Figured I would start a thread for Hacks, not things you've made or altered just things you use that were designed entirely for something else. For example everyone knows about the basketball net anchor what are some others?

For utensils around the cook area we use a $.99 cent menards nail apron tied around a tree, for two people we use one, for four we use two, storage for salt and pepper, silverware, spatulas, etc...

Most travel pillows suck to say the least, Whether paddling, hiking or tripping anywhere my wife and I bring lightweight down travel jackets, but they tend to expand and take up a lot of pack space. One time while trying to get 2 weeks of gear into our packs for a hike I raided her closet and found two approx. 10" square zippered cosmetic bags, they are soft on the outside and vinyl lined, they hold a folded down jacket compactly and make a great down pillow we even use the on the plane.

I use a velour sack that came with a set of brass weather gauges for a pillow cover. About 1/2 size of a bed pillow a just add clothing for a pillow.
A bunch of improvised camp pots from different sources.

butthead

Other than stuffing all my clothes in a ball for a pillow I can't think of any hacks. I have used the lake as a refrigerator...does that count?

bubble wrap envelope as a "cozee" to cover the hydrating food

I stuff the foot end of my sleeping bag and sleeping pad into a pillowcase. Keeps the bag from sliding off the pad at night quite well.

JD

My Sea To Summit inflatable pillow packs down to the size of a deck of cards and is very comfy

Discraft 175gm Ultrastar (frisbee) as cutting board (with guardrails no less), dishpan and (most importantly perhaps) bellows for recalcitrant fire.

The purple bag that comes with a bottle of Crown is repurposed for fishing reels. We have a few of them.

Emergency tackle kit made from a half-full line spool, use the empty cutouts in back to store a few hooks and sinkers, seal compartments with a piece of gorilla tape.

Glow in the dark nalgene as a tent urinal. Best thing since indoor plumbing.

Cut of the top a soda bottle to protect your fuel pump in transit (thanks Butthead).

turn my sleeping bag compression sack inside out (hides the buckles and straps) and put my clothes in it for my pillow

Does a Jello-mold oven count?

Dental floss used to repair a stove, replaced a broken shoelace and along with a big needle can be used for most sewing repairs.

4keys: "The purple bag that comes with a bottle of Crown is repurposed for fishing reels. We have a few of them. "

Those purple Crown bags come in very handy, we use them to organize small items when putting them into bigger bags.

Banksiana: "Discraft 175gm Ultrastar (frisbee) as cutting board (with guardrails no less), dishpan and (most importantly perhaps) bellows for recalcitrant fire."

I bring one as well. Can be used as a plate and bowl as well and as a frisbee obviously.

DeanL: "

4keys: "The purple bag that comes with a bottle of Crown is repurposed for fishing reels. We have a few of them. "

Those purple Crown bags come in very handy, we use them to organize small items when putting them into bigger bags."

+1 on the above, we use them for everything, such as personal hygiene kits, etc....plus I always look forward to needing more of these and telling my wife I have to buy the Crown just to get the bag.

Daughter as a sherpa

When the kids were little we used the canoe as a play pen when in camp. They are old enough to carry the canoes now lol.

4keys: "The purple bag that comes with a bottle of Crown is repurposed for fishing reels. We have a few of them. "

+1.
A few others - tennis ball with x cute into it and put on end of stick to protect tarp when propping it up. Backing from a package of bacon as a small cutting board, light weight and disposable. I usually tape one around each salami or summer sausage.

Spartan2: "Does a Jello-mold oven count?

"

I'm, sure that squirrel doesn't mind.

Blatz: "My Sea To Summit inflatable pillow packs down to the size of a deck of cards and is very comfy "

+1 to this item. I like mine a lot, but it is pricey so watch for it on sale.

I use a plastic electrical tape container to store fishing leaders.

Crown Royal bags - I have a few. They were very popular among bagpipers and used to collect all the items needed to maintain your set of pipes.

jhb8426: "

Spartan2: "Does a Jello-mold oven count?


"

I'm, sure that squirrel doesn't mind."

