Food Hacks Every Backpacker Should Know

My Favorite Food & Cooking Hacks I've learned over 9 Years & 14K Miles of Backpacking!
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[@FinelyOnTrail]

Good ideas... If I'm going to eat a meal that needs 2 cups of boiled water, in the morning I add 1 cup and pack it away. It cold soaks during the day. When I'm ready to eat it I only boil one cup of water. It heats it up, finishes cooking and I used half the fuel.

[@SydKam]

One of my hacks is, eating a backpacker meal on the first night of my trip and then use the packaging from that meal to rehydrate future meals like ramen or a knorr rice side. Keeps the pot clean and rehydrates well and easy to eat out of.

[@DarwinOnthetrail]

That’s definitely a good one! Thanks, Syd!

[@kellyjohnson3617]

That and my long handle spoon is silicone that scrapes the bag clean so use minimal water to clean the mountain house bag. Spoon is a little heavier than my titanium spork. But worth it to get very last crumb in my food bag

[@dcaudwell]

Me too - I have done this for years!

[@aaalllen]

That's usually my trash bag :)

[@SydKam]

@@aaalllen I'll admit, it ends up being my trash bag as well if I am out there long enough. Especially for, certain stinky stuff... 😁

[@joshbeers22]

I know they often don't do as well view-wise as gear vids, but for someone who already has a pretty dialed kit, tip videos really are where it's at. Much appreciated

[@DarwinOnthetrail]

Honestly... that's what I love making more than anything else 😉. Thanks for watching!

[@nancyst.john-smith3891]

@@DarwinOnthetrailit shows! You’re really good at it! Do you take a multi vit while you’re on the trail?

[@Aster-risque]

My personal food hack is what I call Chicken Butter! It's a blend i make at home consisting of chicken bone broth powder, freeze-dried powdered butter, and iodized salt (sometimes I add black pepper). I use this to add flavor to any rehydrated dish as needed. The butter adds a nice creamy consistency, the chicken adds a savory flavor, and the salt is, well, salt. But it also adds about 100 calories per tablespoon, plus healthy gelatine and collagen, which is important for your aching joints out there. On its own, it can be a nice broth to stimulate your appetite. It's a winner for me.

[@wanttogo1958]

@FiraFlame I assume you mean one tablespoon of the powder = 100 calories?

[@dangay365]

Thanks for this tip!

[@robdawson2]

how do you make butter powder? I need to look into that.

[@christimartin8512]

Could you just use “Better than Bouillon” concentrate, instead of making it?

[@Aster-risque]

@@christimartin8512 does that come in a powder?

[@markperry222]

For reducing the size of packaging and removing air. Make a pin hole, with either a pin or the tip of a knife, then slowly squeeze the air out, then fold up. A pin hole will let air out, keep moisture out, and keep food in, even things like powdered potato will no leak if you fold the bag so the hole is innermost/covered. Saves on ziplocs, and the time decanting.

[@thisbeem2714]

I bet if folks are worried about the pinhole they could tape over the hole.

[@GivePeaceAChance12]

Tape over pinhole 😊

[@87Ahoff87]

@@thisbeem2714you guys are brilliant. I’m trying to figure out how to pack a sport bike w/no panniers, but tank & tail bag & a small backpacking pack that I can’t pack to it’s full potential since I’ll be sitting on my bike & wearing a helmet. All the m/c camping gear vids I’ve found none are sport bike specific so they all have panniers or boxes that can carry everything they need. Since I also have backpacking experience I knew to look here & you guys would come through & that you did! I hadn’t thought to let out the air in my food bags until this vid, but then I was worried about the powder spilling into my tail bag. The pinhole & tape trick is just what I need. Thanks!!

[@thisbeem2714]

@@87Ahoff87 nice!

[@romandial]

@@thisbeem2714 I do this. It's like my only food prep: taping little chip bag holes

[@Get_Some_Nature]

I thruhiked the Appalachian Trail in 2022. Just finished my thruhike of the Pacific Crest Trail 3 weeks ago. All these hacks are legit. Instead of a cozy for the foil packages, I use a pot cozy and eat out of my pot. My pot is short and wide to use less fuel than the coffee cup style pots. It a Toaks 1350 ml. I bought fuel only twice this year. Love my butane transfer adapter from Amazon. Best $12 I have spent on gear! The secret is to put your fuel can that you want to fill in a freezer for about 15 minutes. You don't have to heat the donor can that you are emptying into your can. The cold can on the bottom will suck the fuel into it.

[@JaclynLiane]

New hiker here... sorry if this is a dumb question, but I admire my senior hiker tips! I am terrified to use the fuel flip device... with the method you've described, do I need to worry about accidentally adding too much fuel into the cold fuel canister? I am scared of these things and I have no clue why...Trying to educate myself. Also, I can't nail down exactly how I want to cook because I don't want to get stuck just cold soaking, just doing the freezer bag cooking method OR be stuck eating out of my pot the whole time. Any recommendations on what's the EASIEST for the PCT, specifically? Is it wise to plan for a different cooking strategy for the desert/ Sierra/ Washington or is that me overthinking it? I.E. less water in the desert = maybe I need to go stoneless for those sections and get a hot meal plan starting in the Sierra? I'll take all the real advice I can get.

[@Get_Some_Nature]

@JaclynLiane I know it's intimidating to use a fuel transfer adapter, but it's actually very easy to use. I put the the can that you want to fill, in a freezer for about 15 minutes. Then I screw the fuel adapter on to it like you do with a stove. Then screw on the donor can on top. When both cans are tightened, I open the valve to let the fuel drain down into the can below. Always transfer fuel outside never indoors. You can hear it draining when you put your ear up to the cans. You can shake them a little to get all the fuel into the bottom can. I don't worry about over filling it. The only thing that will happen is the first time you go to use the refilled can is you may get some liquid at first. I open the stove valve without lighting the stove. If liquid comes out, I wait until it switches to gas then light the stove and cook as normal.

