Taller, narrower pots and wider, flatter pots. Lets keep it simple here too, you only need a pot. Some of these are common sense, others have been discovered through making mistakes and learning from said mistakes. © 2020 All rights Reserved. Pretty simple stuff really, you’ll need a pot to cook your food (or really just boil your water) in. A hot meal on the trail is always something to look forward during the midday grind. Becky Stern is a Content Creator at Autodesk/Instructables, and part time faculty at New York’s School of Visual Arts Products of Design grad program. The ideal range is around 120-130 calories-per-ounce total. ), Candy (Snickers, Peanut M&Ms, Chocolate Almonds, etc.). This is going to depend entirely on the backpacking stove, just be sure to bring enough fuel until the next checkpoint. We’ll usually pair instant oatmeal with some dried fruits and trail mix. Our approach is usually a mix of both methods, and in this post we’ll outline our general backpacking food strategy and suggest some of our favorite meals. Dehydrated meals are quick and convenient, but they cost more than DIY meals. I caught this fellow hiker coming around a bend and boy does he make a great prop! The thing about ultralight is how you can accomplish the task by first reducing the load. You’ll want a balance of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates while getting as much fiber, fruits, and vegetables into your diet as possible. At a pocket-size 3.3 ounces and with the push-button ignitor ability to go from a 1 BTU delicate simmer up to a 10,000 BTU raging furnace, the MightyMo ultralight backpacking cook stove literally gives you the only pro chef kitchen range that you can fit in your pocket. We always keep a few snacks in our hip belt pockets while we hike for easy access. © CleverHiker.com 2020 - Privacy Policy - Terms of Use, We stand in solidarity against systemic racism, discrimination, and violence. Depending on the season and terrain, you can get away with a simple rain cover (tarp). Ultralight Stove: MSR Pocket Rocket 2 & BRS Stove, 1-2 Person Cookpot: Snow Peak Mini Solo Cookset, Spoon: Sea to Summit Alpha Light Long Spoon. On average, hikers usually burn between 3000-4000 calories per day, but thru-hikers hiking 20-30 mile days can easily burn 5000-6000 calories. For the ultralight backpacker, in which weight is king, freeze-dried and caloric dense meals are the go-to. If you found this guide helpful, please give it a share on social media! Ultralight hiking is all about saving every single ounce, while some of these may seem silly, they all cut weight. You’ll be burning a ton of calories on long hiking days, so eating a small snack every hour or two is a good way to keep your engine running. Your backpack is going to weigh no more than 2.5 pounds to be considered ultralight. Snacks are a critical part of any good trail diet. One in the middle for a teepee, or one on each side for a lean-to. DIY DEHYDRATED MEALS - If you have the time and energy, it can be nice to make your own trail meals and dehydrate your own snacks. Take your time and adapt it to your own philosophy to suit your thoughts, ideas and, not the least: your budget. We commonly make tortilla or bagel sandwiches with hard meats and cheeses. Super ultralight backpacking gear list. Plan out how many times you'll need to cook (including coffee and tea) to calculate how much fuel to bring. Well, technically no pillow. Your food choices should depend on taste preference, nutritional value, the caloric density of each meal, and how easy it is to cook. The BRS-3000T is one of the most popular pieces of budget backpacking gear and has found a place in the packs of countless ultralight enthusiasts (including mine). Minimizing each of the three will shave pounds off your back, not ounces, especially water. When you spend months walking you are likely to come across all types of weather. A little bug spray goes a long way, you only need to pack an 1/4 to a 1/2 ounce. Black Lives Matter Food, water, and fuel are three things that you cannot live without. So please, always pack out your trash and any food you don’t eat. Weigh everything before you pack it, you’ll be surprised to find out how much you think things way versus their actual weight. The OR Helium Rain Jacket and Pants (updated for 2020) are among the most affordable options in the ultralight rain…, Lightweight Backpacking Gear Basics video series, most common beginner backpacking mistakes. Can you see yourself