It was a very good chocolate cake, and the squirrel didn't get any unless perhaps we dropped a crumb inadvertently. :-)

Hey!!! I learned something today. Frisbee doubling as a cutting board!! Love it! Though I’ll try to find a more traditional thicker frisbee that can be used for catch rather than a disc golf disc...I think a nice ultimate frisbee type frisbee would be thick enough to use!

... and another hack that I use is a baseball with a hole drilled through the middle and rope knotted on one end as a weight for throwing hanging lines- it’s perfect weight for paracord.. I used the tennis ball with a slit in it trick for years ( you fill it with rocks) but find the baseball better. And let’s be honest, it’s not that much heavier to carry.

fadersup: "Emergency tackle kit made from a half-full line spool, use the empty cutouts in back to store a few hooks and sinkers, seal compartments with a piece of gorilla tape.


Glow in the dark nalgene as a tent urinal. Best thing since indoor plumbing.


Cut of the top a soda bottle to protect your fuel pump in transit (thanks Butthead). "

I’m going to have to steal that emergency tackle kit idea!

Thanks Fadersup!

Using a camp mug on top a stick to prop up the rain fly.

A Helinox chair without the legs as a backrest in a tent or screen tent.

Retractable key or ID holder to attach a tie tool or line cutter to your vest or belt.

Grizzlyman: "... and another hack that I use is a baseball with a hole drilled through the middle and rope knotted on one end as a weight for throwing hanging lines- it’s perfect weight for paracord.. I used the tennis ball with a slit in it trick for years ( you fill it with rocks) but find the baseball better. And let’s be honest, it’s not that much heavier to carry. "

Lighter yet is to put a rock in the bag you store the line in. If you miss the weight you can carry around the rock.

I use 10 oz mouthwash bottles to hold fuel for my alcohol stove. Top locks down and fits better than the Heet bottle. I also use the twig stove as the pot stand for the alcohol burner.

Another one .I carry a 10" x 24" piece of thin plywood, acts as a cutting board and as a lap table at dinner time. It slides down the back of the pack. ( Could be smaller or plastic even better)

I have used Crown Royal bags but have found that the cloth bags that some pistachios come in to be more resilient.

I throw a small steel pulley. The same pulley I use to hoist the foodstuffs. This technique is much easier on branches than hauling with a single line. Pulley came from the neighborhood hardware store. I have an aluminum one as well but it doesn't have enough heft to throw.

Regular 10-20l dry bag, 3/4 full of clothing as a pillow.

If you need extra ballast when day-tripping or soloing a large tandem, just fill a roll-top dry bag with water. This is also a great way to test the waterproof qualities of your dry bags.

Wrap a couple feet of gorilla tape around a water bottle, lighter, etc. This should be replaced every season if not used. I carried a perfectly small, mostly used-up roll around for a couple years and found that it was no good when I finally needed it.

I like to clean fish along a random patch of shoreline (not a campsite) on the bottom of an upturned canoe. Dispose of the carcasses and entrails as per regulations and collect firewood on your way back out.

The duct tape around the nalgene has become a staple.

Pool noodle, learned the trick on this website! One cut lengthwise and slide a piece on either side of the gunwales to rest your knees on, especially for the paddler in the bow. Another section on the thwart in front of the stern or the carrying handle in the bow to hang lures on to quickly swap while fishing. A little duct tape to hold it in place while on portages. Last year, on a 16 day Crooked trip, my son had lost one...a canoe paddling by while we were fishing noticed the ones on our canoe, asked if we dropped one on a portage. He was sure happy to get his knee rest back!

scotttimm: "Pool noodle, learned the trick on this website! One cut lengthwise and slide a piece on either side of the gunwales to rest your knees on, especially for the paddler in the bow. Another section on the thwart in front of the stern or the carrying handle in the bow to hang lures on to quickly swap while fishing. A little duct tape to hold it in place while on portages. Last year, on a 16 day Crooked trip, my son had lost one...a canoe paddling by while we were fishing noticed the ones on our canoe, asked if we dropped one on a portage. He was sure happy to get his knee rest back!"

We have used these for years. I am surprised that I didn't think to mention it. As the (large size) bow partner in the narrow bow of a Bell Northwind, I find them really good for protecting my knees.

