My Camping Checklist - Updated for 2023
Day and night views of our setup
Why I chose the Gazelle T8 popup tent
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I love this soft, luxurious top cover
I was initially disappointed that the eight-person Gazelle tent only comes in orange. Those feelings changed when I saw this super soft sunset themed bedding set that blends peach and yellow tones with vibrant blues. The blue tones seem to balance out the orange interior, making me feel less like I'm walking around inside a giant pumpkin.
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Cold nights call for heavy mink blankets
Hiding under the decorative bedding, we have extra thick faux mink blankets. When it's too hot to use thick bedding, we simply lay on top of our blanket pile. When temperatures plummet, be sure to put a thick blanket ABOVE and BELOW your mattress. Otherwise, the cold from the ground will seep into your bones and make your night miserable. Even if you have sleeping bags, never leave home without two thick blankets.
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Be sure your sleeping bags are rated for zero degree weather
If you're planning a summer trip, it may be tempting to skip the zero degree rule. Let me warn you that temperatures near lakes and rivers can plummet under 32 degrees at night, even when daytime temperatures are warm. Don't get caught with a bag that's not designed for the elements.
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This folding mattress by Milliard feels most like home
Link to Slim Size Milliard Folding Bed
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No joke. My growing collection includes more than ten types of beds, including thermal insulated hiking beds by Klymit, double high airbeds by Coleman and hybrid foam mats by Wellax and Mondo King. None of them make me feel like I'm at home. This Milliard tri-folding mattress feels the most like a real mattress because it's not actually a camping item. It's a real foam mattress designed for folding beds. My husband uses a Twin XL Milliard, which is 39 inches wide and 6 inches thick. I use a slimmer version that's 25 inches wide.The picture at left shows how our beds look when folded and packed down. Our choice to carry large folding beds forced us to downsize our camp kitchen, but I'm learning that slim notebook grills work just as well as bulky grills.
YEAR 2023 UPDATE: We both use the slim Milliard beds now.That twin sized mattress in the picture took up way too much space in our SUV. If I had the opportunity to buy my Milliard beds all over again, I would get two slim beds, as pictured in the link at left. |
The Amazon Basics folding bed has 87,000 great reviews
Read reviews carefully before choosing a traditional camp cot. Even the expensive models created for large people have a tendency to collapse when used by average sized people. Bad reviews for traditional cots led me to go looking for a REAL folding bed. This extra sturdy frame can be set up in under 60 seconds. The legs just click into place. If your tent is big enough, two of these beds can be pushed together to create one large and luxurious bed, as shown in my tent photos.
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I still use a double high air bed for short weekend trips
I still value the ability deflate a good bed and pack it down tight. If I'm only going to be gone for a few days, I don't see the need to drag my luxury folding beds to the woods.
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Heavy duty repair tape is a must-have item if you carry air beds
Don't forget the pump for inflatable beds and water toys
I love these Extra sturdy chairs for big and tall people
I love the look of these King Camp chairs, but above all, I love the fact that they can support 400 pounds. I don't weigh anywhere near that amount, but I've found that chairs designed for larger people are more well constructed than regular chairs. You can plop down or treat them any way you like. The seats never sag, and the frame never tips.
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I'm crazy about electric candles
This sturdy folding table fits perfectly on the side
It's the little things that kill. My back suffers when I must bend and stoop to pull endless items out of backpacks and travel bags. I love having a place to set my bags, food, toiletries and more. It makes all the difference in the world. Since I need to use my original folding table inside my tent, I ordered a second one for use outside. The secure handle makes this table design easy to carry when it's folded down.
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A blue tablecloth hides my storage area
What's hiding under the table?
It's nice to have access to cold drinks and sandwich foods inside the tent, especially when it rains! Like the famous YETI Cooler, ENGEL coolers provide ten day ice retention.The only difference is the cost. Wander over to YouTube, and you'll find videos by campers who've tested reasonably priced ENGEL coolers against ultra expensive YETI coolers. There's no reason to spend more! We like to insert frozen water bottles throughout the cooler to ensure that our cold foods stay cold for the duration of our trip. Frozen gallons of water last even longer if there's room for them. When the ice thaws, we simply drink the water. IMPORTANT: If you're camping in bear country, keep your cooler in the car.