[@Get_Some_Nature]

@JaclynLiane I always carry my stove and pot. I don't eat out of Ziploc bags. No micro plastic for me. I hate cold soaking!!! Cold food sucks at the end of the day. I eat near water sources. Only a couple of times on the PCT did I have to carry water to camp. It was never more than 5 miles past the water source. A hot meal is my reward at the end of the day! Even in the summer heat, I like a hot meal. If I was going to not carry a stove, I would go no cook instead of cold soaking. Any food that you don't have to wet to eat such as chips, beef jerky, cookies, trail mix, bars, candy is better than cold mashed potatoes or cold rice or pasta. Soggy cold food sucks! Back to how I cook, I like 1 & a half cups of boiling water to a Knorr rice side or Idahoan mashed potatoes. I'll add a ramen if I am really hungry. I boil 2 cups if adding a ramen. I eat in my pot and then add a little water to the pot then scrape out the residue with my finger nail. When I get to town, I wash my pot and spoon in a sink. You will get used to cooking quickly. It's something I look forward to each evening. Somedays a hot meal is the only good thing that happened that day. You have to get through the sucky days to appreciate the good ones!

[@lilianm7151]

Most important lesson I learnt, bring food you like and want to eat. It might be different than from your day to day but you will learn over time what works and what not.

[@scottplumer3668]

The converse is also useful. I went to North Manitou Island in Michigan a few years ago, and they advise taking extra food in case the ferry isn't running and you're stuck there. I took plain oatmeal, with nothing to supplement it (like sugar) so that I was less likely to eat it on a whim. I didn't need it.

[@wildwanderer6025]

That's a good one. I used to always bring nuts to hiking trips (lots of calories, healty, taste good). But when actually outside I never feel like eating them, ever.

[@ADbe-me]

I add olive oil to anything that can take it. Most decent foods can easily meet the 100:1 ratio so I personally prioritize protein. For example, gorp and nut mixes can take you close to 200 calories/oz and have a ton of protein. Using the fuel transfer adapter also reduces waste in the landfill which is particularly important to me.

[@TheNewGreenIsBlue]

What do you carry the Olive Oil in?

[@ADbe-me]

@@TheNewGreenIsBlue Depends on the length of the trip but either a 3 oz nalgene or ~1.75 oz liquor shot bottle

[@annonone93]

so glad someone else mentioned protein. Calories dont matter so much as what the calorie is. 30g min of protein for lunch and dinner is my go to (i hate breakfast so if i eat anything thats a W in my book)

[@ADbe-me]

@@annonone93 I hear you, I barely have enough patience to get my coffee going sometimes but I do have one hack that may interest you and packs a punch: I make an oatmeal mix (oatmeal, farina, coconut shavings, raisins and cinnamon) that I leave sitting in water over night. In the morning, that puppy is ready to go either cold or with a little heat!

[@annonone93]

@@ADbe-me I like that, I am doing a backpacking trip very soon and am going to try my best to eat breakfast. One of the meals I have oatmeal and packed it with pumpkin seeds, almond slices, sweetened coconut shavings, dehydrated fruit, flax meal, extra cinnamon/sugar, and a scoop of lactose free powdered milk with protein powder. The coffee is no issue its making the coffee and breakfast lol. I think I'll cold soak the oats overnight like you suggested. My partner and I are both vegetarian, and i think protein powder is the worst creation known to human kind, but sine we are going to be putting in a lot of miles I figured I should add some extra protein to the meal. If i hate it I am packing a couple Bobo's oat bars for backup food

[@Wayondon]

At the risk of being too repetitive, I truly enjoy your posts. Appreciate it. Merci.

[@DarwinOnthetrail]

I appreciate that!

[@jennifer1424]

Thanks so much for this! I was literally just sitting with all my food spread out trying to figure out what I’m taking for a section of the PCT next week. Great timing! I never realized you divided food by each day with separate bags- I’m gonna do that! Much easier for my ADHD brain to bring what I need each day and keep it organized. To prevent myself from losing my spoon, I always keep it in the food cozy as opposed to loose in the food bag- so far I still have it! 😂 Once again, thank you! 🙂

[@DarwinOnthetrail]

Have a great hike!

[@backlogbrood2451]

The main reason this theme of video rocks is because it's about FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD ❤

[@wilsonov87]

Thank you so much for these tips! I'm weird and autistic and have a lot of food issues, and also very bad at cooking and meal-planning at the best of times... But I really want to be outdoors, I have always yearned for longer trips in the wilderness and multiday hiking, and I would love to do the Te Araroa trail - it runs right by my house! But the few times I've tried basic overnight camping, I've found the food / cooking aspects, both before and during, to be so overwhelming that I've barely ever spent a night outdoors, in my 36 years. I'm very excited to come across this video, similar videos I've seen over the years seem to overwhelm me even more, somehow... Haha that's life with autism, getting confused or stuck by things which everybody else seems to understand........ But I find these tips to be really very helpful and relatable. You've highlighted specific issues which I didn't even realise were significant barriers, and so I could never come up with a solution. So thank you very much, and I am looking forward to checking out your other videos now, cheers :)

[@StrangeAlleyCat]

I have the same as you and my tips to you is to start trying out different foods at home so you hopefully won't be stuck out there with food you can't eat. Try it out at home first and find the ones you like or at least tolerate. I hate cooking so prepared, ready meals are important for me. Most of them are awful 😂

[@wilsonov87]

@@StrangeAlleyCat that's a great tip thank you!!

[@danielsingh9415]

Do as many "shakedown" hikes, in ur backyard, as u need to, to build ur confidence with whatever is holding u back. Or go car camping, with all ur backpacking gear, when u hit a wall - u forgot to bring gas canister, or God forbid, a lighter, just bail, pack up & go home. Or sleep in ur car. Or in the above situation, use the cigarette lighter to start a fire 🔥 But use a checklist, and write down what worked & what didn't, and brainstorm what u will do differently next time. Or ask us, we love to help get u on the trail. There are NO stupid questions, except the ones that u fail to ask. Bailing is not failing, it's just a learning experience, if u make all the mistakes faster, u will learn faster, as long as they're survivable mistakes, don't mess around with hypothermia

[@brookelee333]

Kia ora! Gearshop regularly has sales on backcountry cuisine: I brought one of every flavour and tried them all on shorter trips. My favourites are vegetarian cottage pie, chicken thai curry, beef stroganoff and roast lamb. My scroggn is peanuts, raisins, sunflower seeds and m&ms. Wraps with parmesan and peanut butter. Breakfast is oats then a mix of nuts, fruits, seeds. LOTS of milk powder and sugar. Im neurospicy too and textures are difficult! You've got this. Keep hydrated your appetite will thank you, arohanui

[@nancyst.john-smith3891]

I made covers for my water bottles and a liner for my tent floor out of the Reflectix 48” wide hot water heater insulation. We lived in Alaska and winter camped. A piece for under your sleeping mat can really cut the heat transfer from your body to the ground. It’s very light weight!

[@geezeroutdoors]

Just starting to enjoy hiking at 71 and learning a lot of interesting tidbits from your videos. Thanks !

[@kayfrick7129]

I'm just starting at 59. I was basically an invalid for 3 years and just the fact that I can get a backpack off and on was unthinkable just 3 years ago. Now I am up to 1 hour walks around my property carrying it and just imagining I'm on the Appalachian Trail. Maybe in a year I'll be healthy enough for it. :)

[@SundanceKey-ko3uy]

Another way to save $$$ on food is to snack on nuts and dried fruit instead of bars. For a four-day trip, I carry -- each in separate bags -- three or four kinds of nuts and three or four kinds of fruit. Buy 'em in bulk at Costco and a co-op, then repack. Snack by snack, mix and match the combos. Almonds and apricots, cranberries and pecans, raisins and walnuts, then maybe almonds and raisins, etc. Variety rocks! (Yep, this is similar to gorp but doesn't get boring like gorp.) I do enjoy a bar occasionally but mostly favor healthier, less processed snacks.

[@barbara777]

idk if you've tried planters dill pickle cashews but if I could find those in bulk I think I would only eat those they are insanely delicious.

[@thisbeem2714]

Good idea. I got bored with that hack for awhile but came back to it. I figured out that adding a bar in here and there is my best option. I don’t get completely bored with my fruit nut mix and don’t eat a ton of processed bars.

[@romandial]

I'm way over "energy" bars and just buy chocolate bars.

[@Smitty-i5l]

I take a small dyneema made dog bowl and eye dropper with dawn dish soap for hand washing.

[@HostileTakeover2]

People need to be doing that more. The weight is minimal and the benefits huge. And even when water is scarce, you don't need much.

[@McK7799]

Excellent tip since hand sanitizer doesn't kill Norovirus.

[@nunya___]

omg I use a soft dog-bowl to wash up at camp too!

[@gdx52]

i tried the daily food bag idea once, no i prefer to package my food by meal type. brkfst, lunch, dinner, snack. this allows me to be more flexible on meal choices every day. if you bring 2 pieces of foil, you can use one for a lid and one for a wind screen. i weigh my small canisters after my trips to see how much i use. certain trips i will carry the medium size can, sometimes the small. on overnighters, i simply carry 2 partially empties and use them up. i have long taken freeze dried meals, open, dump in a bowl, add rice/ramen and dried meat, split in half and then put into food grade stand up mylar bags. one sided clear lets you see what you have but i also write on them the type and how much water to add. also, only heat coffee and hot chocolate water to as hot as you can drink. it doesn't need to boil. calories are great but make sure you get enough protein.

[@ShepherdsSheepdog]

Protein powder! ON double chocolate flavor brightens your world all kinds of ways!

[@tfrtrouble]

I also pack my meals by type: cooked stuff (breakfast and dinner) and ready-to-eat snacks. Cooked stuff gets buried in the pack somewhere since I only need it in camp. Snacks go there too. And then todays snacks go in the backpack lid pocket where I can get at them easily, or I'll tend not to bother eating them.

[@mrdubel10]

The Amazon bubble pack envelopes that they use for small flat products are the perfect size for an insulated rehydration pouch. You just have to trim the top to make the flap and add some velcro to keep it closed. Make a little pleat fold on the bottom and your waste packaging is a durable piece of free, lightweight gear.

[@thorsten888]

Using a big thermos flask for lunch (family backpacking). We fill it with hot water and food in the morning when we have everything out anyway. Then there is almost zero delay from decision to stop to food intake. Then we can do the dishes in the evening. Shortens the time and effort of lunch considerably. It isn’t UL but I’m strong. Plus a thermos with hot water is always nice to have in cold weather.

[@Hunters61]

I've been following you since you had only a few thousand followers, and then I thought to myself, this guy will get popular one day. Since then I haven't seen your videos recommended on KZbin, until now, and wow congrats on the 320k followers! It's so cool to see you doing what you love!

[@robbtaylor8833]

@hunters61 ... same .. it's like Darwin disappeared....

[@absoRAZ]

A great tip for getting more calories is to pack some instant mash potatoes and grated parmesan in a little ziplock. Every time you make a meal with boiling water (or I guess cold soaking but no thanks) just add in some instant mash and parm to whatever you're making. It doesn't really mess up the flavor but it adds in some easy calories.

[@michaelbutler1557]

Good idea.

[@passiveincomeadventures]

I wish we’d seen this video before our AZT family hike. It took us an embarrassing number of weeks to figure out packing a bag of food per day per person. Game changer! We had been putting all like things together in a food bag and giving one to each person, so I had breakfast, dad had lunch, one kid had snacks, other had dinner, etc. But then we couldn’t hike in smaller groups, and everyone had to eat the same thing. I was cooking family meals multiple times a day, it was miserable. So much so that other hikers taking breaks nearby gave me the trail name of “Full Service!” Once we got our food situation dialed in, we were all so much happier the rest of the journey. Thanks for the tips!

[@singlebuck85]

On the AT last year, I only had to buy two cans of fuel because I was able to take the partial cans out of hiker boxes and transfer them to my can.

[@Customcreationsllc]

I cut the bottom of my spoon hole to be a hook so I can pick up the pot lid. I transfer my Skittles/snack into a small water/juice bottle then I can just pour them in my mouth no dirty hand contact.

[@robdawson2]

you can pour these right from the original packaging.... No need to transfer Skittles, MnMs etc to a bottle.

[@87Ahoff87]

@@robdawson2Unless they take the “family” size bags on trail w/them 🤷‍♀️

[@jessicathompson236]

​@@87Ahoff87 , I put my peanut butter m'n'ms in a bottle. If they melt, I just add water and a drink powder.

[@karlfonner7589]

When refueling that small butane canister - stick the small canister in the fridge and the large canister in the sun to warm up. You will thank me later.

[@DarwinOnthetrail]

Yep! Every time!

[@bihlygoat]

I put mine in ice water and nearly boiling water. Same principle. Oh, and I did have the Lindl valve on one canister start to leak slowly after re-using it too many times. So watch out for that. (Maybe you could see bubbles underwater? I just know mine went empty while it was stored).

[@sam3317]

put the small can in a bowl of salty ice water when you're filling too.

[@OrmusTR]

How you safely fill it up without overfilling and causing it to either bulge or explode? While on a thru hike you wont really have access to a scale

[@sam3317]

@@OrmusTR you do the filling at home mate, not on the hike. It doesn't make sense if you think about it.

[@joshualarue3335]

I also open all my food containers before packing. In addition to letting the air out. I like to toss the absorbing packet out, and have less trash to deal with on the trail.

[@Learningthetruth7]

Me, too!

[@ChrisWilliams-j4n]

One of the best comment threads on any of your vids IMHO, outstanding ideas from you and the community! Thanks!

[@scottyplug]

Dude. That buy the big fuel and fill the little fuel cannisters is a game changer. Not only do I have a schload of little, partially full 100g cannisters, I have several 250 g cannisters that do not fit into any of my current cook kits. Getting that adapter for sure and will be doing this from now on. Hell, I probably won't have to buy new fuel for months yet. Thanks Darwin.

[@joelfurrer1339]

I’ve cooked in the Knorr pouches only to find out that a couple of days on trail caused the bottom corners to wear pinholes and cause a leak. Also, I divide up my chips into daily portions in baggies so that I don’t eat them all at once. Same with trail mix, etc.

[@Machfreeman]

Man, between you and Jupiter I feel like I have access to the perfect balance of minimalism and comfort and fun. It would be awesome to see some collab content with him! You’ve taught me so. Much as far as balancing weight, comfort, and volume while Jupiter hits a lot of the skills and minimalism to reduce reliance of types of gear or heavier versions of gear. In the end, I’ve been able to cut my baseweight to 8.5lbs without breaking the bank (eBay!) and maintaining a few creature comforts like insulated sleeping pad, fully enclosed tent, headphones, stove & cook pot, etc… thanks for all of your great insight and well-researched and well-tested ideas.

[@theheist5]

I liked your recommendation on repacking food into smaller containers, however, I would add that as you are already going to the extent of breaking food down into smaller packaging that you might consider vacuum sealing the food into appropriately sized vacuum bags or mylar bags. Properly sealed vacuum bags will prevent moisture and other things from creeping in. You could also vacuum seal entire lots and keep them on the shelf for grab and go purposes.

[@runvidr]

I don't backpack anymore, but that tip about bulk-buying fuel is brilliant! It saves on canisters, which keeps them out of the landfills, too!

[@mfmonthefmf]

a buddy taught me a cool trick to save space in Bear canister. Empty freeze dried meals into small individual zipolck bags. Then bring only one cookbag to reuse throughout the trip. I also add peanut/almond butter packets to oatmeal, extra calories and not much space or weight.

[@GivePeaceAChance12]

I love how you're so organized about your foods! I consider nutrition as well, our bodies need a balance of nutrients, not just a bunch of chips and cookies which may be high in calories but over the long haulour bodies dont do well. I hear a lot of people eating a lot of junk food and wo der if they would feel/do better if they were more organized. Theres a thru hiking couple i follow and they plan their meals, cook and dehydrate food and send it in themselves.

[@tfrtrouble]

Unless you're hiking for months, nutrients are not a big issue. For me the main thing is something that tempts me to eat, since although I love food in real life, I tend to lose interest in eating while out hiking, so whatever will encourage me to eat enough calories is good.

[@kevinhikes3132]

I've witnessed you evolve over the years You are now into the great wisdom realm You really are the man

[@lorens7837]

My favorite breakfast: An envelope of Carnation Essentials with 1/4 cup Nido whole milk powder and 4 Walmart brand oatmeal cookies (300 calories). I eat this while I’m packing up. Quick, satisfying, nourishing, and mess-free.

[@daven.7685]

Do you oak the cookies in the Carnation and Nido to make a mush?

[@neoaliphant]

Milo is an equivalent to the carnation essentials, popular in the polynesian islands apparently, nido is great for a creamy oatmeal...

[@jwest150]

Just bought the Insulated Food Pouch by Big Sky at Garage Brown Gear. Their website asked how did I hear of them and i just cut and pasted the link to this video in the comment. Great tips man, helping out a beginner really well..!!

[@thedaftestnameicouldthinko8233]

That was a useful video. Thank you. One sort of tip - take all of the nearly empty gas canisters when you go car camping. Save the nearly full ones for backpacking.

[@G.I.JeffsWorkbench]

Great tips. The fuel transfer device is genius & really works. Thanks for taking the time to put this video together.

[@87Ahoff87]

I fuel transfer my propane from my 20lb tanks to my 1lb tanks for my Mr. Buddy heater. I didn’t even think to do it for my backpacking canisters!

[@AndersHolck]

I've watched many videos and there are a lot of obvious tips. However, this fuel transfer gadget really caught my attention. I have not been thinking about that at all. Yes, you are absolutely right, it's very smart to be able to ensure the small canisters are topped up before departure. I'll buy one for sure.

[@theoutdoordogandhikinggirl]

I pack my food per day as well for about a year now and that has been such an improvement! Great tip about eating chips with a spoon. I never bring chips out on trail, but it makes me think anyway about eating things with your hands. You made a good point there.

[@ericb.4358]

Like you I wanted to leave my heavier pot lid at home. So I cut a disposable aluminum pie pan into a lid for my 3 cup pot and used a piece of duct tape with a 3/4" tab sticking up for a handle. Beenworking for years. I just began using a fuel transfer widget and it's a great item. You need to do a segment on it.

[@kmander]

Really like powdered coconut oil. The weight-density-calorie ratios are superb. Whilst it has a strong flavour, it tends to work well with breakfast (oats etc), coffee, and most evening meals.

[@barbara777]

I love this idea!!

[@CricketsBay]

I prefer powdered butter.

[@kmander]

@@CricketsBay good idea!

[@johncheeseman6764]

Love the video, I have found that a 1 gallon food saver bag will allow you to rehydrate your meal. Transfer the dehydrated meal, and vacuum seal it, cuts down the size. I took your day food packing 1 step further and pack each days food in a vacuum bag and seal and suck the air. Food bag is muck smaller.

[@JaclynLiane]

If you vacuum seal a bag of chips, the CHIPS WONT CRUSH in your pack. Learned this tip while watching some hunting videos. (I've done with Fritos and Doritos, haven't tried a more fragile chip yet). I thought, these hunters have us hikers dicked when it comes to figuring out how to pack legit food and not ramen constantly. LOL

[@nancyst.john-smith3891]

If you want to be the camp hero in a group, pack a Jello Instant cheese cake. Bring a bit of powdered milk, a bit of butter make ethe recipe according to directions and share. Everyone will love you! One time I brought individual Keebler tart crusts, instant milt, instant pudding and a can of whipped cream to make individual chocolate cream pies on a ski camp. We pulled sleds with our packs on them so a little extra was no big deal. It was a smashing success!

[@rnupnorthbrrrsm6123]

I’m going with you !!!

[@ljean5471]

my snack eating utensil of choice for chip, gummies etc is chopsticks! they're small and lightweight and work for things that might be hard to spoon, then I can keep my grubby hands off my food and avoid hot cheeto fingers. Also definitely helps you pace yourself when eating hahaha

[@irielion3748]

Genius

[@bruce.KAY-bike-drifter]

Thank you. Lots of good ideas. I particularly like the insulation bag for rehydrating meals. Plus, I will definitely make myself cooking pot lids with aluminium foil. Great video. Well produced.

[@katherinerichardson2273]

I like the concept of your rehydration pouch because there's usually more than one serving in The backpacker meals to start with that makes it easier when you're only wanting to do half

[@JeevesFlys]

For snacking, my resupplies have bags various types of nuts and seeds, dried fruit, various M&Ms, chocolate covered espresso beans, and pretzels. I mix it up so I'll get a different set of options each time and can mix them how I like. Pistachios with peanut butter M&Ms, a few chocolate covered espresso beans and dried blueberries are a favorite. Chia seeds are great for protein, fiber, and calories. My breakfast is usually a mix of muesli, powdered milk, plant protein powder, freeze-dried fruit, nuts, chia seeds, vanilla latte mix, and powdered butter. I'll let it soak while I pack up in the morning. It's good cold, and very good hot if I want to take the time to boil water.

[@daven.7685]

I always have a problem with chia seeds sticking to my jar! Have you experienced this?

[@Wild.cat.adventures]

One of my favourite trail mixes is Bombay mix, add chopped dried fruit et voila - sugar, salt, fruity vitamins, nutty protein in something that doesn't turn to dust but weighs very little and lasts ages 👍

[@catthebeautyhunter]

I'm planning an adventure to Triple Crown. The information you provide on this channel is a true level above. Smart, practical, and sensible. You rock! 🤘

[@JakeWeil]

Great tips to help on trail! I also have been experimenting on dehydrating my own meals. A dehydrator was one of my best investments for eating on the trail.

[@toadevergreen2561]

I love dehydrating my own backpacking meals for my dinners. For me, its worth the extra time and, occasionally, the extra volume to get a significant portion of vegetables and protein in my diet on trail at a fraction of the cost. I’ve been building a recipe bank for years now. I'm concerned about the long term effects of eating the common trail foods that are high in sugar and low in nutrients. Even just bringing some dehydrated previously cooked and seasoned vegetables to add to knorr sides or whatever would be a good option, although those meals are also lacking in protein. Gotta love the kettle chips though. Those are the lifeblood! The spoon trick is great. Those fuel adapters are great too.

[@dawngaffney8613]

Do you have a page with recipes that you dehydrate? I have done this a few times on section hikes. Bag of dehydrated mushrooms, peas veggies and added them to whatever I am having but planning tge AT this year and I want to expand on my variation of meals. If one things gets me off tge trail it will be food boredom.

[@ahveganpizzabella]

Dark leafy greens are amazing for drying and bringing them with you - so healthy, full of fibre and nutrients and so lightweight. Very important to eat your greens on hikes or camping instead of all the nasty canned spam, high fat high salt Mres. Spinach, kale, nori seaweed (the black sheets that sushi rolls are wrapped in), wakame seaweed, and nettles are my favorite. And of course dried boletus mushrooms (buttons, brown caps, portobellos, shiitake, oyster hats are also great) - shrooms add so much flavor and umami to any soup or stew. Veggie broth stock and powdered insta miso soup in small packets. Then of course a few garlic heads and ginger root, or if you prefer less mess bring powdered garlic, paprika, chilli, turmeric, Italian herbs, harissa , wasabi, mustard etc in resealable little bottles, and for the sweet tooth vanilla, hazelnut syrup, cocoa, cinnamon, freeze-dried raspberries/strawberries, your fav tea (roiboos , yerbamate) and if you can a small tiny bottle of lemon juice or balsamico vinegar. Basically bring the entire spice cabinet in small packets, all very lightweight but total game changer, when all you have is baked beans, oats and ramen on the trail...

[@kimberlykaylor2532]

Finally, someone sharing new information. Thank you. The people in your comment section are also very interesting and helpful.

[@kennethwedig6091]

I will take my flip fuel device on trail with me. Hiker boxes almost always contain partially used fuel canisters.

[@benry007]

If you meet up with other hikers you could also buy one can and fill up all your canisters

[@trippingandtrekking]

I was just thinking this the other day. Or you could "borrow" gas from someone in an emergency.

[@happyonthetrails]

How do you know when the one you’re filling is full and don’t overfill ? Does it just stop ?

[@schmeltzb]

​@happyonthetrails , so I filled a can over like 2 or 3 times in a row and it has a big bulge on the bottom, I assume it's over filled so without weighing it, it is hard to tell lol

[@aaalllen]

@@happyonthetrails MSRs have the floating guesstimates on the side. You could sharpie something like that on other brands, but note that MSR usually fills 110 vs 100 on the others.

[@scottplumer3668]

I often go to the Asian food aisle in my local grocery store and get one of the noodle things they have there. It's usually more interesting than ramen, and I supplement it with a pouch of chicken or Spam. Spam is also great once once it's been cooked a bit over a fire (assuming you're someplace where you can have one). Also, pre-cooked bacon is a game-changer. You can cook it over a fire or in a pan to make it a little crispier, or eat it right out of the package. I also take a couple of Lipton cold brew iced tea bags. One works perfectly in a 32-ounce Nalgene.

[@romandial]

I'm a spammer also. The little pouches are my favorites. Frying spam and adding brown sugar is delicioues.

[@Jsingle911]

I finally made your cook koozy and tried it out on trail last weekend. It worked great! I even made a standup koozy for my son's collapsible silicone bowl out of the same material. Now it sits more stable and doesn't burn his fingers. Thanks, Darwin!

[@blackoak4978]

I don't do through hikes, but since I don't drive I do need to haul my stuff in a backpack. I've learned a few things from you over the years, and have picked up some of the cheaper gear you've highlighted. Learning some of the tips, tricks, and gear of through hikers has allowed me to cut down what I consider "essential" and make room for a few luxuries. If I'm going camping on my own I'll do the Knorr thing, but if I'm camping with friends I'll use the excuse to challenge myself to cook a real tasty meal without adding too much weight or adding too much bulk. Doing it all over a camp fire makes the final results extra satisfying.

[@trumpeta19]

Eating chips with your spork is genius! Immediately implementing this for my upcoming trip.

[@nancyst.john-smith3891]

I was thinking that you could take that a step further and divide the chip bag into 4 sandwich bags by weight. Squeeze the air out, close them up, and put one in each day’s food bag.

[@nancyst.john-smith3891]

I hope I’m not overly annoyingly commenting! In addition to the food rehydrating insulated pouch, made covers for my water bottles and a liner for my tent floor out of the Reflectix 48” wide hot water heater insulation. We lived in Alaska and winter camped. A piece for under your sleeping mat can really cut the heat transfer from your body to the ground. It’s very light weight!

[@operationseekingtruth]

I did this for just the size of my sleep pad. I love it for cold weather camping. Also put them in my shoes in the winter for hiking or working outside.

[@Buckaroomedic]

I didn’t see it mentioned, but an aluminum foil windscreen around your stove can help reduce fuel usage. I use some heavy gauge aluminum foil.

[@87Ahoff87]

I made a 3 sided windscreen & added a base to help it stand up (weigh it down w/my fuel canister) using a dollar store foil cooking pan. Folds up nicely to store in my cook pot. Just be sure to fold over the edges so you don’t get cut!

[@BrianMorelli14]

Meal/food videos are so helpful. Half of the time packing is figuring out food. The other half is figuring out clothes, especially in winter. Going to try the spoon and the calorie ratio tips. Couple ideas to pass along is to eat oatmeal out of the packet rather from a bowl. Saves on cleaning. The packet coating probably isn’t great but every so often isn’t going to kill you. Also always spring for the protein oatmeal. The other tip is tuna packets. Don’t like tuna normally but convenience, packability, cost, weight, and high protein count make it a staple for me.

[@CairnOfDunnCroftPermaculture]

I have a pot cosy made from two thicknesses of closed cell mat. Originally it was used just for rehydrating meals. Recently though I've started packing frozen meat in my cook pot inside the cosy. The insulated cosy keeps it partially frozen for a couple of days, cold for another day. So for the first few days of a walk I get to eat chops, bacon, sausages. When the meat runs out I switch to dehydrated food, and the cosy becomes a cosy again. I always crave town food a few days into a walk, so this allows me to be eating real food much more of the time.

[@alan772]

Wind, even a breeze of a couple of miles per hour, significantly degrades the efficiency of an exposed canister stove. For less than an ounce of weight, I use a Flatcat Gear Ocelot windscreen fitted to my stove. It helps me stretch out my canisters much longer (and more reliably) on long hikes. I’ve tried a lot of stoves and screens over several thousand miles, but just haven’t found a better combination for me than a Pocket Rocket Deluxe with the matching Ocelot and a titanium mug.

[@DominiqueB]

Manufacturers warn NOT to enclose a canister & stove combo inside a windscreen: if there's not enough air circulating around it, temperatures might increase dramatically and mess up the seals, leading to gas leak ==> big risk of runaway flame or kaboooom. I have like you used a windscreen for years with no issue, but i have indeed read reports of bad incidents, so there is a real risk. I now make sure to leave a big gap on the lee side, to not wrap the screen too closely -- or even better now, when weight is not much of a concern, to use a remote setup like MSR Lowdown, that has the big added benefit of lowering the center of gravity for the stove head/pot.

[@alan772]

@@DominiqueB Agree that heating up the fuel canister is not a good idea. Nice thing about the Ocelot is that it doesn’t enclose the canister and places a burner plate between the canister and flame. So the screen can protect the flame from wind 360 around without heating up the canister. The enclosure makes it easier to run the stove at a more efficient lower setting (half or less) which also means less heat escaping in any direction.

[@DominiqueB]

@@alan772 I’d never seen the Ocelot, thanks for the tip, looks like a smart and efficient design. Always something new to learn. :-)

[@87Ahoff87]

I made a 3 sided windscreen w/a base for my fuel can to sit on so it doesn’t blow over out of a dollar store foil cooking sheet . It folds up nicely to store in my cook pot.

[@danielsingh9415]

I use the Ocelot windscreen from Flat Cat Gear with the BRS & a tall 900ml pot in campfire 🔥 ban season. John from FCG recommends turning down the gas to 1/3rd power to conserve fuel. It takes longer to get a boil, but I'm in no rush. 👍

[@kodak49]

Shout-out to Gear Sceptic for his work on caloric density (and basically everything he researches).

[@ashmaybe9634]

Another shout for Gear Sceptic. He's the GOAT

[@shnedergaard]

Peanuts and dark chocolate are my go to trailsnacks. Also, I'm going to incorporate overnight oats.

[@bikerinthewoods7256]

A Vargo Bot makes it easy to pack the over night oats into the bear bag without leakage. Works great with a koozy for hot meals, too. Not a cheap pot, but versatile.

