Stove System
If all you plan to do on your backpacking trip is boil water, you can get lightweight stove systems designed to do just that. We particularly love the Jetboil System.
Ultralight Stove
You may wish to do a little more cooking than just boiling water, in which case you will need a stove. We are more a fan of the MSR LowDown Remote Stove Adaptor as it feels more stable for cooking. You may want to look at grilling as well to add some variety to the mix, especially if you’re backpacking for a while. There are some great ultralightweight grills available now, be sure to check out our guide to the best backpacking grills.Â
Cookpots and pans
Most freeze-dried meals can be made in the pouch they come in, but not all. You need a lightweight cooking pan if you want to do more cooking than boiling water. You can get sets of pans that fit neatly inside each other to reduce the space they take up in your pack. We recommend GSI Outdoors Glacier Vase Camper Cookset.Â
Utensils
Obviously, you will need something to eat with. Sporks are popular, but a knife also comes in useful. To reach the bottom of most freeze-dried meals, you need something with a longer handle than usual. We recommend the OUTXE Titanium Long Handle Spork.Â
Cup
You will need a cup, not just to drink out of but also to measure the amount of water required to make your meal. For recipes, a cup is eight fluid ounces, but it is essential to check that your camping cup does hold that quantity. If the cup you are taking camping holds a different amount, it might be worth putting some tape around the outside of the cup to mark the correct level. Check the instructions on the food packets you are taking to see if it is worth marking four fluid ounces if half a cup is required. We recommend this one.Â
Clean Up
Practising Leave No Trace means as backpackers, we need to leave the wilderness as pristine as we find it, so all your trash must be carried out with you. One of the advantages of freeze-dried meals is that they can usually be eaten directly out of the packet, so you don’t have any plates to clean. Freeze-dried meals often come in pouches that seal shut, so they can be handy for containing your trash before you put it in your backpack. If you plan to do more cooking than boiling water, you will also need to ensure you have the necessary equipment to clean your pots, pans, and plates. Any dirty water you create must be disposed of in a hole at least 200 feet from any water source. If you want to use some kind of soap, you must ensure it is biodegradable. We prefer to use Dr. Bronner’s soap for this reason, which you can either buy in smaller bottles or buy a bigger bottle and dispense yourself into a smaller bottle, which often works out better value for money. It also doubles as a great wash for your body too.Â