Backpacking Food (Cook, No-Cook, Cold Soaking, Storage, Stoves, Cookware)
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- Опубліковано 28 чер 2024
- 00:00 Hey y’all
00:27 Cooking (Pros and Cons)
01:27 Cooking Options
02:51 No-Cook Options
03:08 Cold Soaking
04:07 How Much Food to Bring
05:31 Food Storage
05:41 Bear Bag
07:32 Bear Canister
08:02 Ursack
08:42 Where to keep you food in the desert
10:13 Stoves
10:18 Fuel Canister Stoves
11:32 Alcohol Stoves
13:19 Wood Burning Stoves
14:33 Food Pot
16:46 Spoons and Sporks
17:38 Cups
18:29 Washing the Dishes
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My Favorite Backpacking Meals: • My 5 Favorite Backpack...
How To Dehydrate Ground Beef: • How To Dehydrate Groun...
How to Hang a Bear Bag: • 3 Easy Ways to Hang a ...
Bear Canisters on the PCT: • Bear Canisters For The...
How To Make A Pot Cozy: • How To Make A Pot Cozy...
DIY Tuna Can Backpacking Stove: • DIY Tuna Can Backpacki...
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I think its funny that I do Housecleaning for an extra job and use my knowledge of light/ultralight backpacking skills to create an ultralight Cleaning Caddy that fits in my backpack. I dont own a car so I bus and walk and bike to work so I need everything to be lightweight, compact and paired down. I actually put cleaning solutions in miniature spray bottles and since i only do one house per day I have more than enough stuff to actually do a good job!! I even found a mop that comes apart in short pieces and takes up very little room in my pack LOL. Our Canadian winter has been fairly brutal this year so I've been adding trekking poles to the kit. Really enjoying your latest videos.
Do you think you could share a link where the mop can be purchased?
Not for a job, but i did something similar in my house and car. I found that if I have a mini cleaning kit in each room/car, it tends to stay clean longer because my guys will clean up little messes as they happen, if the cleaning supplies are available and they don't have to go find them. It all fits in a small quart (yogurt) size bucket/box with a lid.
I have a small dusting brush/pan, a wetex rag ( compact, absorbent and dries fast) a couple small spray bottles with my cleaning solutions, a tiny scrub brush ( usually for dishes) a stain treatment little travel bottle, a roll of dog collecting baggies with the dispenser and some baking soda in a small mayo jar. But I I would love to find a tiny mop too.
This is just for essential, on the spot cleaning, really. I have a similar one for my pic nic/bush flying/camping kit. That one just has an additional cut off sponge/scrubby pad.
Other than the wetex rag and bucket, it was all dollar store or homemade cleaning solution ( vinegar/soap) The Wetex rag is from www.wetexusa.com and the bucket was a reused quart yogurt container, the sturdy type.
@@DR-bp1yu The mop is not great quality, but is useful in a pinch.....it was found in a doller store and never seen there again unfortunately. but they must exist elsewhere.
Oh no, I'm stuck in the wanderlust rabbit hole and can't get out. Help!
Same....
So has my wallet.
Yup, at 23:35 pm at night😊
Me too! In December 2020!
😂🤣😂🤣😂
This did not seem like a 20-minute video. It was so informative that it went by amazingly fast! Good info.
I can’t wait to go on my first overnight backpacking trip this summer. Been watching Homemade Wanderlust for a year now, doing a lot of research, and I’m SO ready!!!!!
CL XK Yayyy! I hope you have a wonderful time. Good on you for getting out there :)
yes.. go 4 it.. but keep it short and simple.
so....did you ? !
@@GavTatu yip. with frz dry instant,,, foldyours.
yes !
I'm a cold soaker. I'm 62 and not as fast as I used to be. So in order to get my 20 miles for the day, I can't take the time to cook. Knorr rice sides and Idahoan sides work well; pasta is a bit yucky. My soaking container is a peanut butter jar and my lexan spoon fits inside. Cold coffee in the morning is better than no coffee!
Have you tried couscous? It's also easy to add spice to and dried fruits like raisins and apricots are traditionally added as well. Doesn't take much water, just enough to cover it and it keeps it's texture
@@vitazissel3671 a little bit goes a surprisingly long way!! I got 3 lunches out of what was intended to be a single lunch.
I've added tuna to the couscous as well, and it's very good, and very filling!
Backcountry Foodie has a "cookbook" with recipes that can be cold soaked. It's been really helpful.
Here is a tip if you want pasta cook a big batch of noodles to last a few days just strain well and put in zip lock bag usually will last a few days this way I make different variety of pastas you can get creative also you can heat if you want hot but so much easier to just throw in some veggies sauces or meats However you like it :)
@@kimkremer8915 Thanks for the tip!
