Some great tips! Actually better than cotton balls are (digital sanitary) tampons to use with the vaseline. They come super compressed and are already water-tight as they're fully wrapped. One can easily light three fires with only one of them. You only need to bring a couple of these and a small tube (19g) of vaseline (always handy on the trail) and you're good to go. All you do ist cut about a third, rub with vaseline and then don't forget to carefully pick the cotton ball apart to allow in air (remember the fire triangle). That fluffy ball only needs one spark and you'll have hot fat burning for a long time.
Thank you for sharing this video. Most of what you shared, I already knew, but I also learned some things. That is a win in my book! I like that you are mindful that not everyone has an endless pool of money to draw from. Some of these suggestions could make the difference between someone having the confidence to venture out and feeling like they can't because they can't afford expensive gear and supplies. Thank you again! Note: I just found you a few minutes ago and am now subscribed. 👍👍
I appreciate the kind words. Thanks for tuning in. Most of my gear is ultralight now but we have to remember that it’s possible to start backpacking and still enjoy it without spending thousands. I’ll be doing a “retro” video soon where I do a trip with my beginner gear I had when I first started.
Good tips. A couple of additional thoughts: 1. You can buy your own dehydrator for the price of about 3 store-bought dehydrated meals. Then you can make whatever meals you want for a fraction of the cost. I've made pastas, curries, risottos, etc for on trail. Cook them at home as normal, then run them through your dehydrator, and then you can put them in vacuum-sealed bags or just in ziplock freezer bags for the trail. 2. The advantage of a pack cover over a pack liner is that it prevents your pack from getting wet. A wet pack is a heavy pack.
I have my own dehydrator. I’ve made somewhere around 20 meals or so with it. My main issue is time, I work three jobs and to be honest, I never really prioritize making my own meals. I also prefer the convenience of freeze dried meals, they use less water, rehydrate faster and apparently everyone who makes them is a better chef than me because they taste better lol. My experience with pack covers are that they don’t keep your pack dry. There’s a giant hole in it, if you’re in sustained rains for a period of time, the pack is getting wet and so is your back. Most UL fabrics like DCF and Ultra don’t retain water, so the pack weight doesn’t change much if it’s rained on. Only spots like the straps and hip belt will retain moisture for an extended period of time.
Also DCF and Ultra don’t retain water so it’s not a huge deal. If you’re using traditional pack material, I could see trying to keep water off it so your 4 lbs pack doesn’t turn into a 10 lbs pack. With the UL materials that point is kinda moot. Like you said, in sustained rain that pack cover isn’t keeping your pack dry either way lol
Another great video. A video on grocery store shopping for backpacking food might be good for new hikers and those on a budget. I can’t remember the last backpack dried meal I had. Oh wait, it was 1992 I think lol. Another position for a bandana is to lean forward with it fully open. Place it on your head over your neck and ears. Put your cap or hat on to hold it in place. The old French Foreign Legion look. Great for sun and helps with insects.
I was actually talking to Sara about recording a video in a grocery store. I'd probably go at midnight or something to avoid the crowd. Appreciate the feedback.
Love your videos dude just came across you today and compared to some bigger channels your providing info for the average Joe and making solo camping and backpacking achievable. Once again thank you 😊
I have done that as well, also use them for straining when making pine needle tea or sassafras tea etc. Kind of just settled the bandana these days though.
Great video & tips! I use instant mashed potatoes and ramen too. One way to jazz them up a little and get some more nutrition is to add cut up cheese sticks and slices of jerky to the potatoes and dehydrated veggies to the ramen. I also repackage instant rice and bring along a few of those vacuum packs of tuna or salmon with some sauce packets from Chinese restaurants.
I’ve put chicken, jerky and bacon into ramen to spice it up. Nice cheap meals. We just bought a dehydrator though so the backpacking cuisine just got taken up a notch lol, I’ll showcase some in my next video. Thanks for watching!
while i employ all of the tactics you have listed already, its great to see someone explaining all of these hacks for noobs who wanna shave some ounces. thanks man.
Yeah my channel is sort of geared towards beginners for right now. My trip videos just sort of organically happen, but if I do tips and tricks etc it’s probably going to be for the newbie audience for now. Thanks for watching!
Good call on putting the freezer bags in the pot thing. I found the trick with that is to use a larger pot. For example, if I'm trying to make instant mashed potatoes in a 600 ML pot, it's very difficult to do. People laugh at me went I bring an 11ml titanium pot with coozie. Aside from the added bulk, the weight increase is negligible. it just works better and you can put a great deal of food in there and keep it warm for a long time while setting up camp.
