Going Stoveless: Is Faster And Lighter The Way To Go?

[@MarkGoesHiking]

Cold soaking ramen…you’ve got balls buddy. Yuck. 😂😅😂

[@BackcountryPilgrim]

It was the best tepid Ramen I ever had. :)

[@k1k2lee]

NO way hot hearty meals on trail are comforting,cool Hot Chocolate 😮 cold curry yak My pack still 23 lbs heating my grub up. PEAK is great but there skimping now only half filling them. Peak breakfast great

[@BackcountryPilgrim]

Haha, part of this experiment was finding out if I could stomach it. Good to know I can but yeah, nothing like a warm meal - and especially drink!

[@mattmatthewmatchuu]

plus when you are hiking while cold soaking its shaking the food to pre-mix/stir

[@BackcountryPilgrim]

Very efficient!

[@DarrenYee]

Thanks Doug, I'm still not a fan of cold soaking, but I'm glad you gave it a try. Recpak looks interesting, I think drinking your calories and hydration at the same time while on the go it a good idea. I use a similar product from Scratch labs that a lot of endurance athlete's use they call it Super Fuel. Thanks for putting this video together.

[@BackcountryPilgrim]

You bet! I might have to try that out. I am not a big fan of cold soeaking unless I am just fully committed to going super ultralight ona trip, but it's nice to know it can be done with relative enjoyment. :)

[@Nhkg17]

I go even further, not only do I go stoveless but I don't even use coldsoak. I do it mostly out of laziness. I live in Europe and almost every day I walk through either a village with a pub or a mountain hut where you can buy hot food and beer. Once I get to the campsite in the evening, I eat nothing more than nuts and dried fruit.

[@BackcountryPilgrim]

That works too. I'd only rely on tjay for short trips but there are plenty of good foods thay are dehydrated! :)

[@higler.]

I've found that Mexicali Rose refried beans(sold at walmart), instant rice, mashed potato flakes(add these after the rest of the ingredients are hydrated), and TVP all cold soak very well and can be spiced/flavored a few different ways. Add fritos or something for some crunch. I'll eat it at home sometimes it's so good lol

[@BackcountryPilgrim]

Excellent suggestions thank you!

[@totoroben]

I dunno if I'd buy the oats. You can mix your own oatmeal pretty easily and throw some dried fruits or nuts in it to taste. As far as cold soaking goes, if you have an efficient cook system goes and you are hiking with another person, sharing a stove and cook pot makes the weight much more manageable.

[@BackcountryPilgrim]

Well you can use a food dehydrater and do it all yourself too. ;)

[@locomotivebreth1910]

Good video. I stopped cooking on backing trips years ago unless I need to melt snow for water or if I need to separate silt from dirty water. Seems like 7 out of 10 times when I cook its either raining or I am swarmed by bugs or the wind is blowing swirling dust around making cooking a pain. Easier to leave the pot and stove stuff at home. I tried cold soaking and I am not fond of that either -- so I leave the spoon and cold soaking jar at home. I found if using a bear can I can get more calories into it if I don't bring along bulky dried and freeze dried foods. So I guess I am just getting lazy with my food menus.

[@BackcountryPilgrim]

First, awesome youtube name. :) Second, laziness and efficiency are often confused (at least that's what I tell myself haha!)

[@tomd1914]

I appreciate going as light as possible, but one of the things I look forward to most while hiking is a tasty hot meal when I get to camp. I've found that cold soaking just isn't for me. Some of my hiking buddies cold soak and that's all good, but I just can't do cold couscous after a long day on the trail.

[@BackcountryPilgrim]

100% agree. This was an experiment and I was glad to know I could do it, but I wouldn't choose to unless I REALLY needed to go ultralight! I think to many people pack loke they're on a thru hike when they're not. ;)

[@davidterrie7661]

Couscous is good for cold soaking. I add Nido and a half vanilla Breakfast Essential to a baggie of Banana Nut Crunch. Add water, shake, and eat.

[@BackcountryPilgrim]

Thanks for the tips! Sounds good.

[@MaryannHazel]

Unfortunately, cold soaking requires food choices with too many carbs for me. I did however go stoveless on the Tahoe Rim Trail, and packed nuts, cheeses, olives, beef sticks, summer sausage, and a few bars and that seemed to keep me more than satiated (thanks to all the fat). I don't eat breakfast when hiking, but I missed my morning hot coffee, so I mixed up a Zipp Fizz every morning for my coffee fix. That seemed to do the trick. Kathy and I will be sharing a stove for the JMT, so I'll be looking forward to hot meals in the evenings. Still doing the Zipp Fizz for my morning fix though. Great video Doug!

[@BackcountryPilgrim]

Great ideas! I've never heard of Zip Fizz, I'll have to check that out. Super jelly of you two doing the JMT!!!

[@MaryannHazel]

@@BackcountryPilgrim - we need to plan a trip bud!

[@tbusterutube]

We love instant Idaho mashed potatoes are great cold soaked too

[@BackcountryPilgrim]

Yeah those are great!

[@MiscMitz]

42 😆

[@BackcountryPilgrim]

;)

[@rodoutdoors]

I've been trying cold soaking the last trips. It's nice to just close the lid to have leftovers. I'd rather eat small portions. I like the Litesmith 16oz jar since you can pour boiling water in it. So it doubles as my mug when I bring a stove for coffee. It perfectly nests in a 750ml pot. For meals, couscous with sun dried tomatoes, nuts, and raisins rehydrates very quickly. Freeze dried refried beans works well. For cleaning I use a Dawn dish soap cap on a SmartWater bottle. Creates a nice bidet-like stream lol

[@BackcountryPilgrim]

These are GREAT ideas! Thank you!

