essential camping tool. If you do not have one or you lost it, you can make your own compass with a magnetized needle. You will need:

• Cork
• Marker
• Needle
• Magnet
• Pliers
• A bowl of water

Cut a 1/2 inch-wide piece off the bottom of the cork and mark the four directions with a marker on one of the flat sides. When done, set it aside. Rub the pointed end of the needle onto a magnet. By doing this, you will transfer the magnetism onto the needle so it will point north. Poke the needle through the cork to make it run from south to north with the pointed end sticking out of the northern end. Use the pliers to help get the needle through. 

Place the cork compass into a bowl of water and watch it as it finds and stays pointing due north.

40. Instant pillow

Getting a comfortable sleep even when you are out camping is vital. Instead of bringing a stuffy pillow with you, you can use your sleeping bag case and put some of your clothes inside to make a pillow. It is not the best, but it will make a difference in the quality of your sleep.

41. Twice as many

When you feel like you are running out of supplies, such as matches, you can split them using a scalpel. That way, you will have twice as many to get you through the night.

42. Improvised blanket

Sometimes, no matter how prepared you are, the weather becomes too cold to handle. When you do not have enough blankets with you, take two jackets and zip them together. These jackets will act as a blanket that will keep you warm through the night.

43. Use a stick to secure your tent

Secure your tent with the use of sticks. Get thicker sticks that can hold down tent loops.

44. Glow in the dark jars

Glow-in-the-dark jars will serve as your night light, especially if you have kids with you. To do this, just paint the inside of the jar using non-toxic glow-in-the-dark paint - prior to going out camping of course.

45. Make candle stakes for romantic nighttime lighting

If you are camping with a loved one, you can turn it into a romantic getaway and set the mood with candle stakes. You can do this by drilling to hollow out the bottom of the candles. Of course, you need to do this while you are still at home because it would be such a hassle to bring a drill with you camping. When you are ready to set them up, just stick them atop craft dowels and into the ground.

46. Invest in a double sleeping bag

Double sleeping bags are perfect for couples who want to snuggle up after a long day of hiking. There are a lot of things to consider when buying a double sleeping bag, from the shape to its filling. When looking for a double sleeping bag, pay close attention to the filling. A synthetic filling is more affordable and washable. On the other hand, a down filling provides more warmth and will last longer. However, it doesn’t dry out easily.

Another thing to consider is the shape of the sleeping bag. A rectangular sleeping bag is the most common shape. These are some of the most important things you need to look for.

Investing in a double sleeping bag will make your lives easier and more comfortable when out camping. So, make sure to choose one that will suit your needs.

47. Duct tape

Putting duct tape around a water bottle has a lot of benefits. For one, the duct tape can protect the water bottle, if you were to drop it, from scratches, dings, and breaks. Another thing is that, should you get any injuries or you are going to need it while you are on the trail, you can access the duct tape easily. Last but not least, you get to save more space in your bag when you wrap the tape around your bottle, instead of carrying the whole roll with you.

49. Clean feet

It is important to have clean feet (and a clean body!) before you enter your tent. You do not want to sleep feeling sticky and dirty, right? To clean your feet easily, use an empty water bottle, punch small holes in the lid, and use it to wash your feet.

52. Waterproof your shoes

Do you need a cost-effective way to waterproof your shoes? Do it with candle wax. All you need to do is rub the candle over the shoes until the shoe turns a lighter color. When you have the entire pair of shoes covered, blow dry them to warm the wax. The shoes will go back to their natural color and that is a sign that the waterproofing is done. You will be able to walk in those shoes without having to worry about rain or watery areas. Your shoes will remain dry.

53. Activity bags

If you are taking kids with you, make sure you bring plenty of things to keep them entertained. You do not want them to be stuck with their mobile devices whilst camping, besides, there might not be any signal there.

Carry some activity bags with you by filling Ziploc bags with fun things for children. You can have one activity per bag so you do not get confused and make sure you label them.

54. Mud-proof your shoes

The mud is slippery and also thick and sticky. You will possibly come across muddy trails when you are out camping. Make sure that your shoes are mud-proof by using duct tape. Tape your ankles and your shoes together so that your shoes do not come off in deep mud. Moreover, this will give you more stability.

55. Dealing with sweat

You can’t really control the temperature especially when you are out camping. When it gets too hot, women can use pads and place them inside their bras for better sweat absorption.

56. Line your bag with a garbage bag to keep contents dry

Keep the contents of your bag dry with a garbage bag. Any water that leaks in the seams will be stopped by the trash bag before it gets to your gear. Using a garbage bag will help save you more money instead of getting waterproof sacks that only have a limited life span. Additionally, this is more practical if you do only go camping every once in a while.

57. Dry your shoes overnight by removing the insoles and inserting dirty clothes into them

You do not want to wear wet shoes while camping, so in order to avoid this, remove the insoles from the shoes and stuff dry and used clothing inside. This will transfer the moisture to the dry clothes and you can just hang the clothing the next morning to dry.

58. Packing

When it comes to camping, always follow the one-bag rule. The bag must hold all your clothing items, bathroom essentials, and other small possessions. Make use of packing organizers to make it easier for you to find things in your bag. Aside from this, roll your shirts and other clothing items to save more space.

Make sure you bring clean and dry clothes with you. Dirty or damp clothes may be a magnet for bugs and insects. You do not want to be followed by a swarm of these pesky critters, especially mosquitoes that carry fatal diseases when you are out in the woods, right?

59. Mini first aid kit

You can make mini first aid kits, minus the bags! Just place medicines and other essentials in a plastic food container and you are all set to go. What’s good about these containers is that they are not only lightweight and convenient, but they are also waterproof.