Stoveless Camping - Cold Soaking 101

[@GarouLady]

I think why people think "it's weird" is because there is a big difference between taking a sandwich and apple, versus pouring cold water onto food and letting it set and soften up and then eaten cold. closest and only thing that comes to mind is cereals in the morning and swedish muesli with grated carrot and apple with dried fruit that I saw in a ww2 wartime kitchen and garden series. ( I have made a swedish muesli version of overnight oats and let them soak with chopped carrot and apple while I slept) next day add a bit more water and go to town on it.

[@Campology]

Thanks for sharing ... all good points. About cold soaking supper... its never really "cold"... it's sitting on the side of my pack for 3-4 hours in the sun... and is yummy warm-ish. That being said... I don't cold soak in cold weather generally. I prefer a hot meal in the late fall ! :)

[@sfmarckx]

Thank you for this! I'm always on the lookout for more cold soaking tips. An easy option for a cold soaking container that you can also put over a fire is to use a normal titanium pot/lid set and put a pice of food grade silicone sheeting between the pot and lid, then hold it together with a couple of rubber bands or an x-band. It seals really well and doesn't get stuck like the Vargo bot. Also soy curls are another great cold soaking protein source and they take on the flavor of the spices you use, plus give a nice texture compared to the mushiness of some of the other ingredients. I also throw in some dehydrated vegetables. All the best, Scott

[@Campology]

Thanks Scott… BRILLIANT! I use X-bands and they work really well…where would one get food grade “silicon sheeting”? Ive seen some baking silicone sheets that could perhaps be cut to shape.?…. plus soy curls are an excellent ideas. Thanks so much!

[@sfmarckx]

I found food grade silicone sheeting with a quick search on Amazon. Here is one option. www.amazon.com/dp/B07YSR96HQ/?coliid=IZ6NOWM1I3IPJ&colid=2CW6QR0KOKOZ8&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it All the best, Scott

[@haventli]

This is a great idea. Thank you for sharing.

[@roamnorth]

Back to watch a second time and take notes. Thanks! You've made me reconsider going stoveless after forty+ years of backpacking!

[@Campology]

Thanks “Roam”… that’s high praise and much appreciated.

[@rpgcinema7916]

I've been eating the same camping food for the last five years; this video made me consider some alternatives.

[@Campology]

Try some, you may even like it. But if you don’t, no big deal.

[@tom_olofsson]

Excellent intro. Thanks for sharing your experience.

[@Campology]

Glad you liked it!

[@miken7629]

I use freezer bags and cold soak 2 things. Put 1 cup of Raisin Bran + 1/3 cup NIDO. Then add enough water to cover, shake, and instant milk & cereal. My other is to use a package of sugar free Jello pudding + 1/3 cup Nido. Add 10oz water and stir for a couple minutes to make sure no lumps. Pudding sets up in 10 minutes.

[@Campology]

Yummy…. Thanks for sharing 👍

[@justalurkr]

Talenti is some excellent ice cream, too

[@Campology]

Agreed!

[@amycaroline5102]

EXCELLET VIDEO!! Very well organized and informational. Thank you!

[@Campology]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks so much

[@norteno4327]

Excellent content. Thanks for your work.

[@Campology]

🙏

[@Oldsparkey]

I got a Vargo 700 Bot and after that went back to my Talenti Jar. My favorite is breakfast. 1/3 cup Old Fashion Oats and one pack of the flavored instant oatmeal ( it's the flavoring ). Sometimes I will add a pack of instant Grits or some freeze dried fruits and dehydrated milk. Lunch or dinner. Dried beans and minute rice with dried onion flakes , red pepper flakes ,freeze dried celery pieces and ham or sausage pieces. Or a foil pack of tuna ( in place of the ham ) but add it just before eating.

[@Campology]

excellent suggestions 🙏🏻

[@chiroannecy7080]

Best video on cold soaking I have seen. Very clear and informative. Appreciate that you showed some of the actual packages/ingredients that you use. Many thanks!

[@Campology]

Thanks so much.

[@hammockman5589]

I've had meals from Farmer's Fridge at airports and have kept the jars. They are lip-less, flat bottomed and think they will work well.

[@Campology]

excellent... the big test is always "are they watertight"... please let us know?

[@Edy1331]

The perfect introduction to cold soaking. Thanks for the video

[@Campology]

Our pleasure!

[@DartmoorPaul]

Great video and really informative. Thank you Dudley

[@Campology]

My pleasure!

[@pgreenx]

I’m planning a hike of long trail in VT in August and going to try cold soaking. Thanks for the lite smith container advice. I do like long handled spoon. I just shove it in my food bag.