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We can't live without this unique hamburger storage press!
Prepping several hamburgers for a seven-day trip has never been so easy! I simply press raw ground beef into silicone storage containers and apply the airtight lids. When I pack my frozen storage trays between frozen water bottles, burgers stay frozen for about three days and cold for a few more days. The photo from my kitchen shows a press designed to store four large hamburgers.The link below my photo shows a press designed to store eight smaller hamburgers.I enjoy using both types of trays! The larger blocks of meat are particularly useful when making tacos, spaghetti and other recipes that require me to break up meat in the pan. Even when I don't intend to camp, I enjoy packing hamburger meat in suitcases stored below airplanes.It stays frozen until I pop it into the motel fridge. In a motel refrigerator, the meat will thaw in 24 hours and remain fresh for three to four days. A portable electric skillet allows me to cook anything my heart desires.
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I won't travel without my electric skillet!
We love our portable charcoal grill, but it's not always possible to start fires when it rains. When we stay at campsites that have electricity, this electric skillet will cook anything we need without charcoal or propane gas. TIP: Choose an electric skillet with a plastic cover, as glass is known to shatter. Read reviews carefully. EverNu plastic lids won't melt, dent, warp or peel.
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We shred rotisserie chicken and freeze it in ziplock bags
My camp menu and grocery list for week long trips
STEAK NIGHT: 2 Ribeye Steaks, Boxed Fettuccine Alfredo Mix, Can of Condensed Milk to Make the Alfredo, Bag of Frozen Broccoli Florets
CAMPFIRE SKILLET PIZZA NIGHT: Canned Biscuit Dough or Prepared Naan Bread Discs from Bakery, Tomato Sauce, Fresh Mozarella Cheese Slices, Pepperoni or Sliced Summer Sausage. SALMON PATTY NIGHT 2 Cans of Salmon, Breadcrumbs, Eggs, Olive Oil, Salt, Pepper, Instant Mashed Potato Mix, Cucumber Salad on the Side. (Sliced Cucumber, Tomato and Onion Mixed with Sour Cream) TACO FIESTA NIGHT: Pound of Hamburger, Taco Bell Seasoning Packet, Tortillas or Taco Shells, Mexican Rice-A-Roni, Can of Diced Tomatoes, Can of Chili Beans to Add to Rice, Sour Cream CHICKEN DUMPLING STEW NIGHT: Two Cans of Cream of Chicken Soup, 4 Cups of Pulled Rotisserie Chicken, Can of Biscuits Broken into Small Pieces, Bag of Frozen Pea Carrot Mix or Can of Pea Carrot Mix BURGER & TATER TOT NIGHT: Pound of Hamburger, Onion Buns, Ketchup, Mustard, Mayo, Frozen Tater Tots (Cooked Over Fire in Pie Iron) CHEESY MAC & SAUSAGE NIGHT: Pack of Smoked Kielbasa, Big Box of Velveeta Deluxe Mac & Cheese |
LUNCH PACKING SUPPLIES
Six Cans of Tuna Big Bag of Pulled Rotisserie Chicken, Frozen Lettuce, Tomato and Cucumber for Salads Ranch Dressing and Italian Dressing for Salads Box of Bakery Croissants (For Tuna Salad) Box of Granola Cereal for Making Trail Mix Bag of Chocolate Chips for Making Trail Mix Potato Chips Divided Among Ziplock Bags BREAKFAST SUPPLIES Cottage Cheese Canned Peaches Box of Complete Pancake Mix Butter and Syrup Carton of Eggs Pack of Bacon or Sausage Links SWEET CAMPFIRE TREATS SMORES: Hershey's Candy Bars, Bag of Marshmallows, Graham Crackers or Peanut Butter Cookies for Crust |
I finally broke down and bought a camp tableware set
I fill spray bottles with vinegar to clean dishes
It's not always possible to fill a dish tub with water, especially when we're stuck in the tent on rainy days. To solve the problem, I fill spray bottles with vinegar and rinse water. Most of our sandwich plates can be wiped clean with a paper towel. Sticky bowls can be sprayed with vinegar and set aside.