Love watching these older videos; some rules don't change much over time, it's good to review. As for me, as someone who's old, out of shape and haven't been out there much (especially overnight) in literally decades, I plan to take way more food than necessary. If I have any left over at the end, fine. I'd rather have too much food than not enough--what if my silly old a$$ got lost? If I do, I'll still be fat when they find me! ;)
10:18 You can measure the amount of fuel left in the canister by putting the canister in a bucket of water and seeing how much it floats.
Dixie, this is my first time to comment. I've been listening to you for about 1 year or 1.5 now. I've gone on my first big hike and loved it, but I want to express to you my gratitude for the MANY tips and wisdom you have shared. It's made a huge difference! Keep on hiking!!! Darla
Hey Dixie.... Love your video series! I noticed that one thing you did not address with the stoves is that during fire season most alcohol and wood stoves are banned. Up here in the PNW we have had a few years of bad fires so paranoia is running rampant when it comes to fires and open flames. In fact year before last you were not even allowed to smoke outside of enclosed structures or vehicles in the National Forest or National Parks. So those that use non-self contained stoves need to be aware of that. Happy trails!
Len Kerr Yes! I should have mentioned this. Thank you for saying it.
Planning to go to High Peaks ADK and w high elevation camping in that area, they don't allow fires or alcohol stoves either. Not sure about certain "designated" areas, but we are planning to play it safe w a pocket stove. Still wish I didn't have that 8oz of gas weight
@@jeffgreene1372 just remember that depending on the elevation and temps you may need an inverted gas stove with a heating element for it to work correctly. Not sure when you are doing this but something to consider.
I find at the end of the day your tired sore etc and nothing makes me perk up like a warm meal....reminds me of eating at home
Cold soaking for 3 season hiking is a no brainier if you’re ex military like me and not a ‘foodie’. But I have just switched to a Toaks alcohol cook system which weighs less than 200grams and gives me the option of hot drinks and the odd hot meal when it rains endlessly and/or the trail is hard on me; in addition to my cold soak. Thanks for the great videos.
I use cold soak as a prep for cooking
I soak lentils and grain in the morning
This cuts down the cook times to minimal in the evening
This means i am eating real food
🤤
I do that too lol. I soak noodles in powdered seasoning in a ziplock bag (add water), at morning then by the time I'm cooking it's got a lot of flavour in already which means less cooking time :)
Yep, I do it with my dehydrated foods. Most often, I won't add water to dehydrated foods until mid afternoon so I'm not carrying that little bit extra water weight. Those couple hours finishing the days hike really helps the food rehydrate faster and I use less fuel.
Old fashioned oatmeal also works well.
Less cook time and still a warm meal, win win!
19:00 "Some people like to do a bit better than that." It's those humble easygoing quips that make your vids extra fun, haha.
Stick stove here... 4oz total: stove and fuel for any length trip. Love it and will never go back! Emberlit Fireant titanium
Hi! I’m not sure if you’ll see this but are you still using the stick stove? Also, have you had rainy weather and had to use wet sticks? Did it work well? Thanks!
@@christyhammer4000 if bad weather's coming just carry the sticks you need if you know it will be hard to find them when you set up.... remember ur not carrying a fire's worth just a few oz to boil a can
usually not a problem
@@christyhammer4000 I am still using the stick stove, i have used it in rainy weather and it still works great, just need to be more careful collecting dryish fuel. I've also done most of my backpacking in the Smokey mountains (rainforest) so I'm used to collecting things in the rain. The insides of sticks are pretty dry unless they are sitting in a creek. I do carry an Esibt tablet as a backup just in case but have never used it (same one for the last 6 years).
Ms Dixie (slower Alabama boy here) you are a bright spot in this universe. Clearly brighter than the average bear, thank you for your calm enthusiasm and cogent content useful to so many.
The candle in the background looks crazy close to the wall lol
i thought this too. watched this right to the end, great segment, thank you
Absolutely LOVE your southern accent, I'm from the South and it reminds me of home! My wife sounds the same; Riiiiiice!
