Great mix of practical and mental tips, i went on a 30 km overnight with 2 buddies i learned alot about myself over that journey what gear works and what doesnt and just how awesome the land really is. Cheers for this video
7:48 for those that dont need super ultralight, I'd recomment the Nitecore nu50. It'll run for 20 hours at 300 lumens and it weighs 146 grams. Good lighting is crucial when it's dark for 2 months straight up here.
Very helpful tips. Much appreciated. Extra required items: To be seen, I use reflective tape on various areas of my pack. I carry or wear an orange bandana or use a blaze orange safety panel attached to my pack by Orange Aglow. For light backup, I carry military grade glow sticks. Yet, once I lost my way and was concerned about my safety during a mountain descent. In short, my Zoleo was literally my life saver. Cheers to technology and my whistle. Boo to me for going left instead of right. Now, I have been enlightened by giving thoughts to my steps and embracing the slower pace. I am grateful for your advice. Wishing you peace and good fortune. Happy Trails!
One of the best, if not the best, videos I have seen in a long time. Good advice, even if you are an experienced hiker and getting a bit cocky on your next hike.
Another electronics tip: Not just airplane mode, but overnight once phone is charged unplug the power bank / usb cable. It's been tested and will continue to drain down the power bank unnecessarily all night.
This is great info. One thing I would add when hiking/backpacking with groups of different level hikers is to always rotate the last hiker to the front at every rest. I have seen some of the strongest hikers get burnt out when they stay at the back of the pack. They tend to get shorter and shorter breaks as the lead hikers get longer and longer breaks. The people in the lead are always ready to go when the tail catches up. So, waiting for the tail to be rested and ready before taking the lead of the next leg can be a life saver for everyone. The least rested person should always be the one setting the pace of the next section.
8:48 also in with multi use gear, i never go out without a length of paracord in my pack. Ive popped boot laces before, guy lines break, and there are about a dozen other things you can use it for, even thread for sewing with the inner strands if need be. Its versatility is invaluable and it weighs almost nothing.
Mowser I agree totally with all of these points, especially the one about the toe nail maintenance and wearing two pair of socks. Long toe nails cause pain, blackened nails, lost nails, long term tissue, nail bed and permanent tissue damage. Long nails can also inside your footwear and poke holes in your favourite hiking socks that can cause ‘strangulation’ of toes that can become extruded through the hole in your sock which can cause damage to your circulation. Having very big (US16)(EU50) feet standard nail clippers are useless. I buy straight edge nail clippers so that my toenails don’t get scalloped using under-sized curved cut clippers. Quality socks that are sized correctly are very important in my opinion. I always wear two pair of socks. Very fine woolen business style socks or a specialised liner sock underneath thicker quality wool socks snd carefully fitted, tested and trusted boots. Cool socks for warm weather. Warm socks for cooler or cold weather. I haven’t had a blister hiking in thirty years.
Great tips across the board mate. Being ex infantry I totally agree on the toenail cut! In fact foot hygiene used to be paramount so good to see you spreading the word. All the best. Clive.
It depends on the terrain, the distance you are hiking and the weather conditions. It is very much a personal decision. I tend to use trail runners for short trips on well formed trail. For all of my off track and more arduous trips where I'm carrying a big load i tend to wear boots. I suffered a broken ankle a few years ago and now tend to wear boots a lot more.
This is full of awesome tips to help hikers/backpackers have a more rewarding experience on trail! 😁👍My husband and I are already doing everything except using our trekking poles to replace tent poles. I like #47 Practice Your Tent Set-Up. As a Part B to this one, you could add practice tear down in adverse weather! My husband & I woke up to snow and 60 MPH winds coming off Lake Wapiki in the Indian Heaven Wilderness off the PCT in Washington State with freezing temps and snow! We had to each take the ends of the rain fly and hold them taught while rolling them up without losing it! We did lose the stuff sack for the tent poles as it blew away which was frustrating! From that point on, I made sure I put ALL stuff sacks into one larger stuff sack so I can keep track of them, LOL! 😉
I'm not a back-packer hiker.... had the luxury of my gear being ferried from one B&B/Guest House to the next when doing the West Highland Way.... BUT this video contains invaluable advice for all hikers. Since then, I now have a water purification bottle, a whistle &, in my case, emergency bivi bag. You have put together some GREAT tips here, Mowser. Re taking photos, I took 350 odd on the WHW trek plus 3 and a half hours of video footage(!) some done while walking, many just silent panoramas. They added considerably to my hiking time but I can relive my experience over and over again. Good job I went solo, eh!
