41 camping tricks that are borderline genius

EastCoastMojo wrote: I just went camping for the first time in my life this past weekend. The only thing I would add to the list is to bring a separate cooler for beer, that way the main cooler stays nice and cold without all the extra opening to get da beers. Also, bacon in the woods is an unusual but awesome experience.

Also, pre-chill your beer the day before. Once the heat has been taken out (good beer in OK is sold at room temp (:( ) , the ice will last WAY longer, when you dump out most of the water and put fresh ice in the next day.

OMG did they just sugest investing in a 2 person sleeping bag? Don't they realize that's Just 2 1 person sleeping bags zipped together... That's not a Hack that's just normal.

Powdered non dairy creamer is flammable as well.

Last two Thanksgiving camping trips I have cooked a 15 pound turkey in the campfire coals. Its super easy and only takes a couple hours if you do it right.

Best thing is you don't have to go on the afternoon hike because you need to drink beer and keep the fire stoked.....

poopshovel wrote: I just made eggs and bacon on the stove, and drank a nice big glass of cold milk out of the fridge. Who's the genius now!?

The guy who made the panini maker!!!

I have a little one that we have used for mini fruit pies. .....a sandwich press, though, takes the awesome to a whole different level.

Carrying a cooler and bags of ice is a bitch when you're backpacking.

z31maniac wrote: I don't get how buying a few bags of ice on the way out town is more of a hassle than what you two are suggesting.

Whiskey requires no ice and fits in a backpack.

There are also other natural herbal things that weigh less and provide headache free hiking and climbing the next day.

berkeleying rookies.

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: Whiskey requires no ice and fits in a backpack. There are also other natural herbal things that weigh less and provide headache free hiking and climbing the next day. berkeleying rookies.

I am sad that I can only +1 this once.

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: Whiskey requires no ice and fits in a backpack. There are also other natural herbal things that weigh less and provide headache free hiking and climbing the next day. berkeleying rookies.

srsly. Panini makers? Cinnamon rolls? Mini-kegs? I don't think those are the kind of dudes I want to share a tent with.

I need a bag of toilet wine and some heavy petting if I'm going camping.

Nathan JansenvanDoorn wrote: Carrying a cooler and bags of ice is a bitch when you're backpacking.

z31maniac wrote: I don't get how buying a few bags of ice on the way out town is more of a hassle than what you two are suggesting.

To me camping != backpacking

For added peace of mind, put whiskey into a stainless steel container, so your bottle doesn't break. That can be heartbreaking.

Whiskey could possibly also be used as emergency antiseptic. Honey also works well in place of antibiotic ointment. The fewer single task items you have to carry, the better.

z31maniac wrote: To me camping != backpacking

^^this.

Camping is sitting around a fire with your friends, playing acoustic guitar, and roasting dinner on a stick. (....or frying it, in a heavy cast iron skillet, with lots of salted butter, and probably some garlic and black pepper) during the day, you may take a walk in the woods and take some photos.

Backpacking is hiking until you have blisters, sweating a lot, and paying $100 more for a tent because it cost 2 ounces less than the other brand. If you do have a guitar, it is one of those e36 m3y sounding ones

Enyar wrote: Some ribeyes + = game changer out in the woods.

Is there enough room in the package so that you can mix it up without having to use another pot?

We do the foil pouch meals all the time when camping. All prep is done at home and it makes for some tasty meals.

I can also vouch for those campfire cones. Friggin delicious! Works on a BBQ too

Nathan JansenvanDoorn wrote: Carrying a cooler and bags of ice is a bitch when you're backpacking.

z31maniac wrote: I don't get how buying a few bags of ice on the way out town is more of a hassle than what you two are suggesting.

Like foxtrapper, the link is blocked here at work.

If I'm back-packing, I'm not bringing heavy-ass beer. Hell, I'm not likely to bring any liquids other than water. And hiking is the only way I'd want to tent-camp.

Ive seen the egg carton-matchlight trick before. We used matchlight charcoal in a pringles can as a firestarter instead. The cardboard in the pringles can is waxed, so it burns just a little longer, and is also tougher than the egg carton, so it doesnt get crushed as easy when its packed away in a backpack.

Also, pringles lids are fun little frisbees.

Some alright ideas but seems most is concerned with lighting and fire, hopefully they bring a fire extinguisher. Looks to be another "forced" great internet ideas list thing.

My suggestion is BLM land is cheap to camp at and find a place to camp that doesn't have water. It isn't difficult to bring 5 gallons of water and lack of access to water keeps to jokers away. Another tip is to pack light and be creative, you don't have to bring cubic yards of stuff if you are creative and have imagination. Unfortunately most people are too self absorbed to think outside the box.

carguy123 wrote:

Enyar wrote: Some ribeyes + = game changer out in the woods.

Is there enough room in the package so that you can mix it up without having to use another pot?

You have to boil the water first so another pot is necessary. If I'm cooking the steaks/chops/chicken in a cast iron pan (rather than grilled), I'll cook them first then take them out to rest. Then add the water (while keeping all the meat juices/pieces in there) bring to a boil and then pour that stuff in. A little magic occurs and then you have surprisingly good mashed potatoes that can feed a bunch of people quickly/easily. Seriously one of the best items for camp food.

Enyar wrote:

carguy123 wrote:

Enyar wrote: Some ribeyes + = game changer out in the woods.

Is there enough room in the package so that you can mix it up without having to use another pot?

You have to boil the water first so another pot is necessary. If I'm cooking the steaks/chops/chicken in a cast iron pan (rather than grilled), I'll cook them first then take them out to rest. Then add the water (while keeping all the meat juices/pieces in there) bring to a boil and then pour that stuff in. A little magic occurs and then you have surprisingly good mashed potatoes that can feed a bunch of people quickly/easily. Seriously one of the best items for camp food.

QFT . . .

Peeps were inviting themselves over when I wascooking this @ Rd Atl a few years ago. If they didn't have beer, GTFO . . .

A candle in an empty coffee can will heat up a tent. I was Spring camping in Colorado once and the weather turned nasty and started to snow- heavily. The candle trick kept our tent nice and warm-- probably 15-20 degrees warmer than outside.

Gah now I want to go camping!

So I get home, check the link....

And I'm seriously disappointed. As if anyone is going to go camping with a five gallon bucket, a mik crate, and a toilet seat for an "emergency" toilet.

foxtrapper wrote: So I get home, check the link.... And I'm seriously disappointed. As if anyone is going to go camping with a five gallon bucket, a mik crate, and a toilet seat for an "emergency" toilet.

I think that one bothered me the most. While an interesting improvisation, just get the $10 toilet seat that mounts to the 5 gallon bucket.

4cylndrfury wrote: Ive seen the egg carton-matchlight trick before. We used matchlight charcoal in a pringles can as a firestarter instead. The cardboard in the pringles can is waxed, so it burns just a little longer, and is also tougher than the egg carton, so it doesnt get crushed as easy when its packed away in a backpack.

drier lint and petroleum jelly are supposed to make a really good kindling/fire starter