Camping can be messy. It’s part of its charm. But while you can’t control the natural surroundings, you can make sure it’s not you who brings chaos to your camp. You do so by keeping your gear organised and stored properly.
So before packing for your next adventure in the big outdoors read about some of the best and foolproof storage concepts which will help you to keep everything in shape before, throughout and after your trip.
There are several reasons why you should take care of your campsite and camping equipment. Messy and unorganised camps create loads of unnecessary work for you, your companions and people who come after you, distracting everyone from all the fun. Moreover, unlike adequately stored gear, badly stocked one degenerates faster and becomes unusable quicker. Not to mention it can smell awful.
The most important thing is to prepare in advance. You will find numerous camping hacks to make an outdoor adventure more organised. But having time on your side is the real key to efficiency and peace of mind. Without it, any organising attempt is doomed to fail.
Have you ever thought about using clear storage bins for camping gear? Instead of throwing everything and at once inside a duffle bag pack all your gear inside clear plastic bins. Sounds unorthodox but for many camping enthusiasts, it’s something of a eureka moment. It’s a no-brainer: stackable plastic containers are durable, weather resistant and designed to be, well, organised. Remember, items like the tent, flashlights, bug repellant, sunscreen and other necessary toiletries should be easily accessible. And first, make sure that boxes fit comfortably in the back of your car.
Don’t chuck away the duffle bag tho. It is perfect for clothing and personal belongings, like toys. This is particularly relevant if you are camping with children. Give each one a carryall pack, importantly, of a different colour. Every parent knows colour coding works magic. One: if you let your kids choose the colour, their bag become special. Two, it’ll be easier to refer to when toys and other items are to be packed away at the end of the day. Three: it’ll help you to find out the culprit responsible for a possible mess.
You are going to need a tote bag yourself. In this case to create camping-only kit full of essentials, ready for the next trip whenever it may take place. We borrowed this idea from preppers community, and these guys know what they are doing. By creating such a camping ready bag with all the necessary items (utensils, paper plates, mugs, wipes, soap, etc.), you get ahead of yourself and save plenty of time. Additional advice? It’s helpful to include a list of contents.
If anything, camping organisation is all about streamlining and space management. It’s never enough of the later, so it’s important to think about what you bring. First of all, remember that not all you want to take is necessarily what you’ll need in the big outdoors. For example, you don’t need plenty of clothes. First and foremost you should focus on function and comfort. It’s also a good idea to roll your clothes instead of folding them. This technique not only saves plenty of space but makes clothing easier to find too.
The kitchen is the heart of each campsite, but it’s often also the epicentre of chaos. The best way to fight it is to make sure everything has its place, and everyone knows to return things where they belong. There are lots of miscellaneous items in the kitchen, but there are ways to keep them in order. For example, you can use a shoe organiser or tool belt to arrange utensils, towels and everything else. It also helps to have two different coolers for food and drinks. And finally, everyday items we don’t need anymore can be repurposed and successfully used to organise camping kitchen. Dive in your recycle bin, and you’ll find old coffee cans offering clean and dry storage, multiuse wire clothes hangers, bottles, etc.
