a lot of stuff goes great in a ziploc baggie, but what about olive oil and other liquids. where can I buy small bottles for stuff like this? please help, not fun opening stuff sack to find coated with oil after leaking.

I will b back to see the answer to this one. I have often wondered this myself. Oil seems to have a way of escaping any container. I have used an eye dropper bottle, but I might be eating chemical residue with my oil, and you only get one ounce.

There is one bottle that I have extremely good luck using for oil and other liquids.

Those little nip bottles of whiskey, vodka, whatever. I often see tham along the side of the road as I take walks. Clean thoroughly and dry. I've stood on the round bottlew without having one spring a leak.

CamperMom

I bought a few polyethylene (cloudy plastic) containers at REI. Two 3 oz containers with a nozzle for alcohol fuel, and an 8 oz hip flask for olive oil (4 oz would be a lot more convenient for me). At about a buck each it's not too extravagant.

Neither have leaked on me, but the 4 oz squeezable containers seemed very leak-prone in the store, so I avoided them. There's plenty with screw-tops, like the 8 oz I use, or with secure nozzles like the 3 oz I use. You can write on them with Sharpie well; I entertained myself drawing horrible skull and crossbones on my alcohol bottles.

My husband wrote this on teflon tape:
http://www.traildivas.com/diy/make-your-bottles-leak-resistant.html

And yes, I do that. I use just simple bottles for my olive oil. I do carry it in a snack bag just in case something did happen.

or, for easy....just get the packets of oil from Minimus.biz

Thank you Sarbar!

Has anyone tried heat sealing it in it's own little baggy? Maybe I will try it and see if it works. You can use a vaccum sealer, but without the vacuum part.

I use the 'Boston' brand of contact lens solution, that comes in various size containers, for all my liquids as they are made to not leak when carried. I use the larger ones 8oz for alcohol when i use that; the smaller 4, 2, and 1 oz containers for variuos other liquids like soap, oil, etc. The labels peel off completely including their gum residue, and can be written on with a sharpie. I write on the bottoms also, since some liquids will erase a sharpie on this material <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

You just reminded me that I use a similar bottle for concentrated soap. I had an old bottle of eye drops (non-medicated eye drops from the drug store) that I emptied out the last of, washed out, and use to dole out drops of soap. Works great!

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

I'm into molecular gastronomy and am currently doing some tests with a starch product that turns olive oil into a powder. I've had pretty great results with peanut butter, nutella and now the oil but I need to test it in the field. The best thing is that if this works I can put my olive oil in a ziplock and not have to worry about the weight of leak-proof containers. I'll post my results as soon as I do the field test.

Wow - that sounds really interesting. I'm guessing your "tricks" are probably related to items referred to in the article in today's NYT regarding gums and starches used by top chefs for special effects.

really? I posted the idea on my blog last month - I'd love to see the article you mentioned - is it online?

This is a product called Nzorbit that I am working with.

Yes; I think you have to sign up with them, but it's free.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/06/science/06food.html?th&emc=th

thanks I'll check it out!

Now why the heck didn't I see that before. Darn good idea!

Guess I'll have to lurk traildivas as well as freezerbagcooking... Never hung out there because I'm just not a high maintenance princess (although my wife would disagree)..

Hehheh....tell your wife she needs to let you make the DIY tampon firestarters also <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Check out . http://www.minimus.biz/detail.aspx?ID=7815
This site is great for backpackers and travelers of any type.
1goodpacker

I use a tiny nalgene brand bottle from REI, holds an oz. or so 2, screw on tightly, but not too tight as you will blow out the top of the cap after awhile, then store in a baggie for backup. Years ago I had some oil leak out and although it didn't ruin my old pack, it left the passenger side front seat of my old Pinto with a gooey mess permanently.

Saline nose spray bottles work well too. Remove the inner straw and you can squirt the oil. No spills, no drips, no leaks. I use 'em for bike chain oilers and as an easy way to fuel alky stoves.

