Packing - difficult items
The Platypus containers are for liquids. The Platypus containers pack flat and the excess air inside can be squeezed out so the liquid inside will not slosh.
Inside my "cookset" I pack a cut-down-to-size scrubbie and put a small Lightload travel towel to keep the little items I have put inside from rattling around.
The big exception, of course, is the stinky used stove and the fuel. Previously worn socks or just washed socks may be in this category. This is a good argument for quick-dry socks and gloves or outer mittens.
These small items go in outside pockets, and wet socks and gloves may go in outside mesh pockets, or, if securely attached, hang off the outside of the pack.
I have used a waistpack, I would wear around in front for balance, for easy walking on groomed forest duff trails for my gourmet cooking gear, using the Outback Oven Ultralight system. The entire kitchen, stove, fuel, and cooking pot items can fit in a waistpack.
In any event, fuel should be carried separate from the pack, at least outside the pack, in a leakproof container just in case it does leak.
In an attempt to find the ideal a backpacker stove, I have purchased every stove for backpacker's in the marketplace. I also have just about every white gas and multifuel backpacking stove sold. I have quite a collection.
Not one stove and external fuel bottle system worked properly.
Due to that experience, I started to avoid all component metal stoves, large-size cookware systems, and hard-edge fuel containers.
My older model brass MSR Trangia alcohol stove had been my only experience with an alcohol stove for backpacking: I could not boil water or reheat food. I do reside at rather high altitude. For this reason, the fuel tabs are also relegated to the emergency bag, as wood fire firestarters.
The white gas stove that got used is the little Svea 123. I never used diesel fuel. But just in case I get to go somewhere only diesel fuel is available, I was ready.
I admit I loved the brass Svea 123 stove, at 19 ounces, because it reliably made hot meals in the rain or snow and in windy conditions with a windscreen and a windbreak. I purchased a little pressure pump for it. I bought nesting pots at the old Smileys store, in San Francisco. It had individual fitted lids and nesting cotton bags, for each pot, for soot.
It was stolen. I'd rather the little Optimus 8R (the Optimius Trail) had been taken. I was told it would overheat the fuel tank, if I tried to use a bigger cooking pot so I never used it.
It is still amazing to me how, nevertheless, I would backpack something I truly admire like that heavy and cantankerous Swea 123 stove and nesting pots.
Continued
copyright © 2012 Connie Dodson. All Rights Reserved.
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