I have different options. I’m currently only using one container that’s 750mL. I also have a 1.1L toaks and a 450mL coffee cup. I’ve found I only need the 750 personally but I rocked the 1.1 for a long time. Thanks for tuning in!
Liked the vid! I use 1/2 gallon freezer bags to rehydrate in. They fit in my 900ml pot really well. A compactor or garbage bag with strategically placed slits for shoulder straps and waist belt makes a good rain cover.
Great tips.Can't go wrong with ziplock bags. I also wrap gorilla tape around one end of a ferro rod which also acts as a handle for stability when making sparks.
Regular trash bags work well and are usually cheaper. Only downside is they stretch out and potentially tear easier. Dollar tree can be your best friend even on multi day hikes. Some even have small beef jerky packs as well as pouches of chicken and fish. It’s a routine for us now to hit one before we head out on a hike or trail to stock up
Haha it’s a big plus. I’d recommend buying Ziplock brand, allegedly they’ll hold up to the heat and not release chemicals. I’d be slightly more wary of buying non name brands. Depending on how much you backpack it might not be a big deal either way but I’d play it safe and go with Ziplock. Thanks for tuning in!
Leukotape on your lighter, instead of duct tape...now with gaze or a few cotton makeup rounds, you have large bandaids, repair your kit or yourself, it replaces moleskin too . :)
Great stuff man, I do tons of these trips and that’s all solid advice. Ridiculous how much you can spend on things you don’t even really need, I bought a cheap tent I’m super happy with too, single wall but super light easy and big.
I have a mix of cheap and expensive lol. I mean my quilts, hammock and tarp are $1k. I’ll spend money on top quality gear. On the flip side I’ll also use some Walmart stuff if it’s gonna get the job done just as well and cheaper lol. Thanks for watching!
@@Bacon_N_Backpacking I went all in on tHE quilt too! And pad. I can’t kick ass on a 1/2 night’s freezing sleep. Cheers, wise hikers do the same stuff. . . Nice to meet you brother. You should check out one of the super gnarly videos I put up, I’ve been rock climbing a long time. Capital peak is a one I think. You’ll have to come out and check it out, there’s tons of great stuff here as you can see by my video library.
Dehydrating your own meals is a good way to save money and with a little practice you will always have food that you like. You can use your oven if you don't want to buy a dehydrator and there are lots of books and websites to help you get started
I’ve been trying to get into it. My issue is finding the time. I generally work 10-12 hours per day Monday-Friday, do online coaching and now try to release a weekly RUclips video. I’ve joined a couple of FB groups and have been watching some RUclips videos to get schooled up on it. Now I just have to do it lol, thanks for watching!
@@Bacon_N_Backpacking if you have a unit with time/temp control you can just set it to run overnight, most recipes take 6-10 hours to dry. Also don't be afraid to take it out and put it in a container in the fridge if it's not done, just put it back in the dehydrator again later, I've had to do that a couple of times. You can also make the meal the day before if you want. Good luck 🙂
Haha thanks for the advice. I do really need to explore it though the freeze dried stuff really adds up over the years. I’ve also looked into getting a freeze dryer but idk if I wanna come off of 4 grand.
I tried to explain the individual stuffsacks vs stuffing everything in to save space and my friends just did not get it. Glad to see I’m not crazy. All the space between the stuffsacks is just more air!
I smiled at your mention of ziploc bags. I always take a few along on my day hikes for stashing interesting stones, fossils, dead insects, flowers, etc. They're as essential on the trail as white vinegar is at home. Terrific vid, as always.
Even cheaper than buying cotton balls, use dryer lint. Its free with a typically endless supply. I have been using ziplocs since I was a kid in the 70's and got really good at sucking the air out to save space. I would put extra socks and undies in the large ones instead of using a pack liner. They can also be used with some air in them wrapped in a shirt as a pillow. When stuff sacks and compression sacs started coming out in mass I scratched my head and asked why, seemed like overkill and stupidly expensive.
Freezer bag cooking: use reflectix and make a bag cozy that velcros closed. When you open the lid bends around and velcros on the opposite side to become a handle to hold your hot meal and you eat it right out of the cozy. Look up hmg repack to see an example of something you can make.
VERY GOOD INFORMATIVE VIDEO I ENJOY LEARNING ABOUT ALL THIS EQUIPMENT LOVE HOW YOU SHOW EVERYTIHING AND EXPLAIN EVERYTHING SO KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK AND LEEP THE VIDEOS COMING LOVE SEEING THEM HAVE A GREAT TIME ENJOY YOUR BACKPACKING
Define “good” lol. Is it cheap, lightweight and have good energy to price/money ratio? Yes. Is it the most nutrient dense food? No lol. Thanks for watching!
