5 Low-Tech DIY Hacks To Try During Your Next Camping Adventure

There is something uniquely rejuvenating about a camping trip that is hard to replicate with any other type of vacation. Heading out into the backcountry and setting up your canvas accommodation before prepping the BBQ, enjoying the stars, and roasting s'mores over the campfire provides an incredibly relaxing experience, and it is a great way to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. A huge part of the attraction of camping is the chance to give yourself a bit of a digital detox and enjoy the simpler pleasures of life. Whether it's chopping wood, hiking, fishing, or telling stories around a fire pit, a camping adventure allows you to put down the screens and embrace an analogue experience, even if just for a few days.

But even if you are cutting down on tech use, that doesn't mean you have to rough it completely. There are still a few hacks, tricks, and devices that you can lean on to make your next camping adventure a success. From sun-warmed gravity showers, simple clothes storage, and glow sticks for keeping tabs on the kids, to prepping food in advance and easy ways to waterproof your bag, there are plenty of low-tech camping essentials you'll always wish you brought on every trip. Here are five of our favorite simple tricks to take your outdoor adventures to the next level.

Exploring the wilderness can be exhilarating, but it is also almost always a messy affair. Whether it's mud and dust from a long hike or pond water after a dip in the swimming hole, chances are you are going to want to wash after a day exploring the great outdoors. While some campsites have showers, plenty don't, and if you are wild camping far from civilization, you are going to be right out of luck. 

This is where a portable shower comes in handy. Essentially just a plastic bag with a tube, you fill it with water, lay it out in the sun, and then hang it from a tree. The sun heats the water for a warm shower, and gravity does the rest! One camper on Reddit said, "My partner and I always use a cheap bag shower. Not glamorous, but gets the job done well." Having a shower at the end of a long day's outdoor exertions can really transform your basic campsite into a more luxurious experience. Plus, you'd be surprised at how often you end up needing (or at least wanting) to wash your hands!

This might sound weird, but hear us out — taking a clothes rack camping is one of the quickest, simplest ways to elevate your camping experience and make it a much more luxurious and enjoyable experience while still staying grounded and in touch with nature. A clothes rack, or even just a line with a few hangers or pegs, means you can organize your clothes easily, avoiding rummaging around in your pack whenever you need something or just leaving clothes in a pile in the corner of the tent.  

One user on the U.K. Campsite forum said, "We use one of the Argos hanging rails and find it easy to put up and take back down – just need to remember the clothes hangers. I also have a net thing that hangs from the rail, which has kind of shelves in it to hold smaller bits and bobs." It keeps your clothes off the ground and it can double up as a drying line for wet items if you get caught in the rain. It might sound over the top, but it is a low-tech, low-impact choice that makes things a lot more organized, efficient, and comfortable on a camping trip, particularly one that is longer than just a weekend.

For most people, glow sticks are a fun addition to their kids' birthday party, or maybe a must-have for their next rave all-nighter. But they probably wouldn't be high on the packing list for many campers. But for family camping trips, glow sticks can be a wonderful, low-tech way to keep track of your kids. One Redditor on r/travel said, "Give the kids glowstick necklaces. They help you see them in the dark, and they're fun." 

Clip a glow stick onto your child's coat, or give them a few to wear or play with, and you'll find it that much easier to find them if it gets dark and they are still out and about. You can also use glow sticks to illuminate your tent and even your guy ropes to help people avoid tripping over them in the dark. Of course, as a considerate outdoorsperson, you want to be as sustainable as possible, so try to find reusable glow sticks that last more than one night, and avoid leaving them lying around the place when it is time to pack up and leave.

One of the biggest joys of camping is the opportunity to live a slightly more rugged, DIY, closer-to-nature kind of lifestyle. This usually means building a fire or a bbq and cooking your own food. Some people make do with burgers, dogs, and reheated beans, and that's fine! There's nothing wrong with a little simplicity when sleeping out in the wilderness. But just because you haven't got access to your home kitchen, it shouldn't mean missing out on great-tasting food. 

Prepping food in advance is a great way to take campfire meals up a notch, whether it's marinating meat for the bbq, pre-cooking a few bits, making a salad to go with the main, or just chopping up veggies! One enthusiastic camping chef on Reddit said, "I will cook some things ahead of time, like taco meat, and freeze in a ziplock bag so that the bag is flat." Prepping food in advance is a hassle-free game-changer for cooking while camping and also a great space- and time-saver, as you don't need as many utensils, boards, and plates, and you'll save on the cleaning afterwards!

One thing that can ruin a camping trip in record time is rain. The odd shower, or even a serious downpour, is all part of the experience, but if your clothes, shoes, or other belongings get soaked, then things can get unhappy pretty quickly. There are plenty of pricey ways to waterproof your gear, from proofer sprays to rain covers and backpack liners. But there's no need to break your budget on expensive kit when a bin liner works just as well! Grab a compost bag or heavy-duty trash bag from your kitchen and line the inside of your backpack with it before packing the rest of your kit. 

Redditor u/LibraryIntelligent91 on r/WildernessBackpacking recommends, "Give the top of the garbage bag a few twists and tuck it in sideways. I've swamped a canoe multiple times in a single day, and this method kept my stuff dry." Do check to make sure there aren't any holes in the bag, and be careful if you are packing items with pointy edges, as a kitchen trash bag won't be as resistant as a specific waterproof backpack liner. For extra safety, you can use another bag as a rain cover on the outside of your pack, as long as you don't mind the DIY look!

To compile this list, we looked at various social media websites and forums for verified recommendations from campers for low-tech items and DIY hacks to improve a camping trip. We prioritised low-cost options that did not require electricity to function.