10 Weird Backpacking Hacks That I Use All The Time

In this video, I share 10 uncommon and maybe even a bit weird backpacking hacks that I find surprisingly useful for anyone who's out hiking, camping, or backpacking.
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▼ TABLE OF CONTENTS
00:00 - Intro
00:13 - Tip 1
00:32 - Tip 2
00:49 - Tip 3
01:08 - Tip 4
01:33 - Tip 5
02:13 - TrailGoals
02:32 - Tip 6
03:01 - Tip 7
03:41 - Tip 8
03:59 - Tip 9
04:24 - Tip 10
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[@OscarHikes]

Thanks for tuning in, and this was definitely a fun video to shoot! If you want to support the channel, check out hiking trail posters made by me and my wife (10% off with "OSCARHIKES") trailgoals.com/

[@onbedoeldekut1515]

If you can, draw lines on your bottle which indicate the amount of water in the bottle during pouring. Guestimating how much is being poured can lead to wasted water.

[@GaiaCarney]

Thanks for sharing these helpful tips! I especially liked the netting scrubber, water bottle level and measurement markings on the spork ☮️

[@lestariabadi]

The smelly wet socks probably better on your back?

[@unsafe_at_any_speed]

Great tips!

[@stevenjhancock]

Seconded

[@kengregory1541]

The lack of a massive overburden of filler, chit chat, and plain old bs gave me the bends! Subscribed!

[@AcrylicGoblin]

Agreed. Straight to business...i love it!

[@J-Peterson777]

Totally agree mate, I have also just subscribed for the 'no nonsense' delivery.

[@battlement]

Yup, subscribed because of this

[@NatureFotos]

Hahaha!!! Ditto!

[@PhilipBlank]

Came to see this! Straight into it with some first time’s I’ve seen things!

[@jimboburgess42069]

it's great to see a video with actual hacks and not "hacks" that are really just gear promo vids.

[@emilysha418]

+1

[@s-c..]

So true

[@cubertmiso4140]

3:04 "hack" 7 enters... wtf

[@SpacePodCommander]

When possible I’ll heat 2 fist sized warm rocks in the fire - Put one in each wet sock to dry them and also provide a hot water ‘bottle’ for your feet and body that stays warm well into the night. Learned during military combat survival and rescue training in the 1990s

[@unsafe_at_any_speed]

Plus the carbon from the fire absorbs the feet smells! Great tip

[@LennyBuis-cc4qc]

I have a hot tent to use so I hang my wet gear up on a make shift cloths line keeps me warm and happy

[@AdmiralStoicRum]

They actually does sound pretty nice. You ever put it inside your shoe too?

[@wjcferguson]

Ehhh, rocks can often contain pockets of moisture that explode in the fire sending rock shards at you. Many types of rock are fine of course, but be careful.

[@CragDawgs]

​@@wjcferguson ehhhhhhhhhh

[@LibsMakeMeSad]

The shirt to keep your pillow in place is a perfect idea!!!

[@timwcronin]

Should be mentioned, the silicone dots don't need to be on the bottom where the sort is placed

[@fearsomefawkes6724]

Okay, that spork hack is genius. Definitely stealing that

[@1000monograms]

+1 I will do one modification though - I will make a puncture sign with a hammer and a blunt nail. I want to avoid scratching titanium.

[@nagualdesign]

If I want to boil exactly the right amount of water to make a coffee, I fill my coffee cup with water then pour it into the pan. I don't really understand why you would want to measure your cups (committing the volumes to memory), then use a spork with markings on it that work with one specific pan to measure the right amount of water for a specific cup. Did I miss something?

[@1000monograms]

@@nagualdesign I don't fill my clean cup with non-potable water before boiling to avoid contamination. If you use potable water to boil - you are 100% right. I used to have a pot with a scale inside and it was a lot better than spork tip but now I don't have it and decided to give it a try. I already noticed that spork tip is not working super well but still better than eyeballing.

