Essential Camping Tips for Your Summer Adventures

As restrictions around stay-at-home orders begin to ease, local and state parks are swinging open their doors, signaling the advent of an exhilarating camping season. An incredible way to escape crowded areas, camping doesn't have to be synonymous with roughing it. No matter your camping experience level, we present to you eight ingenious tips to make your camping experience more delightful.

Convert Garbage Bags into Protective Shields Rain can mar the joy of camping, especially when you discover your clothes and sleeping bag dripping wet inside your tent. While waterproof backpacks and duffel bags can burn a hole in your pocket, garbage bags offer a budget-friendly alternative. Use one to encase your sleeping bag and another to line your backpack's interior before packing your gear. Not only will you enjoy a dry camping trip, but these bags can also serve as waste containers or laundry bags.

Fashion a Lantern with a Headlamp and Water Jug Space can become a luxury during camping trips. To avoid packing a bulky lantern, create your own by pairing a headlamp and a water jug. Wrap the headlamp around a water jug - preferably an opaque one - with the light facing the water, and voila, you have an improvised lantern!

Keep Mosquitoes at Bay with Sage For many, mosquitoes are a relentless foe during camping. If chemical repellents are not to your liking and non-chemical options fail to deliver, burning sage could be your silver bullet. The smoke of sage naturally deters mosquitoes, making it an ideal addition to your campfire, especially during dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.

Opt for a Double Sleeping Bag If you are sharing your camping experience with a significant other or someone you are comfortable with, consider investing in a double sleeping bag. The body heat of two people can create a warmer environment than a single sleeper. If your budget allows, opt for a down sleeping bag. More compact and heat-efficient than synthetic ones, a down double sleeping bag occupies less space compared to its synthetic counterpart.

Use Frozen Water Jugs in Your Cooler To prevent your food packaging from getting soggy from melting ice, try freezing water or juice jugs that you plan to carry and using them to insulate your cooler. This way, your food remains chilled and you have refreshing beverages to stay hydrated.

Harness Effective Fire Starter Techniques Igniting the first fire can be a challenge if moisture has set on your campfire materials. Here are some fire starter techniques to facilitate a smooth camping experience. • Cotton pads soaked in wax: Dip cotton makeup remover pads in candle wax, leaving a small area untouched for easy lighting. Keep a small stash ready for quick fire starting. • Doritos or corn chips: Surprisingly, these snacks make fantastic kindling! • Cardboard egg cartons: Recycle your leftover egg cartons by filling them with shredded paper or dryer lint and candle wax. This makeshift firestarter will burn long enough to ignite larger logs. • Toilet paper rolls: Save your empty toilet paper rolls, stuff them with dryer lint, and wrap them in waxed paper. Use the waxed paper as a wick and light up your fire pit.

Create Your Own Pillow Pillows can be voluminous for your camping luggage. As an alternative, use a sleeping bag case filled with clothes. While it may not rival your comfy down-filled pillow at home, it's practical and conserves significant space in your gear.

Duct Tape Your Water Bottle Before departing for your camping trip, wrap several layers of duct tape around your water bottle. This handy trick can save you from carrying an entire roll of duct tape, as it takes up minimal space and can come in handy for emergency repairs.

Ready to retreat from the great outdoors and head back to your home comforts? Crosscountry Mortgage is here to assist you in financing your dream home, offering a comfortable space to return to. Get in touch with us today, or fill out the form below.