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Our rolling backpack system is stashed in the corner
Here's one of the best purchases I've ever made.This rolling backpack stands straight up on its own, which helps eliminate the back strain associated with bending to the floor to dig around for clothes The wheels save us from carrying heavy bags from the car to the tent. When we're not camping, this bag is easy to drag through motels and airports.
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I have mixed feelings about our propane heater. Buyer beware!
Using propane gas is like lighting dollar bills on fire. We've found that it's quite expensive to heat a large tent night after night. All propane heaters have the potential to catch fire or emit toxic fumes, including heaters with automatic shutoff features. I won't run propane heaters while I'm sleeping, but I've used them to warm up the tent before bed. Through trial and error, we learned how to stay warm at night without them. If you're a hunter or ice fishing enthusiast who camps in the winter, a propane heater is a wise investment. If you're mostly camping in the spring and summer months, don't bother.
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These sleep outfits are warmer than our winter coats!
The moment we began wearing these heavy blanket style hoodies to bed, we stopped waking up in the middle of the night to reheat our tent. Eventually, we began leaving the propane heater at home.
We love these sherpa lined sweat pants for men and women
When I combine my blanket hoodie with a sweatshirt and sherpa lined sweat pants, I can sleep straight through brutally cold nights near 30 degrees. I'm so thankful for my ultra warm sleep outfits!
A Hot Water Bottle is a Must-Have Emergency Item
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A heating pad is more packable and reliable than a heated blanket
Some facts we learned from buying the wrong things.
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This rechargeable jobsite fan is powerful against mosquitoes
I've been in the pest control industry for 14 years. No spray product on the market will perform better against mosquitoes than a well-placed fan. Mosquitoes are weak fliers.They can't fly against a good air current.
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Our old battery operated fan is still a big winner
When it comes to inexpensive battery operated fans, our old one is still a great buy. It may not be as powerful as the Dewalt jobsite fan, but it's more powerful than other camp fans we've tried. The sturdy base keeps the fan from tipping.The tilting head can be adjusted to sweep cool air up my body and keep mosquitoes from landing on me. On the downside, this fan is not rechargeable. I takes batteries or plugs into a traditional outlet.
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Cool mint mouthwash equals instant air conditioning
For a frigid blast that transports you to a whole new realm of comfort and freshness, mist your skin with cool mint mouthwash and sit near the fan! Ask your partner to mist your bare back and hit the back of each leg. Use cotton balls to dab mouthwash on your forehead and cheeks. It tightens pores and controls acne! As long as you have mouthwash, there's no need to sit around feeling hot, sticky or unclean. I've camped in the deep wilderness without running water for two weeks. My armpits never stink. My hair never gets greasy, and I never feel so hot I want to die. It's all l because of mouthwash. It's the simplest way to kill bacteria on the body without showering.
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A tiny bottle of peppermint oil will make a ton of mouthwash, skin spray, deodorant and mosquito repellent.
When there's no room in your backpack for a big bottle of mouthwash, take a one-ounce bottle of peppermint oil with a small plastic spray bottle. Just mix the water with about five to ten drops of peppermint oil each time you need a skin cooling spray.The strength of the mix is a matter of personal preference. Experiment at home. Start with five drops when mixing mouthwash, as the mouth is more sensitive to volatile oils. Avoid spraying this solution eyes and genitals. NOTE: Minty smells can attract bears. If you enjoy visiting national parks where bears are known to live, skip the peppermint oil.
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Here's how festival campers in Arizona keep their tents cool
If you've never heard of aluminet shade cloth, now is the time to get acquainted! This magical reflective fabric can be draped over your tent to reflect 80% of the sun's light and heat away from you and back out into the universe. It comes in a variety of sizes for large and small structures and includes a nice bungee system to secure the covering in place. When combined with a good tent fan, the effect is like air conditioning.This shade cloth is also great for covering plants, pet cages and vehicles.Greenhouse owners attest that this fabric can reduce indoor temperatures by 20 degrees.
