- Vegan Foodfor Kayaking / Backpacking / Hiking
- Stoves
- Cookware
- Cookware: Basecamp / Car Camping
Vegan Food
for Kayaking / Backpacking / Hiking
Eating ‘animal cruelty free‘ is paramount!
The length of kayaking/backpacking/hiking trips is set by the amount of food I can bring, as my other gear is pretty much as small and as light as I can afford and want. Having said that, in general, the maximum length of my trips is approximately two weeks. Two weeks of food could weigh up to 7 kgs and could contain these:
Coffee by The Brew Company
This The Brew Company “brew-in-the-bag” enables me to make freshly brewed coffee wherever I am. This no-compromise coffee is made with fairtrade, hand-roasted beans, with full traceability of the coffee origins. No-compromise mean it’s the next best coffee after French-pressing your self grinded coffee. This is the most delicious coffee, ever, available for on-the-go making. It comes in loads of tastes and there is even a tea-version available. I personally like a strong coffe, so the Medium/strong tastes suit me best. The strength of your brew is determined by the amount of water and the soaking time. Very easy.
Vegan Freeze-Dried Backpacking Meals
Trail Organic Food
Trail meals are made from 100 % certified organic ingredients. They use low-profile, stable bags, that can be used with an ordinary spoon! They also use minimum packaging space, both in your backpack ánd in your waste bag. These two Danish chefs claim to offer meals where taste, smell, consistency, and color play a main part of the experience. I can support that claim. Their meals have a long shelflife, they taste excellent and they come in two vegan variations:
- Vegan Pasta Ratatouille
- Vegan Daal with rice
DryTech Real Turmat
Real Turmat is the outdoor meals line, made by DryTech in Norway, based on the Scandinavian kitchen.
The first and most obvious about their products is the vacuum packing, which makes it unnecessary to use an oxygen absorber and it makes it possible to see that the bag is sealed and tight. This also reduces the size of the bags, but also makes them more rigid and thus not necessarily more ‘packable’ or ‘readable’. The food tastes good and they offer a couple of vegan meals:
- Chili Stew with Beans
- Sqash and Sweet Corn Casserole
- Thai Red Curry
Adventure Food
Adventure Food is a Dutch company started by, Hans van der Meulen, an experienced expeditioner. (Climbed the Mount Everest, walked to the North Pole on foot, etcetera.)
They make calorie management easy, because all Main Meals and Expedition Breakfast are 600 kcal. They offer pan-European food that will suit many tastes. The food tastes good and these are their vegan meals:
- Veggie Couscous
- Pommes Abricots Compote
- Mixed Vegetables
- Brown Bean Soup
- Energy BarSeeds
Adventure Food offers an (unsolicited)
9% introductory discount for my visitors in their webshop.
The code is: White Water Gear
Stoves
Gas/UltraLight: Soto WindMaster Stove
Right: Burner and pot support in working position.
These are my Soto Windmaster stoves. Arguably the best gas stoves around. At a mere 87grams these powerful award winning stoves will serve your cooking needs for a very long time. A canister stove that screws easily onto the top of any standard backpacking-sized pressurized gas canister using blended propane/butane fuel and a standardised threaded Lindal valve (basically most cans, except Campingaz). The stove comes with a piezoelectric igniter, sparked by an electric charge striking within the device.
The WindMaster’s 4Flex is designed to snuggle up around the stove itself during transport to protect it and save space. Really superior designs. The WindMaster is designed so the pot sits close to the flame, making it more efficient in windy weather and results in a shorter boil time. The concave design of the burner head creates the effect of a very effective built-in windscreen. This well-made stove is able to stand up to harsh conditions. There is a TriFlex pot support available that’s smaller, and thus lighter than the 4flex support. I don’t have one, so I can’t tell you more about it.
One of the best features of this stove is it’s ability to adapt to the changing gas pressure (due to the can cooling down or getting empty). It also can be used at a very low setting. This stove doesn’t waste a gram of gas.
I own two of these, enabling me to be the ‘Chef’, when I’m not packing ultra light.
It has an output of 2800 kcal/h 3260w 11000 BTU, which means it boils 2 cups of water in under 2-1/2 minutes in strong winds and gusty weather.
Canister duration: It’ll burn approx.1.5 hours with a 250g (8 oz.) can.
It weighs 87g (3.0. oz.) with the 4Flex pot support.