[@charlesfulcrum3170]

I may not be sure that all 10 would work for my style of camping, but this was an honest, educational video that we can all take something from. Thank you. I forgot to mention, it’s refreshing to watch an outdoor video that’s not promoting a product👍👍👍

[@of5458]

He is promoting his wall maps. He should mark this video as an advertisement or promotional content. It’s dishonest.

[@chucho3796]

Im a postman ,i used rubber bands for lots of things . Instead of the silicone ,you can put few bands under your matt to stop it moving .you need to used big good quality ones ,otherwise don't work . You can do the same on your kitchen with the chopping board ,or any small things you want to stop sliding 😜

[@raraavis7782]

That's a good idea My kitchen board is very slightly bent as well, so the rubber bands will also level it out on the surface. I was about to throw it away, because it's so annoying 🙂

[@s-c..]

Haha, I’m a postie too so I always have some around doing good work! Currently got one stopping my phone from sliding down on the tiled bench so I can see the time in the shower. My dream is to one day afford a clock 😂

[@user-wq3uw9nu4l]

Use the rubber band to open jars too

[@nagualdesign]

Nice. In the UK the streets are littered with rubber bands discarded by Royal Mail posties.

[@RustyPetterson]

@@nagualdesign I was just gonna say, that guy can't possibly be a postie because they're all lying around my front garden!

[@colacadm]

I use an old windscreen sun reflector sheet as a sleeping mat underlay to reduce punctures and add reflected heat.

[@1000monograms]

Circa 20 years ago there were this kind of sleeping mats available on the market. I don't know how many manufacturers made them - I had one from Tatonka. This was basically a sun reflector sheet of 1.2mx2m dimensions. Now it's gone due to lightweight self-inflating mats I guess. Good, because sleeping on them wasn't really comfortable - it was rather "a challenge" not "a comfort" type of experience...

[@Muffin1280]

Dude, awesome advice on the bottle cap. I always bring a spare one but I never used it to push in the tent stakes. Thanks a million!!

[@R2sAdventures]

You got me with the olive oil! Best tip for drying boots or socks is to take a few sheets of newspaper with you. Absorbs all water super fast. Can use the waste in a fire.

[@bdmenne]

Damnit! I was doing it backwards. Thought it was Olive Oil the socks and in the boots and newspaper in the meals! Phew.

[@BMad-we6qf]

Focusing on fiber not fat. Hu 😂​@@bdmenne

[@bertblue9683]

What's a newspaper?

[@HappyMSI1]

​@@bertblue9683 I guess english is not your first language. Newspaper is what our older générations used to read everyday to learn what's going on in their country and in the World. Grey paper with black letters.

[@we317]

Rather than carrying salt and seasonings, I carry one or two bullion cubes in a small ziploc. If any dinner needs more seasoning adding a small piece is easy and no mess.

[@DominiqueB]

i think you meant bouillon cubes. Bullion would be frowned upon by the UL crowd. ;-) Neat tip, i'll definitely use this.

[@AdmiralStoicRum]

Some people like a chalky flavor... Lol ​@@DominiqueB

[@OCStoyanov]

Since it's almost the same as heat release for me, I prefer to put the wet socks in the sleeping bag, between the bag and the sheet, somewhere around my waist. They may not be in the same place in the morning, but they are always dry. It is also good to use your thickest socks, as "sleeping socks" and only for that, and of course they should not be synthetic. And something that seems more fun than useful. Since I don't carry a table when wild camping, very often I use a shoe for a stand/holder in the morning for my cup of coffee and in the evening for a can of beer so that they don't accidentally fall and spill on uneven ground.

