Homemade Backpacking Gear

One of the things I like best about backpacking is testing out different systems.  Lucky for us, cooking gear lends itself to being homemade, providing us with an endless opportunity to experiment and create.  Over the years I've tried various combinations of stoves, cookware and utensils and thought I would just share a few of my favorites. 

P.S.  I don't carry that MSR Dragonfly anymore.  That was my first stove.  Given all the great choices we have today in alcohol stoves that Dragonfly seems so archaic now.   Can you believe at one point I actually used to carry around a SVEA?  Just like my aunt Mary, it was cool but weighed a ton and was tempermental!  Ahhh, yes...I remember scrambling those powdered eggs.  They were bloody awful!  Picture rehydrated chalk dust mixed with butter.

I still carry an MSR Miniworks Ex Filter.  At 14.6 oz. it's probably not the lightest option but I have filtered some pretty questionable water with it and trust it completely.  Aqua Mira may be lighter but there's more in water that I want to remove than just viruses--I like not having to worry about detritus and metals.  So far, I haven't felt the need to upgrade.

Vargo Titanium Spork

This was a very generous Christmas gift and as soon as I pulled it out of the box I knew it would replace my Snow Peak titanium spork.  It's the same weight (0.6 oz.) but the tines are sharper so it picks up solid food better.  Plus, it just feels better in the hand due to the tapered handle.  Mine is blue.  A friend of mine sent me some plastic sporks from a fast-food restaurant but I like using metal because it won't melt or break.  In my opinion, the extra weight of titanium is justifiable because it makes it a multi-use item as a backup trowel or emergency tent stake.

Leatherman Micra

At 1.75 oz. this multi-tool has everything I need for the backcountry kitchen and beyond.  The scissors make short work of freeze-dried meal packages and impromptu windscreen venting while the blade is just long enough to cut food like bagels, cheese, etc..  I use the tweezers to remove slivers and the screwcrivers for eyeglass repair.  A brilliant little package!

Right now I'm using an Evernew 400 single wall (3.1 oz.).  I like the single-wall design because I can put it on the stove to warm up my coffee or use it as a backup pot.  It's strong, simple, and durable.  DISADVANTAGES: the handle doesn't fold so it won't easily nest inside pots and the single-wall construction easily burns lips.  To counter this, a rubberband or Lance Armstrong bracelet can be added to the rim as insulation.  Eventually, I'm going to dish out the money to get a similar one with folding handles. 

Out of my entire stove collection, my favorite is...

"The Supercat" by Jim Woods.  It's easy to make, weighs only 0.5 oz and brings 2 cups of water to a boil in under 4 minutes.  It's hard to beat that.  I've made many stove designs but this is the one I always end up taking with me in the field.  Note the added base on the bottom for stability.  The only limitation of this stove is that it doesn't work well with narrow pots because the flames spread wide.  It works especially well with wider pots like the Antigravitygear and MSR Titan Kettle.  To make your own:  http://jwbasecamp.com/Articles/SuperCat/index.html

Out of all of these my favorites are...

The Antigravitygear 3 cup pot and the MSR Titan. 

Antigravitygear Pot

How can you beat the price and durability of this pot?  I have both the hard anodized and the non-stick but prefer the hard anodized because it doesn't slide around on the stove as much.  At 3.8 oz it's a great lightweight pot for one or two people.  I also use it as my bowl and have even melted snow with it.  The only drawback I can think of is the need for a pot gripper.

MSR Titan Kettle

My favorite piece of titanium!  I love the spout and tight-fitting lid for pouring water or draining pasta.  The coated lid handle locks into an upright position so you can remove the lid without burning your hands.  Some complain that the lid is too tight to remove while cooking.  You can get around this by loosely placing the lid on top while cooking (this does slightly decrease the effecienct though).  For pouring or draining, snap it on tightly.  The tight lid has another advantage: it eliminates the need to use a stuff sack to keep the lid from coming off in your pack.  Drawback:  the handles get really hot and using a bandana as an oven mitt to lift the kettle is an open invitation to the emergency room!  I'm working on a ultralight, fireproof solution to this.

Of course, I need cozys for all of those pots!  I made these from Reflectix and aluminum tape.  I like to put stickers on them so I can remember which one is for which pot.  This also gives them a little bit of "personality". 

Note that I don't make cozys with the folding top ala Antigravitygear.  That's because I eat out of my pot and the main purpose of the cozy is to insulate my hads while I'm holding the pot (as well as to keep my food warm while I'm eating).  These only take a few minutes to make.  If you don't want to make your own, you can get them here:  http://www.antigravitygear.com/store/index.php?cPath=3_13 but they will have the folding top as they are designed for cooking food, not merely eating out of like mine. 

One nice thing about denatured alcohol is that you can store it in just about any container.  Here are some of the ones I've tried out but my favorite is...

The Nalgene 4 oz. bottle.  Never leaks and the oval shap packs and slips in and out of pockets easily.  I take this one on solo trips.  The purple one in the middle is from Tinny (http://www.minibulldesign.com/fs2.htm) and is a close second.  Sometimes I take that one.  On extended trips or when I'm with other people I take a larger bottle.  You'll notice I have duct tape wrapped around some of the bottles.  Well, what better place to put it? 

Every kitchen needs a sink.  On lux trips I take my Nalgene Canteen.  I hang it from a tree limb with a strap and put one of these inside:  http://www.rei.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?storeId=8000&catalogId=40000008000&productId=47875642&parent_category_rn=5760730&vcat=REI_SEARCH

It makes the water come out like a faucet when tilted and allows for easy one-hand pouring.  It's also great for washing hands. 

I just got a Sea To Summit Ultra-Sil Dry sack to replace my old bear bag.  At just under one ounce, this waterproof bag is great for hanging food and protecting clothing during the hike.  I hang it with reflective Kelty Triptease cord so it's easy to find at night.  It can also double as a pillow.  The capacity is four liters.