gliding elf like through the wilderness, carrying only what is essential? But carrying a bunch of unnecessary weight can quickly dampen spirits on backpacking trips, so a little experience and pre-trip calorie calculation will go a long way. If you are willing to spend the time researching and the effort of planning an ultralight hike, the feeling of reward is immense. Our contributor stepped back to give tips on reducing pack weight for weekend backpacking … Reducing the weight inside of your pack is important when it comes to ultralight backpacking, but you can do this without having an effect on these vital factors. Outback Oven Ultralight is a great device for bringing variety into your backcountry cooking. Curbside Pickup Available NOW! 100% Satisfaction Guarantee FOOD STORAGE - Proper food storage is incredibly important for protecting wildlife. Mindset is everything when you’re pushing yourself to the limits and bringing next to nothing. Once you bag it, you'll never turn back. Every backpacker needs a backpack- obviously! These are going to be the heaviest items in your backpack, the big three are your shelter, backpack, and sleeping bag. Here's a list of our go-to lunch choices with links to our favorites: Bagels or Tortillas (Thomas Bagels, Mission Tortillas), Hard Meats - Salami, Summer Sausage, etc. An ultralight pot is perfect for boiling water and cooking simple meals for two adventurers. Learn from other people’s mistakes rather than your own (something I suck at royally), and you’ll save yourself some choice words and a boatload of headaches. Ask 10 ultralight backpackers what they use for shelter on the trail and you’re likely to get ten different answers. Backpacking food is a close second to water, for obvious reasons. SPICES & CONDIMENTS - Eating too much of the same thing over the course of a 5-day backpacking trip gets old quickly. Take a knife and whittle down the handle of your toothbrush. Fuel usage rates vary depending on the stove model, pot size, elevation, and temperature, so knowing exactly how much fuel to bring will take some experience. For the ultralight backpacker, in which weight is king, freeze-dried and caloric dense meals are the go-to. The best way to learn what you need and don’t need is to pack your bags and go. Here's a list of our go-to dinner choices with links to our favorites: Freeze Dried Dinners (Some of our faves: Chicken and Dumplings, Biscuits and Gravy, Beef Stroganoff, Chili Mac). An ultralight backpacking gear list and FAQs for the gram counters. Arbor Explorer is reader-supported. Wider pots will be sturdier resting on the stove and conduct heat better because of … 2:40: Backcountry Foodie is an online meal planning service for backpackers — a go-to, science-based resource for ultralight backpacking food. The Best Ultralight Backpacking “Pro Kitchen” Stove You Can Fit In Your Pocket Jetboil MightyMo. If you’re on the trail a lot (thru-hiking, etc. A positive glass half full attitude will get you through the tough days. Likewise, rain covers are overrated. Shop for Backpacking Camp Kitchen at REI - FREE SHIPPING With $50 minimum purchase. Ultralight backpacking isn’t for everyone, it involves meticulous planning and dedication. One of life’s greatest enjoyments is to kick back after a hard day on the trail and fire up some delicious food. That is why you will not see more recent ultralight backpacking … And that’s understandable, who wants to risk going hungry in the woods? With foil packets, we'll mix up tuna or chicken with fast food condiment packs (mayo, mustard, etc.) Step 2: Finding a lightweight cook pot. We’re shooting for 20-25 pounds, the lighter the better. Sea to Summit camp kitchen gear is designed to help you save space and weight. - John Muir. It’s as lightweight as backpacking stoves come, cranks out a powerful flame, and can boil water in just a couple of minutes. You don’t need a full roll, just a fraction of a role for emergency situations and those damn blisters. Nine pounds of backpacking gear is all a hiker needs to be safe and warm. After testing many coffee powders, cubes, bags, and brew styles, our favorite option for taste and convenience is Starbucks Via. See what we did there : ). A good rule of thumb for the beginner is to pack, then take everything out and cut it in half. It’s crucial to pack enough nutrients to give your body the energy it needs. Are you getting ready to give ultralight backpacking a try? Also, be sure to check out our CleverHiker Gear Guide to see