I've never done it but I've seen others using plastic wiffle golf balls stuck on the bottom of their chair legs to prevent sinking in the ground.

TomT: "I've never done it but I've seen others using plastic wiffle golf balls stuck on the bottom of their chair legs to prevent sinking in the ground."

We ccalled them Tundra Pads in Alaska.

I use old foam board that they put around houses the pink stuff. it's maybe 18 by 22 in then I wrap it with duct tape and use it as a table to cook on or do meal prep. It weighs nothing and slides underneath the canoe seat when I portage. Very handy.

Eggs for first morning breakfast:
Hold egg carton underneath canoe seat while wrapping the carton/seat with duct tape.

Only issue we've had was when we switched from aluminum to kevlar. With aluminum seats we were wrapping it tightly, but the flex of the seats on the Kevlar canoes allowed a few to crack. Fixed by not wrapping so tight. Lost maximum of 2-3 out of 2 dozen.

Survived long entry days like hook->kawnipi in one day, mudro->crooked in one day, etc.

schwartyman: "Eggs for first morning breakfast:
Hold egg carton underneath canoe seat while wrapping the carton/seat with duct tape.


Only issue we've had was when we switched from aluminum to kevlar. With aluminum seats we were wrapping it tightly, but the flex of the seats on the Kevlar canoes allowed a few to crack. Fixed by not wrapping so tight. Lost maximum of 2-3 out of 2 dozen.


Survived long entry days like hook->kawnipi in one day, mudro->crooked in one day, etc."

I have done this for the last 8 or so trips after reading about it on this forum. I wrap the cartons in several layers of newspaper and then tape them under the seat(s). We have traveled from 1-3 days before using the eggs and have not lost one yet. I've had some hairline cracks but no leakage.

Grizzlyman: "Hey!!! I learned something today. Frisbee doubling as a cutting board!! Love it! Though I’ll try to find a more traditional thicker frisbee that can be used for catch rather than a disc golf disc...I think a nice ultimate frisbee type frisbee would be thick enough to use!"

The disc mentioned by Bankasiana (Discraft Ultrastar 175) is the right one, used in Ultimate since about 1985 or '86 when the flight ring patent at Wham-o ran out, if I recall correctly. Can be had on Amazon or at any local Ultimate tourney.

sns: "

Grizzlyman: "Hey!!! I learned something today. Frisbee doubling as a cutting board!! Love it! Though I’ll try to find a more traditional thicker frisbee that can be used for catch rather than a disc golf disc...I think a nice ultimate frisbee type frisbee would be thick enough to use!"

The disc mentioned by Bankasiana (Discraft Ultrastar 175) is the right one, used in Ultimate since about 1985 or '86 when the flight ring patent at Wham-o ran out, if I recall correctly. Can be had on Amazon or at any local Ultimate tourney."

Correct, 175 gram discraft. Accept no substitutes.

Been playing ultimate for 20 years and I've seen discs used for dang near everything. I've eaten more than one bowl of cereal out of a disc while crammed into a hotel with 8-10 other guys at various ultimate tournaments.

Beyond what has already been mentioned they also work well to give yourself a place to sit if the ground is wet and you don't want a wet backside.

Flying Discs aside, the other hack I've used with considerable success is the solo yoke made from a double-blade paddle. Credit idea here: 2x bladed paddle Solo Yoke

I get fresh milk and wool from these gals.
They also portage my gear and keep my campsite neat and weed free.

Banksiana: "Discraft 175gm Ultrastar (frisbee) as cutting board (with guardrails no less), dishpan and (most importantly perhaps) bellows for recalcitrant fire."

This is great, I will definitely be giving it a try this year!

Beverage Hack. Fill quart ziplock 1/2full with water. Freeze . Insert ziplock in another ziplock then insert in wool sock, then another sock (what we professionals call "a pair"). In camp crush ice between two rocks (keep it in the socks during the crushing process to reduce plastic fragments). Dump crushed ice into Nalgene. Squeeze in one fresh lime, placing emptied limes in nalgene, add Bombay Sapphire to desired depth, add a few measures of clear Quetico water. Shake vigorously for 30 seconds or longer. Pour.