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Quick dry moisture wicking T-shirts make a big difference
Moisture wicking T-shirts won't just keep you feeling more cool and dry on hot days.They work well under bulky layers of clothing when temperatures drop. Winter hikers commonly pay upwards of $100 for moisture wicking thermal underwear sets that keep sweat from building under multiple layers of clothing. You can accomplish the same effect for pennies on the dollar.
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Anti-chafing underwear keep us cool and dry on long hikes
I learned about anti-chafing shorts in my Disney chat group. Folks often complained that heat rashes from excessive walking ruined their trips.I'm happy to report that these moisture wicking underwear by Adidas solve the problem quite nicely.Once we tested our first pack of underwear, we went back for several more packs. I'm eternally grateful for the opportunity to hike long distances without painful leg chafing. If you're a chick, don't bother ordering similar products designed for women. The performance shorts made for male athletes work so much better, and the fabric doesn't wear out as quickly. A little extra fabric near the crotch never hurt anyone.
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I love this organic bug spray for skin, fabrics, dogs and tents
Ever since I developed a painful rash from applying Picardin in the heat, I try to avoid spraying chemicals directly on my skin and bedding. This organic product can be used to spray clothing, tents, dogs, bedding and humans! It's not just a repellent. It kills fleas and ticks on contact. I like to spray the grass surrounding my camp chair to discourage fleas and ticks from approaching. I also spray my dog before going for long hikes or sending him to play in the yard.
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Where is it safe to use chemicals?
For the most advanced tick protection in heavily forested areas, I turn to Sawyer's insect repellent. I like to spray my shoes and pant legs before a long hike, but I wouldn't dare apply this product to bare skin or dog fur. (It's not labeled or approved for skin anyway.) I do spray fabric near the ground along the outside perimeter of my tent. The idea is to prevent ticks from approaching.
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This lantern still works when it's dropped in the lake!
Perhaps you already know about these "As Seen on TV" lanterns that are proven to keep working when frozen into a block of ice. I was skeptical about those claims, so I went to YouTube and found videos of happy customers who dropped these lanterns in water and put them in the freezer. I haven't tried the freezer trick, but I can tell you that these are the brightest lanterns I've ever owned, and they really do keep working in the rain. Modern technology is amazing! In the past, I've paid double this amount for non waterproof lanterns that weren't as bright.
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What's outside my tent?
My old Gazelle T4 tent serves as my screen house for now
Until I get around to ordering a proper rain canopy or screen house, I'm using my old Gazelle T4 tent as a sitting area where guests can congregate and socialize in the rain. I'm having a terrible time deciding if I want a Clam Shelter or Gazelle screen house. The Clam Shelter is $100 more than the Gazelle, and I'm trying to figure out why. Is it more durable? I originally ordered an extra large Quick Set shelter from Cabella's, but it arrived damaged. A few dirt spots on the fabric indicated that the shelter may have been used and returned by a customer. I immediately returned the shelter. Be sure to check every piece of camping equipment the moment it arrives. If I had waited for my next trip to open the Quick Set shelter, I would have been heartbroken.
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Still love my Camp Chef storage table, but...
I was in love with this storage table for three years. Since I began carrying larger beds, it's getting more difficult to shove the bulky frame into the back of my SUV. I'm in the market for a cook station that folds down tight, as expressed below. Aside from packing issues, I can't say anything bad about the Camp Chef storage table. It's a convenient place to cook with plenty of room to store all of my cookware. I keep these bags packed with all of my camp kitchen essentials year round.The bags will fit big ten-inch pots and 10 inch pans with folding handles.
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A view of the Camp Chef storage table when closed for travel
This folding camp kitchen is a better solution to my space problem
I switched from a bulky grill to a folding notebook grill
I still love my Coleman propane stove, but...
I replaced my mismatched pots with a compact nesting set
Before I discovered nesting sets, my odd collection of camp pans filled an entire storage tub! This thick, high quality nesting set from Stansport is even better than the expensive stainless steel pots I use in my home kitchen. If open fire cooking is your thing, rest assured that these pans will stand up to any cooking scenario in the woods.
