I’ve been debating whether to pack a stove or not. I like the ultralight approach, and a stove and fuel is extra weight…have any of you tried no cooking? I would miss hot beverages the most I think–that morning cup of tea, but if I ate hot meals off trail, and packed all cold foods, would I be hating all cold foods before long?
Jonna
My hiking partner for a weeklong trek ate nothing but nutrition bars for the duration. He didn’t seem to mind it too much. Heck, I even offered him some of my cooked food but he declined; my disgustingly dirty cookware may have had something to do with that.
I just don’t know. I still think carrying the stove is worth it.
highchiefmp
Hi Jonna,
On my thru-hike, I cooked maybe two or three times a week, sometimes less. I carried Esbit fuel tablets for those few hot meals/drinks, and burned the tabs in a small tuna can, propping my aluminum pot up with three tent stakes or a ring of rocks. The tablets weigh something like 1/2 oz. each. I called REI or Campmor when I started to run low on tablets and had them maildrop some ahead to me. I think the tablets are a nice compromise for those who want to have the option to cook/boil water but don’t intend to do so every day, two or three times a day.
Ramkitten
www.DebraLauman.com
Ramkitten
I knew a few hikers who went completely “stoveless” last year, and one thing I noticed - their food was heavy, but not necessarily rich in calories. Bagels, tuna, pita bread, etc… Sounds good, but a 300 calorie bagel doesn’t get you very close to the 4-6K calories needed per day to hike.
Without careful planning, you might end up carrying fewer calories for the same weight in food, due to the extra water contained in ready-to-eat products. For short hikes, you can get away with that, but you end up needing every calorie you can carry on a thruhike.
That said, it is really nice to have a few meals that don’t need cooking - lunches, snacks…
-chipper
chipper & jeff '02
Carry the stove. If you dont like it send it home or bounce it ahead. A hot drink or meal on a cold and rainy day is worth the weight. Believe me!
Virginian
I hiked every state with the exception of Maine without a cookpot/stove. I did it mostly for the convenience of not having to cook and clean in the evening… plus you don’t need to have extra water for cooking - I never carried more than two quarts - even when camping at dry locations in the hottest months. You end up carrying heavier food (bagels vs. rice/noodles) so I’m not sure if the weight savings were really all that significant - never looked into that. Bagels with peanut butter and honey for dinner every single night never got too old… although of course you do miss the hot meals.
I typically ate pop tarts for breakfast and candy bars, summer sausage, and whatever else throughout the day. Don’t worry about not getting enough calories - my dinners were 1500-2000 (3 bagels, 1/3-1/2 jar pb, globs of honey)… a whole lot more than a single lipton noodle yields.
I’d say start your hike without any cookware if it strikes your fancy, and if you don’t like it you can always buy what you need, or have your stuff sent to you, or build an alchohol stove, or only cook occasionally over fires… anything.
Duct Tape
I started my SOBO hike with a stove but bumped it ahead for the whites. I picked it up again in Manchester Center, VT but sent it home at bear mountian. I used a tuna can for a while in Virginia but one day I got tried of wash my pot out and decide to get rid of the pot and quit cooking. I carried a small bottle of Alcohol for heating water on cold wet days. I carried a MSR titanium cup .5 liters. I figured out I could cook a pack of ramen and peanut butter, cayene pepper and sunflower seeds which gave me plenty of calories. I would also buy small cans of meat and add BBQ sauce for flavor. During the summer I bought summer sausage or pepperoni which added calories and protien until I got tried of it. Pepperoni and Peanut butter sandwiches are mighty tasty. Going stove less free up your camping spots since you don’t need much water but your food load will be heavier and more bulky than stoveless. I also had problems in a few times where I couldn’t find a good resupply. I discovered little Debbie is my friend with a large selection of snack cakes loaded with calories but costing around a dollar. I hiked with a lot of junk food and it worked. I hope this helps.
Darth Pac-man
Darth Pacman is making my stomach hurt just thinking about all that crap he eats.
THA WOOKIE
I think the weight is a wash between cooking and going with prepared foods. The people I’ve hiked with just didn’t want to hassle with the set-up and clean up of making a meal.
I usually only cook dinner, preferring to get out of camp quickly in the morning - which makes up a bit for a fondness for sleeping in. Lunch is good warm if the weather stinks or you just need an excuse to hang out longer at a really nice spot.
To be honest, aside from adding variety, cooking gives you something to do at night. Unless you’re hiking 14 hours a day you’re going to have a lot of time sitting around the shelter or the campsite. Firing up your stove and deciding between Lipton’s Angel Hair Pasta and Uncle Ben’s Oriental Fried Rice is a lot more fun than eating a cold bagel and watching everyone else make dinner.
Joel
Joel
and a few ounces of alcohol.
The stove weighs less than an ounce.
Good for a hot meal/drink, when needed.
Liptons Tomato CupaSoup is good with a cheese and pepperoni
sandwich.
Scamp
Scamp
Many thanks to all who gave me their wisdom. I had not thought beyond just losing the weight of the stove and fuel; it had not occurred to me that my cold meals would be heavier than dehydrated stuff. The thought that it’s nice to have something to do at night was helpful too…thanks y’all.
Jonna