I've been avidly hiking since the late '80s, and while experience is indeed a great teacher, one also needs to keep up with new developments in gear. When I started, the Coleman Duel Fuel liquid fuel stove was state of the art. I had one, and it still works great, but when the Pocket Rocket came out, I relegated the Coleman to car camping and cooking on my patio when our kitchen was getting redone. I've only gotten unsolicited advice once while backpacking, by a guy who said I had "no business in the backcountry" without his $200 Benchmade knife, scoffing at my Swiss Army knife. He ended up borrowing mine for the little pliers to get his stove working.
Travel light, Freeze at night. I've been on roads, trails, rivers, snow for more years than most viewers have been alive. This whole craziness with lightness. On You tube no one seems to talk about why they are in the outdoors other than how many miles they cover or how light their pack. No one talks about the physiology of everything that goes into living the nomadic life. When you go out and about do you become one with trail or do you drag your city ways and values along for the ride?. This single-minded obsession with weight and the latest, new ideas and new stuff goes counter to being connected to something greater than your self and living inside the Hoop of Life There is more concern with so much for new stuff. With little concern with sustainability. They are obsessed with the weight of the flame tower attached to their pressurized canister stove. At the same time using a disposable canister or the newest plastic clothing. Yes clothing made from oil is plastic and is a forever fiber that will never decompose. The newbie's get sucked into the newish trendy equipment with no knowledge that a piece of equipment from 10,000 years ago may be better. Or a brass stove from 1900 is the same weight with twice the BTU of a canister stove. Going out and about now seems like a race to the finish line and not the journey. My question is: will you still be out and about when you are in your 80's? Is living close to the natural world and working to save open spaces a concern or is everything a race, a contest ,and being a winner?
It gets easier when you realize most of these people don’t do much camping.. they just enjoy the consumer part for whatever reason. I’m older myself.. 40. And I grew up in a little town called Dilwyn in Virginia in the Appalachians without electricity or running water. The few times a year we went into a big town like Lynchburg it was getting heavy flannels and stopping by EMS to get new Gaitors and supplies. That EMS store is where I kinda fell in love with gear but not for style.. it didn’t take anyone saying it.. my child brains connected the dots, the money we spent there saved our lives back in the woods. I ended up moving into a big city in California.. and split my time between contracting and fiber optics, but my soul still in those backwoods. I still buy outdoor gear, I dont focus on UL. I focus on is this gonna do what I need? And most of the time no.. cause what I need is a one-and-done. I wanna buy one big puffer jacket, one main fleece, etc. I’ve found that in a few brands. Mountain hardware for me is a godsend. They make exactly what I’d want. I still get the 1990s era Gore Windstopper fleece on eBay for like $40 every now and then. UL is also Ultra Delicate.. which means more landfill. Plus, I’m proud that I hiked the AT when I was 13 with a pack that weighed half as much as I did. I had to work my ass off to climb some of those mountains. I cried. I tossed my cast iron pan for cooking then had to go down and get it. I earned those waypoints.
I have gone through a transition over the years of lightening my pack weight from a 40 pound pack for a 7 day hike with food to 25 pounds for the same hike and the trip was much more enjoyable the second time with the lighter pack. But I completely agree that it’s more about finding the balance between weight and comfort. I consider myself to be a lightweight but comfortable hiker these days.
Exactly! Generally lighter is better but everyone has a different threshold for when their comfort is compromised. I'd also consider myself to be in the lightweight category while maintaining comfort and most likely will never go full UL for that reason. Thanks for sharing!
It’s a conundrum, I needed some new things for the PCT so I researched ultra light gear and the biggest thing I came away with was maximizing my comfort for my dollar. It’s a long hike and when I’m done for the day I want to be comfortable.
such a good point about body recuperating while you're asleep. Couldn't agree more. Comfort is totally up there for me if I want to sleep and I carry far more gear as a result - proper pillow, thicker (comfier) pad etc. Great video, really appreciate hearing the other side of this constant chatter. Good luck with your adventures and all the best with your channel, I know how much work you're putting in, subscribed 🇺🇸🇦🇺✌🏻
My philosophy with gear is this. I do not replace a piece of gear unless it is broken or something that is superior in every way comes out. Simply being lighter is not enough. Also the backpack you are using can have a major effect on how much weight you can carry comfortably. Many ultra light packs do not distribute weight well. A heavier pack with proper strap and belt design will feel lighter with more weight than a lighter loaded ultralight pack.
I love unsolicited advice. As a construction worker, I've heard so much over the years from old dudes randomly sharing information. I'll always listen & think it over before dismissing or trying it. Sometimes it can turn into a fun theoretical discussion. It's very rare that a stranger will tell me something in a way so negative that I instantly dismis them but it does happen.
I'm with you on this. You don't know what you don't know. When I first started hiking I wish people would have given me unsolicited advice. I would have fixed all the stupid things I was doing much faster.
Fully agree. I think a lot of it is UA-cam and social media actually. Influencers are getting money from the industry so it makes sense they market that stuff. Sure it's nice to have lighter stuff if it's free. We just totally buy into it and think we NEED it to enjoy ourselves. I had a period where I was spending more time comparing stuff that wa only a few oz difference than actually getting out there. I'm with you, I'll only buy ultralight stuff anymore if there's an actual need and try to follow people who talk more about their travels than reviewing gear they got for free.
Great video! I have chosen some ultralight gear over some others so that I can have some of my favorite heavier gear. For me it’s more about space and packing, I’m quite small, so my pack is obviously going to be smaller to fit me, size makes a difference for me, not necessarily weight. It is sad to hear how some are feeling superior or more knowledgeable because they have a lower base weight. There will always be “those” people. Following your journey.
Thanks so much!! That's an aspect of packing I have truly never had to consider, but it makes a lot of sense! And I agree, I'll intentionally lighten up in one area to afford my extra weight in another area. It's all a balance. Appreciate you following along 👍
I’m right there with you. I’m getting ready to hike AT on Feb 24 and have been heavy weight lifting training so I can carry my pack that is close to 50lbs. I have 3 different packs and I have packed all three to get the best fit to carry the load and you are right you have to have the mind set and be in good shape. I’m 57 and I’m in pretty good shape for my age and I’m only doing sections at a time for the AT. Take your time it’s not a rush. I plan on taking plenty zero days. Stretch, take good food with you, take that mini noxgear39g small speaker, and baby steps if your pack is a little on heavy side. Your body will tell you” hey bud not today, have a beer today”. And you are so right I am not paying 600.00 bucks for a tent that is paper Mishay and you have to use your own treck poles. Nope! Just in the gear allow we all spend because one year this is the best tent ever and next year there’s a better one hell you have spent a fortune on gear that you’ll sell on market place. So if you know your body well enough and keep your self in good shape, yeah take the heavy load enjoy that nice tarp over your hammock staying dry in pouring down rain and think to yourself I happy. Now where’s that Tylenol. Trail name Lonsolo/cumbydamnit aka Lonnie Pryor MD
Wow that's great!! Best of luck with your AT adventure, sounds like it will be a great time. Listening to the body is always important, taking zeros as needed, etc., can offset whatever extra exertion you experience from taking those couple "luxury" items. Thanks for the input & hope you'll continue to follow along!!