I tried lesson 4, a 4 person tent, and instantly regret it. the relation between comfort - weight just didn't work for me. now i'm switching to a 1 person tent. last trip was good but the pack weight was out of this world. now i have this rush of down my base weight without buying expensive things. ex: switch from a sleeping foam mat for a reflective car sunshade.
@@leo_714 I think my guy was saying to go up one person in tent size for the number of people in your party. 2 people, go for a 3 person tent. 1 person in a 4 person tent is way overkill. You might be happy in a 1 person tent, but the weight difference between a 1 and 2 person tent is negligible. You may like the extra space for gear and to dress inside the tent.
Yep, that's where i was coming from. A 3 person with 2 people, or a 2 person for 1 really is nice. Have also used 1 person tents but on long rainy days they do get a bit claustrophobic.
Wow you are so experienced. Loved your tips for hiking. Loads of appreciation from Pakistan. In Pakistan, we have to consider altitude of hike also, as above 4000 meters, BP shoots up.
Im into bushcraft/wilderness survival. I have my trekking poles. Plus used if i make a ground shelter. Carry dehydatred food. Lots too learn from hikers.
Hey Mowser, Great to see your success on UA-cam! Yep, i was here in the first 100 viewers. Believe me, i get your changed focus of your videos. I really do. I understand that you receive between 14-30 k viewers in a week or two on your latest videos. Fascinating though these productions are, i still long for the extended mission videos thst characterised your early productions. You and a couple of mates on an adventure weekend…. Ahhh, those were the days. But why, you ask, would you invest an equal or greater amount of time on producing - say a Western Arthur video that gets under 5k views (worthy of many more…) - when for the same or less work you could produce a video that might pick up 100k worth of views? I have no good answer to that question. I can only say, your original die hard fans would appreciate it. Cheers and thanks for considering the original fandom.
Thank you for being such a dedicated fan from the beginning! I well and truly recognise the redphenix1033 name! I really appreciate your insights and nostalgia for the early days. I do have a couple of hiking trip vids in the pipeline. There's various reasons I haven't made as many trip videos recently - primarily, due to family and work I haven't had time for as many trips. Plus they are a mammoth effort to edit. But, it has been on my mind. I had thought of compiling some videos with minimal narration and just lots of landscapes, scenery etc. There's also been some controversy around people posting hiking content from Tasmanian National Parks and getting into trouble. I’ll definitely take your thoughts into account as I continue to create content! Stay tuned for a trip vid soon!
Toenails... some one I was with on my last hike and got a small cut forgot to refill the bandaids and used a glasses cloth as a makeshift item. Meals, nothing wrong with a nice musli or two, when you are done can have that kings meal. And having a rough idea on where you need to go is good for when you come across a missing trail marker also. When going uphill don't forget to breath... some don't feel the exersion till they start seeing stars. Elevation changes can really take it out of people, Even on a nice short 5k carrying water is nice.
I disliked nalgene bottles for a while. They're heavier than single-use bottles and their girth make them a poor fit into pack side pockets. BUT I've changed my mind since last winter. Having at least one container that can be used as a hot water bottle during cold nights is a difference maker.
Note that unlike Oz (also US Canada, ?NZ), where it is 3, the emergency signal in Blighty is six sharp blasts repeated on the minute -' here our responder is meant to give 3 blasts of the whistle but it's better not to respond for fear the victim stops signalling.
That’s a great when I do it all the time learned a long time ago backtracking on the trail can be completely confusing, especially with the sun going down in the mountains
I concur with your hiking tips! Just one point mate. In the UK we are taught that the international distress signal is six short whistle blasts repeated every few minutes. When on the Appalachian Trail I discovered that no one knew that! Is it not taught to Aussies as well
Thanks for your comment! You're right-six short blasts is the distress signal taught in the UK. Here in Australia, we typically use three blasts as the standard call for help. It's interesting how these signals can vary by region, and your experience on the Appalachian Trail highlights that well. Thanks for sharing this important info, and for helping keep the hiking community informed!
