How To Organize Camping Gear

A few quick and easy tips will keep your camping gear orderly at the campsite and at home. Cooking outside, playing outside 24/7 and ‘being on vacation’ can lead to a disaster zone that will take the fun out of your camping experience. Read on for our top tips on how to organize your camping gear…

1. Utilize Zip Lock Bags – That’s right. Every size will come in handy. Zip lock bags are waterproof, durable, reusable and incredibly handy. Get your sharpie out and label away! Put each family member’s toiletries in a separate baggie. Put dried beans, rice, cereal and other snacks in baggies. It will take up far less room than conventional packaging. Zip lock baggies also make a nice and safe hope for cameras, cell phones and chargers.
2. Organize Clothing – Remember that when you’re camping, you won’t be neatly putting t-shirts, shorts and socks in drawers at a hotel. Everything must stay in your bag 24/7, so be sure your duffel or pack is organized. Clothing that you’re least likely to wear, like an extra fleece or rain jacket, should be packed at the bottom. Keep tees, socks, undies and a light fleece near the top. Do your best to fold clothes before putting them back in the duffel! This will ensure a frustration free camping closet.
3. Pick Up After Yourself – Part of keeping your gear organized at the campsite is cleaning up after yourself. If you whip up a mid day PB&J, put everything back where you found it and throw out all trash. Don’t let food scraps on the ground tempt bears! Once the sun hits high noon, put your fleece back in your duffel rather than tossing it on the camping chair.
4. Storage Tubs for Car Camping – Car camping sounds easier enough, but that Subarau Outback will be packed to the gills in no time without some efficient Tetris skills. Large storage bins make for easy packing and quick access to your frisbee, headlamp or tarp. Put all of your food, cooking equipment, utensils, table cloth and anything else related to the outdoor kitchen in one bin. In a second bin, toss your tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, pillow, tarp and anything sleep related. Save a smaller bin for campsite toys – frisbee, baseball mitts, slack line, collapsable hula hoop and anything else that you plan to bring. Duffel bags or packs with clothing can neatly fill in the gaps between the bins making for a super neat car for camping!
5. Storage Tubs for Home Storage – You might need a few more storage tubs for your basement. Keep climbing and mountaineering gear in one tub – ropes, harnesses, carabiners and chocks. After thoroughly cleaning all of your kitchen cooking supplies at home, store it all in a separate bin. Packing up for your next camping trip will be a breeze!
6. Properly Store Your Sleeping Bag – Sleeping bags all come with a stuff sack and a larger sack. The larger sack is intended for at home storage, so the down or synthetic down doesn’t become permanently compressed. It also gives the sleeping bag a chance to breath.
7. Clean Up! – When it’s time to check back into reality at home, completely empty out your pack removing all garbage and all other contents. Wipe it down with mild soap on the inside if necessary. Same goes for the tent – open it up at home, shake out the dirt and wipe down with mild soap. Be sure to let it dry completely before storing.