The Ultimate Guide to MSR Cookware

May 7, 2024

It’s often said that the best gear in the world is gear you don’t notice. It’s the stuff that works so remarkably well, it’s unremarkable. It just does its thing, and you get to focus solely on the task at hand, whether that’s having a ball with friends or pushing for a summit. Camp cookware falls squarely into this category. It’s not the coolest gear you’ll ever acquire, but since it will play a key role in keeping you fueled up for your adventure, choosing the right cookware for each style of trip is essential to making the most of the experience. Some trips demand the lightest and most packable option to keep you moving, while on others, you might choose a bit more luxury for cooking like you’re at…

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Building Your Backcountry Kitchen, Part 1: Storing, Stashing & Stocking

Oct 4, 2023

Even if you’re content to subsist primarily on reconstituted meals in the backcountry, there’s always room for improvement (it’s amazing what a dash of soy sauce or a dollop of peanut butter can do, for example). If you genuinely enjoy the challenge of creating healthy, delicious fare while out in the back of beyond, having a well-stocked portable kitchen will serve you well. The following are tips on storing, stashing, and stocking your backcountry kitchen. I’m not going to address cookware here, as what you carry depends upon the type of trip, destination, and your personal preference/weight-bearing capabilities. (See Part 3: Cookware and Stove Pairings.) One of the main considerations is keeping your kitchen kit lightweight and compact. If you’re going to be on the river or in a clime…

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Everything You Need to Know About Cold Soak Backpacking Meals

Aug 23, 2023

I was thru-hiking the Colorado Trail when I attempted to cold soak my food for the first time. I pulverized the ramen noodles in their package, dumped them into an empty peanut butter container, covered them with water and waited beneath the drooping sun. About a half hour later, I opened the lid to find lifeless noodles bobbing to the surface. It looked like something you’d find in a science lab, limbs splayed in every direction. But I was in the middle of the woods where calories couldn’t be wasted, so I dug into my cup with a grimace. My first bite was surprisingly soft. But it wasn’t bad. I was a little bit more eager for the second bite, which I decided tasted like your typical ramen—only cold. Maybe…

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Building Your Backcountry Kitchen, Part 2: The Essential Ingredients

Jul 31, 2023

I grew up in a family that embraced the convenience of freeze-dried meals and deviled ham when it came to camping trips. It wasn’t until a college spring break trip to Baja’s Bahia Concepción that I discovered it’s possible to actually, you know, cook while camping. We’d procured some scallops from the bay. My friend Caroline, an avid cook, sautéed them with garlic and chili flakes, adding a splash of her beer and a squeeze of lime to finish. I was gobsmacked—left to my own devices, I’d been subsisting on canned frijoles refritos and tortillas. That pivotal moment not only inspired me to go to culinary school, it redefined what I thought of as camping fare. Today, there are certain ingredients that are staples in my home and backcountry kitchen….

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