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April 23, 2018 By madwire

Our Favorite Backcountry Meals

Here at Infuze, we’re the first to champion the benefits of staying hydrated on the trail. It keeps you healthy, warm, and focused. And with the unique clip-on filter of Infuze, you can enjoy the great taste of water enhancers, without having to clean them out of your Camelbak or water bladder. But we also recognize that to hike your best hike, you need to be well fed on the trail. We’ve thrown together a list of our favorite backcountry meals that are sure to leave you salivating.

Gado Gado

While this meal sounds like a video game character, it’s actually a dish from Indonesia. It’s a wonderful medley of noodles and sauce. We make our sauce using peanut butter, brown sugar, sunflower seeds, soy sauce, vinegar, and a few re-hydrated veggies. We boil the noodles, and then heat the peanut butter in a pan, slowly adding the soy sauce, vinegar, and brown sugar to add taste and to thin the peanut butter. We add the sunflower seeds and veggies last and mix them in. Serve the sauce on a hearty bed of noodles for a delicious and filling meal!

Pizza

Yes, you can bring this front country favorite with you to the backcountry! We typically bring some dry yeast with us, as well as sugar, salt and flour into the wilderness so we can make baked goods after a long day on the trail. With a little patience, you can make a tasty dough using these ingredients and some purified water. We make our sauce using dehydrated veggies, tomato paste powder, and a few spices. We oil our fry pan and stretch out our dough, letting it bake for a few minutes. Next, we’ll flip the crust and add our sauce, a few slices of cheese, and even a slice of summer sausage. Cover that and bake it for a few more minutes. At the last minute, add a dash of water to the pan to create steam so your cheese gets nice and melty. It’s just like your favorite slice back home!

The Ultimate Hot Chocolate

Ok, it’s hard to picture a drink being a meal, but you’ll see why after you read what we put in our Ultimate Hot Chocolate. We pack a baggie of cocoa powder in with us for every backcountry trip. But we don’t stop there, we’ll mix in a spoonful of powdered milk (“cow pow” as we call it) for extra creaminess. Next, we add a dash of cinnamon, with just a drop of vanilla. But we’re still not done, we mix a hearty scoop of peanut butter and just a dash of regular butter. We stir or shake this concoction up until it’s all blended together. We just skip counting the calories on this drink in favor of appreciating its flavor!

Dinner Is Served

Every outdoor enthusiast has a favorite meal they make while camping or backpacking. What’s yours? Don’t forget to complement your backcountry banquet with a tasty beverage. A water enhancer can make the water from your Camelbak extra tasty and is a perfect way to finish a meal.

April 9, 2018 By madwire

Quick Tips For Staying Warm On Your Next Outing

We’ve all been on that trip where we were caught out in the cold. An unexpected storm rolls in, you left your down jacket in the car, or your feet got wet during a river crossing. Getting warm in the wilderness can be challenging sometimes, but luckily, Infuze has put together this quick list of tips to help you stay warm on your next outing. When you’re looking for a way to put water enhancers in your Camelbak, check out our Infuze Hydro!

Hot Drink

A long-time favorite of any regular camper and backpacker. A hot drink before bed or right as you wake up can warm your body and soul. Sometimes just the extra heat from the beverage is enough to warm your hands as you hold your cup. A calorie-rich drink like hot cocoa also provides your body with more nutrients to burn and heats your body that way.

Hot water bottle at night

One of the unsung heroes of the backcountry. Most water bottles are durable enough that you can pour hot water into them without fear of them melting or releasing chemicals. Before you head to your sleeping bag for the night, do yourself a favor and pour the last of your hot water from your round of hot drinks into your water bottle. As you sleep, tuck the warm bottle against your stomach, near or feet, or by your head. The ambient heat from the warm water will diffuse from the bottle, and warm up you and your sleeping bag.

Layers

Most people are probably rolling their eyes at this tip. Of course, if you want to stay warm you’ll bring an extra layer. But layering is an art form, and there are little things that even pros sometimes miss. As you pack for your outing, make sure to take the weather into account. Based on climate and elevation, you’ll experience different weather patterns, but cold can be experienced in any environment. Make sure you have a good base layer, a cozy mid-layer, and outer layer to cut wind and rain. When you’re heading to bed, it’s never a bad idea to pop a knit cap or beanie on your head. You’ll thank yourself later when you sleep soundly through the night with a warm noggin.

Movement

For many, when they get cold, they literally and figuratively freeze up. They start shivering fiercely and don’t want to move for fear of exposing themselves to more cold. Resist this tendency to freeze up, and get moving. Even gentle movements like walking, or swinging your arms and legs can increase the circulation in your appendages and you’ll warm up faster than if you were to sit still.

Hydration

Counter to popular belief, staying hydrated does help to keep you warm. Your body uses fluids to stay to maintain its core temperature. Many studies of hypothermia have found that dehydrated patients experience symptoms of hypothermia faster than hydrated ones.

