DIY Tent Accessories: Budget-Friendly Camping Gear Hacks

Camping gear can get expensive quickly, especially when it comes to tent accessories. While you can easily set up a successful campsite without extravagant gear and accessories, many of them can be nice to have to increase the comfort and functionality of your outdoor abode. But not everyone has the budget – or the desire – to invest in premium equipment if it’s not absolutely necessary. The great news is that campers are a creative community, and they’ve discovered many tips and tricks over the years to make the most of their equipment. Instead of dropping the cash on expensive accessories, try these DIY hacks on your next camping trip! Read on to discover top tips for gear organization inside your tent and accessories for enhancing comfort. Plus, learn the benefits of doing it all yourself. Let’s dive in!

The Benefits of Using DIY Hacks While Camping

There are plenty of great reasons to opt for DIY hacks instead of investing in the latest gear. While buying new gear and supplies is convenient, it’s also costly. Using DIY hacks to make the most of what you already own is free of cost, saving you money that could be invested in something more important to you. This practice also cuts back on consumption, limiting your waste as a consumer and helping the environment. Using what you have teaches you how to be resourceful and the value of repurposing goods to give them a second, or double, life. Possibly the best perk of all is the fact that DIYs are completely customizable. Start with an idea you heard from a friend or learned online and tweak it to work with the supplies you have and to fit your exact wants and needs. 

Hacks for Organizing Gear in a Canvas Wall Tent

Some of the best camping hacks out there revolve around the organization of your gear. Nothing’s worse than walking into your canvas wall tent looking for a specific piece of gear only to have to dig through unorganized piles of equipment left astray. When packing for your next trip, keep in mind that less is more. The less non-essential gear you have, the easier it is to keep track of your things. Once you get to camp and start setting up, try out these 4 hacks for keeping everything organized inside and around your tent!

Divide Your Gear 

The best way to keep track of your gear is by dividing it into sections based on when you’ll use it and what you’ll use it for. Common categories to divide your gear into include tent and campsite gear, recreational gear, sleeping gear, kitchen and cooking supplies, tools and instruments, cleaning supplies, clothing and footwear, hygiene and toiletries, and personal items. Once your things are divided into categories, you can easily store them in convenient places. Keep as much as you can in your car that’s practical to save room in your tent, like your cooking and cleaning supplies.

Get Creative With Storage Solutions

Tons of everyday household items can be used as creative storage solutions at camp. One of the best is toolboxes! If you have an empty or unused toolbox lying around in your garage, use it to organize small gear. From navigational tools like a compass to sleeping gear like eye masks and earplugs, toolboxes make convenient vessels for organizing small gear that could easily get lost otherwise. 

Try Out Hanging Storage

Your packing list can get long fast on a camping trip, resulting in a lack of space for everything at camp. If you find yourself needing extra room on the floor of your tent, try out hanging storage. Use a paracord and carabiners or bungee cords to hang gear from the inside poles of your tent. This works great for light items like water bottles, plastic lanterns, and backpacks. For storing gear outside of your tent, secure a large stick or trekking pole into the ground under a canopy or sunshade. Then, use it as a convenient place to hang jackets, bags, and other gear you want easily accessible outside of your tent. Placing this under a canopy is ideal to ensure your items stay dry. 

Don’t Overlook Ordinary Packing Gear

It can be easy to get lost in the creativity of maximizing space and organizing your gear but don’t let that blind you from the ordinary packing gear in your home. Simple duffle suitcases and traditional canvas bags are perfect for organizing your gear on the go. Utilize a range of bag sizes, keeping your gear divided by category for easy access. Opting for soft bags like canvas duffels over hard suitcases makes packing your car and finding a place for your bags in your tent easier. Plus, soft bags filled with clothes can double as pillows if you need to save space!

Top DIY Tent Accessories That Enhance Comfort

Comfort is king when it comes to camping, and tons of fancy accessories promise you comfort at a steep price. Instead of splurging on these items, try the following hacks to maximize the comfort of your shelter. 

Utilize Mattress Toppers and Blankets

While expensive air mattresses, folding cots, and other bed equipment are tempting, you can create a comfortable sleep setup outdoors with items you probably already have at home. Foam mattress toppers are the most comfortable everyday option. If you don’t have those, stock up on blankets! Quilts will provide the best pad for sleeping, but any thick blanket will work to cushion you on the ground.

Get Creative With Your Pillows

Just like soft canvas bags can be used as a makeshift pillow, so can many other pieces of camping gear! Instead of stuffing your sleeping bag sack in the corners of your tent, make use of it by filling it with soft clothes and using that as your pillow. To save room when packing, you can also opt to fill regular pillowcases with clean clothes for your trip. 

Create Shade Around Your Tent

Finding shade is crucial during a summer camping trip. There are many fancy canopies and tent awning extensions you can splurge on, but there’s also a unique DIY you could try instead. Simply take a large collapsible umbrella and fix it to a camp chair or picnic table with spring clamps, and voila, you have shade without the hefty price tag.

Make Your Own Air Conditioner

Nothing screams luxury at camp like a portable air conditioner. If that’s out of your budget, DIY your own! All you need is a portable battery-powered fan, a large styrofoam cooler, and lots of ice. On one short side of the cooler, cut a hole an inch smaller than the diameter of your fan. On the other short side, cut out smaller ventilation holes. Then, fill your cooler with ice and point the fan into the large hole of the cooler. Turn on your fan and enjoy the new, cool breeze you’ve created. 

Wrapping It Up

While camping is a relatively affordable pastime, it can be easy to rack up costs on fancy camping gear and tent accessories. Since some of these items aren’t essential, it makes sense that many campers opt out of purchasing them to either save money or invest in more necessary gear. But camping on a budget doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice comfort and functionality. With a little creativity and leaning into DIY tips and tricks, you can save money, reduce consumption, learn the value of resourcefulness, and enjoy the benefits of customization at camp. Whether you use hacks to maximize the organization of your tent or DIY tent accessories to increase your comfort outdoors, you’ll be surprised at how much these hacks can transform your campsite on a budget.