Food Odors?

Well, I usually just deal with it, but this last trip it finally got to me: the smell of coffee permeating through everything in my backpack.

So, is there a good way to prevent food odors? I usually pack everything in ziplocks but food odors still emenate (on this last trip I triple bagged my coffee to no avail). In the past I have had on occasion the taste of one food penetrate into another - coffee flavored mac-n-cheese...blah. To top all this off, it's not cool sitting in bear territory when you reek of food odors that has clung to your clothes that were packed next to a smelly bear canister earlier in the day.

same company that makes 'aloksacks' makes odor proof bags that work very well, but are'nt all that durable IME <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Coffee is one of the worst offenders in smelling up everything. The Alosaks are worth it if you carry a lot of coffee.

I put ground coffee in a small baggie in a larger ziplock and it STILL made everything in the bear can smell like coffee.

And then, one of my pita rounds developed mold. Needless to say I soaked the bear can full of baking soda solution when I got home. On the trail, I ate the meal in the foodsaver bag not the one in the regular ziplock, which smelled (and consequently tasted) like moldy coffee. The nylon foodsaver bags are a godsend. They don't seem to let odor out or in.

Even my licorice tasted moldy. Ugh, that was bad. Note to self: buy pita night before the trip. Don't use the week old stuff in the fridge.

As for what to do with the coffee... I'm going to cut smaller sections off a roll of the vacuum packing bags and make small bags to seal individual coffee servings in them, when I absolutely have to have fresh coffee in camp.

Any suggestions on getting the smell out of Gatorade bottles? Seems to take numerous washings/use to get rid of the sweet smell, so consequently, I don't leave my Gatorade bottles out on a bp trip, since they are recycled to be used as my water bottles long after they had product in them. Bleach or baking soda?

Solutions I have read/heard of/used, with varying results:

leave dry baking soda in for hours/days
crumpled newspaper sealed into it for days - supposedly soaks up the smell??
vinegar wash
bleach
leave it in the sun for a while after washing with regular dish soap
coffee grounds, unused

I would probably start with the baking soda - soaking baking soda water in it worked on the polycarb bear vault - and hit it with bleach if the paper didn't work. Vinegar is a good cleaner but I'm not sure about its smell removing properties. As for coffee grounds, seems to me they would leave a smell of their own, but maybe they work? Haven't tried it, just seen it as a suggestion with plastics.

Thank you. The bottles are too large to stuff into a canister. I have been fortunate to not ever had a bear check my camp out.

Coffee in my supermarket already comes in 'single serve' packets, maxwell brand or some such, don't drink the stuff but I keep it on hand for coffee driniking visitors <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

That cures 2 of yer' problems with one dealie...no need to repack, and no odor issues once opened, since the wee packs can then be stored in a 'aloksack' <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

good god, man, no wonder you don't drink coffee! Maxwell House? GAAAAAAAH! That doesn't cure anything. That's not real coffee! It's stale processed grounds that have minimal flavor. I suspect you have very polite guests.

Nope, just the occassional dropin type <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> Geeze, ya' think if I switched brands more folks would stop in <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />...Have'nt finished the box I bought in 2004 <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

The vacuum seal bags are useful for carrying ground coffee in my pack. They don't allow the odor to permeate. I usually vacuum seal the coffee at the start of a trip, then use a rubber band to hold the bag closed while hiking. Way cheaper than OP Sacks.

Note to self - bring not stale coffee when visiting earthlings...

I actually just drink instant on the trail, but I can successfully turn on and off my coffee snob switch only by sleeping under a tarp. Once I'm in civilization, I have to have fresh roasted beans in a french press..

Since you are a coffee conisour, what brand of instant coffee do you think is the best?

Thanks to all those that have responded! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> The vacuum pack is a great idea, have it sitting in the cupboard just don't use it very often. I had thought about the odor proof bags mentioned, but the cost is just a tad much. I might try some out just to see though.

I've brought instant coffee at times, when I'm on longer trips. But for shorter trips when I have room and inclination to make a nice cup I always shy away from instant. I've used the pre-packaged ones that you've mentioned Earthling, but I'd almost just as well drink instant <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

hikerduane, I use gatorade bottles as well and have thought about that being a problem. Have always just left it out and never had a problem, even while watching bears roam through my camp. But I'd hate to see a bear claw rip through my tent, simply going after my water bottle, ha! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

I keep the bottles within reach of my hand just in case I need a swig, but it might be handy too, to be able to chuck it if a bear comes around.:) Just another story to pass on. I have had critters chew on the upper part of the pocket on my hiking shorts, chew a hole in a brand new daypack on a week long trip in the Marble Mt. Wilderness on the same trip. Then there were the deer at Big Elk Lake that kept the teens up the night before I got there. I just slept between two large logs and chucked bark at them during the night and the dog was wondering what was going on.:)

A few years ago here, they were discussing odors in terms of quality. Like an empty candy bar wrapper versus an opened candy bar with contents still intact. Then you hear about bears smelling odors in a car and tearing into it because they smell something. Ok, off topic more.

I had the same problem, but I'm not sure how I have solved the problem.

Taster's choice freeze dried 100% arabica - that's what I take backpacking..

Note to self, Buy new box of high snob coffee before Phat visits <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> And all along I thought I was doing the 'drop in coffe fiends' a favor by buying the box with individual coffee packets <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> No wonder some have never returned <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> Guess it was'nt my BO <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

For years I carried those little packets of individual coffee (no not the same ones <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />) in my pack for those needing a coffee fix on a long trail. Hardly ever ran into anyone who'd needed one....or was it they'd rather not partake of the vile waters as was the case <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Now Phat I could take you to a place in Hawaii to get your fresh cup a joe...but that would be a major long trail from the East coast <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />