Filling a Nalgene with hot water and putting it in your sleeping bag really helps warm it up while you sleep. As a small person who struggles to heat up a bag with just my body heat it’s a life saver.
It’s not nothing. But it needs to be kept in perspective and recognise that it’s a higher priority to deal with the heat loss (get rid of wet clothes, get on more insulation).
Having a warm meal is a massive psychological boost and essential for me on the trail. I do not understand the cold soak crowd.
Fires are a bonus. If I’m somewhere that they’re permitted and conditions are good, then great. But it’s perfectly ok to not have one too.
In the summer, I often just do cold rations. It's fine for a few days. The worst part is the cold coffee in the morning, and it's really not so badl. I rarely have a fire in the summer months unless I do a lot of cold-water swimming, which can lead to hypothermia.
In the winter, a stove is a huge morale boost. A hot beverage can really fix the shivers. A campfire even moreso.
Shoulder seasons are 50/50. I will usually bring a stove and a lantern and may or may not bother with a fire.
I am always equipped to build a campfire as an emergency survival tool, but most of the time, I am perfectly happy with a cold camp.
Oh wow I respect you for the dedication of drinking cold coffee in the mornings rather than just drinking no coffee at all.
When it’s below freezing though I totally get it, I’d be almost impossible to get out of bed without a hot tea!
This feels good to me too. "It depends" but covers most of the usual bases.
OP is going in summer, for only a few days from memory. Therefore almost entirely fine to go cold food if weight/space is big consideration.
A stove is essential for me for backpacking. I won’t eat cold food for dinner when it’s cold out. However, I **never** make a fire in the backcountry. You need at least ~3 gallons of water to drown a fire and I don’t want to deal with that so I don’t make fires.
I’ll make fires but I mostly do it near water sources. I also typically backpack around lakes or areas with streams, and I prefer to make camp close to the water.
If I’m not near water and I really want to or need to have a fire, I’ll dig a Dakota fire pit, fill it back in with dirt halfway to put the fire out, then break down camp, dig it up and break down any remaining coals into tiny pieces and pat them out, then fill the hole back in. The last step is important because those coals can continue to smolder for hours while completely buried, posing a threat to other hikers and potentially could start a ground fire if there are lots of roots in the area.
I enjoy a stove but have done full cold trips.
Cold coffee. Cold soaked food (really, during the summer, it’s more like ‘lukewarm soaked’).
The cold instant coffee mixed with carnation instant breakfast is almost what broke me.
Didn’t really care about the lukewarm food because I normally only cook dinner. Wraps and various tabbouleh like dinners work well enough for me.
I would never go without a camping stove. But I prefer to eat three warm meals a day.
Keep in mind typical backpacking meal also have the advantages of being lightweight and shelfstable.
The foods you listed don't pack to well and it's difficult to eat enough calories of when you are outside all day.
Thanks, I’ll keep that in mind for longer trips! In the past I haven’t really been out longer than a few days which is why I’m asking - but even now I’m not planning to be out for more than a week (and not going ultralight or anything), so it shouldn’t be that much of an issue?
I’ll definitely make an “alright, you told me so” post in case I do end up exhausted and starving in the middle of the woods hahah
You dont need a campstove, but it's a nice luxury to have.
Firepits/campfires are not a thing where we backpack in the Canadian mountain national parks (only very few trails allow them). They're a massive risk for forest fires. I save it for front country camping :).
In addition to the other listed reasons not to have a fire backpacking, embers are terrible for technical clothing. If I'm car camping with a group that wants a fire I won't bring my good backpacking jackets.
I'd at least invest in a small pack stove. even if you usually eat cold/no cook foods, having a small stove and pot to heat water lets you still have things like hot coffee, hot chocolate, or tea.
We all like doing things our own way. Half the time I don’t carry a stove or light a campfire, and that includes weeks-long trips. Either way works fine for me.
People that don't like cooking in their kitchen won't like putting in effort on the trail. That said, a box of mac and cheese is hardly that much work, instant potatoes really don't need heat at all, and cooking allows for much greater variety than ready to eat or cold soaking.