The best pack is the one that allows you to walk the closet to vertical. Take a full-length side shot of you with the same loaded trip equipment with all of your packs. Draw a line through the dot on your ankle, hip joint, shoulder joint. The straightest line is the best pack to carry.
I largely agree. It comes down to choices - do you want to train or not? Do you want comforts or not? Do you want to take risks or not? Personally, I prefer to train, pamper myself, and minimize risks. So I go heavy - a chair, a good first aid kit, extra clothes (etc.), a magazine, etc. I enjoy myself but am ready for the worst and yet do great trips. Conditioning gives me options; expensive gear helps but only so much.
100% comfort and happiness hiking than gram counting. It works for some people but not me. Hike your own hike also applies to gear 😊 I’ve also had comments about my Osprey Atmos being too heavy, but I love it & it’s comfortable at carrying weight.
Couldn't agree more!! If someone is willing and able to carry the load, then good on them & mind your own business (or more politely like you said, "hike your own hike" 😂). The Atmos is a great pack too, a true staple in the backpacking world. Thanks for sharing your thoughts & hope you continue to follow along!
I have an Atmos 50 and a Granite Gear Crown2 60. Both are about equally comfortable, but I can carry 35lb comfortably with the Atmos but the Crown2 maxes out at about 32lb. You will NEVER notice a 3lb difference while carrying the pack. If you say you can, you’re lying. I could stick a 1l water bottle in anyone’s pack and they’d carry it all day without even knowing. If an extra 2-3lb DOES affect you that much, you either need to train harder or find new hobbies. Like stamp collecting or comic books. It’s why I say to replace the rest of your gear but keep your pack. Spend the money that would have gone toward a new pack on even LIGHTER gear to go in it. I do think that a large minority of UL backpackers/hikers are more interested in their lighterpack numbers and tend to assume everything will go as planned. They don’t plan for the worst and sometimes pay for it. I may have a 30lb pack for off-trail winter day hikes in the mountains, but if I die on a mountain it’s not going to be from hypothermia.
You nailed it! And it’s easy to spend $100 to save 2 oz on gear, but I need to focus more on losing the 25 lbs of body weight that I don’t need (ironically, equal to the weight of my loaded “ultralight” pack). 😊
Rooting for you!!! A lighter load can certainly be achieved by shedding excess body weight, and it can be done for a lot cheaper than the cost of new gear! Thank you for your support & hope you continue to follow along 👍
I have been working hard for the last decade to find the magical pack that weighs zero. On my thru hike of the AT I carried a 5.5 pound base weight. My kit never went over 15 pounds with food and water. It was definitely too light and borderline reckless. I had some very cold and wet days and nights. I was ill-equipped for the Whites with my clothing choice. Since then I have upgraded my entire kit. My base weight is still only around 7 pounds for warm weather and 9 for cold weather. I am warm and dry all day and night, I sleep great down to the low 20s. I still think pack weight is extremely important for the style hiking I do but the extra couple few pounds and the extra couple grand I spend were well worth it. I will never go out so recklessly again but I am still always trying to find a way to shed some weight. Light as possible while maintaining safety and comfort will lead to a much more enjoyable hike and greatly increase your chances of successfully completing a long distance hike.
"Light as possible while maintaining safety and comfort", that is a perfect way to sum up what I was trying to get after in this video. It's nice to hear that you had that realization and brought your base weight back up, I have a feeling some people just accept that discomfort and carry on (which again, to each their own) but there is a very fine line between being uncomfortable and being unsafe. And historically, a base weight under 10lbs for full comfort in cold weather is still exceptional. Really appreciate your input, very good points & hope you'll continue to follow along!
Spot on! There is always a trade off, a point at which something becomes useless or not useful enough by reduction of weight. That applies to all. Then the price unfortunately applies to some but not all. I would suggest buying the lightest and most expensive thing you can that has the functionality you need with as little compromise as possible.
Hello Phil, Thanks for the video, really makes sense. I am a new hiker and I have been watching so many videos. I heard a guy say that "remember, half of the day your are out walking and half of the day you are resting". Don't mess with your sleeping system, your big three. It's all about balance, extreme never made any good. With what I've been testing, ultralight doesnt necessary means confort. We are all different and we live in a weird narcissist society, so based on who is the best and who looks the best instead of seeking knowledge. I am not surprised you ve crossed some judgement on a trail. Your uncle must have gently smiled :) I hope you will have a great adventure on your PCT and I hope I can hike it too one day. Greetings from Basque Country in France, and Best wishes.
You're welcome! And thank you for sharing! I love watching videos on gear too and it's nice to lighten your pack when it makes sense, but I think trying things out for ourselves and deciding whether or not something meets our needs is the best way to figure out what to bring. And you're right, being at either extreme of the ultralight/comfort scale will cause discomfort at some point. Balance in all things. Cheers to you from the other side of the world, and hope you'll continue to follow along! 🍻
I don’t mind being slower by carrying a heavier load. I hike just to be out in nature. As long as the shoulder straps don’t dig in my collar bone, I’ll be happy.
I think that's a great mentality! If you're enjoying yourself, then you're doing the right thing. Appreciate the comment and hope you'll continue to follow along.
Agree. I learned to walk slowly on a trip to the Beartooths with NOLS in 99. Supplies for 10 days in the cold meant 65 pound packs for everyone. No one is in shape for that until they do it, and you never forget it.
I totally agree, I've gone for kit that might weigh a bit more than the Ultra Light stuff but I know the comfort levels are way above the lighter bit of kit. I'm even taking a 1kg camping chair on a 7 day hike.... Most of all though being a fatty I've lost 9kg in the last 5 weeks and my target is to lose 12kg which is my backpack total weight, so I totally agree with the kit point but the personal health etc is probably more important than anything else. Cheers from the UK
I almost always take a camp chair with me for shorter trips, the weight is totally worth it for anything less than a week! And that's awesome!! Props to you & rooting for you to shed the rest of those kgs. Healthiest and most cost effective way to reduce overall strain on the body. Hope you'll continue to follow along, cheers!
I will remind you of this video when you are chucking all your excess weight into the nearest hiker box on trail :) All joking aside, have been hiking the PCT for 9 years now and am much happier with my 5 lb. BW pack vs. my 45 lb. one in 2016. But it took me 9 years to afford that gear or DYI it myself as well as learning the skills to carry less. My boyfriend Steve still carries his old school external frame pack that he used on the Oregon PCT back in the 70s when he was a kid and carries everything but the kitchen sink. But we both use every single item we bring and I think that is key. If you need it and use it, bring it. You will be switching it up regardless as the trail changes in different sections. Just have fun!!!
it's some sort of ULSD ;) I have been myself suffering this disorder as well, ha, DCF is great...best, ohh no, now it's time for Ultra packs, I need to run to get one and on it went...but I had my awaking, when I realized, hikes are to be enjoyed not suffered tru and I drawn my personal limits of weight saving like no more tarps, I like tents, no more close cell mats, I'm 57, sleep must be comfortable, pillow is in, no matter what, cold soaking? no way I love my teas and hot meals, frameless packs, no more, my back sweats like crazy and I could go on and on; I found my personal sweet spot and now I'm a happy hiker. have fun!
