Every now and then we like to share weight-saving tips for backpacking here on the blog and today’s tip is a pretty simple one: ditch your bowls and plates. You may be tempted to bring a lightweight plastic bowl and plate or even a fancy collapsable silicon bowl on your overnight backpacking trip but if you think about it you don’t really need a bowl or plate at all.

When you cook in a metal pot on the trail it’s a no-brainer to just eat your food right out of the pot (I usually can’t wait anyway!). Many backpacking meals are single serving anyway so I like to use the single pot rule for all my meals. It cuts down on gear but also means fewer things to clean up after I eat.

Some backpacking meals like MREs can be prepared in their own pouch by simply adding hot water. These meals are the best because you don’t even need a pot - a small water kettle will do just fine - and there’s nothing to clean up!

When you’re on the trail it’s important to cut out weight wherever you can and tossing the plates and bowls not only saves weight but also saves time. We don’t expect you to be fancy while backpacking anyway

Ultralight backpacking gear is usually anything but ultracheap but we found a video that shows you how to make your own ultralight backpacking stove using stuff you’d find in your kitchen garbage! Watch the video below or keep reading for a quick description of the steps.

Hobo Stove - Ultralight Backpacking - Build It In 3 Minutes!

First, pick out an empty tuna can (for some reason the video uses an empty can of clams - who buys canned clams anyway?). Mark two lines around the can - the first line should be about 3/4″ from the bottom of the can, the second line is about half an inch above that. Now, punch holes about every 1/4″ around the can along the bottom line. Continue punching holes along the top line of the can but make these punches a bit closer together to get more holes along the top line.

Now - you’re done. Fill the can to the bottom line with denatured alcohol and light it with a match. After allowing the “stove” to prime itself for a minute or so, you’re ready to cook! In the video the author got water boiling in 4 minutes which ain’t bad but there’s no way to regulate the temperature on this stove (what did you expect for free?).

One thing this video didn’t mention enough is safety - I wouldn’t recommend trying out your stove indoors as this video appears to show. Also heed the warning in the video itself to set your stove on a stable surface so your flaming alcohol doesn’t spill fire onto the forest floor.

Sometimes the best things in backpacking are free - you just need to use the internet to find them!

Via smallworldtreks.net.