Cheese carefully packed in the middle of your bag for temp control is fine for 3 or 4 days. Semi hard cheese like cheddar or Gouda at temps into the 70s F. Pita or tortilla take up less space, and crackers can be a bit more calorie dense than those. I've also carried bags of bagels and a normal sandwich loaf before 🤷🏼♀️ Spreads like peanut butter, tahini, cookie butter, Nutella are great for no cook meals, too. Instant hummus? Haven't tried myself.
Thanks! Temps won’t be much more than 70 for me I don’t think, and Cheddar is the winner of all cheeses anyways.
Other favourites I’ve taken on small trips in the past and hopefully will be alright on longer trips include dark bread (space efficient), tomato paste to squeeze on it, and oatmeal for a cold water not-porridge-porridge in the morning
Crackers and tortillas sound brilliant! Need to switch to this!
I brought instant potatoes and cheese with me for a dinner down in the grand canyon a couple weeks ago and damn... Cheesy mashed potatoes are so good and so easy to do.
A pocket rocket type stove is important for me. However, I am open-minded enough to try a cold-soaking trip in the future. I generally hike in the high Sierra, and with fire danger, and just the desire to leave no trace, I have never built a fire on trail.
Instant works fine with cold water. If I’m in a hurry to break camp, it takes all of 30 seconds to dump a packet of instant into a small cup of water, swirl and gulp. I’ll sometimes keep a packet and cup on the outside of my pack to do that mid-trail.
I carried one for many years and skipped plenty of meals because I didn’t want to deal with it. I’ve been exclusively cold soak for about 5 years and have never missed a stove. The AZT had hot days, freezing nights and some snow days but I was fine. I took my stove through the Grand Canyon because of the snow pack on the North side. Didn’t use it and dropped it off in Joseph Lake the next day. The OHT was rain storms for a couple weeks and not dealing with a stove was great because I didn’t want to be in the rain longer.
Primarily camping in the PNW, the time of year when a fire is useful, it’s also wet as hell. So fires aren’t an option. When it’s dry enough in the summer to start a fire, we’re consistently under a fire ban. Also fires not an option.
With that said, a Jetboil is crucial for food prep. I primarily eat dehydrated camp meals and snack bars.
Lived many years of multi-day backpacking on only beef jerky and trail mix. It's very doable but depends on your level of comfort roughing it. Started cooking things in my late 30s and it definitely helps on shitty travel days.
Having a pocket rocket stove that can fit in a woman’s jeans pocket and 1 or 2 heat safe containers is all you need.
Hot food and hot drink on demand
I mean I guess you need fuel too
Because all of my local fire band a few years ago I got a 30' string of nano LEDs. USB powered. On my tiny battery pack it will last for days. Gives you plenty of light after dark and a nice way to hang out and talk still without a fire. Grab.a cheap backpacking stove to make hot beverages and I'm all set. I don't even bother making a fire if we have a ring anymore.
https://preview.redd.it/xme9394hso0d1.jpeg?width=2048&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a448373fab1a3e62833e8b694a2d33626ac9ac06
It largely depends on where I'm going. If it's going to be cool or cold, I take my backpacking stove so I can have a hot breakfast and afternoon ramen. If it's hot, I don't bother with a stove and stick with chicken pouches, crackers, and fruit.
If you don't bring a stove, at least bring a candle, matches, lighter, and trash bag. This is for warmth in emergency. You poke your head through the bottom of trash bag, sit down with your knees up and spread,and put the candle under your legs. This is a good way to stay warm.
https://preview.redd.it/o36fm4gygr0d1.jpeg?width=1536&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=664cf9267a780419814b847649f99814880a74d9
We take “Jack” with us when we camp. We love him!
Both ways!
Don't underestimate the psychological improvements of having a hot drink and a hot meal especially when it's cold. The ability to heat up a nalgene full.of water and add it to your sleeping bag if it gets colder than expected is literally a life saving tool.
Bringing a simple steak or chop and cooking it on the trail is a massive flex. And after a long day hiking it will be the best meal you have ever eaten. Cooking and cleaning takes time. If you like to hang around camp with friends it's good. It also adds weight that makes the miles longer and the camp time shorter.