You have to carry the weight. No gear is gonna carry itself, matter how light. Train to succeed or you’re training to fail. You have to do the work, pay the price.
Great input and opinion on the UL community and it effects on ones outlook on hiking, well said. Also agree 💯 percent that mindset and fitness out trumps you packing wt every time. Best of luck in your upcoming PCT hike, you got this enjoy and relish everything it has to offer.
I first saw the ultralight movement and decided I would get all ultralight/ lightweight gear, so that I can keep my weight down while still bringing comfort items, a drone or a camera and still be the same weight or lower than when I started. I don't ever want to be ultralight, but I enjoy learning about, and striving to get the lightest but still functional and comfortable gear. the lighter the better as long as it's not sacrificing quality or usability. Not so I can be as light as possible, but so I can bring my drone, my chair, an extra pillow, and some extra food/first aid stuff that others might leave.
I have hiked with an external frame pack weighing 42 pounds. It was comfortable. I hiked with an ultralight pack weighing 27 pounds and was comfortable too. In comparison, the ultralight is not designed to carry heavy weight comfortably. It forces a hiker to go lighter. I can pack the same gear, food and water into the external frame and it weighs 32 pounds. While heavier, the external frame is more comfortable on my body for long distances. In contrast, the ultralight allows be to be more nimble and faster. Although, hiking long distances it can be a slight discomfort at the shoulders. Emotions weigh the most and the human body has limits.
I liked this video. I tried to do the PCT last year. It was the snow that got me. I walked over 85 miles of snow before I gave up. I'll probably get back out there in 3 to 5 years. I like your example about the sleeping pad. You will be laying on that thing for 8 or 9 hours per night. It is worth a few extra ounces to be comfortable. Another example was my backpack. I carried a Hyperlight pack. It was comfortable and did the job. It would have been nice to have more compartments and access zippers, but that would have weighed more. In this case, I was disappointed for less than 5 minutes per day, and enjoyed a lighter pack for 10 hours per day. In that case the weight savings made sense. It is an item by item decision, and everything is a compromise. Good luck out there! I will be following your trip.
That's a good point! Which factor you decide to compromise for is definitely an item to item decision, I agree. I hope you do have the opportunity to get back out and try it again in the future!! But I appreciate you following along with my journey this year. Thanks for your input, always appreciated.
Agree with all your points. I am in the process of cycling through gear as my old gear has reached the end of its useful life and there are now new products, fabrics and technologies. We now also have more technology to carry (phones, satellite communicators, battery banks and smart watches which weigh a lot more than a map and compass. I have made a conscious effort NOT to go Ultralight; but rather to go LIGHTER. As I save weight on an item(s); I try and "save" some of the weight and "spend" some of the weight on luxury or comfort items. I have identified almost 5 pounds of weight savings. I can add a flextail pump with some of the weight reduction and have a shelter light and an easier time inflating my pad and still have over 4 pounds of weight savings. I likely would not have upgraded any of this to "chase the craze" but rather because the items now need to be replaced .
That's a good way to look at it, lightening some things to justify the weight of adding another item you want makes sense to me. I always bring my flextail on overnight /weekend trips, total game changer at a very low weight penalty. I often bring a chair too, right at one pound but if you're going to be spending considerable time at one spot, it's worth it for me. Appreciate the input, hope you'll continue to follow along!
Very good video. I too dislike unsolicited advice. I’m 60 now, have dialed in things to my liking, I backpack solo a lot (no advice pleas) and I have swapped out gear as I go along. I’ve also been “influenced” by you tube and purchased UL gear. Some good choices, some not. I have a free standing tent for a reason and won’t be getting a UL trekking pole single walled one. Subscribed.
Backpacking solo is my favorite way to do it, that's awesome!! Your setup works for you & you're the one using it, that's all you need in my book. Thanks for the input & really appreciate the sub!!
I’ve gone ultralight but find you sacrifice too much comfort in camp. So what I like to do is use an ultralight mindset. Looking for gear that is multi-purpose. And like you mentioned in your video, not sacrificing on your sleeping pad. I’ve used many ultralight and lightweight sleeping pads from therm-a-rest and Nemo, but find myself really liking the comfort of the REI Helix Sleeping pad. Which is by far the most comfortable.
That's a good way to look at it! I haven't tried the Helix but it does look like a warm, comfortable, reasonably priced pad. The extra couple ounces are nothing of it helps you sleep well at night. Thanks for the comment & hope you'll continue to follow along!
Over the years I’ve noticed that when any kind of group begins to form - based on some common interest - a culture begins to develop beyond the control of the group. Over time the extreme adherents begin to ostracize those who do not fall in line with group policy. No groups are immune to this pattern.
Yes, I have noticed people snobbing those who choose to not go UL. Ultralight is not comfortable. There isn’t enough padding. It is not durable. It can’t handle surprises or heavier loads. What if you decided to get a few bottles of wine where you are, just as an example. It is not environmentally sound. That stuff is going to wear out so fast that it’s like fast fashion - you’re just getting something to stuff into a landfill, not to mention the energy it took to ship your soon-to-be garbage to you. Get the stuff that is meant to last. UL means you have no choices and no freedom.
I came to scoff at the blasphemy, but youre making sense brother! Liked and sub'd. I discovered I like to shed weight in the pack to make more weight for a monsterous sleeping pad. Im trying to bring the queen size pad on my trips lmao
The main issue is this "modern" tendency to just see UL as sub 10lb baseweight - thats a modern (internet) tendency - the "true" or original UL approch is "bring the lightest that does the job" more simpel - but more complex - but weather or not you carry 10 or 12lb doesnt really matter
Most successful thru-hikers (done at least one of the big three) come to some variation of this philosophy IME. I can do 7 lb base weight stuff for a few days, even a week or two, but living out of a 26L bag isn't worth the extra 2.5 lbs on my back required to get good sleep, a comfortable pack, easier water filtration, etc.
