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Manwich
11-24-2009, 12:52
PB,N&J is a staple food for me while backpacking... but buying a 1.5oz packet of Peanut Butter isn't very cost effective for me (EMS is quite a drive away from me and it's the only place I can find them) and Nutella doesn't even come in packet form...

Does anybody have any lightweight alternatives to just bringing a Peanut Butter and Nutella container? I heard most of those food tubes are pretty messy.

Cabin Fever
11-24-2009, 12:54
Goober container - best of both worlds.

ShelterLeopard
11-24-2009, 13:06
Nalgene has both hard containers (that I've only used when doing group food, but they come in all sizes) and some plastic squeeze container that you can put jam or pb or whatnot in, but I have no idea how you get it in there.

I'll post links in a bit.

Outrider
11-24-2009, 13:08
I have been using these for a few years now. Carry PB in them with no problems and they are easy to clean.
http://www.rei.com/product/696007

JokerJersey
11-24-2009, 13:20
You could always make your own packets.

All you need to do is get very small plastic bags like...

http://www.uline.com/Product/Detail/S-12269/Poly-Bags-White-Block/2-x-3-4-Mil-White-Block-Reclosable-Poly-Bags - 1000 bags for $48 bucks would last you a LONG time.

Those are 2"x3" USDA approved "sandwich" baggies. Go to your nearest bakery/kitchen store and buy an icing bag. The kind you use to decorate cakes with icing. Spoon your peanut butter into the bag and "pipe" it into the small baggies. Having someone hold the baggies would probably be the easiest way to do it. Repeat with jelly, nutella, or any other squeezeable product. Hell, you could even do EZ-Cheese this way. Label the date you packaged it and stick it in the fridge. Ready whenever you need it.

Total intial cost would total up to about $60 but after that you'd be set for quite awhile. Plus, the bags are useful for other stuff like dish soap or shampoo. Just depends on how creative you want to go.

When you pack it out, take the precaution to stick it in a larger plastic bag in case any of them pop open. The key is not to overfill them. Get a larger bag if you need more, but don't try to force extra in there.

Once you're in camp, use a knife or your teeth to pull off one corner of the bag and squeeze it out again. The mess would be the same as it would with a disposable packet.

That's the best I can come up with.

Manwich
11-24-2009, 13:27
I contemplated the "make your own" avenue. I have a shrink-wrapping machine with a Piano-Wire Heat Cutter and I can custom form my own baggies, but only science knows whether or not that's foodsafe.

As for the Dime-Bag idea... yeah I'd be set a while but I'm really going for cost. If I can buy a single reusable tube for $7, then I'm set.

I have seen some food syringes meant for animals that I could possibly use in this application as well.

ShelterLeopard
11-24-2009, 13:33
Outrider's link is exactly what I was thinking of- I think the ones I saw were made by a different company, but Outrider's tubes look almost exactly the same. But how do you get the stuff inside?

ShelterLeopard
11-24-2009, 13:35
Oh, I didn't see the "open end" thing. Does that really work? Or does it sometimes leak?

Outrider
11-24-2009, 13:38
They are open on the end to load what ever in them. Then you fold the end over and it has a clip that slides on to hold it in place.

I like that also because in cold weather,PB can be hard to get out, so I just take the clip off and use my spoon to dish it out.

Outrider
11-24-2009, 13:39
Oh, I didn't see the "open end" thing. Does that really work? Or does it sometimes leak?


I dont use it for liquids. So I am not sure about leaking.

ShelterLeopard
11-24-2009, 13:51
I mean things like PB.

makoboy
11-24-2009, 13:52
I use the Coghlan's tubes all the time for Penutbutter, jelly, butter, etc. Tip for using PB...microwave it for a few min and then you can pour it right in. It will hold about 1/2 a jar.

Many Walks
11-24-2009, 15:15
PB,N&J is a staple food for me while backpacking... but buying a 1.5oz packet of Peanut Butter isn't very cost effective for me (EMS is quite a drive away from me and it's the only place I can find them) and Nutella doesn't even come in packet form...

