Love, love, love your videos Tara! I really value your perspective as a woman and also I just so, so appreciate your authentic, humble, down to earth and straightforward approach. I find your videos very easy to understand and approachable. I’ve been going on multi day, backpacking trips for over a decade now with my three daughters. We’ve been learning and building our skills together over the years and have not really worried too much about weight in the past, as it was enough of a challenge just to outfit my girls and I with comfortable and affordable gear that we could fit in our packs (mostly my pack for the first several years). Lightweight was not a big priority. I’m a small woman but I fancied myself a bit of a packhorse and quite capable. Now my girls are carrying full-sized packs and our aspirations are much grander. Once we did our first 10-day route finding trip in the Yukon wilderness, I finally decided that I need to learn to reduce my weight. Significantly. Like..by 1/2. Even though I felt like we needed every item we brought on that trip. *sigh* But now we want to do the GDT so we’ve got to make changes! Your video is really helping me to look at all of this in a whole new way. And your approach encourages me and helps me to feel less intimidated and more inspired. Thank you so very, very much!!!
I bought the X-Mid 1-P tent this year and I can't wait to take it backpacking! I researched so many tents and the X-Mid the perfect balance of spacious, lightweight, durable and lower price. Also I love seeing women backpackers making vids like this, I definitely feel like there is a gap in knowledge between women backpackers that I love to see women like you closing!
Bought the Xmid 1P through amazon. Have done 2 short thru hikes in the Dominican Cordillera Central. Arguably the best 1P backpacking tent out there. Only a mind such as Mr. Durston could come up with a parallelogram as a basic tent build. Great work!
You weren't into having the best gear.... until your husband made the best trekking pole tent on the market. Plus being able to beta test new designs has got to be so awesome!
Super great video Tara, thank you! I just purchased your xmid 2p tent and so excited to take on my AT thru hike 2022. Love your back pack too such valuable information I will be watching again!!!
That was awesome - thanks for walking us through everything! So great to get a sense of your line of thinking, and all the great perspectives on GDT specifically, eg mosquitos, night hiking being rare, etc. Also: now I know what to get you guys for Christmas! ;-)
@@tarafrey-durston2606 I’m totally with you! I spend pretty lavishly where I need to, but rarely where I don’t. Our only car is the same age as your jacket!
Hi Tara. I loved watching this video and your series a while ago. I never used to be as diligent about gear and weight but I'm determined to have some great adventures again one day, despite challenges. We've so many amazing places to visit where I live on Haida Gwaii, but it is windy and wet most of the time! Day hikes are fun too though. The Rockies have been a goal for over 20 years. Still closer than Peru or Patagonia, more goals. I can't wait to see where your next destination will be.
Thanks Christina! And I totally get the wet weather thing. We lived on Vancouver Island for a few years, and the perpetual rain certainly changes things. I am sure you will make it out to the Rockies sometime! And Patagonia/Peru is most definitely on my list as well.
Was so excited to see a solo female on the GDT> Maybe someday I will have the guts to do it on my own too. I am just like you, everything I do is as a team with my hubby and when we get used to relying on each other its hard to go solo. Just bought the pro tent. Looking forward to using it when it comes. Hopefully my dog doesn't destroy it!
Loved the video! We have been working on our big three base weight and we are getting close. Last update we need is our sleeping bags! Cant wait to watch your CDT hike! New sub here! Thanks for the vid!
For a puffy, look at outdoor vitals new nova puffy coats. There down/ synthetic fill. They have the warmth of down with out the flaw of loosing warmth when wet.
Loving your videos on the GDT! Any plans on a video on resupplying on the trail? Hopefully planning a future trip and just wondering how many days food you had to carry in one go. Thanks
I don't think I'll do a video on that, as it's a pretty small audience who is hiking the GDT at this point. But there are so many resources on the GDT on the GDTA's website - resupply logistics, itineraries based on your pace etc.
Thanks for sharing your gear list! I can't bring myself to use Aquatabs...they are so much cheaper than the Chlorine Dioxide tablets that they are tempting, but apparently they're not effective against cryptosporidium. Maybe not a big deal if you spend most of your time in the mountains, but on the East Coast things are much flatter and creatures be pooping everywhere!
Yikes - good to know! I have often wondered what I'm missing in terms of potential pathogens. There are areas on the GDT that go through some pasture/free roam areas, so there is certainly a lot of cattle poop!