Since I don't like to store fats/oils in plastic, I have just used the small glass bottles from vanilla extract, etc, for short trips (the only kind I can manage at present). I put them in with the bagged ingredients for a meal for a bit more leak protection. No mishaps yet...

The only part of your article I don't agree with is how long the role of teflon tape lasts. I probably average a role a year. Some years are worse than others, and I use a bunch. And, I am not even a contractor. I just use it to fix all kinds of stuff around the house. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

I go to my local pharmacist and ask for the liquid medicine bottles. They never leak, are food grade plastic, and reusable.

Lol! Your mileage may vary <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> My husband would understand though!

My brother in law was once fixing something on his car. He went in to his dad and asked where the teflon tape was. His brand new wife freaked out and said she didn't want anything on her car to be fixed with tape. It took him a while to explain that the tape isn't holding anything, just making a better seal. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

Dang! Duane I thought all Pinto seats came oily <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> miss that little old puke green wagon, it took me so many places as a teenager <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

How could I miss that use Paul <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> of course bike chain oiler <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

I find the 'weight' of old contct lens solution bottles pretty negligible myself in the wee 2-8oz size plastic.

Try the little Tabasco bottles that come with the MRE's also good for Chlorox.

Those glass bottles are a pita to refill, and weigh more than the contents you fill them with......buzzer.....Try again <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Use a eye dropper,also the thicker glass adds protection and you can further protect the glass by use of shrink tubing.

[old thread, but I had meant to chime in earlier...]

I think one mark of a backpacker is that he or she will wander around grocery and drug stores looking for small and odd-shaped containers to be converted for some essential backpacking function.

Still, if you find yourself buying an assortment of contact lens cleaning solutions and you don't wear contacts, you might think about trying these PET oval bottles from U.S. Plastics. The flattish oval shape is good for packing, they're easy to clean, lightweight, and the caps seal liquids without fail.

I purchased an assortment ranging from 2-ounce capacity to 16 in two-ounce increments, including a supply of normal and flip-top caps, and I use them all the time. Of course, my eye occasionally wanders in the drugstore aisles... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Campmor has an entire assortment of all kinds of 1- 8 oz. bottles some with dispenser tops and some with threaded tops. You should be able to find some thing that you can use at campmor... Hope this helps...Happy trekking...sabre11104...



The first step that you take will be on of those that get you there.... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

What we use for alcohol for the alkky stoves are the 12 oz flat lighter fluid re-fill bottles. I just dump out the original fuel, snap the top off, pour the alcohol in and snap the top back on. They have never leaked. I have a new one and an old one (the label is worn off) and neither of them have leaked. They are also fairly flat so they pack pretty well too!!! Hope this helps...Happy Trekking...sabre11004



The first step that you take will be one of those that get you there...

When I decided I would upgrade my gear last year, I sent a blanket email to all of my friends and family requesting that they save their empty plastic bottles and containers for me, in all sizes up to 32 ounces. The response has been over whelming, and I still receive them. I've kept only the lightest, and strongest, with the tightest seals, and the most unique shapes, and threw out the others. I now have dozens of quality, light weight, unique, plastic bottles and containers in all shapes and sizes from 1/2 ounce to 32 ounce and all for free.

Soak the bottles in dishwasher powder and hot water to remove the labels. WD-40 will remove the label glue from most anything. Lacquer thinner works faster to remove label glue and even painted on labels, but will damage some types of plastic if left on too long. After washing the bottles out, be sure to leave the lids off until the bottles are completely dry inside, to avoid mildew build up. Brum

I found that those kid-sized Gatorade bottles are great for carrying oils, syrups, liquids, etc. They are lightweight and extremely durable. Plus the Gatorade tastes pretty good!

I use recycled bottles as others have mentioned. But only for longer trips where I will be using 4 ounces (or more) of olive oil on the trip. If I only need an ounce or two, I bring these:

http://www.minimus.biz/detail.aspx?ID=7815

Sometimes you can get them from Italian restaurants that do take-out. I also get packets of grated parmesan/romano cheese from them. I have a tupperware container in my pantry which I store all kinds of take-out packets from take-out restaurants and hotels.