10 Clever Camping Tricks

Camping is always a fun activity where you can make the most of your ingenuity. Still, it can be even more fun and comfortable with certain tricks that allow you to enjoy the outdoors without having to sacrifice comfort or practicality.
That’s why 5-Minute Crafts compiled the best tricks to put into practice before or during a camping trip and the best part is that they’re all super easy and inexpensive to do.

1. Make a water filter with crushed carbon.

What you’ll need:

• 60 ml syringe
• A wooden rod
• 4 cotton pads
• Crushed activated carbon
• A glue gun
• A bottle with a trimmed base
• A bottlecap with holes

Instructions:

1. Insert a cotton pad into the syringe and push it all the way in using the wooden rod.
2. Add some crushed charcoal to the syringe and insert another cotton pad on top.
3. Repeat the above step until all the pads are inside the syringe as well as the crushed charcoal.
4. Glue the cap of the bottle to the base of the syringe. Do that with the syringe facing upward, while using a glue gun.
5. Screw the syringe cap to the bottle and hang it in a place where it can be in a vertical position at all times. It’s important that it always stay vertical.
6. Use the base of the bottle as a recipient for the water you’re filtering. While the carbon is supposed to remove certain impurities found in the water, namely chlorine, sediment, taste, and odor, you should always boil any water before drinking it. Keep in mind that this filter can only be used for water that you know is not contaminated with heavy chemicals, pollutants, minerals, or salts. When in doubt, it’s better to stay on the safe side and not drink it.

2. Light a fire with a spoon

What you’ll need:

• Coal
• One piece of toilet paper
• A spoon

Instructions:

1. Make a small roll with the toilet paper and rub one of the ends against the charcoal.
2. Direct the sunlight toward the tip that was rubbed on the charcoal using the concave part of the spoon.

3. Make a simple hanger

What you’ll need:

• A thick tree branch
• A knife or razor
• A strong rope or yarn

Instructions:

1. Cut 2 slits in the thickest part of the branch. Make sure that each slit is placed somewhere in the middle of the branch, but also that there is enough space between each of them.
2. Tie the branch to a tree using the rope or string, placing it in the center of the slits you just made.
3. Hang your belongings on the protruding branches. Try not to add too much weight.

4. Roast a stuffed potato

What you’ll need:

• A large potato
• 2 eggs
• Toothpicks
• A knife or razor
• A spoon

Instructions:

1. Cut the potato lengthwise, but try not to do it too close to the center. The goal is to obtain 2 long pieces, one thinner than the other one. Set the thinnest piece aside, it will serve as a lid to the thickest one.
2. Scoop out the center of the thicker side of the potato using the spoon.
3. Crack and add the 2 eggs into the potato. In this step, you can also add part of the potato that was left over from the previous step.
4. Seal the potato using matches or toothpicks to fix the thinner piece you sliced in the first step.
5. Roast the potato by covering the sides with burning charcoal.

5. Make your own thermal bottle

What you’ll need:

• Tetra Brik carton package with a lid
• Aluminum foil
• Aluminum insulation
• Adhesive tape

Instructions:

1. Wrap the carton in a sheet of aluminum foil.
2. Wrap the carton again in another sheet of aluminum foil, including the top and lid.
3. Attach everything using adhesive tape. Make sure everything sticks well. Use as much tape as necessary.
4. Pour hot liquids into your new thermal bottle. They will stay at that temperature for up to 5 hours.

6. Transform your athletic shoes into snowshoes.

What you’ll need:

• A pair of athletic shoes (sneakers or similar)
• Stapler

Instructions:

1. Add several rows of staples on the soles of your sneakers.
2. Use your shoes to walk on the snow without slipping.

7. Make a tea filter

What you’ll need:

• Cardboard cup
• Fork

Instructions:

1. Pierce 3 rows of holes in the bottom of the cup using the fork.
2. Place the cup with holes into a larger container or bowl. Add the tea and water.
3. Lift the cup to filter tea leaves or coffee.

8. Make popcorn without a pan

What you’ll need:

• Popcorn kernels
• Aluminum foil
• Oil

Instructions:

1. Place the popcorn kernels with a bit of oil on 3 layered sheets of aluminum foil.
2. Fold the sheets of paper on the sides to form a sort of deep dish.
3. Cover with more sheets of aluminum and put on top of lit charcoal for a few minutes.

9. Make a water dispenser.

What you’ll need:

• A plastic drum
• A plastic straw
• A razor or knife

Instructions:

1. Make a small hole in the bottle and insert the plastic straw. Make sure it fits tightly.
2. Pour water into the bottle, leaving the straw with the outside tip up.
3. To get water, just open the cap of the bottle. You will see the water drain out of the straw.

10. Make a toilet paper dispenser.

What you’ll need:

• A plastic bottle with a handle
• A wooden rod
• A razor or knife

Instructions:

1. Cut the bottle in half and add 2 small holes on the sides. Then, place the roll of toilet paper horizontally inside the bottle.
2. Insert the wooden rod through the holes and through the toilet paper tube.
3. Hang your dispenser on a tree, away from the ground.