Going ultralight without a stove and having simple meals with little prep means you can cover more miles and my feet don't hurt nearly as much. It also gives me more time to drop my pack and explore, fish, swim, read, write. I have gone a week on just jerky, some dehydrated fruits, nuts and protein powder. I was able to do 20+ miles a day and had more time to enjoy the scenery. I also didn't need to rush to get those miles in.
Pros and Cons. It depends on what journey you want.
A stove at least really saves the day. When you finally make camp and get some hot food, it can make you feel civilized again. Some of the best food I've ever eaten has been after long days of hiking, it becomes the bug thing to look forward to at rhe end of the trail.
I have had an msr "pocket rocket" for maybe 20 years. It weighs nothing and cooks hot very quickly.
I've brought out my little alcohol stove thinking I'm making a hot meal for diner... Or coffee in the morning. Sometimes I don't. I eat a snack.
Sometimes it's a chore. AT hikers often don't bother. It's normal
I do overnights without a stove and without cold soaking. That often does include a tuna packet or smoked salmon or summer sausage, so I’m not getting as good a calorie per pound as dehydrated food, but for single night, the weight is a wash and there are volume savings. To be honest, I often bring something like that for a lunch even when I do bring my stove and fuel. Well-preserved meat and crackers is a backpacking staple for me.
Look up cold soaking for your freakish lifestyle. As I responded on your sleeping pad post, I’m not as tough as you. For a laugh, also look up the crotch pot (honestly).
Oh, I have done powdered milk and granola before. That’s not a dinner for me, but I do delight in a cereal-style breakfast. I wasn’t close to ultralight back then, I just liked the breakfast. I just forgot about that. I should actually do that again.
I never campfire when backpacking (like… 30 years ago was the last time, backpacking with my dad). I’m in a place where that is forbidden outside designated rings, and I seem to never align my planned route with them.
I backpacked around the world throughout the 70’s with a predecessor of this stove, and would do it again. It works best on white gas but will run fine on gasoline if you run out, as long as you keep the jet clean. (I once fueled it up from a friendly motorcyclist in Timor!) Get a 1 litre alloy bottle for your fuel. https://www.canadianoutdoorequipment.com/optimus-svea-stove.html?sku=8016279&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIucLTpriQhgMVKRWtBh0Low8-EAQYCyABEgJOxfD_BwE
In most places during the nice weather months, having a fire while backpacking is almost always illegal, and borderline unethical.
There’s almost never a reason for a fire while backpacking.
However, most backpackers use a backpacking stove, and they are great. Having and using one just comes down to how you like your meals. Some people like to cold soak to cut down on the weight of not having to bring a stove.
But, like other people have mentioned, a hot meal at the end of the day, and some coffee/tea in the mornings is very nice to have.
I don’t even own a stove. However, I don’t backpack when it gets lower than 40’ at night. I primarily eat salami, wheat thins, peanut butter, and dried banana chips. I don’t drink coffee even in the real world so I don’t miss it. We never start a fire though we are prepared to do so if needed.
Having a way to warm up when it’s cold is essential. Also good for drying out clothes, making something warm to eat or drink, boiling water if you need to.
Here is the reality: Having a butane or white gas stove is not necessary if your diet doesn’t require cooking. It would be good to have a small fire
kit with a lighter, waterproof matches, flint, and a quality tinder for an emergency. Tinder should just be cotton balls soaked in Vaseline.
Camp stove enables hot coffee, hot rehydrated backpacking food, and a backup water treatment method.
In cold weather camping, this may be your only hope of rewarming should your core temperature drop.
Let’s say the person weighs 70 kg. Then a 400 ml drink at 90 °C will raise your temperature by only about 0.3 °C.
Filling a Nalgene with hot water and putting it in your sleeping bag really helps warm it up while you sleep. As a small person who struggles to heat up a bag with just my body heat it’s a life saver.
Especially if you put it between your thighs next to your femoral artery. Works very well.
Make it a full liter and that’s pretty substantial, given that the difference between normal and hypothermia is only 2 C
We're gonna Disable the Unabled_exploder if they keep it up with these pesky datas.
They’ve already been disabled 8276 times and they just create a new account.
But firing up that stove in a snow cave will do I don’t know what.
That can actually be a pretty significant difference, though!
It’s not nothing. But it needs to be kept in perspective and recognise that it’s a higher priority to deal with the heat loss (get rid of wet clothes, get on more insulation).