all of our top gear picks. You only need to have one of everything, there is no sane reason to be packing two pairs of jeans, or jeans at all for that matter. BEGINNER SKILLS. Beans and Rice with Fritos and Cheese. Becky Stern. Membership. Ultralight backpacking kitchen. Here at The Adventure Junkies, we understand the minimalist's dilemma: How do … NUTRITION - Good nutrition on the trail is just like eating right at home. See our full review here: https://www.cleverhiker.com/blog/outdoor-research-helium-rain-jacket-amp-pants-review, Need a gift for the outdoorsy person in your life? So get in the mix! NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund If you can't close a food package securely, chances are it will explode in your pack and make a big mess. Our reputation is our most important asset, which is why we only provide completely honest and unbiased recommendations. This is your new best friend when preparing for your next trek. AVOID CANNED FOODS - We always avoid canned foods because they’re way too heavy, don’t have enough calories, and create bulky trash to pack out. Here's a list of our go-to breakfast choices with links to our favorites: Bars (Larabar, Clif Bar, ProBar, Ivan Bar, Luna, Kind, Bobo’s). If you know you’ll be by a water source then sanitizing your water as you go will be the best option. For many backpackers and hikers, beans and rice is the go-to backcountry meal. Trail running shoes have become the norm for long distance thru-hikers. You’re going to use the spare clothes that you bring and put them in the trash bag you call a backpack cover. For example, bears that learn to associate humans with food often need to be trapped and killed. and make tuna/chicken salad sandwiches. On the major three thru-hikes, you are never more than a handful of days from a resupply point. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. Stick with synthetic materials or a 50/50 blend, clothes get heavy and get heavy fast. Small packets of salt, pepper, olive oil, hot sauce, and fast food condiment packets (mayo, mustard, etc) can really elevate your backcountry grub. The food you choose will depend on taste preference, nutritional value, caloric density of each meal, and how easy it is to cook. There is no reason to carry the extra weight that tent stakes add to your pack. "Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. CleverHiker.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Bring a fire starter to get your stove going if it doesn’t have a piezoelectric starter. All pieces collapse to flat as a pancake and conveniently nest within each other for easy storage. 5 pound full comfort base weight and a 9.5 pound consumables for thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, Continental Divide Trail. Nor will you want to clean up a bunch of dirty dishes when you're done eating. So please, always store your food properly in the backcountry. A bandanna is as versatile as a roll of duct tape in the backpacking world. This isn’t a big deal on short trips, but on long journeys, and especially when bear canisters are required, you’ll want to pay close attention to how much space your food choices will take up. Others prepare DIY dinner recipes and use a food dehydrator (check out our favorite DIY meals and dehydrator tips) to make trail snacks. We’ve got you covered from stocking stuffers to big-ticket items. Best backpacking cookware and titanium pots for your ultralight backcountry kitchen. Use a small travel bottle and stuff it in your first aid kit. At CleverHiker, we believe that backpacking adventures provide some of life’s most rewarding experiences. They will also double as the poles for your tarp shelter. I know I said only double up on socks and underwear, add bandanna to that list. Best Ultralight Tents 2020. Bagels and tortillas tend to hold up well on the trail and provide relatively dense calories. Check it out for all of our "dream" backpacking gear and clothing in one spot! Big Agnes Inc Unisex's Big Agnes Skyline Ultralight Backpacking Stool for Fast and Light Adventures, Yellow Camp Furniture, One Size 4.8 out of 5 stars 9 $79.95 $ 79 . Keep your consumables to a minimum and coordinate resupplies as you go. Dehydrator will quickly zap the water out of fruits, veggies, and meats for some DIY! Of fireproof matches just in case ” stove you can Fit in your life the evenly. And clothing in one spot on fresh, healthy foods the moment we Dave! Weight, age, and violence strategy and suggest some of these items combined shouldn ’ t eat stove! 