I thought I was the only person who thought about trimming nails. LOL. My concern is when nails get long and start digging into the toes next to them or even worse getting an ingrown toenail.
This video should almost be compulsory watching for all new hikes, trail Etiquette is a problem on some of the more popular hikes here in Vic. I still get caught on tip 35, will I ever learn?
That's a great question! I reckon anything in this video is a great option: ua-cam.com/video/bC63SIzNNQ0/v-deo.html If you're really looking to treat yourself, I've been testing out the Zenbivy system and absolutely loving it. Vid on that coming very soon!
@mowsertas Looking forward to your take on it and if it's worth the money. Me I'm going to get the X dome. I need a new free-standing tent. I just missed the first round so will need to wait. I'm also looking at a whippa backpack.
It's great to know you have earmarked the whippa, there's not many reviews out there ,they look well thought out and made, though. Are you going to have an expadition sized or a smaller pack? I'm looking at the 60l as it looks like it will carry well for a 20kg 3 to 5 day hike.
>>> Use your whole body to take your steps impacts, aka learn how to properly walk. Especially your hips. Putting it all on your heels and knees will cost you a lot, and i promise that no, you don't know how to walk. Not until you've walked 700+ consecutive kms on varying terrain. Figure out your weak spots, pains, etc... pay attention to them, how you tend to manage/compensate. There is no recipe, you'll probably have to endure it yourself and try stuff along the way. The more you pay attention, the quicker you'll be able to assess new information on multiple scales and sources at the same time.
Very comprehensive list of To Do's, that apple to all type of human power travel, from canoeing, kayaking, snow shoes or X country skiing, to bike touring. As long as you have the basic equipment I recommend adding as many as you can for a fuller outdoor experience.
Thank you for your comment! You're absolutely right about the six-blast signal - it's an important distress call used in many parts of Europe, especially in Alpine regions. In my video, I focused on the three-blast signal as it's more widely recognised internationally. Both systems are valid and useful to know: Three short blasts: International distress signal Six short blasts every minute: Alpine/European distress signal You're spot on about the reply being three blasts in both systems. I appreciate you bringing this up, and I should have mentioned this in the video as it's valuable for hikers to be aware of different regional practices. Thanks!
The 'look back often' is so important, it really can't be overstated.
Trim your nails 3-4 days before a hike. Give time to recover from a bad trim. Also gives time to address any problems you may find
That's a great tip. I'll have to try that!
Yes, airplane mode is a no brainer. To really extend phone battery life on long multi day treks use low power setting as well if available.
Absolutely! Low power setting is a great way to conserve battery.
Great mix of practical and mental tips, i went on a 30 km overnight with 2 buddies i learned alot about myself over that journey what gear works and what doesnt and just how awesome the land really is. Cheers for this video
Thanks for watching - it's great to hear you had such a great time on your trek!
7:48 for those that dont need super ultralight, I'd recomment the Nitecore nu50. It'll run for 20 hours at 300 lumens and it weighs 146 grams. Good lighting is crucial when it's dark for 2 months straight up here.
Great tip!
Very helpful tips. Much appreciated. Extra required items: To be seen, I use reflective tape on various areas of my pack. I carry or wear an orange bandana or use a blaze orange safety panel attached to my pack by Orange Aglow. For light backup, I carry military grade glow sticks. Yet, once I lost my way and was concerned about my safety during a mountain descent. In short, my Zoleo was literally my life saver. Cheers to technology and my whistle. Boo to me for going left instead of right. Now, I have been enlightened by giving thoughts to my steps and embracing the slower pace. I am grateful for your advice. Wishing you peace and good fortune. Happy Trails!
Thanks!
One of the best, if not the best, videos I have seen in a long time. Good advice, even if you are an experienced hiker and getting a bit cocky on your next hike.
Thanks for the kind words - really appreciate it!
Another electronics tip: Not just airplane mode, but overnight once phone is charged unplug the power bank / usb cable. It's been tested and will continue to drain down the power bank unnecessarily all night.
Good tip, thanks for sharing!
I thought that only affected C to lightning cables?