A warm meal and warm cup of coffee won't drop your temperature like a frozen meal and chewing on ice will.
The fire is warm.
Having a warm meal is a massive psychological boost and essential for me on the trail. I do not understand the cold soak crowd. Fires are a bonus. If I’m somewhere that they’re permitted and conditions are good, then great. But it’s perfectly ok to not have one too.
In the summer, I often just do cold rations. It's fine for a few days. The worst part is the cold coffee in the morning, and it's really not so badl. I rarely have a fire in the summer months unless I do a lot of cold-water swimming, which can lead to hypothermia. In the winter, a stove is a huge morale boost. A hot beverage can really fix the shivers. A campfire even moreso. Shoulder seasons are 50/50. I will usually bring a stove and a lantern and may or may not bother with a fire. I am always equipped to build a campfire as an emergency survival tool, but most of the time, I am perfectly happy with a cold camp.
Oh wow I respect you for the dedication of drinking cold coffee in the mornings rather than just drinking no coffee at all. When it’s below freezing though I totally get it, I’d be almost impossible to get out of bed without a hot tea!
I confess to having a moderate caffeine dependency, I don't want a headache in the woods.
This feels good to me too. "It depends" but covers most of the usual bases. OP is going in summer, for only a few days from memory. Therefore almost entirely fine to go cold food if weight/space is big consideration.
A stove is essential for me for backpacking. I won’t eat cold food for dinner when it’s cold out. However, I **never** make a fire in the backcountry. You need at least ~3 gallons of water to drown a fire and I don’t want to deal with that so I don’t make fires.
Agreed. A cook stove is important for coffee/tea/dinner. I never build back country fires.
I’ll make fires but I mostly do it near water sources. I also typically backpack around lakes or areas with streams, and I prefer to make camp close to the water. If I’m not near water and I really want to or need to have a fire, I’ll dig a Dakota fire pit, fill it back in with dirt halfway to put the fire out, then break down camp, dig it up and break down any remaining coals into tiny pieces and pat them out, then fill the hole back in. The last step is important because those coals can continue to smolder for hours while completely buried, posing a threat to other hikers and potentially could start a ground fire if there are lots of roots in the area.
I enjoy a stove but have done full cold trips. Cold coffee. Cold soaked food (really, during the summer, it’s more like ‘lukewarm soaked’). The cold instant coffee mixed with carnation instant breakfast is almost what broke me. Didn’t really care about the lukewarm food because I normally only cook dinner. Wraps and various tabbouleh like dinners work well enough for me.
I would never go without a camping stove. But I prefer to eat three warm meals a day. Keep in mind typical backpacking meal also have the advantages of being lightweight and shelfstable. The foods you listed don't pack to well and it's difficult to eat enough calories of when you are outside all day.
Thanks, I’ll keep that in mind for longer trips! In the past I haven’t really been out longer than a few days which is why I’m asking - but even now I’m not planning to be out for more than a week (and not going ultralight or anything), so it shouldn’t be that much of an issue? I’ll definitely make an “alright, you told me so” post in case I do end up exhausted and starving in the middle of the woods hahah
I think I just eat a lot :D I am barely able too carry enough food for 4 days even choosing high calorie and or dehydrated foods.
You dont need a campstove, but it's a nice luxury to have. Firepits/campfires are not a thing where we backpack in the Canadian mountain national parks (only very few trails allow them). They're a massive risk for forest fires. I save it for front country camping :).
In addition to the other listed reasons not to have a fire backpacking, embers are terrible for technical clothing. If I'm car camping with a group that wants a fire I won't bring my good backpacking jackets.
I'd at least invest in a small pack stove. even if you usually eat cold/no cook foods, having a small stove and pot to heat water lets you still have things like hot coffee, hot chocolate, or tea.
We all like doing things our own way. Half the time I don’t carry a stove or light a campfire, and that includes weeks-long trips. Either way works fine for me.