Although I cook breakfast and dinner when backpacking, I don't have any dirty pots to clean. That's because I just boil water and add the boiled water to a zip lock freezer bag of my food. Such freezer bags were not mentioned in this video and they are a mainstay of my cooked meals. No simmering needed. That's because I package oatmeal and even repackage freeze-dried meals in them. I get 2 separate meals out of standard freeze-dried meals, but only if I split the contents ahead of time (Duh!). I spike freeze-dried meals with 3 ounces of foil-bagged chicken, beef, or tuna, too. It is a small weight cost, but a big taste improvement. Holding the hot/warm freezer bag of a cooked meal really warms up the hands on cold mornings and evenings, too! :) Plus placing one's spoon in the boiled water to help pour/transfer the water to the freezer bag and keeping the spoon in the hot freezer bag helps sterilize one's spoon. Use the freezer bag after eating to pack out your used toilet paper and spit out your toothpaste into the freezer bag instead of spitting on the ground, rocks, and plants around your camp.
Thanks for the info. I'll have to try that. Didn't know freezer ziplock bags could tolerate boiling water.
Wonderful idea on the toothpaste. I use baking soda when in bear country but like your idea better.
I just started experimenting with freezer bags. Vacuum seal bags like Foodsaver bags work too. I make a bag-cozy out of Reflectix (or car shade roll up thingy).
I love the freezer bag cooking method. Food rehydrates great and stays hot for a long time. I know there’s pros and cons to everything but I’m very happy with the results.
Esther Shankula i use them all the time (I pour boiling water into them) the quart size are strong and the right size. practically no cost and like someone else mentioned, can be used to store trash.
our favorite thing is angel hair pasta. also practically no cost, and because it’s thin, it rehydrates in 10-20 minutes like the expensive backpack meals.
Really enjoying this series Dixie, some really useful info in these. We appreciate all the hard work you do making them!
Agree Totally I
No stove. I use MREs a lot and they have fireless heaters. If I want to boil water, I hang my stainless bottle over the fire or just put my mug on the coals.
My favourite kind of back pack cooking pot is a re-purposed fruit can with dual opposing holes punched into the rim with a hammer and a nail. A length of coat hanger wire I loop over the top from one hole to another serves as a bail. The beauty of it is that it is very cheap to make and can be trashed after use rather than scrubbed of soot. I like to keep mine in a plastic bread back to keep soot from blackening other freight in my pack. I would start out with a couple of cans of Sterno in the can. The Sterno stove folds flat. It is a very safe fuel and can also be used to light a fire with wet wood. Sterno was used a lot during the Great Depression. For much of my food I would use instant mashed potatoes, Rice A Roni, and instant stuffing mix. Carry tubbed margarine and keep the tub sealed for to prevent leakage. I would also carry a 12-foot roll of one-foot wide aluminium foil for cooking meat and for steaming fish. Smear shortening or margarine over the shiny side touching the foil and wrap the food up in three or four layers. I put a 12-inch taper candle inside the core of the roll of foil. Such is a good employment of what would otherwise be empty space, and the foil roll protects the candle against breakage.
LOL! Don't know why you'd want to use your moonshine for fuel? Spoken like a true Southerner!🤣
B Dickinson Guilty 😂
You mean spoken like a true sane person
@@Um_im_ryan Yes, that as well!
You bring the alcohol stove along to justify the moonshine, then you decide you don't feel like cooking that night.
@@TheInsomniaddict 🤔Then you just cook yourself!😉
I use an MSR pocket rocket and it's an absolutely fantastic stove. I've never had a problem with it, and it boils water in a matter of minutes. The fuel canisters last so much longer than I ever thought they would, and hot coffee in the morning is an absolute game-changer.
That's good to know! That's the stove that's on my wishlist!
There’s an REI video about how many boils you can get out of those canisters. They estimate about 10 which is plenty for a weekend trip I reckon.
@@B3D5X Oh, that's good to know! I use the MSR stove and love it. I was told once that I could check the fuel level by floating it in water, but that seems like a waste of water LOL
Snow Peak also make an excellent trail stove.
Back in my day there wasn't any 'no campfire' areas in the Sierra, so cooking was always an option. I carried a slab of bacon for frying everything plus bacon on my rice. I actually had a gasoline stove that ran off any kind of gas included leaded gas. Worked great and even worked as a candle in a summertime blizzard so we could read. It could burn for 8 hours on a tankful, but it did weigh 3 lbs. A pint of gas and a full tank lasted over a month.
Some people say that when you're thru-hiking, you're not camping, you're hiking and it's just about getting from point to point as fast and as light as possible. But for me, as an older guy, I'm out there for another reason - to enjoy the surroundings and the beauty of our natural world. I'm bringing a few creature comforts. I like the idea of the fuel stove to heat up my coffee and oatmeal in the morning so I'm not messing around building a fire and can break camp and get back on the trail as early as possible. But if I decide to slow it down and set up a campfire, I like your grease pot with cozy idea.
For the woodstove option, you can carry a little bag of dry pieces of wood that you can use if everything is wet. I have the Vargo titanium wood stove and I love it. I can get my hands and feat warm around it too (because I live in Quebec, aka snow dump). Awesome videos Dixie!!!
