Yearly Archives: 2010

38 posts

SteriPEN review

A review of UV Water Sterilization using the SteriPEN Journey Collecting water from a nearby river, stream or spring can often mean the water is contaminated with a host of bacteria, parasites and other organisms resulting from animal waste or decay. Fortunately, sterilizing water using ultraviolet (UV) light is quick, easy, and works without the use of any chemicals. This portable UV sterilizing device is perfect for treating water while backpacking or foreign travel. How does it work? The SteriPEN (manufactured by Hydro-Photon) is equipped with an optical grade quartz […]

Backpacking as a Vegetarian or Vegan: Packing Tips for a Successful Hike

Can I maintain my vegetarian/vegan diet on a thru-hike? This question is a common one that we get from backpackers planning a thru-hike. Some think a vegan won’t be able to finish their hike because they can’t consume enough calories or protein and will become weak and sickly. This is NOT true. You do not need to eat animal protein to finish any endurance activity. While hiking, the muscle continuously burns carbohydrates and fat as fuel, not protein. Like all other backpackers, vegans need to consume more calories from complex carbohydrates […]

Outdoor Herbivore’s YouTube Channel

This 5 minute video gives you some tips you might not think of when selecting boots or shoes for hiking. Do you find videos like these helpful? What else would you like to see? Please let us know! We are considering offering more videos and tips related to camp cooking and backpacking as well. Before we invest the time, we’d like to get your feedback.

Comparing Backpacking Stoves

Many ultra-lightweight backpackers carry alcohol stoves, while some won’t bother carrying a stove at all. For the rest of us, here are some considerations to keep in mind if you need to purchase a backpacking stove: Cost. Consider the long-term cost of owning the stove by factoring in the price on a per-use basis. The stove itself may be cheap, but take into account the operational costs, such as the fuel and any unique components. Durability. Look at the construction materials, ease of taking it apart to clean/replace parts, etc. […]