Quetico Martini- shaken not stirred.

DeanL: "

4keys: "The purple bag that comes with a bottle of Crown is repurposed for fishing reels. We have a few of them. "

Those purple Crown bags come in very handy, we use them to organize small items when putting them into bigger bags."

I'm worried I might have a problem when everyone else has just the purple bag.

LindenTree: "

TomT: "I've never done it but I've seen others using plastic wiffle golf balls stuck on the bottom of their chair legs to prevent sinking in the ground."

We called them Tundra Pads in Alaska."

I have small dog toy "tennis" balls that I use to keep my chair legs from sinking.

Another hack-I use small metal clips from ID badges as clothes pins. Very strong holding power.

luft: "

LindenTree: "

TomT: "I've never done it but I've seen others using plastic wiffle golf balls stuck on the bottom of their chair legs to prevent sinking in the ground."

We called them Tundra Pads in Alaska."

I have small dog toy "tennis" balls that I use to keep my chair legs from sinking.


Another hack-I use small metal clips from ID badges as clothes pins. Very strong holding power."

here's the type of chair I have those feet never sink in. big chair feet

I have a small piece of paracord permanently tied around my waterbottle (gatorade bottle) for the same purpose of hanging the bear bag. I also wrap gorilla tape around my bottle and trekking poles, which are also our tent poles. UL backpackers love multi-use items.

Pot coozie=aluminum foil, which doubles as a windscreen for our stove.

mcsweem: "

luft: "

LindenTree: "

TomT: "I've never done it but I've seen others using plastic wiffle golf balls stuck on the bottom of their chair legs to prevent sinking in the ground."

We called them Tundra Pads in Alaska."

I have small dog toy "tennis" balls that I use to keep my chair legs from sinking.



Another hack-I use small metal clips from ID badges as clothes pins. Very strong holding power."

here's the type of chair I have those feet never sink in. big chair feet "

I like that chair. Great feet and it even has side pockets!

Perhaps I missed it, but I'm surprised that no one mentioned using contractor weight trash bags as pack liners. I also use trash compactor bags for liners in smaller packs like rucksacks and bushcrafter packs.

luft: "

mcsweem: "

luft: "

LindenTree: "

TomT: "I've never done it but I've seen others using plastic wiffle golf balls stuck on the bottom of their chair legs to prevent sinking in the ground."

We called them Tundra Pads in Alaska."

I have small dog toy "tennis" balls that I use to keep my chair legs from sinking.



Another hack-I use small metal clips from ID badges as clothes pins. Very strong holding power."

here's the type of chair I have those feet never sink in. big chair feet "

I like that chair. Great feet and it even has side pockets!"

Yeah and it's really not too expensive like 40$ I think I paid and it's a sturdy chair I was pleasantly surprised

I bring one or two ice cream pail lids for cutting boards, breading fish, or extra plates. Like the Frisbee idea.

I use 5 gal or 2 gal buckets to carry the stove, fuel, cook kit, misc camping items and food. Also use as a chair, the top end reservoir when filtering water, dry storage, ... One bucket per boat.

Use a paddle to clean fish on

I also have a small mesh bag (2" x 6") that I use for my Sawyer water filter and back flush syringe. I found it in a laptop soft case. I think it was meant for the laptop power supply.

WHendrix: "Perhaps I missed it, but I'm surprised that no one mentioned using contractor weight trash bags as pack liners. I also use trash compactor bags for liners in smaller packs like rucksacks and bushcrafter packs."

I've done this before and they've worked well. I've since made a switch to custom pack liners I get at my local outdoorsy store.

Mike

We use two big kitty litter buckets for things that shouldn't get jostled or crushed, and items that may have leak potential, such as white gas fuel bottles. The fuel bottles go inside a decommissioned sun shower which is, in all reality, a small dry bag with a nozzle on the bottom. They're sealed up tight in there in case a small leak would develop. Fuel bottles tend to give off a gasoline odor even when capped tightly, and this protects against that.

Two kitty litter buckets, placed side by side, fit very snuggly but perfectly in the bottom of our big Battle Lake Grand Portage pack.