[@ripple_on_the_ocean]

Definitely like the scrubbing mesh! I definitely would never be ripping pine needles off of the trees, in order to clean dishes. But I don't like carrying a big scrub sponge either! Thanks 😊

[@BMad-we6qf]

I use a piece of thin green scrubby pads. But the fibers quickly get caked with food. Icky. The mesh/net would do the same job, but can be cleaned soooo easily👍

[@leza4453]

I just cut a smaller piece of a sponge and used that

[@justinw1765]

Silicone is great for a lot of things. I've thinned out silicone with naphtha and treated clothes to add a very long lasting DWR. You have to use clothes/fabrics that haven't had a DWR treatment though (if you use something that had a DWR treatment, the silicone will not bond to the clothing). Also, you want the clothes/fabric to be sufficiently breathable to begin with, because it will lose some breathability depending on how much silicone per volume of naphtha you use. (A couple thin, light, breathable baselayer shirts both treated with thinned silicone and worn over top of each other, in combo with a windshirt with the right water resistance, breathability, etc over a fishnet baselayer makes a great wet weather combo for all but the hardest, worst rain. Sort of works like Paramo, but far longer lasting between treatments and not as hot. Important that the windjacket be made out of polyester and not nylon, as nylon swells too much with moisture and loses breathability). You can do DIY anti odor treatments with a fresh 9 volt battery, some pure salt dissolved in some hot water, and some copper wire (attach a copper wire to each battery terminal and suspend it over a glass jar with the copper wires in the water). After a 4 hours or so, you have a decent amount of small particle copper chloride ions in the water. Buy some do it at home dye, follow the dyeing process and put that water-copper chloride suspension in with the dye, and it will bond the ions to the fibers, making a copper based version of the silver based Polygiene (silver chloride bonded to clothing fibers during the dyeing process). If I remember correctly, copper is even stronger and more broad spectrum of an antimicrobial than silver. Obviously works best with clothes/fabrics that have had little to no pre dyeing (hint, white clothes work best for this typically). Bamboo layered with a couple of layers of S-glass fiberglass cloth and high strength, lamination epoxy, and then with the inner diaphragms punctured and spray foam sprayed in the middle, makes some remarkably tough and strong for the weight fixed length, budget poles. (Though, carbon poles seem to have gotten less expensive in recent years and there are some good deals out there). Ghee keeps longer than olive oil. Refined coconut oil probably keeps the second best. Avocado oil, while it doesn't keep as well as the former two, is more multi-functional, as it works as a great pot/pan non stick because it has an unusually high smoke point. Rub some on the pot/pan for low water cooking. If you're just boiling water or the like, no real point. A flat piece of strong for the weight fabric with some loops attached in combo with a stick in the ground, makes a great and lighter windscreen than metal ones. Make a sideways V with the sharp point facing towards the wind and the stove in between the open part. Obviously the fabric goes over the stick in the ground to make the > or

[@OscarHikes]

I hope you didn't mind, but your comment is so useful,that I reposted it on my community tab on KZbin (tagging you ofc).

[@justinw1765]

@@OscarHikes Hi, sure, that is fine. Thank you for letting me know.

[@raraavis7782]

Very nice. I was looking for a way to make my sunhats also a little bit waterproof. I wear glasses and I have found, that wearing a hat is just the most convenient way to keep them dry in not so great weather 🤓. Do I just dissolve some kitchen silicone in naphtha and brush that on?

[@justinw1765]

@@raraavis7782 Hi there, yes, you can do it that way if you just want to add some water repellency. If you want to add more (really increase water resistance in other words), soaking the whole thing works best. Whichever process you choose, a couple important things before you start: Make sure that the hat is very clean and very well rinsed of any soap, detergent, etc type residues (and dry, obviously). And the less silicone vs the more naphtha you use, the more breathability you will maintain. If you don't want to keep it breathable but want it more close to waterproof (water resistance is more complicated than just coatings--weave density, type, etc all factor in), then make it thicker/more viscous. But generally speaking, a thimble full or two of silicone is probably all you will need for a hat to add water repellancy to at least the outside layer. Another option you can do is the following, which I have done myself: Buy a yard or half a yard/meter of waterproof breathable fabric (I recommend Polartec Neoshell). Put your hat on something or someone so that it remains filled out. Drap the WPB fabric over the hat and mark the outline on the fabric. Sew 4 velcro/hook & loop strips to the hat (front/back, and sides) and the corresponding ones to the fabric. You now have a nice, fully breathable hat for nice, warm, etc weather, but also a fully waterproof hat option for when it is raining. If you would like to see an example of this, check out back packing light (4rum) and lookup Odd/unique, but very breathable rain gear system. That was in my early sewing days btw, and my cutting and sewing wasn't great then, but you get the point. If I were to do it again, I would probably not use EPIC, but use Neoshell. Cheers

