*Gear from this video:* You need a chair: geni.us/LR2hUH Water Filter: geni.us/0CABg1c Aquatabs: geni.us/SXWA6 Pillow: geni.us/JGBYwtT Trowel: geni.us/evIJfd Bear Canister: geni.us/mTL5uW9 Ursack: geni.us/Bqlv Head Net: geni.us/vO9l
100% agree with this list. I would add -- zip lock bags or some kind of bag to put your trash in. I hate trash floating around my food bag or backpack. When I bring a dedicated bag, it makes me much happier and is just easy to toss when I get home. One of those things I had to figure out just from experience, as I usually don't see it on packing lists.
I like the freezer bag cooking method and by doing my meals that way the first meal gives me an empty zip lock when I'm done. It becomes the trash bag.
What i do is carry dog bags in a little dispenser. Whether it be to "glove up" and pick up something nasty, hold trash until i can find a trash can, or hold something like wet clothes. It's surprisingly useful to have 100 decently sized plastic bags at your disposal.
I brought *four* pairs of socks on the PCT. Three toe socks for hiking, and one wool pair for sleeping. The only other item I brought more than one of is a lighter and underwear. And yes, I did take a chair on the PCT and it was amazing.
Im all about 4 pairs of socks! Then when a pair wears out you have enough still so you wont have to buy new socks in the nearest town that will hurt your feet
Yup. I take 3 pairs of hiking socks and rotate them every day hanging the old pair up inside out to air out/dry out as best possible. I also take 1 pair of heavy socks just for sleeping but are also in case the weather turns very cold during the day.
I carry nothing apart from a blood-stained axe and a slightly crazed look. That way, when me and my friends reach our camping spot, everyone is more than happy to share with me all the heavy gear they carried - even food!
Since losing my best hiking buddy to West Nile Virus in Southern Calif, I preach about mosquito deterrents. No matter how healthy and fit you are, age alone thins the blood/brain barrier. Thanks for all the suggestions. Some are already in my gear, some are now in my amazon cart.
Yes! My partner is really allergic to mosquitoes so we carry 100 deet, a deet between 15-35, a deet free bug spray, a mosquito suit for him (just in case it’s really buggy), topical steroid cream, allergy meds, and bendryll tabs (low dose so he can still be functional enough in an emergency). It’s overkill but so worth it cuz he loves the outdoors but not the reaction to the bites
Thanks for the tips! And my contribution with two things about boiling water: a) We MUST filter the water, because some microorganisms can hide in the sediments, and the decontamination can be inefficient. b) After boiling, the water has a metallic taste, as the dissolved gases have left. You just need to reoxygenate the water by passing the water from one bottle to another. Regards from Amazon Rain Forest!
@@mirandafricke3758 We must to filter BEFORE killing bacteria, whether by boiling or chlorinating. Otherwise they can hide in the pores of the sediments.
Maybe a combination of a coffee filter and the water tabs would be enough, though a real water purification filter would be better. Although come to think of it I always put a coffee filter ahead of any water filter I used so it wouldn't clog as fast. So, bring coffee filters even if you have a normal water filter too!
THE piece of comfort gear that is, ounce for ounce, the most comfortable, and nobody seems to talk about? The Hummingbird Single Hammock, coming in at 8 ounces with straps. Better than a chair by far for putting your feet up and recovering.
I live in Alaska where mosquitoes can be brutal at times. Not often, but sometimes. So I keep a head net in a pocket of all of my jackets. They have saved my sanity more than once!
Just a little story about the socks: My wife and I went on our first big trip in Norway 2 years ago. It was only a two day hike, but we are completely new to this (and it turned out that it was a really, REALLY difficult trail, it took us over 9 hours to hike 9km on the first day!). We were walking through thick underwood and then on to a very swampy area. My wife's shoes got soaked pretty bad, so on the second day she would put on a dry pair of socks, and let the other pair hang outside her backpack. Luckily we had the sun in our backs, so the socks dried quickly. Whenever she felt the wetness soaking through the socks, she would change them. Made a very difficult trail (including a section where we had to hike for 150 meters through ice cold water, lol) a tad bit easier. Bottom line: Bring extra socks!
Some very lightweight low-bulk items that can save you from being miserable. Or maybe even dying. - A few Esbit style fuel tabs in case your stove goes down. Or you NEED to make a fire. -Half a hot glue stick in case the sole comes off your boots/shoes and fix other things -Sailmaker's needle and strong thick thread to fix shoes, pack straps. -Spare trekking pole tip -Benadryl, Naproxyn, Aspirin -Scalpel blade, splinter/tick tweezers -Extra water bottle cap -Cordage and duck tape, Tenacious Tape
I never used to take a pillow, never even considered it, but 14 months ago I was trying to sleep, very very cold and damp I was wearing everything I had and the best ground I had was angular rocks, I had *nothing* for a pillow as even the backpacks were in use protecting vital equipment and needed to be nearby but not where I was. There was no vegetation - nothing to help, not even a pillow shaped rock. I had nothing for my head except a climbing helmet! Let me tell you what a bad pillow that makes. The worst most uncomfortable planned night outdoors I ever had. An ultralight pillow makes such a difference! I bought a Sea to Summit Aeros ultralight pillow at 60g/2.1oz and a tiny packed size. Why did I not have one before?
I agree with all your list. For critical items like water and fire I usually have at least 3 ways to provide for these things that don’t add any measurable weight to my pack. I’ve been camping since the 70’s always sleeping like the dead at night. Best time for me to sleep is in the woods. So I’ll pass on the fancy pillow. I would also add spare underwear. Hot sweaty you know what will freeze just as easily as being wet. Clean undies fix the problem. Also like the idea of some spare ziplock bags. Useful for many things.
Hi Steven, enjoyed the video. My wife and I just finished a 5-day cirque of the towers backpack. Not one mosquito bite. We have found the system. We treat our clothing with Permethrin, avon skin so soft sun block and repellent, and Rescue mosquito clips. Not one bite in one of the wetter years in Wyoming. Happy trails
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I'm a mosquito magnet. A head net and a biteaway thingy are inevitable. I'm really annoyed that so few shirts for hiking have a high collar for sealing with the head net! (And a hat with a rim so the net doesn't touch your skin.) There's even a hat with a built-in net - and then airvents on top 🤷 I even occasionally wear gloves because I can't wipe them off as fast as they sting. Seriously, please do a whole video on mosquito protection gear. I'm sure there's stuff I've missed. There's now these portable gadgets that emit a smell, I doubt they work ...
I've used a similar product that's essentially citronella patches you stick on your clothing, and while they don't work near as good as a DEET based bug spray, they're on par with most DEET-free options. I like them for wet jobs, because unlike bug spray they don't wash right off, but they're still enough to dissuade most of the skeeters. I probably wouldn't use them in a super buggy area, and DEET bug spray is still an essential for me for spraying down my trousers to discourage ticks, but I think they're pretty handy in an appropriate situation. The little fan ones seem over-engineered compared to the patches though.
@@blackbeardAquatics Mostly Germany. But, seriously, I'm the magnet. My partner will have 3 bites, and I will stop counting at somewhere around 50. I've got to updose the anti-allergy medication to stop looking like an assault victim. I hate it. I wish I was making this up.
I'm amazed that they are not more common. I finally got one so I could do some hiking in the Spring in the White Mountains (the biting flies can be VERY bad) and now I don't know why they aren't ubiquitous. Considering they weight essentially nothing, I've always got one in my pack now.
I have literally been offered $100 in the backcountry for my head net (WA cascades; simultaneous mosquito, biting flies, and gnat hatch). Would have given it to fellow hiker for free if I had an extra. Difference btwn beautiful trip with modest annoyance and utter misery. Mosquito shirts and pants make a huge difference too, so much more pleasant than deet and work steadily.
This is my first year of backpacking and am loving it! Decided to buy some aquatabs as a backup before a trip last week and guess what? My filter broke and I used them! Could not have been more perfect timing😂
Could you expand on "my filter broke"? Which filter, what broke, what happened, etc? I think I've used 5 or 6 filters over the last few decades but I don't think I've ever broken one, so I'm really intrigued to hear about this incident you had.
@@syberphish I am in the same situation, I've never had a broken filter. But I came close, I accidentally stepped on it when I tripped in camp carrying water from the stream. If had come down harder, I probably could have cracked the little plastic thing. also, I exclusively use non-pump type filters (squeeze, Sawyer mini, etc). I imagine a pump filter might be more vulnerable to something mechanical breaking.
@@sillyquiet I've used 4 different kinds of pump filters and a sawyer. I could see the sawyer breaking more easily but haven't used it as much. These days it's the Katadyn Hiker Pro, but I have both one of those and my older one that still says "PUR" on it. Have used two MSR pump filters too. I've stepped on them, sat on them, dropped them, have destroyed cartridges while trying to "clean" them, and have clogged them up. But I still have them all in working condition except the one MSR I lost. I did 120 miles this season with the Sawyer and have gone back to the Hiker Pro pump, because not only does it filter... it's got a carbon block in it, so it purifies too. Removes urine, chemicals, toxins and makes the water taste good. All things a Sawyer can't do. Filtered algae water...still tastes like algae. Filtered algae water with drink mix, tastes like algae water with drink mix. Purified algae water tastes... like water. It's delicious. Also, I tried the Mini first and it sucks so I switched to the Micro squeeze. I'd just carry it along with the pump if I want two. I already collect my "dirty" water using a Cnoc bag, then filter from it to decrease silting and so I'm not forced to pump at the water's edge. So screwing on a Sawyer is simple if needed. But I see the Sawyer as the really nice backup, not the primary.
I purchase one of those light weight trowels and struggled with the edges cutting into my hand. I got some of the dip-it tool handle products. Three coats later, problem solved. Yeah, it added some weight, but my hands are happier. And I picked a bright color!