Mike

When I've taken eggs on trips, I've found it is easiest to break a dozen eggs into a 16oz Nalgene bottle just before the trip. They seem to be ok for a few days if kept cold. Plus you don't have to worry about egg shells breaking or having to deal with the extra space that an egg container takes up.

cyberia34: "When I've taken eggs on trips, I've found it is easiest to break a dozen eggs into a 16oz Nalgene bottle just before the trip. They seem to be ok for a few days if kept cold. Plus you don't have to worry about egg shells breaking or having to deal with the extra space that an egg container takes up."

Outstanding hack!

cyberia34: "When I've taken eggs on trips, I've found it is easiest to break a dozen eggs into a 16oz Nalgene bottle just before the trip. They seem to be ok for a few days if kept cold. Plus you don't have to worry about egg shells breaking or having to deal with the extra space that an egg container takes up."

What a ton of weight and space! Lol

Dehydrated Ova Easy Eggs are the best way to cook eggs in my opinion. The 4.5oz bag is a dozen dehydrated eggs and they taste freaking great, you won't even know they were dehydrated. The shelf life is a long time. The bag is so small I usually bring 2-3 and they can be crammed deep down in between the rest of my less shape-shifting food, no worry of breaking eggs or them going bad. Scrambled eggs and breakfast burritos are always a huge hit. I even bring dehydrated peppers, onions and mushrooms to add to eggs. Just throw em in with the water you add to dehydrated eggs, mmm heaven.
Dehydrated eggs take up a fraction of the space and weight and you wont be able to tell the difference.

GearGuy: "

cyberia34: "When I've taken eggs on trips, I've found it is easiest to break a dozen eggs into a 16oz Nalgene bottle just before the trip. They seem to be ok for a few days if kept cold. Plus you don't have to worry about egg shells breaking or having to deal with the extra space that an egg container takes up."

What a ton of weight and space! Lol


Dehydrated Ova Easy Eggs are the best way to cook eggs in my opinion. The 4.5oz bag is a dozen dehydrated eggs and they taste freaking great, you won't even know they were dehydrated. The shelf life is a long time. The bag is so small I usually bring 2-3 and they can be crammed deep down in between the rest of my less shape-shifting food, no worry of breaking eggs or them going bad. Scrambled eggs and breakfast burritos are always a huge hit. I even bring dehydrated peppers, onions and mushrooms to add to eggs. Just throw em in with the water you add to dehydrated eggs, mmm heaven.
Dehydrated eggs take up a fraction of the space and weight and you wont be able to tell the difference.

"

Sounds great and easy

cyberia34: "When I've taken eggs on trips, I've found it is easiest to break a dozen eggs into a 16oz Nalgene bottle just before the trip. They seem to be ok for a few days if kept cold. Plus you don't have to worry about egg shells breaking or having to deal with the extra space that an egg container takes up."

I do the same but scramble they, add a little milk and then freeze them. They thaw in a day or two and I have fresh-ready to cook eggs!

Grandma L: "

cyberia34: "When I've taken eggs on trips, I've found it is easiest to break a dozen eggs into a 16oz Nalgene bottle just before the trip. They seem to be ok for a few days if kept cold. Plus you don't have to worry about egg shells breaking or having to deal with the extra space that an egg container takes up."

I do the same but scramble they, add a little milk and then freeze them. They thaw in a day or two and I have fresh-ready to cook eggs!
"

I actually go one step further. For four guys I scramble a dozen eggs, add a dozen chopped cooked breakfast sausages, chedder cheese and chopped onions. then freeze and vacuum seal. I carry it in wrapped in newspaper and it's thawed and pan ready for the first breakfast in the woods.

All you guys bringing actual eggs to the BWCA....it's like hearing stories of people dragging coolers up to the BWCA full of bottled water. Makes me cringe. A dozen frozen eggs in a ziplock vs a 4.5 oz bag of dehydrated eggs? "I like things that take up 10x more space, and 15x more weight, because I have always done it that way". It's literally not a "hack" if you're doing it heavier, harder, bigger and less efficiently than another way. A jar of a dozen eggs must take up a mason sized jar space. You could actually and likely cram 10 dozen (that's 120 eggs) dehydrated eggs in the same space, and still weigh less than a dozen liquid eggs.

Admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And you better start swimmin'
Or you'll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin'

GearGuy: "All you guys bringing actual eggs to the BWCA....it's like hearing stories of people dragging coolers up to the BWCA full of bottled water. Makes me cringe. A dozen frozen eggs in a ziplock vs a 4.5 oz bag of dehydrated eggs? "I like things that take up 10x more space, and 15x more weight, because I have always done it that way". It's literally not a "hack" if you're doing it heavier, harder, bigger and less efficiently than another way. A jar of a dozen eggs must take up a mason sized jar space. You could actually and likely cram 10 dozen (that's 120 eggs) dehydrated eggs in the same space, and still weigh less than a dozen liquid eggs.


Admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And you better start swimmin'
Or you'll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin'


"

I completely agree. The good dehydrated eggs, like OvaEasy, are indistinguishable to me from fresh eggs. I am sure there are some eggs connoisseurs who can taste the difference, but not me.

Mike

MikeinMpls: "

GearGuy: "All you guys bringing actual eggs to the BWCA....it's like hearing stories of people dragging coolers up to the BWCA full of bottled water. Makes me cringe. A dozen frozen eggs in a ziplock vs a 4.5 oz bag of dehydrated eggs? "I like things that take up 10x more space, and 15x more weight, because I have always done it that way". It's literally not a "hack" if you're doing it heavier, harder, bigger and less efficiently than another way. A jar of a dozen eggs must take up a mason sized jar space. You could actually and likely cram 10 dozen (that's 120 eggs) dehydrated eggs in the same space, and still weigh less than a dozen liquid eggs.



Admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And you better start swimmin'
Or you'll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin'



"

I completely agree. The good dehydrated eggs, like OvaEasy, are indistinguishable to me from fresh eggs. I am sure there are some eggs connoisseurs who can taste the difference, but not me.


Mike "

I like eggs. I like OvaEasy eggs just fine (they are the best powdered eggs I ever found), but I do not think they are indistinguishable from fresh eggs. We traveled during the shoulder seasons usually, and we took a dozen eggs in the cardboard carton, wrapped in a brown paper grocery bag, and duct-taped under the stern seat of the canoe. If my husband noticed the weight addition to the canoe when portaging, he never complained about it. Breakfast was our main meal when canoe-tripping and fresh eggs were a part of it. After they were gone, the paper bag became firestarter, and then we did BackPacker's Pantry Denver Omelet, and later on, Ova Easy.

I never cracked eggs and took them in a container, frozen or not, because as soon as you crack open an egg the safety is of great concern. I would have been afraid to do that. Any cracked eggs we happened to have were cooked immediately and thoroughly. If it was an unusually warm spell, we would have a big omelet for supper so that we didn't keep the fresh eggs too long.

Ova Easy eggs are a "hack", to be sure. We didn't take much other fresh food, and we didn't think the weight was an issue. Everyone has their own ideas of what is "worth the weight."

Of course, my last canoe trip was in 2013, so I suppose what I think isn't important anyway. If you think the "times, they are a-changin'" now, imagine how much things changed for us between 1971 and 2013. :-)

GearGuy: "All you guys bringing actual eggs to the BWCA....it's like hearing stories of people dragging coolers up to the BWCA full of bottled water. Makes me cringe.
"

Personally I don't see the connection. I have yet to find chickens roaming around the bwca. Or a lake I can filter egg yolk from, straight into my pan.

We take farm fresh eggs from a group members farm. Free, collected the morning before, and simply delicious. For us, it doesn't get any better. As far as space, underneath the canoe seat takes no space, and weight - I have yet to notice them. For me, the hack was transporting under the seat rather than maybe wrapping in bubble wrap and put in a pack, which i have seen done. Maybe this isnt breaking news to some, if so my apologies.

Ironically, with ovaeasy(powdered) eggs, you cant cook them over-easy.

I do believe that they taste similar scrambled and weigh less, but for now, my group will be taking whole eggs in.