Makes sense to me & glad to hear that! Our bodies are very adaptable too I think, they'll get used to carrying those couple extra pounds after a short while. Thanks for sharing, hope you'll continue to follow along 👍
Love your video, and making this point it is a 'a thing' being ultra light and feeling better than the traditional heavier hikers.. a kind of ego thing i smell in it to, even if its just a little bit.. And myself being quilty as well with thoughts like 'look at those amateurs with those big heavy bags'
I’m from Canada the ultralight Zen Bivy versus the light system works out to be $750 Canadian more money for 8 ounces …I’m all for lightweight but everything has its limits it still cost me $1300 Canadian for the lightweight set I’m knee-deep and my Durston Tent hasn’t even arrived ha ha ha…..I sure hope I like all this otherwise I’ll have a lightweight truck Camping set! The real reason for lightweight backpacking so you can bring more beer enjoy yourself buddy thanks for the video
Lighter is better so long as it is meeting the requirement it needs to fulfill. Each piece of gear will have a certain set of requirements for each person. There is a really big delta between cheap gear and expensive gear in almost every case, both in weight but also in packability. Your tent is probably one of the cheapest ways to shave pounds off of your gear for a reasonable cost if you're willing (and capable) of changing your mindset; for example, if possible, going to a trekking pole tent (and you can use alternate poles for almost every option) will be far lighter and perform better than a free standing tent. Having gear that packs smaller will allow you to use a smaller pack, and that alone can be a huge weight savings. A Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo is a great tent and the Durston X-Mid2 are both under 3lb and both under $300 and will last longer than Dyneema (and be more private). Speaking of backpacks, there are a surprising number of packs that fall between UL packs and conventional packs. For example, I bought a Durston Kakwa 55 and it's 2.5lb for a 55l pack. I didn't need that much and quite frankly my Gregory Zulu40 can hold my gear just fine, and weighs less than a pound more, but has a couple extra pockets which I find very useful, as well as a trampoline back which makes it a lot more comfortable. For me, that extra near-pound is well worth the weight, and I just got another one from Sierra for $114 brand new (just last year's model or something). Even the lightest packs with similar accoutrements are usually within a pound, and cost many times more (the Arc Haul similarly equipped in a similar size is over $600). IMO not worth it. I'll often opt for my Zenbivy Light Bed over my Enlightened Equipment Revelation quilts because it's just so much nicer to sleep in (at least when it's cold out). On the flip side, the EE quilts pack a lot smaller and when it is warmer, they're nicer to sleep under. Is the 950fp really worth it? I suspect it is if you're looking to pack small, but 800fp is darned near as small and just as warm with being very close in weight. Looking at returned/cancelled order options on any manufacturer's site is a really good idea; maybe you won't get the colors you prefer but chances are you'll get a fast shipment for a big savings.
Yup, the ultralight police are annoying. I have a buddy who will do everything to trim ounces of gear weight, but will literally refuse to exercise or lift or strengthen his core. Female Mt Everest sherpas on average carry 90 lbs of gear. Yet here we have ultralighters who will literally snap in half carrying 17lbs.
Idk how I missed this but wow, I feel that! A couple extra ounces or pounds aren't a big deal at all if you're in shape. Heck I'd probably start there instead of buying lighter gear but to each their own.
Ultra light packs are great and many times very expensive, but will it carry the weight of gear that will keep you comfortable and safe. Many ultra light packs do not have the suspension to handle much weight. Remember to enjoy your hike, that's why your out there.
"Ultralight" labelled gear can be super expensive. But UL gear is actually cheaper that traditional backpacking gear. Classic example is the Aricxi tarp; also foam pads and a cottage packs like Zimmerbuilt are quite affordable, Hammock gear quilts on sale are quite a good price.
Certainly going lighter has made a huge difference in letting us cover miles easier. However, having been caught in a snowstorm for several days on the PCT, I can certainly say I wish I had a bit more of my warmer gear with me. I agree the sleep system is crucial. Perhaps an extra item that provides a lot of warmth for a little weight (booties, down pants, a warmer puffy, etc) could make a huge difference at a very low weight penalty.
It has definitely helped, no doubt about that. And thanks for sharing that! After posting this video I realized that I didn't even mention the safety aspect, but your story is a perfect example. Adequate rain/cold weather gear & first aid items are an area alot of people neglect in order to save some weight.
I've gotten circulation issues/maybe Raynauds in my hands and feet this year which is making me be extra careful with coldweather gear. Kind of a bummer since it adds a ton of weight.
That's rough!!! Extra precaution is always essential in cold, but even more so for you. Definitely don't love the weight, but safety is absolute, and comfort is significant. @@EWOKakaDOOM
I know what you mean! I'll talk about this in a future video, but I too just cannot make the switch to a frameless pack. The difference in how my pack sits & carries weight with a frame is definitely worth those couple extra ounces for me.
The mindset should be, if you are strong hiker you "can" carry more. If you are a weak hiker you must carry less. A strong hiker carrying light weight is like a powerlifter benching 10 lbs. Unless, you are planning to do 40 miles a day why not carry as much as you are fit to carry.
I’ve found that expensive gear that happens to be ultra light is almost always better in every other category as well. Some ultra light tents for instance are just designed better and more thoughtful than other tents. Its not just expense vs shaving ounces
Eberlestock! Found this one on their outlet site during Black Friday for half off. They make really high quality stuff, only downside is usually the price point.
The most annoying thing is when UL is taken to the point that it becomes dangerous for the hiker or the people around. 3 painkillers and a band aid don't make a sufficient first aid kit for a (thru) hike, sudden weather changes should not put you in danger of dying from exposure (or getting rescuers in a dangerous situation to get you) and having to go slower because of weather/injury/etc. should not leave you on the brink of starvation
Very true!! There's a fine line between a minimalist load out and being just plain unprepared. Weather can change & serious injuries can happen in a split second, gotta be prepared to face more than you're expecting and not rely on others for rescue. Thanks for the input.
I definitely could've organized my thoughts a bit more, you're right! This is only my second long form video ever, certainly not perfect. Trying to improve something with each upload. Thanks for commenting!
I've been avidly hiking since the late '80s, and while experience is indeed a great teacher, one also needs to keep up with new developments in gear. When I started, the Coleman Duel Fuel liquid fuel stove was state of the art. I had one, and it still works great, but when the Pocket Rocket came out, I relegated the Coleman to car camping and cooking on my patio when our kitchen was getting redone.
I've only gotten unsolicited advice once while backpacking, by a guy who said I had "no business in the backcountry" without his $200 Benchmade knife, scoffing at my Swiss Army knife. He ended up borrowing mine for the little pliers to get his stove working.
Travel light, Freeze at night. I've been on roads, trails, rivers, snow for more years than most viewers have been alive. This whole craziness with lightness. On You tube no one seems to talk about why they are in the outdoors other than how many miles they cover or how light their pack. No one talks about the physiology of everything that goes into living the nomadic life. When you go out and about do you become one with trail or do you drag your city ways and values along for the ride?. This single-minded obsession with weight and the latest, new ideas and new stuff goes counter to being connected to something greater than your self and living inside the Hoop of Life There is more concern with so much for new stuff. With little concern with sustainability. They are obsessed with the weight of the flame tower attached to their pressurized canister stove. At the same time using a disposable canister or the newest plastic clothing. Yes clothing made from oil is plastic and is a forever fiber that will never decompose. The newbie's get sucked into the newish trendy equipment with no knowledge that a piece of equipment from 10,000 years ago may be better. Or a brass stove from 1900 is the same weight with twice the BTU of a canister stove. Going out and about now seems like a race to the finish line and not the journey. My question is: will you still be out and about when you are in your 80's? Is living close to the natural world and working to save open spaces a concern or is everything a race, a contest ,and being a winner?
