Going Stoveless

[Hairbear]

I sometimes use the coffee bags and just put a couple in a 20 oz bottle of water with some creamer and sugar...by morning it's iced coffee.

thanks for the idea............

[High Side]

I always thought that a stove would just be a hassle.

Besides, not having hot food on the trail would just make town visits that much better

[Moose2001]

instant refried beans huh where would you get this

http://www.mexgrocer.com/1419.html

[wornoutboots]

On my last hike I really enjoyed hitting up the local grocery store deli's for say chicken salad, deserts & such in compact containers where available. When not I eat PB & Tortias, cheese, pop tarts & such. On the AT you'll be able to grab a hot meal & real food every 3-4 days

[daddytwosticks]

If I went stoveless (and gave up coffee and caffiene), I think I would still bring a metal cup, something like a Snow Peak 450, for an occasional hot beverage over a camp fire. However, for those times when you want or need a hot beverage, like hot chocolate or herbal tea, it's probably cold and wet. Staring a fire in that instance may be problematic.

[Theosus]

I could go stoveless, especially for short hikes, but with the size and weight of little stoves, I can't think of a reason to. You could really carry a small "emergency" stove and plan your meals to be mostly stove-free. I saw a woman recently using esbit tabs and a folding stove smaller than a pack of cards. It folded open, and the fuel went on the middle plate, whereas the sides held the cup. Vargo makes a titanium "cat stove" equivalent with little legs and cup supports built in. A couple of ounces of fuel and that stove barely fill up your fist. If you're still carrying a cup, its nothing to carry the stove and matches inside it. If you really want or need some heat, the ability to get warm liquid inside you and huddle around the little fire could be very nice. And you dont need to gather wood or find a fire ring.
I havent really found any "stove free" , meals that I really like. raw cereal (fruit loops OMG!), beef jerky, bread, etc. Of course if you have an adjustable stove like a gigapower... and a little mug, you can brown some rolls and spread some imitation butter on them... ohhhhh. so good. And the look on your friend's faces on the eve of your second day, while you eat your buttered hot rolls. HAHAHAHA.

[58starter]

Just please do not ask me for hot water from my pot when I am having my hot coffee in the mornings and you do not have any. Of course I will give it to you but then you would feel bad for asking and not bringing your own stove.

[RED-DOG]

going stoveless is a bad idea the human body needs a warm meal .

[Mags]

going stoveless is a bad idea the human body needs a warm meal .

???????

It needs calories. It needs the right type of food in terms of fats, carbs and proteins and it also needs the appropriate vitamins and minerals.

Whether it is warm or not is not an issue (other than making sure raw meat is cooked properly of course.)

Quick question. A person is suffering from the very early stages of hypothermia.

Which is the best beverage?

Diet Coke
Hot Black Tea
cold Orange Juice

A warm meal can be nice of course. But needed?

[Don H]

Cold Orange Juice. Do I get a prize?

[Deacon]

Cold Orange Juice. Do I get a prize?

Can't beat Tang on the trail.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[leaftye]

Can't beat Tang on the trail.

Or in space.

Sent from a sheet of bark using a rock.

[tzbrown]

I also have gone stoveless for my summer hikes for the last 2 years.

As noted by all those before me:
Faster out of camp in the morning, later into camp at night = more miles
Easier in towns, just food to think about
More camp options, due to needing less water morning and night

For cold seasons I still bring a stove

[Mags]

Cold Orange Juice. Do I get a prize?

You get the No Prize!

[10-K]

I learned about the which is best choice in a wilderness first aid class.

The instructor asked in the case of hypothermia which is better:

An ice cold Coke or a cup of hot tea.

Of course everyone said a cup of hot tea....

[pyroman53]

I learned about the which is best choice in a wilderness first aid class.

The instructor asked in the case of hypothermia which is better:

An ice cold Coke or a cup of hot tea.

Of course everyone said a cup of hot tea....

So help me understand. Not the tea cause it's empty calories? Coke has lots a calories? Calories = warmth?

This discussion is important since the big rub most often put forth against stove less is the need for those life saving hot beverages. Me? My sleeping bag is key. Starting a stove and cooking while hypothermic might be a bit of a stretch. Especially since, if weather is bad, first I have to set up my tent or tarp. By then I'd be totally useless. Snarfing a snickers and diving into my bag I might manage.

[garlic08]

...Me? My sleeping bag is key. Starting a stove and cooking while hypothermic might be a bit of a stretch. Especially since, if weather is bad, first I have to set up my tent or tarp. By then I'd be totally useless. Snarfing a snickers and diving into my bag I might manage.

Agreed. The only time I can see a hot beverage working well is if you have a healthy person with you willing to feed it to you after you're in your sleeping bag. Ask my wife.

I did some back-of-envelope calculations once showing the energy added to a liter of water to raise it 40F above body temp (the hottest you can drink) is less than that contained in a Snickers Bar. Never mind the heat lost from your body while you're fiddling with the stove and water.

But that doesn't include the psychological boost from a hot drink, especially when served up by a nice person.

[Mags]

So help me understand. Not the tea cause it's empty calories? Coke has lots a calories? Calories = warmth?

It has calories and in the form of sugar (quick energy) and liquid gets into the system faster than having to digest solid food.

Hot jello is an old trick from winter camping. Besides the hot beverage (psychological) it is liquid for hydration and quick sugar for energy/warmth.

[10-K]

Nothing wrong with hot beverages as long as they're as high in caloric value as you can get (for treating hypothermia).

But yes, calories=heat. Hot tea.. not so much.

[English Stu]

Clearly stoveless can be done but for variation it is nice to have a ho tmeal, it punctuates the day as well. We have the Ti pocket woodburning stove here in the UK, 3oz,there are similar in the US, twigs are rarely in short supply on the AT and you are not hunting for fuel in town or carrying any. You could do away with the stove and make do with three stones or a cook fire. I like a coffee in the morning and boil water in the evening.I carried a bushcooker 6oz (bush buddy lookalike) on my last trip on the AT and it was fine.