Dehydrating food for the trail opens up many possibilities for the picky hiker. Cook it, dehydrate it, pack it, add water on the trail and…voila. It’s hard to beat a quickly-prepared, hot, tasty meal at the end of a long hiking day.

The problem: Food dehydrators can be expensive.

The solution: You can make your own!

Grab some duct tape, mosquito netting and a concrete form cylinder (5 bucks at your local hardware store) and head over to instructables.com for easy-to-follow instructions.

Nothing can ruin an otherwise great hike like chafing (aka “Monkey Butt”). It’s caused by constant rubbing (most often in the upper thigh/nether regions) coupled with moisture and bacteria build-up. Hikers with chafing issues are often identified by their requisite “duck walk”. While heavier hikers are more prone to chafing, it can happen to anyone at any time. To keep it from happening to you, follow the advice below.

Put simply, prevent chafing by lubricating during the day and keeping dry at night.

Pre-hike prep:

Clean area throughly before heading out. Much of chafing is due to bacteria build-up, so it’s best to start from a sterile base.

Just before hitting the ol’ dusty trail, apply BodyGlide. It’s the most recommended anti-chafing solution on the market, and smoothing some on will eliminate friction for the entire day. As a bonus, you can also put on feet to help prevent blisters.

During hike:

Wipe area with baby wipes or alcohol swaps to keep area clean and rash-free. Remember to reapply the BodyGlide.

Post-hike or in camp:

Wash area thoroughly, dry, then apply Gold Bond Triple Medicated Powder or plain ol’ corn starch. Keeping the area dry while sleeping is absolutely essential for quick healing and chafing prevention.

* Go commando. If wearing a skirt’s not your thing, simply try a hike without underwear (only try this in summer) under your shorts or pants. As long as you follow the above-mentioned essential steps pre- and post-hike, you shouldn’t experience any rubbing down yonder.

Any chafers out there have any better ideas for prevention or treatment? Please add them in the comments section below!

The smell of last weekend’s campfire still clings to your clothes. You try a standard wash and spray it with Febreeze but nothing seems to get rid of it. What’s a hiker to do? Here’s 5 proven ways to get rid of that campfire smell in no time:

1. Have a Coke. Add one can of Coca Cola to your wash along with your normal detergent. A professional cleaner swears this works, so why not give it a spin? (Via ThriftyFun)

2. Just add vinegar. Add 1 cup of white vinegar to your wash load and let soak for 30-60 min. Also works well for lots of other lingering odors.

3. Pack your threads in potpourri. (Via HowToGetRidOfStuff.com):

To remove the campfire scent and add a fresh, natural scent to your clothes, you need the following:

– Zip-lock bags or plastic bags
– Dried flowers, or other fresh-scented items (do not use fresh flowers because they will get crushed and stain your clothes)
– Baby powder

Follow these steps to get rid of the campfire scent:

– Place some potpourri in the plastic bag, and add a few shakes of baby powder.
– Place the smelly clothes inside the bag.
– Shake the bag thoroughly, like you’re dredging a piece of chicken in flour. Make sure that the baby powder reaches into the folds of your clothes.
– When you’re ready to wear the articles of clothing again, shake off the flowers and the baby powder. You’d be surprised at how clean and fresh-scented your clothes are.

4. Baking soda to the rescue. Baking soda is like the duct tape of…well…ingredients (?). Use #1,452 is adding a tablespoon or two to the washing machine along with fabric softener. No more smokey clothes!

5. Take the lazy way out. Buy some MiraZyme. Amazon has it cheap right here

Do you have a method that works great for you? Share it in the comments!

I was surfing YouTube today and happened upon this video detailing various ways to make DIY ultralight backpacking gear from stuff you probably already have around the house.  Check out the video below:

Photo via BackpackingLight.com

Sam Haraldson from Backpacking Light Magazine came up with the idea of making his own camera case from bubble wrap and duct tap before he tackled the Pacific Northwest Trail back in the summer of 2006.  He thought it was a dud but decided to take it anyway, and to his surprise it lasted all 1,200 miles of the PNT.  Cheap, lightweight, durable and one more example of why duct tape rocks–visit BackpackingLight.com and learn how to make your own.

Courtesy of instructables.com

Love taking your digital camera or camcorder on the trail but can never manage to get a perfectly steady shot?  Instead of scratching the camera’s bottom on a rock or tree branch, check out this ingenious tip from instructables.com.  You’ll learn how to make a trekking pole monopod, which is exactly what it sounds like.  Says the author, ” this simple camera mount doesn’t take up any space in my pack, barely adds weight to my trekking pole, folds up when not in use, isn’t permanently attached, and costs very little to make.”  Trekking Pole Monopod – instructables.com

What should I bring?

It’s pretty web 1.0-looking, but a powerful tool nonetheless.  Whether you’re a beginner or experienced world traveler, the Universal Packing list will tell you exactly what to take.   Input your travel dates, the expected temperature, your gender, your mode of transportation and a urine sample*, and you’ll receive a listing of pre-trip to-do items as well as your packing list and reasons why you should take what they tell you to take.

*Just kidding about the urine sample

Universal Packing List