Wood/UltraLight: Picogrill Woodburners
PicoGrill 85
The PicoGrill 85 is a small, ultra-light wood stove (hobo stove) for those who make every gram count. It’s targeted use is boiling. The stove doesn’t come apart, it folds, except for the cross bar. For those who prefer cooking on alcohol, it will accomodate an alcohol burner. The 3 flatpacking parts are:
- the wood stove (82 grams)
- a wire hanger (12 grams)
- a cross bar (34 grams)
So you carry a complete, packed (250x160x4mm) woodstove at a mere 128 grams. As, for shaping and weight reduction, it’s made from very thin stainless steel, so the lightweight bag is a must to protect your other gear from being damaged by the thin edges.
PicoGrill 239
The larger yet lightweight PicoGrill 239 wood stove (hobo stove) is my favourite size (diameter: 175mm, height: 185mm). It suites both UL camping as basecamp. It’s targeted use is boiling and grilling. The stove doesn’t come apart, it folds, except for the cross bar. For those who prefer cooking on alcohol, it will accomodate an alcohol burner. The 3 flatpacking parts are:
- the wood stove (180 grams)
- a cross bar (16 grams)
- a bag (54 grams)
- a 310 mm skewer (40 grams)
So you carry a complete, packed (335x195x4mm) woodstove at a mere 250 grams. As, for shaping and weight reduction, it’s made from very thin stainless steel, so the lightweight bag is a must to protect your other gear from being damaged by the thin edges.
PicoGrill 498
The PicoGrill 498 is a versatile and lightweight grilling tray for your basecamp, bike bag, camper van or boat. Boiling and grilling on 2 levels. This grill is offered with a selection of accesories, like skewers, grill grates and grill tongs.
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| Tools accessories | Flatpacked products (all 3 sizes) |
Swiss made, by fellow outdoorsmen.
Fluid/Mid-Weight: MSR WhisperLite International
Burns white gas, kerosene, and unleaded auto fuel. With self-cleaning shaker sets technology.
Silverant Titanium Multi-Fuel Stove, Cross Stand & Windshield
The Titanium Multi-Fuel Stove, Cross Stand & Windshield are my lightest stove setup. The windshield and titanium cross stand will shelter flames from the elements ánd distribute the flame over a wider area. The windshield is made from stainless steelso it can be flattened and used in a roll over and over again. I use it with petrol or alcohol, but it will take solid fuel tablets as well. The internal gradation marks prevent wasting fuel.
Gas/BaseCamp: RidgeMonkey Quad Connect Stove Pro Kits
Quad Connect Stove Pro Mini Full Kit
RidgeMonkey Quad Connect: the only stove system on the market to feature an independently controllable, completely removable second stove head using a quick release connector built into the primary stove. This version above is the super-compact mini design!
Using RidgeMonkey’s highly acclaimed super-stable quadrilateral design with its incredibly low centre of gravity, four height-adjustable folding legs and a unique quick release connector to allow independent use of the second stove head on the same gas bottle, the high-powered Quad Connect Pro Mini Full Kit delivers unrivalled performance, stability and versatility in the most compact all-round RidgeMonkey stove package yet. Featuring an all-new gas condenser pipe to ensure efficient fuel burn even in the coldest of conditions, a remote gas connection for a stable set up on almost any terrain and inclusive carry bag, toaster handle support & gas bottle stand.
| Mini: Dimensions (per head): Folded: 90mm x 90mm x 75mm Fully extended: 125mm x 125mm x 85mm Weight: 400g | Regular: Dimensions (per head): Folded: 130mm x 130mm x 130mm Fully extended: 180mm x 180mm x 105mm Weight: 550g |
Quad Connect Stove Pro Full Kit
Cookware
Titanium Cookware by Silverant
My Titanium Pot (1600ml) and Pan (750ml) set is part of my ultralight multiple person setup and comes with a frying pan, pot, lid, and sturdy folding handles. The set weighs a total of 438.5gr. The pot has gradation marks to measure water quantity. The titanium lid snugly fits both the pot and pan whilst the pot nests inside the pan, the handles fold, securing the lid on top. To save space store food, your cooking set up, or other gear essentials inside. With the slider into position, the handle is secured to cope with heavy loads. It comes with a mesh drawstring bag.
My Titanium Long Handle Spoon weighs 14.7g and is 220mm long. We all know them, we all use them with our large packs of dehydrated food. This is the sandblasted (for grip), but with polished bowl (for convenience) finish version. The spoon is lightweight, yet strong and durable. Use your spoon time and again.
The Titanium Multi-Fuel Stove, Cross Stand & Windshield are my lightest stove setup. The windshield and titanium cross stand will shelter flames from the elements ánd distribute the flame over a wider area. The windshield is made from stainless steelso it can be flattened and used in a roll over and over again. I use it with petrol or alcohol, but it will take solid fuel tabletsas well. The internal gradation marks prevent wasting fuel.
