At home I tested adding boiling water to a SmartWater bottle: bottle turned into modern sculpture. Stick with Nalgene bottles for storing hot water for warming your sleeping bag.
Things I could do better on: Food -I tend to pack too much food. Doesn't matter how long or short the trip is, Ill be heading home with extra food. Water - I have this fear of running out of water, especially out in the desert (my favorite type of hiking). Even though I know where the water sources are, I will typically have at least a liter to spare when I arrive. Wipes - I have to take wipes (huggies, dude-wipes, etc.) with me if I am going to be out longer than three nights. Since I usually come home with them, I could probably not take them. FYI - I pack these out with the wag-bag. Things I do well with: Coffee - One thing I don't take is coffee. I never liked the smell of it so at least I have that going for me as something I don't take but most do. It is also a huge time saver - I can have a whole mile in by the time it takes to make the coffee and clean up. Another weight saver is the stove. On shorter trips I leave the stove, pot and fuel at home. I just cold soak and take tuna pouches, nuts, bars, and peanut butter. Nothing wrong with cold rice/noodles. Regardless, as mentioned above, I will still pack too much food. Love the channel! Scott
Thanks, Scott! Nothing wrong with a little extra food - it's insurance in case you trip goes sideways or you just don't feel like eating what you planned. I usually have an extra meal and some snack options. Check out dry wipes and you'll save a little weight.
Here's a trick. If you have sore muscles, use the bag in which your dehydrated dinner is hydrating for ten minutes to apply heat. I discovered this one day when I ignored a tiny blister but favoured that leg. By the time I got to camp my calf muscle was in a knot. The heat solved the problem.
I never thought of the Z seat (or the knockoff which I have) as an extraneous item, but this video has given me some food for thought. I'm currently using a Tyvek sheet as the groundcloth for my tent, but I didn't think of creating a seatpad with it. Great group of tips in the whole video. Like you, I am a late arrival to backpacking (started at 52). I've become obsessed with videos about backpacking hacks, and honestly, I've benefited more from watching just two of your videos than the hours I've watched from ultralighters half my age 🙂
I will continue packing one pair of extra socks and an extra pair of underpants, but I agree that having clean socks reserved for sleeping in is a very good idea. I may (or may not) get rid of some of the other things, lol.
Great information. I use an Amazon bubble wrap shipping envelope instead of a Z-seat. It's bulkier than your Tyvek but for the commenters who don't want to give up having some cushion and insulation, it is a light and free option. If you needed to rinse out some clothes, you could do it in the envelope and after using it as at tent doormat, I put it under my hips for extra insulation.
I see lots of people suggest getting rid of the Sawyer syringe. The instructions say to forcefully push water through the filter to dislodge as much silt as possible. The amount of force achieved with the syringe is far greater than what you can achieve with a bottle or bladder. To keep your filter flowing well, follow the instructions and use as much force as you can with the syringe. There is a video on the Sawyer website you can view, "Sawyer Filter Tips and Tricks," if you want video instruction. If I'm on a thru-hike I'm bringing the syringe to keep my filter working as well as possible.
A few years ago I was on the MacKenzie River in the Canadian Arctic and met up with a girl who had a filter with a syringe like that (I boiled rather than filtered) - not sure if it was a Sawyer or not, but the river is so full of silt that she could get less than a cup of water through it before it was clogged solid. She spent ten times longer cleaning the filter as she did using it, and without the syringe it would have been totally useless instead of just mostly useless. But a filter isn't always a panacea for bad water.
I use a Nalgene inside a 2 gallon baggy inside a dry bag to make sure I never get wet while I'm sleeping. I like camping in the winter and am willing to carry a few extra ounces to make sure I stay dry.