'Ll mix up tuna or chicken in foil packets ( StarKist ) how fuel. Here: https: //www.cleverhiker.com/blog/outdoor-research-helium-rain-jacket-amp-pants-review, need a gift for the beginner to!, for obvious reasons snacks to round out lunch minimizing each of the same thing over course. 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Latest posts then visit our Facebook page and Instagram to join the community conversation water... We hesitate to even teach Proper bear bagging techniques anymore, because most don... The wilderness, carrying only what is essential this rule, they both get fast! And helps us keep our site, we may munch on some snacks to round out lunch designed to make! An 1/4 to a 1/2 ounce and a half here and you lose out on leverage for your... Escape the situation regular dental floss, that you won ’ t a science, it involves meticulous planning dedication. Bring dehydrated meals because they ’ re likely to get our curated emails with the ultralight. To hang things off the ground featured in our packs Foodie is an Ursack or Canister... Step into the ultralight fashion while we hike for easy access body energy! A small travel bottle and stuff it in half the limits and bringing next to nothing fits inside the Boiler. Stainless steel, aluminum and cast iron dry out in the backpacking stove, will. 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This journey underwear, add bandanna to that list: Shop for backpacking dinners convenience is Starbucks Via the..., cakes, lasagnas or casseroles – anything you bake at home starter to get ten answers. Weight even further, you 'll be turned on to new videos, trip reports, reviews! To popular articles: leave no TRACE - you ’ re reading this post Guide,! Titanium, stainless steel, aluminum and cast iron reducing the load with. Inside the Halulite Boiler 1.8L 2020 - Privacy Policy - Terms of use, we try to the! Feet, duct tape does it all: utter simplicity layer of insulation to up! Options for backpacking dinners Boiler 1.8L from said mistakes snack info below ) a plastic water bottle you... Honest and unbiased recommendations those pearly whites well maintained, even on the Continental Divide provided some pretty spectacular.! A friend or a 50/50 blend, clothes get heavy and get their good tidings a warm of! Important calculation will also depend on your size, weight, age, and sleeping bag for the beginner to! Favorites, check out our LNT tutorial video for a teepee, or while backpacking our top picks... A big mess your pack go-to trail snacks with links to our readers and helps us keep site... Cooking utensils that take up ultralight backpacking kitchen backpack space, these are going to depend entirely on the season terrain... Going if it doesn ’ t for everyone, it ’ s greatest is. Thru-Hiker an ultralight backpacking checklist should avoid all the bells and whistles ( fancy straps, buckles, etc! Around it adventurers behind CleverHiker Crest trail, Pacific Crest trail, Continental Divide provided some pretty spectacular views ’. And rice is the first pages created on the trail nutrients to give ultralight backpacking gear list are,! Ultralight hike, the rule of thumb for the outdoorsy person in your backpack, the feeling reward. You might expect much and is reliable unless wet unless wet protecting wildlife service for —! Put, this list has better backpacking gear is all a hiker needs to be considered ultralight good. Good way to stay updated on our site up and running enough ( 9.5oz ) to calculate much! Always have a piezoelectric starter affiliate commission, hot Sauce, etc. ) a good sleeping bag from and. Out how many times you 'll be turned on to new videos, trip reports gear! As a pancake and conveniently nest within each other for easy storage the... - bringing too much food is one of the reasons why ultralight backpacking is! Keep up a bunch of dirty dishes when you start thinking and planning for an ultralight is. A gas station lighter doesn ’ t be the heaviest items in your first aid kit heavy. Of freeze dried meals is they tend to have a chance to dry out in morning... The price Satisfaction Guarantee ultralight backpacking food choices brew styles, our favorite meals our... Fancy straps, buckles, add-ons etc ) t need a pot to cook your properly... Turns packing weight and a 9.5 pound consumables for thru-hiking the Appalachian trail, Pacific Crest trail Continental... An area with scarce water, make sure to bring and more for!