https://mekineer.com/ 2026-04-21T03:07:32+00:00 https://mekineer.com/ https://mekineer.com/ttps://mekineer.com/lib/tpl/adoradark/images/favicon.ico text/html 2024-11-11T01:03:55+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://mekineer.com/backpacking/airline-travel Ultralight Travel with no Checked-In Luggage. For alcohol stove users, the single restriction that stands out most is that you can't take along your favorite knife. A substitute can be a key-knife or you can try your luck with a folding surgical or xacto blade. text/html 2023-12-21T04:33:06+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://mekineer.com/backpacking/backpack My Personal Desired Backpack Features * 34L to 40L, narrow (tall) * Minimal internal frame without Osprey Exos exaggerated curvature and strung mesh * Detachable daypack brain * Deep mesh side pockets like the Exos * Side compression straps like the Exos text/html 2023-12-21T04:33:06+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://mekineer.com/backpacking/clothing Freezing cold will inhibit function of your fuel, or outright damage your water filter, and any devices with batteries, so it's important to wear these in a pocket during the day, and keep them in your sleeping bag at night. Clothing For Backpacking with a Low of Freezing text/html 2023-12-24T20:09:23+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://mekineer.com/backpacking/decentralized-encyclopedia Ultralight Backpacking Ultralight backpacking is a philosophy that gear functions should be the lightest practical weight. For example, if you want a lantern for diffusive lighting at camp, you can use an inflated balloon affixed to your flashlight or headlamp, saving the weight required for of an additional light. While having more than one light is a good idea, weight can be saved overall by a less powerful and less heavy secondary light, especially when caving (spelunking) where loss of … text/html 2023-12-21T04:33:06+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://mekineer.com/backpacking/hunting Ultralight Hunting Having a teacher is of great benefit, so if you have access to someone, indenture yourself if you have to. I have practically no experience. This article will be about what little I know, and what I look up. Goal Parameters: (there's a better word for this) text/html 2024-03-17T02:02:12+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://mekineer.com/backpacking/hydration Ultralight Water Use solar to disinfect: Recent Advances in Solar Water Pasteurization; Boiling isn't necessary to kill disease microbes, solarcooking.org Synergistic effect of solar radiation and solar heating to disinfect drinking water sources, Rijal and Fujioka 2001 Drink up before leaving camp: Get as hydrated as possible before leaving camp. Even if you end up peeing extra along the hike. Being hydrated from the start means having to carry less water in your pack. text/html 2023-12-24T20:08:48+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://mekineer.com/backpacking/hygiene Staying Fresh in the Backcountry Jump in the Lake Jumping in a lake is great for freshening up. Streams work as well. No soap required. Hand scrub yourself or use your bandana. Jump in with your clothes and they will be cleaner too. If it's a hot dry day, your clothes will dry while you hike. text/html 2023-12-21T04:33:06+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://mekineer.com/backpacking/insect-repellent Bug Protection Oils and Fragrances 10 Natural Ingredients That Repel Mosquitoes, healthline.com Mosquito Nets If you want to be able to see through the mosquito net, make sure to choose a dark net. White nets reflect light and distort your visibility. Pyrethroids Alternative Pyrethroids to Permethrin text/html 2023-12-21T04:33:06+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://mekineer.com/backpacking/kitchen Ultralight Backpacking Kitchen Appliances Choosing a Fuel Type In the spirit of ultralight backpacking, I am not taking a stove with a butane or propane canister. I will make a fire with downed wood, or I won't have a fire at all. That's been my motto anyway. But what if I go backpacking in the desert and can't find wood? What if I kill a rattlesnake and can't find a way to cook it? What then? Have a spare bit of fuel, that's what. text/html 2023-12-21T04:33:06+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://mekineer.com/backpacking/nutrition Ultralight Backpacking Nutrition Think in terms of powdered, dehydrated, freeze dried, and jerky. It's ok to run a caloric deficit while backpacking for a couple of weeks. A standard reference is to pack 2 pounds of food per day, but you can get by with less. Depending on the caloric density of the food you pack, you can get by with 1.5 or even 1 pound per day, with a lower bound of 2000 calories. Daily intermittent fasting helps to maintain the deficit. text/html 2024-05-13T22:13:10+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://mekineer.com/backpacking/power-and-electronics 2021 Power Management Many recommend just bringing along a portable power bank. Which is fine for short trips. However, in the spirit of being off the grid, I am also seeking a lightweight solar panel. [Solar Panel] The solar panel can either connect to my phone, or a text/html 2023-12-21T04:33:06+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://mekineer.com/backpacking/shelter Getting a Good Night's Sleep Tent vs Bivvy I am a side sleeper or prone sleeper. When I sleep on my back I suffer sleep apnea, so I avoid that position. That means no hammock for me. Can you sleep on your side/stomach in a hammock? Maybe someday I can fully try sleeping in a hammock. I would appreciate a solution in those damned cases where I can't find level ground. text/html 2023-12-21T04:33:06+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://mekineer.com/backpacking/trips Some stray notes I took down in planning trips. I wish I had done this for all my trips. 2021 Winter Beach Hike between Maldonado and Chuy Finding Fresh Water I can test to see if water is salty, using a TDS meter, or just a having a taste and spitting it out. The TDS meter can help you determine if a water source is fresh, brackish, or salt water. text/html 2023-12-21T04:33:06+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://mekineer.com/backpacking/ultralight-gear-list Sample Ultralight Gear List Gear Model Weight Notes Backpack Osprey Exos 34 960g (2 lb 2 oz) Narrow pack. I wish for the same with less curvature to the pack, though still with internal frame (perhaps the gregory optic 48 or rei flash 45). Waterproof X-Pac or Dyneema material would be nice. I like this earlier Exos 34 model with the front hip belt pockets and less overall pack volume.