I like your minimalist but also practical approach, mostly bikepacking these days, but these ideas apply, completely agree about handwarmers-better to pack the clothes you need to be safe from the elements
All good points and I agree with most. I have and will continue to carry my GSI mug. I live in the Sierra and rule here is to not cook food or even coffee in your pot unless you want to stow it with your food forever and always. It is also, unless you get the snowpeak lips that only fit a snow peak pot, too hot for lips to touch when you want a warm drink. I like to keep my pot/stove near, even if I am only drinking hot water, should I get cold. Pesky black bears. Also the mug allows me to rehydrate food and also enjoy a hot drink at the same time, and if really multitasking, just take off the sleeve. I can also cold soak in it or save leftovers, oatmeal for instance when it’s 6am and I am not hungry yet, for further down the trail. Too many conveniences for my fickle eating habits to save weight there. Another is socks. Personal preference, but I have on occasion, experienced blisters in trailrunners when it gets too hot. I carry inginy sp? Sorry, liners that I can throw on if feeling a hot spot. Works better for me I’ll also carry a bit, not a lot of Leukotape too. One place I’m looking to shave weight is trying out the bidet. I have it, but haven’t tried it on trail yet.
When I'm saving weight, i use a cat food can with liquid fuel to heat food and coffee or just coffee and pack cold food. Or if bonfires are allowed, just use that.
I use an 8 oz “squeezy” bidet-bottle at home (like the ones that hospital give to postpartum women) because I haven’t put a bidet into our toilets yet. It works well, weighs almost nothing, and I have taken it along on hiking and camping trips.
I bought a Culo Clean bidet a few years ago. I love it! It's not for everyone, but I am grateful to not having to worry about packing out a bunch of used toilet paper. I have a few older GSI fair share mugs. I generally cold soak my meals rather than boil water, and for a bit I used one of those fair share mugs because of their capacity & screw-on lid. It was also nice because that material can handle boiling water - something my peanut butter jar wouldn't. I've since switched to a different type of jar, but those GSA mugs are still in our car camping kit. I love them - we can eat out of them and we can store leftovers in them because of the screw-on lid.
I think people should ditch their concern about what others think. If they want advice, they can ask. Most of us out on the trail have enough experience that we know what works for us. I hate it when people who don't know me make suggestions they think are "helpful." I've been hiking for nearly five decades. My kit is always a work in progress -- like a lot of folks, I go out on shorter hikes to practice/try things out -- but I know what works for me & what doesn't.
Sometimes I might ask someone, “Have you tried ( )?” Then ask about why it didn’t work out. I like to hear what works for people. I guess it can come off as annoying advice. Gotta pick the right person. But I would want to ask someone who has been hiking for decades because…. Well decades of experience!
How safe do you feel putting boiling water in plastic bags is regarding chemical exposure? I know it’s easier to not have to clean a pot but the chemicals are concerning.
Great point! I don't love the idea, but I use freezer bags which are more durable. I avoid heating plastics at home and hope it all balances out. Maybe someday there will be a better option.
Good video! Home Depot sells a version of Tyvek. Theirs is more of a woven looking fabric but it's waterproof too, and won't rip as easy as Tyvek. You buy it in a roll. I think it's something like $36 for a roll. I have not hiked the AT except for the area around New Found Gap, TN. I've only hiked the Pinhoti Trail here in Alabama.
That’s interesting. Mine is from Home Depot (it has their logo). If I remember correctly, I bought a smaller piece online from someone, instead of a whole roll.
Good video! The gsi mug comes in handy tough when you are coldsoaking. It does not leak so its great for that. Than you have just one cup for food and warm drinks. You can't do that with your pot 😉 About the chair... some people do need it. I have broken my tailbone twice and it did not grow back straight. Therefore I can not sit on hard surfaces like the ground, logs etc for a longer time (like an evening at camp). That would totally ruin my fun in Backpacking, so my chair is definitely a necessity for me.😊
I used to think I didn’t need a chair. Now, I am slowly coming around. I have some scoliosis and sitting on the ground makes the pain worse after hiking.
Let me tell you, if you don't have a 'build-in pad' in your behind (like the 'yoyfull Rambler' has) it really isn't allright to just sit on a piece of plastic bc that hurts like hell. I'm 58 and woud never go anywhere without my Z-seat. I have severe osteoporosis and could break my bones just sitting down. Hand- and toewarmers... I do need them on a cold trip bc I'm traveling with the company of Raynaud ('s syndrome). I LOVE my thermomug bc I never drink my coffee within a few minutes, I like to take zips along the way. One pair of socks.... although I wear merinowool I really don't want to put on socks in the morning that are hardened by the walk before. Three pair is the least if you're going for more than three days (one pair of that only for nights) I'm just saying, your tips are okay but also fit for your personal situation.
my weekend trips I add all the fun stuff, a beer, camp chair, heck i even bring a steak and fire gear. a Thru is completely different animal, and should be treated as such.
