If you're new to backpacking, or if you’re hopelessly in love with someone who wants you to love backpacking, then this podcast is for you. We’ll talk about the essentials, how to lighten your load, and how to make the most of your time on the trail.
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172: The Next Level of Essentials
Show Notes: Episode 172
Today on the First 40 Miles, Once you’ve got survival in the woods figured out, maybe you’re ready to take it to the next level. We’ve got the top 5 secondary survival essentials to round out your outdoor experience. Then, we’ll review a stove and pot combo that will help you cook up your latest trail cuisine experiment. And if you’re not feeling like any culinary experimentation, we’ll share a food hack that’s under a buck and requires no dishwashing.
Opening
* Beyond survival
* Survival as a goal is pretty bleak…
* “I want to live, not merely survive”
Top 5 C’s of Secondary Survival Essentials
Communication/Connection
* Staying connected is one of the big challenges on the trail—especially if you’re hiking as a group.
* Radios and other communication technology helps
* Pre-communication goes a long way to prevent awkward guessing about where everyone is on the trail—especially if you end up spreading out.
Convenience
* We include so many conveniences in our outside time that maybe we don’t even realize it.
* Fire at the flick of a Bic?
* Boiling water in 90 seconds without building a fire?
* Popping up a tent without using a single knot?
* Knives that lock open and lock closed for safety?
* We have so many conveniences, that maybe we don’t even remember that these really aren’t necessities—
* 200 years ago, many of our modern conveniences didn’t exist—which means, no, convenience is not a necessity, it’s a luxury.
Cleanliness
* Cleanliness has a different definition from everyone on the trail.
* It’s a challenge to keep “clean enough” but it’s also fun to be all Grizzly Adams and not care.
* Being clean (especially when preparing food) helps prevent disease, bacterial overgrowth, etc.
* But for a short backpacking trip, cleanliness in general drops to the second tier.
Comfort
* There’s a good reason why comfort is second tier…
* Comfort is not a necessity. Anyone who has hiked with a headache, a crick in their neck, a stomachache, or has just been on the edge of too cold…
Cuisine
* Food is a survival essential. Cuisine is a luxury.
* Top Ramen is food, Coconut Curry Cashews sprinkled on top of rehydrated Pad Thai is Cuisine.
SUMMIT Gear Review™: Olicamp Kinetic Ultra Titanium Stove (and XTS Pot)
Structure
* Titanium for the main body of the stove
* Aluminum base
* Brass inside fuel combustion area
Utility
* Fuel: Isobutane canister
* Isobutane: a gaseous hydrocarbon isomeric with butane.
* Boil Time: 3 min 30 seconds
* Output: 9,620 BTU
* Manual ignition (different from piezo ignition…)
Mass
* Weight: 1.7 oz. (48g)
* Size: 2.5″ x 2.6″
Maintenance
* Isobutane burns clean, so you shouldn’t have trouble with clogged stove
* Comes with a Lexan case, which you can leave home
* Bring matches or a lighter to light stove
Investment
* Stove: $50
* Pot: $30
* Combo: $70
Trial
* Fold out pot stand for larger pots
* Compare to other stoves we’ve used
* Very little heat loss when used with the Olicamp XTS Pot—has the coil on bottom, but doesn’t “lock on” to stove
* Love the wide base to put your pot or mug on
* Responsive stove with good simmer control
* Incredibly lightweight and collapsible—you can unscrew the base of the stove—this gives you even more storage options
Backpack Hack of the Week™: Mashed Potatoes in a Bag