Humm, Contractor Bags, can you please tell me where I can buy just one or two of them? Because every place I have been to that sell them. Come in a Quantity of 25 or more.
Yeah, that's what I did in the Marine Corps for seven years, stuff sacks we had were garbage so just stuffed it in a pack liner. That's also why I don't usually recommend sleeping bags or synthetic. I prefer down quilts.
@@Bacon_N_Backpacking mine will not compress anywhere near what I can do with a stuff sac. I agree 100% about down, but we are talking budget gear here. My $70 synthetic would probably be a $250+ down bag. Do you use the quilt even below freezing? People around here use bags below 40° or so and either bags or quilts above. I've never used a quilt, but was thinking about it for this summer to lighten the pack.
@@CRuM770 ive found using the sleeping system footbox as a big stuffsack keeps things together neatly, doesnt take as much compression, and you need to get it all out anyway if you keep the bag at the bottom of the pack. May as well be able to alide it all out in one piece.
@@LittleJohn907 good idea, but I pack too much stuff to not compress the bag right down. It's a cheap synthetic bag, but very warm so without the straps, it would take a third of my pack. I'll take the extra few ounces to gain the space in my pack.
Yes... I am going to try your pre water filtering hack with some old cheesecloth! Where can you buy just one trash compactor bag? And, what's the knife you're using?
To my knowledge you probably can’t buy just one trash compactor bag. Maybe get 1-2 from a friend? Still though, I believe I paid around $10 for a box of them that will last for life. Knife is the Mora Bushcraft Carbon. IMO Mora makes the best knives as far as bang for your buck. Sara has the Garberg. Thanks for watching!
I bought it separately from Zpacks. They have all kinds of accessories, water bottle sleeves, hip belt pouches, side pouches etc. The pack is an Arc Air 50 I just did a video review of it about 3-4 weeks ago if you want to check it out. Thanks for watching!
@@Bacon_N_Backpacking ok nice I watched your review video and finally found the top side pocket. For some reason I couldn’t find it on the site before.
I’m always worried about using plastic freezer bags to boil food in. I wonder if the plastic breaks down when boiling somehow so you eat the chemicals from the bag? (Yeah, I do worry too much lol)
This is MY opinion, so take from it what you will. All of our food contains carcinogens. All of our water contains carcinogens. Your clothing does, the air, your hygiene products etc. It's impossible to avoid, so I try not to worry about it much. I know it sounds kind of pessimistic, but unfortunately, it's the truth. I don't go out of my way to try and put these things in my body, but it's sort of inevitable so I try not to overthink it.
@@Bacon_N_Backpacking oh wow, I didn’t realise they were everywhere! Thanks for making me worry even more! 😂😳 Really though, I didn’t think of it like that, now it seems kind of pointless me worrying about boiling the bag lol Thanks for the info, I appreciate it :)
Keep in mind, it’s not my job to make you think like that. I was just following my own reasoning which may not be for everyone lol. Also, I don’t boil IN the bag. I’ll boil water in the pot then pour into the bag. The water is already no longer boiling by the time it hits the bag. I’m not sure what the temperature difference is, but I assume it’s substantial enough. I wouldn’t actually boil water in the bag, it’s going to melt to the pot.
Mandy, I was and reuse my plastic bags over and over until they finally get holes in them. I get your point though about them not being great for the environment and not long lasting.
Depends on your pack material as to if you need one or not. My old pack would absorb water and gain 2kg in weight so a pack cover was a no brainer. My new pack doesn’t have the same problem
I make waterproof firestarters - melt the Vaseline (I use generic brand), dip the cotton ball into it using tongs or tweezers.. set on a tray to dry a few minutes then dip into melted beeswax a couple times. The beeswax will coat the cotton ball and make it water proof. When time to light, just tear it open a bit. The Vaseline will get it to light quickly and the beeswax will help keep it burning longer. I’ve timed it and it lasts about 10 minutes. I also use these in a mini pocket stove to heat my food. Takes longer than the butane/propane stove and doesn’t get the water quite to boiling but for heating food it works like a charm
Not true my weight is less when I compactly pack everything i can in my pack and I can not fit everything in my pack by packing my pack loosely and it's heavier by the scale ive tested this... And i have reduced everything down to its lowest limits...