[@dzedogranatovich7085]

Amazing line-up of great hacks. No wasted words. I can/will use all. Will share with all my backpacker friends and family. Keep them coming.

[@OscarHikes]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@timothy____1989]

Add the olive oil to your pan/pot and tip/roll it around to coat the entire pan before adding the food and it will help keep the food from sticking, make it easier to clean.

[@JacobPaul123]

One tip I saw in a video that I liked was when picking up your tent, leave one stake in so you can pull against it to roll it up tighter. Also stops tent from blowing in the wind if it's breezy.

[@crappymeal]

When wearing a rain jacket with a cap, use a small peg or clip to hold the hood onto the peak of the cap

[@ErikStenbakken]

YES. I carry tiny clips for this. Makes a legit difference.

[@crappymeal]

@@ErikStenbakken ever mention it on a video?

[@MacChallenge]

I watch a lot of these videos, but this one takes the prize!! I expect to use at least eight out of ten of these hacks going forward. Awesome, Oscar! 👏 What a champ! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[@OscarHikes]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@anthonyt2860]

If you are camping in the cold, put the clothes and socks you plan to wear for the next day in your sleeping bag when you go to bed. When you wake up, you can put your pants, shirt, and socks on in the bag, which will be much warmer than the outside temperature or pull them out and dress. Either way, your acclimation to the ambient temperature will be much easier. I have done this and it makes a cold morning much easier. Hope this helps others.

[@hematula1]

In winter/spring touring I've naturally used hot water bottles to dry my socks (or more often than not, skiboots). But if only the socks are damp, then I've placed them on my quads (in such cold conditions, I often sleep with longjohns or capri-length merino of wicking underwear). Less gross and on my chest/tummy, but still big muscles and have not had damp socks in the morning.

[@Swimdeep]

Eyeglasses Hack: I remove the temples (“arm” on each side) using a tiny screwdriver and replace them with a section of elastic. I attach using upholstery thread and needle through the screw holes. The result is lighter weight glasses that I can’t break or lose because I keep them around my neck. I have broken multiple pairs of glasses over the years, multiple ways; now solved.

[@vijfaanboord2051]

Doing the same, benefit is also that it takes the stress away from behind your ears, especially when wearing hats/caps. And sweat can no longer let you glasses slide down your nose! Alternatively many plastic frames you can just drill a hole for the elastic band. And because of that, you can potentially repair some glasses that had "broken legs" Thanx for the video, I also apply most of your tips. For sure will try the water bottle leveler tip, that one was new.

[@roughwalkers]

Hack? 😂😂😂😂

[@SeanQuinn4]

That oil tip is not only calorie packing gold, but boy do I bet it helps one stomach less stellar food options 🤣 a little extra fat can help so many things taste better, especially preserved food.

[@CAMSLAYER13]

Basically the secret to why restaurant food is good. They out way more fat in than tou would

[@Harveyw1000]

When I waterproof the seams of my tent, I put 4 straps of the silicone mix on the floor of my tent. It keeps my pad from sliding and I don't have to do it to every pad I have.

[@williambrezinski604]

Ghee is another awesome option for adding fats to backpacking meals where olive oil may be a weird taste.

[@Squisky]

As a brown man; I'm shook that you'll tolerate EVO but ghee tastes weird?

[@williambrezinski604]

I think you read that backwards. Ghee blends into almost anything, EVOO would be weird in oatmeal for example.

