10 Weird Backpacking Hacks That I Use All The Time 

Thanks for tuning in, and this was definitely a fun video to shoot! If you want to support the channel, check out hiking trail posters made by me and my wife (10% off with "OSCARHIKES") trailgoals.com/

The lack of a massive overburden of filler, chit chat, and plain old bs gave me the bends! Subscribed!

it's great to see a video with actual hacks and not "hacks" that are really just gear promo vids.

When possible I’ll heat 2 fist sized warm rocks in the fire - Put one in each wet sock to dry them and also provide a hot water ‘bottle’ for your feet and body that stays warm well into the night. Learned during military combat survival and rescue training in the 1990s

I may not be sure that all 10 would work for my style of camping, but this was an honest, educational video that we can all take something from. Thank you. I forgot to mention, it’s refreshing to watch an outdoor video that’s not promoting a product👍👍👍

Im a postman ,i used rubber bands for lots of things . Instead of the silicone ,you can put few bands under your matt to stop it moving .you need to used big good quality ones ,otherwise don't work . You can do the same on your kitchen with the chopping board ,or any small things you want to stop sliding 😜

The shirt to keep your pillow in place is a perfect idea!!!

I use an old windscreen sun reflector sheet as a sleeping mat underlay to reduce punctures and add reflected heat.

Rather than carrying salt and seasonings, I carry one or two bullion cubes in a small ziploc. If any dinner needs more seasoning adding a small piece is easy and no mess.

Okay, that spork hack is genius. Definitely stealing that

Since it's almost the same as heat release for me, I prefer to put the wet socks in the sleeping bag, between the bag and the sheet, somewhere around my waist. They may not be in the same place in the morning, but they are always dry. It is also good to use your thickest socks, as "sleeping socks" and only for that, and of course they should not be synthetic. And something that seems more fun than useful. Since I don't carry a table when wild camping, very often I use a shoe for a stand/holder in the morning for my cup of coffee and in the evening for a can of beer so that they don't accidentally fall and spill on uneven ground.

One tip I saw in a video that I liked was when picking up your tent, leave one stake in so you can pull against it to roll it up tighter. Also stops tent from blowing in the wind if it's breezy.

If you are camping in the cold, put the clothes and socks you plan to wear for the next day in your sleeping bag when you go to bed. When you wake up, you can put your pants, shirt, and socks on in the bag, which will be much warmer than the outside temperature or pull them out and dress. Either way, your acclimation to the ambient temperature will be much easier. I have done this and it makes a cold morning much easier. Hope this helps others.

Add the olive oil to your pan/pot and tip/roll it around to coat the entire pan before adding the food and it will help keep the food from sticking, make it easier to clean.

Dude, awesome advice on the bottle cap. I always bring a spare one but I never used it to push in the tent stakes. Thanks a million!!

You got me with the olive oil! Best tip for drying boots or socks is to take a few sheets of newspaper with you. Absorbs all water super fast. Can use the waste in a fire.

Definitely like the scrubbing mesh! I definitely would never be ripping pine needles off of the trees, in order to clean dishes. But I don't like carrying a big scrub sponge either! Thanks 😊

When wearing a rain jacket with a cap, use a small peg or clip to hold the hood onto the peak of the cap

In winter/spring touring I've naturally used hot water bottles to dry my socks (or more often than not, skiboots). But if only the socks are damp, then I've placed them on my quads (in such cold conditions, I often sleep with longjohns or capri-length merino of wicking underwear). Less gross and on my chest/tummy, but still big muscles and have not had damp socks in the morning.