Does anybody have any lightweight alternatives to just bringing a Peanut Butter and Nutella container? I heard most of those food tubes are pretty messy.
World Market sells Nutella in .6 oz packages (99 cents) in their gift basket section with a bunch of great hiking stuff. Tiny packages of salami, small bottles of EVOO, 1.76 oz packages of Hummus in different flavors, tiny bottles of hot sauce. Worth checking out.

photojojo
11-24-2009, 17:59
I use the Jif to go (http://www.amazon.com/Jif-Creamy-Peanut-Butter-single/dp/B002SDV22M/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=grocery&qid=1259099717&sr=1-2) packets. I couldn't find a link to it other than this one at Amazon for a case or whatever it is. You get the idea though. One cup will make two sandwiches for me. I'll make one and put the open cup in a Ziploc and use it the next day or whatever.

ShelterLeopard
11-24-2009, 18:13
I just buy smaller jars. I'm not a fan of the jif to go, because they're more expensive. (I've found small jars, about half the size of a Skippy's or Jif's small, it might be shoprite brand)

Bags4266
11-24-2009, 18:16
I agree w Shelp. If your a section hiker, use the tubes. Thru hiker I would buy the small plastic jars along the way. It would be a hassle loading the tubes in the field. And the weight difference is minimal.

Jack Tarlin
11-24-2009, 18:21
All of you guys figuring out the best or least messy or most economical way to get peanut butter or jelly or honey or whatever in a re-usable squeeze tube, etc.....

Good Lord. Buy a 12 or 18 oz. container and proceed from there.

Some people are determined to make things more complicated than they need to be.

Franco
11-24-2009, 18:27
I like the idea of those squeeze tubes, I don't use them but they have been around for many years and I know people that do use them .
Another way is to get the Gladware containers. They are very light and come with a relatively safe lid (test before the trip...)
They come in different shape and sizes. I cannot see the size listed at their page but I had some that held about 4 oz of water.
http://www.glad.com/containers/ (http://www.glad.com/containers/)
Franco

Franco
11-24-2009, 18:30
Wrong page
http://www.glad.com/containers/gladware_containers.php (http://www.glad.com/containers/gladware_containers.php)
sizes cleverly hidden inside the "available sizes" link
Yes the smallest are 4 oz..
Franco

Many Walks
11-24-2009, 18:40
Dollar stores and 99 cent stores often have small plastic jars of PB good for hiking at the right price. The ones I've tried tasted good too.

Terraducky
11-24-2009, 18:47
Ever try this stuff? We love it!

http://www.justinsnutbutter.com/

Franco
11-24-2009, 21:33
Almond butter...
I need to see if I can find it. Failing that I might make my own but them almonds are pretty expensive.
Sounds good though.
Franco

toegem
11-25-2009, 12:46
PB&J is not my favorite food, probably because I ate way to much of it as a kid, I'm not sure what they charge at EMS but for $10.90 you can get ten sandwiches worth with the jelly included here http://www.minimus.biz/detail.aspx?ID=8652

garlic08
11-25-2009, 13:00
All of you guys figuring out the best or least messy or most economical way to get peanut butter or jelly or honey or whatever in a re-usable squeeze tube, etc.....

Good Lord. Buy a 12 or 18 oz. container and proceed from there.

Some people are determined to make things more complicated than they need to be.

LOL! I can't believe it took 17 posts for someone to say this. Occam's razor, anyone?

Lyle
11-25-2009, 13:16
Haven't used squeeze tubes in many of year. When I did, the clips would either leak - messy or break entirely - VERY MESSY. Not worth the hassle.

With the small plastic jars now, no reason to re-package.

Snowleopard
11-25-2009, 20:10
LOL! I can't believe it took 17 posts for someone to say this. Occam's razor, anyone?
Well, when I started hiking PB was in glass jars, heavy and breakable and the tubes made sense. Nowadays, just bring a jar :)