15 Camping Packing Hacks & Tips For Your Next Trip
Camping with your family is a wonderful opportunity to spend quality time together…sleeping in a tent, toasting marshmallows, and trekking up to the lake are all terrific activities to do together. One element of the camping vacation that we all despise is the tiresome task of packing up all of our camping equipment.
No matter how much space you believe you have and how well-organized you are, packing for a trip, unpacking at the campground, and then doing it all over again when you return home can quickly become a time-consuming and exhausting undertaking.
With these 28 camping packing hacks and recommendations for your next family vacation, we make it easier and more efficient to pack.
1.Checklists to help you stay on track
Your ability to pack all of your belongings for a weekend or longer trip will be aided by your ability to be well-organized. Make a checklist to verify that you have everything you need, including tents and sleeping gear, cooking and eating utensils, food, clothes, entertainment, and other items, among other things.
As soon as it’s time to pack, you can simply run over the list to ensure that you don’t miss anything necessary.
Remember to save your list somewhere safe so you can refer to it on future camping excursions!
2.Kids’ check-off checklists
Having a checklist of items to pack on a vacation is something that even younger children may benefit from learning. As well as the ability to bring some of their own equipment.
Keep their list to a minimum – inform them that they may only bring the bare necessities as well as one or two small toys or books. Personal belongings may quickly fill up a lot of space if not taken care of properly.
3. Keeping things as simple as possible
Maintaining simplicity is one of the most beneficial things you can do when camping! Almost everyone overpacks and brings stuff with them just because they believe they will be needed. Camping, on the other hand, is all about the essentials — you don’t need to carry along all of the creature comforts of home with you.
It’s important to prepare ahead of time if you’re just going camping for two nights. Can you tell me how much food you really require? Are those three sweaters really necessary?
4.a Containers for packaging
For storing all of your equipment, choose transparent or opaque packing containers. Upon opening each, you’ll be able to see exactly what’s in there! Having a clear understanding of which container to search in while unpacking at camp can save you from having to dig through your belongings to locate the flashlight you need.
Try to keep sleeping bags in one container, children’s clothes in another, and cooking items in a third container. For better organizing, avoid combining similar products.
5.Use of labels is another good practice.
Make use of labels if you don’t have any transparent packing containers. Organize your containers by writing a list of what’s inside each one and taping it to the side of each container. That means you’ll have more time to enjoy lounging in the sun or meandering along the route instead of unpacking when you get to camp.
Other options include using colored bins, such as putting all of the food into red containers while the clothes is placed in green containers.
6. Make your packing the night before
You may want to consider packing your car the day before you go. Because you won’t be hurried, you’ll be more focused, and no one will be able to smuggle in another bag stuffed with items you don’t need!
If you want to take your time, you may fit each container and bag in the most organized and efficient method possible so that everything fits…and there is enough space for everyone in the family without having to squeeze bags between them…
7. What to do with the bulky items.
In addition to taking up more space in your car than other goods, heavier items such as the tent and camping table are safer in your vehicle if they are stowed at the bottom of the vehicle with the rest of the camping equipment and storage containers.
The gear on top of these heavy goods will hold them in place if you have to come to an abrupt halt, preventing them from sliding around.
8. removing dirt from the ground
Prepare for the return journey by bringing along some extra plastic bags. Before you begin packing up, dump dirty shoes, clothes, and any other filthy objects into these bags. So that the rest of your stuff remains clean on the trip home, this is the best option.
9.Camping Equipment Carrier Rack
In order to maximize storage space, consider purchasing a roof-mounted rack, such as one from Thule. The ability to stow practically everything inside will allow you to free up more room in your car for the kids and other goods that don’t need to be packed with the rest of your camping gear, such as sleeping bags.
Pillows (number 10)
Packing pillows for every member of the family might take up a lot of space, which you may not have available for other things. In order to save space, here are two possibilities for you: Purchase lightweight inflatable cushions that will not take up much space in your camping equipment.
Alternatively, you might utilize the case that you use to keep your sleeping bag for the nighttime. Stuff the bag with some of your items and use it as a cushion after you’ve arrived at the campsite.
Sleeping bags with down filling
Sleeping bags take up a lot of valuable storage space. Because of their large size and volume, synthetic bags are less expensive and dry quicker than natural bags. Down sleeping bags, if they’re in the budget, may be rolled up and flattened with extreme care.
For easier access, place them in their own separate bags inside a big plastic container.
15 Camping Packing Hacks & Tips for Your Next Trip
12.Camping chairs
For seating around the campfire, most campgrounds will provide a picnic table as well as logs to sit on surrounding it. For those seeking more comfort, camping chairs are an excellent purchase.
However, if you want to conserve space in your car, opt for folding chairs that are easy to fold and won’t take up a lot of room.
13. Preparing to load your equipment
It’s a straightforward concept: first, load goods into your car that you won’t need right immediately. They’ll be the last items you take out of the drawer. Make sure to carry the food and cooking equipment on top of your backpack if you want to dine when you first arrive at your campsite before setting up your tent.
14. Wood for the campfire
You shouldn’t even think about carrying your own firewood since most campsites will provide it at no cost or for a little fee.
Clothing Packing Tips Number 15: Keep the moisture out of your clothes.
In order to prevent garments from becoming moist, line the interior of backpacks and other canvas bags with a waste bag before filling them with apparel. The rain may leak inside the tent even though the bags are inside; if this happens, the moisture can make the clothing very unpleasant to wear.