Furthermore, we now have a collection of people that camp every 4 years but buys the latest gadgets every week.
It gets easier when you realize most of these people don’t do much camping.. they just enjoy the consumer part for whatever reason.
I’m older myself.. 40. And I grew up in a little town called Dilwyn in Virginia in the Appalachians without electricity or running water. The few times a year we went into a big town like Lynchburg it was getting heavy flannels and stopping by EMS to get new Gaitors and supplies.
That EMS store is where I kinda fell in love with gear but not for style.. it didn’t take anyone saying it.. my child brains connected the dots, the money we spent there saved our lives back in the woods.
I ended up moving into a big city in California.. and split my time between contracting and fiber optics, but my soul still in those backwoods.
I still buy outdoor gear, I dont focus on UL. I focus on is this gonna do what I need? And most of the time no.. cause what I need is a one-and-done. I wanna buy one big puffer jacket, one main fleece, etc.
I’ve found that in a few brands. Mountain hardware for me is a godsend. They make exactly what I’d want. I still get the 1990s era Gore Windstopper fleece on eBay for like $40 every now and then.
UL is also Ultra Delicate.. which means more landfill. Plus, I’m proud that I hiked the AT when I was 13 with a pack that weighed half as much as I did. I had to work my ass off to climb some of those mountains. I cried. I tossed my cast iron pan for cooking then had to go down and get it. I earned those waypoints.
@@Errcyco Great story.
I have gone through a transition over the years of lightening my pack weight from a 40 pound pack for a 7 day hike with food to 25 pounds for the same hike and the trip was much more enjoyable the second time with the lighter pack. But I completely agree that it’s more about finding the balance between weight and comfort. I consider myself to be a lightweight but comfortable hiker these days.
Exactly! Generally lighter is better but everyone has a different threshold for when their comfort is compromised. I'd also consider myself to be in the lightweight category while maintaining comfort and most likely will never go full UL for that reason. Thanks for sharing!
It’s a conundrum, I needed some new things for the PCT so I researched ultra light gear and the biggest thing I came away with was maximizing my comfort for my dollar. It’s a long hike and when I’m done for the day I want to be comfortable.
Couldn't agree more! Maximizing comfort for your dollar is a great way to put that.
such a good point about body recuperating while you're asleep. Couldn't agree more. Comfort is totally up there for me if I want to sleep and I carry far more gear as a result - proper pillow, thicker (comfier) pad etc. Great video, really appreciate hearing the other side of this constant chatter. Good luck with your adventures and all the best with your channel, I know how much work you're putting in, subscribed 🇺🇸🇦🇺✌🏻
Thanks a bunch!! Means a lot, and I really appreciate the sub.
100% accurate! Looks like I'm your 500th sub, I bet this channel takes off!
Thank you!!!
My philosophy with gear is this. I do not replace a piece of gear unless it is broken or something that is superior in every way comes out. Simply being lighter is not enough. Also the backpack you are using can have a major effect on how much weight you can carry comfortably. Many ultra light packs do not distribute weight well. A heavier pack with proper strap and belt design will feel lighter with more weight than a lighter loaded ultralight pack.
I agree totally with the ultralight packs. I feel a lot of times the lighter the pack the heavier it makes the gear feel
I love unsolicited advice. As a construction worker, I've heard so much over the years from old dudes randomly sharing information. I'll always listen & think it over before dismissing or trying it. Sometimes it can turn into a fun theoretical discussion.
It's very rare that a stranger will tell me something in a way so negative that I instantly dismis them but it does happen.
I'm with you on this. You don't know what you don't know. When I first started hiking I wish people would have given me unsolicited advice. I would have fixed all the stupid things I was doing much faster.
Fully agree. I think a lot of it is UA-cam and social media actually. Influencers are getting money from the industry so it makes sense they market that stuff. Sure it's nice to have lighter stuff if it's free. We just totally buy into it and think we NEED it to enjoy ourselves. I had a period where I was spending more time comparing stuff that wa only a few oz difference than actually getting out there. I'm with you, I'll only buy ultralight stuff anymore if there's an actual need and try to follow people who talk more about their travels than reviewing gear they got for free.
Great video! I have chosen some ultralight gear over some others so that I can have some of my favorite heavier gear. For me it’s more about space and packing, I’m quite small, so my pack is obviously going to be smaller to fit me, size makes a difference for me, not necessarily weight. It is sad to hear how some are feeling superior or more knowledgeable because they have a lower base weight. There will always be “those” people. Following your journey.
Thanks so much!! That's an aspect of packing I have truly never had to consider, but it makes a lot of sense! And I agree, I'll intentionally lighten up in one area to afford my extra weight in another area. It's all a balance. Appreciate you following along 👍
As your 503rd subscriber and owner of one of those vintage Keltys...we are looking forward to following your journey.
Thank you!! Really appreciate it.
I agree ... Very Good thoughts!
I’m right there with you. I’m getting ready to hike AT on Feb 24 and have been heavy weight lifting training so I can carry my pack that is close to 50lbs. I have 3 different packs and I have packed all three to get the best fit to carry the load and you are right you have to have the mind set and be in good shape. I’m 57 and I’m in pretty good shape for my age and I’m only doing sections at a time for the AT. Take your time it’s not a rush. I plan on taking plenty zero days. Stretch, take good food with you, take that mini noxgear39g small speaker, and baby steps if your pack is a little on heavy side. Your body will tell you” hey bud not today, have a beer today”. And you are so right I am not paying 600.00 bucks for a tent that is paper Mishay and you have to use your own treck poles. Nope! Just in the gear allow we all spend because one year this is the best tent ever and next year there’s a better one hell you have spent a fortune on gear that you’ll sell on market place. So if you know your body well enough and keep your self in good shape, yeah take the heavy load enjoy that nice tarp over your hammock staying dry in pouring down rain and think to yourself I happy. Now where’s that Tylenol. Trail name Lonsolo/cumbydamnit aka Lonnie Pryor MD
Wow that's great!! Best of luck with your AT adventure, sounds like it will be a great time. Listening to the body is always important, taking zeros as needed, etc., can offset whatever extra exertion you experience from taking those couple "luxury" items. Thanks for the input & hope you'll continue to follow along!!
The best pack is the one that allows you to walk the closet to vertical. Take a full-length side shot of you with the same loaded trip equipment with all of your packs. Draw a line through the dot on your ankle, hip joint, shoulder joint. The straightest line is the best pack to carry.
Love this video! I totally agree with you! Thanks so much!
Thank you!! Hope you'll continue to follow along, really appreciate it.