I have carried a "Sling Light" chair for decades (it has only needed the fabric replaced once by the manufacture in all those years). Everything else on your list is a must have in my backpack, but the water tablets. I usually backpack with multiple people and we each carry a filtration system in case of emergencies, so I can make clean water to clear any fowling or just use their filter until we get out. It is something I will have to add to my emergency kit in case I am ever hiking alone.
My zero chair is as essential as my tent, being able to sit back, eat properly, be off the ground, enjoy a view leaning back relaxed is worth every ounce! ❤
Yes, PLEASE take a trowel! A couple weeks ago I stepped and squished into someone else’s poop who chose not to dig a cat hole. Imagine your shoe being covered in someone else’s stuff. Worse than dog crap.
The goal of ultralight backpacking is to enjoy the trip more. So bring items that add to your experience, not subtract from them. Great job highlighting this point in the video!
I've had dysentery. It was miserable to need to poo every 20 minutes and just have blood come out. ALWAYS purify your water. The tablets are a great idea, and never trust someone else's water unless you know them well. I got dysentery from a local person who told me his bottled water was safe to drink. An instructor during a chainsaw course, no less.
was he one of those delusional hippies who believes we are "of the earth" and can tolerate dirty water like our ancestors? lol, I have a picture in my mind of this person, I have known some.
I have these Dry-Bags I use for Kayaking that I keep clothes in and can trap air in and use as a pillow. Made of super strong & lightweight nylon and cheap. I made a thick pillow case to fit over it.
Man, I am so with you regarding the mosquito net specifically. It is true, you never always use it - but you are so happy to have it, when you need it! Plus it is a really light weight item easily fitting additionally in one of your pack sacks or outter pockets.
I can endorse most of this list, but I bring a hammock instead of a chair for afternoon reading. I also love a sit pad, but I’m generally more comfortable sitting cross legged on the ground anyway.
Steven, I wholeheartedly agree with all of your recommendations! My husband and I converted to UL gear a couple of years ago to lighten our packs enough to afford these little essentials that most people avoid taking. Once you have a need for them, there are NO regrets taking a bit more weight, IMO! The bug net is one of them. It takes up very little room and weighs next to nothing. I haven't used it yet but I've been in places that had biting deer flies which were as annoying as the mosquitoes you faced. Years ago, we went on a hike in the Cascades of WA State and saw a hiker with a bug net on at the trail head. That should have been a clue but we went all the way to the lake to find backpackers stripped down in their tent naked to better kill the offending pests! We were so exhausted slapping them on the trail getting away from them that we were ready to collapse back at the car! Never again!
Awesome list. I've been carrying backup water tablets for 40 years, and always kind of hem and haw about it, but bring them because they weigh nothing and give me peace of mind. In 40 years, I've never used them because I've never had a filter fail on trail. In the old days, I had a couple of the old ceramic filters wind up failing in storage due to freezing and cracking, but never once on trail. But it's nice to see somebody else back me up that the tiny fraction of an ounce for a few tablets is worth it, just in case...
The Nemo pillow 'best of both worlds' inspired my adding loft to my Hikensure $20 pillow by adding poly-fill left over from a craft project. Stuffed right under the cover. Deflate the air pillow to a comfortable volume and add fill for the height I want. Could also do the same with fill from an old pillow you like. Easy, inexpensive, custom to my needs.
Pillow had me laughing! My dog would be upset if I took a pillow camping with us, that's her job. And the best way to keep her from running off to play with the bears! But there's nothing else on this list that isn't in my packs. I live in a swamp, populated by bears and moose and deer alongside the First Canadian Air Force(mosquitoes and blackflies)!! I cook and store my food at least 100yds from where I sleep, preferably 500yds.
I’m a hike - not a backpacker, but I love your common sense videos with excellent advice. A headset in Maine is standard operating procedure. I would add one thing - a candle. Fire is life and if you light a candle you have a flame that lasts.
a candle can help you start a fire (esp after rain), but I regularly use one when car camping to start my coleman propane stove. Waterproof matches anyone, or do Bics work in any temp?
I never see this on any Backpacking/backwoods videos but another thing I always carry is/are a pair of gloves. I like a good pair of leather and don't mind the added weight. About a million uses too. Bugs biting, gloves, digging a hole, gloves, going into the brush, gloves, Messing with a hot pan/gloves, attending rope or cord, gloves. Before anyone says it, I do not have soft hands, I just know better. One other thing that I never hear talked about that I carry and doesn't take up much space, Feminine pads and tampons. Pads work great on a number of things and have used part of one on heal blisters, Puncture hole you know what to fill the hole with, same for a blood nose.
Even if you had soft hands, there's nothing wrong with it. It's unfortunate that so many men live their lives thinking they're not supposed to be soft in any way. Weird thing society has indoctrinated into us. So soft hands or not, nothing wrong with either.
Had one year in Boy Scouts on the AT where another hiker, not in our group, had their tent torn into by a black bear since they kept their food in their tent. We would always hang bear bags well away from camp and never kept food on us at night for that very reason.
As far as clean water goes, I like boiling water. One of the big plusses to boiling is that it makes the silt precipitate out overnight, so you are good to go the next day. What about fuel? Well your surrounded by fuel, it's just laying on the ground everywhere you go, except perhaps the Sahara desert & Antarctica. So fuel is just not a problem at all, at least not anywhere I go hiking it isn't. Even if its raining, I can still always find & burn fuel.
Great video capturing all the things that I already carry and make sure others carry as well. Along the lines of another comment, I treat the bugs like preparing for the weather - they can seriously impact one's enjoyment of an outdoor adventure.
Not a fan of taking a pillow, unless I'm car camping, but what I do is take a pillow case with a high thread count and put it over a stuff sack of clothes. Always lots of extra socks. I only take chairs car camping. I take a square of comfy foam (like the ones people use in hard stadium seating) to sit on though, because by day two or three it gets less fun to sit on logs and rocks in camp, and it keeps me off the wet ground. I've seen people take inflatable pads to sit on, but they always succumb to sparks from the campfire. One of my favourite newer pieces of kit is a collapsible Gortex bucket to carry water for washing clothes and dishes, or putting out camp fires. I've even used it to put out a couple small fires I came across on trails where camp fires hadn't been properly put out and flared up (there's nothing quite as disconcerting as descending down a long hillside into steadily thicker smoke).
If you need a pillow, you might as well find a hotel or save for a camper van. The point of camping is to leave your comfort zone a little, your love of mod cons, isn't it!
@@NeilMalthus as many an old warrant officer was fond of saying: "Anyone can be uncomfortable in the bush". If I put a pillowcase on a dry sack, after a full day in the harness, I don't think of it as glamping.
Definitely agree on backup water tablets. I had a clogged filter on day two of a five-day Appalachian Trail trip, and having tablets 100% beat burning half our fuel for water.
Instead of a chair, bring a feather light hammock. You can sit in in, like a chair, but you can also lay an chill in it. I always bring mine. Even weighs less than a chair. 🤗
A mosquito head net is a must! Weighs next to nothing and tiny when packed. I used mine last night as I had to deal with both aphids and midges. It's a rare, "it's better to have and not need than to need and not have" when it comes to staying lightweight.
I really loved that sponsor spot. I've seen so many versions, including yours for a long time. This time, you didn't stop the video to integrate the ad and kept the stick-thing going. I loved that. It really satisfied my ADD demons from fast forwarding. Doing it this way makes it impossible to skip the ad, as that would mean missing content, and a bit funny content at that
@@MyLifeOutdoors well, there's at least 2 of us who liked how you integrated the message from your sponsor. :-) We should all remember that we watch all this for free, and keep in mind the huge amount of time and effort it takes to prepare, film, edit these videos. Kudos, and thanks!
They laughed at me when I brought my three legged, folding stool on our rim-to-rim Grand Canyon hike. The extra weight was worth it to be able to just “sit” during breaks and at the camp sites of the dirt ! Also, bring a couple of feet of good quality duct tape, wound around a small dowel. All manner of things can be fixed - holes in your tent, down jacket, shoe , nasty gapping cuts …. on and on.
Also the thing with changing socks, when hiking/walking for long periods of time it's important to have dry socks to more easily avoid blisters. Even changing socks on the trail, but at least mak sure they dry overnight. futhermore the right kind of socks would be great, I think they're usually made of wool.
Don't be like me. My filter broke, but I had Aquatabs, which I *always* carry. Unfortunately, I was extremely tired and since I hadn't packed them (given that they're always in my pack)... I forgot I had them. I easily got a replacement filter then next day, thanks to a trail angel working at Berkshire Outfitters who gave me a lift as well as selling me the filter. Since I knew I'd have safe water the next day, waiting was not an issue, but it was an important lesson.
Exactly and make it big like a small shovel with a 3 ft. handle and a lip to use your foot just like a shovel. It is a fun 30 minute project while sitting around the campfire listening to folks talk about their 20$ titanium trowel and sporks. 😉
Agreed 100% on the trowel Agreed 110% on the clean, dry socks. You probably should take water purification tabs although I don't and I'm not dead yet. Pillow and chair are both luxury items and I don't have to worry about bears as I live in Scotland, where the only dangerous wild animals live next door 😂😂😂
Oh Hi your videos are Great you did One about getting dangerously cold because of the rain next time wear a poncho over your rain gear you can even make an extra Rain layer out of a garbage bag ... I'm a US Marine we had VERY nice London fog raincoat But our 1st Alfa/Brovo uniform raincoat was a Very CHEAP thing that offered almost no rain protection We had ponchos for our work uniform that also offered almost no rain protection ... so in my early days in the Corps On rainy school days I went to school wearing BOTH -- I was the only one that got to school dry
Love the list! One (2) item I always carry now, even in my day pack, is two plastic bread loaf bags. Twice in dry desert conditions I've been caught in cold rain with only fleece gloves. The bags are 100% waterproof and keep my hands dry (and thus warm) in case of unexpected precipitation. They're not super durable so be gentle and maybe pack the trekking poles.
