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Favorite REPUROPSED Containers…
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Aug 2, 2013 at 10:36 am #2011720
For heating water, I almost use exclusively 16 oz. (holds about ~17 oz.) aluminum beer bottles, 0.927 oz., with a Zelph BudLyte stove. Dual purpose heating vessel and water bottle! (Triple purpose if you carry an unopened one to camp…). I recently found an Arizona brand coconut water bottle of the same ilk; the advantage is the shrink-wrap label peels off completely, eliminating the odd stares (and stares of longing) when someone sees me walking around with a beer bottle in my pack.
For water scoops and such, I like cutting down (square, cardboard) quart milk containers (at a slight angle to create a spout). They weigh about 0.8 oz., and most importantly, fold flat like a paper grocery store bag. At the end the trip, I just recycle them.
For water bottles, I prefer the old-style Snapples over the new style and Gatorade bottles as they have a smooth interior without any ridges to trap yucky stuff. I did replace the caps with orange Gatorade caps, however.
I redid my carbon filter using a 20 oz. soda bottle that has perfectly straight sides; I cut the bottom off, inverted it, and pushed it down inside to hold the carbon in place (of course, I punched small holes in it first…).
Normally, I use a long-handled spoon for eating, but I really like the "green spoons" from my local frozen yogurt place. Not a long handle, but they pack and work well. I'll have to guess the weight at 0.3 oz or so.
Old contact lens cases are great for holding stuff from tubes: neosporin, medication, maybe sunblock, etc. The free ones from solution packages are thinner and lighter; just make sure you use the ones with screw caps.
Aug 2, 2013 at 11:39 am #2011738My (not super accurate) kitchen scale puts it right at 50g. OMG the Toasted Almond flavor!
My Dad had Lasik surgery, and has been going through a ton of eye dropper bottles, which he's been saving for me. I carry one for bug juice and one for hand sanitizer – happy to take suggestions for use of the others.
Aug 2, 2013 at 5:51 pm #2011826Awesome thread!
I've been looking for a plastic spray bottle that holds less than 1.25 fl oz (or less than 37 mL if you will). Anyone have any suggestions?
Aug 2, 2013 at 7:08 pm #2011859That's funny I was just reading a thread about that and can't find it now. I do remember the two best suggestions were eBay and apparently there are small spray bottles of hand sanitizer. Though on the thread at least one person mentioned that the eBay units didn't hold up well to a DEET bug spray. So if that's your intended purpose you may want to be aware of that.
You may also find some small spray bottles used for eyeglass cleaner.
Aug 3, 2013 at 5:24 am #2011929A new bottle for Bens 100% DEET is exactly what I'm talking about. Thanks for the suggestions! I'll keep browsing the store shelves…
Aug 3, 2013 at 5:44 am #2011930Thanks Sharon, I knew it wasn't the lightest container in the world, but still felt it was a pretty good find with how solid it felt and all of the good other attributes. I'll have to keep the toasted almond flavor in mind. And then I'll need to hit the trail to burn off the ridiculous amount of calories in that stiff! :)
depending on how big your dropper bottles are, you could repackage a soap if you use one (like the famous Dr Bronners). For quick over-nighters, even the smallest size of most soaps is pretty overkill in most cases.
Aug 3, 2013 at 7:38 am #2011940I feel stiffed knowing all the gelato flavors I can't get around here. I might have to console myself with a Sea Salt Caramel tonight.
Aug 3, 2013 at 8:40 am #2011944> My (not super accurate) kitchen scale puts it right at 50g. OMG the Toasted Almond flavor!
So, if I'm following the conversation correctly, Talenti Gelato is 16 oz capacity for 1.8 oz weight. Efficiency score of 9.
If you folks would be so kind as to give me capacity and weight in ounces, I'll periodically re-do the list in the first post, and we'll eventually have a nice little reference for a number of BPL "favorite" containers.
Aug 3, 2013 at 9:10 am #2011952I guess I could weigh a rubber, but how would I measure the capacity? I mean, they're only designed to hold a teaspoon or so, but I've gotten one up to two or three liters….