Silicone is great for a lot of things. I've thinned out silicone with naphtha and treated clothes to add a very long lasting DWR. You have to use clothes/fabrics that haven't had a DWR treatment though (if you use something that had a DWR treatment, the silicone will not bond to the clothing). Also, you want the clothes/fabric to be sufficiently breathable to begin with, because it will lose some breathability depending on how much silicone per volume of naphtha you use. (A couple thin, light, breathable baselayer shirts both treated with thinned silicone and worn over top of each other, in combo with a windshirt with the right water resistance, breathability, etc over a fishnet baselayer makes a great wet weather combo for all but the hardest, worst rain. Sort of works like Paramo, but far longer lasting between treatments and not as hot. Important that the windjacket be made out of polyester and not nylon, as nylon swells too much with moisture and loses breathability). You can do DIY anti odor treatments with a fresh 9 volt battery, some pure salt dissolved in some hot water, and some copper wire (attach a copper wire to each battery terminal and suspend it over a glass jar with the copper wires in the water). After a 4 hours or so, you have a decent amount of small particle copper chloride ions in the water. Buy some do it at home dye, follow the dyeing process and put that water-copper chloride suspension in with the dye, and it will bond the ions to the fibers, making a copper based version of the silver based Polygiene (silver chloride bonded to clothing fibers during the dyeing process). If I remember correctly, copper is even stronger and more broad spectrum of an antimicrobial than silver. Obviously works best with clothes/fabrics that have had little to no pre dyeing (hint, white clothes work best for this typically). Bamboo layered with a couple of layers of S-glass fiberglass cloth and high strength, lamination epoxy, and then with the inner diaphragms punctured and spray foam sprayed in the middle, makes some remarkably tough and strong for the weight fixed length, budget poles. (Though, carbon poles seem to have gotten less expensive in recent years and there are some good deals out there). Ghee keeps longer than olive oil. Refined coconut oil probably keeps the second best. Avocado oil, while it doesn't keep as well as the former two, is more multi-functional, as it works as a great pot/pan non stick because it has an unusually high smoke point. Rub some on the pot/pan for low water cooking. If you're just boiling water or the like, no real point. A flat piece of strong for the weight fabric with some loops attached in combo with a stick in the ground, makes a great and lighter windscreen than metal ones. Make a sideways V with the sharp point facing towards the wind and the stove in between the open part. Obviously the fabric goes over the stick in the ground to make the > or

Eyeglasses Hack: I remove the temples (“arm” on each side) using a tiny screwdriver and replace them with a section of elastic. I attach using upholstery thread and needle through the screw holes. The result is lighter weight glasses that I can’t break or lose because I keep them around my neck. I have broken multiple pairs of glasses over the years, multiple ways; now solved.

When I waterproof the seams of my tent, I put 4 straps of the silicone mix on the floor of my tent. It keeps my pad from sliding and I don't have to do it to every pad I have.

Loads of really useful hacks. The only one I already knew was the silicone dots on the mattress. But do both sides so your sleeping bag doesn't slide off it.

Ghee is another awesome option for adding fats to backpacking meals where olive oil may be a weird taste.

Amazing line-up of great hacks. No wasted words. I can/will use all. Will share with all my backpacker friends and family. Keep them coming.

That oil tip is not only calorie packing gold, but boy do I bet it helps one stomach less stellar food options 🤣 a little extra fat can help so many things taste better, especially preserved food.

Such a great video! Here's a few of my habits: Carry a rope, can be any rope up to 5 mm, and around 20 meters is enough for my personal need. It can be used to hang up your drying clothes, secure a broken limb or stop some serious bleeding. It is also really handy for windy nights in the wild, providing extra length for your tent's stabilising cords. A bar of simple soap will allow you to take less underwear and socks, provided that you have a source of fresh water nearby If you are unsure of the weather conditions, take a rain poncho. These can be used to provide a good rain coverage on the road, and can be used to provide your tent or sleeping bag with extra layer of insulation. Having that rope is really handy here, too. Try and find one of those old military supply aluminium bowls with a foldable handle. They come in pairs, and can be used for storing your food on the road, boiling water or cooking, also from eating - you'll have to carry less metals with you Plastic bags and rubber bands made from broken bicycle tubes, make for a great way to store food, dirty clothes, wet stuffs (like socks) and more There is a method to dry up your shoes by taking them with you in a sleeping bag. I'm not sure about this one, as it probably depends on how wet your shoes really are In cold nights, mountaineers use identical sleeping bags and attach the zippers from two of them, to make a sleeping bag for two. Trust me, it is much warmer to sleep that way You can use a sweater stuffed with your underwear, as your pillow Not absolutely necessary, but if you can make some space for a lightweight blanket in your backpack, you will find a lot of great uses for it Makeshift camping light source idea: Place a water bottle on your light source pointing upwards, for easy diffraction. It is not as blinding as a matt lamp hanging around the height of your head Frequently while sleeping outdoors, we find ourselves on an uneven ground. Quick solution is to find a couple handfuls of dry grass to make the ground more even Anyone has dry skin on their feet due to perspiration salts? I found that bepanthen crème is a must to have for these cases

I watch a lot of these videos, but this one takes the prize!! I expect to use at least eight out of ten of these hacks going forward. Awesome, Oscar! 👏 What a champ! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Great video, personally I would go insane if I couldn’t wrap my arm around my pillow, no way I could sleep with it immobile like that.😂

I use a cleaned out plastic bladder from a box of wine as an inflatable pillow + a large Crown Royal sack as a pillowcase! Just push the little button on the nozzle and you can inflate it to the exact firmness you want and then deflate it to a tiny and lightweight ball of plastic 😊 Also, you can use any cloth bag… the Crown Royal sack is just soft and the perfect size

Wow some actually useful tips I've not heard of before! Thanks!