I really appreciate all the advice. I especially think it’s funny about the insulating rehydration pouch bc I don’t have one but have been agonizing over whether it’s necessary esp when packing up a bear can bc it would take up so much space.
Thanks for your vid’s I love them especially being a 53 yr old woman. I would love to know what stretches you do before and after a day of hiking. Thanks.
So funny, from the start I only brought my titanium pot, first boil water for food and then make tea in it. But I see so many people bringing cups with them that I started to question myself, am I doing something wrong…? 😅 But no, I don’t need a cup, pot works just fine
Excellent advice - great video! Cozy - If you are boiling water and pouring it into a bag/cup/pot over dehydrated food, why the cozy? The meal is already too hot to eat and ya gotta wait for the cool-down. Handwarmers - once used, you have to carry them OUT. (LNT)
I never thought of using my pot to put in my bagged dehydrated meal to keep warm, great idea. Plus ditching my cup will save me an ounce. The chair is something I am looking at for me. I had my knees replaced and getting up off the ground is not so easy. Unfortunately, there is not always a good place to sit when the shelter area is overcrowded and there is only one picnic table. I rather put my feet up on my hammock when relaxing or when I stop on the trail for lunch. BTW the foxtail inflator is also great for starting up a fire.
Good video. I just did an assessment of my kit. I realized I have been carrying extra quilt pad straps. I also decided that my cork massage ball was not worth the space/weight for me. I'm not really a thru hiker, but I am all about cutting unnecessary weight.
Thanks! I'm always looking at weight - partly because I like to carry some comfort items, like a pillow. Ditching things I don't use frees up space/weight to do that.
A Nalgene bottle weighs more than a hand warmer… Using a Smart Water bottle for your hydration and then separately using hand warmers is a bigger weight savings unless you’re just bringing a ton of hand warmers. Just saying.
I actually love my spoon - better than a spork for me. (I have sporks but don’t use them) It’s totally a matter of personal preference, carry what works best for you.
The best weapon you'll ever carry is your brain. If I'm in an area where land managers recommend carrying bear spray, I carry bear spray. Other than that, I don't worry about it. Generally, the bears will leave us alone given the chance to avoid us. I used to worry a bit about cougars, but a friend pointed out that worrying about a cougar attacking me is pointless. If a cougar is stalking me & plans to attack, it's highly likely I won't know about it until the last moment. I'm trespassing on their home, so that's a risk I'm willing to take. (The odds of it happening are infinitesimally small, too.)
Bear spray is good to have under the right weather conditions. Whatever you decide to carry or not to carry for personal defense is up to the individual. I doubt I would ever be caught deep in the woods with nothing to defend my life with.
At home I tested adding boiling water to a SmartWater bottle: bottle turned into modern sculpture. Stick with Nalgene bottles for storing hot water for warming your sleeping bag.
Things I could do better on:
Food -I tend to pack too much food. Doesn't matter how long or short the trip is, Ill be heading home with extra food.
Water - I have this fear of running out of water, especially out in the desert (my favorite type of hiking). Even though I know where the water sources are, I will typically have at least a liter to spare when I arrive.
Wipes - I have to take wipes (huggies, dude-wipes, etc.) with me if I am going to be out longer than three nights. Since I usually come home with them, I could probably not take them. FYI - I pack these out with the wag-bag.
Things I do well with:
Coffee - One thing I don't take is coffee. I never liked the smell of it so at least I have that going for me as something I don't take but most do. It is also a huge time saver - I can have a whole mile in by the time it takes to make the coffee and clean up.
Another weight saver is the stove. On shorter trips I leave the stove, pot and fuel at home. I just cold soak and take tuna pouches, nuts, bars, and peanut butter. Nothing wrong with cold rice/noodles. Regardless, as mentioned above, I will still pack too much food.
