18 ingenious tricks to make your bushcraft camp more comfortable
Discover ingenious tricks for more comfort while camping and Bushcrafting. Tips and tricks from my experience – make your outdoor adventure unforgettable.
From Martin Gebhardt. Check out my “About me” page.
👉 The key facts from this guide
- Use of natural materials for better sleep comfort: soft spruce branches and fern as a natural mattress.
- Hot stones: heat stones by the fire and use them to keep your sleeping bag warm.
- Natural insect repellent: burning punk wood or mugwort as an insect deterrent.
- Creating an improvised earth refrigerator: food is kept cool and fresh in a hole in the ground.
- Natural water purification: place plastic bottles filled with water in the sun to kill germs.
- Effective use of morning dew: use cloth to collect morning dew and use it as drinking water.
You love being in nature, but you know that frustrating moment when the hard ground and annoying mosquitoes ruin your fun?
The wilderness calls, but without the necessary comfort, your outdoor adventure can quickly become unpleasant.
This is where my 18 tried-and-tested camp tricks come into play, which will revolutionize your camping life and give you a feeling of luxury in the great outdoors.
For over 8 years, I have been researching and testing outdoor techniques, and after countless projects and camping adventures, I have compiled the best tips for you.
Ready to turn your bushcraft camp into a 5-star outdoor hotel?
Let's go!
1. The ultimate natural mattress trick
Forget sleeping pads! Collect soft spruce branches and lay them overlapping like roof tiles. The tips should point towards the head end. Cover everything with a layer of fern. Voilà! You're floating on cloud nine in the middle of the forest.
2. Stone hot water bottles for cozy nights
Heat fist-sized stones in the fire. Wrap them in several layers of cloth and place them in your sleeping bag. Caution: Not too hot, or the sleeping bag will melt! Enjoy the warmth like in a deluxe sleeping bag.
3. Leaf Pile as an Insulating Mat
Collect a large pile of dry leaves under your sleeping bag. It insulates perfectly against the ground cold and you will feel like you are on a fluffy cloud.
4. Natural Insect Repellent
Collect Punk Wood (rotten dry wood) or dried mugwort. Shape small cones and light them. The smoke repels annoying insects and you feel like you're in a mystical forest temple.
5. The Brilliant Forest Shower
Pierce the lid of a water bottle. Hang it above you and enjoy your outdoor shower. Don't forget to sing!
6. Toothbrush from Nature
Take a fresh hazel twig and chew on one end until it frays. Use this natural brush end to clean your teeth. Fresh breath, right in the wilderness! Find more tips on outdoor hygiene in my detailed guide.
7. Deluxe rain protection for the shelter
Collect large burdock leaves. Overlap them and secure them with blades of grass. This will reinforce your shelter and keep you dry even during downpours. A roof that does nature proud!
8. Natural Sun Protection
Braid yourself a hat from grasses or large leaves. Looks cool and protects better than any sun hat from the city!
9. Forest Sofa 2.0 - your outdoor lounge
Stack logs in a U-shape and secure them with long stakes. Place a few logs on the ground for distance from the earth. Fill the gaps with branches, leaves, and moss. Cushion everything with a layer of fern. Your forest lounge is ready!
10. The Stone Reflector for the Campfire
Place large flat stones behind your fire. They reflect the heat and you save wood. Moreover, it looks incredibly cozy. More tips for the perfect campfire can be found in our article.
11. Earth refrigerator for fresh food
Dig a hole about 50 cm deep. Place a container or a bag inside. Put your food inside and cover everything with leaves or branches. The cool earth keeps your food fresh.
Fact is: This really works and I have done it many times!
12. Natural refrigerator in the stream
Sink a waterproof bag with food in the cool stream water. Weigh it down with stones. Nature's deluxe refrigerator! But be careful that no curious fish steals your snacks.
13. Improvised Vegetable Peeler
Find a large seashell and sharpen the edge on a stone. Voilà, you have a mini vegetable peeler! Perfect for roots or wild herbs. The snail would be proud of you.
14. Stones as Pot Holders
Place three flat stones in a triangle to position your pot over the fire. Stable and without additional weight in your backpack. Your forest kitchen set-up is complete!
15. The Magical Drinking Water Purifier
Fill a plastic bottle with water and place it in the sun for 6 hours. The UV radiation kills germs. Not only scouts will enjoy the taste!
Read also
Finding, collecting, filtering, and making drinking water – the ultimate water guide – Finding water is one of the most important survival skills. In the article, you will learn everything about precious water: how to find, collect, and filter it.
16. Morning Dew Collector
Grab some clean cloth (in an emergency, a dirty T-shirt will do). Now pull the cloth over the morning dew. Then wring out liters of dew. Tastes better than any energy drink and you'll feel like a survivalist!
17. The atmospheric oil lamp
Find yourself a container - a shell, a snail shell, a stone hollow, or one formed from clay. Pour old fat or oil into it. Insert a piece of cotton as a wick. Light it and marvel at your outdoor lantern. Atmosphere like the old Vikings!
18. The Fir Branch Broom
Bind several fir branches into a bundle. Voilà - your camp broom keeps the ground clean and smells wonderful! Who says you can't be tidy in the forest?
Conclusion: How These Hacks Improve Your Camping Life
With these tricks, you can turn any camp into your personal outdoor paradise. You'll save weight in your backpack and get to know nature even better.
Try the camp hacks and you will see your bushcraft camp with new eyes. The forest is not only my home, but now also your 5-star hotel.
Get out there and let the adventures begin!
Author of the guide
Martin Gebhardt
Hey, I'm Martin. On my blog, you will learn the basics and numerous details about living in the wild. I think survival, bushcraft and the good life in nature are the keys to happiness. Find me here on Instagram or on YouTube. You can find more about my mission on the About Me page.
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