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10 Genius Camping Storage Ideas

July 31, 2020

10 genius camping storage ideas

Have you ever looked at your camping gear and thought, “I wonder if there is a better way to pack/store/organize this?” Well, we’re here to tell you that the answer is almost always yes. That’s because campers in general are a pretty innovative bunch. Turns out, you kind of need to be creative with your camping storage system when you’re in the remote wilderness.

Thanks to the Internet, experienced campers can easily share their brilliant camping storage ideas. We’ve rounded up a few of the best ideas that will help make your next camping trip go a lot smoother.

1. Use clear storage bins to store your gear.

Be honest—how much time do you waste digging through your camping gear, trying to find a specific item? Skip the hassle by packing your camping essentials in clear storage bins. You’ll be able to see the contents inside each bin without needing to open the lid, saving you from all that unnecessary rummaging.

2. If you have space, invest in two coolers.

Keep your food and drinks cold for as long as possible by investing in two coolers: one for food and the other for drinks. This will reduce the number of times you need to open the cooler door, which allows precious cold air to escape.

Bonus cooler tip: Invest in a rolling cooler that can glide easily over rocks, sand and other rough terrains. Your back will thank you for it!

Searching for the perfect camping cooler? Visit the official Pelican store and shop coolers in a range of styles and sizes.

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3. Stackable pill boxes are great for storing spices.

It’s an age-old conundrum: You want to season your food, but you don’t want to bring your entire spice rack on your camping trip. The solution? Pick up stackable pillboxes (the screw-top kind are best), fill them up with your favorite spices and say goodbye to boring campfire meals.

4. Designate a place for trash.

Per the seven Leave No Trace Principles, every camper should have a plan for managing their garbage. One nifty way to take care of your trash while camping? Pick up a collapsible hamper from the Dollar Store and line it with a trash bag. They’re light, affordable and make for easy trash management.

5. Critter-proof your gear with hard cases.

Worried about raccoons and other critters crashing your campsite? In addition to hanging your gear, storing your camping essentials in Pelican’s protective hard cases is a great way to keep animals from getting into your stuff. As an added bonus, they’re waterproof and built to last a lifetime.

6. Free up vehicle space by mounting cargo cases to your roof.

One small downside to hard-sided cases is that they can take up a lot of space in your vehicle. An easy fix to this problem? Investing in a rooftop cargo carrier that attaches to the top of your vehicle. Simply pack your valuable equipment inside Pelican’s weatherproof cargo cases and safely secure the cases to the roof with a vehicle mounting system. This is particularly useful if you’re going car camping or if you just want to have more legroom inside your vehicle.

7. Turn a shoe organizer into kitchen storage.

Over-the-door shoe caddies are amazingly versatile and can be used for a lot more than just storing shoes. Here’s a clever way to use it for camping: Hang a shoe organizer by your cook site and use it to keep your kitchen items nearby. The small pockets are perfect for storing kitchen utensils, spatulas, spices, washcloths and other cooking essentials.

8. Keep toilet paper dry with an empty coffee container.

It can be a major struggle to keep toilet paper dry while camping. One useful trick is to store your toilet paper inside an empty coffee container. (If you don’t drink coffee, get one from a coffee-loving friend). If you want to get creative, you can even turn it into a full-fledged toilet paper dispenser.

9. Install slide-out drawers in your truck for easy organization.

If you have a pickup, you can optimize your truck bed storage to make camping much easier. One idea is to install slide-out drawers that keep your camping essentials secure and organized. With slide-out drawers, you won’t need to crawl into your truck to access your cargo—the cargo comes to you.

10. Pack a camping go-bag.

Have you ever been invited to go camping at the last minute? Or wished you could clock off work on a Friday and go camping on a whim? If so, you need to keep a camping go-bag in your car. A camping go-bag is essentially a bag that has everything you need for a successful night or two of camping. By keeping your go-bag stocked, you’ll be ready to go on a last-minute camping adventure at any time.

Maximize Camping Storage, Minimize Your Stress

As much fun as camping is, it can also be really stressful if you’re not organized. Before your next trip, put some of these camping storage ideas into action. You won’t regret it!

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