You can spend a fortune on all the gear to go away camping and just never stop spending, but you can have loads of fun with the most basic essentials and a few clever hacks. Whether it’s lighting your fire, keeping yourself dry or getting organised, there are some great ways to implement cheap household items and use them when you’re camping!
So we’ve made a list of the best camping hacks out there, designed to be ingenious and to save you money too, allowing you to improvise things you already own.
Carton Lamp
The Carton Lamp has to be the easiest and most ingenious hack ever. Simply fill a plastic milk/juice carton (the bigger the better) to the top with water, screw it shut, strap a head lamp to it and you’ll have a perfect ambient lamp.
Cotton Wool Firelighters
Firelighters can be expensive, but when you’re camping getting a fire going without them can be difficult. Grab a few cotton balls and pop them into a freezer bag, add a lump of Vaseline, rub the whole lot together and seal the bag. Add a couple of balls to the base of your fire and spark to light, you’ll have a roaring campfire in no time at all.
Egg Box Firelighters
Get an empty compressed cardboard egg box, pop a lump of charcoal in each slot, light and the corner and allow to catch.
Tic-Tac Spice Rack
Small bottles and pill bottle are perfect for keeping small amounts of things dry and safe when you’re camping, but for the ultimate spice rack, fill some empty Tic-Tac cartons with your favourite spices.
Duct Tape Everything
We can’t even nail a single use for this stuff but always make sure you’ve got a roll. Whether it’s fixing a leak on a drippy tent, making an emergency sling for injuries and making a repair on pretty much anything that is broken, Duct tape fixes everything!
Condom Water Carriers
Even if you don’t think you’ll need them, a pack of condoms takes up the tiniest amount of space and makes the perfect water carrier in any emergency.
Safety Pin Sewing
Needles and cottons, cold hands and wet conditions don’t really go together but make sure you always have a packet of safety pins with you for anything the Duct tape can’t fix! These are perfect for broken bag straps, snapped fixings and even a lost button!
Tea Light Lamps
It’s quick and easy and a simple idea, just pop a tealight into a glass jar for an instant windproof lamp.
A few well packed essentials can make all the difference when you’re battling the elements. While camping is fun, it can be challenging and being well prepared is the best way to face whatever might happen during your trip, and as these hacks show, you don’t need to break the bank either, leaving more money for your holiday!
By: Kath Cross