[@Campology]

Excellent, enjoy your hike. It’s on my wish list.

[@mikebikercanada]

Fantastic! Thanks for this ... best cold soaking description on KZbin. And great to see all the popular containers side by side.Love the backstory you provided as well 👍

[@Campology]

Wow, thank you!

[@nicholaspark283]

I guess I have never really thought of this before. It would be quite amazing the shed that weight of my stove. But I do like my hot coffee in the morning though haha. Lots to think about.

[@Campology]

It’s always a balance. 😀

[@yellowbird5411]

When my electric was out for six days due to a hurricane, I had no way to heat my water for drip coffee. So I put my normal amount in a jar with a lid and shook it like crazy with cold water for about a minute. I put it through the filter that sits on top of my cup in a plastic cone, and drank it cold. Not the best - but it was coffee, and didn't seem to taste much different than what I normally fixed, except for the heat. On a hot day, maybe cold coffee would be even better!

[@Campology]

@@yellowbird5411 Good points and thanks for sharing

[@steveforsythe9264]

Very informative, thanks for posting!

[@Campology]

Thanks Steve 🙏

[@BeautifulTripsandPlaces]

Thanks for the tips! I think cold soaking is a great idea! Would love to try it

[@Campology]

Try and see. I still love it… time will tell for me.

[@suzannecartwright6504]

I’m going to make up some creations and try them at home first. Then if I just can’t hang with the temperature, I can warm it up with my stove. A win-win that way

[@MacChallenge]

Excellent contents, very helpful and no-nonsense instructions. More videos, please!

[@Campology]

Thanks so much… high praise. Re more… life is busy!👍🥾🏕😊

[@lauralossie3893]

I never even considered going stoveless until recently, but it makes so much sense! Thank you for great content!

[@Campology]

Who needs a stove when you can cook with just the power of your mind, right? LOL... thanks for the kind words

[@Meg-Por77]

Great ideas I'm interested in trying! I was surprised by all the ads for a 13 minute video though.

[@Campology]

Thanks… and all the ads are thanks to the KZbin people 😂

[@catha_salix]

You actually made Cold soaking food sound appetizing! I'm totally willing to give it a whirl after watching this. I think I'll practice a bit at home to have the timings and recipes worked out before trying it out on the trail. The "poor man's" pad Thai actually sounds pretty good, lol 👍 I ordered the medium and large jars from Litesmith - they look great. Cold Soaking actually seems to be a good alternative to mucking about with fire and fuel when I'm tired and brain dead at the end of the day after a challenging hike or when I'm just impatient to get moving in the morning. I like that it can "cook" in the pack while traveling. Quite efficient. Thanks for the video, very informative and inspirational. Glad to have found a fellow Canadian's channel too 🤓🇨🇦🤙(Loving the BT content as well!)

[@Campology]

Thanks. I tried to be helpful. I have so many stoves and I still tend to lean to cold soaking. So easy, light and foolproof. It works for me.🇨🇦🍁

[@middleearthchronicles2269]

Great video. I'm curious where you found the nalgene style smart bottle lid. I'm sure it's a little heavier, but nice to know you aren't going to drop it and loose it.

[@Campology]

Thanks and appreciated. The aftermarket “smart water” bottle tops are from CNOC … HERE - cnocoutdoors.com/collections/hydration/products/replacement-cap-for-the-2019-vecto?variant=21210909900889cnocoutdoors.com/collections/hydration/products/replacement-cap-for-the-2019-vecto?variant=21210909900889

[@JDPPDX]

Thanks man. Great info. Well done.

[@Campology]

Thanks so much. 🙏🏻

[@doddpower]

Good job!

[@Campology]

Thanks muchly

[@Truth-Seeker75]

This is 100% what I was looking for - the “how to.” Thanks a bunch!

[@Campology]

Thanks and appreciated

[@cliffspicer6555]

Need to try this for a couple of nights on a trip to see how I like it. Not sure why not heating up my food seems strange, but as you said, it's nothing new. I really liked the suggestions of the seasoning packets for things like tacos and use those. Thanks for the video and I'll give it a go. Just need to deal with having coffee in the morning and ice coffee or cold coffee would cause me to lose the will to live.

[@Campology]

ha ha... mother nature and the great outdoors is better than any cup of coffee! :) I know it's a tough choice for many, but it works for me! Cheers.

[@ghillie9]

I'm going to try cold soaking again. Thanks for the tips. Would like to hike with you some day! -- Spiderman.

[@Campology]

Enjoy

[@stevenclark8533]

Great video, its good to try new things.

[@Campology]

Definitely!