Same here! I use trailrunners that fill and drain with water pretty easily, which isn't an issue during warmer, dry months. But during cold or humid conditions, a bread bag per foot saves my feet while not requiring a different set of shoes/boots.
I am going to give away my age, but we always used these as liners for our Moon Boots in winter. We would play in huge drifts of snow (very dangerous) and end up soaked! The boots were only waterproof up to the ankle I think. My mom would put bread bags over our socks, tuck our pants into them, and then boots. We still got wet, but not as drenched...
All items are spot on. Pack your taps separately from your filter. If you pack them with your filter and misplace it you just lost one on the backup systems. Vault type bear canister and double for a chair but a chair is more comfortable.
Bear spray, substantial first aid kits, a "real" knife. I'm a firm believer in back up water purification (tablets). I take extra socks, briefs and a t-shirt for an especially sweaty day and alternate. Walmart sofa throws for $4 makes excellent camp pillows. I definitely carry a bug face net. You're 100% right. When you need it, you love it.
Great points! Head Net, bought one last year. Mosquitoes swarm me and leave scares. I use a Pathfinder canteen stove to dig holes. Would love a chair. I have a bad back. However, I am 6' 5" and weigh 270 pounds. Have not seen any of the light weight ones that will hold up to someone my size. And they take up so much room. I usually wind up sitting on the ground with a small foam pad and lean against a tree. Watch out for the insects!
I love and carry everything you suggested. After being chased into our tents by mosquitos last year, I sat and read in back-supported comfort for several hours. Yes, I brought my chair right into my tent (helps to be short, lol). This year, we have also tried sending hiking clothing to Insect Shield to be treated with permethrin. A surprising number of clothes fit in one of their bags.
You can also buy bottles of permethricin treatment pretty cheap and treat your clothing yourself. I personally didn't have much luck with them, but I wasn't having much luck with 100% DEET either at the time, so it might be something worth looking into, especially if you have limited time before a trip to a buggy area.
WRT the Trowel: Yes, bring one-but also bring wag bags as many areas, including one I help manage, have found that telling people to just bury it properly often doesn't work. Wag bags take your #2 to a whole other level of Leave No Trace.
Great list. I can get by without the chair and I’ve found a way to roll up my hoodie and tuck it into the hood so it is an acceptable pillow but the other items aren’t really replaceable. I was so happy to have a head net in Ventana wilderness earlier this year. The yellow flies were relentless.
Worst mosquito area I have been to was arctic Finland. The terrain is like swampy taiga and the air is literally THICK with thousands of mosquitoes. When one sweeps ones arm through the air, there is actually resistance as if one is underwater. And driving on the highway (and btw the Finns are crazy fast drivers) it sounds like one is in a fierce down pour (patter, patter, patter) from the mosquitoes hitting the windshield. We must top up window washer fluid at every gas station because we continuously use it as we drive. Needless to say, a mosquito net around the head is absolutely necessary.
Dude I just love my lightweight Nemo chair and my fillow. Now, I'm no army ranger but I do heavy labor for UPS so 2 lbs extra for that comfort is totally acceptable for someone like me. Side note: I just adjusted some straps on my osprey backpack directly above my shoulders and it felt like it took off 5-10 lbs of "perceived" weight. My brother and I are hiking pals and he has been teasing me about the chair but you are right, I saw him sitting down in it on my way back to camp from a quick firewood gathering session. He will soon break and become one of us.
Mosquito head net saved my life and sanity on the John Muir Trail! I agree with everything else and am looking to replace my Klymit inflatable pillow with the one you suggested. Thanks!
I laughed when you said "chair." I started carrying a collapsible chair two years ago on backpack hunting trips...companions criticized me profusely...but the following year they all carried one! LOL
When I hiked JMT I had 3 socks. 2 hiking one sleeping . It rained on us for a week, so a hike pair to rotate to half dry and a always clean sleep pair was worth it. Super glue was clutch when I sliced my finger and for a pinhole in my sleep pad. Extra string was nice for tricky tarp setup or long open hangs when the rain was crazy and I used my tarp to shelter 4 people. If you are a hammock we, bring some Amstel loops with a little climbing nut, let’s you hang one tree to rock crack.
Regarding trowels: I learned in archaeology field school that most archaeologists use a mason's trowel to dig their very flat trench walls with. But (....and here comes the secret) a lot of them take a bastard file and sharpen the edges of the mason's trowel to cut through tough roots and other things with. That doesn't just apply to a mason's trowel in archaeo. It applies to any metal cat-hole trowel you take backpacking. The object isn't to make a back up knife you can baton with. The object is just to cut through the really tough ground faster with your cat-hole trowel. I keep a u-dig-it on my belt, and it is semi-sharpened this way. The sharpening really helps...
I've been in some really buggy areas, mosquitoes, horse flies, midges, etc... The sprays available, the bug killing machines, they seem to pose an ever bigger threat to human health, even as they do their work. Smart friends brought tight weave, breathable, long sleeve coverings they could put a nasty spray on, but we were all still breathing that stuff in over the day. Anyway, I went looking for an alternative. I ended up getting some natural bug spray and balm from Chagrin Valley (has an expiration FYI), and a Coughlan's bug suit. I have had a couple minor situations to test out my system, and I like it a lot. (Of note, permethrin treated clothes tend to be relatively expensive purchases that ought to be read as something like 'no longer bug repelling at all after 30 washes, or whatever number of washes they specify, which isn't a lot, especially if you wash your clothes in the field.') Before all this, me and my Dad went on a backpacking trip in Glacier National Park along a lake. It was muggy, and absolutely miserable with biting bugs. We did an overnight, instead of a few days, because we were being eaten alive. It was one of those experiences where you get just absolutely disgusting, but you don't have energy to do more than snarf the best cheese and summer sausage you've ever eaten, gulp some water, and somehow get into your uncomfortable bed, achy, itchy, and done with the world. Hanging the food was like a fever dream, as was setting up the tents. The only thing I felt like I truly needed on that trip was bug protection. Food, water, hygiene, and a good night's sleep were all negotiable to some extent, but bug protection? That was non-negotiable. You don't need it until you need it, but when you need it... We'd come in on a long dirt road to the trailhead, so we were kind of committed, for at least a night. Whenever people push to forgo the bug protection I remember that trip. And when I hear people dissing the fashionability of a full bug suit, I just shake my head. On that trip, I wasn't even the tastiest mosquito snack. My Dad? Oh yeah, I think our count for how many times he was bitten might have been in the 500's. I'm pretty sure he would have been thanking a diety with every minute spent inside a bug suit on that trip. And, you know, Glacier is western alpine, in northerly latitudes. It wasn't Michigan. I think it was spring. Point is, if it had been just a bit colder still, or a bit higher up, bugs likely wouldn't have been an issue, but instead, it felt like we were there when they were all spawning. They were clouds above the lake, and in the forest along the trail, even when it climbed away from the lake. We spent brutal up and downs hoping that at least the bugs might be less, further away from the water. We were wrong. They Never Let Up. So, yeah, that's why when it comes time to pack, with everything laid out, I get a little grabby with the bug suit, like it's my teddy bear I can't leave behind, if there's the slightest chance I might need it. I often wonder why backpackers aren't packing a bug suit. I know it isn't really ultralight style, but then, I just don't understand a desire to crawl into your tent smelling like ass and Deet, contaminating everything to the point that you're not sure whether you've started tasting it, or the combo has simply locked its self into everything you own. If you can't wash every night, using Deet is a whole new experience. I'm not sure why anyone would knowingly sign up for it, if there was any alternative. On that note, I'm going to suggest two more things for backpackers. If you're not springing for a scrubba, I recommend at least bringing a gallon ziploc bag, and soap, with your hankie. Wash your feet, your socks, and if you can/they can dry overnight, your shoes. (I had fivefingers to wash, as context.) The bag as your sink, you can get 200 ft. away from a water source to wash off properly. Also, you can soak your feet. Which brings me to the second item I recommend you bringing: epsom salts. I know, quantity and weight, but 1) this is kit you, or someone in your party will use, if you bring it, and 2) one magical moment with the stuff will convince anyone you're hiking with that they really want to carry epsom salts. It's magic, and you don't need a ton to soak your feet. Also of note: you know what you've got to clean to avoid monkey butt. If for nothing else, this is why you don't skimp on soap. People put glide stuff on in desert situations, but that isn't the same as cleaning up. It's one thing to smell like ass. It's another to feel like ass. I highly recommend not ditching soap altogether, and keeping some kind of water delivery system to wash off. It doesn't need to be weighty or fancy. A wide mouth, and large volume thing will do nicely. A gallon ziplock bag does that pretty well. You just have to stabilize it a bit as you use it. A scrubba is a nice upgrade to get your clothes clean. A portable solar shower might make washing your whole body easier. If you have only so much water, but aren't worried about weight, or patiently washing yourself piece by piece, then you might look at the lunatec. It's a fairly special spray bottle to make the best use of the water you've got for cleaning purposes, whether that's you, or dishes. I came across it being recommended on the Boat Galley podcast. Sailors are always keeping an eye on the fresh water they have, and liveaboards practically live on water rations. Even if you have a system to filter salt water to fresh water, and therefore a way to have more fresh water between fill ups on land, the systems are well known for getting clogged, and breaking. Distilling fresh water also tends to take fuel, or space, and time, so that even if it's a viable backup to filtration, it doesn't make much water besides what it takes to keep people hydrated. For that reason, most sailors keep enough water on hand to get to land, and fill up, at all times, even if they are making water. Tanks are only so big, especially in such a small space. The lunatec was the podcaster's answer to doing dishes for two. Personally, I like it for washing hands on the trail. I have a little squeeze bottle bidet from an old vanilla bottle. I know people have pee rags, and toilet paper, and packing out bags. Maybe they have their place, but I prefer soap, water, a clean pack towel, and the ability to clean anything that gets dirty, and yes, a trowel to bury my business deep. Some things just need to keep clean, even more so, when you're backpacking. Personally, I think it makes a world of difference if you can keep your sleep system, and yourself in it, relatively clean, which is another reason to love clean socks and travel liners.