[@Squisky]

@@williambrezinski604 I think I'm slowly becoming an invalid. You're right, of course.

[@unsafe_at_any_speed]

Avocado oil works good

[@leza4453]

A plastic jar of peanut butter is also great. You can put in porridge, ramen, spread on crackers or to eat directly with a spoon. Fat, sugar, salt and proteins are all very welcome on a hike.

[@elizame6895]

Wow some actually useful tips I've not heard of before! Thanks!

[@MrEvilWasp]

Loads of really useful hacks. The only one I already knew was the silicone dots on the mattress. But do both sides so your sleeping bag doesn't slide off it.

[@kdboyle7673]

Love the silicone suggestion. Thank you

[@oxyfee6486]

Great video, personally I would go insane if I couldn’t wrap my arm around my pillow, no way I could sleep with it immobile like that.😂

[@CLove511]

It's a t-shirt, stick your arms through the holes ❤️

[@travisnelson5094]

I use a cleaned out plastic bladder from a box of wine as an inflatable pillow + a large Crown Royal sack as a pillowcase! Just push the little button on the nozzle and you can inflate it to the exact firmness you want and then deflate it to a tiny and lightweight ball of plastic 😊 Also, you can use any cloth bag… the Crown Royal sack is just soft and the perfect size

[@TdsInTheAir]

Great video as always, thanks. Maybe you could share how transporting your gear when you are using flights (what to leave at home or how you are protecting your stuff if it's going to registered baggage and so on). Those videos about transportation on KZbin can be improved (especially by those who are practical as you :) )

[@mykolask]

Such a great video! Here's a few of my habits: Carry a rope, can be any rope up to 5 mm, and around 20 meters is enough for my personal need. It can be used to hang up your drying clothes, secure a broken limb or stop some serious bleeding. It is also really handy for windy nights in the wild, providing extra length for your tent's stabilising cords. A bar of simple soap will allow you to take less underwear and socks, provided that you have a source of fresh water nearby If you are unsure of the weather conditions, take a rain poncho. These can be used to provide a good rain coverage on the road, and can be used to provide your tent or sleeping bag with extra layer of insulation. Having that rope is really handy here, too. Try and find one of those old military supply aluminium bowls with a foldable handle. They come in pairs, and can be used for storing your food on the road, boiling water or cooking, also from eating - you'll have to carry less metals with you Plastic bags and rubber bands made from broken bicycle tubes, make for a great way to store food, dirty clothes, wet stuffs (like socks) and more There is a method to dry up your shoes by taking them with you in a sleeping bag. I'm not sure about this one, as it probably depends on how wet your shoes really are In cold nights, mountaineers use identical sleeping bags and attach the zippers from two of them, to make a sleeping bag for two. Trust me, it is much warmer to sleep that way You can use a sweater stuffed with your underwear, as your pillow Not absolutely necessary, but if you can make some space for a lightweight blanket in your backpack, you will find a lot of great uses for it Makeshift camping light source idea: Place a water bottle on your light source pointing upwards, for easy diffraction. It is not as blinding as a matt lamp hanging around the height of your head Frequently while sleeping outdoors, we find ourselves on an uneven ground. Quick solution is to find a couple handfuls of dry grass to make the ground more even Anyone has dry skin on their feet due to perspiration salts? I found that bepanthen crème is a must to have for these cases

[@leza4453]

20 meters of yarn seems quite excessive. 2m would suffice for most uses, I guess.

[@EricSchwartz-sk8id]

The silicone to the bottom of the mattress is a really good idea. My son showed me this one and it has been a sleep saver.

[@brianfairweather7298]

I've watched a lot of hiking "hack" videos and almost all of these hacks I've never seen! Great video, great hacks my dude!!

[@user-kd1du1yp4g]

I bring an extra bottle with wide entrance to use it as a pee bottle when it's raining or cold outside.