So when you’re ready to stay warm and stay hydrated, check out Infuze. Our unique clip-on filter lets you get the great taste and benefits of a water enhancer, without exposing your Camelbak to any sticky syrups or powders. Check out our product, and order yours today!

March 26, 2018 By madwire

Proper Hydration Requires Sodium And Water

One of the most frustrating experiences you can have in the backcountry is being dehydrated. Dehydration occurs when you lose more fluids than you take in. Dehydration comes with a slew of annoying symptoms like fatigue, headaches, and extreme thirst. It’s not something any backpacker enjoys experiencing. But often, backpackers feel that dehydration can be avoided simply by drinking more water. In fact, proper hydration requires that you also maintain proper sodium levels. With Infuze, you can put hydrating, sodium-rich, drink enhancers in your Camelbak to avoid these symptoms.

Doesn’t Water Keep You Hydrated?

Simply drinking more water when you’re dehydrated will only temporarily relieve the symptoms of dehydration. Drinking too much water can actually throw your sodium balances out of alignment. The result is that you’ll continue to experience the symptoms of dehydration even after you’ve had some water. When you drink too much water, your kidneys create more urine to bring your body back into balance. Alternatively, if you have too little water, your kidneys will conserve any remaining water. This triggers your sense of thirst.

But Doesn’t Salt Make You Thirsty?

We often associate sodium with salt. Eating a basket of salty french fries will leave you feeling parched and in need of a glass of water. So why would we want to use salt to stay hydrated? Salt actually plays a vital role in maintaining our hydration levels.

So What Does Sodium Do?

Your body has two ways to store fluids: intracellular fluids that are inside your cells, and extracellular fluid that flows around the cell. Water delivers nutrients to your cells and removes toxins and waste from the cells. Salt’s role in keeping you hydrated is to keep some water out of your cells. Proper hydration requires that a balance of water inside of and outside of the cells is struck. Sodium helps to regulate the body’s blood volume, blood pressure, and pH levels. This allows your muscles and nerves to work properly. That of course, let’s you push through that extra mile, climb that last peak, and paddle around that unforeseen bend.

How Do You Keep That Balance?

Lucky for you, it’s increasingly easier to maintain your water and sodium balance while traveling through the backcountry. Beyond putting salt on your rations, there are many drink enhancers that are chock-full of electrolytes. Electrolytes help to move electricity through your body and let you move your muscles. These drink enhancers help boost your levels of sodium, that in turn helps you stay hydrated.

Infuze Is Here

Avoid the headache, Infuze hydration filters make it easier than ever to stay hydrated on your adventures. Our unique drink enhancer filter keeps syrups and flavorings out of your Camelbak, and with a flip of a dial, you get the sodium you need to maintain your hydration levels. So the next time you head out into the wilderness, bring your water purifier, your Camelbak, and of course your drink enhancers and Infuze to stay hydrated and happy.

March 12, 2018 By madwire

Things You Learn In The Backcountry

Every outing into the backcountry yields its share of fun and unique stories. Every day and every step is a new experience that brings new insights into your life, your friends, and your journey. Like our Camelback infuser, every trip is unique. But Infuze has found that there are some things you learn out in the backcountry that are seemingly universal.

You’re Never Without Friends

Perhaps the best thing about the backcountry is the sense of camaraderie you experience on the trail. Whether you came with a hiking companion or not, you’ll find friends anytime you come across another traveler. A warm hello, and a quick smile is the surest way to add to other hikers’ experience, and they’ll often return the greeting. It’s not uncommon to stop and share a snack, or a quick sip of water with another backpacker. If they’re coming out while you’re going in, it’s the ideal time to ask them about trail conditions and any notable features to stop and see. And even if your exchange only lasts for a few minutes, you’ve made a backcountry buddy!

You Live Outside Of Time

One of the most surreal experiences you can give yourself is to leave your watch at home the next time you take a weekend backpacking trip. For the first few hours, you’ll find yourself asking what time it is, and trying to find ways to measure its passage. But a few hours after that, you’ll quickly realize that maybe it’s not that important. The sun goes down when it goes down, and you’ll likely fall asleep with it. And again, the sun will rise, and so will you. If you want to be mindful of the present on your next outing, removing your watch removes any barriers to that experience.

An Appreciation For The Little Things

In the front country, we’re used to having all of our needs met almost immediately. We’re also fortunate to have many of our wants met too. But in the backcountry, we are relying on our gear, our friends, and ourselves. It is because of this that you’ll quickly appreciate the little things. This appreciation can be found in unlikely places. It can be a piece of chocolate your friend saved from the first day on the trail. It might be that moment right before bed when you massage your feet, and your toes pop in that oh-so-satisfying way. Or it can be a sip of flavored water from your Infuze Camelbak infuser.