[@TheVeggieBiker]

I don't know if you have this in US but in europe I like to use sweetened condensed milk in small tube for my morning coffee it is for me an alternative for milk + sugar and you don't need to think if your milk will be bad the next day, also save a lot of space

[@87Ahoff87]

Do you put it in your own tube or do you purchase it that way? I can’t recall if the canned sweetened milk needs to be refrigerated after opening or not.

[@BadDadio]

We have that in the States but I’ve only seen it in a can. You have a good idea though.

[@TheVeggieBiker]

@@87Ahoff87 no we have them in tube I think it would be hard to put to tube but maybe to smaller container. Look for Sweetened Condensed Milk tube

[@neoaliphant]

ive done that as well, but also straight from the tube is a great snack, its been in some army MREs, tined condensed milk makes great sweets and fudge...

[@Olyphoto7]

Well done! I like your idea of rehydrating your meals in your coat for added warmth, but I would be concerned about getting a midnight visit from hungry critters. I love tips and tricks episodes. Not related to cooking but on winter hikes or rainy ones I use an UCO Candle Lantern to add warmth and reduce condensation.

[@ClaudeBohls]

Good advice to DIY and improvise. It is a fun hobby.

[@AnEnglishmanInNewYork71]

Absolute Master at this stuff…followed a few years now and so glad I do

[@freedomphilsgood2007]

The bottom of the bag crushed chips are just the best !! ❤ so making an entire bag of crushed chips should be the bomb 👍🏻

[@marywhalen5096]

Got me going with that tip! Shocked & dismayed to see you mash them, then total understanding. Yup, they would be unlikely to last to the 2nd day for me! Instead of binging (& maybe eating nasty bacteria off my greasy greedy fingers!) now have a flavorful crunchy topping! Ha!

[@vsherbie]

Clean hands are important! I'm mildly alergic to ceadar pollen. I once triggered a reaction by eating nuts with dirty hands because there was pollen in the dirt even though there was none in the air.

[@OldGoatStillGoing]

Another hack when transferring fuel from one canister to another is to put the receiving canister into a refrigerator or something cold for a few minutes befor doing the transfer. It will reduce the pressure in it so that the fuel in the other will flow more efficiently.

[@dangerwillrobinson23]

I have really appreciated your insights on food and reducing cost.

[@kellyjohnson3617]

I get a farm box delivered to my home and some food comes in a reflectix bag. I use them for so many great purposes. I never throw them away. I’ve made cozys for knorr sides or backpacking meals. But also made cozys for my drink bottles to keep drinks colder longer snd also made some for my camp/hiking cook pots and for kids for them to keep heat from escaping so conserve water snd fuel. They make good bubble wrap for packing and I tape them together to make custom window covers for the south side of my house in summer. Tho I have double pane windows snd black out blinds that keep the house cool, the reflectix drops the house temp a full 5-10 degree which can be the difference between comfortable and very uncomfortable. Also lightweight way to increase the R value of a sleep system. Use it under my pets bed when camping. She loves it so much I have it under her pet bed at home.

[@CricketsBay]

Those are great tips for using Reflectix. Thank you.

[@mssixty3426]

Thanks for the fuel transfer hack! I can use that for camping with my grandsons!

[@Gambeli02]

I tend to forget to eat lunch and also use my snacks for calories during the mid-day. Chips! Have never carried them, but I'll consider a crushed bag next time I'm out. We do use copious amounts of plastic bags! LOL I save them, wash them out, and, since they really can't be reused for food, use them for general storage. Mostly what's on my hands is tree sap. Any dirt, I figure inoculates me. 😜 I do carry a tiny bottle of hand sanitizer -- alcohol based takes off sap, as well as any cruds. I've been getting the shelf-safe chicken packets. Applewood smoked is the best. Darwin: Still the best advice channel on KZbin. Very glad you're back doing this stuff. And, STILL the best beard.

[@honorarenwick6491]

I reuse my bags for carrying food and even mend them with sellotape. No issues for me.

[@tobyintransit2533]

Vanilla carnation breakfast essentials make instant coffee more palatable, cold or hot. And adds calories! The classic thruhiker coffee. It’s like a Frappuccino! Kinda…..

[@elynnm3016]

Yep if I have coffee cold I use the vanilla and call it my trail iced latte. If I have it hot, I use the chocolate for hot chocolate with a caffeine kick.

[@danielmarquez467]

Thank you for that. We would field strip MREs in the Marine Corps to save space in our packs. Don't know why I didn't think about that until I saw your video.

[@EricSchwartz-sk8id]

the Gear Skeptic YT channel has some great ideas as well, and a user friendly google sheet that is sortable and includes all kinds of retail food packages.

[@sheilastevens7956]

Love your suggestion on eating chips with a spoon. I just finished the AT and the biggest problem was keeping my hands clean and worrying about not getting sick.

[@ClaudeBohls]

All good advice from obvious experience. Thanks, Boss.

[@cavscamping]

I love using breakfast essentials in my morning coffee as a cream and sugar substitute. I also grabbed a backpacking salt and pepper dispenser for meals. It's absolutely a comfort item but a game changer to add a little flavor to some of my meals.

[@MrBuckkipp]

This is incredibly helpful! Thank you very much for the wisdom.

[@LinkusMaximus]

Holy crap that fuel canister hack is amazing! Digging your tips, tricks, and hacks videos, Darwin!

[@chemistryflavored]

Been backpacking for several years and still learned something - thanks for another great video!

[@GedDevlin]

Love the idea with crisps ( chips ) as we say in the Uk , hiking the West Highland in August and will be doing this with crisps . Hello from Liverpool Uk .

[@PargusAuriga]

I allways carry spaghetti, and tuna for dinner. For lunch just bread, cheese plus 1 tomatoe and 1/2 avocado per day of trekking. Breakfast coffe with butter and bread. Dry fruits like peanuts, wallnuts and bananas in between. Its a lots of bread so the backpack starts so full. But bread don't weights too much. And it works, walked 8 days straight with that in Los Andes.

[@jennacurtindale6336]

Thank you for sharing all your knowledge. You sure have a gift for it!!