[@Cous1nJack]

Don’t need the wide opening when it’s cold

[@justinw1765]

Was going to mention this, but you beat me to it.

[@CL-vz6ch]

​@@Cous1nJack you must be asian dudes

[@alan-sk7ky]

Piss Jugs! thank you Bubbles 😄

[@-desertpackrat]

3:50 I do this too. After a couple of awkwardly angles left me sliding off my ultralite cot at night, I always lie down in the spot first to see if it's flat enough for my cot not to tilt.

[@snoop2477]

Gear Nerdery at its finest. Having just spent 5 nights in the NZ mountains... all these tips minus the socks ones (I'd pass out) would have immediately helped. Thank you. My favourite hack. Rubberband in thermarest roll... use it to hold your phone on your trekking pole in the tipi tent for movie time!😊

[@OscarHikes]

Good idea! I'll try that!

[@arjen4059]

Definitely using the wet socks tip!!! Very useful, especially in colder trips (in my case, Arctic trip at -20 C). I'll stink anyway after a few days, dry socks it much more important!

[@stuarthall3874]

I steal an elastic hairband from my girlfriend to hold my phone to my trekking pole (or stick).

[@natha_ow]

Love your tips, thanks so much for sharing! I used to dry not just socks in my shirt, but all clothes in my sleeping bag. Works very well (not when they're soaking wet, but wringed out).

[@back1114]

Thanks!!! I have seen a lot of "10 tips" videos and when I started to watch this one, I thought "what else can I pick up..." But I learned a lot new tips which I will start using!! Well done and thanks! Your videos are normally very good (content, delivery, pace, etc). Please keep it up!!

[@breadanrice]

ive seen thousands of hours of camping content and this was the first in a looooooooong while to have actually unique useful tips!

[@brumleytown1882]

Butter has the same caloric density as oil and tastes good on more foods. Will last almost a week in your pack.

[@kaya-sem]

good butter yes, not margerine

[@Gneiss365]

I hadn't considered the taste compatibility. I use olive oil due to my climate (butter would melt and go rancid), but I've just found out that there is such a thing as powdered butter. I have to get some.

[@outdoorsfishingdream]

A week? Yeah, try that here in Malaysia 🤣😂 -Cries in 35’c

[@justinw1765]

@@outdoorsfishingdream ghee will last longer than regular butter.

[@lcjrio]

Olive oil works perfectly. If this one has 0,4 grades doesn't add any flavour and you can use for protection of your skin, for protection of your stomach, for doing black smoke in cade of emergency, to hydration of the skin, wood, for preventing of friction, ...

[@PaulSchortemeyer]

The posters look great 👍 I was excited to see that you stock the GDT! A neat idea 😊

[@OscarHikes]

Thank you! 😊

[@s-c..]

I’m not even a hiker, but these are some genuinely useful ideas 👍

[@kennyhamilton2138]

You can use velcro strips for the pillow and also on the bottom of the sleeping pad instead of silicone. Loved the bottle cap for tent peg hack!

[@Michael-uh1pv]

That water bottle as a level trick is so simple but so genius. Will definitely be using that.

[@lenariuss]

Great tips! Love your channel. Are you from Latvia by any chance? I think I recognize your accent 😅

[@OscarHikes]

Thanks! And yes, I am.

[@lenariuss]

@@OscarHikes yeeey. So am I. I’m from Jekabpils

[@raykinit4701]

T shirt/pillow idea super cool. I am pumping them up now to try. Well, done. Thanks, Ray.

[@nobodyxx560]

Fantastic video! Actually haven't heard these before. Good job giving a unique, practical and useful list.

[@Morski_Dzik]

Great! Useful and solving so many problems. Thank You a lot!

[@dulceshimkus6496]

Thank you for sharing these great ideas! I especially love adding the silicone to the pad! Mine always slides throughout the night. Does it add significant bulk for packing?