Will add another. I use pot and lids as light weight Dutch ovens for baking.


This is with MSR Alpine SS pots also used MSR stowaway pots and Snowpeak ti pots. Anything that can use an upturned lid for coals,

butthead

Spartan2: "

MikeinMpls: "

GearGuy: "All you guys bringing actual eggs to the BWCA....it's like hearing stories of people dragging coolers up to the BWCA full of bottled water. Makes me cringe. A dozen frozen eggs in a ziplock vs a 4.5 oz bag of dehydrated eggs? "I like things that take up 10x more space, and 15x more weight, because I have always done it that way". It's literally not a "hack" if you're doing it heavier, harder, bigger and less efficiently than another way. A jar of a dozen eggs must take up a mason sized jar space. You could actually and likely cram 10 dozen (that's 120 eggs) dehydrated eggs in the same space, and still weigh less than a dozen liquid eggs.



Admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And you better start swimmin'
Or you'll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin'



"

I completely agree. The good dehydrated eggs, like OvaEasy, are indistinguishable to me from fresh eggs. I am sure there are some eggs connoisseurs who can taste the difference, but not me.



Mike "

I like eggs. I like OvaEasy eggs just fine (they are the best powdered eggs I ever found), but I do not think they are indistinguishable from fresh eggs. We traveled during the shoulder seasons usually, and we took a dozen eggs in the cardboard carton, wrapped in a brown paper grocery bag, and duct-taped under the stern seat of the canoe. If my husband noticed the weight addition to the canoe when portaging, he never complained about it. Breakfast was our main meal when canoe-tripping and fresh eggs were a part of it. After they were gone, the paper bag became firestarter, and then we did BackPacker's Pantry Denver Omelet, and later on, Ova Easy.


I never cracked eggs and took them in a container, frozen or not, because as soon as you crack open an egg the safety is of great concern. I would have been afraid to do that. Any cracked eggs we happened to have were cooked immediately and thoroughly. If it was an unusually warm spell, we would have a big omelet for supper so that we didn't keep the fresh eggs too long.


Ova Easy eggs are a "hack", to be sure. We didn't take much other fresh food, and we didn't think the weight was an issue. Everyone has their own ideas of what is "worth the weight."


Of course, my last canoe trip was in 2013, so I suppose what I think isn't important anyway. If you think the "times, they are a-changin'" now, imagine how much things changed for us between 1971 and 2013. :-)"

I totally understand this. The downside to dehydrated eggs is that you can only make them one way: scrambled. Fresh eggs add a bunch of other options. I'd love to make a bacon, fried egg and cheese English muffin up there, and it would be easy enough to do with fresh eggs.

In many countries eggs in the shell aren't even refrigerated. Of course they're not left out in the sun, but under a canoe seat would work out well, especially in shoulder season.

Long story short- many people bring into the BWCA things that will make their trip better, more comfortable, tastier... as long as they're willing to carry it in, good for them. Food is one of those things that is so personal.

Mike

schwartyman: "

GearGuy: "All you guys bringing actual eggs to the BWCA....it's like hearing stories of people dragging coolers up to the BWCA full of bottled water. Makes me cringe.
"

Personally I don't see the connection. I have yet to find chickens roaming around the bwca. Or a lake I can filter egg yolk from, straight into my pan.


We take farm fresh eggs from a group members farm. Free, collected the morning before, and simply delicious. For us, it doesn't get any better. As far as space, underneath the canoe seat takes no space, and weight - I have yet to notice them. For me, the hack was transporting under the seat rather than maybe wrapping in bubble wrap and put in a pack, which i have seen done. Maybe this isnt breaking news to some, if so my apologies.


Ironically, with ovaeasy(powdered) eggs, you cant cook them over-easy.


I do believe that they taste similar scrambled and weigh less, but for now, my group will be taking whole eggs in.



"

I've been a listener to the Tumblehome podcast for a couple years now and I swear they (Erik & Adam) have said that they simply crack the eggs they want to bring into a nalgene and just pack them in that way. They said the yolks never break, and when they want to cook them, can pretty much just dump out one egg at a time and they stay mostly separated.