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I found telescoping utensils that pack down into small spaces
I discovered a charcoal brand that burns for many hours
I added a wind resistant fire starting system
Until you're faced with the challenge of starting a fire on a windy day, it's hard to understand the immense value of this item. Cheers to money well spent!
I learned to carry a more adequate supply of waterproof matches
I left for my last camping vacation with a single tube of storm proof matches. After a few extra windy and rainy days on the Huron River, I ran out. This time, I'm not messing around. Those waterproof tubes may be convenient, but they don't contain enough matches to get me through a week of damp and windy conditions.
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I upgraded from a Sawyer Mini to a Sawyer Squeeze
An emergency water filter is crucial when we enjoy trips to remote places without access to clean water. The Sawyer Water Filtration system is the most powerful travel filter on the market. It removes 99.99999% of all bacteria, including salmonella, cholera, and E.coli. It also removes 99.9999% of all protozoa like giardia and cryptosporidium. You'll never waste money on cartridges because this single filter can purify up to 100,000 gallons. A simple flush with the included syringe will keep it clean. The kit pictured below comes with three BPA-free collapsible pouches (16-, 32-, and 64-ounce) that roll up tightly for easy packing.
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I found the best survival knives I've ever owned
After watching countless videos made by skilled woodsmen who rely upon their knives to live off the land, I came to the conclusion that my ordinary camp knives were junk. I wanted budget friendly, full tang construction knives that are good enough for skilled survivalists, and the Schrade brand name was well reviewed by all. I may never need to skin a squirrel or split a giant log without an ax, but it's nice to know that I could do so if necessary.
The smaller Schrade SCHF59 is sharp and precise for pairing veggies, carving wood or skinning fish.
The heavy Schrade SCHF36 Frontier 10.4 inch knife is great for chopping, splitting and batoning wood, but it will also skin a fish or chop vegetables.
I loved these gaming sheers so much that I bought 3 pairs!
These gaming sheers make easy work of cleaning fish and cutting bone, but let me tell you why I really like them. It's a super easy way to cut raw steak for stews and fajitas! I kept taking my gaming sheers out of my camp bags to use in my kitchen. Now, I keep one pair in the kitchen, one in my camp tool box and one in my hiking bag.
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I added more Fiskars chopping tools for speed and convenience
Through camp forums, I asked hundreds of people which wood chopping tools they liked best. The Fiskars brand label was the clear winner, so I bought a few axes and hatches in various sizes. Wood chopping goes much faster when all campers within the group participate at once. Instead of watching my husband gather and process wood for an hour, we can join him and get the job done in ten minutes.
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A multi-level tool box is a great place to store odds and ends
Behold the king of all camp toilets, but beware the $100 price tag
My journey to perfection was a long and winding road. I began with a bucket style toilet. It sat so low that I had knee pain from squatting all the time, and it wasn't study enough for larger members of my family. After the failed bucket experiment, I bought a real bedside commode designed for disabled people. Everyone in my family loved that toilet, but t it didn't fold down flat enough for my liking. I reached a point where I could no longer fit the awkward thing into the back of my SUV. At long last, I have found an extra sturdy toilet that folds down completely flat and supports larger members of the family. At 7.5 inches high, this toilet from Cabela's sits exactly as high as my toilet at home. There's even a mesh toilet paper holder and a place to set my drink. Comfort is everything. If you can't poop comfortably in your own clean environment, you might as well rent a motel.
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The best cheap toilet you'll find - 400 pound capacity
My husband and I don't always camp alone. A second toilet is great to have around when other couples meet us at the campsite.This compact folding toilet boasts an impressive 400 pound weight capacity.The seat sits 16 inches from the ground. According to my yard stick, that's exactly 1.5 inches lower than my toilet at home. I wish it were a little taller, but it's a damned good alternative to my throne of kings. If you're on a tight budget, you'll appreciate the $50 price tag.
