2. 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.
These items go in outside pockets, and wet socks may go in outside mesh pockets or hang off the outside of the pack.
I have used my no longer made North Face Big Shot pack, plus matching waistpack, I wear around in front for balance, for easy walking on groomed forest duff trails and my gourmet cooking, using the Outback Oven Ultralight system. The entire kitchen, stove, fuel, and cooking pot items go in the matching North Face Big Shot waistpack, the waistpack worn in front to balance the load front and back.
Kitchen items
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.
My older model brass MSR Trangia alcohol stove had been my only experience with an alcohol stove for backpacking: it never got any duty. 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 avoid all "football size" stoves, cookware, and hard-edge fuel containers.
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. 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. Someone filched it.
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.
Continued
copyright © 2010 Connie Dodson. All Rights Reserved.
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