Use This Super Cheap Dollar Store Item To Easily Transport Firewood In Your Campground

For campers, gathering firewood is a classic chore indicating the official start of your camping adventure. You've set up the tent and made your fire ring, and now all you need is some fuel. In wooded areas, kindling is everywhere, whether from fallen trees, broken-off branches, or hunks of shedded bark. Some campgrounds may stack cords of wood, already segmented and split, so all you have to do is carry them to your site. To make things this process even easier: Visit a local dollar store and buy yourself a jump rope.

Yes, a jump rope. As many veteran campers know, it's awkward to actually carry bundles of wood. The classic position is to hold out our forearms like little shelves, then press the timber against our stomach and chest. The more we gather, the harder this becomes, as we balance our bounty in our arms while also trying to reach for additional logs. Ideally, this firewood is clean and dried out, but that's not always the case; these bits of tree could be moist, fungal, jagged, or dotted with insects. In winter, wood might be frozen or caked in snow. Even if you can carry your fuel without a hitch, your occupied hands are useless for swatting away flies and mosquitoes. 

Instead, you can use a length of rope to tie around the bunch. Many types of rope will do, but if you're not necessarily near a hardware store — or you're on a strict budget — a jump ropes and a simple knot are usually sturdy enough to bind these logs together. With a little practice, you can carry a decent-sized bundle with a single hand. This is one of those simple tips that makes tent camping a lot less intimidating.

How do you use the rope, exactly? As TikToker @knotskill demonstrates in a video, you can use a simple knot to tie up wood and bind it together. Knowing sophisticated knots definitely helps, but this isn't rocket science; as long as the rope is tied tightly around the middle of the bunch — and fastened securely — you should be able to carry the wood back to camp with one hand, leaving the other hand free. Only include as much as wood as you feel confident carrying. You don't want to strain yourself while carrying it, nor do you want pieces to slip out, loosening the bundle. If you're thinking of loading up your car with logs, make sure it's legal to bring your own firewood to a campsite.

Many ropes will suffice, but a jump rope will do in a pinch. They weigh almost nothing and pack easily, and as long as you don't cut off the plastic handles, you can still use it for exercise. If you don't have anyone else to help with your efforts, here's how solo travelers can master camping on their own.