This is great info. One thing I would add when hiking/backpacking with groups of different level hikers is to always rotate the last hiker to the front at every rest. I have seen some of the strongest hikers get burnt out when they stay at the back of the pack. They tend to get shorter and shorter breaks as the lead hikers get longer and longer breaks. The people in the lead are always ready to go when the tail catches up. So, waiting for the tail to be rested and ready before taking the lead of the next leg can be a life saver for everyone. The least rested person should always be the one setting the pace of the next section.
Good one. This video was comprehensive. Thanks!
Thanks for watching!
Love videos like this. I've been getting my kit together and have started testing my gear. It's well worth it.
Glad you enjoy it!
@@mowsertas I'm in Tasmania myself, so I am very glad I found your channel.
Three short blasts! I need to hear that once a week so I don't forget ! Thank you!
100%
8:48 also in with multi use gear, i never go out without a length of paracord in my pack. Ive popped boot laces before, guy lines break, and there are about a dozen other things you can use it for, even thread for sewing with the inner strands if need be. Its versatility is invaluable and it weighs almost nothing.
….or any quality type of cord. I carry climbing grade cord (usually 2-3 mm ie Edelrid, Sterling brands etc) that can be trusted.
agree. hanks of paracord everywhere
Thanks!
No problem! And thank you! 🙏
Mowser I agree totally with all of these points, especially the one about the toe nail maintenance and wearing two pair of socks.
Long toe nails cause pain, blackened nails, lost nails, long term tissue, nail bed and permanent tissue damage. Long nails can also inside your footwear and poke holes in your favourite hiking socks that can cause ‘strangulation’ of toes that can become extruded through the hole in your sock which can cause damage to your circulation. Having very big (US16)(EU50) feet standard nail clippers are useless. I buy straight edge nail clippers so that my toenails don’t get scalloped using under-sized curved cut clippers.
Quality socks that are sized correctly are very important in my opinion.
I always wear two pair of socks. Very fine woolen business style socks or a specialised liner sock underneath thicker quality wool socks snd carefully fitted, tested and trusted boots.
Cool socks for warm weather. Warm socks for cooler or cold weather.
I haven’t had a blister hiking in thirty years.
Thanks MB!
@@mowsertas have you covered heel/toe lock lacing?
I have to buy hiking boots 2 sizes larger than my feet to accommodate all this!!
Great tips across the board mate. Being ex infantry I totally agree on the toenail cut! In fact foot hygiene used to be paramount so good to see you spreading the word. All the best. Clive.
Thanks for sharing! Well said!
Great advice. Thanks for sharing. I would appreciate your advice on when to use trail running shoes vs boots.
It depends on the terrain, the distance you are hiking and the weather conditions. It is very much a personal decision. I tend to use trail runners for short trips on well formed trail. For all of my off track and more arduous trips where I'm carrying a big load i tend to wear boots. I suffered a broken ankle a few years ago and now tend to wear boots a lot more.
This is full of awesome tips to help hikers/backpackers have a more rewarding experience on trail! 😁👍My husband and I are already doing everything except using our trekking poles to replace tent poles. I like #47 Practice Your Tent Set-Up. As a Part B to this one, you could add practice tear down in adverse weather! My husband & I woke up to snow and 60 MPH winds coming off Lake Wapiki in the Indian Heaven Wilderness off the PCT in Washington State with freezing temps and snow! We had to each take the ends of the rain fly and hold them taught while rolling them up without losing it! We did lose the stuff sack for the tent poles as it blew away which was frustrating! From that point on, I made sure I put ALL stuff sacks into one larger stuff sack so I can keep track of them, LOL! 😉
That's a great suggestion about practicing tent takedown in the wind! Thanks for sharing!
@@mowsertas Just like you, we learned the hard way from our own experience. It really IS the best teacher! 😉
Incredibly helpful ! Thank you for sharing !
Glad it was helpful!
Hi Mowser, are you going to try the Durston X-Dome out? Mine should be arriving just in time for the WAT! Very excited
I think i definitely will at some point. Looks like a great tent! Will be great on the WAT!
I'm not a back-packer hiker.... had the luxury of my gear being ferried from one B&B/Guest House to the next when doing the West Highland Way.... BUT this video contains invaluable advice for all hikers. Since then, I now have a water purification bottle, a whistle &, in my case, emergency bivi bag. You have put together some GREAT tips here, Mowser.