Titanium Cook- and Drinkware by Toaks
Toaks Titanium is hot! Literally. Boy, do these pans transfer heat quickly. These titanium pots are ideal for boiling fluids because they are made with very thin walls, and transfer heat very efficiently. Titanium is half the weight of steel and stronger than aluminium. My 1100ml pot only weighs 113 grams! It is the cookware material with the best weight/strength balance. It is also corrosion-resistant and very durable. This is gear for situations where every gram counts. The go-to gear pots for your quick boil-only meals.
I own the 3-piece cutlery set, the long handle spoon, a double wall cup, a 1100ml pot with and frying pan and lid combination, the 1600ml Pot with Pan (not pictured) and two deep 190mm plates. Toaks uses pure titanium, so (unlike aluminium and teflon coated pots and pans) these products are absolutely non-toxic and thus, save to use!
Cooking Gear Packed
Two person (two stoves) setup. stoves in cup -> in 1300ml pot -> in 1600ml pot. Far right: 1 pack (1100grams)
Below the line:
Solo (1 stove) setup: stove & cartridge in cup. Cartridge in 1300ml pot.
Far right: two packs (830grams)
Cascade Wild Cutting Boards
Now, these may not seem like much, but these Cascade Wild Ultralight Cutting Boards are the best ever!
The the 16,5x21cm version (larger) weighs 20 grams and 14x19cm version weighs 14 grams! Made out of HDPE, they are as indestructable as our kayaks. I have yet to find a more durable and lightweight cutting board…..
And yes, they make nifty little UL tables as well. These one piece 20x30cm folding tables can be combined into a larger size. Folded they are 10x30cm. 63 grams of table to keep our precious food of the ground!
Coffee, the Bruu way
The really lightweight solution for making coffee: the Bruu! All it is, is a simple spoon to press a 7grams Senseo-pad up against a cup-wall. So all you do is: take your favourite Senseo-taste with you, soak it in hot water and squeeze it with your Bruu. The spoon itself weighs 15 gram (not shortened to your own cup-size). If you are not in Holland, you can order by contacting we@bruu.it.
Cookware: Basecamp / Car Camping
EcoStoof (fuel saving) Slow Cooker
This is the modern version of the haybox, straw box, insulation cooker, wonder oven, norwegian cooker or retained-heat cooker: The EcoStoof.
This might be the ultimate basecamp cooker. It’ll save loads of fuel and time!
- Heat your Dutch oven & cook your veggies for a minute
- put the pan in the EcoStoof
- go for a paddle/hike/trip/whatever
- and eat your soup on return!
or- Get back in camp after a a paddle/hike/trip/whatever
- Heat your Dutch oven & cook your food for a couple of minutes
- put the pan in the EcoStoof
- play some campfire songs and have some drinks for half an hour
- and eat!
or- @ Home: Heat your Dutch oven & cook your food for a couple of minutes
- put the pan in the EcoStoof
- Go spend time with the kids/have a Yoga/read a book/whatever
- and eat!
EcoStoof offers an (unsolicited) €10 discount for my visitors in their webshop.
The code is: FOOD
Portable Oven
My Omnia Portable Oven is a great way to get all my oven based cooking done at the campsite. A Omnia enables me to make fresh-baked bread and delicious oven dishes directly on the camping stove. It basically is a circular container with a hole in the middle. The bowl-shaped base and the lid work together in providing heat to the pan from the bottom and the top. That creates oven-like heating. I got me one of their cookbooks loaded with great recipies and ‘instructions’, or rather: ideas/inspiration for simple but tasty dishes. Not only does my cooking attract attention, but the Omnia does too!
Lid, Pan with silicon insert, Base
Cast Iron Loaf Pan (Dutch Oven)
This ‘Dutch Oven’ pot is a the Petromax Loaf Pan, made of cast iron, which distributes and stores heat outstandingly. Besides using it in the oven at home, this pan can make you an awesome bread on a campfire as well. cast iron has a natural anti-adhesive quality, which improves with usage. I think the Lid Lifter is a necessity.
RidgeMonkey Square Kettles
The RidgeMonkey Square Kettles have folding handles & ergonomic design which makes them very packable. The Square Kettle can be used on any direct heat source.
Small: 150mm x 150mm x 60mm, 0.5 litre capacity
Large: 150mm x 150mm x 90mm, 1.1 litre capacity
EuroTrail Foldable container
My go-to Foldable container, ideal for doing the dishes, laundry, cat litter, salads, whatever. And it folds to a practical small size. It is rock stable and weighs half a kilo, at 37,2×27,4x12cm.