How’s it feel to be the only person out of 18,000 to have some stupid negative comment? First of all, minus the bag you put your food trash in, all of those bags have been used for YEARS. I’ve been using the same trash compactor bag, the same headlamp bag and same fire kit bag for about 4-5 years. The only bag I toss per trip is the freezer bag with my food trash. Second, the irony of you typing about this on a phone made of rare earth metals mined by slaves isn’t lost on me. Until you go live 100% off grid in the woods alone, I don’t want to hear your hypocrisy.
@@Bacon_N_Backpacking Wow, you surely are open to criticism... I personally use mostly paper bags when I go in the woods. And I'm not typing it on a cellphone, PC man!!! Don't use those nasty smartphones, you get too stressed out and write nasty comments to strangers.
@@Bacon_N_Backpacking Also I don't f.cking care how many plastic bags you are using. The fact is that you made a video for backpackers RECOMMENDING to use plastic bags in the woods!!!! You're so full of yourself that you can't even see your own mistakes.
@@MidnightatMidian Oh okay, you’re on a computer made of MORE rare earth metals than a cell phone, got it. No, I’m not open to criticism that isn’t constructive. I’m also not open to hypocrisy. Unless you’re 100% off grid living on a homestead, you have no business nitpicking a ziplock bag. You showed up and made a snide comment, don’t be surprised when someone pays it back in kind. Maybe if your approach was less snarky, there could have at least been a dialogue, but that ship sailed.
@@Bacon_N_Backpacking You should stop projecting yourself on other people. Also personal attacks is not good for a good discussion. Chill out, and have a great day.
"Playing Tetris" is the best description I have ever heard!!
Hey, it’s an accurate statement lol
Thank you! I’m a absolutely rookie when it comes to saving money but all the tips you mentioned in here is really useful! Thank you again!
No problem, glad you got something out of it, thanks for watching!
Some great tips! Actually better than cotton balls are (digital sanitary) tampons to use with the vaseline. They come super compressed and are already water-tight as they're fully wrapped. One can easily light three fires with only one of them. You only need to bring a couple of these and a small tube (19g) of vaseline (always handy on the trail) and you're good to go. All you do ist cut about a third, rub with vaseline and then don't forget to carefully pick the cotton ball apart to allow in air (remember the fire triangle). That fluffy ball only needs one spark and you'll have hot fat burning for a long time.
Interesting, I’ve never tried that. Might have to make a video on it haha, thanks for watching!
Organic cotton tampons (better burning, less fumes) or makeup rounds, compact...and Vicks vapour rub are handy fire starters...which help reduce bugs.
Thank you for sharing this video. Most of what you shared, I already knew, but I also learned some things. That is a win in my book! I like that you are mindful that not everyone has an endless pool of money to draw from. Some of these suggestions could make the difference between someone having the confidence to venture out and feeling like they can't because they can't afford expensive gear and supplies. Thank you again!
Note: I just found you a few minutes ago and am now subscribed. 👍👍
I appreciate the kind words. Thanks for tuning in. Most of my gear is ultralight now but we have to remember that it’s possible to start backpacking and still enjoy it without spending thousands. I’ll be doing a “retro” video soon where I do a trip with my beginner gear I had when I first started.
Great video, I use compactor bag & 3 Ziploc bags. My net tent and sleep pad are the only things in stuff sacks now.
Thanks for watching and thanks for the comment! Only thing I have in a stuff sack is my hammock these days.
Good tips. A couple of additional thoughts:
1. You can buy your own dehydrator for the price of about 3 store-bought dehydrated meals. Then you can make whatever meals you want for a fraction of the cost. I've made pastas, curries, risottos, etc for on trail. Cook them at home as normal, then run them through your dehydrator, and then you can put them in vacuum-sealed bags or just in ziplock freezer bags for the trail.
2. The advantage of a pack cover over a pack liner is that it prevents your pack from getting wet. A wet pack is a heavy pack.
Negligent weight and pack cover ALL leak. Mainly because they all have a giant hole in them; the part that wraps around the pack.
I have my own dehydrator. I’ve made somewhere around 20 meals or so with it. My main issue is time, I work three jobs and to be honest, I never really prioritize making my own meals. I also prefer the convenience of freeze dried meals, they use less water, rehydrate faster and apparently everyone who makes them is a better chef than me because they taste better lol.
My experience with pack covers are that they don’t keep your pack dry. There’s a giant hole in it, if you’re in sustained rains for a period of time, the pack is getting wet and so is your back. Most UL fabrics like DCF and Ultra don’t retain water, so the pack weight doesn’t change much if it’s rained on. Only spots like the straps and hip belt will retain moisture for an extended period of time.