[@Jc21112]

Thank you for the video! It gave me more ideas to add to my cold soaking menu :) I started cold soaking when there was fuel shortage during the pandemic here in Québec and I rarely reach out for my stove since that time.

[@BackcountryPilgrim]

Wow, you're a true convert! :) Let me know what your go to meals have been!

[@Jc21112]

@@BackcountryPilgrim My favorite is couscous by a mile. I add dehydrated veggies, TPV, dehydrated craberries (or grapes), spices, chia seeds, olive oil, BBQ roasted chickpeas and powdered vegetable broth. What do you think? I know it's not for everyone :)

[@BackcountryPilgrim]

Wow! I'll have to try that - I'm not sure I've ever had couscous.

[@tridudyonthetrail]

The 42 definitely peaked my interest! When I was in college, there was a guy who explicitly indicated that 42 was an indication on the 2nd coming… After hearing it, I see it all the time. Confirmation bias? Maybe. Maybe not. Thanks for sharing this, but I’d love to get rid of my stove and fuel. Just a bit scared!!

[@BackcountryPilgrim]

Nothing to do with Jesus I assure you. :) As to going stoveless, I'd try it at home first because it won't taste much better on the trail! :)

[@tridudyonthetrail]

@@BackcountryPilgrim lol thanks for the confirmation (now I know I’m in the “you don’t know” crowd lol) Will definitely be giving it a shot! Happy trails!

[@BackcountryPilgrim]

@tridudyonthetrail LOL, it was made famous in a super nerdy book called Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. :)

[@tridudyonthetrail]

@@BackcountryPilgrim Thank you (and now I feel very silly!) But will absolutely check it out! (Thank you for your patience with a silly commenter 🤦‍♂️)

[@BackcountryPilgrim]

Silly commenters are the best! :)

[@ms7fam433]

We've cold soaked a few trips...one was not voluntary. It's usually a summer time choice. The coffee substitute I use is chocolate covered espresso beans mixed in some trail mix. Thanks for introducing other ideas that look enticing.

[@BackcountryPilgrim]

Chocolate covered espresso beans mixed in some trail mix . . . Oooooh I like that idea! Thanks!

[@philcarmichael6090]

Very informative, thank you.

[@BackcountryPilgrim]

Thanks for watching!

[@SeniorHiker77]

Interesting review but I'm still going bo8l water. Lol

[@BackcountryPilgrim]

You and me both! Unless I am going super UL, I like warm food and drinks!

[@lolobeans]

Likewise! I can't do without my hot cup of joe in the morning. Not to be a happy camper/hiker at any rate! But thanks for sharing your experience!!!

[@BackcountryPilgrim]

Yeah I'd only choose it for extreme circumstances. ;)

[@thorburnjschwegler]

That's why I bring a long pemmican you don't need to cook it best survival food

[@BackcountryPilgrim]

Which brand do you get?

[@thorburnjschwegler]

@@BackcountryPilgrim it's not a brand, its a paste of dried and pounded meat mixed with melted fat,hard fat called Suet and let it solidify. originally made by North American Indians and later adapted by Arctic explorers. Just keep it in a cool and dry place. I suggest do some research on it amazing stuff that is.

[@BackcountryPilgrim]

@thorburnjschwegler Yeah, I know what it is.I was wondering if you could buy it somewhere. Do you just make your own?

[@thorburnjschwegler]

​@@BackcountryPilgrim oh yeah I just make it on my own cheaper that way kzbin.info/www/bejne/g33bp56oaN9-q9ksi=BgWHT51XjnI4sin0

[@BackcountryPilgrim]

Thanks!

[@RC-qf3mp]

[@BackcountryPilgrim]

No fire, no water . . . That can work too! :) Any examples of what works for you?

[@RC-qf3mp]

@@BackcountryPilgrim speciality gourmet pouched fish. Add seasonings (lots of turmeric, ginger, garlic - the holy trinity of anti-inflammatory spices), olive oil, chili oils, balsamic vinegar in small plastic bottle. Macadamia nut butter, almond butter, dark chocolate. Shredded pork; hard cheese (raclette, Gruyère, Amish sharp cheddar). Nuts/seeds - chia, hemp, pumpkin seed, pistachio. No hiker trash junk. I eat this food at home frequently. Reduced inflammation - save weight/money on ibuprofen and aspirin. Fish fish fish. Canned fish good too ,but factor in slightly extra weight of carrying the tin as trash, but also consider saving weight on not needing a stove, pot, etc.

[@BackcountryPilgrim]

Excellent list! I'm always worried about taking meat unless I plan to eat it the same day - shredded pork ok for multiple days?

[@RC-qf3mp]

@@BackcountryPilgrim there’s a brand called “Shredz” which is in a zip bag. They say it’s good for three days after opening, i think, but I’d only open and eat the whole thing in a day. But you can take many bags. I’d usually just take one or two as variety from fish. And Carnivore Snax.

[@BackcountryPilgrim]

@RC-qf3mp I'll check them out!

[@HarshmanHills]

i have tried these. they aren't bad and make life very easy when on the go

[@BackcountryPilgrim]

For sure!

[@atgirl]

Very well done video very informative thank you for doing this I learned a lot

[@BackcountryPilgrim]

Thank you!

[@recpak5750]

Hey thank you so much for the support! Reach out for any thing! - Joy

[@BackcountryPilgrim]

Will do! You guys are KILLING it!