Short clips

Trailers to full length videos and stand-alone quick tips; everything we make that is under 60 seconds

Short Clips Jason Kolaczkowski Short Clips Jason Kolaczkowski

Preview to - Backcountry Luxury: Making a Kitchen at Your Snow Camp Using a Pyramid Tent

If I'm going to be winter camping, on snow, in the same place for a while - think an expedition basecamp or a long-weekend outing - I will often make a dedicated kitchen in camp. With appropriate snow depth, a pyramid tent kitchen is my preferred version to make because it grants shelter, mobility, and better ergonomics. The full video provides more on why, and a lot more on how, I build them.

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Short Clips, Quick Tips (07) Jason Kolaczkowski Short Clips, Quick Tips (07) Jason Kolaczkowski

Is the Water Bottle You Take Hiking, Backpacking, or Climbing Harming Your Health?

We are learning more about the potential health downsides stemming from the ubiquitous plastic water bottles that so many hikers, backpackers, and climbers use. New technology is allowing new, and more complete, measurements of how much plastic is degrading into the water we drink from them. The science is evolving and scientific studies are starting to triangulate around the potential health impacts. So, I’m watching this evolve and reconsidering my use of these normally standard pieces of adventure equipment.

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Short Clips, Quick Tips (07) Jason Kolaczkowski Short Clips, Quick Tips (07) Jason Kolaczkowski

A Better Clean for a Better Hike, Climb, or Backpack: Why I Like the CuloClean Bidet

I have no affiliation with the company, but I have been very happy with my purchase of the Culo Clean portable bidet. It’s a low cost, low weight item I have added to my adventures, and you can see the video to find out why. You can find the item, should you want it, here: https://sovrn.co/ph0rir7

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Short Clips, Quick Tips (07) Jason Kolaczkowski Short Clips, Quick Tips (07) Jason Kolaczkowski

Rule of Thumb for Finding Calorie-Dense Food for the Next Climbing or Backpacking Expedition

Modern expeditions and lengthy backpacking trips often demand high effort and, therefore, massive calorie burning. In order to even come close to putting back the calories I burn on a big outdoor adventure, I make sure to bring some very calorie-dense snacks with me on my trips. As a rule of thumb, I look for some foods that have over 150 Kcal per 30g when considering a food to be particularly calorie-dense.

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Short Clips Jason Kolaczkowski Short Clips Jason Kolaczkowski

Preview to Summer Canister Stoves: How Many Days Before Heavy, Efficient Stoves Make Sense?

If we are out on a backpacking trip or an alpine climb, we are already counting ounces. More efficient canister stoves tend to be heavier. So, how many days of fuel use need to happen before that efficiency and saved fuel pays off when compared to carrying a lighter, less efficient stove with, therefore, more fuel? We did a first test in summer conditions.

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Short Clips, Quick Tips (04) Jason Kolaczkowski Short Clips, Quick Tips (04) Jason Kolaczkowski

Boiling Water. Reused Water Bottles. Potential Damage on Your Backpacking or Camping Trip

Reusing those plastic bottles from a beverage purchase may leach BPA into your water (maybe a topic for another video). But I also know from many conversations that some people will do it anyway because it can save money and weight and they don't do it that often. Well, for those of you who are willing to accept the risk, there is also a practical consideration: the lips on the mouths of those water bottles can melt when pouring boiling water making them unable to be closed. So, you can take this simple, light, piece of gear to avoid at least that problem when backpacking or camping in the winter.

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Short Clips Jason Kolaczkowski Short Clips Jason Kolaczkowski

Preview to Winter Camping is a Mountaineering Skill. My Kids On a Deeply Cold 48 Hours Out

Climbing big mountains in anything more than a day, may demand that you cold-weather camp as well as you climb. It's the key to your recovery at the end of each day. My twin eight-year-old wanted to try winter camping in truly cold weather. It got down to -6 F (-21C). The full video goes into what I was thinking about and focused on teaching them during these 48 hours out.

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Keeping Larger Particles Out of Your Hiking, Backpacking, and Climbing Snow Melt Water

Finding purified water is easy on winter and alpine climbs and hikes when you are boiling snow melt, but larger particles like pine nettles can still infest your water despite boiling. Your kitchen cabinets already hold an affordable solution.

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I've Used the Bōn Dry Hydration Pack Dryer for Years and It Keeps My Hydration Packs Fresh

My family gets outdoors a lot for climbing, backpacking, and hiking and we use hydration pack systems when the weather is right. The convenience of having water accessible helps us drink more. But hydration packs are hard to keep from molding. That's where the Bōn Dry hydration pack dryer comes in to play. I've never had to replace any of my families' hydration systems since I started using it.

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Short Clips, Quick Tips, Quick Tips (03) Jason Kolaczkowski Short Clips, Quick Tips, Quick Tips (03) Jason Kolaczkowski

Keeping Kids Hydrated when Backpacking, Hiking, and Climbing: Water Bladder Size Matters

Being outdoors with my kids for climbing, backpacking, and hiking is a blast, but getting them to do some of "the small things" on a consistent basis can be a challenge. Staying hydrated is one of those things. Having water always accessible with a water bladder system can help, but I need to make sure I have the right water bladder for their little bodies and little equipment.

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Short Clips, Quick Tips, Quick Tips (02) Jason Kolaczkowski Short Clips, Quick Tips, Quick Tips (02) Jason Kolaczkowski

Mental Health Month: You Need Calories When Hiking, Backpacking, Climbing or Mountaineering

In gravity fighting sports, there can be a tendency to want to reduce one's weight in order to improve strength-to-weight ratio. While that might work in the short run, it isn't sustainable. You need both calories and proper nutrition to perform when in the outdoors. As we begin Mental Health Awareness Month, let’s remember that the consequences of obsessive weight cutting aren't worth the benefits.

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Short Clips, Quick Tips, Quick Tips (02) Jason Kolaczkowski Short Clips, Quick Tips, Quick Tips (02) Jason Kolaczkowski

How Frequently Should I Drink Water When I'm Hiking, Backpacking, or Mountaineering?

Staying hydrated is important when you are on the move in the backcountry, whether hiking, backpacking, or mountaineering; it impacts your ability to exercise for the duration and also affects your acclimatization to higher altitudes. But your body can't absorb the water you drink if you drink too much to fast. So, how often and how much should you be drinking water in the ideal?

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Short Clips, Quick Tips, Quick Tips (02) Jason Kolaczkowski Short Clips, Quick Tips, Quick Tips (02) Jason Kolaczkowski

How Much Water to Bring When Backpacking, Hiking, or Mountaineering

The water you need to bring on an outdoors adventure is a product of the activity - like a backpacking trip, a hike, or a mountain climb - how hard you are working, and the climate. But climate is also determined by altitude and higher altitudes demand more water. Find out how much more in this video.

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