Re taking photos, I took 350 odd on the WHW trek plus 3 and a half hours of video footage(!) some done while walking, many just silent panoramas. They added considerably to my hiking time but I can relive my experience over and over again. Good job I went solo, eh!
Thanks so much. I love looking back on old adventures!
I tried lesson 4, a 4 person tent, and instantly regret it. the relation between comfort - weight just didn't work for me. now i'm switching to a 1 person tent. last trip was good but the pack weight was out of this world. now i have this rush of down my base weight without buying expensive things. ex: switch from a sleeping foam mat for a reflective car sunshade.
@@leo_714 I think my guy was saying to go up one person in tent size for the number of people in your party. 2 people, go for a 3 person tent. 1 person in a 4 person tent is way overkill. You might be happy in a 1 person tent, but the weight difference between a 1 and 2 person tent is negligible. You may like the extra space for gear and to dress inside the tent.
Yep, that's where i was coming from. A 3 person with 2 people, or a 2 person for 1 really is nice. Have also used 1 person tents but on long rainy days they do get a bit claustrophobic.
Wow you are so experienced. Loved your tips for hiking. Loads of appreciation from Pakistan. In Pakistan, we have to consider altitude of hike also, as above 4000 meters, BP shoots up.
Altitude is a big factor in Pakistan, for sure! Thanks for watching!
Im into bushcraft/wilderness survival. I have my trekking poles. Plus used if i make a ground shelter. Carry dehydatred food. Lots too learn from hikers.
Great advice
Thanks for watching!
Especially love that last one ☺️❤
Hey Mowser,
Great to see your success on UA-cam! Yep, i was here in the first 100 viewers.
Believe me, i get your changed focus of your videos. I really do. I understand that you receive between 14-30 k viewers in a week or two on your latest videos.
Fascinating though these productions are, i still long for the extended mission videos thst characterised your early productions. You and a couple of mates on an adventure weekend…. Ahhh, those were the days.
But why, you ask, would you invest an equal or greater amount of time on producing - say a Western Arthur video that gets under 5k views (worthy of many more…) - when for the same or less work you could produce a video that might pick up 100k worth of views?
I have no good answer to that question. I can only say, your original die hard fans would appreciate it.
Cheers and thanks for considering the original fandom.
Thank you for being such a dedicated fan from the beginning! I well and truly recognise the redphenix1033 name! I really appreciate your insights and nostalgia for the early days. I do have a couple of hiking trip vids in the pipeline. There's various reasons I haven't made as many trip videos recently - primarily, due to family and work I haven't had time for as many trips. Plus they are a mammoth effort to edit. But, it has been on my mind. I had thought of compiling some videos with minimal narration and just lots of landscapes, scenery etc. There's also been some controversy around people posting hiking content from Tasmanian National Parks and getting into trouble. I’ll definitely take your thoughts into account as I continue to create content! Stay tuned for a trip vid soon!
Toenails... some one I was with on my last hike and got a small cut forgot to refill the bandaids and used a glasses cloth as a makeshift item.
Meals, nothing wrong with a nice musli or two, when you are done can have that kings meal.
And having a rough idea on where you need to go is good for when you come across a missing trail marker also.
When going uphill don't forget to breath... some don't feel the exersion till they start seeing stars. Elevation changes can really take it out of people,
Even on a nice short 5k carrying water is nice.
Yep, those are some great tips! Lots of things that are easy to forget when you're out on the trail.
Helpful tips
Glad you think so!
Emergency whisky, solar panel, poo shovel, download entertainment on mobile, hot water bottle
I disliked nalgene bottles for a while. They're heavier than single-use bottles and their girth make them a poor fit into pack side pockets.
BUT I've changed my mind since last winter. Having at least one container that can be used as a hot water bottle during cold nights is a difference maker.
Great tip!
Note that unlike Oz (also US Canada, ?NZ), where it is 3, the emergency signal in Blighty is six sharp blasts repeated on the minute -' here our responder is meant to give 3 blasts of the whistle but it's better not to respond for fear the victim stops signalling.
AS it is also a pinpointer on location.
Thanks for sharing that clarification! It's interesting to see how different countries have their own emergency signaling protocols. Safety first!
At trail crossings, turn around and look at the crossing. You my be surprised how a crossing can look very different from the other side.
I should have waited to post. as you addressed this.
Yep, a little perspective can make a big difference
That’s a great when I do it all the time learned a long time ago backtracking on the trail can be completely confusing, especially with the sun going down in the mountains
I concur with your hiking tips!
Just one point mate. In the UK we are taught that the international distress signal is six short whistle blasts repeated every few minutes.
When on the Appalachian Trail I discovered that no one knew that!
Is it not taught to Aussies as well
Thanks for your comment! You're right-six short blasts is the distress signal taught in the UK. Here in Australia, we typically use three blasts as the standard call for help.
It's interesting how these signals can vary by region, and your experience on the Appalachian Trail highlights that well. Thanks for sharing this important info, and for helping keep the hiking community informed!
I thought I was the only person who thought about trimming nails. LOL. My concern is when nails get long and start digging into the toes next to them or even worse getting an ingrown toenail.
This video should almost be compulsory watching for all new hikes, trail Etiquette is a problem on some of the more popular hikes here in Vic. I still get caught on tip 35, will I ever learn?
Absolutely! Trail etiquette is so important for everyone’s enjoyment. Easy to forget to warm up when we're excited to get going!
I was curious: What's on your black friday sales list for hiking gear.
That's a great question! I reckon anything in this video is a great option: ua-cam.com/video/bC63SIzNNQ0/v-deo.html If you're really looking to treat yourself, I've been testing out the Zenbivy system and absolutely loving it. Vid on that coming very soon!
@mowsertas
Looking forward to your take on it and if it's worth the money.
Me I'm going to get the X dome. I need a new free-standing tent. I just missed the first round so will need to wait. I'm also looking at a whippa backpack.
@ Whippa testing commencing for me some time in the new year! X done looks great!
It's great to know you have earmarked the whippa, there's not many reviews out there ,they look well thought out and made, though. Are you going to have an expadition sized or a smaller pack? I'm looking at the 60l as it looks like it will carry well for a 20kg 3 to 5 day hike.
Yep, “Duct tape is magic and should be worshipped!” According to Andy Weir, author of the Martian.
ah yes! great call!
>>> Use your whole body to take your steps impacts, aka learn how to properly walk.
Especially your hips. Putting it all on your heels and knees will cost you a lot, and i promise that no, you don't know how to walk. Not until you've walked 700+ consecutive kms on varying terrain. Figure out your weak spots, pains, etc... pay attention to them, how you tend to manage/compensate. There is no recipe, you'll probably have to endure it yourself and try stuff along the way. The more you pay attention, the quicker you'll be able to assess new information on multiple scales and sources at the same time.
hahaha I remember once 5 kids sleeping in a tent meant for 4 people! hahaha that was awfully uncomfortable
Getting foot rot in order to save the plants doesn't make sense. There's only one me. Plants can be replanted.
Remote Emergency Care (REC 3) course
Very comprehensive list of To Do's, that apple to all type of human power travel, from canoeing, kayaking, snow shoes or X country skiing, to bike touring. As long as you have the basic equipment I recommend adding as many as you can for a fuller outdoor experience.
Thanks so much!
Wrong advice with the whistle. Its 6 short blasts every minute. The reply is 3 short blasts.
Thank you for your comment! You're absolutely right about the six-blast signal - it's an important distress call used in many parts of Europe, especially in Alpine regions. In my video, I focused on the three-blast signal as it's more widely recognised internationally. Both systems are valid and useful to know:
Three short blasts: International distress signal
Six short blasts every minute: Alpine/European distress signal
You're spot on about the reply being three blasts in both systems. I appreciate you bringing this up, and I should have mentioned this in the video as it's valuable for hikers to be aware of different regional practices. Thanks!
@@kevinm498 USA 3 of anything = danger
horn blast , g*nshots, whistle whatever.
THREE in USA
What is your weird accent?
He is Australian and I have to hope….. it ain’t that weird.
He is Australian and I have to hope….. it ain’t that weird.
@@michaelwaldeck7081 it sounds weird to me, I guess he sounds a bit Australian
Australian (Tasmanian)
@@mowsertas I get it. I should have not used the word weird, maybe different.