[@j.stephens257]

Great advice to eat with a spoon rather than fingers when unable to properly wash your hands. Norovirus is no joke!

[@jeremymoses7401]

No, no it isnt. Ive had it 3-4 times. The last time i caught it my immune system had to have gone scortched earth because i only suffered a whopping 4hrs. The only reason i know that trist was noro is because my wife and kids kept passing it around like a football. That bacteria lives in the gut.... and it does not like alcohol. Everyone works a bit different and obviously not for kids.... but two shots of something strong on an empty stomach have put the tables in my favor every time

[@MasterK9Trainer]

I don't know if they're still available but I remember that somebody made these popcorn Forks which were sort of like a pair of plastic tweezers

[@HuskyMike]

I made a rehydration pouch and used it for a while until I figured out my sit pad is just the right size. I wrap it around my dehydrated meals to keep them warm in colder weather while they rehydrate.

[@ashmaybe9634]

I stick mine in my sleeping bag or coat. Saves carrying a separate device.

[@RayHikes]

Preparing the knorr sides in the package is a great tip, never knew the pouches would hold up to that.

[@niceguy191]

I'd be worried the plastic isn't heat safe and leeches bad stuff far more than the packages designed for it

[@CricketsBay]

They can, but rubbing around in a backpack can make the corners on Knorr packaging leak due to wear and tear.

[@keithoszmanjr4802]

I like buckwheat groats as a backpacking or camping supplement. It's cooked like rice and has tons of carotenes and protein. It may take some getting used to the taste but it's filling and damn good for you

[@Truth-Seeker75]

Good video. I must admit that dealing with food on the trail is absolutely my biggest frustration and has been so for years. Early on everything I brought was just too bulky and took up more of my pack than anything else. Then I started exploring how to prioritize protein and still get an appropriate balance of carbs and enough calories. I’m also tired of carrying a pot, stove and fuel because it’s just one more thing. I’ve settled on cold soaking oatmeal in the morning, eating high-protein bars throughout the day, and cooking one meal at night (Peak!). That’s really helped conserve fuel and avoid carrying bulk wraps, cheese and summer sausage, but it doesn’t help me reduce the weight of all the cooking stuff. I’d like to learn more about cold soaking, and I’ve tried to educate myself as much as I can, but it doesn’t make much sense to me to think a Knorr pouch and nothing but carbs is a meal, and if I’m being honest, tuna just makes me want to bleh! Still a riddle to me.

[@marywhalen5096]

Darwin had a period when he was just cold soaking. Even adding liquid, stirring, securing it near his tummy (jossles & warms as you walk!). Maybe someone can add a way to search for when he talks about it. Maybe midway through when he was publishing a lot. Just be sure to really seal the rehydrating container!! Takes a bit longer than adding hot water. Expert at home.

[@mendyviola]

Try the chicken or salmon in a pouch vs tuna.

[@Truth-Seeker75]

@@mendyviola Chicken is always watery and very small portions. Good thought though. Lately I’ve been trying dehydrated beef and chicken, and while it does work, it takes quite a bit of time to be palatable.

[@nancyst.john-smith3891]

@Truth Seeker 75, I hear you. I haven’t hiked much lately due to some health issues related to age, but I feel I have a few hikes left in me. I do some stuff to my food to jack up the nutrition. Ramen stays home. It’s really just empty calories. A Knorr side with a handful of dehydrated organic broccoli added is yummy. The idea someone above had of putting instant pudding in water was interesting, but add 1/4 cup of dry milk powder to the pudding mix and water and it’s got vitamins and minerals. Bring some ziplocks and some sprouting seeds. Bring some broccoli micro greens you started at home. Peanut butter is a good snack. Tang powder for that Vit C. Dehydrated cabbage added to soup mixes. Dehydrated mushrooms added to a Knorr side. I also like to forage and fish. I won’t be putting in 10 mile days like you young machines, but this grandma had her day.

[@TheNewGreenIsBlue]

@@Truth-Seeker75 Why not just use Beef Jerky? It can be rehydrated, or when cooked, it goes well with noodles or pasta and a bit of powdered milk.

[@deannilvalli6579]

The gas transfer device is the best idea I have seen in a long time.

[@theslowwalker]

Some great hints. I already do a few. Like chips except I pack the servings in sandwich Ziplocs and poor a bit into my mouth so it doesn't touch my hand and since they're in single serving size I don't accidentally eat all my chips in one shot 🙂 Great tips on the fuel transfer. I use the small tanks and weigh them after each adventure noting how many times I've used them. That way I estimate how many times I have left in a tank and take an extra if I think I might run out. But, refilling them with that fuel transfer sounds like a winner. I'll have to try that one. Thanks for your videos.

[@davehuber3503]

I weigh my tanks and mark them each trip. And I also use the ones with very low amounts to make coffee at home. I’m just boiling water. So it’s useful. But I’m def looking at one of those transfer devices.

[@vincentvega5686]

how many L of water can one of those 110g canister boil? i've never calculated it and i'm planning a trip and wondering how much fuel i need.

[@theslowwalker]

@@vincentvega5686 That would depend on how hot and how much hot water you'll need and the weather/temperature you'll be using it in. For example, for hot cocoa I do not boil water since I can't/don't want to drink boiling water. So, I make the 1 cup of comfortably warm water. Dehydrated meals need about 2 cups or 473 ml of boiling water. I also live in Hawaii so meal times are around 80 to 73 degrees F (27 to 23 C) and rarely at the coldest about 50 degrees F (10 degrees C). I rarely fry foods as cleaning pans require water to wash them and I tend to camp on mountain ridges or areas where there there are no rivers so the only water I have is what I carry.

[@vincentvega5686]

@@theslowwalker thanks for the info. you all good points to consider.

[@mojomerc]

To save on fuel in the field I heat filtered water to hot, not boiling temps. Hot water seems to rehydrate as well without using as much fuel.

[@deborahmarlewski6786]

I now have a freeze/drier (F/D). It is a game changer. I make regular meals at home, F/D them and then use a vacuum sealer. Super fast to rehydrate and super lite. Less salt and more nutritious.

[@kristophersteele1596]

Great tips! Thanks for a focus on these little things. They can make a big difference

[@versusgravity]

Amazon package bubble bags make great cozys.