I largely agree. It comes down to choices - do you want to train or not? Do you want comforts or not? Do you want to take risks or not? Personally, I prefer to train, pamper myself, and minimize risks. So I go heavy - a chair, a good first aid kit, extra clothes (etc.), a magazine, etc. I enjoy myself but am ready for the worst and yet do great trips. Conditioning gives me options; expensive gear helps but only so much.
That's a good perspective! Whatever makes you comfortable, and safety is a part of that too. Thanks for sharing!
100% comfort and happiness hiking than gram counting. It works for some people but not me. Hike your own hike also applies to gear 😊 I’ve also had comments about my Osprey Atmos being too heavy, but I love it & it’s comfortable at carrying weight.
Couldn't agree more!! If someone is willing and able to carry the load, then good on them & mind your own business (or more politely like you said, "hike your own hike" 😂). The Atmos is a great pack too, a true staple in the backpacking world. Thanks for sharing your thoughts & hope you continue to follow along!
I have an Atmos 50 and a Granite Gear Crown2 60. Both are about equally comfortable, but I can carry 35lb comfortably with the Atmos but the Crown2 maxes out at about 32lb. You will NEVER notice a 3lb difference while carrying the pack. If you say you can, you’re lying. I could stick a 1l water bottle in anyone’s pack and they’d carry it all day without even knowing. If an extra 2-3lb DOES affect you that much, you either need to train harder or find new hobbies. Like stamp collecting or comic books. It’s why I say to replace the rest of your gear but keep your pack. Spend the money that would have gone toward a new pack on even LIGHTER gear to go in it.
I do think that a large minority of UL backpackers/hikers are more interested in their lighterpack numbers and tend to assume everything will go as planned. They don’t plan for the worst and sometimes pay for it. I may have a 30lb pack for off-trail winter day hikes in the mountains, but if I die on a mountain it’s not going to be from hypothermia.
I completely agree with your insights and I've never had a problem with weight.
You nailed it!
And it’s easy to spend $100 to save 2 oz on gear, but I need to focus more on losing the 25 lbs of body weight that I don’t need (ironically, equal to the weight of my loaded “ultralight” pack). 😊
Rooting for you!!! A lighter load can certainly be achieved by shedding excess body weight, and it can be done for a lot cheaper than the cost of new gear! Thank you for your support & hope you continue to follow along 👍
I have been working hard for the last decade to find the magical pack that weighs zero. On my thru hike of the AT I carried a 5.5 pound base weight. My kit never went over 15 pounds with food and water. It was definitely too light and borderline reckless. I had some very cold and wet days and nights. I was ill-equipped for the Whites with my clothing choice. Since then I have upgraded my entire kit. My base weight is still only around 7 pounds for warm weather and 9 for cold weather. I am warm and dry all day and night, I sleep great down to the low 20s. I still think pack weight is extremely important for the style hiking I do but the extra couple few pounds and the extra couple grand I spend were well worth it. I will never go out so recklessly again but I am still always trying to find a way to shed some weight. Light as possible while maintaining safety and comfort will lead to a much more enjoyable hike and greatly increase your chances of successfully completing a long distance hike.
"Light as possible while maintaining safety and comfort", that is a perfect way to sum up what I was trying to get after in this video. It's nice to hear that you had that realization and brought your base weight back up, I have a feeling some people just accept that discomfort and carry on (which again, to each their own) but there is a very fine line between being uncomfortable and being unsafe. And historically, a base weight under 10lbs for full comfort in cold weather is still exceptional. Really appreciate your input, very good points & hope you'll continue to follow along!
Spot on!
There is always a trade off, a point at which something becomes useless or not useful enough by reduction of weight. That applies to all. Then the price unfortunately applies to some but not all.
I would suggest buying the lightest and most expensive thing you can that has the functionality you need with as little compromise as possible.
You're spot on
Hello Phil, Thanks for the video, really makes sense. I am a new hiker and I have been watching so many videos. I heard a guy say that "remember, half of the day your are out walking and half of the day you are resting". Don't mess with your sleeping system, your big three. It's all about balance, extreme never made any good. With what I've been testing, ultralight doesnt necessary means confort. We are all different and we live in a weird narcissist society, so based on who is the best and who looks the best instead of seeking knowledge. I am not surprised you ve crossed some judgement on a trail. Your uncle must have gently smiled :) I hope you will have a great adventure on your PCT and I hope I can hike it too one day. Greetings from Basque Country in France, and Best wishes.
You're welcome! And thank you for sharing! I love watching videos on gear too and it's nice to lighten your pack when it makes sense, but I think trying things out for ourselves and deciding whether or not something meets our needs is the best way to figure out what to bring. And you're right, being at either extreme of the ultralight/comfort scale will cause discomfort at some point. Balance in all things. Cheers to you from the other side of the world, and hope you'll continue to follow along! 🍻
Yes indeed practicing and trying is the best ;) I will for sure follow, I hope you will share more about your thoughts. Take care@@phil_forrest
I don’t mind being slower by carrying a heavier load. I hike just to be out in nature. As long as the shoulder straps don’t dig in my collar bone, I’ll be happy.
I think that's a great mentality! If you're enjoying yourself, then you're doing the right thing. Appreciate the comment and hope you'll continue to follow along.
Agree. I learned to walk slowly on a trip to the Beartooths with NOLS in 99. Supplies for 10 days in the cold meant 65 pound packs for everyone. No one is in shape for that until they do it, and you never forget it.
I totally agree, I've gone for kit that might weigh a bit more than the Ultra Light stuff but I know the comfort levels are way above the lighter bit of kit. I'm even taking a 1kg camping chair on a 7 day hike.... Most of all though being a fatty I've lost 9kg in the last 5 weeks and my target is to lose 12kg which is my backpack total weight, so I totally agree with the kit point but the personal health etc is probably more important than anything else. Cheers from the UK
I almost always take a camp chair with me for shorter trips, the weight is totally worth it for anything less than a week! And that's awesome!! Props to you & rooting for you to shed the rest of those kgs. Healthiest and most cost effective way to reduce overall strain on the body. Hope you'll continue to follow along, cheers!
I will remind you of this video when you are chucking all your excess weight into the nearest hiker box on trail :) All joking aside, have been hiking the PCT for 9 years now and am much happier with my 5 lb. BW pack vs. my 45 lb. one in 2016. But it took me 9 years to afford that gear or DYI it myself as well as learning the skills to carry less. My boyfriend Steve still carries his old school external frame pack that he used on the Oregon PCT back in the 70s when he was a kid and carries everything but the kitchen sink. But we both use every single item we bring and I think that is key. If you need it and use it, bring it. You will be switching it up regardless as the trail changes in different sections. Just have fun!!!
it's some sort of ULSD ;) I have been myself suffering this disorder as well, ha, DCF is great...best, ohh no, now it's time for Ultra packs, I need to run to get one and on it went...but I had my awaking, when I realized, hikes are to be enjoyed not suffered tru and I drawn my personal limits of weight saving like no more tarps, I like tents, no more close cell mats, I'm 57, sleep must be comfortable, pillow is in, no matter what, cold soaking? no way I love my teas and hot meals, frameless packs, no more, my back sweats like crazy and I could go on and on; I found my personal sweet spot and now I'm a happy hiker. have fun!
