Food/Water

Water is simultaneously the most critical resource for human survival and the heaviest consumable item you will carry on the trail. Because a single liter of water weighs roughly 2.2 pounds, carrying a multi-day supply from the trailhead is physically impossible for a long-distance hiker. Therefore, treating water found in the wild is a mandatory … Read more

One of the most persistent challenges for long-distance hikers is managing the physical weight of their food. You can spend hundreds of dollars shaving ounces off your tent and sleeping bag, only to ruin that progress by packing five pounds of heavy, water-logged meals. To truly lighten your load, you must view food mathematically as … Read more

At the end of a grueling, 20-mile hiking day, the last thing many hikers want to do is set up a kitchen. Fumbling with a fuel canister, waiting for water to boil, and scrubbing a sticky metal pot in the dark can feel like a chore that stands between you and your sleeping bag. This … Read more

You have successfully replaced your heavy tent with a tarp, swapped your boots for trail runners, and upgraded to a frameless backpack. Yet, when you pick up your fully loaded pack, it still feels oppressively heavy. For many backpackers, the final hurdle in weight reduction is not gear, but the kitchen. Fueling your body efficiently … Read more