Ten Tips for a Better Camping Experience
Tips to to enhance, and make your camping experience more enjoyable.
Camping offers an amazing opportunity to connect with nature and break away from the everyday hustle of life. To have a great camping experience, it's important to have a well-prepared packing list.
Avid campers make camping look easy because they’ve figured out ways to create a smoother experience. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced camper seeking additional tips, here are ten suggestions to enhance your camping experience.
Avid campers make camping look easy because they’ve figured out ways to create a smoother experience. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced camper seeking additional tips, here are ten suggestions to enhance your camping experience.
Shot on iPhone + SANDMARC Wide Lens
Tips for Pre-Camp Prep
What to do before you arrive to camp, so that it is a smooth experience.
1. Set up camp before sunset.
When planning your trip, be sure to double-check when sunset begins. Since you are arriving at a campsite, there will be little to no lighting. If you haven't camped in a while, it can be surprising how dark it gets.
Avoid this by arriving before sunset and giving yourself ample time to set up camp.
2. Test out new gear before arriving to the campground.
There’s no feeling like the excitement of using your new gear on a camping trip. Make your camping trip stress-free by familiarizing yourself with all your gear before you leave.
If you get a new tent, practice setting it up at home. This will save you a lot of frustration when the sun is beating down on you and your tent keeps falling.
If you get a new tent, practice setting it up at home. This will save you a lot of frustration when the sun is beating down on you and your tent keeps falling.
3. Don't rely on handheld skewers to cook your food.
Cooking s'mores on a handheld skewer is easy because it takes about a minute or less for them to heat up. However, things change when you’re trying to cook more complicated food, like a steak. If you want more than just s'mores on your trip, it’s worth investing in a campfire grill and/or a camping stove and prepping meals beforehand.
A campfire grill is perfect for grilling over your campfire. Food will cook faster since the grill heats up. However, this can be more complicated because you can't control the fire, but once you get over the learning curve, you can make some amazing meals.
A camping stove is easier because it functions like your everyday stove, and you can use a pot or pan to cook. These can cost more to purchase but are worth it in the long run for a hot bowl of soup at night.
If you want to get really fancy, look into cooking with a dutch oven while camping!
A campfire grill is perfect for grilling over your campfire. Food will cook faster since the grill heats up. However, this can be more complicated because you can't control the fire, but once you get over the learning curve, you can make some amazing meals.
A camping stove is easier because it functions like your everyday stove, and you can use a pot or pan to cook. These can cost more to purchase but are worth it in the long run for a hot bowl of soup at night.
If you want to get really fancy, look into cooking with a dutch oven while camping!
Tips on What to Pack:
You won't want to forget these items, and most of them are already at home.
Hygiene
4. Toilet Paper: Sometimes you arrive at a campsite, and they don't have any toilet paper, or they run out while you are there. It's a good idea to bring your own just in case.
5. Hand Soap/Sanitizer: Similar to the toilet paper, campsites might or might not have hand soap, and it's better to be safe than sorry. Hand sanitizer is ideal to bring as well!
6. Trash Bags: Most campsites have a large dumpster area for trash, but at your own site, you're responsible for figuring out where to dispose of it. It's crucial not to litter and to leave your campsite better than you found it.
Every campsite handles garbage disposal differently. Be sure to read each campsite's guidelines—don't assume they are the same as those at a previous site. In addition to trash, if you bring extra trash bags, they can serve multiple purposes.
*Pro Tip: Never leave your food out overnight. Either dispose of it in the on-site dumpsters, place it in your car, or use the bear locker.
7. Quick-Dry Towel: Quick-dry towels are made from polyester, nylon, and polyamide. These synthetic fibers allow the towels to dry quickly. A quick-dry towel is ideal for outdoor settings, where higher humidity can prevent an average towel from drying effectively.
5. Hand Soap/Sanitizer: Similar to the toilet paper, campsites might or might not have hand soap, and it's better to be safe than sorry. Hand sanitizer is ideal to bring as well!
6. Trash Bags: Most campsites have a large dumpster area for trash, but at your own site, you're responsible for figuring out where to dispose of it. It's crucial not to litter and to leave your campsite better than you found it.
Every campsite handles garbage disposal differently. Be sure to read each campsite's guidelines—don't assume they are the same as those at a previous site. In addition to trash, if you bring extra trash bags, they can serve multiple purposes.
*Pro Tip: Never leave your food out overnight. Either dispose of it in the on-site dumpsters, place it in your car, or use the bear locker.
7. Quick-Dry Towel: Quick-dry towels are made from polyester, nylon, and polyamide. These synthetic fibers allow the towels to dry quickly. A quick-dry towel is ideal for outdoor settings, where higher humidity can prevent an average towel from drying effectively.
Comfort
8. Dryer Sheets: Did you know that dryer sheets can act as a bug repellent? Just tuck them around you while you're sitting at your campsite or place them near you in your tent to keep bugs away.
9. Headlamp: Campsites are dark at night, so you'll want a light that's easy to use. A hands-free option like a headlamp is perfect, allowing you to carry things and move around without holding a light.
10. Camp Slippers: When going in and out of your tent, you'll want slippers that are easy to slip on. Give your feet a break from wearing walking shoes all day; especially after hiking, it feels great to switch to a more comfy pair.
9. Headlamp: Campsites are dark at night, so you'll want a light that's easy to use. A hands-free option like a headlamp is perfect, allowing you to carry things and move around without holding a light.
10. Camp Slippers: When going in and out of your tent, you'll want slippers that are easy to slip on. Give your feet a break from wearing walking shoes all day; especially after hiking, it feels great to switch to a more comfy pair.
Growth is Linear
For beginners, as you camp more, you'll develop your own list of hacks, and setup will become faster and much easier. Don't let experienced campers intimidate you—everyone starts as a beginner. The only way to learn and become a better camper is to camp!
If you're an experienced camper, we hope this list inspired new ideas, or ways to elevate your camping.
If you're an experienced camper, we hope this list inspired new ideas, or ways to elevate your camping.
Need a bag to carry all your gear to your campsite? Check out the SANDMARC Travel Backpack.