I use an Esbit Stove works well, I also like the Vargo products.
@@trexmobile1 Agreed; Been using an Esbit for the past 4 years on all my trips, so versatile!
nomisaax I like the idea of wood but I think the whole state of California is fire free or am I wrong?
@@davidmcmahan7534 I think you're right about Cali!
I geel the same way about my Trail Designs Ti-Tri Caldera set. Incredible versitily for a little more weight and bulk, mostly bulk. But on a cold day of heavy rain, under a tarp, when you just want yo tske a zero and play cards, it is a soul-saver.
In australia we just carry a peice of thin seasond sheet metal .. few hours and the sun and its bbq time.
You can make a sun oven out of Reflectix, too.
That is good if you like hanging out in a hot sunny place midday. ...but cooking for hours while trying to get somewhere?
Bethie Bee that’s why we pre heat the metal by strapping it to the top of our pack, to catch the sun while on the move
@@naturegirl92584 exactly
I didnt think id have to repost here, but its a joke people "dry aussie sence of hummer about how damn hot it gets here" (i see 2 people did get the joke n carry it forward thou, cheers)
stoveless argument:
For the same reason your thru hike... Just 'Cause... It is just the nostalgia of cooking on an open flame. making a fire, controlling it, ect.. it is all just for the joy of it.
Thank You for your content! it is positive and motivating!
Overnight oats are a staple camp food for us here at Cold Case Gear.
The Firebox ti rocks. Carry a few Esbit cubes just in case it’s pouring. There is something comforting about a fire and some hot coffee🥰
Now there is a good idea carry Pellets for the rainy days .. I remember trying to cook pancakes on a canoe trip in the rain .. with wet wood
Thank you for your excellent videos.
Since you asked about the charms of cooking-free, and I've gone cooking-free quite a bit, and like it, here goes: If you calculate the extra time you spend cooking, or the time saved by not cooking, it is impressive, especially over months, years, or decades.
One key is to expand the possibilities, and to find enough no-cook foods that you actually enjoy.
Also, you can adapt your taste. I now genuinely enjoy many simple foods. Before, they had to be much less subtle, or much more strongly flavored. You naturally adapt. Less salt, for example: at first it seemed too bland, but now that has changed for me. Now "normal" levels of salt seem too salty. Similar is sugar or sweeteners.
Check the bins at a large natural foods stores for new things to try. And check ideas on the internet, including gorp recipes.
Sesame seeds mixed with honey, or even just plain - I really enjoy eating them.
Good, well designed portion-pack zipper lock bags are great. I really like the ones from Winco Foods. They are vertical rather than horizontal, and have measurement markings.
Asian food markets can be worth exploring. I really like roasted edamame (I get them at Winco, though, in the bulk section. They also have excellent bulk sunflower seeds, raw, roasted and unsalted (I love those), and roasted and salted. Also various types of bulk oats, good for muesli, among other things in bulk - like dried cherries, figs, dates, various types of honey, all kinds of granolas (the peanut butter one is great), cereals, flax seeds, dried okra (better than it might sound), and much more - all at excellent prices. I have no affiliation, by the way, I just like them, and like that they are employee owned. Good natural foods co-ops are similar, and good, but usually lack the wider range).
You can also learn to cook occasionally with just a fire, no pots to carry or clean or get sooty. Bread dough rolled and wrapped on a stick, for example. You can buy flour and baking powder for this, or a ready-to-go mix (at Winco or elsewhere). And there are other things you can do with a fire and no pots. Kabobs, roasted corn... More online.
The 'need' for hot food is largely autosuggestion, I have found, and one can take other courses. Or mix a little in if one likes.
Cooking-free can be excellent. I enjoy it, and don't feel deprived if I don't think along those lines.
Vive Viveka Thank you so much for the input and suggestions! I agree Asian food markets have great treasures 😃
@@HomemadeWanderlust Yes, Asian food markets have bean noodles which are gluten free, in so many varied forms. I'm experimenting no-cook at home to time the soak so its texture is just right. No need to soak all day.
I’m planning a backyard camping trip to introduce camping and nature stuff to my nephew and I’m excited to show him the freeze dried food! I live in an apartment it in very near my sisters house so I took my new backpacking tent over to test out the setup and water resistance and he was excited to learn how to pitch it up! Thankfully it was the most easy and simple tent I’ve ever used and even he could grasp it immediately as an 8 year old. He climbed inside on his own and we started spraying the garden hose at a nearly vertical angle to simulate a good strong drizzle and he had a blast. I’m gonna order the bushcraft knife I’ve been eying soon and I can’t wait to show him some fire making and wood processing skills!