Great perspective!! Glad you're enjoying yourself more. Appreciate your comment, hope you'll consider following along!
You have to carry the weight. No gear is gonna carry itself, matter how light.
Train to succeed or you’re training to fail.
You have to do the work, pay the price.
Great input and opinion on the UL community and it effects on ones outlook on hiking, well said. Also agree 💯 percent that mindset and fitness out trumps you packing wt every time. Best of luck in your upcoming PCT hike, you got this enjoy and relish everything it has to offer.
Thank you so much! It's nice to hear I'm not alone in my line of thinking. Appreciate your well wishes & hope you'll consider following along.
@@phil_forrest Thumbs up 👍🏽✅ Subscribe ✅
I first saw the ultralight movement and decided I would get all ultralight/ lightweight gear, so that I can keep my weight down while still bringing comfort items, a drone or a camera and still be the same weight or lower than when I started. I don't ever want to be ultralight, but I enjoy learning about, and striving to get the lightest but still functional and comfortable gear. the lighter the better as long as it's not sacrificing quality or usability. Not so I can be as light as possible, but so I can bring my drone, my chair, an extra pillow, and some extra food/first aid stuff that others might leave.
I have hiked with an external frame pack weighing 42 pounds. It was comfortable. I hiked with an ultralight pack weighing 27 pounds and was comfortable too. In comparison, the ultralight is not designed to carry heavy weight comfortably. It forces a hiker to go lighter. I can pack the same gear, food and water into the external frame and it weighs 32 pounds. While heavier, the external frame is more comfortable on my body for long distances. In contrast, the ultralight allows be to be more nimble and faster. Although, hiking long distances it can be a slight discomfort at the shoulders. Emotions weigh the most and the human body has limits.
I liked this video. I tried to do the PCT last year. It was the snow that got me. I walked over 85 miles of snow before I gave up. I'll probably get back out there in 3 to 5 years. I like your example about the sleeping pad. You will be laying on that thing for 8 or 9 hours per night. It is worth a few extra ounces to be comfortable. Another example was my backpack. I carried a Hyperlight pack. It was comfortable and did the job. It would have been nice to have more compartments and access zippers, but that would have weighed more. In this case, I was disappointed for less than 5 minutes per day, and enjoyed a lighter pack for 10 hours per day. In that case the weight savings made sense. It is an item by item decision, and everything is a compromise.
Good luck out there! I will be following your trip.
That's a good point! Which factor you decide to compromise for is definitely an item to item decision, I agree. I hope you do have the opportunity to get back out and try it again in the future!! But I appreciate you following along with my journey this year. Thanks for your input, always appreciated.
Agree with all your points. I am in the process of cycling through gear as my old gear has reached the end of its useful life and there are now new products, fabrics and technologies. We now also have more technology to carry (phones, satellite communicators, battery banks and smart watches which weigh a lot more than a map and compass. I have made a conscious effort NOT to go Ultralight; but rather to go LIGHTER. As I save weight on an item(s); I try and "save" some of the weight and "spend" some of the weight on luxury or comfort items. I have identified almost 5 pounds of weight savings. I can add a flextail pump with some of the weight reduction and have a shelter light and an easier time inflating my pad and still have over 4 pounds of weight savings. I likely would not have upgraded any of this to "chase the craze" but rather because the items now need to be replaced .
That's a good way to look at it, lightening some things to justify the weight of adding another item you want makes sense to me. I always bring my flextail on overnight /weekend trips, total game changer at a very low weight penalty. I often bring a chair too, right at one pound but if you're going to be spending considerable time at one spot, it's worth it for me. Appreciate the input, hope you'll continue to follow along!
Very good video. I too dislike unsolicited advice. I’m 60 now, have dialed in things to my liking, I backpack solo a lot (no advice pleas) and I have swapped out gear as I go along. I’ve also been “influenced” by you tube and purchased UL gear. Some good choices, some not. I have a free standing tent for a reason and won’t be getting a UL trekking pole single walled one. Subscribed.
Backpacking solo is my favorite way to do it, that's awesome!! Your setup works for you & you're the one using it, that's all you need in my book. Thanks for the input & really appreciate the sub!!
I’ve gone ultralight but find you sacrifice too much comfort in camp. So what I like to do is use an ultralight mindset. Looking for gear that is multi-purpose. And like you mentioned in your video, not sacrificing on your sleeping pad. I’ve used many ultralight and lightweight sleeping pads from therm-a-rest and Nemo, but find myself really liking the comfort of the REI Helix Sleeping pad. Which is by far the most comfortable.
That's a good way to look at it! I haven't tried the Helix but it does look like a warm, comfortable, reasonably priced pad. The extra couple ounces are nothing of it helps you sleep well at night. Thanks for the comment & hope you'll continue to follow along!
Over the years I’ve noticed that when any kind of group begins to form - based on some common interest - a culture begins to develop beyond the control of the group. Over time the extreme adherents begin to ostracize those who do not fall in line with group policy. No groups are immune to this pattern.
Very true, I know exactly what you mean.
Yes, I have noticed people snobbing those who choose to not go UL. Ultralight is not comfortable. There isn’t enough padding. It is not durable. It can’t handle surprises or heavier loads. What if you decided to get a few bottles of wine where you are, just as an example. It is not environmentally sound. That stuff is going to wear out so fast that it’s like fast fashion - you’re just getting something to stuff into a landfill, not to mention the energy it took to ship your soon-to-be garbage to you. Get the stuff that is meant to last. UL means you have no choices and no freedom.
I came to scoff at the blasphemy, but youre making sense brother! Liked and sub'd. I discovered I like to shed weight in the pack to make more weight for a monsterous sleeping pad. Im trying to bring the queen size pad on my trips lmao
The main issue is this "modern" tendency to just see UL as sub 10lb baseweight - thats a modern (internet) tendency - the "true" or original UL approch is "bring the lightest that does the job" more simpel - but more complex - but weather or not you carry 10 or 12lb doesnt really matter
First time viewer. Great advice. Magnificent eyebrows.
Thank you 🤣 hope you'll continue to follow along
Good video thanks 👍👍🇬🇧🇬🇧
Thank you!!
Most successful thru-hikers (done at least one of the big three) come to some variation of this philosophy IME. I can do 7 lb base weight stuff for a few days, even a week or two, but living out of a 26L bag isn't worth the extra 2.5 lbs on my back required to get good sleep, a comfortable pack, easier water filtration, etc.
