Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Outdoors
  3. Evergreens

Camping just got a lot easier … with a shoe organizer?

Here's how a shoe organizer can make your camping trip great

By
Shoe organizer
Ilia Bordiugov / Shutterstock

Camping is all about adventure and relaxation, but nothing ruins the experience faster than a messy campsite. If you’ve ever found yourself rummaging through bags for your flashlight or struggling to keep your hygiene items off the ground, a hanging shoe organizer can help.

Personally, I love shoe organizers. As someone who lives in a shoebox apartment, they are an absolute must to keep my shoes tidy and tucked away. But believe it or not, they are actually pretty handy at keeping the chaos at bay when you go camping, too. Here’s everything you need to know about camping with a shoe organizer.

Recommended Videos

How a hanging shoe organizer can keep your gear accessible

Camping during the night
chulmin1700 / Pixabay

Even though hanging shoe organizers are meant for indoor use, they are great to bring with you on your camping trip because of all the small pockets. They’re easy to hang from a tree or canopy, and they give you some much-needed organization for those smaller items that might get lost or dirty.

Here are a few examples of what you can store:

  • Meal utensils: Spatulas, tongs, serving spoons, forks, knives, and spoons
  • Spices: I like to organize my spices in smaller Tic Tac boxes for the trip.
  • Dishwashing: Soap, a sponge or brush, and a small dish towel
  • Hydrating necessities: Tea bags, electrolyte or water flavoring packets like Liquid I.V., instant coffee packets, sugar packets, and small honey bears
  • Snacking necessities: Granola bars, trail mix, fruit snacks, and single-serve chip bags
  • Toiletries: Toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss, sunscreen, bug spray, wet wipes, hand sanitizer, travel-sized shampoo and conditioner bottles, soap, and deodorant
  • Camping gear: Flashlights, extra batteries, lighters, matches or firestarters, pocket knives or multitools, extra paracord or ropes, duct tape rolls for quick fixes, and first-aid kits
  • Small games: Decks of cards, dice, and travel-sized versions of your favorite board games.

Some items might have deep enough pockets to hold paper bowls, paper towels, or other bulky items. For optimum space saving, use any larger pockets for these. You may be able to roll or fold items before putting them in the pockets, but at that point, you might just be best with the picnic table. You can also use carabiners or hooks to attach bulkier pieces of gear.

When using a shoe organizer, I highly recommend placing it where rain can’t get to it. Many are made of plastic and will collect water when it rains. If you don’t expect rain, a tree branch will do just fine. Otherwise, try hanging it underneath a tarp or canopy or even on your car’s trunk or back seat.

Also, be aware of any rules regarding foodkeeping. The last thing you want is an animal coming by to munch on your snacks, so always supervise your shoe organizer and transfer the scented and edible items to a safe container like a bear bag when it’s time to tuck in for the night. Some recreation areas will allow you to lock food in your car, so look into the laws of your campground for the best advice.

Sarah Joseph
Sarah Joseph
Contributor
With a bright sense of adventure and a heart for the mountains, Sarah is always thrilled to share nature with others through… Read Full Bio
Topics
Outdoors
Uncompromising: Ball and Buck’s collaborations with bestselling author Jack Carr are what outdoor retail dreams are made of
Jack Carr

The steam was how I knew it was done. Making food over an open flame feels different than making it on the stove at home. There is a feeling of ancient skill, an ability to survive on very little. You have dispensed with the comfort of the modern world and taken yourself back to the way ancient man made their food over a flame with wood gathered from the forest and minimal ingredients. At least, that is how it feels until I use my modern multitool to flip the steak on the cast iron skillet I placed over the fire I made with a modern lighter. Look, I am all about remembering who we used to be, but that doesn’t mean I want to dispense with ALL the comfort or the tools of today. Camping is one of the last activities of the modern family where you can leave all screens behind. And when I hit the woods, I like to go all out with something that will last me. Quality. Ruggedness. Dependability. Things that keep me taken care of. That is why I love Ball and Buck.

Something else I like to do when I go out there is read. Sure, it could be anything from a military memoir to instructions on how to make a steak in a cast iron skillet over an open flame, which may or may not be more done than it should be. But recently, it has been Jack Carr. The Fourth Option hit the shelves this summer, and it was one of the best books of the year. I love his work, so imagine my surprise when I discovered that he has an entire collection with Ball and Buck.

Read more
Outdoors
I tried the Yozma IN 10 Pro electric dirt bike, and it was nothing like riding an e-bike
i tried the yozma in10 pro electric dirt bike and it was nothing like riding an e img 0424

I’ve spent plenty of time riding e-bikes, but I’d never ridden an electric dirt bike before. When I had the opportunity to try the Yozma IN 10 Pro, I was curious to see how the two would compare. As it turns out, they’re completely different experiences. The IN 10 Pro is fast, surprisingly loud, and considerably more powerful than anything I’d ridden before.

I didn’t push the bike anywhere near its advertised top speed of 50 mph, and I didn’t need to. Even at lower speeds, riding the IN 10 Pro was a lot of fun. Between the powerful acceleration, responsive steering, and the way it handled gravel and dirt, there was plenty to enjoy. And despite all that power, the ride was surprisingly comfortable, even over uneven ground. It didn’t take long for me to understand why people love riding dirt bikes.

Read more
Outdoors
Arc’teryx x BEAMS: The blend of Alpine tech and Tokyo style
Arc'teryx x Beams

The new Arc’teryx x BEAMS collection celebrates the brands’ 25-year collaboration and the blending of technical function with street-savvy style. The line highlights a re-creation of the 1998 Arc’teryx Theta hardshell, a Gamma softshell jacket, and Jogen bouldering pants. All come in the signature Kōyō color palette, modeled after Japan’s autumn leaves. 

I wore the Gamma Jacket and Jogen pants during the fall changeover in Virginia’s picturesque Shenandoah Valley, testing for warmth, wind resistance, and style. Here’s my take.

Read more