Also DCF and Ultra don’t retain water so it’s not a huge deal. If you’re using traditional pack material, I could see trying to keep water off it so your 4 lbs pack doesn’t turn into a 10 lbs pack. With the UL materials that point is kinda moot. Like you said, in sustained rain that pack cover isn’t keeping your pack dry either way lol
Another great video. A video on grocery store shopping for backpacking food might be good for new hikers and those on a budget. I can’t remember the last backpack dried meal I had. Oh wait, it was 1992 I think lol.
Another position for a bandana is to lean forward with it fully open. Place it on your head over your neck and ears. Put your cap or hat on to hold it in place. The old French Foreign Legion look. Great for sun and helps with insects.
I was actually talking to Sara about recording a video in a grocery store. I'd probably go at midnight or something to avoid the crowd. Appreciate the feedback.
Love your videos dude just came across you today and compared to some bigger channels your providing info for the average Joe and making solo camping and backpacking achievable.
Once again thank you 😊
Thanks for the kind words buddy, appreciate you watching!
I bring paper coffee filters with me if I need to pre-filter water. Extremely lightweight and can be used multiple times. 😎
I have done that as well, also use them for straining when making pine needle tea or sassafras tea etc. Kind of just settled the bandana these days though.
Best backpacking hack video I've seen so far. Thanks!
I’m glad you liked it! Thanks for watching!
Great video & tips! I use instant mashed potatoes and ramen too. One way to jazz them up a little and get some more nutrition is to add cut up cheese sticks and slices of jerky to the potatoes and dehydrated veggies to the ramen. I also repackage instant rice and bring along a few of those vacuum packs of tuna or salmon with some sauce packets from Chinese restaurants.
I’ve put chicken, jerky and bacon into ramen to spice it up. Nice cheap meals. We just bought a dehydrator though so the backpacking cuisine just got taken up a notch lol, I’ll showcase some in my next video. Thanks for watching!
Thank you for showing the cotton ball and Vaseline….I have heard that multiple times, but it helps to see it in action.
Works like a charm, thanks for watching!
Great video. I also use the plastic shopping bags from the grocery store to store gear in; they also hang in a tree well.
Thanks for watching dude!
while i employ all of the tactics you have listed already, its great to see someone explaining all of these hacks for noobs who wanna shave some ounces. thanks man.
Yeah my channel is sort of geared towards beginners for right now. My trip videos just sort of organically happen, but if I do tips and tricks etc it’s probably going to be for the newbie audience for now. Thanks for watching!
Good call on putting the freezer bags in the pot thing. I found the trick with that is to use a larger pot. For example, if I'm trying to make instant mashed potatoes in a 600 ML pot, it's very difficult to do. People laugh at me went I bring an 11ml titanium pot with coozie. Aside from the added bulk, the weight increase is negligible. it just works better and you can put a great deal of food in there and keep it warm for a long time while setting up camp.
I have different options. I’m currently only using one container that’s 750mL. I also have a 1.1L toaks and a 450mL coffee cup. I’ve found I only need the 750 personally but I rocked the 1.1 for a long time. Thanks for tuning in!
Liked the vid! I use 1/2 gallon freezer bags to rehydrate in. They fit in my 900ml pot really well. A compactor or garbage bag with strategically placed slits for shoulder straps and waist belt makes a good rain cover.
Hmmm, I never thought to use one as a pack cover. Maybe I’ll have to try that out lol, thanks for watching!
Great tips.Can't go wrong with ziplock bags. I also wrap gorilla tape around one end of a ferro rod which also acts as a handle for stability when making sparks.
Ziplocks and duct tape will work magic lol, thanks for tuning in!
Regular trash bags work well and are usually cheaper. Only downside is they stretch out and potentially tear easier. Dollar tree can be your best friend even on multi day hikes. Some even have small beef jerky packs as well as pouches of chicken and fish. It’s a routine for us now to hit one before we head out on a hike or trail to stock up
Good tips, thanks for watching!
Well done🎉
Thanks!
Dude a freezer bag pot liner is going to change my life.
Haha it’s a big plus. I’d recommend buying Ziplock brand, allegedly they’ll hold up to the heat and not release chemicals. I’d be slightly more wary of buying non name brands. Depending on how much you backpack it might not be a big deal either way but I’d play it safe and go with Ziplock. Thanks for tuning in!
I use a liner sock as a water filter. Fits over bottle like a condom. Just make sure it is a clean sock and doesn't smell like Toe-Jam.