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The type of kitty litter you choose is very important
I first learned about this blockbuster organic product in an editor's choice review published by USA Today.The deal is that it controls odor better than chemicals without the negative health effects. It's a great way to save money versus buying expensive commode liners filled with harmful chemical clumping materials. This clay cat litter is uniquely formulated combining heavy non tracking granules with medium grain. The result is an excellent clumping litter that prevents moisture from reaching the bottom of the litter box while providing a clump that will not break apart. SOME TIPS: I prefer to use small garbage bags as commode liners because they're less expensive. If you run out of commode liners on a long wilderness trip, you can remove the waste bucket and position your toilet over a hole in the ground. Scoop kitty litter over your waste each time you eliminate.This will prevent odors from attracting bugs. At the end of your trip, simply fill the hole with dirt to hide your mess. No harm done. It's all biodegradable! If find that this system is quite sanitary and definitely less stinky than using a cheap bucket style camp toilet.
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A good toilet tent offers privacy
Don't forget the foaming soap and baby wipes!
Back in the day, guys used to joke about having "camp ass," an itchy condition well known to woodsmen and hikers. I bow to the creators of Burt's Bees foaming baby wash. When it's not possible to clean intimate areas with traditional soap and washcloths, the convenient foam pump design allows travelers to stay fresh anywhere.
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Fill a spray bottle with Listerine for quick spray baths
Some reasons why I bring spray bottles filled with Listerine:
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Be sure to kill that river fungus in your hair
Today's lakes and rivers aren't as clean as they were when we were kids. Antimicrobial soaps are designed to kill bacteria, not mold and fungus. Do yourself a big favor and wash with tea tree peppermint shampoo after spending time in lakes and rivers. If you don't have special shampoo, you can add two or three drops of tea tree oil to a shot glass full of shampoo and mix with a toothpick. If, heaven forbid, you contract head lice or biting mites at a motel, mix five drops of tea tree oil into a shot glass full of coconut oil or mayonnaise.Leave the mixture on your head for an hour. The oil will clog the parasite's breathing pores.The tea tree oil will finish off any parasites that survive the oil bath.
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The most convenient body wash for camp and motel travel
Foaming body mouse doesn't require that you work a bar of soap into a good lather under running water. You don't need a wash cloth. Just rub it onto your skin and rinse it away. For those who've never tried body mouse, it's an extra moisturizing product that comes out of the can looking and feeling like shaving cream. It'll save you from carrying an extra can of shaving cream, which makes it a beautiful multi-purpose product for couples.
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This is how I store my water for bathing and hair rinsing
Our folding water carriers are more versatile than the old jugs we used to shove into the back of our SUV. When we made the decision to buy extra large camp beds, we no longer had the space for rigid jugs that can't be compressed for travel. When staying at populated campgrounds, we use the community water stations to fill our jugs. In the deep wilderness, we use a Sawyer Water Filter to clean the lake water that goes into our shower jugs.
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This shower head pumps water from a bucket!
I purchased this pump when I learned that the shower head has more holes than similar shower heads, creating a more powerful and effective stream of water to rinse the shampoo out of my hair. In the deep wilderness, where public showers don't exist, this device is a life saver. It's also great to have around when public shower facilities don't meet my standards of cleanliness. It's faster for me to wash my hair at camp than to walk all the way to public shower facilities.
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These collapsible buckets are great for outdoor showering
Collapsible dish pans are a must
Some Items on my wish list
The Jackery is more powerful than my current power station
The power station I bought back in 2019 is good enough to run my husband's sleep apnea machine all night, but who doesn't need more power? I want to run things like electric kettles to heat water in my tent when rainy conditions prevent me from boiling water over the campfire. I want to do all the things that YouTube testers brag about doing! If you currently own a Jackery, please tell me how you enjoy using it.
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I've heard that zero gravity chairs are great for aching backs
I've been impressed by testimonies from zero gravity chair enthusiasts with chronic back problems. I've yet to take the plunge because I'm primarily a side sleeper. I fear I won't be able to rest for long periods without the ability to roll over and shift positions. Nonetheless, this chair looks extra comfy, and it's rated to hold 350 pounds. I can see myself using it to relax by the campfire if it doesn't work for sleeping.