A box of dehydrated mash and trail mix (w/ chocolate). Yum.
A stove can be a hell of a fire starter in an emergency.
When cooking with aluminum just avoid cooking acidic foods like tomato sauce for extended periods.
I'm a stove and fuel canister guy. I wouldn't make it out of camp without hot coffee in the morning. And I love the efficiency of using fuel canisters. My coffee is ready in two minutes.
I am food motivated. My gift to myself for not cooking on trail is the gift of hope. I hope that when I get to the next town, or hostel that offers food, that I will enjoy whatever the owner offers like no other cooked meal I have ever had. To me that is very satisfying. I must say that trail guides aren't always accurate, when giving info on food offerings, but more often than not they are accurate. I have learned to accept disappointment on occasion. Great tips Dixie.
It’s worth noting that those sacks your pots often come in(orange for toaks) are great cozies. This could save you the step of making a reflectix cozie.
I always carry a stove because I really like my hot coffee in the mornings. It's a big morale booster for me, even in the summer. I would carry my stove just so I can make coffee. But since I do carry it, might as well have a nice warm dinner at the end of the day. Cold soaking, in my opinion, tastes terrible. Think cold mushy food. You will still be able to get your calories but it won't be enjoyable. The only exception. I have found to this is oatmeal. In the summertime, cold soaked oatmeal can be pretty good.
Agree completely.....gotta have a stove, but then Dixie thinks backpack meals are tasty so, maybe that won't matter. I'm a foodie, I've spent a fortune trying dozens of backpack meals. Different brands, different types of foods. I've found NONE that are palatable, all have the consistency of canned dog food that has been microwaved and most don't smell any better either. I prefer to get creative with rice mixes, noodles mixes etc. Food is one of the simple pleasures in life. Mind you I do short trips , I'm no through hiker but I'll take the weight to have decent food. It's supposed to be fun....not practice for an apocalypse!
With a fuel canister it is easy to judge how much fuel is in it. Place a full canister in a bowl or pot of cool water and put a mark at the water line, then do the same with an empty canister, transfer the "Empty mark", to the full canister, you will now be able to gauge how much fuel you have left by where you are between the marks just by floating the used canister.
Titanium is great for when you are just boiling water but aluminum or stainless are better for cooking due to Ti does not transfer heat well and develops hot spots. Great video Dixie.
Allen Bishop great advice!
I used a wood stove for 5 months in 2018 and really liked not needing to buy or carry fuel. You can cook things that require long cook times since you have so much freely available fuel, if you're in the right sort of place. Another advantage of the wood stove is that it makes it easier to maintain a tiny fire that you can sit near or a smudge fire to keep insects away.
Stoveless, I don't think I could ever do. Even on the hottest days in a Tennessee summer i'm eating a hot meal at night. One method of cooking you didn't touch on was freezer bag cooking. A method I use in the AM because i'm usually eating oatmeal and I hate cleaning up oatmeal. Methods, stove types, pot size & material are for the most part personal preference. I've been thru 8 different pots and 3 different pot materials. I settled on a 10cm Imusa aluminum mug with a Batchstove lid. At $16 shipped to my door it's also one of my cheapest kits and the weight is reasonable. I can cook a bag of Knors Sides, a 4.5 oz can of chicken & a quarter cup of shredded cheese in that size pot, which fills my belly at the end of the day.
I am so happy I found you. You have so many interesting tips that have quelled many of my personal debates with myself. Thank you for all of this! Love watching your videos, I too am in a deep deep rabbit hole!
That insulated cozy with the pot is a great idea.... I bet you could get those made and sell them!
I appreciate how detailed you are with your videos
I think hot coffee is a mike drop argument for having a stove.
And marshmallows.
Fire
or hot chocolate ... or hot ramen ... or hot oatmeal ... I'll eat almost anything as long as it's hot.
It was for me, but then I realized it was taking me forever to get out of camp in the morning. I've gone stoveless since. But I have my morning "mocha" to start my day.
Humans learned to make fire for a reason!
Hey Dixie
Just a note... alcohol and wood burning stoves should be avoided on the PCT because of fire potential. In some areas they are banned completely. Not a problem on the AT.
