Glamping 101: How To Upgrade Your Tent Game

Have you ever been out tent camping, sat up in a cold sweat at night, and thought to yourself; "I could be doing so much more with this."?

I haven't personally, but for those of you who look at your tent and think that it needs a little je ne sais quoi should peruse this blog post for some inspiration.

If you're looking to elevate your camping experience, you should start by elevating where you sleep. Thicker air mattresses are a good way to go if you're looking to save on space when you're traveling, but if you want something that you're less worried about popping, look into getting a foldable cot and adding your own cushioning via memory foam toppers and a bedsheet.

Depending on where you set up your tent, your lighting options may be a little limited. Primitive tenting sites without electricity may mean that you want to have reliable solar lighting on hand to illuminate your surroundings and make it easier to navigate without tripping over your gear or roots. Sites that have electricity are easier to find options for, since you can simply plug up a string of lights to the power box and give yourself a charming walkway into your tent.

Something that will save your nerves after a while will be to get an outdoor mat that can collect sand and dirt from the bottoms of your shoes or feet before you step in. That stuff gets everywhere, and the last thing you want is a peaceful night's sleep ruined by a single grain of sand wedging itself into your side no matter how many times you brush your bed spread off.

Good food is a must for anyone looking to glamp. Roasting hot dogs and marshmallows by the fire is a memorable experience for sure, but in addition to those, having the means to improve the act of cooking meals over a fire, like having a hanging pot over your hot coals or a pan you can sit on a grate to fry up a fresh caught fish makes a world of a difference. Bonus points if you also bring your favorite sauces and spices to amplify your dishes even further.

While we are on the topic of fires, having a good firestarting kit is almost essential to camping. Some people can easily start a fire by rubbing two sticks together, but having either a reliable lighter or at the very least a magnesium striking rod to make sparks gives you more time to enjoy the warmth of a nice fire without the strain of having to spend half an hour trying to get it lit.

These tips, along with others you pick up from fellow campers and from learning through trial and error will help you bring your tent site from shelter to home! Happy camping!