The Wonder Bucket!
A
full page on a bucket? Am I crazy? What possible reason
would possess you to carry the extra weight of a bucket when every ounce
counts? Well stick with me for awhile and I’ll give you some of
the reasons I always carry a bucket while backpacking. Allow me
introduce you to the Bucket. It comes from different companies,
comes in different colors and usually weighs about eight
ounces. It’s made of reinforced vinyl, has a handle, and
folds down to about an inch thick. They hold approximately two and
a half gallons of water. Some of the models are able to stand up
without additional support. The handle allows you to carry water
around and hook the bucket on a branch or around a picnic-table
seat. I’ve seen them for sale at REI stores and
in the L.L. Bean catalog, as well as different sporting goods
stores. They cost anywhere from six to twelve dollars and vary in
thickness. Below are some uses for the bucket.
 | Filtering water. I use the bucket to dip water from the source, avoiding the bottom to prevent disturbing the silt, and take it back to camp or a comfortable rock for filtering. There are several reasons to filter from the bucket. First I avoid kicking up silt, allowing me to filter clear water and extending the life of the water filter. Also, if the water is already full of sediment, I can allow it to settle and filter from the cleaner surface. I can also get into a comfortable position for filtering; something not always possible at the creek or pool’s edge. |
| Bathing. The bucket has come in very handy for me, since I spend so much time outside. I like to clean up, and it helps keep my sleeping bag fresher for much longer before cleaning. In a campground with other people around, I can even take wash water into my tent and bathe in private. Be careful not to tip it over! Be on the safe side and move your sleeping bag and gear away to prevent getting them wet! |
| Luxuries. After bathing, I often soak my feet in the water. This feels marvelous after a hard day’s hike! |
| Laundry. On my extended trips, I don’t take clean clothes for the whole time; rather, I wear one set and bring an extra set. This way I can wear one and wash one. This in itself is worth the weight of carrying the bucket. Clothes add up. I also like to wear a clean pair of socks each day. I find I don’t get blisters if I take good care of my feet, wear proper boots, and put on a fresh pair of socks each day. Washing them allows me to wear clean socks every day. |
| Dishes. I can wash my dishes by pouring water from the bucket into the dishes, scrub them, and then rinse them with more water. I do not wash dishes directly in the bucket. I’d rather not get food particles in the same container I filter my water from. |
| Emergencies. This was the clincher for me. During one trip in the desert, I had started out with a gallon and a half of water and headed to one of my regular water stops. When I got there the area was bone dry, and it was several miles to the next water! There was on old windmill in the area with a concrete tank underneath it. I looked into the tank and saw water about six feet down. The problem was the tank was much too narrow for me to fit even my shoulders in, which made it impossible to reach the water below. I pulled out my bucket, tied some line to the handle, and lowered the bucket into the water. When I raised the bucket, I had plenty of water. I haven't gone anywhere without it since! |