I planned my first backpacking trip for the end of May. 95 klm. 12 days. I kept my pack as light and basic as possible before food it was 25lbs. Once I added the food the weight shot up to 45lbs!!. I sorted my food again and got it down to 40 lbs, anything lower I wouldn't have enough food. I could barely lift my backpack. I went to the provincial park and had to walk 3klm (sorry, Canadian)to where the trail started, I was already exhausted by the time I got there. I pushed on but I tripped a couple of times and fell, it took a very long time to get on my feet because the pack was so heavy. I came to a wooden pathway that crossed over a creek, I was unsteady and bruised and didn't want to go for a swim, because I was afraid I wouldn't get out. I knew I was done so I turned around and made the 3 klm walk back to the office. I could hardly walk. There's more but what the only thing that matters is what I did wrong. I couldn't even do 1 KLM of that trail. I hike with a pack but not at that weight.
Is there more to this story? That sounds rough but did you try again?
I'm a no cooker, only use the campfire and stick but mostly I bring fruits and vegetables, granola, beef jerky and summer sausage, cheese, peanut butter and hard boiled eggs. It is heavier than your pre packaged foods but it gets lighter as your journey unfolds.
Digging the new video setting/lighting. Always appreciate the info, and very much enjoy all of your adventure vlogs! Thank you!!!
I discovered your videos after my first section hike of the AT last June. I’ve spent almost a whole year binge watching all of your videos preparing for my next section hike this summer! I feel so much more prepared and ready because of you. I’m loving this new series so much!
Your my goto backpacking UA-camr and your doing an amazing job!!!
Great simple video , loaded with real info and no misleading title. Great job
For a stove I bring a Fancy Feast can with a shortened tomato paste can sitting inside with a wrap of carbon felt for a wick. The wick can absorb all the alcohol soon as you pour it in making it somewhat spill proof.
Perfect! Planning a 30 mile trek now, this info will come in handy 😀👍
This was really helpful for me. Thank you so much for all the work you put into your videos and for always trying to cover so many options and viewpoints!
I finally was able to find tune the art of cooking with solid fuel tablets and get a rolling boil always regardless to how cold the weather is. By far, this is my favorite style of cooking since I got tired of dealing with the pressurized canisters being affected by the extreme cold weather. I also got tired of dealing with fields bills since I am legally blind and is a lot safer using a solid few tablets. As utensil, I use the REI sport combo that comes with a knife that are folding utensils and made the sport longer using parts from the knife since I was never going to use the knife. It was kind of pricey but worth it for the kind of comfort it has to offer to me as a blind person. My pot is the space saver mug from olicamp and made a need for it with the leader of a quarter gallon paint can and made a handle for Aide with some hardware. Very good video. Very good subject. God bless you.
I rarely carry a stove in typical 3 season backpacking. In short, I'm lazy. After a long day of hiking the peaks I do not want to cook. Heck, I don't like cooking in the regular world. For coffee I mix 2 Starbucks Via with 2 Carnation instant breakfast, vanilla or chocolate and I get my coffee and breakfast quickly to go. I have fibromyalgia and it can be tough for me to motivate myself on the morning. I am a huge hot coffee girl at home, but I don't miss it on the trail. For lunches or dinners I do wraps, pb and beef jerky, trail mix, meal bars, tuna with mayo packs or whatever else that sounds good. I don’t even cold soak. It’s just easy and works for me. I don’t think I save any weight by not cooking. It’s just a convenience issue for me.
Thank you for your detail. Very useful info.
@@JuicyFruityify my pleasure
Another great video. I carry my old army canteen setup which includes a stove that fits onto the canteen cup. A trioxane tablet heats a pint of water in about 7 minutes. When the temps are below 60*, I add twigs to the burning tablet to get more heat out of it. Three tea light candles will also work. To save weight, I have been looking at the cup and stove that nest onto a Nalgene bottle. Thanks for the lesson. Good Luck, Rick
I'm new to cold soaking but tried it once and liked it. it's surprisingly easy and effective. I'm hoping to thru-hike the PCT next year and will probably cold soak the entire desert section. Honestly, I don't understand why people need their food to be hot after hiking 20 miles in 100+ degree weather. That'd be like eating icecream when it's below freezing. Yes I know it's not always that hot in that section but still anything over 70 is hot for me and most of that section will be over that and no shade. Hike safe everybody! :)
Really fantastic overview of cooking/non-cooking options. Thank you Dixie!
Wow, the lighting and background one this video is next level👍
Sand works really well for cleaning utensils. Just make sure your pots don't have some kind of protective layer or you'll scratch it off
yup, I use sand if available at the campsite to clean pots and utensils. i started doing that after seeing it in an old cowboy movie. lol
We used to do that, but not on aluminum, stainless steel only.