Did I hallucinate this, or does anyone else do it?? I've never tried it, but it seems pretty awesome.

treehorn: "

schwartyman: "

GearGuy: "All you guys bringing actual eggs to the BWCA....it's like hearing stories of people dragging coolers up to the BWCA full of bottled water. Makes me cringe.
"

Personally I don't see the connection. I have yet to find chickens roaming around the bwca. Or a lake I can filter egg yolk from, straight into my pan.



We take farm fresh eggs from a group members farm. Free, collected the morning before, and simply delicious. For us, it doesn't get any better. As far as space, underneath the canoe seat takes no space, and weight - I have yet to notice them. For me, the hack was transporting under the seat rather than maybe wrapping in bubble wrap and put in a pack, which i have seen done. Maybe this isnt breaking news to some, if so my apologies.



Ironically, with ovaeasy(powdered) eggs, you cant cook them over-easy.



I do believe that they taste similar scrambled and weigh less, but for now, my group will be taking whole eggs in.




"

I've been a listener to the Tumblehome podcast for a couple years now and I swear they (Erik & Adam) have said that they simply crack the eggs they want to bring into a nalgene and just pack them in that way. They said the yolks never break, and when they want to cook them, can pretty much just dump out one egg at a time and they stay mostly separated.


Did I hallucinate this, or does anyone else do it?? I've never tried it, but it seems pretty awesome."

Our daughter has quite a respectable work history in food safety. She only buys the Davidson Pasteurized Eggs, so that she knows her eggs are safe from salmonella (and so that she can "taste" as she is cooking or baking). They aren't available in our small town. It worried her that we took fresh eggs without refrigeration for up to a week, but she agreed with us that as long as the shells were intact the safety issue was not severely scary. When I told her about people cracking eggs and taking them up in a nalgene. . .she turned pale. She made me promise I would NEVER do that, as the danger of contamination is very real.

I have done the Nalgene eggs for trips. It can work, but can spoil if they get warm. Another method that I haven't tried (I do a lot of sous vide cooking), Sous Vide Pasteurizing Eggs then break em into a Nalgeen container.
The difference between grocery pasteurized and DIY is better temp control and time.

butthead

Spartan2: "

treehorn: "

schwartyman: "

GearGuy: "All you guys bringing actual eggs to the BWCA....it's like hearing stories of people dragging coolers up to the BWCA full of bottled water. Makes me cringe.
"

Personally I don't see the connection. I have yet to find chickens roaming around the bwca. Or a lake I can filter egg yolk from, straight into my pan.



We take farm fresh eggs from a group members farm. Free, collected the morning before, and simply delicious. For us, it doesn't get any better. As far as space, underneath the canoe seat takes no space, and weight - I have yet to notice them. For me, the hack was transporting under the seat rather than maybe wrapping in bubble wrap and put in a pack, which i have seen done. Maybe this isnt breaking news to some, if so my apologies.



Ironically, with ovaeasy(powdered) eggs, you cant cook them over-easy.



I do believe that they taste similar scrambled and weigh less, but for now, my group will be taking whole eggs in.





"

I've been a listener to the Tumblehome podcast for a couple years now and I swear they (Erik & Adam) have said that they simply crack the eggs they want to bring into a nalgene and just pack them in that way. They said the yolks never break, and when they want to cook them, can pretty much just dump out one egg at a time and they stay mostly separated.



Did I hallucinate this, or does anyone else do it?? I've never tried it, but it seems pretty awesome."

Our daughter has quite a respectable work history in food safety. She only buys the Davidson Pasteurized Eggs, so that she knows her eggs are safe from salmonella (and so that she can "taste" as she is cooking or baking). They aren't available in our small town. It worried her that we took fresh eggs without refrigeration for up to a week, but she agreed with us that as long as the shells were intact the safety issue was not severely scary. When I told her about people cracking eggs and taking them up in a nalgene. . .she turned pale. She made me promise I would NEVER do that, as the danger of contamination is very real."

Very possibly true.

I think the tumblehome guys generally are talking about shorter trips, or morning 1 breakfasts maybe.