[@ironpig701]

Late to the party and just starting my backpacking journey and have seen stove, cold soaking and just eating with neither. Like this idea and have spent most my life eating cold food as Im in construction and can be in the field rather then big site. Like the ease of it here especially with breakfast as im not a big breakfast guy but in an hour Im going to need food so doing oatmeal would be nice. And ramen for lunch also great as I can cold soak and then hit lunch. Drop pack. Take off shoes and eat.

[@Campology]

sounds good to me!

[@philippebourdeau2281]

Great stuff.

[@Campology]

Thanks Philippe!🙏

[@michaelc.9200]

amazing

[@Campology]

Thanks

[@youtube7076]

Could you lubricate the silicone seal to prevent vac-loc ? maybe a silicone lube, or for quick testing, just some vaseline or food grade oil like cooking oil? .CanaDave.

[@Campology]

It’s a food grade silicon temperature resistant O-ring…. when screwed down it seals tight tight…. Bottom line…. heck if I know.

[@viceb7]

​@@Campology maybe a thin fabric layer?

[@Campology]

@@viceb7 I don’t understand, sorry.

[@michaelatvrznikova8124]

Great video, it's a pity that I cannot buy some of these things here 😩

[@Campology]

Sorry to hear that... where is HERE?

[@robingood62]

Thank you for all this! My problem with coldsoaking is the disgusting taste "sticking" on the plastic-material. When I for example eat some ramen noodles and next morning breakfast, my oats taste like ramen. I tried varous jar-materials but could not solve this problem.

[@Campology]

Great tip! I've haven't have the same experience... perhaps I'm less sensitive to the tastes... Thanks again

[@jakeiurato9132]

Anyone else love the convenience of cold soaking on trail but also love having a hot meal for dinner? Lol I tried to switch to stove less on the PCT this year but just ended up pack both a cook system and a soak jar lol 😅 I like coffee and hot meals for dinner

[@Campology]

I hear yah… there are some benefits and somethings “not so good”… it’s all about you and your style! Enjoy

[@peterjohnson6273]

Nice. Your video may be the prompt that moves into trying cold-soaking. Thanks. :>)

[@Campology]

excellent... worth a try at least.

[@peterjohnson6273]

Hi Dudley. A couple of years on and I'm still experimenting with cold soaking. I've reached a point where success' outweigh the failures. Did try cold soaking a Knorr Sidekick last night. That failed miserably! Still willing to work on different things though thanks to you. :>)

[@Erik_Norseman]

Are you a coffee or tea drinker? Do you cold soak that, too? During the warmer months I've enjoyed throwing some instant coffee into cool water and it is a nice drink, although I find the winter is when I appreciate a warm drink! Do you cold soak in winter, too?

[@Campology]

I enjoy coffee and tea… but not while on trail. However a coffee latte cold is delicious. Starbucks via and powder milk and water in water bottle. Finally cold soaking works all year round… however I prefer a stove when the weather gets cold.

[@kenneth4992]

How do you clean the pots or bag while on the trail?

[@Campology]

Easy peasy, after eating I put in a couple of ounces of potable water, closed the lid, shaked it a bunch and then drank the fluid, or threw it out (depended on my mood) every day or too I would clean it better with drop of soap and wiped out with my bandanna.

[@kenneth4992]

@@Campology Thanks, I see alot of how to cook videos but no clean up videos. GOD Bless you and your family

[@NickCooper74]

Great stuff. Very informative. Also, I like your voice, sir. Cheers.

[@Campology]

Thank you kindly!

[@chemilyscad5845]

thanks for this video! How do you bring protein powder on trail?

[@Campology]

In a ziplock

[@suzannecartwright6504]

He much you stir in, and can you taste it?

[@bipbip6626]

What about pastas? Can SO tell me?

[@Campology]

Most pasta doesn’t work well except: Raman, egg noodles, and most freeze dried meals like BACKPACKERS PANTRY etc👍

[@anthonypicone3463]

That cnoc bag is horrible. I used it and threw it out after a week. It's impossible to eat out of, impossible to clean and it holds the flavor/odor of every meal

[@Campology]

I agree

[@luboyanev]

Great tips, thanks for sharing! New subscriber here, looking forward to your upcoming videos :)

[@Campology]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@Dante07cid]

Good video but I am a lot more healthy with my food choices. Don’t mind some cold soaking but haven’t been able to go 100%

[@Campology]

Thanks Bryan… great points… it’s always a balance between ease of packing , preparation and healthy. I struggle with that too. Thanks again.