Not gonna like man sounds kinda gross 😂
Leukotape on your lighter, instead of duct tape...now with gaze or a few cotton makeup rounds, you have large bandaids, repair your kit or yourself, it replaces moleskin too . :)
Leukotape works, but I still prefer moleskin :)
Good video. Well done 👏
Thanks for watching!
Great stuff man, I do tons of these trips and that’s all solid advice. Ridiculous how much you can spend on things you don’t even really need, I bought a cheap tent I’m super happy with too, single wall but super light easy and big.
I have a mix of cheap and expensive lol. I mean my quilts, hammock and tarp are $1k. I’ll spend money on top quality gear. On the flip side I’ll also use some Walmart stuff if it’s gonna get the job done just as well and cheaper lol. Thanks for watching!
@@Bacon_N_Backpacking I went all in on tHE quilt too! And pad. I can’t kick ass on a 1/2 night’s freezing sleep. Cheers, wise hikers do the same stuff. . . Nice to meet you brother. You should check out one of the super gnarly videos I put up, I’ve been rock climbing a long time. Capital peak is a one I think. You’ll have to come out and check it out, there’s tons of great stuff here as you can see by my video library.
Tks!, Coach.
Thanks for watching!
Dehydrating your own meals is a good way to save money and with a little practice you will always have food that you like.
You can use your oven if you don't want to buy a dehydrator and there are lots of books and websites to help you get started
I’ve been trying to get into it. My issue is finding the time. I generally work 10-12 hours per day Monday-Friday, do online coaching and now try to release a weekly RUclips video. I’ve joined a couple of FB groups and have been watching some RUclips videos to get schooled up on it. Now I just have to do it lol, thanks for watching!
@@Bacon_N_Backpacking if you have a unit with time/temp control you can just set it to run overnight, most recipes take 6-10 hours to dry. Also don't be afraid to take it out and put it in a container in the fridge if it's not done, just put it back in the dehydrator again later, I've had to do that a couple of times.
You can also make the meal the day before if you want. Good luck 🙂
Haha thanks for the advice. I do really need to explore it though the freeze dried stuff really adds up over the years. I’ve also looked into getting a freeze dryer but idk if I wanna come off of 4 grand.
@@Bacon_N_Backpacking yeah , at over 40 times the price of my dehydrator that's a big nope
I tried to explain the individual stuffsacks vs stuffing everything in to save space and my friends just did not get it. Glad to see I’m not crazy. All the space between the stuffsacks is just more air!
Haha yeah I agree. Stuff sacks are mainly for organization, not really space saving. Thanks for watching buddy!
I smiled at your mention of ziploc bags. I always take a few along on my day hikes for stashing interesting stones, fossils, dead insects, flowers, etc. They're as essential on the trail as white vinegar is at home. Terrific vid, as always.
Yep, never underestimate the importance of ziploc haha. Thanks for tuning in!
Hey can we have a vinegar video?! 😆
@@yogalandawellnessyolandati7654 nothing is off the table lol
Hikers should stick to the leave no trace principle.
Even cheaper than buying cotton balls, use dryer lint. Its free with a typically endless supply. I have been using ziplocs since I was a kid in the 70's and got really good at sucking the air out to save space. I would put extra socks and undies in the large ones instead of using a pack liner. They can also be used with some air in them wrapped in a shirt as a pillow. When stuff sacks and compression sacs started coming out in mass I scratched my head and asked why, seemed like overkill and stupidly expensive.
I've used dryer lint, never tried the ziplock as a pillow haha, that's a cool idea. Thanks for watching!
Thank you. Great tips !
Thank you for watching!
Freezer bag cooking: use reflectix and make a bag cozy that velcros closed. When you open the lid bends around and velcros on the opposite side to become a handle to hold your hot meal and you eat it right out of the cozy. Look up hmg repack to see an example of something you can make.
I’ll definitely check that out, thank you!
Agree with ziplock bags, inexpensive, see thru, mostly reusable. Thanks for your insights. TexasTony
Thanks for tuning in, glad you liked the video.
Great practical common sense ideas.
Glad you liked the video, thanks for watching!
If you wanna reinforce a ziplock, put clear packing tape around it. Use a good brand with a good thickness.
Good tip, I’ll have to try that out on video and see the results.
Wow great vid. 😍 Thank you
Thanks for watching!
Really great tips!
Thank you so much!