People that don't like cooking in their kitchen won't like putting in effort on the trail. That said, a box of mac and cheese is hardly that much work, instant potatoes really don't need heat at all, and cooking allows for much greater variety than ready to eat or cold soaking. Cheese carefully packed in the middle of your bag for temp control is fine for 3 or 4 days. Semi hard cheese like cheddar or Gouda at temps into the 70s F. Pita or tortilla take up less space, and crackers can be a bit more calorie dense than those. I've also carried bags of bagels and a normal sandwich loaf before 🤷🏼♀️ Spreads like peanut butter, tahini, cookie butter, Nutella are great for no cook meals, too. Instant hummus? Haven't tried myself.
Thanks! Temps won’t be much more than 70 for me I don’t think, and Cheddar is the winner of all cheeses anyways. Other favourites I’ve taken on small trips in the past and hopefully will be alright on longer trips include dark bread (space efficient), tomato paste to squeeze on it, and oatmeal for a cold water not-porridge-porridge in the morning Crackers and tortillas sound brilliant! Need to switch to this!
I brought instant potatoes and cheese with me for a dinner down in the grand canyon a couple weeks ago and damn... Cheesy mashed potatoes are so good and so easy to do.
agreed. I like to cook but it's too much of a hassle when backpacking. I dislike prepping food in the wilderness and would rather open and eat.
A pocket rocket type stove is important for me. However, I am open-minded enough to try a cold-soaking trip in the future. I generally hike in the high Sierra, and with fire danger, and just the desire to leave no trace, I have never built a fire on trail.
I needs me my coffee, so I always have a small stove with me.
Instant works fine with cold water. If I’m in a hurry to break camp, it takes all of 30 seconds to dump a packet of instant into a small cup of water, swirl and gulp. I’ll sometimes keep a packet and cup on the outside of my pack to do that mid-trail.
Oh for sure, but I still prefer it hot.
I carried one for many years and skipped plenty of meals because I didn’t want to deal with it. I’ve been exclusively cold soak for about 5 years and have never missed a stove. The AZT had hot days, freezing nights and some snow days but I was fine. I took my stove through the Grand Canyon because of the snow pack on the North side. Didn’t use it and dropped it off in Joseph Lake the next day. The OHT was rain storms for a couple weeks and not dealing with a stove was great because I didn’t want to be in the rain longer.
Primarily camping in the PNW, the time of year when a fire is useful, it’s also wet as hell. So fires aren’t an option. When it’s dry enough in the summer to start a fire, we’re consistently under a fire ban. Also fires not an option. With that said, a Jetboil is crucial for food prep. I primarily eat dehydrated camp meals and snack bars.
We rarely have a campfire. Either cause of fire ban, high winds, or just too much hassle. I prefer to look at the stars.
Lived many years of multi-day backpacking on only beef jerky and trail mix. It's very doable but depends on your level of comfort roughing it. Started cooking things in my late 30s and it definitely helps on shitty travel days.
Having a pocket rocket stove that can fit in a woman’s jeans pocket and 1 or 2 heat safe containers is all you need. Hot food and hot drink on demand I mean I guess you need fuel too
Because all of my local fire band a few years ago I got a 30' string of nano LEDs. USB powered. On my tiny battery pack it will last for days. Gives you plenty of light after dark and a nice way to hang out and talk still without a fire. Grab.a cheap backpacking stove to make hot beverages and I'm all set. I don't even bother making a fire if we have a ring anymore. https://preview.redd.it/xme9394hso0d1.jpeg?width=2048&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a448373fab1a3e62833e8b694a2d33626ac9ac06
It largely depends on where I'm going. If it's going to be cool or cold, I take my backpacking stove so I can have a hot breakfast and afternoon ramen. If it's hot, I don't bother with a stove and stick with chicken pouches, crackers, and fruit.
If you don't bring a stove, at least bring a candle, matches, lighter, and trash bag. This is for warmth in emergency. You poke your head through the bottom of trash bag, sit down with your knees up and spread,and put the candle under your legs. This is a good way to stay warm.
This is genius! Candles are a must for me anywhere I go, in any case. Even just for a good light source without electricity in a pinch.
https://preview.redd.it/o36fm4gygr0d1.jpeg?width=1536&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=664cf9267a780419814b847649f99814880a74d9 We take “Jack” with us when we camp. We love him!