Makes sense to me & glad to hear that! Our bodies are very adaptable too I think, they'll get used to carrying those couple extra pounds after a short while. Thanks for sharing, hope you'll continue to follow along 👍
Love your video, and making this point it is a 'a thing' being ultra light and feeling better than the traditional heavier hikers.. a kind of ego thing i smell in it to, even if its just a little bit.. And myself being quilty as well with thoughts like 'look at those amateurs with those big heavy bags'
I’m from Canada the ultralight Zen Bivy versus the light system works out to be $750 Canadian more money for 8 ounces …I’m all for lightweight but everything has its limits it still cost me $1300 Canadian for the lightweight set I’m knee-deep and my Durston Tent hasn’t even arrived ha ha ha…..I sure hope I like all this otherwise I’ll have a lightweight truck Camping set! The real reason for lightweight backpacking so you can bring more beer enjoy yourself buddy thanks for the video
Lighter is better so long as it is meeting the requirement it needs to fulfill. Each piece of gear will have a certain set of requirements for each person. There is a really big delta between cheap gear and expensive gear in almost every case, both in weight but also in packability. Your tent is probably one of the cheapest ways to shave pounds off of your gear for a reasonable cost if you're willing (and capable) of changing your mindset; for example, if possible, going to a trekking pole tent (and you can use alternate poles for almost every option) will be far lighter and perform better than a free standing tent. Having gear that packs smaller will allow you to use a smaller pack, and that alone can be a huge weight savings. A Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo is a great tent and the Durston X-Mid2 are both under 3lb and both under $300 and will last longer than Dyneema (and be more private).
Speaking of backpacks, there are a surprising number of packs that fall between UL packs and conventional packs. For example, I bought a Durston Kakwa 55 and it's 2.5lb for a 55l pack. I didn't need that much and quite frankly my Gregory Zulu40 can hold my gear just fine, and weighs less than a pound more, but has a couple extra pockets which I find very useful, as well as a trampoline back which makes it a lot more comfortable. For me, that extra near-pound is well worth the weight, and I just got another one from Sierra for $114 brand new (just last year's model or something). Even the lightest packs with similar accoutrements are usually within a pound, and cost many times more (the Arc Haul similarly equipped in a similar size is over $600). IMO not worth it.
I'll often opt for my Zenbivy Light Bed over my Enlightened Equipment Revelation quilts because it's just so much nicer to sleep in (at least when it's cold out). On the flip side, the EE quilts pack a lot smaller and when it is warmer, they're nicer to sleep under. Is the 950fp really worth it? I suspect it is if you're looking to pack small, but 800fp is darned near as small and just as warm with being very close in weight. Looking at returned/cancelled order options on any manufacturer's site is a really good idea; maybe you won't get the colors you prefer but chances are you'll get a fast shipment for a big savings.
Yup, the ultralight police are annoying. I have a buddy who will do everything to trim ounces of gear weight, but will literally refuse to exercise or lift or strengthen his core. Female Mt Everest sherpas on average carry 90 lbs of gear. Yet here we have ultralighters who will literally snap in half carrying 17lbs.
Idk how I missed this but wow, I feel that! A couple extra ounces or pounds aren't a big deal at all if you're in shape. Heck I'd probably start there instead of buying lighter gear but to each their own.
Great vid.
Ultra light packs are great and many times very expensive, but will it carry the weight of gear that will keep you comfortable and safe. Many ultra light packs do not have the suspension to handle much weight. Remember to enjoy your hike, that's why your out there.
You're absolutely right!! Thanks for the input & I will certainly try to enjoy myself out on trail. Cheers!
Good vid, here for the journey
Thank you, I appreciate it!!
Agree with this 100 percent.
Thank you!! Hope you'll consider continuing to follow along on my journey.
Well put, Phil!
Thanks for your support!
"Ultralight" labelled gear can be super expensive. But UL gear is actually cheaper that traditional backpacking gear. Classic example is the Aricxi tarp; also foam pads and a cottage packs like Zimmerbuilt are quite affordable, Hammock gear quilts on sale are quite a good price.
Haven't heard of those brands but will check them out, thanks for the input!
Certainly going lighter has made a huge difference in letting us cover miles easier.
However, having been caught in a snowstorm for several days on the PCT, I can certainly say I wish I had a bit more of my warmer gear with me.
I agree the sleep system is crucial. Perhaps an extra item that provides a lot of warmth for a little weight (booties, down pants, a warmer puffy, etc) could make a huge difference at a very low weight penalty.
It has definitely helped, no doubt about that. And thanks for sharing that! After posting this video I realized that I didn't even mention the safety aspect, but your story is a perfect example. Adequate rain/cold weather gear & first aid items are an area alot of people neglect in order to save some weight.
I've gotten circulation issues/maybe Raynauds in my hands and feet this year which is making me be extra careful with coldweather gear. Kind of a bummer since it adds a ton of weight.
That's rough!!! Extra precaution is always essential in cold, but even more so for you. Definitely don't love the weight, but safety is absolute, and comfort is significant.
@@EWOKakaDOOM
I haven't found a ultralight pack that I enjoy and keep going back to my osprey atmos and try to shave weight in other areas
I know what you mean! I'll talk about this in a future video, but I too just cannot make the switch to a frameless pack. The difference in how my pack sits & carries weight with a frame is definitely worth those couple extra ounces for me.
I moved from tiny tarps and foam pads to a big pyramid and a nice inflatable sleeping raft and I think it’s worth the 3 pounds.
Yep, I've toyed around with them as well but know what I prefer now & agree, the weight is worth it. Thanks!
Rather than worrying about a few ounces on my pack, I drop a few lbs on my body.
That's awesome! And I'd say more important honestly. Plus it's free & good for your health, can't beat that. Appreciate your input 👍
The mindset should be, if you are strong hiker you "can" carry more. If you are a weak hiker you must carry less.
A strong hiker carrying light weight is like a powerlifter benching 10 lbs.
Unless, you are planning to do 40 miles a day why not carry as much as you are fit to carry.
I’ve found that expensive gear that happens to be ultra light is almost always better in every other category as well. Some ultra light tents for instance are just designed better and more thoughtful than other tents. Its not just expense vs shaving ounces
Had to be said... I hope more people see this
Yes
And some of the heavier things are more durable,… so balance is key
You're absolutely right!!
Who makes the orange jacket? I like it.
Eberlestock! Found this one on their outlet site during Black Friday for half off. They make really high quality stuff, only downside is usually the price point.
I mean gear is crazy expensive... so i carry more weight but get to do more trips....
The most annoying thing is when UL is taken to the point that it becomes dangerous for the hiker or the people around. 3 painkillers and a band aid don't make a sufficient first aid kit for a (thru) hike, sudden weather changes should not put you in danger of dying from exposure (or getting rescuers in a dangerous situation to get you) and having to go slower because of weather/injury/etc. should not leave you on the brink of starvation
Very true!! There's a fine line between a minimalist load out and being just plain unprepared. Weather can change & serious injuries can happen in a split second, gotta be prepared to face more than you're expecting and not rely on others for rescue. Thanks for the input.
Gram counting bugs me.
You need to rehearse a bit….was never sure about were u were goin.
I definitely could've organized my thoughts a bit more, you're right! This is only my second long form video ever, certainly not perfect. Trying to improve something with each upload. Thanks for commenting!