Appreciation post: Ditching my backpacking stove for cold soaking

I used to haul a full MSR stove setup on every trip, even short overnights in the Smokies, and it added nearly 2 pounds to my pack. After a rainy trip last April where I couldn't get it lit and ended up eating cold ramen anyway, I switched to cold soaking meals in a wide-mouth jar. Has anyone else made this change and found it works better for certain trips, or do you still prefer a hot meal no matter what?

2 comments

2 Comments

stellawood26d ago

Ha, I mean I get where you're coming from but honestly the hot coffee thing is a big deal for me. There's something about sitting there in the cold damp morning with a warm cup in your hands that just makes the whole trip feel right. I tried the cold soak thing on a weekend trip in the Shenandoahs last fall and yeah, the ramen was fine, but by day two I was really missing that hot meal before a long climb. I'd rather carry the extra weight and know I can have a proper hot dinner after a wet day, especially when the temps drop.

taylor8226d ago

Did you find it hard to give up hot coffee in the morning? I used to think it was necessary but now I get it.