Aug 3, 2013 at 9:31 am #2011955Right. I suppose reliability is the important variable here–seems the condom, while amazingly efficient, would not be high on the reliability list for keeping large volumes of liquid in (given that they're only about 88-96% reliable at keeping very small amounts of liquid in). And then you'd have to add (or argue not to add) the weight of the layers of fabric needed around the condom for pack carry. And then there's the issue of reliably opening and closing the receptacle repeatedly–it doesn't have a lid. Seems to me the condom is a brilliant expedient solution that is fundamentally different from workaday repurposed containers.
Aug 3, 2013 at 12:59 pm #2011997Thank you all for enabling my hoarding tendencies. Here's a sampling of items that "definitely could be useful someday" that I was able to assemble without climbing any stepstools or opening large containers.
Oh, and the spreadsheet is great!
Aug 3, 2013 at 1:22 pm #2012002That's frightening. I do the same thing and have accumulated a number of cough syrup bottles and measuring cups just in case I decide to try alcohol stoves.
Aug 3, 2013 at 1:50 pm #2012007That is awesome Sharon. I am afraid to pull out my hoarded containers for show..lol. I bet there are others that do this for sure.
Aug 3, 2013 at 2:09 pm #2012013Assuming that drawers do not count as " large containers" I think I have you beat c for quantity of bottles, Sharon. Luckily I'm not home right now so can't embarrass myself by posting a picture!
Aug 3, 2013 at 2:19 pm #2012015I have a bin marked containers. There is an overflow. Still not always the perfect size on hand.
Aug 3, 2013 at 2:35 pm #2012018Sounds like you need a bigger container-container.
Aug 3, 2013 at 4:50 pm #2012054I couldn't help myself. I apologize.
Adam
Aug 3, 2013 at 5:00 pm #2012059"Sounds like you need a bigger container-container."
It's OK. They are still contained.
Aug 4, 2013 at 9:53 am #2012198I now have a pint of gelato. Strictly for backpacking purposes. I appreciate that it is a full pint rather than the reduced volume every other company uses and that Safeway has it on sale. I wish there was a half pint size because that is a really nice looking jar but who doesn't need 16 ounces of Nutella for a few days on the trail?
Aug 4, 2013 at 3:52 pm #2012317Wow, I feel so much better now every time I open my "repurpose container" drawer and see all the goodies there, having seen yours Sharon….I thought I was getting some strange compulsion to clean, save and stash, but I see it's perfectly normal amongst UL folks. Why just today I snatched a peanut butter jar from the kitchen trash and spent at least 10 minutes scrubbing PB out of it. :-)
Great thread!Aug 4, 2013 at 4:19 pm #2012332“If you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to be a horrible warning.”
― Catherine Airdbtw, if anyone is having trouble finding those lovely transparent wide-mouth screw-top 16 oz/50g containers, I would be willing to obtain, empty, and send some to you. Consider a PIF.
Aug 4, 2013 at 6:12 pm #2012389My favorites are:
1) Ziploc screwtop 2 cup (40g) and 1.1 cup (35g) containers. Larger one holds my alcohol stove, lighters, and fuel measure (a re-purposed cough medicine measure). Smaller one holds various odds and ends. Both function as cup or bowl for drink/food too.2) Campsuds bottle (4 oz) for denatured alcohol. Was using small (8 oz) water bottles) but had some bad experiences with leaks.
-DLBVenice
Aug 4, 2013 at 6:21 pm #2012397since this is only about FAVORITE, I will share .
I took a GIANT Pixie Stix, and cut about a 12" section of the tube.
Basically makes a 0.18 oz , little less than 1/2 " diameter tube, to use to help collect clean water from trickles . A real time saver when all you have is a trickle.
Hard to find giant pixie sticks anymore. I have only found them at ballpark concession stands.
Aug 4, 2013 at 8:29 pm #2012439Gatorade Squeezy bottle; not available most places it seems, they only use it for the "G Endurance Formula". 24 oz capacity, 1.25 oz . Only bottle I have found that has a squeezy top like a water bottle but a wide enough mouth so you can shove snow in.
Aug 4, 2013 at 10:06 pm #2012466Paul, your Gatorade squeezy sounds like quite the find. Never seen; will watch for it. You say it has a push-pull or twisty cap? Is this it?
http://firstinthirst.typepad.com/darren_rovells_blog_on_al/images/gatorade_endurance_formula_1.JPG
SS updated with the weights and capacities I could glean from the thread. If I'm missing something let me know.
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