If you’ve been camping, you know how quickly the cost of camping items adds up and how quickly you can become overwhelmed with too much stuff to pack. Often, there are creative solutions to elevate your camping experience without breaking the bank or adding to an already packed car. If you like to be creative and find yourself leaning towards the DIY side of camping, you may want to try one or all of these 8 camping hacks on your next outdoor getaway.

Both seasoned and novices alike face the challenge of striking the perfect balance between enjoying nature’s beauty and adhering to a tight budget. Expensive commercial camping gear does come with convenience and comfort — but it isn’t always necessary. And relying solely on basic gear or camping hacks might mean missing out on some of the cozy and delightful experiences that turn a campsite into a temporary home. For example, you could invest in a cozy sleep system and save by using a DIY lantern.

With some low-budget camping hacks, you can elevate your outdoor experience to rival that of luxury camping without compromising on your financial goals. Like creating lanterns using items you already have that illuminate your campsite at night and whipping up your fire starters to ignite cozy campfires quickly and with ease.

In this article, you’ll learn about eight low-budget camping hacks that could be useful at camp — including some hacks using items you may already have.

1. Design Your Own DIY Lantern

Creating your own DIY lantern for your campsite is easier than you might think. You can have a luminous glow using items you may already have around. For this camping hack, all you need is a trusty headlamp and a see-through water bottle or reusable silicone stand-up bag. Simply set the headlamp inside the bottle or silicone bag with the light facing inward, outward or upward — whatever your preference. You can also strap the headlamp to the water bottle and point the headlamp facing inward.

The translucent material diffuses the light and casts a warm glow throughout your tent or campsite. And it’s not too bright or blinding. This hack ensures you have a hands-free, eco-friendly light source, making your camping nights even more enjoyable. For my camping lantern set up, I use the Mpowerd Luci Beam 2-in-1 Solar Headlamp and Flashlight and a w&p silicone reusable stand-up bag and simply place the headlamp inside since one side is semi-see through. There are many other combinations to choose from — like using a mason jar — and you can get creative to find what works best for you.

2. Make Quick Lighting Fire Starters

Some campers swear by these DIY fire starters for their time-saving benefits and hassle-free ignition alone. But it’s also easy on your wallet. The first hack involves combining dryer lint with an empty egg carton, creating compact and flammable fire starters. The lint acts as a highly combustible tinder, while the egg carton provides structure and portability. You could even pour some hot wax into the slots of the egg carton for an even elevated fire starter.

Another easy DIY fire starter includes smearing cotton balls or cotton pads with a small amount of petroleum jelly. This simple trick creates slow-burning and waterproof fire starters — ensuring reliability in various weather conditions. You could even add shavings from a magnesium rod.

Both methods guarantee swift and efficient fire ignition, saving precious time during camping trips, allowing you to focus on enjoying the great outdoors instead of struggling with starting the campfire. If you enjoy collecting your own forest kindling and slowly building your fire, you could do a combination of both. There’s a lot of firestarter tips you can learn to become more fire-starting savvy.

3. Build PVC Toothbrush Holders

You can keep your camping trips clean and organized with this easy DIY hack using PVC pipe for toothbrush Holders. Crafting these holders is easy — simply cut small sections of PVC pipe to accommodate each camper’s toothbrush and use duct tape to seal one end. The result? A sturdy and compact toothbrush holder for everyone in your group.

While at camp, you can stow away messy toiletry bags and unsanitary storage solutions. These custom-made holders keep toothbrushes separate and protected — preventing cross-contamination while ensuring easy access when needed.

4. Use Tyvek for a Custom Tent Footprint

When it comes to improving your camping experience, this simple and cost-effective hack involves using a Tyvek sheet from a home improvement store as your tent’s footprint. Typically used in construction, Tyvek is a lightweight, durable, and water-resistant material that serves as an excellent barrier between the ground and your tent. However, its benefits extend beyond protection from moisture and abrasions. In cold weather camping, the Tyvek sheet acts as an additional insulating layer, helping to retain heat within the tent and keeping the cold ground from sapping warmth.

Start by measuring your tent bottom exactly and cutting your Tyvek to size. When you are ready to pitch your tent, put your Tyvek down first, just as you would a typical tent footprint. You can re-use this custom footprint for a long time.

This hack not only adds to the longevity of your tent but also ensures a cozy and comfortable night’s sleep, making it an invaluable asset for winter camping. Tyvek is sold in 9-foot lengths, so keep that in mind when you’re thinking of trying this hack. Ideally you could find someone who has a scrap piece lying around or you could purchase a 9 feet by 3 feet section for around $10 online.

5. Hang Shoe Organizers Inside Your Tent

Maximize your tent’s interior space and stay organized on your camping adventures with a budget-friendly shoe hanging rack. This clever hack involves hanging an inexpensive shoe organizer inside your tent to create lateral storage.

The shoe pockets are perfect for stashing a wide range of camping essentials, from flashlights and bug spray to books and snacks. The main benefit is having all your items elevated and off the ground. No more digging through cluttered piles or worrying about items getting damp or dirty. With this shoe hanging rack, you’ll enjoy a tidy, accessible, and more comfortable. There are a variety of inexpensive hanging shoe holders online to choose from.

6. Use a Wagon Cart as a Beverage Station

Transforming a wagon cart into a beverage station (or mobile bar) brings the ultimate convenience to any gathering or event. The versatility of the wagon cart allows it to store and transport drinks, ice, cups, and garnishes with ease.

With everything at arm’s reach, you can socialize freely without being tied to a fixed location. The mobility of the cart ensures that the refreshments are readily available wherever the guests are, whether it’s around the campsite or down by a nearby lake. Plus, the wheels make setup and teardown a breeze, saving valuable time and effort. The practicality and fun of a wagon cart beverage station can help you elevate your entertaining game.

7. Create a DIY Cooling System

This hack can help you beat the heat on your next tent camping trip. You can easily create your own cooling system. Simply hang a damp towel in front of your tent entrance, and let nature do the rest. This is especially nice if you’re camped by a lake, creek or river and you have access to cold water.

As the breeze flows through the moist fabric, it cools the air before entering your tent — creating a refreshing oasis. For an extra boost, you could use a battery-powered fan and attach it to the top of the tent, transforming it into your very own air conditioning unit. So, give it a try. Embrace the benefits of this budget-friendly hack, stay cool and comfortable during those scorching summer nights, and make your camping experience a breeze — literally.

8. Make Gourmet Smores

Elevate your camping culinary experience with gourmet S’mores at your campsite. If you enjoy the timeless tradition of roasting marshmallows and indulging in gourmet S’mores right at your campsite, you can elevate this classic treat by replacing traditional graham crackers with delectable alternatives like chocolate chip cookies, Pepperidge Farm Brussels dark chocolate cookies or cinnamon sugar biscuits.

Add a touch of sophistication with dark chocolate or hazelnut spread like Nutella, and experiment with flavored marshmallows such as toasted coconut or raspberry swirl. For a truly gourmet twist, top it off with sliced strawberries or caramelized bananas. These mouthwatering variations will delight your taste buds and turn a simple camping dessert into a decadent delight.

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Suzanne Downing is an outdoor writer and photographer in Montana with an environmental science journalism background. Her work can be found in Outdoors Unlimited, Bugle Magazine, Missoulian, Byline Magazine, Communique, MTPR online, UM Native News, National Wildlife Federation campaigns and more.