[@stonefox2546]

Trying out the tent site - use the groundcloth. The one I used last time I went hiking is a tad short so I tied loops of string to the two points in one end. When I needed to camp (in windy, stable areas) I just hung the groundcloth on my trekking pole, see which way it wanted to go and if it was also relatively comfortable angle, you get the wind direction and ground level tested out at the same time. And the pole kept it from escaping in the wind.

[@elizabeth4053]

Some good ideas. Love that you deliver the info quickly. New subbie from Alaska 🙋🏻‍♀️🏔️💕

[@craftologist]

Spork measure idea is very inventive! Thanks for the tips!

[@asiadmajeed]

Man great video, some of the tips were amazing. TIP: from the Swedish army, put the wet sock along your legs and the top over your belt so the don’t slip. Works even below freezing

[@AussieBushman]

Good tips. A survival tip primarily for day-hikers: take a cheap rain poncho and an emergency blanket in your pocket or daypack, they can help keep you dry, warm and alive if you get caught in bad weather or if you have to spend an unplanned night in the backcountry.

[@stickyprickle]

Thank you, will definitely try the T-shirt pillow technique, not sure about the sock drying but good for you

[@bobbygeordieable]

These were all legit really good tips and tricks. Thank you!

[@aoerstroem]

A hacks video that is actually insightful. I am genuinely stunned. Thanks a lot!❤

[@lfk6370]

I camp a lot and am blown away by how many new methods this taught me! Awesome video

[@riselin]

Already knew/did some, but the tshirt, bottle cap and spoon marking are both new to me and really clever! Thanks

[@Eldare]

Barely heard any of those before, rly helpful

[@carrjeep7538]

Hands down the best way to dry socks. I’m gonna steal the bottle cap one. Thank you.

[@BLLEman]

These are great tips, thanks. But I think the water bottle - ground level trick won't work because the surface area of the water bottle is too small. A small unevenness in the ground already gives a wrong result. But the other tips are great.

[@DominiqueB]

I think that the way he explains it is different and addresses your valid point. He positions the bottle so it (the bottle) is straight up and down, confirmed by the leveled water; might have to dig in the bottle a bit to compensate for uneven ground. Then he moves back a ways and gauges the overall slope of the ground compared to the bottle. So, you eliminate the issue you mention of uneven ground, that becomes irrelevant.

[@flippy6553]

Good stuff! Awesome tips and I'll be using a few this summer.

[@ellenlen584]

I couldn't imagine the sock hack to work, so I tried it at home. Put one sock on the rack and one underneath my shirt. It does work - nice and dry and warm like fresh out of the dryer, while the one on the rack is still considerably wet - BUT obviously I'm a wimp, because I hated the first hours. It didn't stop feeling cold. Thank you anyway for the experience! 😂 Thanks also for the rest of the video and all the hacks! (Beginner's question: Isn't it easier to lay the bottle down to check if the ground is level? 🤔)

[@crappymeal]

with some rain jackets it's possible to thread string through the cuff if you make two small holes, then add a spring toggle to tighten the cuffs

[@OscarHikes]

Great tip!

[@crappymeal]

​@@OscarHikesthanks, good video

[@davidmoore9945]

Great tips Oscar! And great sense of humor! You had me for a second, thinking you’d put urine in your pot! Enjoy your vids, keep them coming.

[@Marche_Nco]

Hi Oscar and thanks for this video ! The bottle cap is a very nice idea , thank you ! 🙂👍

[@beebop4333]

OBSERVATION great channel and just subbed. I do prefer a 2 sided sponge made for teflon or non stick pans rather than vegetable netting as i have found the netting used on those bags is not as soft and scratches my cooking gear and drinkware over time.

[@michellebyrom6551]

The sponge scrubs intended for non-stick pans are better for stainless steel as they don't scratch the surface. You could cut a sponge in half for camping, or use just a quarter of the plain white non-stick scouring pads.