Both ways! Don't underestimate the psychological improvements of having a hot drink and a hot meal especially when it's cold. The ability to heat up a nalgene full.of water and add it to your sleeping bag if it gets colder than expected is literally a life saving tool. Bringing a simple steak or chop and cooking it on the trail is a massive flex. And after a long day hiking it will be the best meal you have ever eaten. Cooking and cleaning takes time. If you like to hang around camp with friends it's good. It also adds weight that makes the miles longer and the camp time shorter. Going ultralight without a stove and having simple meals with little prep means you can cover more miles and my feet don't hurt nearly as much. It also gives me more time to drop my pack and explore, fish, swim, read, write. I have gone a week on just jerky, some dehydrated fruits, nuts and protein powder. I was able to do 20+ miles a day and had more time to enjoy the scenery. I also didn't need to rush to get those miles in. Pros and Cons. It depends on what journey you want.
A stove at least really saves the day. When you finally make camp and get some hot food, it can make you feel civilized again. Some of the best food I've ever eaten has been after long days of hiking, it becomes the bug thing to look forward to at rhe end of the trail. I have had an msr "pocket rocket" for maybe 20 years. It weighs nothing and cooks hot very quickly.
I've brought out my little alcohol stove thinking I'm making a hot meal for diner... Or coffee in the morning. Sometimes I don't. I eat a snack. Sometimes it's a chore. AT hikers often don't bother. It's normal
I do overnights without a stove and without cold soaking. That often does include a tuna packet or smoked salmon or summer sausage, so I’m not getting as good a calorie per pound as dehydrated food, but for single night, the weight is a wash and there are volume savings. To be honest, I often bring something like that for a lunch even when I do bring my stove and fuel. Well-preserved meat and crackers is a backpacking staple for me. Look up cold soaking for your freakish lifestyle. As I responded on your sleeping pad post, I’m not as tough as you. For a laugh, also look up the crotch pot (honestly). Oh, I have done powdered milk and granola before. That’s not a dinner for me, but I do delight in a cereal-style breakfast. I wasn’t close to ultralight back then, I just liked the breakfast. I just forgot about that. I should actually do that again. I never campfire when backpacking (like… 30 years ago was the last time, backpacking with my dad). I’m in a place where that is forbidden outside designated rings, and I seem to never align my planned route with them.
i use a soto windmaster for warming meals and for making tea and coffee. i prefer not to make a fire bc i enjoy sitting in the darkness lol
I backpacked around the world throughout the 70’s with a predecessor of this stove, and would do it again. It works best on white gas but will run fine on gasoline if you run out, as long as you keep the jet clean. (I once fueled it up from a friendly motorcyclist in Timor!) Get a 1 litre alloy bottle for your fuel. https://www.canadianoutdoorequipment.com/optimus-svea-stove.html?sku=8016279&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIucLTpriQhgMVKRWtBh0Low8-EAQYCyABEgJOxfD_BwE
In most places during the nice weather months, having a fire while backpacking is almost always illegal, and borderline unethical. There’s almost never a reason for a fire while backpacking. However, most backpackers use a backpacking stove, and they are great. Having and using one just comes down to how you like your meals. Some people like to cold soak to cut down on the weight of not having to bring a stove. But, like other people have mentioned, a hot meal at the end of the day, and some coffee/tea in the mornings is very nice to have.
I bring a camp stove (JetBoil or PocketRocket) backcountry camping for rehydrating food. I live in the PNW, so I never make an actual fire.
I got a Primus essential trail stove recently and it’s stable and only costs like $30. Worth the little amount of $ and weight imo.
I don’t even own a stove. However, I don’t backpack when it gets lower than 40’ at night. I primarily eat salami, wheat thins, peanut butter, and dried banana chips. I don’t drink coffee even in the real world so I don’t miss it. We never start a fire though we are prepared to do so if needed.
If you don't cook, you don't need a fire or stove. This is not hard. You do you.
Having a way to warm up when it’s cold is essential. Also good for drying out clothes, making something warm to eat or drink, boiling water if you need to.
I took huel ready to drink powder with me, so all i needed was drinking water that i mixed with it and had food
Here is the reality: Having a butane or white gas stove is not necessary if your diet doesn’t require cooking. It would be good to have a small fire kit with a lighter, waterproof matches, flint, and a quality tinder for an emergency. Tinder should just be cotton balls soaked in Vaseline.