VERY GOOD INFORMATIVE VIDEO I ENJOY LEARNING ABOUT ALL THIS EQUIPMENT LOVE HOW YOU SHOW EVERYTIHING AND EXPLAIN EVERYTHING SO KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK AND LEEP THE VIDEOS COMING LOVE SEEING THEM HAVE A GREAT TIME ENJOY YOUR BACKPACKING
Thanks mom
Great video
Thanks for watching!
loved the vid, keep em coming
Thank you so much for watching, glad you enjoyed!
Good tips, but dose a instand noodle is really a good meal ? :D
Define “good” lol. Is it cheap, lightweight and have good energy to price/money ratio? Yes. Is it the most nutrient dense food? No lol. Thanks for watching!
Humm, Contractor Bags, can you please tell me where I can buy just one or two of them?
Because every place I have been to that sell them. Come in a Quantity of 25 or more.
I’m unaware of anywhere that sells small quantities like that. I just buy the smallest one I can find and accept that I now have a lifetime supply lol
Ever tried not using a stuff sac for a synthetic sleeping bag (0°)? They do not easily compress.
Yeah, that's what I did in the Marine Corps for seven years, stuff sacks we had were garbage so just stuffed it in a pack liner. That's also why I don't usually recommend sleeping bags or synthetic. I prefer down quilts.
@@Bacon_N_Backpacking mine will not compress anywhere near what I can do with a stuff sac. I agree 100% about down, but we are talking budget gear here. My $70 synthetic would probably be a $250+ down bag.
Do you use the quilt even below freezing? People around here use bags below 40° or so and either bags or quilts above. I've never used a quilt, but was thinking about it for this summer to lighten the pack.
@@CRuM770 I use quilts in all weather. I’ve used my 20 degree quilts down to 12-15 degrees in socks, base layer and beanie.
@@CRuM770 ive found using the sleeping system footbox as a big stuffsack keeps things together neatly, doesnt take as much compression, and you need to get it all out anyway if you keep the bag at the bottom of the pack. May as well be able to alide it all out in one piece.
@@LittleJohn907 good idea, but I pack too much stuff to not compress the bag right down. It's a cheap synthetic bag, but very warm so without the straps, it would take a third of my pack. I'll take the extra few ounces to gain the space in my pack.
Yes... I am going to try your pre water filtering hack with some old cheesecloth! Where can you buy just one trash compactor bag? And, what's the knife you're using?
To my knowledge you probably can’t buy just one trash compactor bag. Maybe get 1-2 from a friend? Still though, I believe I paid around $10 for a box of them that will last for life. Knife is the Mora Bushcraft Carbon. IMO Mora makes the best knives as far as bang for your buck. Sara has the Garberg. Thanks for watching!
Ace hardware has box of 4 Glad Trash Compactor bags for $4.99
Nice inexpensive options for gear and food.
As always, thanks for watching!
Is the pocket that holds your cook pot on the side of your zpacks bag an add on or what pack is that?
I bought it separately from Zpacks. They have all kinds of accessories, water bottle sleeves, hip belt pouches, side pouches etc. The pack is an Arc Air 50 I just did a video review of it about 3-4 weeks ago if you want to check it out. Thanks for watching!
@@Bacon_N_Backpacking ok nice I watched your review video and finally found the top side pocket. For some reason I couldn’t find it on the site before.
@@CharlesBlank Glad you found it haha
What i do with deshidrate Meals is that i get 2 the same and make 3 or 4 meals using the ziplock bags, i save money and weigh.
Nice!
From what I can see you have a couple stuff sacks and yours is compartmentalize on the outside pockets of your pack with a section in the bottom...
The only stuff sack in the video is the one the hammock comes in so it doesn’t drag the ground when you set it up.
I’m always worried about using plastic freezer bags to boil food in. I wonder if the plastic breaks down when boiling somehow so you eat the chemicals from the bag? (Yeah, I do worry too much lol)
This is MY opinion, so take from it what you will. All of our food contains carcinogens. All of our water contains carcinogens. Your clothing does, the air, your hygiene products etc. It's impossible to avoid, so I try not to worry about it much. I know it sounds kind of pessimistic, but unfortunately, it's the truth. I don't go out of my way to try and put these things in my body, but it's sort of inevitable so I try not to overthink it.
@@Bacon_N_Backpacking oh wow, I didn’t realise they were everywhere! Thanks for making me worry even more! 😂😳
Really though, I didn’t think of it like that, now it seems kind of pointless me worrying about boiling the bag lol Thanks for the info, I appreciate it :)
Keep in mind, it’s not my job to make you think like that. I was just following my own reasoning which may not be for everyone lol. Also, I don’t boil IN the bag. I’ll boil water in the pot then pour into the bag. The water is already no longer boiling by the time it hits the bag. I’m not sure what the temperature difference is, but I assume it’s substantial enough. I wouldn’t actually boil water in the bag, it’s going to melt to the pot.
