How to Keep Your Camping Gear Organized This Summer

Ask 10 campers what they dislike most about camping, and I bet nine will tell you it’s the packing, unpacking, storing and cleaning. In other words: it’s all of the stuff! Sound familiar? Are you having trouble keeping your camping gear organized? Is it keeping you from camping in the first place?

I have a friend whose family loves to camp.  Last summer it seemed like they were somewhere amazing every weekend, sleeping in tents, hiking and cooking over a fire. Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Big Sur…they have woken up in some of the most beautiful places on Earth.

When I asked her what the plan was this summer, she laughed and told me that her husband hit his limit.  He still loves to camp but needed an extended break from all the packing and unpacking!

I have been organizing camping equipment for many families lately.  What they have in common is that by the time I get to it for organizing - usually in the garage or basement - everything is all cleaned up (which alone is no simple task) but thrown together, smashed into various boxes and bags with little rhyme or reason. It's almost as if I can feel their exhaustion wafting off of every flashlight and tarp.

Here are a few tips to make packing up easier and getting ready for the next trip a breeze:

1. Clean and degrime everything, always.  Ideally, your gear should be stored in a cool, dark place and in bins with well-fitting lids where possible.

2. Categorize for the win. I believe that this is the most helpful thing you can do. When all of your kitchen supplies are together, you can have a quick look to see if anything is missing and then be ready to roll.  An added bonus is keeping things like first aid kits, camp lights, flashlights, etc. in one box in case there is a power outage at home.

3. Label carefully.  Not only is labeling helpful for storage, it helps everyone learn where things are and where they go when it’s time to make or break camp. When camping with little ones, use pictures or color coding so they can help too.

Back at home, it’s helpful to also label the corresponding shelf, especially if you're playing Tetrus to make everything fit.

4. Buy a compression sack for your sleeping bag.

Did the bag that holds your sleeping bag disappear? I see so many bagless sleeping bags and they can really take over.  Buy a compression sack - they are great for other things too.

5. Keep your gear dry.

Moisture causes mildew. This can be especially bad if you live on the coast like I do.  Make sure everything is bone dry before packing things away. Collect silica packets and throw them in your gear boxes. 

6. Streamline your stuff.

Consider anything that is multipurpose, collapsible or nesting. Look for collapsible colanders, buckets and pop-up trash cans that are widely available these days.

7. Think seasonally.

Are you a year-round camper? Have separate containers for warm weather things and cold clothes to make packing easier. Store merino wool in ziploc bags to protect from moths (cedar works too).

8. Take notes.

For easy restocking, keep a running list of what you're missing or what you've run out of while you're camping.  Dead batteries, broken sleeping back zipper, out of salt? Write it down in a central location. I like to use the notes app on my phone.

BONUS TIP: Rent!

For infrequent campers with small spaces like myself, renting equipment can be a great solution.  In the Bay Area, Sports Basement rents almost everything you need for a camping trip, from sleeping bags, tents to flashlights.

Need a hand getting organized? Get in touch and let me help you make your summer trips smooth sailing.

Happy camping, you happy campers :)