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I could use a larger tent for showers
My current privacy tent has served me well for since 2019, but it's only large enough to fit a toilet. I'd like a luxurious place to take showers. Most campgrounds have shower facilities, but I'm a bit of a germaphobe. What if the person who used the public shower before me had COVID, head lice, foot fungus, C Difficile or Hepatitis C? Beyond the fear of germs, it's just nice to have a showering station near my tent. I've been caught in situations where public bathrooms were quite some distance away from my campsite.
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I'm in the market for a larger expandable roof bag
A big cargo basket would be nice!
10 Campfire Meals I Adore
CAMPFIRE SKILLET PIZZA: I use prepared Naan bread discs from the bakery section of my grocery store, but I've also used canned biscuit dough. Arrange the Naan bread discs over a cast iron skillet or electric skillet coated with oil. Spread tomato sauce over each disc. Add shredded Mozzarella or fresh Mozzarella cheese slices.Top with pepperoni or sliced summer sausage. Cover the skillet and heat until the cheese melts.This recipe also works with canned biscuit dough. Just press the dough into an oiled pan and stretch to fill out the edges.
EASY CAMPFIRE BEEF STEW: Buy two pounds of diced stewing beef or cut a two pound pot roast into chunks. Brown the chunks in a cast iron dutch oven with a little olive oil. Add six cups of water mixed with six teaspoons of beef bouillon or use two packages of french onion soup mix to flavor the broth. Cover the pot and place some hot coals on top of the pot. Let the meat chunks boil for an hour. Add one box of scalloped potatoes along with the cream sauce packet. Add more water and bouillon to taste. Toss in some sliced carrots or prepackaged baby carrots. Boil for another 30 to 45 minutes.Taste the carrot and potato chunks to be sure they're tender. RIBEYE STEAK & FETTUCINE ALFREDO: 2 Ribeye Steaks, Boxed Fettuccine Alfredo Mix, Can of Condensed Milk to Make the Alfredo, Bag of Frozen Broccoli Florets SALMON PATTIES WITH CUCUMBER SALAD 2 Cans of Salmon, Breadcrumbs, Eggs, Olive Oil, Salt, Pepper, Instant Mashed Potato Mix, Cucumber Salad on the Side. (Sliced Cucumber, Tomato and Onion Mixed with Sour Cream) TACO FIESTA NIGHT: Pound of Hamburger, Taco Bell Seasoning Packet, Tortillas or Taco Shells, Mexican Rice-A-Roni, Can of Diced Tomatoes, Can of Chili Beans to Add to Rice, Sour Cream CHICKEN DUMPLING STEW: Two Cans of Cream of Chicken Soup, 4 Cups of Pulled Rotisserie Chicken, Can of Biscuits Broken into Small Pieces, 1 Bag of Frozen Pea Carrot Mix or 1 Can of Pea Carrot Mix BURGER & TATER TOT NIGHT: Pound of Hamburger, Onion Buns, Ketchup, Mustard, Mayo, Frozen Tater Tots (Cooked Over Fire in Pie Iron) CHEESY MAC & SAUSAGE NIGHT: Pack of Smoked Kielbasa, Big Box of Velveeta Deluxe Mac & Cheese |
LUNCH PACKING SUPPLIES
Six Cans of Tuna Big Bag of Pulled Rotisserie Chicken, Frozen Lettuce, Tomato and Cucumber for Salads Ranch Dressing and Italian Dressing for Salads Box of Bakery Croissants (For Tuna Salad) Box of Granola Cereal for Making Trail Mix Bag of Chocolate Chips for Making Trail Mix Potato Chips Divided Among Ziplock Bags BREAKFAST SUPPLIES Cottage Cheese Canned Peaches Box of Complete Pancake Mix Butter and Syrup Carton of Eggs Pack of Bacon or Sausage Links CHOCOLATE SMORES: Hershey's Candy Bars, Bag of Marshmallows, Graham Crackers or Peanut Butter Cookies for Crust MINI CHEESECAKES: Spongecake Dessert Shells, Cream Cheese Mixed with Powdered Sugar, Strawberry Preserves or Pie Filling for Topping |