Head net 100%!!! I've been in situations in the past where I had to hurriedly set up my tent just to survive the bugs! P.S. the proper hat to go with the net is important too!
I like my bear canister for 1) sitting on, and 2) carrying water away from a stream or lake to wash myself or my clothes (no soap in the steam/lake!). and of course, it's great for keeping bears out of my food.
Great video, great list! Two years ago, while hiking in high country, we saw that several backpackers had just pooped in the open. They left it covered with TP and walked away. In all my years backpacking I've ever seen anything like it - absolutely disgusting! So, not only "yes" to the poop trowel, but for heaven's sake USE it!!
I personally, find cloths in a bag are a lot more comfortable than a pillow. That being said, a pillow case is nice as the texture of other things is often distracting. It's also great because if you want to sleep leaning against a tree, you can redistribute the clothes to cradle your neck.
Of course it's hard to dig in hard, dry dirt full of roots. I don't think it's that much easier with a trowel. If you look for a proper spot it doesn't have to be that difficult. Ground covered in a thick layer of leaves, pine needles, or moss is often soft underneath. But my most favorite option is to find a reasonably large rock that's half-buried, and roll it aside. Voila, pre-made hole. Do your business, and roll the rock back into place. That's the epitome of LNT because you truly can't tell anything was disturbed.
I don't really hike, but walk in parks regularly. Always always carry tick removers.... in the Netherlands about 70% is infected with Lyme..... Basically i have a small medkit with added afterbyte pen and tick remover. Lightweight stuff too.
Disagree regarding bears. You can practice the proper bear "etiquette" and still run into the wrong bear on the wrong day. There have been a number of fatal human-black bear encounters. Pogo Mine, was a black bear. I say if you are going into bear/mountain lion country go prepared. (Not to mention ill tempered dogs)
Agree. You up your risk by not following “bear etiquette,” keeping food away, being prepared, etc., but you can do all of those and run into a sick, aggressive or hungry bear. I can’t say for sure, but pretty sure you can’t say what “bears” are like any more than you can say what humans are like.
Great list! I’ll add the water tablets, although I have 2 filters, a life straw and MSR. I would add duct tape wrapped around your hiking poles or a lighter.
I keep a pair of socks in my sleeping bag, and I only use them to sleep in. I don't count the item or the weight. I just consider them part of the sleeping bag. Never to be used in emergencies. If there is an emergency, I go barefoot. Not giving up my toasty dry comfy sleeping socks for nothin. If you don't have a trowel, you are _not_ in my group.
I honestly take every item you highlighted to the scorn & shaming of my ultralight friends. That is until we get to camp & take out my bug net, comfy chair & finally my nice pillow to use at the end of a long day! Thank you for making me feel even more vindicated!!! Wild thing is these things don't really weigh that much. Oh yeah, always have my trusty trowel! Mines plastic & weights a couple ounces.
I think a lot of people with military background bring extra socks. They are multipurpose. To mention a few use cases, you can use them to insulate your neck, your hands and if you cut holes in the ends you can use them as shin insulation (depending on what type of sock).
I can understand not bringing bear spray by practicing good bear proof food storage, but there is absolutely no way I will not have bear spray with me hiking and backpacking in Alaska with grizzlies everywhere. I’m not concerned about black bears honestly, but if you live in an area with brown bears, bear spray is not something to skip out on taking with you.
I carry two extra pairs of wool socks and Coolmax sock liners. One of the best things learned in the military (infantry) is TAKE CARE OF YOUR FEET! you can't go far if they're blistered. Dry socks at the end of the day or before heading out in the morning are such a comfort AND a great morale booster if your feet get wet during the day.
Agree 100% with all but haven't done the chair thing yet. Been looking at them though. For me the +1 is SPF lip moisturizer. I carry a chapstick in my pocket and an extra in the bear canister. In the dry climate and high altitude of the Sierras lip sunscreen and moisturizer is vital.
I fully second the trowel recommendation, and would actually take it a step further. Pack the digging tool you need for your local sediments. Flimsy lightweight backpacking trowels simply do not cut it here where we have insanely hardpack clays just centimeters below the surface, and even though my carbon steel trowel weighs easily 3 or 4 times as much--let alone the solid steel scratch awl I bring to areas with especially gnarly soils that need to be chipped out--I wouldn't actually save any weight by carrying a lighter tool that doesn't work, because at that point I might as well not bring anything. It's one of those things that is an essential for being a responsible and courteous enjoyer of the outdoors. Find a way to make the added weight comfortable. I carry mine on my belt and don't even notice it.
i really like your videos, such an easy going person explaining tips on preparations and survival without making people feel dumb or anything like that.
Agreed. Especially on the tiny shovel. I'm so sick of stumbling onto shallow graves with TP remnants and yesterdays mountainhouse burried a half inch below he surface. For the love of Pete, burry your s#!t.
i even bring an extra pair of socks in my tiny cycling toolkit under my saddle. also a pack of tums in there; never had to use them even in a group ride, but it's nice to know they're there.
I agree that MOST black bears will run away as soon as they see a person. I encounter a dozen or more each year, BUT I still carry bear spray just in case. The Forest Service and the Park Service have relocated problem bears in the past and it is ridiculous to expect people to render themselves defenseless if they wind encountering a problem bear!
Not what EXACTLY is considered a "trowel", but I personally use a good garden spade. I test them at home before using them for trips and I have two (one w/ wood handle and one w/ metal handle) that both are tough and do the job.
@@fastlearner1490 tip of the day: those Conjurer brand harps ( Amazon) are excellent. ( Under 20$) Gave some to a friend who is a famous blues legend. He loved em. He plays very pricey harps. He was super impressed with the Conjurers.
yeah, i have seen bears shred and mangke caned food, anything in the sack would be mangled if not 5m up between two trees. living in northern Scandinavia I certainly know biting insects
@@MyLifeOutdoors True, in my 50ish years I have just had two bear incidents, not because bear is unusual here, I have minimum of two bears within 2km of my house (forest is just across the road from my house), uhm thinkkng some, one is a female with two cubs, and we don't have black bear, just the less cuddly brown ones.
I went out with my brothers recently and we didnt bring a trowel. My brother had lightweight 6" knife with a 2" serrated edge that we used for catholes. It dug great and went right through roots. Slightly heavier than a trowel but I like that it has multiple purposes.
@@MyLifeOutdoors it will, but its an old knife that is easy to sharpen again. I think most people stress too much about a knife having a razor-sharp edge anyway.
*Gear from this video:*
You need a chair: geni.us/LR2hUH
Water Filter: geni.us/0CABg1c
Aquatabs: geni.us/SXWA6
Pillow: geni.us/JGBYwtT
Trowel: geni.us/evIJfd
Bear Canister: geni.us/mTL5uW9
Ursack: geni.us/Bqlv
Head Net: geni.us/vO9l
those links dont work
I ALWAYS TAKE THESE THINGS (I haven't watched this video yet).
Every like is a person you beat to the punch
I always watch a video on the things I should have taken
*Cast Iron Pan 🤣🤙
😂😂😂
ME TOO! (im still watching the mint mobile ad)
100% agree with this list. I would add -- zip lock bags or some kind of bag to put your trash in. I hate trash floating around my food bag or backpack. When I bring a dedicated bag, it makes me much happier and is just easy to toss when I get home. One of those things I had to figure out just from experience, as I usually don't see it on packing lists.
I like the freezer bag cooking method and by doing my meals that way the first meal gives me an empty zip lock when I'm done. It becomes the trash bag.
What i do is carry dog bags in a little dispenser. Whether it be to "glove up" and pick up something nasty, hold trash until i can find a trash can, or hold something like wet clothes. It's surprisingly useful to have 100 decently sized plastic bags at your disposal.
I've been carrying trash bags with me hiking since I was a little kid. Good Scouts never litter.
Trash bag also makes good survival rain poncho
Aloksak Bags - odor proof and waterproof
0:17 Back-up water treatment tablets 1:04 Extra socks
1:32 Camp chair 1:38 Pillow 2:17 Trowel
4:56 Kevlar food bag 5:09 Mosquito head net
Socks oh yeah, addional spare gloves + buff in the winter, reflective aluminum blanket from first aid kit.
God bless you!
Saved 5 min of my life 😂
You literally don’t need any of that, it just extra weight
U forgot 5:57 guy walks behind him
I brought *four* pairs of socks on the PCT. Three toe socks for hiking, and one wool pair for sleeping. The only other item I brought more than one of is a lighter and underwear. And yes, I did take a chair on the PCT and it was amazing.
Socks used only for sleeping was such a gamechanger for me. Guaranteed warm tootsies at night and the general comfort of socks I haven't sweat into.
Im all about 4 pairs of socks! Then when a pair wears out you have enough still so you wont have to buy new socks in the nearest town that will hurt your feet
Yup. I take 3 pairs of hiking socks and rotate them every day hanging the old pair up inside out to air out/dry out as best possible. I also take 1 pair of heavy socks just for sleeping but are also in case the weather turns very cold during the day.
I carry nothing apart from a blood-stained axe and a slightly crazed look. That way, when me and my friends reach our camping spot, everyone is more than happy to share with me all the heavy gear they carried - even food!
Exactly!!! A hockey mask is super handy too. I just ask folks for food and supplies and they just share.
Savage ❤
Now thats minimalist backpacking
Bonus when they share the heavy gear and food you can leave them with a fresh animal for food and wood to cook it with
Err, wouldn't a blood stained and attract even MORE mosquitoes? :-)
Since losing my best hiking buddy to West Nile Virus in Southern Calif, I preach about mosquito deterrents. No matter how healthy and fit you are, age alone thins the blood/brain barrier.
Thanks for all the suggestions. Some are already in my gear, some are now in my amazon cart.
Sorry to hear this man praying for you ✝️❤️
Mosquitoes are the deadliest animals on earth, by a far shot. Not something to be mindless about, for sure. Very sorry for your loss.
Yes! My partner is really allergic to mosquitoes so we carry 100 deet, a deet between 15-35, a deet free bug spray, a mosquito suit for him (just in case it’s really buggy), topical steroid cream, allergy meds, and bendryll tabs (low dose so he can still be functional enough in an emergency).
It’s overkill but so worth it cuz he loves the outdoors but not the reaction to the bites
Thanks for the tips! And my contribution with two things about boiling water:
a) We MUST filter the water, because some microorganisms can hide in the sediments, and the decontamination can be inefficient.
b) After boiling, the water has a metallic taste, as the dissolved gases have left. You just need to reoxygenate the water by passing the water from one bottle to another.
Regards from Amazon Rain Forest!
I didn't know that (b) about boiled water, thanks for the tip! 👍
Wait ! So we filter the water then boil it or can we just boil it 😅😅
@@mirandafricke3758 We must to filter BEFORE killing bacteria, whether by boiling or chlorinating. Otherwise they can hide in the pores of the sediments.
Maybe a combination of a coffee filter and the water tabs would be enough, though a real water purification filter would be better. Although come to think of it I always put a coffee filter ahead of any water filter I used so it wouldn't clog as fast. So, bring coffee filters even if you have a normal water filter too!
THE piece of comfort gear that is, ounce for ounce, the most comfortable, and nobody seems to talk about? The Hummingbird Single Hammock, coming in at 8 ounces with straps. Better than a chair by far for putting your feet up and recovering.
I live in Alaska where mosquitoes can be brutal at times. Not often, but sometimes. So I keep a head net in a pocket of all of my jackets. They have saved my sanity more than once!
Just a little story about the socks:
My wife and I went on our first big trip in Norway 2 years ago. It was only a two day hike, but we are completely new to this (and it turned out that it was a really, REALLY difficult trail, it took us over 9 hours to hike 9km on the first day!). We were walking through thick underwood and then on to a very swampy area. My wife's shoes got soaked pretty bad, so on the second day she would put on a dry pair of socks, and let the other pair hang outside her backpack. Luckily we had the sun in our backs, so the socks dried quickly. Whenever she felt the wetness soaking through the socks, she would change them. Made a very difficult trail (including a section where we had to hike for 150 meters through ice cold water, lol) a tad bit easier.
Bottom line: Bring extra socks!
Regarding a poop trowel. Let's also remember that when you need to go, you NEED TO GO! So speed and efficiency in digging your cat hole is important.
Great point!
I saw that your chemical poop disturbes the nature. Look it up lol you shouldnt poop in wilderness but I would still do it, fuck the eco warriors
You do realize that animals do not dig holes for their poop
@@MrDamon888they cover it post pooping.
We dig it as its better than just having a pile of poop covered in dirt.
We are also animals.
I pity the man who doesn't know he needs to crap at least half an hour before he craps his pants.
Some very lightweight low-bulk items that can save you from being miserable. Or maybe even dying.
- A few Esbit style fuel tabs in case your stove goes down. Or you NEED to make a fire.
-Half a hot glue stick in case the sole comes off your boots/shoes and fix other things
-Sailmaker's needle and strong thick thread to fix shoes, pack straps.
-Spare trekking pole tip
-Benadryl, Naproxyn, Aspirin
-Scalpel blade, splinter/tick tweezers
-Extra water bottle cap
-Cordage and duck tape, Tenacious Tape
glue gun stick- great idea!
Glue stick was a new one for me, great tip
This is better than the video.
Scalpel blade? If it's bad enough to need surgery, I'm calling 911 lol
Feminine pads for really bad wounds or to be a buddy. Their light, absorbent, won’t stick, sterile, and cheap.
I never used to take a pillow, never even considered it, but 14 months ago I was trying to sleep, very very cold and damp I was wearing everything I had and the best ground I had was angular rocks, I had *nothing* for a pillow as even the backpacks were in use protecting vital equipment and needed to be nearby but not where I was. There was no vegetation - nothing to help, not even a pillow shaped rock. I had nothing for my head except a climbing helmet! Let me tell you what a bad pillow that makes. The worst most uncomfortable planned night outdoors I ever had. An ultralight pillow makes such a difference! I bought a Sea to Summit Aeros ultralight pillow at 60g/2.1oz and a tiny packed size. Why did I not have one before?
I agree with all your list. For critical items like water and fire I usually have at least 3 ways to provide for these things that don’t add any measurable weight to my pack. I’ve been camping since the 70’s always sleeping like the dead at night. Best time for me to sleep is in the woods. So I’ll pass on the fancy pillow. I would also add spare underwear. Hot sweaty you know what will freeze just as easily as being wet. Clean undies fix the problem. Also like the idea of some spare ziplock bags. Useful for many things.
Hi Steven, enjoyed the video. My wife and I just finished a 5-day cirque of the towers backpack. Not one mosquito bite. We have found the system. We treat our clothing with Permethrin, avon skin so soft sun block and repellent, and Rescue mosquito clips. Not one bite in one of the wetter years in Wyoming. Happy trails
I'm a mosquito magnet. A head net and a biteaway thingy are inevitable. I'm really annoyed that so few shirts for hiking have a high collar for sealing with the head net!
(And a hat with a rim so the net doesn't touch your skin.)
There's even a hat with a built-in net - and then airvents on top 🤷 I even occasionally wear gloves because I can't wipe them off as fast as they sting.
Seriously, please do a whole video on mosquito protection gear. I'm sure there's stuff I've missed.
There's now these portable gadgets that emit a smell, I doubt they work ...
I’ve got one of the gadgets I’m going to be testing
In my experience they work very well.
I've used a similar product that's essentially citronella patches you stick on your clothing, and while they don't work near as good as a DEET based bug spray, they're on par with most DEET-free options. I like them for wet jobs, because unlike bug spray they don't wash right off, but they're still enough to dissuade most of the skeeters. I probably wouldn't use them in a super buggy area, and DEET bug spray is still an essential for me for spraying down my trousers to discourage ticks, but I think they're pretty handy in an appropriate situation. The little fan ones seem over-engineered compared to the patches though.
Where tf you going hiking? 😂
@@blackbeardAquatics Mostly Germany. But, seriously, I'm the magnet. My partner will have 3 bites, and I will stop counting at somewhere around 50. I've got to updose the anti-allergy medication to stop looking like an assault victim. I hate it. I wish I was making this up.
YES! I HAVE PREACHING THE GOOD WORD OF HEAD NETS FOR SO DAMN LONG! Finally! I am SO glad to hear someone else consider them an essential.
Me too! I always have a head net as part of my med kit, along with the backup water tablets.
I'm amazed that they are not more common. I finally got one so I could do some hiking in the Spring in the White Mountains (the biting flies can be VERY bad) and now I don't know why they aren't ubiquitous. Considering they weight essentially nothing, I've always got one in my pack now.
Headsets are essential in Australia
I have literally been offered $100 in the backcountry for my head net (WA cascades; simultaneous mosquito, biting flies, and gnat hatch). Would have given it to fellow hiker for free if I had an extra. Difference btwn beautiful trip with modest annoyance and utter misery. Mosquito shirts and pants make a huge difference too, so much more pleasant than deet and work steadily.
This is my first year of backpacking and am loving it! Decided to buy some aquatabs as a backup before a trip last week and guess what? My filter broke and I used them! Could not have been more perfect timing😂
Glad you had them
Could you expand on "my filter broke"?
Which filter, what broke, what happened, etc?
I think I've used 5 or 6 filters over the last few decades but I don't think I've ever broken one, so I'm really intrigued to hear about this incident you had.
@@syberphish I am in the same situation, I've never had a broken filter. But I came close, I accidentally stepped on it when I tripped in camp carrying water from the stream. If had come down harder, I probably could have cracked the little plastic thing.
also, I exclusively use non-pump type filters (squeeze, Sawyer mini, etc). I imagine a pump filter might be more vulnerable to something mechanical breaking.
@@sillyquiet I've used 4 different kinds of pump filters and a sawyer. I could see the sawyer breaking more easily but haven't used it as much.
These days it's the Katadyn Hiker Pro, but I have both one of those and my older one that still says "PUR" on it. Have used two MSR pump filters too.
I've stepped on them, sat on them, dropped them, have destroyed cartridges while trying to "clean" them, and have clogged them up. But I still have them all in working condition except the one MSR I lost.
I did 120 miles this season with the Sawyer and have gone back to the Hiker Pro pump, because not only does it filter... it's got a carbon block in it, so it purifies too.
Removes urine, chemicals, toxins and makes the water taste good.
All things a Sawyer can't do.
Filtered algae water...still tastes like algae.
Filtered algae water with drink mix, tastes like algae water with drink mix.
Purified algae water tastes... like water.
It's delicious.
Also, I tried the Mini first and it sucks so I switched to the Micro squeeze. I'd just carry it along with the pump if I want two.
I already collect my "dirty" water using a Cnoc bag, then filter from it to decrease silting and so I'm not forced to pump at the water's edge.
So screwing on a Sawyer is simple if needed.
But I see the Sawyer as the really nice backup, not the primary.
@@syberphish they never follow up
I purchase one of those light weight trowels and struggled with the edges cutting into my hand. I got some of the dip-it tool handle products. Three coats later, problem solved. Yeah, it added some weight, but my hands are happier. And I picked a bright color!
I have carried a "Sling Light" chair for decades (it has only needed the fabric replaced once by the manufacture in all those years). Everything else on your list is a must have in my backpack, but the water tablets. I usually backpack with multiple people and we each carry a filtration system in case of emergencies, so I can make clean water to clear any fowling or just use their filter until we get out. It is something I will have to add to my emergency kit in case I am ever hiking alone.
My zero chair is as essential as my tent, being able to sit back, eat properly, be off the ground, enjoy a view leaning back relaxed is worth every ounce! ❤
PREACH IT.
Yes, PLEASE take a trowel! A couple weeks ago I stepped and squished into someone else’s poop who chose not to dig a cat hole. Imagine your shoe being covered in someone else’s stuff. Worse than dog crap.
Uggh, may karma come back at them!
🤮🤮🤮🤮
I disagree. Dog shit is far worse. It's like roofing tar usually.
The goal of ultralight backpacking is to enjoy the trip more. So bring items that add to your experience, not subtract from them. Great job highlighting this point in the video!
headnet, absolutely! but Picaridin for arms/legs/exposed-parts. smooth skin, lasts a long time, and better than any bug spray. great stuff.
I've had dysentery. It was miserable to need to poo every 20 minutes and just have blood come out. ALWAYS purify your water. The tablets are a great idea, and never trust someone else's water unless you know them well. I got dysentery from a local person who told me his bottled water was safe to drink. An instructor during a chainsaw course, no less.
was he one of those delusional hippies who believes we are "of the earth" and can tolerate dirty water like our ancestors? lol, I have a picture in my mind of this person, I have known some.
I always carry an anti-diarrhea pill. It can be super dangerous to get dehydrated from diarrhea
I brought a real pillow when I backpacked the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne a few weeks ago. Some of the best camping sleep I've had.
I have these Dry-Bags I use for Kayaking that I keep clothes in and can trap air in and use as a pillow. Made of super strong & lightweight nylon and cheap. I made a thick pillow case to fit over it.
I brought a real pillow when I backpacked the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne a few weeks ago. Some of the best camping sleep I've had.
Man, I am so with you regarding the mosquito net specifically. It is true, you never always use it - but you are so happy to have it, when you need it! Plus it is a really light weight item easily fitting additionally in one of your pack sacks or outter pockets.
I can endorse most of this list, but I bring a hammock instead of a chair for afternoon reading. I also love a sit pad, but I’m generally more comfortable sitting cross legged on the ground anyway.
Steven, I wholeheartedly agree with all of your recommendations! My husband and I converted to UL gear a couple of years ago to lighten our packs enough to afford these little essentials that most people avoid taking. Once you have a need for them, there are NO regrets taking a bit more weight, IMO! The bug net is one of them. It takes up very little room and weighs next to nothing. I haven't used it yet but I've been in places that had biting deer flies which were as annoying as the mosquitoes you faced. Years ago, we went on a hike in the Cascades of WA State and saw a hiker with a bug net on at the trail head. That should have been a clue but we went all the way to the lake to find backpackers stripped down in their tent naked to better kill the offending pests! We were so exhausted slapping them on the trail getting away from them that we were ready to collapse back at the car! Never again!
Awesome list. I've been carrying backup water tablets for 40 years, and always kind of hem and haw about it, but bring them because they weigh nothing and give me peace of mind. In 40 years, I've never used them because I've never had a filter fail on trail. In the old days, I had a couple of the old ceramic filters wind up failing in storage due to freezing and cracking, but never once on trail. But it's nice to see somebody else back me up that the tiny fraction of an ounce for a few tablets is worth it, just in case...
Agreed. I’ve never had to use them but they are there just in case and like you said, they weigh nothing and take up no room
The Nemo pillow 'best of both worlds' inspired my adding loft to my Hikensure $20 pillow by adding poly-fill left over from a craft project. Stuffed right under the cover.
Deflate the air pillow to a comfortable volume and add fill for the height I want. Could also do the same with fill from an old pillow you like.
Easy, inexpensive, custom to my needs.
Pillow had me laughing! My dog would be upset if I took a pillow camping with us, that's her job. And the best way to keep her from running off to play with the bears! But there's nothing else on this list that isn't in my packs. I live in a swamp, populated by bears and moose and deer alongside the First Canadian Air Force(mosquitoes and blackflies)!! I cook and store my food at least 100yds from where I sleep, preferably 500yds.
I’m a hike - not a backpacker, but I love your common sense videos with excellent advice. A headset in Maine is standard operating procedure. I would add one thing - a candle. Fire is life and if you light a candle you have a flame that lasts.
A hike can easily turn into a night in the woods.
a candle can help you start a fire (esp after rain), but I regularly use one when car camping to start my coleman propane stove. Waterproof matches anyone, or do Bics work in any temp?
Any candle you carry can be pre lit at home, it makes char on the end which is easier to light...
I never see this on any Backpacking/backwoods videos but another thing I always carry is/are a pair of gloves. I like a good pair of leather and don't mind the added weight. About a million uses too. Bugs biting, gloves, digging a hole, gloves, going into the brush, gloves, Messing with a hot pan/gloves, attending rope or cord, gloves. Before anyone says it, I do not have soft hands, I just know better. One other thing that I never hear talked about that I carry and doesn't take up much space, Feminine pads and tampons. Pads work great on a number of things and have used part of one on heal blisters, Puncture hole you know what to fill the hole with, same for a blood nose.
Even if you had soft hands, there's nothing wrong with it. It's unfortunate that so many men live their lives thinking they're not supposed to be soft in any way. Weird thing society has indoctrinated into us. So soft hands or not, nothing wrong with either.
Had one year in Boy Scouts on the AT where another hiker, not in our group, had their tent torn into by a black bear since they kept their food in their tent. We would always hang bear bags well away from camp and never kept food on us at night for that very reason.
As far as clean water goes, I like boiling water. One of the big plusses to boiling is that it makes the silt precipitate out overnight, so you are good to go the next day. What about fuel? Well your surrounded by fuel, it's just laying on the ground everywhere you go, except perhaps the Sahara desert & Antarctica. So fuel is just not a problem at all, at least not anywhere I go hiking it isn't. Even if its raining, I can still always find & burn fuel.
Key thing to note is tablets should always be a fall back and not a primary, theyre not grest for your kidneys over long trips.
Great video capturing all the things that I already carry and make sure others carry as well. Along the lines of another comment, I treat the bugs like preparing for the weather - they can seriously impact one's enjoyment of an outdoor adventure.
Lol. Sounds like he made the video just to show everyone what you take and make other people take.
Not a fan of taking a pillow, unless I'm car camping, but what I do is take a pillow case with a high thread count and put it over a stuff sack of clothes. Always lots of extra socks. I only take chairs car camping. I take a square of comfy foam (like the ones people use in hard stadium seating) to sit on though, because by day two or three it gets less fun to sit on logs and rocks in camp, and it keeps me off the wet ground. I've seen people take inflatable pads to sit on, but they always succumb to sparks from the campfire.
One of my favourite newer pieces of kit is a collapsible Gortex bucket to carry water for washing clothes and dishes, or putting out camp fires. I've even used it to put out a couple small fires I came across on trails where camp fires hadn't been properly put out and flared up (there's nothing quite as disconcerting as descending down a long hillside into steadily thicker smoke).
If you need a pillow, you might as well find a hotel or save for a camper van. The point of camping is to leave your comfort zone a little, your love of mod cons, isn't it!
@@NeilMalthus as many an old warrant officer was fond of saying: "Anyone can be uncomfortable in the bush". If I put a pillowcase on a dry sack, after a full day in the harness, I don't think of it as glamping.
Definitely agree on backup water tablets. I had a clogged filter on day two of a five-day Appalachian Trail trip, and having tablets 100% beat burning half our fuel for water.
Instead of a chair, bring a feather light hammock. You can sit in in, like a chair, but you can also lay an chill in it. I always bring mine. Even weighs less than a chair. 🤗
A mosquito head net is a must! Weighs next to nothing and tiny when packed. I used mine last night as I had to deal with both aphids and midges. It's a rare, "it's better to have and not need than to need and not have" when it comes to staying lightweight.
I really loved that sponsor spot. I've seen so many versions, including yours for a long time. This time, you didn't stop the video to integrate the ad and kept the stick-thing going. I loved that. It really satisfied my ADD demons from fast forwarding. Doing it this way makes it impossible to skip the ad, as that would mean missing content, and a bit funny content at that
I’m glad you liked it. I’m sure not everyone agrees 😂
@@MyLifeOutdoors well, there's at least 2 of us who liked how you integrated the message from your sponsor. :-) We should all remember that we watch all this for free, and keep in mind the huge amount of time and effort it takes to prepare, film, edit these videos. Kudos, and thanks!
They laughed at me when I brought my three legged, folding stool on our rim-to-rim Grand Canyon hike. The extra weight was worth it to be able to just “sit” during breaks and at the camp sites of the dirt !
Also, bring a couple of feet of good quality duct tape, wound around a small dowel. All manner of things can be fixed - holes in your tent, down jacket, shoe , nasty gapping cuts …. on and on.
Rotten pine probably wouldn’t have been my first choice for a digging stick
Also the thing with changing socks, when hiking/walking for long periods of time it's important to have dry socks to more easily avoid blisters.
Even changing socks on the trail, but at least mak sure they dry overnight.
futhermore the right kind of socks would be great, I think they're usually made of wool.
Don't be like me. My filter broke, but I had Aquatabs, which I *always* carry.
Unfortunately, I was extremely tired and since I hadn't packed them (given that they're always in my pack)... I forgot I had them.
I easily got a replacement filter then next day, thanks to a trail angel working at Berkshire Outfitters who gave me a lift as well as selling me the filter.
Since I knew I'd have safe water the next day, waiting was not an issue, but it was an important lesson.
You need to carve a tip on the end of the stick if you want to be able to dig with it. That’s why you carry a fixed blade
Exactly and make it big like a small shovel with a 3 ft. handle and a lip to use your foot just like a shovel. It is a fun 30 minute project while sitting around the campfire listening to folks talk about their 20$ titanium trowel and sporks. 😉
@@rustyshackleford9557yes exactly 🤣 some people so focused on spending money. Just go out and have fun
Agreed 100% on the trowel
Agreed 110% on the clean, dry socks.
You probably should take water purification tabs although I don't and I'm not dead yet.
Pillow and chair are both luxury items and I don't have to worry about bears as I live in Scotland, where the only dangerous wild animals live next door 😂😂😂
Yep, the Buckfastus Neddus are particularly dangerous.
