Super-Awesome TIP OF THE DAY!!! (warning, thread may be too awesome for some viewers)

"Swallow your toothpaste."

You must be kidding… have you read all the chemicals that are in tooth past?
You'll be poisoning your stomach instead of the ground… dumb.

Just use baking soda… regular tooth paste is a liquid and besides the nasty chemicals, it is heavy. Baking Soda is a light weight powder and is simply Sodium bicarbonate.

billy

I think this thread is getting hijacked by toothpaste, predictably. Let's turn it back on track. To emphasize this, I will not post my strong opinions on the toothpaste conundrum.

Instead, here's a tip for those who use dromedary or drom-lite bags. Two tips, in fact:

1) A nalgene lid is a great replacement lid, and doesn't have the tendency to develop slow leaks that the stock lid has.

2) NEVER lift the dromedary by the plastic handle connected to the cap. Under that handle is the most common place to develop a slow leak. Instead, always lift by the edge (or by the cord if you have one on there). You can use the plastic handle to keep the mouth of the bag upright while filling it, but always have the bag resting on something to support the weight.

And a request – anyone have similar tips for keeping platypus bottles happy? I'm switching to them for a lot of my trips because they are so much lighter…

I posted this a few year ago somewhere:

When melting snow for water, always start with some water in the pot, and be very careful the snow doesn't absorb all the water so the bottom of the pan becomes dry. If it does the water will pick up an awful burnt taste.

This happened to me in the early 1970's half-way up Wright Peak in the ADK's in the dead of winter, we had no choice but to drink this horrible water all night until we melted some more snow in the morning.

> No arguing! Let the OP know if you like their tip, otherwise ignore it. It's just for fun.

I'd argue back about the merits of toothpaste but I'll just choose to enjoy my own immunity in this thread.

My tip of the day…Bread Bag for Warm Feet

Wear it as a VBL over just a thin liner sock. Wear it over a thick sock during sloppy trail sections to keep your socks dry and clean. During particularly cold, wet conditions, such as wet slushy snow, wear a thin liner, then a bread bag, then thick insulating socks, then a bread bag again. This will keep your warm socks dry, both from the inside and the outside. Not ideal solutions, but short term works surprisingly well in a pinch.

Other nifty uses..
ditty bags
package foods and snacks (twist tied)
rain protection for electronics (doubled)
hang bear bag (with rock and girth hitch)

I used bread bag directly on feet, under Merino socks. For one day. Feet turned into prunes. It seemed like they would be more susceptible to blisters or something so I quit after the first day.

@Jerry, like any other non-breathable garment, know it's limits and know how to use it. no different than rain gear.

I use them inside my trail runners when they are still wet from stream crossings when I get to camp. I air dry my feet for a little bit, put on my sleeping socks, then bread bags, then wet shoes. Works great

French fried onions added to Pasta Sides or.. just about anything adds light calories, flavor and crunch. 180cal/oz of yum.

can of pringles is nearly 1000cal and fits nicely into a side water bottle pocket.

Instead of regular freezer bags for FBC, use the pint-size version. No more messy fingers!

Works great unless you're eating big.

Bring 50% more whiskey than you think you'll drink. After your pal downs his full stash the first night, on the second night he'll always ask, "Hey buddy, got any more of that stuff?" Remember, he's the guy that will have to bail you out if you get injured on the way back to the truck.

There are ample reasons to not take a trip but few will be as memorable.

Apologies if this was already posted.

I always try to do some decently physical activity, jumping jacks or whatever, before climbing under my quilt. Falling asleep is much easier when you feel warm, and retaining heat in your insulation is much easier than trying to generate enough new heat to warm up that space. Obviously this isn't true when it's much warmer, but for colder trips is can save a lot of shivering at night.

I take 1 omeprazole per day, beginning a couple of days before a hike and each day of the hike. The pills are lighter than tums and work for 24 hrs.

Have a hard time getting up in the morning when it's cold out, and you're all snug, warm and dry in your tent?
Deflate your pad.

Want to cover up your dirty hair at night, but don't need the insulation of a beanie? Use one of those fabric food-service hair nets. Wash neck and face each evening. Keeps the pillow and sleeping bag cleaner.
Kelly

What pillow?

–B.G.–

…

You don't need a pole jack. Use a rock.

Vitamin I (ibuprofin) softens the ground for a better night's sleep on hard ground.

If you are used to an afternoon coffee back in the world a no-doze is the same amount of caffeine. Though it does feel a little like cheating.

I second doing exercise prior to going to sleep on a cold night. We'd often run in deep snow while waiting for food to cook or prior to going to sleep, it really warms you up trying to run when you sink down to your rear end.

We also used to do this when going to bed when it was below zero in the ADK's:

We'd get into the sleeping bag with everything on except boots, then take some layers off. There is so little space you have to work hard and end up in contortions, with the result that by the time you've removed some clothes both you and the sleeping bag are all warmed up. This assumes you bring clothes you don't plan on sleeping in. We used to prepare for -20 degF or worse, so we often had extra layers.

Just remember, when you are choosing hiking partners:

a vegan won't bum your beef jerky, smoked salmon, bacon, sausage, and they bring enough alcohol to share

a Mormon won't bum your coffee, alcohol, or beer. That can be nice.

my partner with food allergies will avoid fish, chicken, dairy.

I hike with all three types, and its pretty sweet.

I learned (or maybe re-learned?) this one a couple of nights ago:

Do not – especially in the winter – try more than one new technique or piece of gear at a time!

I made the mistake of trying out a new groundsheet (polycryo vs the Tyvek one I was using) and a new sleep pad combo (Neoair Xlite torso + Ridgerest Solite CCF + pack under my legs). I also did not bring my ~2-foot x3-foot CCF sit pad/doggie pad, thinking that we could both use the Solite pad for sitting, and that his Noble Camper doggie sleep bag would be adequate insulation for him.

WRONG on all counts! I slid all over the place with the polycryo on snow, the Solite and the Neoair were impossible to keep together as a unit, my pack slid out from under my legs and compromised heat retention and the dog got cold without his CCF pad under his doggie sleep bag, so he was constantly worming his way into my bag. On top of that, my inflatable pillow sprung a leak and was useless. Neither of us got much sleep despite nearly 12 hours in the tent.

Too many new variables can make for a miserable night.

The only positive takeaway is that the Solite/Neoair/pack combo works very well down to 0F if they can just be kept together.

Edit to add "doggie pad"

Before settling on a spot to pitch my shelter I put my pad down and lie there for a few minutes. It really helps find those irregularities in the ground that could make sleeping uncomfortable.