Veteran cold-weather hiker Keith DePew of Golden, Colorado wrote in with a great suggestion (you'll find it below). Do you have ideas for using NALGENE Outdoor Products on the trail? Jake invites you to share them here with your friends.
Here are some...
Tips and Tricks for the Trail
2 liter drink mix in a 1 liter bottle
Another way to keep your water from freezing in the winter
Use your NALGENE bottle as a bear bag
Store your "Strike Anywhere" matches in a NALGENE Jar
How Much Can You Fit in Your NALGENE Bottle?
Preventing Ice from Freezing Your Bottle Shut
Endless Supply of Fresh Water in a NALGENE Cantene
A Tip for Tape
Top Ten Essentials
Rules By Which to Explore
Survival Kit
Making Ice for your Cooler
Mixing Powdered Drinks
Metric Conversions
2 liter drink mix in a 1 liter bottle
We use Crystal Light drink mix when backpacking. While the packaging is excessive (and must be packed out) the mix itself is small, lightweight, and good. However, it comes in packages for 2 liter containers ... larger than I want to carry backpacking. So...
We carry a small NALGENE bottle that we use for making concentrate. In the small bottle, mix in all the powder with enough liquid to dissolve the powder ... i.e. not much. When you are ready to make the drink, add ½ the concentrate to a 1 liter bottle and fill to the 1 liter level. Save the rest of the concentrate for the next refill.
Jack Moreland
Another way to keep your water from freezing in the winter
When I go winter camping I end the night by boiling my water and filling my NALGENE 32 oz. wide mouth making sure to tighten the lid well. Then I put them in my sleeping bag. It takes the chill out of the bag and keeps my feet warm through the night.
Mike Mahoney
Use your NALGENE bottle as a bear bag
NALGENE bottles are good for putting up bear bags. If you tie your NALGENE to one end of your rope it makes it alot easier to get the rope onto a good branch. All you have to do is pick up some of the rope in your hand. Then pick up the NALGENE and throw it up over the branch. The rope will feed right out of your hand making it alot easier to get the rope up in one try.
Ari Rosenberg
Store your "Strike Anywhere" matches in a NALGENE Jar
Most outdoor stores sell waterproof containers for matches. These are not too bad, but they usually have two problems:
Jim Afaganis
Calgary, Alberta
Canada
How Much Can You Fit in Your NALGENE Bottle?
"I use 1 of my 32oz wide mouth smoke bottle for a survival kit. I put a heat warmer, emergency blanket, matches, 2 fire starter sticks, 2 granola bars, insect repellant packet, pocket knife, bandaids, ointment, spare compass, water purifing tablets, and a film canister with some fishing line, hooks, weigts, flys(small fishing kit). I will always have a way of getting water purified. The bottle makes a air/water tight container that floats.There is still room in there for a few more items if need.
I also vacuum sealed the matches, firesticks, bandaids, and pocket knife for less movement/wear and to keep it a more sterile inviroment inside the bottle. I also roll up a zip lock baggy and stuff it in so I can put all the contents in it if I have to use the bottle.
Its fun to see what else I can get in there."
-Chris Hadaway
Buckley, WA
Preventing Ice from Freezing Your Bottle Shut
"When hiking in freezing weather with your NALGENE liter bottles, make sure to store bottles upside down in your pack to prevent ice from freezing your bottle shut. Ice will float to the bottom of the bottle rather than blocking the mouth."
-Keith DePew
Golden, CO
NALGENE Cantene
"Roll up a 48oz NALGENE Cantene and stuff it in a survival kit. When out in snow country, fix a neck strap to the Cantene, wear it under your parka and refill it with a little bit of snow each time you drink. The small amount of snow will melt while not making the rest of the water too cold, and you'll always have fresh water. Drink water often: if your tongue hits your knees when you walk, you haven't been drinking enough."
-Mark Condes
Fortuna, CA
A Tip for Tape
NALGENE EXPLORER reader Brian Shean writes: "A handy tip a friend passed on to me is that rather than deal with the awkward bulk of a roll of duct-tape, wrap the tape around your bottle. This keeps it handy for quick use and makes a great grip for wet situations."
Top Ten Essentials on the Trail
Rules for Exploring the Wilderness
Survival Kit
Do you keep a "survival kit" of food and emergency supplies in your car, your backpack, or your bike bag -- just in case? Remember that NALGENE bottles and containers can help keep your emergency rations fresh, while keeping insects out.
Making Ice for your Cooler
Several styles of the larger NALGENE Outdoor Products make excellent, no-mess sources for ice in your cooler. Fill about 3/4 full (to allow for expansion) and pop them in the freezer. They will fit nicely in the cooler at picnic time and give you a supply of ice water as they thaw.
Mixing Powdered Drinks
Since NALGENE bottles are slightly oversized, you'll have plenty of room for ingredients and mixing space. The graduations on many designs make measuring easy with no messy drips or leaks. Also great for pancake batter, scrambled eggs, formula, etc.
Metric Conversions
1/4-oz. converts to 8 mL
1/2-oz. converts to 15 mL
1-oz. converts to 30 mL
2-oz. converts to 60 mL
4-oz. converts to 125 mL
8-oz. converts to 250 mL
16-oz. converts to 500 mL
32-oz. converts to 1000 mL