How to Make a DIY Backpacking Cozy
WHAT’S A BACKPACKING COZY FOR?
On long backpacking trips, re-packaging your food into freezer bags is key to saving space and weight. However, once you re-package your food, there’s no place to “cook” your food after adding hot water. This becomes extra problematic at the end of a long day of backpacking when you’re ravenous and can only wait 5 of the 20 minutes it takes to cook the food. You’re stuck eating hard food.
These DIY cozy’s will help rehydrate your meals better and keep them warm after they’re cooked. They are cheap, easy to make, fit a freezer bag perfectly, and can be reused for every meal.
Let’s dig in.
WHAT MATERIALS DO I NEED?
Car windshield sunshade (enough for many cozy’s)
Scissors
Ruler
Sharpie
Yes, that’s it!
HOW DO I MAKE IT?
1. Measure and cut your sunshade
Use a freezer bag as your template and lay it on your sunshade. Using a sharpie, mark off the width of the bag plus about 1 inch more.
Quart-sized freezer bag: 7 inches + 1 inch = 8 inches
Mark off the height of the bag plus about 5 inches more (2 inches more on the top and 2 inches more on the bottom. Make sure to double the height to account for the front and back!
Quart-sized freezer bag: 8.5 inches + 8.5 inches + 2 inches + 2 inches = 21 inches
Double check the measurements are correct then cut out the rectangle.
2. Fold an accordion bottom
This is definitely the most confusing step but the accordion base will allow your cozy to stand up on its own.
In order to allow for the 2 inch flap at the top, measure 11.5 inches down from the top and fold into an accordion. The other points of the accordion should be 1 inch in either direction. In the end, the back of your cozy will be 10.5 inches and the front will be 8.5 inches. The accordion is folded in and measures 2 inches total.
3. Tape your cozy
Aluminum Foil Tape is durable and retains heat really well. If you’re looking for an alternative, Duct Tape or Gorilla Tape could also be used. While holding the accordion bottom closed, use two 1 inch pieces of Aluminum Foil Tape to hold each side of the accordion together.
Next, cut two 8.5 inch pieces of tape and close both sides of the cozy.
4. Add Velcro to Lid
First, stick the two sides of Velcro together. Then, cut two 1.75 inch pieces. Place one side of the Velcro inside the top flap and the other side on the pouch.
Your cozy is done and ready to use! Now, your repackaged food will cook faster and you’ll get to eat it sooner!