@@tarafrey-durston2606 Might be worth checking out the chlorine dioxide options for your lowlands excursions! I usually use Pristine liquid, but it's a little more fiddly as you have to mix two reagents, wait 5 mins, then add to your water. You can also get chlorine dioxide in tablet form though from katadyn and potable aqua - they act just like aquatabs, just more expensive.
I don't really think about haircare on the trail, and honestly do very little. I wash my hair with Camp Suds or Dr. Bronner's (but Camp Suds is definitely less tangly), and don't use conditioner or any other hair products as I'm using on biodegradable soap. I just bring a tiny comb on the trail and take out the tangles after I swim/wash my hair. Then I usually hike with it in two braids to manage the tangles and keep it off my neck.
Thanks for this, It's always so interesting to see what people take. Curious, with your 10 lb or so base weight, how much would a weeks worth of food weigh?
Odour-proof sacks will absolutely NOT mask food odour from a nearby bear. I've seen tests run with dogs, and they had no problem at all finding the food from quite a few metres away. Bears have a sense of smell that's an order of magnitude better than a dog.
Love, love, love your videos Tara! I really value your perspective as a woman and also I just so, so appreciate your authentic, humble, down to earth and straightforward approach. I find your videos very easy to understand and approachable.
I’ve been going on multi day, backpacking trips for over a decade now with my three daughters. We’ve been learning and building our skills together over the years and have not really worried too much about weight in the past, as it was enough of a challenge just to outfit my girls and I with comfortable and affordable gear that we could fit in our packs (mostly my pack for the first several years). Lightweight was not a big priority. I’m a small woman but I fancied myself a bit of a packhorse and quite capable.
Now my girls are carrying full-sized packs and our aspirations are much grander. Once we did our first 10-day route finding trip in the Yukon wilderness, I finally decided that I need to learn to reduce my weight. Significantly. Like..by 1/2. Even though I felt like we needed every item we brought on that trip. *sigh* But now we want to do the GDT so we’ve got to make changes! Your video is really helping me to look at all of this in a whole new way. And your approach encourages me and helps me to feel less intimidated and more inspired.
Thank you so very, very much!!!
I bought the X-Mid 1-P tent this year and I can't wait to take it backpacking! I researched so many tents and the X-Mid the perfect balance of spacious, lightweight, durable and lower price.
Also I love seeing women backpackers making vids like this, I definitely feel like there is a gap in knowledge between women backpackers that I love to see women like you closing!
It’s AMAZING!
I have had so many women request that I do this video...I put it off for a while! Haha. But for sure, we need more of them.
Oh I am so glad you did this video. I have the same backpack and love to see your pack contents. Great video - please post more. 👍 👍😎
Bought the Xmid 1P through amazon. Have done 2 short thru hikes in the Dominican Cordillera Central. Arguably the best 1P backpacking tent out there. Only a mind such as Mr. Durston could come up with a parallelogram as a basic tent build. Great work!
Thanks! Glad the tent is working well!
You weren't into having the best gear.... until your husband made the best trekking pole tent on the market. Plus being able to beta test new designs has got to be so awesome!
Super great video Tara, thank you! I just purchased your xmid 2p tent and so excited to take on my AT thru hike 2022. Love your back pack too such valuable information I will be watching again!!!
That's awesome Nancy! Enjoy the AT.
That was awesome - thanks for walking us through everything! So great to get a sense of your line of thinking, and all the great perspectives on GDT specifically, eg mosquitos, night hiking being rare, etc. Also: now I know what to get you guys for Christmas! ;-)
Thanks Jon! Dan's list of ideas for me includes a down jacket that is not 14 years old - but if it still works, why spend the dough?! Haha
@@tarafrey-durston2606 I’m totally with you! I spend pretty lavishly where I need to, but rarely where I don’t. Our only car is the same age as your jacket!
Thanks for doing this video. I really loved your thruhike videos too.
Thanks!
Hi Tara. I loved watching this video and your series a while ago. I never used to be as diligent about gear and weight but I'm determined to have some great adventures again one day, despite challenges. We've so many amazing places to visit where I live on Haida Gwaii, but it is windy and wet most of the time! Day hikes are fun too though. The Rockies have been a goal for over 20 years. Still closer than Peru or Patagonia, more goals. I can't wait to see where your next destination will be.
Thanks Christina! And I totally get the wet weather thing. We lived on Vancouver Island for a few years, and the perpetual rain certainly changes things. I am sure you will make it out to the Rockies sometime! And Patagonia/Peru is most definitely on my list as well.
