Camping Made Easier Than You'd Imagine: 11 Smart Camping Hacks that will Surprise You (2020)

Camping Made Easier Than You'd Imagine: 11 Smart Camping Hacks that will Surprise You (2020)

A camping trip is often the best way to get close to nature and enjoy its beauty. However it has its inconvenient and uncomfortable parts. While they cannot be avoided, you can however make them more manageable by using smart camping hacks. We have here 11 such super cool tricks that will make your trip that much easier. So read on.

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Reasons Why Camping Is Essential?

Reasons Why Camping Makes A Difference In Your Life


  • #1. Reduces Stress:
    We can't emphasize enough on the importance of spending time in nature. The woods are beneficial for your mood and mental health and there are numerous studies to prove this fact. Not only camping helps you calm your mood and clear your mind, but it also boosts the serotonin hormone in your body, also known as the "happy hormone", making you feel relaxed and joyful. Also since there are no technological distractions aka the internet, you are able to focus better and feel less anxious.

  • #2. Bonding Time:
    Our lives are busy and stressful. We are stuck in the daily routine which is to wake up, go to work, return, sleep and repeat. People don't get adequate quality time to spend with their friends and family. Also, children these days rarely go outside to play. Most of the time, they are holed up in their rooms playing video games or watching TV. Camping is a great way to break the monotony of our lives and experience something real and beautiful. It also gives you enough time to bond with your family and friends better and make lasting memories.

  • #3. Better Sleep:
    If you have trouble sleeping or you suffer from insomnia, spending time in nature can help improve your sleep cycle. According to a study by the researchers of the University of Colorado Boulder in 2013, only a week of camping helped to reset the circadian rhythms, a biological rhythm that regulates our sleep cycle and helped the participants sleeping and rising pattern sync with the natural cycle of sunrise and sunset. This was also possible because the campers we're away from their phones which generally cause a lot of distraction and adversely affect our sleeping pattern.

  • #4. Healthy Exercise:
    Camping is a healthy exercise, there are no two ways about it. Several of the camping activities such as hiking, walking or even fishing can burn a lot of calories making you healthier and happier. These forms of exercise will boost circulation and pump up your heart and will keep yourself active and strong.

11 Camping Hacks You Should Know About

#1. Avoid Ticks By Using Liquid Soap + Cotton Balls

You don't want to get bitten by ticks. These nasty little creatures are a carrier of diseases and cause lots of problems for you later. But the thing is that out there in the woods, ticks are present in plenty and when you are hacking there is a strong chance you might get bit by one of them. If you do get bitten by a tick, it's important to remove it carefully. Just dab a cotton ball with liquid soap and press it on the tick for around 30 seconds. The tick will fall off on its own. While there are plenty of liquid soaps available, our choice is the effective Dettol original hand wash liquid soap.

#2. Potao/ Corn Chips To Start Fire

If you are having trouble lighting a fire, you can use potato chips or corn chips to light the fire. Just put these chips in the middle of the pit and light them. These chips are easy to light and will last longer than your expensive kindlings. And the best part is that you can snack on these chips as well when hunger calls. While there are many potatoes and corn chips available in the market, we prefer Doritos as it lights up pretty easily.

#3. Use Repellent Creams To Get Rid Of Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are such troublemakers whenever you step outside. Not only are they annoying, getting bitten by them can make you ill. You can get dengue, malaria or chikungunya just with one bite. That's why you need to protect yourself completely. And while mosquito sprays are available in plenty, their effect is usually short-lived. If you really want to avoid mosquitoes, apply one of the mosquito repellent creams available in the market. Our top pick is the Odomos mosquito repellent cream. It is a non-sticky cream with the goodness of vitamin E that provides protection against mosquitoes for up to 8 hours

#4. Microfiber Towels

Instead of taking heavy towels with you to camping that also takes up a lot of space in your bag, opt for microfiber towels. Also, since you are carrying your bag during camping, you need to keep it as compact as possible. Microfiber towels are lightweight, more water-absorbent and dry quickly. We have picked this beautiful lightweight and high-quality microfiber towel by Decathlon that will solve your camping woes efficiently

#5. Dry Your Shoes Using Newspaper

Wet shoes can be highly uncomfortable to wear, especially during camping. They can also take a lot of time to dry out which is the last thing you want. To dry your shoes quickly overnight, remove their insoles and keep them aside, and stuff your shoes with dry and crumples newspapers. Your shoes will be dry before you know it. Throw the newspapers away in the morning.

#6. Use the Marie Kondo Method To Save Space In Your Bag

Marie Kondo is a genius. Her Netflix show and book have taught millions of people all over the world how to tidy it up, be uncluttered and save space. And applying her technique, also known as KonMari rules, while you pack your bags for camping will save so much of space. First, take only what is necessary to save space in your camping gear.

Second, instead of packing your clothes the normal way you do, pack them vertically and in a small size as possible so that they take less space. And for clothes that can't be packed small because they will get crushed, roll them. You would be surprised how much space you could save in your bag by making this one small change and is probably one of the best camping hacks 2020.

