Fresh coffee just means too much to me - that morning cup of fresh joe is always the highlight of my trip, the beginning of a beautiful day!Originally Posted by alifeoutdoors
Not even Starbucks VIA? I used to carry a big sky mug/french press combo that was pretty beefy but the VIA changed all that for me. I'm somewhat of a coffee snob but maybe my I'm less refined than I thought.
"A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds." Ralph Waldo Emerson
Great thread. Should sticky.
I have one of those and just can't seem to find a good way to replace it. That cup of coffee is everything to me. To me it's that one thing that goes anyway. I'm going to try steeping the "make your own" bags from Mountain House. I was wondering if you had tried that and could speak on it?
We heard it was gonna rain, we came anyway...
Haven't tried it.
"A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds." Ralph Waldo Emerson
I'm one of those weirdos who actually prefers instant coffee. I make a few ready-mix pouches of Folgers instant coffee with sugar and powdered creamer mixed in, and just toss those in my pack. One or 2 pouches per cup of hot water, and I'm good to go. When I go backpacking with my clean & sober hiking group, the guys refer to my coffee blend as "jail house coffee".
Clean and sober hiking group? Now that's a good idea! We do bonfires and stuff, but that would be an experience.
-Jason-
I started this clean & sober hiking group last year with a friend of mine who's in AA, and we've been bringing along friends of his who are also addicts in recovery. It's really good to get these guys out and doing stuff that doesn't have any ties to drinking or partying the way they used to. We do our AA meetings on the trail and also around the campfire. It's been good so far, and looking forward to more of these kinda trips this year.
This topic has caused some of the thoughts I've had to coalesce. For me personally my priorities are:
1. comfort
2. weight
3. cost
1. Comfort--I'm willing to schlepp a bit of extra weight to sleep well. There are lighter hammocks than my WBRR, but for me, none more comfortable. I will admit right here I'm not doing 20 miles a day. My distances are shorter so the weight isn't such a factor.
2. Weight--If I can find a lighter piece of equipment that meets criteria one and three that's what I'll use. Even though my distances are short I still am mindful of load. My personal base weight target is 15 pounds.
3. Cost--I'm willing to spend some money to get good quality, lighter weight gear. I just spent a bunch of money on Dutch bling. But there is a cost-benefit ratio for which I'll spend to a certain amount, but after that the weight savings do not justify the added cost for me. Would I spend $1000 to shave 5 pounds from my load? Probably not. Would I spend $300 to shave 2 1/2 pounds? Probably.
Like everything in life it boils down to what are your real priorities and what are you willing to do to achieve them?
Fantastic thread with lost of great info. I'm really going to examine the little things and see what I can save on weight. I do carry a katadyn backpacker water filter, could go lighter, and a steel water bottle (piece of mind as i can boil water in it if filter fails). I have two alcohol stoves, a simple can stove i made and a larger commercial version that holds 3oz of fuel in it. Usually only take the small soda can stove. I'll look at my med kit, clothes, and sundries i take and see what I can save there. Also going to look at insulation and tools I carry (knife, folding saw).
On the critical issue of coffee, decent steeping pouches can be made from good coffee, a cut part of filter, and dental floss as the tie. Maxwell House makes coffee singles in tea bags that are ok in a pinch, but using a superior coffee in a tied pouch is quite good. And I do agree, i won't save grams by dropping the coffee.
Thanks all, glad this thread is running along.
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