[@r-pupz7032]

I'm a trail runner and aspiring fastpacker, and these tips are so useful! The ultralight community is a goldmine for fastpacking, which is just ultralight backpacking done a bit faster after all 😅 I've also seen the hiking community take things from the trail running community, such as water bottles on the front straps (we use soft flasks for less bounce) and frameless lightweight running packs 🥰

[@matts9]

Most useful video I have seen on the Internet in a long time! Pure Genius!

[@frogdogify]

If you like cereal for breakfast you can fill ziplock bags with your favorite cereal and powdered milk. Very light and just add water. I do the same thing with pudding and cheese cake.

If the temperature allows, a stick of butter is also great. It works well with almost every food (olive oil in porridge? Nope) 🙂

[@OscarHikes]

Yup, it depends on your preference I guess. I live in Italy and before in Spain, so we put olive oil on everything here :D

[@AnonYmous-ii4tc]

Big thumbs up. Keep it simple and concise. Way to go.

[@SticksAandstonesBozo]

Wow an actual great video with hiking tips ?!? Maybe the first time I’ve ever seen one.

[@tianikane3312]

To stop getting the bottom of your sleeping bag from getting wet by brushing up against the end of the tent, zip up your raincoat, turn it upside down and pull it on over the end of your sleeping bag. Keeps your feet warmer also.

[@olsmxl6975]

Or tuck bottom of sleeping bag into you back pack

[@user-ez4iv2kp4f]

Ah, the classic wet socks on the belly! The better way is only doing it on the belly of your comrade after he fell asleep :)

[@OscarHikes]

Nice tip! :D

[@somestuffithoughtyoumightl6985]

Excellent video Sir Clear and to the point

[@OscarHikes]

Glad you liked it!

[@rachaelhoffman-dachelet2763]

Good tips! I love olive oil on trail, and it makes great emergency lotion, lip balm, etc. Ghee is another great choice, and is solid at cool temperatures which reduces the risk of spilling. I’d rather put wet socks on in the morning than sleep with wet socks! We do wet-entry canoe camping, so my socks are just going to get wet right away anyway.

[@thaiantunes564]

First actually good backpacking hacks video. Subscribed.

[@VideoFiend1]

Fiji water bottle - square shape keeps it from rolling on a hill.

[@mercywarren7397]

These are great tips! Thank You!

[@techguy9023]

Rubber shelf liner pieces under the air pad to keep from sliding

[@billheckman5937]

Great idea.

[@ABH313]

Not really a hack but I always pull the insoles out of my shoes/boots after a long day even when at home. Helps them dry out faster and air outs a lot of the smell. I have footwear that are years old and still don't smell 👍

[@enricadventures5793]

These are all great hacks, good video!

[@AirdrieRambler]

Great video! How much weight does silicone add to the mat? Do the dots remain in place after repeated inflation/deflation?

[@NikkiEvernight]

These were really good! Thanks!

[@JkBuss]

With the wet socks if you ha e 2 layers place them between them so not directly on your skin. I sleep wirh my headlight arpund my neck. Love the plactic net idea. Adding to my kit right now.

[@-COBRA]

marking the utensils - coll hack. but you need to stick with the same pot.

[@waynewang7851]

Brilliant! Thanks for sharing

[@jul2958]

bottle cap added to my gearlist ! amazing !

[@user-xs3db6ox3q]

Could be one of the few videos whose content is as valuable as the comment section!

[@sweetbodhisoul891]

Awesome tips! thank you so much :)

[@viscachaventures390]

Some great ideas here we’re going to have to try out! What kind of pants are those?

[@OscarHikes]

Cheap hiking pants from Decathlon!

[@MrKjones79]

I use fire to dry my socks. Definitely using the tshirt and pillow trick tho!!

[@ChrisOUTEC]

Great job -- thank you!

[@maurelius135]

I learned more legitimate tips in this one video than an entire day of watching other ones. Subscribed.

[@Menuki]

For carrying small amounts of liquids, I got 100cl bottles that are used for vape liquid. Cheap small and seal tight

[@___Tom]

Great tips, thanks!