I camp off of a bicycle, and while weight is still a consideration, I use a collapsible steel cube stove with Esbit fuel tabs, AND bits of wood. The 4" x 4" collapsed stove is flat as piece of cardboard, and super easy to pack, and the tabs weigh virtually nothing. A fuel tab alone will bring 12 ounces of water to a boil for a cup of pour over coffee, but if you keep throwing twigs or wood chips in there it will boil for a good while, and of course it is super easy to light.
Not having a good, hot cup of joe in the morning after spending the night in a tent is unthinkable.
I have used heat tabs to cook with, especially when I was in the Army. I either made a stove out of a tin can or I had a little stove made for the tabs I had. they weren't the greatest but they would boil water and cook my food. and they were extremely light to carry. and you knew how much fuel you had left.
Your videos are so good! Thank you.
Carolyn hi,
I love your videos!
From Anaheim California
😊💕💞💟👍
Girl! You are really cranking those videos out!!!
And they're so good!
@@CarolynsRVLife never knew you were a subscriber here. Enjoy both Dixie and Carolyn
Yea! Dixie everyday 😂!
I find that gorp Is one of the best hiking snacks. It is usually a mix of nuts and dried fruit. Some people like to put in chocolate pieces like m&ms. Also added dry cereal and granola can be good. Just add what you like. It's a healthier and less expensive snack than candy bars and granola bars. When your over 35 and still hiking your body will thank you.
I sometimes bring a stove during spring and fall but generally during the summer I go stove less. I soak my dinner meals by putting water in the ziplock, placing the food into a homemade black bag and place the bag in the sun when at camp. Or sometimes I attach it to the outside of my pack if I’m hiking with the sun at my back. This rehydrates the food and often warms it up a bit. I usually try to keep it in the sun for a couple of hours. Works like a charm.
I use my jet boil. I love it! It boils water so fast. Also it is lightweight and i know i will have a hot meal if its been raining and all the wood for a campfire is soaked.
I like using moonshine as fuel so I have a choice warm my belly with hot food or warm my belly with a little shine! If you have a friend that makes it, shine is cheap!!
Thank you so much Dixie for the amazing videos. My oldest son is getting into cub Scouts and I have been wanting to take him on an overnight hike. These videos you put out have been a real inspiration to do it and have fun with it!
Those folding esbit stoves are worth mentioning. At least the fuel tabs which could be used as a back up in a wood or alcohol stove.
I just wanted to tell you how much I appreciate this series. I’m planning my first backpacking trip very soon. It’ll be a small 2-3 day hike, but I’m still nervous about it. I’m so happy you decided to upload this series the way you did.
There’s a lot of gear I have to purchase. I know you mentioned a Facebook page to buy used gear, but is there anywhere else to look for used gear if someone doesn’t have Facebook or a social media account? My UA-cam account is all I have, & it’s all I want to be honest. I never was into FB or Twitter.
REI is a neat store. Not inexpensive but they explain the finest details for you, and measure you. (Like a personal Dixie :) )
REI Garage sales are once in a while where they sell used gear.
this week their having a big sale.
I love cold soaking couscous on trail. It’s super easy and I just add a drop or two of extra virgin olive oil.
But I still bring a stove, because you know... coffee
It's really good with raisins and a little bit of cinnamon in it for breakfast
Brittany de Brentani Great idea! will have to try that. I’ve always thought of couscous as an evening meal. Now, that will change. 😊
Karen W I just bring an empty plastic peanut butter container and make it when I take lunch mid-day, cold soaking it. I keep it in a side pocket on the outside of my pack because I’m paranoid of it leaking.
Your videos are the best for beginners, you are answering questions that I did not know I had!
Nice setting there with excellent lighting. Thumbs up, Aaron! 👍
Great video and solid advice. My fav camp meals are Backpackers Pantry.
Fresh food is always better despite the weight. First, you will eat it and second its way better for you and calories alone doesn't mean as much as proper nutrition.
100% agree I carry fruit and veggies out with me cause I'm sick literally from these bars and all this processed food is so unhealthy for you.
I like the yoga studio look of this video! 😊 But seriously, love your videos, even someone like me that has been camping and hiking for 30 years can learn something, or at the very least be reminded of something I have forgotten. Keep it up!
Your channel has inspired me to plan a backpacking trip, what a wealth of information your providing!
I would recommend starting off with a 1 or 2 night trip with easy/medium trail difficulties, and progress from there. I know a couple of people who decided on doing a multi-night trip on a difficult trail system on their first outting (maybe based on watching these videos?) and it just put them off from backpacking again because the trail/terrain was so difficult to hike. Anyway, good luck and have fun out there.
It didn’t really realize that you can hike without a stove. I feel liberated now 🤠
Would love to see a video about food spoilage. I've seen on your videos you eating what appear to be cold cut sandwiches. How long does that last without refridgeration? What about cured meats once opened along with hard cheeses.