😂😂😂
Oh
Hi
your videos are Great
you did One about getting dangerously cold because of the rain
next time wear a poncho over your rain gear
you can even make an extra Rain layer out of a garbage bag
...
I'm a US Marine
we had VERY nice London fog raincoat
But our 1st Alfa/Brovo uniform raincoat was a Very CHEAP thing that offered almost no rain protection
We had ponchos for our work uniform that also offered almost no rain protection
...
so in my early days in the Corps On rainy school days I went to school wearing BOTH -- I was the only one that got to school dry
Love the list! One (2) item I always carry now, even in my day pack, is two plastic bread loaf bags. Twice in dry desert conditions I've been caught in cold rain with only fleece gloves. The bags are 100% waterproof and keep my hands dry (and thus warm) in case of unexpected precipitation. They're not super durable so be gentle and maybe pack the trekking poles.
@@jav.611 Brilliant multi-purpose item for just a few grams!!! 👍
Same here! I use trailrunners that fill and drain with water pretty easily, which isn't an issue during warmer, dry months. But during cold or humid conditions, a bread bag per foot saves my feet while not requiring a different set of shoes/boots.
When I was a kid, these were boot liners for the winter.
If I'm going to be in the Rockies, the gloves I bring are wet suit gloves so that my hands don't freeze during a cold rain
I am going to give away my age, but we always used these as liners for our Moon Boots in winter. We would play in huge drifts of snow (very dangerous) and end up soaked! The boots were only waterproof up to the ankle I think. My mom would put bread bags over our socks, tuck our pants into them, and then boots. We still got wet, but not as drenched...
All items are spot on. Pack your taps separately from your filter. If you pack them with your filter and misplace it you just lost one on the backup systems. Vault type bear canister and double for a chair but a chair is more comfortable.
Bear spray, substantial first aid kits, a "real" knife.
I'm a firm believer in back up water purification (tablets).
I take extra socks, briefs and a t-shirt for an especially sweaty day and alternate.
Walmart sofa throws for $4 makes excellent camp pillows.
I definitely carry a bug face net. You're 100% right. When you need it, you love it.
Great points!
Head Net, bought one last year. Mosquitoes swarm me and leave scares.
I use a Pathfinder canteen stove to dig holes.
Would love a chair. I have a bad back. However, I am 6' 5" and weigh 270 pounds. Have not seen any of the light weight ones that will hold up to someone my size. And they take up so much room. I usually wind up sitting on the ground with a small foam pad and lean against a tree. Watch out for the insects!
I love and carry everything you suggested. After being chased into our tents by mosquitos last year, I sat and read in back-supported comfort for several hours. Yes, I brought my chair right into my tent (helps to be short, lol). This year, we have also tried sending hiking clothing to Insect Shield to be treated with permethrin. A surprising number of clothes fit in one of their bags.
I just sent 4 pants 4 shirts and 7 pairs of socks to Insect Shield. I could have fit a couple more items in their bag as well!
You can also buy bottles of permethricin treatment pretty cheap and treat your clothing yourself. I personally didn't have much luck with them, but I wasn't having much luck with 100% DEET either at the time, so it might be something worth looking into, especially if you have limited time before a trip to a buggy area.
When it’s that bad I just don’t go into the woods. I’ll wait it out until that hassle is over. Tiny flies/knats too.
WRT the Trowel:
Yes, bring one-but also bring wag bags as many areas, including one I help manage, have found that telling people to just bury it properly often doesn't work. Wag bags take your #2 to a whole other level of Leave No Trace.
Great list. I can get by without the chair and I’ve found a way to roll up my hoodie and tuck it into the hood so it is an acceptable pillow but the other items aren’t really replaceable. I was so happy to have a head net in Ventana wilderness earlier this year. The yellow flies were relentless.
Worst mosquito area I have been to was arctic Finland. The terrain is like swampy taiga and the air is literally THICK with thousands of mosquitoes. When one sweeps ones arm through the air, there is actually resistance as if one is underwater. And driving on the highway (and btw the Finns are crazy fast drivers) it sounds like one is in a fierce down pour (patter, patter, patter) from the mosquitoes hitting the windshield. We must top up window washer fluid at every gas station because we continuously use it as we drive. Needless to say, a mosquito net around the head is absolutely necessary.
0:03 What is in that little blue (turquoise?) thing?
It looks like an emergency sleeping bag maybe
It is the mosquito net
Wow, I'm impressed, I agree with all of these items! I'd also throw in camp sandles/booties and a decent multi-tool.
Dude I just love my lightweight Nemo chair and my fillow. Now, I'm no army ranger but I do heavy labor for UPS so 2 lbs extra for that comfort is totally acceptable for someone like me.
Side note: I just adjusted some straps on my osprey backpack directly above my shoulders and it felt like it took off 5-10 lbs of "perceived" weight.
My brother and I are hiking pals and he has been teasing me about the chair but you are right, I saw him sitting down in it on my way back to camp from a quick firewood gathering session. He will soon break and become one of us.
Mosquito head net saved my life and sanity on the John Muir Trail! I agree with everything else and am looking to replace my Klymit inflatable pillow with the one you suggested. Thanks!
I laughed when you said "chair." I started carrying a collapsible chair two years ago on backpack hunting trips...companions criticized me profusely...but the following year they all carried one! LOL
Bet they sat in it every time you got up
When I hiked JMT I had 3 socks. 2 hiking one sleeping . It rained on us for a week, so a hike pair to rotate to half dry and a always clean sleep pair was worth it. Super glue was clutch when I sliced my finger and for a pinhole in my sleep pad. Extra string was nice for tricky tarp setup or long open hangs when the rain was crazy and I used my tarp to shelter 4 people. If you are a hammock we, bring some Amstel loops with a little climbing nut, let’s you hang one tree to rock crack.
Regarding trowels: I learned in archaeology field school that most archaeologists use a mason's trowel to dig their very flat trench walls with. But (....and here comes the secret) a lot of them take a bastard file and sharpen the edges of the mason's trowel to cut through tough roots and other things with. That doesn't just apply to a mason's trowel in archaeo. It applies to any metal cat-hole trowel you take backpacking. The object isn't to make a back up knife you can baton with. The object is just to cut through the really tough ground faster with your cat-hole trowel. I keep a u-dig-it on my belt, and it is semi-sharpened this way. The sharpening really helps...
Good point
I've been in some really buggy areas, mosquitoes, horse flies, midges, etc... The sprays available, the bug killing machines, they seem to pose an ever bigger threat to human health, even as they do their work. Smart friends brought tight weave, breathable, long sleeve coverings they could put a nasty spray on, but we were all still breathing that stuff in over the day. Anyway, I went looking for an alternative. I ended up getting some natural bug spray and balm from Chagrin Valley (has an expiration FYI), and a Coughlan's bug suit. I have had a couple minor situations to test out my system, and I like it a lot. (Of note, permethrin treated clothes tend to be relatively expensive purchases that ought to be read as something like 'no longer bug repelling at all after 30 washes, or whatever number of washes they specify, which isn't a lot, especially if you wash your clothes in the field.')
Before all this, me and my Dad went on a backpacking trip in Glacier National Park along a lake. It was muggy, and absolutely miserable with biting bugs. We did an overnight, instead of a few days, because we were being eaten alive. It was one of those experiences where you get just absolutely disgusting, but you don't have energy to do more than snarf the best cheese and summer sausage you've ever eaten, gulp some water, and somehow get into your uncomfortable bed, achy, itchy, and done with the world. Hanging the food was like a fever dream, as was setting up the tents. The only thing I felt like I truly needed on that trip was bug protection. Food, water, hygiene, and a good night's sleep were all negotiable to some extent, but bug protection? That was non-negotiable. You don't need it until you need it, but when you need it... We'd come in on a long dirt road to the trailhead, so we were kind of committed, for at least a night. Whenever people push to forgo the bug protection I remember that trip. And when I hear people dissing the fashionability of a full bug suit, I just shake my head. On that trip, I wasn't even the tastiest mosquito snack. My Dad? Oh yeah, I think our count for how many times he was bitten might have been in the 500's. I'm pretty sure he would have been thanking a diety with every minute spent inside a bug suit on that trip.
And, you know, Glacier is western alpine, in northerly latitudes. It wasn't Michigan. I think it was spring. Point is, if it had been just a bit colder still, or a bit higher up, bugs likely wouldn't have been an issue, but instead, it felt like we were there when they were all spawning. They were clouds above the lake, and in the forest along the trail, even when it climbed away from the lake. We spent brutal up and downs hoping that at least the bugs might be less, further away from the water. We were wrong. They Never Let Up. So, yeah, that's why when it comes time to pack, with everything laid out, I get a little grabby with the bug suit, like it's my teddy bear I can't leave behind, if there's the slightest chance I might need it. I often wonder why backpackers aren't packing a bug suit. I know it isn't really ultralight style, but then, I just don't understand a desire to crawl into your tent smelling like ass and Deet, contaminating everything to the point that you're not sure whether you've started tasting it, or the combo has simply locked its self into everything you own. If you can't wash every night, using Deet is a whole new experience. I'm not sure why anyone would knowingly sign up for it, if there was any alternative.
On that note, I'm going to suggest two more things for backpackers. If you're not springing for a scrubba, I recommend at least bringing a gallon ziploc bag, and soap, with your hankie. Wash your feet, your socks, and if you can/they can dry overnight, your shoes. (I had fivefingers to wash, as context.) The bag as your sink, you can get 200 ft. away from a water source to wash off properly. Also, you can soak your feet. Which brings me to the second item I recommend you bringing: epsom salts. I know, quantity and weight, but 1) this is kit you, or someone in your party will use, if you bring it, and 2) one magical moment with the stuff will convince anyone you're hiking with that they really want to carry epsom salts. It's magic, and you don't need a ton to soak your feet.