Love the silicone suggestion. Thank you

The silicone to the bottom of the mattress is a really good idea. My son showed me this one and it has been a sleep saver.

I’m not even a hiker, but these are some genuinely useful ideas 👍

I bring an extra bottle with wide entrance to use it as a pee bottle when it's raining or cold outside.

Great video as always, thanks. Maybe you could share how transporting your gear when you are using flights (what to leave at home or how you are protecting your stuff if it's going to registered baggage and so on). Those videos about transportation on RU-vid can be improved (especially by those who are practical as you :) )

3:50 I do this too. After a couple of awkwardly angles left me sliding off my ultralite cot at night, I always lie down in the spot first to see if it's flat enough for my cot not to tilt.

I've watched a lot of hiking "hack" videos and almost all of these hacks I've never seen! Great video, great hacks my dude!!

Butter has the same caloric density as oil and tastes good on more foods. Will last almost a week in your pack.

ive seen thousands of hours of camping content and this was the first in a looooooooong while to have actually unique useful tips!

Good tips. A survival tip primarily for day-hikers: take a cheap rain poncho and an emergency blanket in your pocket or daypack, they can help keep you dry, warm and alive if you get caught in bad weather or if you have to spend an unplanned night in the backcountry.

Thanks!!! I have seen a lot of "10 tips" videos and when I started to watch this one, I thought "what else can I pick up..." But I learned a lot new tips which I will start using!! Well done and thanks! Your videos are normally very good (content, delivery, pace, etc). Please keep it up!!

Love your tips, thanks so much for sharing! I used to dry not just socks in my shirt, but all clothes in my sleeping bag. Works very well (not when they're soaking wet, but wringed out).

Great! Useful and solving so many problems. Thank You a lot!

Man great video, some of the tips were amazing. TIP: from the Swedish army, put the wet sock along your legs and the top over your belt so the don’t slip. Works even below freezing

Fantastic video! Actually haven't heard these before. Good job giving a unique, practical and useful list.

Hands down the best way to dry socks. I’m gonna steal the bottle cap one. Thank you.

T shirt/pillow idea super cool. I am pumping them up now to try. Well, done. Thanks, Ray.

A hacks video that is actually insightful. I am genuinely stunned. Thanks a lot!❤

I camp a lot and am blown away by how many new methods this taught me! Awesome video

Gear Nerdery at its finest. Having just spent 5 nights in the NZ mountains... all these tips minus the socks ones (I'd pass out) would have immediately helped. Thank you. My favourite hack. Rubberband in thermarest roll... use it to hold your phone on your trekking pole in the tipi tent for movie time!😊

A life blanket made of plastics as a fabric layer between tent and ground. I'm actually laying on it just like you in the video to decide where to build the tent. A milar life blanket under the sleeping bag, a layer of clothes between that bag and the blanket, + another life blanket laying over the inner tent's net and waterproof layer turns my 3 seasons into a cold snowy environment friendly tent. Ducktape for paraglide mesh has repaired my tent mesh from its scratchs.Disclaimer : it only get glued from inside because the outer side of the tent is waterproof. Having 3 pairs of socks weights nothing, adds a lots of resilience. That way, it has never been a challenge to get one dry and clean ready to use when needed. I like to change of it at midday, using again the previous used but dried pair of socks from yesterday (if I did not washed my feet at midday). Having an extra thin pair of sosks allows me to combine with another trekking pair in case of disconfort around my feet.

You can use velcro strips for the pillow and also on the bottom of the sleeping pad instead of silicone. Loved the bottle cap for tent peg hack!

These were all legit really good tips and tricks. Thank you!

Great tips Oscar! And great sense of humor! You had me for a second, thinking you’d put urine in your pot! Enjoy your vids, keep them coming.

The posters look great 👍 I was excited to see that you stock the GDT! A neat idea 😊

Spork measure idea is very inventive! Thanks for the tips!

Most useful video I have seen on the Internet in a long time! Pure Genius!

Could be one of the few videos whose content is as valuable as the comment section!

Some good ideas. Love that you deliver the info quickly. New subbie from Alaska 🙋🏻‍♀️🏔️💕

To stop getting the bottom of your sleeping bag from getting wet by brushing up against the end of the tent, zip up your raincoat, turn it upside down and pull it on over the end of your sleeping bag. Keeps your feet warmer also.

If you like cereal for breakfast you can fill ziplock bags with your favorite cereal and powdered milk. Very light and just add water. I do the same thing with pudding and cheese cake.