I'm glad you made this channel Dixie
That southern sneaks out every now and again
Anytime you talk about cooking fires you need to immediately add the caveat where applicable. Not every place you can hike and camp permits cooking fires, so it's important to inform people that they need to be fully aware of restrictions and plan accordingly. (Also: "Good Moonshine" lol)
I carry a wood stoves that slso burns alcohol and Isbit for that reason.
DIXIE are there still stops on trail or do you have to bring your own shine
Growing up backpacking as a kid, my dieting mother always packed just the bare minimum of food. I typically ate 1/2 serving size to a full serving size if I was lucky. I just started backpacking again, and tried just 1 serving size per meal... I was hungry. So, the next trip I packed double the amount of food, and I still ate all the food I brought... on a day to day basis, I eat small meals, but when I'm active, I tend to get a lot hungrier.
I'm just now doing a bunch of research and getting gear together for my first backpacking trip! Yahooo way excited 😁
I could never go stoveless. The optimus crux lite I carry is 2.5oz without the canister and I need my coffee hot when I'm waking up in the Rockies, and my dinner hot after that sun goes down and the temp plummets.
So my hats off to everyone that goes stoveless. You inspire my extra little tushy but I don't see myself converting. 😂❤
Finally answering the ever so popular question of "What did you eat?!"
I'm a weekend hiker and I find that I don't eat very much on the trail. My meals are usually nuts and dried fruit, jerky, summer sausage and cheese, or Meals Ready to Eat pasta meals from Betty Crocker. The Betty Crocker meals are a bit heavier, but they don't need to be rehydrated. I only worry about a stove when I can't have a fire. I love a hot breakfast and coffee/chocolate.
Your preparation and delivery are remarkable, unlike most channels. You set a high standard. Unlikely I will be a backpacker, but you are so good I watch anyway.
I just use My old GI stove & heat tabs works for Me
Coffee ....Hot...Stove Good
Steve Cook fire GOOD!
Steve Cook cold water......bottle.......coffee.....good!
No crazy jump-cuts, concise, and well thought out content!
I'm from Alabama and i have to say there are certain words you say and i love the way you say them. lol. Thanks for the videos. I'm learning a lot.
Can you make a video about how your family and friends took it when you started thru hiking? Were they all super worried? My family is freaking out because I'm going to do a thru hike and it's not great.
Just give them a link to Dixie's page.
My mom insists she's going to co with me when I'm ready to go. Nice, but I'll probably need to carry most of her gear. Plus she doesn't want us to do the whole trail.
My 1st recommendation would be a Garmin Inreach. It’s a SOS beacon and 2 way text messaging device (cell service is a shot in the dark). This helps my family because I can check in when I arrive at camp & before I leave.You’d be amazed where you can find fellow hikers. Check out meet up and Facebook groups. Put the word out to friends, you never know where you may a thru hiking buddy. Also maybe a dog would make them feel better. Good luck and don’t let anyone talk you out of your dreams!
If i ever actually do a thru hike, I'm not telling my family.
You just gotta start living your life. I've let my life be anchored to home and when I dont get the time I need to myself I get stressed and my mind gets all unorganized. I've been doing more and more myself and just doing what I love doing. If I want to go fishing, I go fishing. If i want to go for a hike i go for a hike. If i want to go kayaking, i go kayaking. Just do you man. Worrying is natural but just update them. That's all and tell them its soemthing you need to do.
If I were 20 again, and thru hiking with my goal being to put on a lot of miles per day, then yeah, no stove. But I am older, therefore wiser, and know that a hot drink, hot meal is important in not only my mental health, but in physical health as well. I have used alcohol, tablets, wood, gas, gasoline, etc. I have made my own beer can alcohol stoves, and have several gas and gasoline stoves, including multi fuel ones. And in both summer, and winter backpacking. I prefer the gas stove for convenience but would not want that on a thru hike, or one more than 5-7 days. Multifuel is great for winter. Summer, the alcohol stove is hard to beat, and I have a titanium one that fits in a titanium cage that can also server as a wood stove. Best of both worlds. So it depends on what your trying to accomplish on the trail. Me I want to spend time outdoors, put some miles on my shoes, and have a enjoyable experience outdoors, and for that a good meal at the end of the day is important. As usual your videos are very good, thanks.
These videos are set up so well. And cover everything
I'm a camper/day hiker who wants to transition into doing some backpacking trips. I actually just bought a stove which I will use camping for now & eventually hope to use backpacking as well. I enjoy cooler weather and hot meals in general! Thanks again for these videos, they are a wonderful source of good info!!