Great job Tara! Thanks for sharing. 😊
Thank you!
Thanks T, super informative walk through of your gear and the rationale for each items inclusion.
Jules! Ahh that means so much!
Was so excited to see a solo female on the GDT> Maybe someday I will have the guts to do it on my own too. I am just like you, everything I do is as a team with my hubby and when we get used to relying on each other its hard to go solo. Just bought the pro tent. Looking forward to using it when it comes. Hopefully my dog doesn't destroy it!
Loved the video! We have been working on our big three base weight and we are getting close. Last update we need is our sleeping bags! Cant wait to watch your CDT hike! New sub here! Thanks for the vid!
Oh man...the CDT would be awesome. Hopefully the borders will open up again soon and Dan and I can tackle that beast ;)
Tell Dan I said thanks for the new X mid pro2. I am so looking forward to using it.
For a puffy, look at outdoor vitals new nova puffy coats. There down/ synthetic fill. They have the warmth of down with out the flaw of loosing warmth when wet.
Thank you! This was very helpful.
Loving your videos on the GDT! Any plans on a video on resupplying on the trail? Hopefully planning a future trip and just wondering how many days food you had to carry in one go. Thanks
I don't think I'll do a video on that, as it's a pretty small audience who is hiking the GDT at this point. But there are so many resources on the GDT on the GDTA's website - resupply logistics, itineraries based on your pace etc.
@@tarafrey-durston2606 Cool thanks. I will have a look at the resupply resources on the website😃
awesome! thanks for sharing
Thanks for sharing your gear list! I can't bring myself to use Aquatabs...they are so much cheaper than the Chlorine Dioxide tablets that they are tempting, but apparently they're not effective against cryptosporidium. Maybe not a big deal if you spend most of your time in the mountains, but on the East Coast things are much flatter and creatures be pooping everywhere!
Yikes - good to know! I have often wondered what I'm missing in terms of potential pathogens. There are areas on the GDT that go through some pasture/free roam areas, so there is certainly a lot of cattle poop!
@@tarafrey-durston2606 Might be worth checking out the chlorine dioxide options for your lowlands excursions! I usually use Pristine liquid, but it's a little more fiddly as you have to mix two reagents, wait 5 mins, then add to your water. You can also get chlorine dioxide in tablet form though from katadyn and potable aqua - they act just like aquatabs, just more expensive.
Wish I knew about the pack before I bought my HMG one 😕
Thanks for the video! How long did you use the Uberlite before it failed on you? Would you recommend it? Thinking about it for the PCT this year...
Did you film any of the ski touring? I would love to see that sort of content! =) Thanks for the great video!
Nothing UA-cam worthy. I post stories of skiing and ski touring on my instagram page - @tara_durston
Thanks for sharing! As a fellow long-haired human, did you do anything special in the way of hair care? Thanks!
I don't really think about haircare on the trail, and honestly do very little. I wash my hair with Camp Suds or Dr. Bronner's (but Camp Suds is definitely less tangly), and don't use conditioner or any other hair products as I'm using on biodegradable soap. I just bring a tiny comb on the trail and take out the tangles after I swim/wash my hair. Then I usually hike with it in two braids to manage the tangles and keep it off my neck.
I see you own the X-Mid by Dan The Man Durston. I’ve been turning my group on to the set up. It’s rocks.
She actually OWNS the man Dan Durston. So it makes sense she has dibs on all his stuff!
@@eduardosturla lol
I love that skirt- I noticed it as soon as I saw it- well worth the 7oz!
Thanks for this, It's always so interesting to see what people take. Curious, with your 10 lb or so base weight, how much would a weeks worth of food weigh?
My food generally weights 1.5 pounds / day.
How are the new poles?!?!?
Tara, did you get the regular or wide Enigma quilt?
She has the regular.
@@durstongear TX!!!
Odour-proof sacks will absolutely NOT mask food odour from a nearby bear. I've seen tests run with dogs, and they had no problem at all finding the food from quite a few metres away. Bears have a sense of smell that's an order of magnitude better than a dog.
Did I miss it? There is no sleeping bag liner , right?
No, I don't use a liner. I didn't realize that was a thing actually!
@@tarafrey-durston2606 thank you for your reply! Do you use ground sheet for the tent or not?
Methyl hydrate basically paint thinner