Love the channel!
Scott
Thanks, Scott! Nothing wrong with a little extra food - it's insurance in case you trip goes sideways or you just don't feel like eating what you planned. I usually have an extra meal and some snack options.
Check out dry wipes and you'll save a little weight.
Here's a trick. If you have sore muscles, use the bag in which your dehydrated dinner is hydrating for ten minutes to apply heat. I discovered this one day when I ignored a tiny blister but favoured that leg. By the time I got to camp my calf muscle was in a knot. The heat solved the problem.
That's a neat idea!
I never thought of the Z seat (or the knockoff which I have) as an extraneous item, but this video has given me some food for thought. I'm currently using a Tyvek sheet as the groundcloth for my tent, but I didn't think of creating a seatpad with it. Great group of tips in the whole video. Like you, I am a late arrival to backpacking (started at 52). I've become obsessed with videos about backpacking hacks, and honestly, I've benefited more from watching just two of your videos than the hours I've watched from ultralighters half my age 🙂
Thank you, I'm so happy you found the videos helpful!
I will continue packing one pair of extra socks and an extra pair of underpants, but I agree that having clean socks reserved for sleeping in is a very good idea.
I may (or may not) get rid of some of the other things, lol.
Great information. I use an Amazon bubble wrap shipping envelope instead of a Z-seat. It's bulkier than your Tyvek but for the commenters who don't want to give up having some cushion and insulation, it is a light and free option. If you needed to rinse out some clothes, you could do it in the envelope and after using it as at tent doormat, I put it under my hips for extra insulation.
What a creative idea!
How can I say this: when you have a bony butt, a sheet of fabric does not cut it! My butt pad is my best friend as I have no fat on my behind!!!😂
😅😅sounds like it’s a necessity for you!
I see lots of people suggest getting rid of the Sawyer syringe. The instructions say to forcefully push water through the filter to dislodge as much silt as possible. The amount of force achieved with the syringe is far greater than what you can achieve with a bottle or bladder. To keep your filter flowing well, follow the instructions and use as much force as you can with the syringe. There is a video on the Sawyer website you can view, "Sawyer Filter Tips and Tricks," if you want video instruction. If I'm on a thru-hike I'm bringing the syringe to keep my filter working as well as possible.
A few years ago I was on the MacKenzie River in the Canadian Arctic and met up with a girl who had a filter with a syringe like that (I boiled rather than filtered) - not sure if it was a Sawyer or not, but the river is so full of silt that she could get less than a cup of water through it before it was clogged solid. She spent ten times longer cleaning the filter as she did using it, and without the syringe it would have been totally useless instead of just mostly useless. But a filter isn't always a panacea for bad water.
What did you do about the silt yourself? Does it settle after boiling or something?
I use a Nalgene inside a 2 gallon baggy inside a dry bag to make sure I never get wet while I'm sleeping. I like camping in the winter and am willing to carry a few extra ounces to make sure I stay dry.
I like your minimalist but also practical approach, mostly bikepacking these days, but these ideas apply, completely agree about handwarmers-better to pack the clothes you need to be safe from the elements
All good points and I agree with most. I have and will continue to carry my GSI mug. I live in the Sierra and rule here is to not cook food or even coffee in your pot unless you want to stow it with your food forever and always. It is also, unless you get the snowpeak lips that only fit a snow peak pot, too hot for lips to touch when you want a warm drink. I like to keep my pot/stove near, even if I am only drinking hot water, should I get cold. Pesky black bears. Also the mug allows me to rehydrate food and also enjoy a hot drink at the same time, and if really multitasking, just take off the sleeve. I can also cold soak in it or save leftovers, oatmeal for instance when it’s 6am and I am not hungry yet, for further down the trail. Too many conveniences for my fickle eating habits to save weight there. Another is socks. Personal preference, but I have on occasion, experienced blisters in trailrunners when it gets too hot. I carry inginy sp? Sorry, liners that I can throw on if feeling a hot spot. Works better for me I’ll also carry a bit, not a lot of Leukotape too.
One place I’m looking to shave weight is trying out the bidet. I have it, but haven’t tried it on trail yet.
When I'm saving weight, i use a cat food can with liquid fuel to heat food and coffee or just coffee and pack cold food. Or if bonfires are allowed, just use that.
I use an 8 oz “squeezy” bidet-bottle at home (like the ones that hospital give to postpartum women) because I haven’t put a bidet into our toilets yet. It works well, weighs almost nothing, and I have taken it along on hiking and camping trips.
I bought a Culo Clean bidet a few years ago. I love it! It's not for everyone, but I am grateful to not having to worry about packing out a bunch of used toilet paper.
I have a few older GSI fair share mugs. I generally cold soak my meals rather than boil water, and for a bit I used one of those fair share mugs because of their capacity & screw-on lid. It was also nice because that material can handle boiling water - something my peanut butter jar wouldn't. I've since switched to a different type of jar, but those GSA mugs are still in our car camping kit. I love them - we can eat out of them and we can store leftovers in them because of the screw-on lid.
I think people should ditch their concern about what others think. If they want advice, they can ask. Most of us out on the trail have enough experience that we know what works for us. I hate it when people who don't know me make suggestions they think are "helpful." I've been hiking for nearly five decades. My kit is always a work in progress -- like a lot of folks, I go out on shorter hikes to practice/try things out -- but I know what works for me & what doesn't.
Sometimes I might ask someone, “Have you tried ( )?” Then ask about why it didn’t work out. I like to hear what works for people. I guess it can come off as annoying advice. Gotta pick the right person. But I would want to ask someone who has been hiking for decades because…. Well decades of experience!
I appreciate learning new ideas.
How safe do you feel putting boiling water in plastic bags is regarding chemical exposure? I know it’s easier to not have to clean a pot but the chemicals are concerning.
Great point! I don't love the idea, but I use freezer bags which are more durable. I avoid heating plastics at home and hope it all balances out. Maybe someday there will be a better option.
Try using microwave steaming ziplock bags instead; they are meant to handle heat this way.
Good video! Home Depot sells a version of Tyvek. Theirs is more of a woven looking fabric but it's waterproof too, and won't rip as easy as Tyvek. You buy it in a roll. I think it's something like $36 for a roll. I have not hiked the AT except for the area around New Found Gap, TN. I've only hiked the Pinhoti Trail here in Alabama.
That’s interesting. Mine is from Home Depot (it has their logo). If I remember correctly, I bought a smaller piece online from someone, instead of a whole roll.
Good video!
The gsi mug comes in handy tough when you are coldsoaking. It does not leak so its great for that. Than you have just one cup for food and warm drinks. You can't do that with your pot 😉
About the chair... some people do need it. I have broken my tailbone twice and it did not grow back straight. Therefore I can not sit on hard surfaces like the ground, logs etc for a longer time (like an evening at camp). That would totally ruin my fun in Backpacking, so my chair is definitely a necessity for me.😊
Great points! Thank you, and happy hiking!
@@JoyfulRambler happy hiking!
I used to think I didn’t need a chair. Now, I am slowly coming around. I have some scoliosis and sitting on the ground makes the pain worse after hiking.
"Tent yoga"...! Love to hear your comments, probably of good interest. Mine only fit me.
Let me tell you, if you don't have a 'build-in pad' in your behind (like the 'yoyfull Rambler' has) it really isn't allright to just sit on a piece of plastic bc that hurts like hell. I'm 58 and woud never go anywhere without my Z-seat. I have severe osteoporosis and could break my bones just sitting down. Hand- and toewarmers... I do need them on a cold trip bc I'm traveling with the company of Raynaud ('s syndrome). I LOVE my thermomug bc I never drink my coffee within a few minutes, I like to take zips along the way. One pair of socks.... although I wear merinowool I really don't want to put on socks in the morning that are hardened by the walk before. Three pair is the least if you're going for more than three days (one pair of that only for nights) I'm just saying, your tips are okay but also fit for your personal situation.
Makes sense. My butt looks like it has padding but I find my sit bones still get sore from sitting on the ground.