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#7. Tic Tac Box For Spices

Camping food is mostly bland. This is because you can't take a bunch of spices with you there. That's why we bring a very effective camping cooking have for you. Empty Tic Tac containers, clean them nicely and fill these containers with common spices such as salt, cinnamon, pepper, and chili powder. This hack is an enormous space saver and makes sure you don't have to eat bad and unseasoned food while you are out in the woods.

#8. Use A Solar Powered Phone Charger

we definitely don't advise you taking your phone while camping. Camping is all about spending quality time with your friends and family without the distraction from the outside world. However, there are times you do need your phone urgently but you can't use it if it runs out of battery. Buy a solar phone charger that can charge your phone quickly without the need to plug it in any electrical socket. Alternatively, you can also opt to take power banks with you. Our pick is the 20000mAh capacity solar charger by Callmate that also comes with 6 months warranty by the company.

#9. Use Foam Pads To Make Comfortable Bed

Are you having trouble sleeping on the hard floor during camping? Sleeping bags are a great option but they also take a substantial amount of space. If you really wish to travel light, use foam pads to have a good night's sleep. Roll two to three foam pads together to make a nice bed for yourself. We opted for foam pads as it's extremely lightweight and can easily fit in your camping bag.

#10. Store Eggs In Water Bottle

Bringing eggs to camping is risky. One wrong move and they might crack, leaving a big mess for you to clean up. Opt for this camping food hack instead. Before leaving for your camping trip, crack the eggs and store them in a water bottle. This can be done in different ways. If you like scrambled eggs or omelette, just whip the eggs and add salt, cheese, other seasoning and milk in it. Here, you have the eggs all ready to be eaten. If the opening of your water bottle is a bit wider, you can crack eggs in it gently with unbroken yolks to later cook fried eggs. Of course, you have to put the water bottle in a cooler or the eggs might go bad.

#11. Treat Bug bites with Deodrant stick

The constant itching sensation that occurs due to bug bites is annoying. And once you go out camping in the woods, protecting yourself from bug bites is a tough task. While some bugs get deterred by repellents and bug spray, others are bold and nothing seems to work on them. So what do you do when you get bit by one of these bugs and your skin starts itching and burning? Use an underarm deodorant stick on the bite. Yes. Your deodorant stick would not only help you feel and smell fresh, but it will also subside the itch from bug biting significantly. We prefer the Rexona deodorant stick that's affordable and easily available.

Going For Camping? Don't Miss Out on Carrying These Items with You

If you are going to camping, don't forget to take these essential items with you

Must-Have Items On A Camping Trip

  • #1: First Aid Kit: Accidents happen and hence we should take proper precautions to prevent it. While going on a camping trip, you must have a fully stocked first and kit with you. It should include items such as bandaids, bandages, general medicines for pain, fever, loose motion, toothbrush, toothpaste and so on.

  • #2: French Press Machine: This item might not be camping essential for many, but for others it really is important. If you are someone whose day doesn't start unless he has his cup of coffee, you need to take your French press machine with you. Also, it's advised that you take a French press made of stainless steel and not glass as the latter can break easily.

  • #3: Folding Chairs: Just taking the right kind of tent to camp is not enough, you need to take folding chairs with you as well. Taking folding chairs with you makes it easy to sit, eat, and just have quality time with friends and family.

  • #4: Wet Wipes: Wet wipes are absolute camping essential, particularly if you can't shower for a few days. They come in scented as well as unscented types so choose one that matches your personal liking the best. We would also like to add hand sanitizers here. They come in cute little bottles that don't take any space in your camping luggage and provide adequate protection against germs. Just use hand sanitizers before eating your meal or after going to the bathroom and you are good to go.

  • #5: Bug Sprays: While we have already included mosquito repellent creams in our top 10 camping hacks tips and tricks, bug sprays are an important addition as well. Bugs can be quite an annoyance, especially when we go out in the woods. While some bugs such as spiders and ticks are dangerous and can create problems if you get bitten by them, other bugs are innocuous yet can create irritation and it's best to remove them.

  • #6: Proper Clothes: It is important that you pack proper clothes for your camping trip. If you are camping during the cold season, pack enough warm clothes for yourself. If you anticipate rain, pack proper protection such as umbrellas, rain boots, and clothes that dry quickly. If you are camping during summers, pack clothes that are light, don't cling and are made of breathable fabric.

  • #7: Proper Footwear: Just packing the right clothes is not enough, you should bring the right footwear to camping as well. Camping involves a lot of walking, hiking, and tough work and pretty shoes wouldn't be enough for that. The rule of thumb would be to bring hiking boots as they are made from rugged conditions, are water-resistant, comfortable and do not wear easily.
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From our editorial team

Small things make a difference

While preparing for your camping, take some time to find out different ways to make your time amidst nature more comfortable. There are several dedicated blogs and books you can check out that offer practical and useful tips for even the most basic activities. These may be small but have the power to smoothen out your camping experience.