Also of note: you know what you've got to clean to avoid monkey butt. If for nothing else, this is why you don't skimp on soap. People put glide stuff on in desert situations, but that isn't the same as cleaning up. It's one thing to smell like ass. It's another to feel like ass. I highly recommend not ditching soap altogether, and keeping some kind of water delivery system to wash off. It doesn't need to be weighty or fancy. A wide mouth, and large volume thing will do nicely. A gallon ziplock bag does that pretty well. You just have to stabilize it a bit as you use it. A scrubba is a nice upgrade to get your clothes clean. A portable solar shower might make washing your whole body easier. If you have only so much water, but aren't worried about weight, or patiently washing yourself piece by piece, then you might look at the lunatec. It's a fairly special spray bottle to make the best use of the water you've got for cleaning purposes, whether that's you, or dishes.
I came across it being recommended on the Boat Galley podcast. Sailors are always keeping an eye on the fresh water they have, and liveaboards practically live on water rations. Even if you have a system to filter salt water to fresh water, and therefore a way to have more fresh water between fill ups on land, the systems are well known for getting clogged, and breaking. Distilling fresh water also tends to take fuel, or space, and time, so that even if it's a viable backup to filtration, it doesn't make much water besides what it takes to keep people hydrated. For that reason, most sailors keep enough water on hand to get to land, and fill up, at all times, even if they are making water. Tanks are only so big, especially in such a small space. The lunatec was the podcaster's answer to doing dishes for two. Personally, I like it for washing hands on the trail. I have a little squeeze bottle bidet from an old vanilla bottle. I know people have pee rags, and toilet paper, and packing out bags. Maybe they have their place, but I prefer soap, water, a clean pack towel, and the ability to clean anything that gets dirty, and yes, a trowel to bury my business deep. Some things just need to keep clean, even more so, when you're backpacking. Personally, I think it makes a world of difference if you can keep your sleep system, and yourself in it, relatively clean, which is another reason to love clean socks and travel liners.
Head net 100%!!! I've been in situations in the past where I had to hurriedly set up my tent just to survive the bugs! P.S. the proper hat to go with the net is important too!
In AZ a trowel barely gets through the tough dry dirt, sticks definitely don’t cut it.
I like my bear canister for 1) sitting on, and 2) carrying water away from a stream or lake to wash myself or my clothes (no soap in the steam/lake!). and of course, it's great for keeping bears out of my food.
Great video, great list! Two years ago, while hiking in high country, we saw that several backpackers had just pooped in the open. They left it covered with TP and walked away. In all my years backpacking I've ever seen anything like it - absolutely disgusting! So, not only "yes" to the poop trowel, but for heaven's sake USE it!!
Teton makes a good and cheap pillow. No balloons!
I personally, find cloths in a bag are a lot more comfortable than a pillow. That being said, a pillow case is nice as the texture of other things is often distracting. It's also great because if you want to sleep leaning against a tree, you can redistribute the clothes to cradle your neck.
Of course it's hard to dig in hard, dry dirt full of roots. I don't think it's that much easier with a trowel. If you look for a proper spot it doesn't have to be that difficult. Ground covered in a thick layer of leaves, pine needles, or moss is often soft underneath. But my most favorite option is to find a reasonably large rock that's half-buried, and roll it aside. Voila, pre-made hole. Do your business, and roll the rock back into place. That's the epitome of LNT because you truly can't tell anything was disturbed.
I don't really hike, but walk in parks regularly. Always always carry tick removers.... in the Netherlands about 70% is infected with Lyme.....
Basically i have a small medkit with added afterbyte pen and tick remover. Lightweight stuff too.
Disagree regarding bears. You can practice the proper bear "etiquette" and still run into the wrong bear on the wrong day. There have been a number of fatal human-black bear encounters. Pogo Mine, was a black bear. I say if you are going into bear/mountain lion country go prepared. (Not to mention ill tempered dogs)
Agree. You up your risk by not following “bear etiquette,” keeping food away, being prepared, etc., but you can do all of those and run into a sick, aggressive or hungry bear. I can’t say for sure, but pretty sure you can’t say what “bears” are like any more than you can say what humans are like.
I carry bear spray because I don't trust all OTHER people to practice bear etiquette
For anyone who wants to know lighting, cows, and vending machines kill more than black bears. Leave the weapons for grizzly country.
I use socks as little bags for stuff. When in need of clean socks I can always repurpose the 'bags' as socks.
Great list! I’ll add the water tablets, although I have 2 filters, a life straw and MSR. I would add duct tape wrapped around your hiking poles or a lighter.
I keep a pair of socks in my sleeping bag, and I only use them to sleep in. I don't count the item or the weight. I just consider them part of the sleeping bag. Never to be used in emergencies. If there is an emergency, I go barefoot. Not giving up my toasty dry comfy sleeping socks for nothin.
If you don't have a trowel, you are _not_ in my group.
I honestly take every item you highlighted to the scorn & shaming of my ultralight friends. That is until we get to camp & take out my bug net, comfy chair & finally my nice pillow to use at the end of a long day! Thank you for making me feel even more vindicated!!! Wild thing is these things don't really weigh that much. Oh yeah, always have my trusty trowel! Mines plastic & weights a couple ounces.
I think a lot of people with military background bring extra socks. They are multipurpose. To mention a few use cases, you can use them to insulate your neck, your hands and if you cut holes in the ends you can use them as shin insulation (depending on what type of sock).
“Boiling water takes ages to be cool enough to drink”. *laughs in English*.
pair of women's nylon socks. One for filtering bigger debris/ leaves when filling water bottle for filtering, aka pre-filter. Second one for soap bar.
I can understand not bringing bear spray by practicing good bear proof food storage, but there is absolutely no way I will not have bear spray with me hiking and backpacking in Alaska with grizzlies everywhere. I’m not concerned about black bears honestly, but if you live in an area with brown bears, bear spray is not something to skip out on taking with you.
I agree (and he does say in the other video that bear spray in grizzly country is different than in black bear only country).
I carry two extra pairs of wool socks and Coolmax sock liners. One of the best things learned in the military (infantry) is TAKE CARE OF YOUR FEET! you can't go far if they're blistered. Dry socks at the end of the day or before heading out in the morning are such a comfort AND a great morale booster if your feet get wet during the day.
Agree 100% with all but haven't done the chair thing yet. Been looking at them though. For me the +1 is SPF lip moisturizer. I carry a chapstick in my pocket and an extra in the bear canister. In the dry climate and high altitude of the Sierras lip sunscreen and moisturizer is vital.
I carry lip spf everywhere. Every pocket, every purse, every backpack. Never have chapped lips tho! Dry air requires constant management
I fully second the trowel recommendation, and would actually take it a step further. Pack the digging tool you need for your local sediments. Flimsy lightweight backpacking trowels simply do not cut it here where we have insanely hardpack clays just centimeters below the surface, and even though my carbon steel trowel weighs easily 3 or 4 times as much--let alone the solid steel scratch awl I bring to areas with especially gnarly soils that need to be chipped out--I wouldn't actually save any weight by carrying a lighter tool that doesn't work, because at that point I might as well not bring anything. It's one of those things that is an essential for being a responsible and courteous enjoyer of the outdoors. Find a way to make the added weight comfortable. I carry mine on my belt and don't even notice it.
"I never take 2 of anything. I take 2 pairs of socks"
i really like your videos, such an easy going person explaining tips on preparations and survival without making people feel dumb or anything like that.
Agreed. Especially on the tiny shovel. I'm so sick of stumbling onto shallow graves with TP remnants and yesterdays mountainhouse burried a half inch below he surface. For the love of Pete, burry your s#!t.
i even bring an extra pair of socks in my tiny cycling toolkit under my saddle. also a pack of tums in there; never had to use them even in a group ride, but it's nice to know they're there.
I agree that MOST black bears will run away as soon as they see a person. I encounter a dozen or more each year, BUT I still carry bear spray just in case. The Forest Service and the Park Service have relocated problem bears in the past and it is ridiculous to expect people to render themselves defenseless if they wind encountering a problem bear!
Not what EXACTLY is considered a "trowel", but I personally use a good garden spade. I test them at home before using them for trips and I have two (one w/ wood handle and one w/ metal handle) that both are tough and do the job.
A spade is fine, just heavy
One thing to add to this list: a boombox. Everyone will love you.
😂😂😂😂
Lol...even worse!!! Bring a harmonica, especially if you can't play one at All.
@@rustyshackleford9557 I was seriously thinking of bringing a harmonica!
@@fastlearner1490 tip of the day: those Conjurer brand harps ( Amazon) are excellent. ( Under 20$) Gave some to a friend who is a famous blues legend. He loved em. He plays very pricey harps. He was super impressed with the Conjurers.
Yes. Absolutely yes to the chair. Crazy Creek chair - doubles as a vestibule mat or an extra bit of insulation under your sleeping pad too.
Ursack: may be bear resistant, but contents just get blended together. Anyone for chocolateramenpeanutbuttercrackers?
That actually sounds quite nice to me…
yeah, i have seen bears shred and mangke caned food, anything in the sack would be mangled if not 5m up between two trees.
living in northern Scandinavia I certainly know biting insects
Yeah but 99.9% of the time the bears will never find it.
@@MyLifeOutdoors True, in my 50ish years I have just had two bear incidents, not because bear is unusual here, I have minimum of two bears within 2km of my house (forest is just across the road from my house), uhm thinkkng some, one is a female with two cubs, and we don't have black bear, just the less cuddly brown ones.
I went out with my brothers recently and we didnt bring a trowel. My brother had lightweight 6" knife with a 2" serrated edge that we used for catholes. It dug great and went right through roots. Slightly heavier than a trowel but I like that it has multiple purposes.
Seems like the dirt and rocks with destroy a nice knife?
@@MyLifeOutdoors it will, but its an old knife that is easy to sharpen again. I think most people stress too much about a knife having a razor-sharp edge anyway.
Did you deliberately pick three rotten sticks to dig the cat hole? It looked staged to me. I would prefer a small folding shovel.