Like I, chair is a must😊
my weekend trips I add all the fun stuff, a beer, camp chair, heck i even bring a steak and fire gear. a Thru is completely different animal, and should be treated as such.
Great advice! Subbed! Also, I love your flannel :)
If those syringes are in all the hiker boxes then I will use those, like you said. 😅
I really appreciate all the advice. I especially think it’s funny about the insulating rehydration pouch bc I don’t have one but have been agonizing over whether it’s necessary esp when packing up a bear can bc it would take up so much space.
Thanks for your vid’s I love them especially being a 53 yr old woman. I would love to know what stretches you do before and after a day of hiking. Thanks.
Really great video. I am challenged though without a coffee mug... hmmm. Need to think about that one.
I use my coffee mug to fill the sawyer squeeze bag. I've seen so many people trying to scoop water in. That really doesn't work.
My collapsible coffee mug is a “necessity”!😂
So funny, from the start I only brought my titanium pot, first boil water for food and then make tea in it. But I see so many people bringing cups with them that I started to question myself, am I doing something wrong…? 😅 But no, I don’t need a cup, pot works just fine
I like to carry the Sea to Summit collapsing cup.
Excellent advice - great video!
Cozy - If you are boiling water and pouring it into a bag/cup/pot over dehydrated food, why the cozy? The meal is already too hot to eat and ya gotta wait for the cool-down.
Handwarmers - once used, you have to carry them OUT. (LNT)
you say ditch the mug keep the pot. what you did not say is mug = hot drink. titanium pot = cold drink
yabadaba doo. 🤙
LOVE your pink and orange Shaket!!!❤
I never thought of using my pot to put in my bagged dehydrated meal to keep warm, great idea. Plus ditching my cup will save me an ounce. The chair is something I am looking at for me. I had my knees replaced and getting up off the ground is not so easy. Unfortunately, there is not always a good place to sit when the shelter area is overcrowded and there is only one picnic table. I rather put my feet up on my hammock when relaxing or when I stop on the trail for lunch. BTW the foxtail inflator is also great for starting up a fire.
Chair fan here!!
Good video. I just did an assessment of my kit. I realized I have been carrying extra quilt pad straps. I also decided that my cork massage ball was not worth the space/weight for me. I'm not really a thru hiker, but I am all about cutting unnecessary weight.
Thanks! I'm always looking at weight - partly because I like to carry some comfort items, like a pillow. Ditching things I don't use frees up space/weight to do that.
That was a fun list. Thanks for sharing
You are so welcome!
Great advice! Thanks
Thanks! Great info!
A Nalgene bottle weighs more than a hand warmer… Using a Smart Water bottle for your hydration and then separately using hand warmers is a bigger weight savings unless you’re just bringing a ton of hand warmers. Just saying.
I guess it totally depends on the length of the trip. On a thru-hike, that's a lot of hand warmers! But for a weekend, it's not much.
thanks for sharing
My pleasure
INSTEAD OF A SPOON YOU NEED A SPORK A COMBINATION SPOON AND FORK
I actually love my spoon - better than a spork for me. (I have sporks but don’t use them) It’s totally a matter of personal preference, carry what works best for you.
I used a spoon. Those little prongs on the end of a spork don't really do anything
I have a Morsel spork. I love the spatula-like edge -- it helps get every little bit of food out of my jar.
Things to not take: the kids.
What do you plan to use for self-defense against human or a predator animal?
The best weapon you'll ever carry is your brain.
If I'm in an area where land managers recommend carrying bear spray, I carry bear spray. Other than that, I don't worry about it. Generally, the bears will leave us alone given the chance to avoid us. I used to worry a bit about cougars, but a friend pointed out that worrying about a cougar attacking me is pointless. If a cougar is stalking me & plans to attack, it's highly likely I won't know about it until the last moment. I'm trespassing on their home, so that's a risk I'm willing to take. (The odds of it happening are infinitesimally small, too.)
Bear spray is good to have under the right weather conditions. Whatever you decide to carry or not to carry for personal defense is up to the individual. I doubt I would ever be caught deep in the woods with nothing to defend my life with.