Ten Tips for Better Camping

Whether you are planning a long hike, kayak, canoe, or car ride to your camp destination, being prepared and having a refined list of camp 'essentials' is key to a good camp experience. Here are ten tips I've learnt over my time camping that have made many of my trips more enjoyable and comfortable.

1) Dryer Lint - I hate wasting anything around the house, so this one is an awesome tip. Instead of throwing out the dryer lint after a load of laundry, I put it in an old cardboard egg carton. I keep filling it up after each laundry load until it's time for camping! I then bring the egg carton along. This stuff is the BEST campfire starter ever! Just tear one section of the egg carton off, place it under a nice little twig teepee and put the match to it. That lint goes up in flames fast, and it's the lightest and best fires starter I've ever come across. And it's free ... kinda.

2) Foldable Chairs - Camp chairs are a must for me when I'm camping. A good foldable camp chair can save your back and knees from some serious pain. If you are backbacking, hiking, or kayaking, you obviously aren't going to be lugging a camp chair into the backcountry. But you can buy 'sleeves' for you sleeping pad that prop them into chairs so you can have a nice back rest at camp. I'd recommend getting one. If you are car camping or canoeing, then by all means, bring a fully foldable comfortable camp chair.

3) Hater Water Nalgene - On those cold nights I always boil a liter of water just before bed and fill my Nalgene. Then I toss it at the bottom of my sleeping bag to keep my warm at night. Just like a hot water bottle at home! If you don't have a Nalgene be sure to use a sturdy bottle that can take the hot water. You don't want it bursting in the middle of the night and your bag gets soaked, or worse, you get burned from the water.

4) Leather Gloves - Another must have me on my camping trips. I use leather workmans gloves when chopping or handling wood, retrieving pots or pans from the fire, sweeping out the tent with my hands, or even (carefully) handling firewood in the fire. There are many menial camp tasks to be done with your hands and I find keeping them covered and protected makes life a lot easier.

5) Headlamps - There are many camp tasks that require two hands, using a headlamp is a dream when you need to accomplish those tasks at night. Headlamps nowadays are affordable, compact, and have a long battery life. You do dlose some of the ambience of the propane lantern, but many camps can use both. I never go camping without my headlamp.

6) Aluminum Foil - More then just for cooking, you can make emergency plates, bowls, or even fix a hole in a tent with some aluminum foil. For backbackers and kayakers, Take it off the roll in large squares and fold it up and place in a zip-loc bag to save weight.

7) String/Rope - Awesome as a clothes dryer, for hanging a tarp if it's raining (or too sunny), for strapping something to your back, it seems like you can never have too much rope. I always pack a nice long piece of rope that is a little old so I don't mind cutting it into pieces as I need to.

8) Multi-purpose Tool - The old saying of "If it doesn't have more than two uses, don't bring it" applies here. A multi-tool can help with first-aid, gear and tent repairs, clothing repairs, cooking, and campfire preparation. Always, always, always keep an multi-tool like a leatherman or Swiss army knife in your pocket.

9) Foam Mattress - I used to think sleeping on a foam mattress in my tent was 'wimping out'. Until I tried one. A foam mattress keeps you off the ground (which is often damp) and warm as it acts as an insulating layer. Not to mention when your sore from the day, it lets your body have a comfortable sleep.

10) Someone More Experienced - The best way to learn while camping, is to camp with someone who has done it a lot. A good friend or family member is a great way to pick up tips and to learn new ideas from. Plus, when it's raining and you are tent-bound, it's always nice to play cards with someone!