A neat camp is a relaxing place to unwind.
A happy camp is one that is organised and orderly. Without planning and preparation, the camp can go from messy to chaotic quite fast.
The first signs of trouble are clothing items strewn inside the tent, a pot lying on the dirt and the kettle sitting nearby, your cooking and eating utensils wrapped in a plastic bag and dumped on the ground near the cooking place.
Soon, things go missing. You can’t find what you need when it’s time to cook the next meal.
The disorganisation leads to a frazzled way of doing camp activities that eventually becomes stressful; the growing mess leads to bits of food getting dropped around, bringing insects, not just ants but nastier ones like centipedes.
To maintain order at camp without becoming fastidious and tensed, get camp hanging racks.
There is a dizzying variety of them for sale online in many configurations and designs.
Most are simple twin bipods with a horizontal rod running between the bipods and hooks dangling at ready.
Small ones cost less than RM20 each, and many campers get a few to hang up all their stuff.
Branded ones, made with stronger material, might set you back RM50 or RM60.
Hanging up camping tools and gear you periodically need keeps them within reach at all times.
Be wary of really cheap ones because even though they look the same, the rods of the hanging rack may be flimsier and they might not be able to hold up heavy loads.
Most of them are low, with hanging hooks raised 70cm to 100cm off the ground.
This is because they are commonly used for hanging cooking and eating utensils, and when cooking or eating at camp, you are usually seated on low stools, so low hanging racks keep your gear within easy reach.
Some are taller and with extension poles, and you can easily hang up your wet clothing or towels to dry.
Some come with a mesh basket at the base – perfect for your pots and pans. Some have mesh bags with many pockets lashed to the sides and hold your small items.
Some hanging racks come with clamps specifically for you to attach them to your camp table.
You will find that having your camping gear hanging around, ready to be used anytime, is a lot better than repeatedly taking them in and out of storage boxes or bags.
And once you get tired of returning them to the boxes and start to leave them lying around, you eventually end up with a messy campsite.
