Camping Hacks Part8


Testing these camping hacks was fun! Some of the ideas were more helpful than others, though. Read on to find out which were which.

Camping hack #36

Use a bucket and a milk crate as an emergency toilet

In an emergency, why not just go behind a tree?

If you've never acquired that very practical skill, you should really read this book.

If that doesn’t appeal to you, I’m guessing that you won’t enjoy using a bucket either.

If you prefer not to use the woods, and you find yourself somewhere without a bathroom and you are organized enough to bring along a bucket and a milk crate - why not invest in a portable toilet? It will be more comfortable, and will feel more like the real thing.

The bucket and milk crate set-up is awfully bulky for an “emergency” system. When my kids were small and hadn’t yet mastered their “behind the tree” skills, we brought along a little portable potty seat. It didn’t take much room to pack. We lined a basin with a couple of plastic bags and set the seat on top.  That made a perfectly usable portable kid toilet.

The verdict: I didn't try this. It seems impractical for its intended audience.

Camping Hacks Part8


CLAM Pop Up Screen Tent

Keep the bugs out with this pop up tent! Quick to set up and water resistant.

Read more at Amazon here and find the best price!!

“As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.”



Camping hack #37

Cotton pads dipped in wax are a crazy easy way to make portable fire starters.

Stay tuned! I am going to try this any day now, as soon as I figure out how to melt the wax without wrecking my pans!


Camping hack #38

Bring microfiber towels — they’re super absorbent and lightweight.

We have a couple of these, and they are great! I wish that I’d remembered to bring these along on our cross-country camping trip.

microfiber towel 2025

They pack very small, they absorb a lot of water, and they dry much faster than a regular towel.

I’d much rather use one of these than use a damp bath towel.

Colored microfiber towels

The verdict: These are great! we highly recommend them and there are MANY different options on Amazon!


Camping hack #39

Freeze gallon jugs of water and place them in your cooler.

I’ve done this for years - but I use tetrapacks of juice instead of gallon jugs of water.

tetra juice container in soft cooler

Since tetrapacks are rectangular, they don’t waste space in the cooler.

When the frozen container has thawed, you have nice cold juice to drink!

The verdict: A great idea!


Camping hack #40

Make emergency light sources out of an Altoids tin, cardboard, and wax.

I'll try this on the same day I try #37. It should be an interesting day!


Camping hack #41

Make sandwiches with a campfire panini press.

I would love to try this but I don't have a panini press. Maybe for my birthday......?

Here's the one I'd like! You can purchase it HERE on Amazon.

We hope you enjoyed camping hacks part8!


Did you miss the first part of the series? Click here to begin at the beginning.


Be sure to visit The Camping Family home page for help in planning your next camping trip.


Most Popular

Camping Lists

Food Ideas

Screen Tents

Tin Foil Dinners

Planning your Trip


Product of the Month

Losthorizon Air Mattress for camping

Lost Horizon Camping Mattress

Self-inflating & all-season comfort!

CLICK HERE for more information and best price


Recent Articles

  1. Camping Sites In The South Of France; We Review Some Of The Best!

    Jun 14, 25 08:44 AM

    Camping Ladouceur in pine forests
    We check and review a number of camping sites in the south of France, and recommend the ones that we think are best!

    Read More

  2. Camping Sites In Normandy France - We review some of the best!

    Jun 14, 25 06:51 AM

    Normandy Cliffs France
    We check and review a number of camping sites in Normandy France, and recommend the ones that we think are the best.

    Read More

  3. Cabin Style Tents: Large Family Camping Tents With Lots Of Room

    Jun 09, 25 03:06 AM

    cabin tent with rooms
    Cabin style tents are tall and spacious, with lots of room for gear. Read on to learn if these are the best tents for your family.

    Read More

Find Us on FB 2025

Like and Follow Us HERE