Already knew/did some, but the tshirt, bottle cap and spoon marking are both new to me and really clever! Thanks

Big thumbs up. Keep it simple and concise. Way to go.

Good stuff! Awesome tips and I'll be using a few this summer.

Barely heard any of those before, rly helpful

That water bottle as a level trick is so simple but so genius. Will definitely be using that.

Thank you, will definitely try the T-shirt pillow technique, not sure about the sock drying but good for you

Thank you for sharing these great ideas! I especially love adding the silicone to the pad! Mine always slides throughout the night. Does it add significant bulk for packing?

Wow an actual great video with hiking tips ?!? Maybe the first time I’ve ever seen one.

Good tips! I love olive oil on trail, and it makes great emergency lotion, lip balm, etc. Ghee is another great choice, and is solid at cool temperatures which reduces the risk of spilling. I’d rather put wet socks on in the morning than sleep with wet socks! We do wet-entry canoe camping, so my socks are just going to get wet right away anyway.

Fiji water bottle - square shape keeps it from rolling on a hill.

I couldn't imagine the sock hack to work, so I tried it at home. Put one sock on the rack and one underneath my shirt. It does work - nice and dry and warm like fresh out of the dryer, while the one on the rack is still considerably wet - BUT obviously I'm a wimp, because I hated the first hours. It didn't stop feeling cold. Thank you anyway for the experience! 😂 Thanks also for the rest of the video and all the hacks! (Beginner's question: Isn't it easier to lay the bottle down to check if the ground is level? 🤔)

Great tips! Love your channel. Are you from Latvia by any chance? I think I recognize your accent 😅

Trying out the tent site - use the groundcloth. The one I used last time I went hiking is a tad short so I tied loops of string to the two points in one end. When I needed to camp (in windy, stable areas) I just hung the groundcloth on my trekking pole, see which way it wanted to go and if it was also relatively comfortable angle, you get the wind direction and ground level tested out at the same time. And the pole kept it from escaping in the wind.

I'm a trail runner and aspiring fastpacker, and these tips are so useful! The ultralight community is a goldmine for fastpacking, which is just ultralight backpacking done a bit faster after all 😅 I've also seen the hiking community take things from the trail running community, such as water bottles on the front straps (we use soft flasks for less bounce) and frameless lightweight running packs 🥰

First actually good backpacking hacks video. Subscribed.

I wear my headlamp around my neck at night. I always know where it is when I have to get up to pee.

with some rain jackets it's possible to thread string through the cuff if you make two small holes, then add a spring toggle to tighten the cuffs

marking the utensils - coll hack. but you need to stick with the same pot.

Hi Oscar and thanks for this video ! The bottle cap is a very nice idea , thank you ! 🙂👍

If the temperature allows, a stick of butter is also great. It works well with almost every food (olive oil in porridge? Nope) 🙂

These are great tips! Thank You!

These were really good! Thanks!

These are great tips, thanks. But I think the water bottle - ground level trick won't work because the surface area of the water bottle is too small. A small unevenness in the ground already gives a wrong result. But the other tips are great.

These are all great hacks, good video!

bottle cap added to my gearlist ! amazing !

Brilliant! Thanks for sharing

Rubber shelf liner pieces under the air pad to keep from sliding

The Norwegian Army dries shoes and socks under the knees in the sleeping bag.

My basic kit includes 2 garden solar lights. The cheap lights meant to be stuck in the ground next to yard paths that charge up during the day and switch on when it gets dark. They are dirt cheap, waterproof, weighs practically nothing and they produce just enough light that I never have to scramble around in the dark for a light if I need to pee during the night but not so much as to disturb my sleeping. And they burn long enough that the sun comes up before they run out of juice. And I keep 2 so I can bring one with me and leave the other by my tent entrance.

Awesome tips! thank you so much :)

OBSERVATION great channel and just subbed. I do prefer a 2 sided sponge made for teflon or non stick pans rather than vegetable netting as i have found the netting used on those bags is not as soft and scratches my cooking gear and drinkware over time.

I learned more legitimate tips in this one video than an entire day of watching other ones. Subscribed.

Great job -- thank you!

I was expecting this to be clickbait nonsense but these are actual, useful tips. 👍

Great tips, thanks!

Excellent video Sir Clear and to the point

I use fire to dry my socks. Definitely using the tshirt and pillow trick tho!!

Not really a hack but I always pull the insoles out of my shoes/boots after a long day even when at home. Helps them dry out faster and air outs a lot of the smell. I have footwear that are years old and still don't smell 👍