[@treewisemonkey2077]

Looking to cold soak for the first time. Thanks for the information. Just tried noodles, cheese, salami, chilly sauce and crackers as you suggested. 👍 Really surprised how good it was. Like many people, I thought I would never eat cold noodles. It's meant to be hot not cold, right ? Wrong ! Absolutely fine. It's all in the mind set. Now looking forward to trying Couscous. 😊

[@Campology]

Sounds great! Totally agree.

[@conniemiller411]

I’m a 57 yrold woman, homeless. Can you find meals and drink daily for $7 a day?

[@Campology]

Sorry.. I’m not a nutritionist and couldn’t begin to recommend healthy inexpensive options.

[@john-chung-hsuanwu8766]

Thank you for sharing! Also for some reason your voice really sounds Skyrim to me. 😂

[@Campology]

😂🙏

[@lordrevan57]

Eating cold soaked mash right now watching this lol

[@Campology]

Yummy!

[@jamesmcgee2447]

👍🏻👍🏻

[@Campology]

🤙🙏

[@davehart1027]

Welp... ill stick to using my stove, really cant beat the comfort of havin warm food and drinks in my mind. Its probably ok, but i really cqnt bring myself to try cold slop! If you want to save more space n weight, then just make some scooby sandwiches, once uve eaten them, youll save more space and weight, bring some boiled eggos, jerky, trail mix and banananananas, and your all set. But when it comes to eatin food that would taste better warmed, ill defo put up with carrtin a stove! Eatch to there own tho, if your out and in the wilderness and enjoyin yourself, then its all good!

[@Campology]

All good points… but at the end of the day I like it. So dealers choice. Enjoy your hot meal by all means.

[@davehart1027]

@@Campology welp, the world would be boring if we were all the same, and you continue to enjoy what ever you enjoy, with awesome views... out of curiousity, have you tried the water activated heating things? Havent tried them, just think with a bit of diy, could make something to hang off a backback, so could cook when you walk, plus all youd need is a waterproof sturdy bag type thing to cook and the heating things, should weigh next to nothing, and take up no space

[@Campology]

@@davehart1027 no I haven’t tried em and will definitely look into it. Thanks and happy camping!

[@davehart1027]

You too, search for flamless ration heater, frh, theyre basically the heating system used in mres but bought seperately

[@Campology]

Thanks again. Cheers

[@wayneeshelor639]

But cold coffee???

[@Campology]

Yepper … delicious. Starbucks VIA instant coffee in water bottle… add water and powdered milk… shake… “hiker iced latte”

[@SebCam]

I punched a tiny hole in and top of my BOT.... problem solved! ;)

[@Campology]

That's a great solution! Sometimes the simplest fixes work the best.

[@DrMarvinLara]

Cold Mr Noodles? I don’t think so

[@Campology]

I hear yah... very bland and boring for sure... but with some spices and meat... yummy (for me anyway)

[@pfftwhut7638]

Fifteen bucks for those three jars that could've been spent on peanut butter or gelato and just use the old jars

[@Campology]

Good point. Yet I like the jars from litesmith better. I can afford the couple of bucks.

[@simonh6371]

They probably weigh more than titanium cookware too.

[@jmdelanux]

You didn't have to order that jar. Next time stop at your local Farm Boy and pick up one of their icecream/gelato; the lemon-basil or mango are great and the containers are perfect.

[@Campology]

@@jmdelanux great ideas… I had it too… they leak 😢

[@Squirrel200]

Hot Coffee for me or stay back 🐻and have your 🐻 bear spray ready. At 60+ I am not ultra light backpacker I am old school military equipment Gorilla proof. Yes I love my Turkish coffee way too much! 😀😆😀😆😀😆

[@Campology]

It’s first and foremost about enjoying the moments… and that includes Turkish coffee🤟😂

[@Squirrel200]

@@Campology ☕☕☕🤗🤗🤔 maybe one more ☕😲 sleep who needs it 👁👃👁 🖖😁😉🙄😏 keep the info coming and enjoy the great out doors! 🐻🐻🐻😆😀😆

[@Thomas_Hardy.]

so many wonderful emply plastic containers..i come here to see empty containers

[@Campology]

😂😂

[@fabiogarcia1431]

These foods are not healthy at all. Not good if you're going to travel for a month or more.

[@Campology]

I share your concern… moderation I suggest. But so easy and tasty.

[@Paperbutton9]

you can also mention pemmican also, you know how probably humans did it for vast majority of human history. 😂 imagine thinking the British are as far back as you can go.

[@Campology]

Excellent point… soooo many examples!

[@fbswampfox]

Cold soaked Ramen bombs are for hardcore backpackers only! 😂

[@Campology]

Cold soaked Ramen bombs are definitely not for the faint-hearted!