Taking liquids into the backcountry is a special challenge. Liquids lead to extra weight, and potential messes in your gear, and can be frustrating because even the smallest bottle of ketchup is rediculously over-sized for a weekend away. Don’t even get me started on liquids that are commonly packaged in glass bottles.
Putting these condiments into smaller containers is an obvious solution, but the commonly used (and hopefully well-rinsed) eye-dropper bottles just do not hold the volume of soy sauce that I like to cook with. So, after nosing around online, I found what I think will be the ideal solution: Twist-top bottles in a variety of sizes!
I ordered these from SKS Bottle & Packaging, and I was impressed with how fast they got here, and the quality of the product. They have ALL SORTS of amazing bottles and jars that are perfect for backpackers. You can find a container for everything from peanut butter to pills over there, the hardest part is not buying everything!
Anyway, I love that website, obviously. I ordered the variety pack of twist-top bottles, so that I would have a number of sizes. While these bottles are not certified as “leak-proof” I tested them with water, and I didn’t find there were any issues. Still, you can slide them all into a ziplock bag if it makes you feel a little more secure.
Some liquids that these bottles are AWESOME for:
- Soy Sauce
- Ketchup/Mustard
- Hot Sauce
- Cooking Oil
- Dish/Hand Soap
- Sunscreen
- Shampoo/Conditioner
- Honey
- Sesame Oil
- Fish Sauce/Plum Sauce/Etc.
- Maple Syrup
- Lemon Juice
And if you *really* wanted, you could use the bottles for backcountry bar-tending! A little vodka, and some powdered juice mix, and voila! Or you can never go wrong with a little bailey’s in your coffee or hot chocolate.
I may have to order a bunch of the smallest bottles, which are perfect for weekend trips. There really is no end to how terribly useful these are.