The Best Meals Are Ones You Make

We’ve all been treated to a nice meal at a fancy restaurant at one point in our lives. Some fine meal, with many courses, made from the choicest ingredients. But as a backpacker, you know that that fancy restaurant used rocks for tables, and sleeping pads for chairs. That first course consisted of a granola bar, followed by a quick pasta dish. Those choice ingredients were the slightly-smashed noodles and dried vegetables you stuffed into the bottom of your bag. Food always tastes better in the backcountry. Maybe it’s because you just crushed 8 miles in an afternoon, or maybe it’s because you’re so far away from your favorite burger joint. Whatever it is, we’ve found that backcountry eating is some of the best in the world.

The Importance Of Sacred Socks

As goofy as it sounds, socks really are sacred. When you go into the backcountry, it’s never a bad idea to have a pair of socks that you only wear in your sleeping bag. They stay clean, odor-free, and keep your feet warm at night. After a few days on the trail, you’ll look forward to pulling on your sacred socks, it might even be the highlight of your day!

Travel On

We learn something new every time we head out into the wilderness. It’s one of the reasons we keep going back. The next time you go an adventure, take some time to think about the lessons you’ve learned and share them with your friends. You might find that some of them are universal to your experiences, and to those of others. And of course, don’t forget your Infuze Camelbak infuser, because we all know the value of staying hydrated on the trail.

February 28, 2018 By madwire

Proper Backpack Fitting

Chuck Palahniuk once said, “The things you own end up owning you.” It’s hard not to feel this way sometimes in modern life. There’s a lot of stuff that goes along with living in the 21st century. That’s why it’s such a relief to escape into the wilderness for a weekend, and live life out of a backpack. But if you’re backpack doesn’t fit quite right, your gear can leave you feeling owned. Here at Infuze, we can’t understate the importance of a properly fitting backpack. After all, you’ve got a lot to fit in there, including your Infuze Camelbak infuser. Read on to find out how to fit yourself for a backpack.

Measure Twice Pack Once

Many new backpackers are content to throw the nicest looking bag on their shoulders and then hit the trail. They find out pretty quickly that the bag doesn’t feel as cool as it looks when the straps start digging into their shoulders at mile one. A proper fitting backpack should fit comfortably on your frame whether it’s empty, or filled to bursting. The best way to get a great fitting pack is to see how you measure up in comparison to the pack. So grab a flexible tape measure and a buddy and get measuring!

Measuring Your Torso

Bend your neck down as if you’re looking at your muddy hiking boots. Reach back and feel the top of your spine. That first big knot that you feel is your seventh vertebra. Now take your other hand and push on your waist. If you’ve found what feels like a shelf, that’s the top of your iliac crest, the top of your hip bone. Wrap your hand around the top of your hip. Now, have your buddy measure from the seventh vertebra to your iliac crest. That number is the length of your torso. Many packs use this initial measurement in their size charts for packs, and it’s a good thing to have on hand when shopping.

Measuring Your Hips

Keep that tape measure nearby, and wrap it around the top of your waist. You already found your iliac crest, so make sure you’re measuring around that. This number is probably different than your pants waist size, so don’t panic. You’ll want to know this number too. Much of the pack’s weight will be distributed to your hips. A properly fitted waist belt can make sure that the weight doesn’t bruise your hips.

Prep Your Pack

It’s easy to throw on an empty bag, adjust some straps, jump around a little bit and then call it good. But for the best fitting pack possible, it’s important to put a few pounds worth of equipment in the bag. It could be anything from sleeping bags, rocks, a small dog, or even your Camelbak infuser. You want about 15-20 pounds worth of gear in there to simulate some real weight. Loosen the straps on the bag so that when you first put it on, the weight makes the bag hang off your body a little bit. This will give you a sense of how the weight is distributed across your body as you move with the pack.

Tighten Up

Now it’s time to make sense of all those loose straps hanging everywhere. Reach for the shoulder straps that are hanging under your armpits. Pull down and back on them until the straps are snug against your shoulders. You should feel some weight hanging on your shoulders now, but not all of it. Next move to your hip belt. Move the belt until the padding is gently wrapped around the top of your waist, feel for that iliac crest again. Buckle the clasp, and pull the belt tight. The belt should feel snug, but shouldn’t pinch. Now reach up, or have your buddy lend you a hand, and find the load lifter straps at the top of your shoulders. These can be adjusted to bring the pack close to your body. Adjust them until they fit so that the pack’s weight is distributed across the shoulders, torso, and hips. Move the sternum strap that runs between your shoulder straps until it’s at a comfortable height. Tighten the sternum strap until it fits snugly across your chest.

Ready To Go

With your backpack properly fitted and adjusted, you’ll find that you can carry a lot of weight more comfortably than you first realized. You’ll also be able to adjust various straps on the fly as you hike, distributing the weight between your shoulders or hips as you see fit. Now that your pack is fitted, you can fit your Camelbak infuser to your shoulder strap. With Infuse, you’re ready to own the trails and own how much water flavoring you’re getting with each sip.