Be aware of dead trees because they can fall at any time and ruin a perfect camping trip. Fallon branches and debris around the site can be a good indicator of what’s to come.
Many campgrounds have picnic tables and firepits. Look for campsites with a bit of tree cover
Know the general wind direction. Nobody wants to be sucking down the neighbor’s campfire smoke all night. Look for sites that are upwind whenever possible.
Determine where the sun will rise and set. A site with tree cover may block some of the early morning sun. A nice sunset view could be equally rewarding so think it through.
Camping tips for creating the perfect campsite and shelter:
An old area rug or a child's play mat is a great way to add a bit of comfort to your tent. It helps to manage dirt and feels great on the feet at bedtime.
Spice up the tent with rope lights. Simply wrap them through the pole structure on the outside of the tent but under the fly. A small power bank will do the trick.
Water bottles filled with either cold or hot water are a great way to boost comfort in your sleeping bag. Fill your favorite Nalgene bottle with hot water right before you turn in. Place it in the bag with you near your feet or snuggled in where you need it.
Learn to start a fire effortlessly
Cotton balls dipped in candle wax make great fire starters. Store them in a paper egg carton try and bring a 12 pack for easy access and to minimize the mess.
Fill cardboard toilet paper rolls with dryer lint for a fire made easy
Use cotton balls inside an old roll of toilet paper, The cardboard roll will lit easy.
Fire starter sticks can also be purchased in the section of the grocery store where you find charcoal but try and start the fire from the outdoors.
Set up piles of branches and kindling to make starting a fire easier the next time. Having a tinder pile to get things started and a pile of thin slat wood can make the process much easier especially in breezy conditions.
Camping tips for building the perfect campfire:
Work on your wood pile as soon as you’ve set up your tent. Create piles by size ranging from kindling to big logs. This makes building the first fire of the day a breeze.
Bring a few different methods on starting a fire with you on every trip. Some may work better than others in certain conditions.
Smooth rocks placed along the outside of the fire pit ring can be useful for heating hands, feet, or low back while you lounge in your favorite camp chair or useful in “preheating” your sleeping bag. They are also very useful if your boots get wet you can just remove one stone from the fire pit and place inside the boot this means the boot will dry from the inside.
Filtration, Treatment & Purification
Handheld pump filters. The longtime standard for camping and backpacking users, handheld pump filters are generally easy to use but do contain moving parts that can wear or break.
Gravity flow filters. Our filter of choice, gravity flow filters are dead simple to use and have no moving parts. These filters tend to be more expensive and can be tricky to use with small water sources.
Squeeze filters. The new kid on the block, squeeze filters are very mobile and contain no moving parts. These are best for individual use and not for groups.
Ultraviolet sterilizers. SteriPen made this method of sterilization famous. They’re easy to use but are battery powered.
Drops. Water treatment drops are literally a lifesaver in developing countries. They’re also useful for group camping because they are lightweight, easy to use, and can be used to treat large volumes of water.