10 Vintage Camping Hacks Every Camper Should Know
Updated: Aug. 03, 2021Make it easy to organize your campsite and pack, store and cook your campfire food with these tried-and-true vintage camping hacks.
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Camping out for more than a night or two can bring the same challenges—ones our grandparents might recall—from back when most people lived without air conditioning. When you’re hit with crazy humidity or rainy days, you can rely on these old-school camping hacks—which are really just vintage life hacks—to keep the salt from clumping, the grill clean, and much more. Camping is supposed to be fun, and these time-tested tricks can help you make memories and enjoy great meals in the great outdoors with a lot less hassle.
Plus, before you set out on a camping adventure check out these 15 cool camping accessories you can buy on Amazon.
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Vintage Camping Hacks
Create a Dry Box
Invest in an airtight and waterproof container to store your camping essentials. Stock it with a box of matches, a flashlight plus batteries, first aid supplies, a few protein bars and any other small, must-have items. This will come in handy if you’re camping in damp or rainy conditions.
Invest in a Small Thermometer
Place a small stick-on thermometer inside your cooler lid to ensure that the temperature inside is a food-safe 35-40ºF. And if you want to upgrade your cooler situation, invest in a waterproof cooler light so you can see what you’re looking for after the sun goes down.
Make Your Own Ice Packs
Keep a few milk jugs the weeks before you head out into the wilderness. Wash thoroughly, allow to dry, and refill with clean tap water at home. Freeze and place in your cooler to keep the contents cool but dry. Consider these cooling tips, too.
Save Aluminum Foil
Save that used aluminum foil! Crumple it up and store in a zip-top bag to take along. Use it to scrub down the campfire grate or grill, clean your cast iron skillet or Dutch oven, and to scrape bark off your marshmallow sticks.
Keep Your Salt From Clumping
Take a cue from your local diner and put a few grains of rice in your salt shaker to keep the salt flowing instead of clumping together. Using a plastic shaker with a snap-down lid is also helpful to keep moisture out.
Don’t Forget Your Spices
Bringing along armfuls of spices can seem inconvenient, but you still want flavor in your favorite camping meals, right? Instead, repurpose Tic-Tac containers and other small, food-safe tins and use them as makeshift spice jars. Store them in a zip-top bag or small plastic tub to keep them dry.
Prep What You Can in Advance
Once you’re in the great outdoors, you won’t want to spend a ton of time meal prepping. Opt for no-cook meals or prep your ingredients at home before you leave. For example, pancake batter can be made at home, stored in a clean container or squeeze-top bottle and kept in the cooler until you’re ready.
Get Creative with Your Fire Starters
A proper campfire is made with crumpled paper, kindling and firewood, but that can be a lot to gather. Instead, you can get your fire started with some unconventional materials, like dryer lint (you can pre-portion this by stuffing it into toilet paper tubes) or even corn chips like Fritos and Doritos!
Bring Along Your Cast Iron Skillet or Dutch Oven
Don’t fuss with multiple pots and pans or special camping cookware. Instead, just bring your cast iron skillet or Dutch oven. Cast iron can withstand the elements and can be used over a propane cooktop, grill or straight over the campfire. Try these campfire-ready recipes for your Dutch oven.
Grab Some Brightly Colored Ribbon
Stop tripping over tent tethers and running into the clothesline! Tie neon-colored ribbon (or even fabric scraps) onto these cords to keep from getting tangled up.
Use these old-school camping hacks and your entire outdoor experience will be way more enjoyable. Campers, start your fires!