16. Fold your garment in half.
If you’re traveling or camping, here’s a tip to keep in mind: instead of folding your clothing, roll them instead. The extra room in your backpacks or duffel bags would be much appreciated. As an added bonus, it is far simpler to sift through garments that have been folded and piled than it is to sort through clothes that have been stacked and folded.
17. Clothes for children
If you have smaller children, a wonderful approach to pack their clothes is to put all of their clothes for one day in a plastic bag together. Include underwear, socks, and trousers, among other things. This manner, you can eliminate any uncertainty about what they’ll be wearing for the day.
Pack enough suitcases to last for the amount of days you expect to be away. As well as “extra” clothes in case your kid becomes too filthy or wet in what they are currently wearing, have one bag of “extra” clothing on hand. This style of packing saves space…as well as valuable time!
Toiletries are number 18 on the list.
To store your toiletries, use transparent, zipped plastic bags – one for each member of the family, with one bag containing all of their personal goods such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, and a personal bottle of soap.
Keep all of your toiletry bags together in a single container inside the tent for easy access. Nothing will be misplaced in this manner.
Bag for children (no. 19)
No matter how far or how small a distance you’re traveling, kids are notoriously disinterested in the process. Pack a separate bag of books and small toys to keep your children occupied while traveling in the van. This puts everything in one area, making it simple for you to locate what you’re looking for…and for you to clean up quickly.
Make a surprise appearance in the bag with a new toy or book for your children!
Food Preparation Techniques Number 20. Create a menu.
Plan your camping meal about a week or so before you go for your vacation. Know what you’re going to make and what you’re going to consume each day. After that, simply purchase the products that you will need to create these meals.
You’ll discover that not packing up your complete kitchen and purchasing more food than you need will allow you to save a significant amount of space.
Essentials for the kitchen (number 21)
Keep all of your camping cooking needs in a single container…and don’t forget to keep them in the container even when you aren’t out camping. If you have pots, pans, plates, and silverware that you exclusively use while camping, it takes the guesswork out of figuring out what culinary items you’ll need to bring.
22. Sauces, seasonings, and spices
It might be tempting to just carry those enormous bottles and jars of condiments with you on your trip. Will you, on the other hand, really use the full jar of mustard? Invest in smaller plastic bottles and fill them with condiments such as mustard, ketchup, relish, and mayonnaise. These bottles will fit neatly into a single big plastic storage container.
Spices should be treated in the same way.
Buy tiny plastic containers for those spices you’re going to be utilizing on your vacation and leave the spice jars and sacks at home.
After your camping vacation, the condiments will be able to fit into your refrigerator and be consumed. If you plan to go camping on a frequent basis during the summer, the spices may be stored in your camping gear so that you don’t have to repack them every time you go out camping.
23. Condiments are available as an option.
When it comes to condiments and spices, another alternative is to get tiny, individual packages. Keep them all together in a compact container so that everyone may access them as required.
Bags with zippers for table settings (number 24).
When camping, the more organized you are, the more time you will have to spend with your family. Organize a plastic table setting for each member of your family into a zipped plastic bag. Include a plastic plate, bowl, cup, and cutlery for each member of your family.
When it’s time to eat, everyone may take turns picking up their own bag of dishes for the meal…and taking turns cleaning up after themselves! Keep the bags in an open plastic container so that they are simple to find.
25. Ice packs and a supply of drinking water
Bring ice if you’re carrying a cooler or two to keep your meals cold while on the road. You’ll also need water, which means you’ll be purchasing jugs of water. You may save space and money by freezing the jugs of water used to chill the food, one for each cooler. You can also save purchasing bags of ice. You’ll have plenty of water to drink as soon as the ice begins to melt.
Tip: Ice expands as it freezes, so drain out part of the water from the jug before it freezes completely.
25.Leave the egg cartons at home, if possible.
When you’re camping, there’s nothing better than waking up to scrambled eggs and bacon in the morning. Leave the egg cartons at home to save up some space in your luggage. To preserve the eggs, crack them into a plastic container and place it in the refrigerator overnight.
It is simple to make breakfast by just pouring the egg mixture into the pan when you are ready. To make it even more convenient, put salt, pepper, and other ingredients in the bottle and shake to combine.
Tip: Make the pancake batter the night before you leave and place it in a plastic container in the cooler with the broken eggs. The following morning, take both out and have a quick pancake and egg breakfast.
27. Keep your pots and pans in good condition.
Organize your pots and pans in a separate container, and keep the container close to where you’re working while cooking. Keep the pots and pans in the storage bin between camping excursions so that they are protected from moisture.
Some of these pans may rust depending on the material from which they are produced. To prevent this, get little packets of silica gel packs to place between them — this is an excellent method to keep them safe for future camping excursions.
Bags with zippers for spills (no. 28)
For any goods that may leak while you’re traveling to your campground – toiletries, dishwashing liquid, rubbing alcohol in the first aid kit, and so on – place them in zipped plastic bags before driving.
If anything does start to leak, it will be trapped in a plastic bag for simple cleanup, rather than leaking all over your clothes or sleeping bags.
Maintain a regular packing schedule.
Create a packing schedule that you can follow… and stick to it. Find out what works best for you and your family and stick to it every time you go camping, whether it’s for packing or unloading.
Following the completion of your packing procedure, it will be simple to just pack up and go without the dread of packing hanging over your head. Moreover, the better prepared you are, the more you will be able to relax and enjoy your vacation.
Make use of these 28 camping packing techniques on your next camping trip. You’ll feel less worried if your stuff is packed quickly and your campsite is organized and set up properly, allowing you to spend less time looking for items and more time with your family.