Fritos make a good fire 🔥 starter. Plus you can eat them.
Never tried that before, I’ll have to give it a shot. Thanks for watching!
Hmm I feel like the single-use items aren't very efficient. Would you have alternatives? I try not to make as much waste as I can when I backpack.
I’m confused. There wasn’t anything in the video that was single use except food…could you elaborate?
Mandy, I was and reuse my plastic bags over and over until they finally get holes in them. I get your point though about them not being great for the environment and not long lasting.
Are pack covers not really a thing anymore?
I know people still make them. I’ve personally never used one, haven’t seen the need. Thanks for watching!
My pack cover came as part of a package deal when I bought my pack. They are helpful when on trail in the rain /snow all day.
Depends on your pack material as to if you need one or not. My old pack would absorb water and gain 2kg in weight so a pack cover was a no brainer. My new pack doesn’t have the same problem
I make waterproof firestarters - melt the Vaseline (I use generic brand), dip the cotton ball into it using tongs or tweezers.. set on a tray to dry a few minutes then dip into melted beeswax a couple times.
The beeswax will coat the cotton ball and make it water proof. When time to light, just tear it open a bit. The Vaseline will get it to light quickly and the beeswax will help keep it burning longer. I’ve timed it and it lasts about 10 minutes.
I also use these in a mini pocket stove to heat my food. Takes longer than the butane/propane stove and doesn’t get the water quite to boiling but for heating food it works like a charm
Great ideas, thanks for tuning in!
If you get the compactor bags at Walmart like I did for $5-$8?? I think and you get enough for life so if you can go in on them do it.
Yeah I feel like I got a lifetime supply at Walmart for like $10. Thanks for watching!
Doritos are good fire starter
I’ll have to try that next, thanks!
Not true my weight is less when I compactly pack everything i can in my pack and I can not fit everything in my pack by packing my pack loosely and it's heavier by the scale ive tested this... And i have reduced everything down to its lowest limits...
A 16 oz quilt is going to weigh 16 oz whether it's compressed or not.
@@Bacon_N_Backpacking not true size of the item sometimes makes a difference because of air...
@@Bacon_N_Backpacking check out the marshmallow
Do you have $10 hacks? $20 hacks? I’d like to see those as well.
I’m actually putting together some ideas for a $25 video in the near future. Thanks for watching!
Lighter is lighter than that farel rod..
Yeah, I didn’t say otherwise lol. I usually carry two bic lighters. In the winter I’ll carry a ferro rod sometimes.
just cleam your pot with grass or leaves and don't use plastc bags
I’d just rinse it in a stream before rubbing dirt in it. For the 2-3x per year I put a plastic bag in my pot, it’ll be okay.
Tips no1,2,3,4,5. Use plastic bags in natural environment, it's awesome!!! Trust me!!
How’s it feel to be the only person out of 18,000 to have some stupid negative comment? First of all, minus the bag you put your food trash in, all of those bags have been used for YEARS. I’ve been using the same trash compactor bag, the same headlamp bag and same fire kit bag for about 4-5 years. The only bag I toss per trip is the freezer bag with my food trash. Second, the irony of you typing about this on a phone made of rare earth metals mined by slaves isn’t lost on me. Until you go live 100% off grid in the woods alone, I don’t want to hear your hypocrisy.
@@Bacon_N_Backpacking Wow, you surely are open to criticism... I personally use mostly paper bags when I go in the woods. And I'm not typing it on a cellphone, PC man!!! Don't use those nasty smartphones, you get too stressed out and write nasty comments to strangers.
@@Bacon_N_Backpacking Also I don't f.cking care how many plastic bags you are using. The fact is that you made a video for backpackers RECOMMENDING to use plastic bags in the woods!!!! You're so full of yourself that you can't even see your own mistakes.
@@MidnightatMidian Oh okay, you’re on a computer made of MORE rare earth metals than a cell phone, got it. No, I’m not open to criticism that isn’t constructive. I’m also not open to hypocrisy. Unless you’re 100% off grid living on a homestead, you have no business nitpicking a ziplock bag. You showed up and made a snide comment, don’t be surprised when someone pays it back in kind. Maybe if your approach was less snarky, there could have at least been a dialogue, but that ship sailed.
@@Bacon_N_Backpacking You should stop projecting yourself on other people. Also personal attacks is not good for a good discussion. Chill out, and have a great day.
LOL
Glad you’re amused 😉