So good! Amen to the hyper light gear. So much good gear out there that isn’t “the lightest.” Just think about how much thru hikers used to carry 5,10,15 even 30 years ago when my parents did the AT. The dismissal of “that’s too heavy, it’s bad” notion & push from some of the community needs to lessen lol. 😂 Love your videos. Keep it up. Happy new year!
As someone who's over 40, just looking at the gear we used in the late 90's early 2000's I laugh sometimes at the extreme attitude some folks have over gear weights. As someone who used the old rolled up blue pads, and early Open Cell self Inflatable pads, "This $100 Insulated Inflatable Sleeping Pad is 8oz too heavy" Gets a chuckle out of me.
Timely video, thanks! Habits 1 and 3 are interrelated and something I've thought about the past couple of weeks. I'm retired now and have time to go, but the shift from "only weekends and vacations" to "whenever I want" has taken about a year to figure out. Now I have a list of hikes I want to make, some weeks-long and some short day hikes, but there will be fun planning and discovering details to check out as well as permit timing. My old haunts close to home will still get visits, but I'll have new views and ideas to add to the home trails. As for Habits 2 and 4, I started in the in the era of canvas packs, oil cloth or rubber-coated ponchos, and cooking over fires, so everything is lighter these days and anything other people do is better than where I started. But hikers not following LNT triggers my "have you thought about how this affects the environment we visit" button, haha!
Thank you. I'm a fatty. 6' 270lbs. I hike 3-5 miles, then I chill. I'm mostly lightweight but a few things keep me from that: My chair weighs almost most 2 lbs. Fat guys need bigger chairs. My clothes weigh more. Just backup socks, undies, and my sleep clothes weigh over 2lbs. I can still get out there, relax and enjoy my time. Thank you for the always excellent content!
I understand, but you don't need to carry a foldable chair with you. Hiking through a park, I always find a bench to rest on. When in the forest, you can rest on a tree stump or a stone, if necessary. Just a hint.
Good video. For weight, I typically set a weight target for a particular trip based on overall goals, mileage, environmental factors, etc. Then, I make trade-off decisions on gear to hit that target weight. That way, I'm not just going UL just for the sake of UL, but rather to help achieve the objectives I'm setting out for the trip.
So very true! I have definitely seen similar comments in the comment sections. It’s your hike, go hike it as long as you aren’t hurting anyone, yourself, or nature. Thank you for sharing! Also, does three years of planning my huge trip count as enough? 🤣🤣
Nice point on not obsessing about UL gear. As a new backpacker, I returned a lot of the UL gear I bought. I reinvested the funds in slightly heavier equipment that’s more durable and cheaper. I feel a lot better about my investments in backpacking now.
I enjoy the planning part, especially for those multi day adventures in very remote places. The trick is to not over think it for extreme contingencies and pack fears of the unknown. Good list.
I find that the"weight "bad habit comment also coincides with needing to buy expensive equipment to go backpacking. Many times, the ultralight stuff is extremely expensive. I have appreciated many of the videos you and Eric Hansen have put together on budget gear. The pricing stopped me from backpacking for almost a year because in my research, so many people tell you to invest in the most expensive gear because it will pay dividends. However, I realized that not going out because I couldn't buy the lightest and most expensive gear was preventing me from experiencing the amazing backcountry!
I've been section hiking the AT the past 3 years. My "switch up" this spring is walking the length of Manhattan southbound one day. Gonna make a 3 day weekend of it and hang out in some of my favorite places in the city.
All true! Well said, Devin. I'd rather hike a shorter distance with all I want in my pack to have an enjoyable experience than have lighter stuff and not so enjoyable!! Hence the sayin...."hike your own hike!!!"😊🎉
Every single one of my thru hikes has been successful because of impeccable trip planning. If you put in the time, you’ll enjoy your time better on trail. In the gear department, it’s byog IMHO. I think finding a balance between comfort and weight is essential. The UHT will stoke you out on the Uintas again. I did my long walks in Nevada and Wyoming the last two summers. Hike your own hike right? I’ll never tell a viewer what to take backpacking. I just share how it went for me. Cool vid Devin!
Apropos of number 1: I meticulously planned and permitted a backcountry backpacking trip through Yosemite last year. I had 10 pages of itineraries and sights and contingencies and reservations ... and it was super-fun to put together. When I got there and had a couple of decisions to make, my first thought was "what did the planning document say?" Then I realized I was allowed to decide. On a similar note, I did a trip to Sedona/Flagstaff, and somehow missed Red Mountain. That oversight still smarts 9 months later.
I think if somebody else is out having fun in the back country, that's all that matters. Who am I to tell them they're doing it wrong as long as they're respecting the environment and not intruding on somebody else's joy? If it's simply me having an OCD issue, that's my problem, not theirs.
You should always go as UL as possible and you should have approached this video the right way! JUST KIDDING! 🤣Great suggestions, Devin. Great video!!! 🍻
Yeah I'm way too lazy to plan far ahead 😂 I need to find the motivation. I'm not too picky. I still like hitting up my local state park so it's all impromptu. With the way I'm going I might end going the opposite of ultralight and bringing 20 knives with me 😂 Thinking of taking out my freestanding tents more. Realized I didn't use any last year.
As I've gotten older I now enjoy my helinox ground chair, I enjoy my Mont Moondance 1p tent. But I still care about weight somewhat and as I also bikepack the overall volume that the piece of gear takes up.
While I agree with the planning part, there is more to it and a big danger of over planning. Some of the best experiences are those that happen organically and weren't planned. Certainly plan your equipment, etc and have some kind of structure but allow things to happen to otherwise you can be in danger of sterilising what could have been a wonderful adventure.
That Fenwick is too heavy for backpacking. Palsa indicators fall off too much. I kid. I do notice some fly fishing gear in the back there. I like you more now.
Fretting about weight too much is rookie. Most backpacking trips aren't long enough for ulralight to be worth the cost and sacrifice for comforts like good pads or chairs and stuff. I'm not yet burnt out or complacent in the High Uintahs, but it's coming soon, I can sense it.
.. Design different puposes beyond just hiking for your adventures .. The Uintas are loaded with awesome fishing lakes that actually get little pressure ... A slightly heavier pack won't be an issue if the miles are not the focus ..
Something I am struggling with is the PFAS issue. I have recently upgraded some gear, and also just learned about he PFAS issue. Some of this gear I have been waiting for so long to upgrade and finally did, I found out has PFAS. I am wanting to minimize PFAS usage but also feel like I am making a mistake by going backpacking with PFAS gear. Probably seems stupid to some, but for me it's been on my mind. How are you handling the PFAS issue and using/buying gear that still has PFAS?
@@CaseyEasterwood I also am cognizant of the PFAS issue and I am definitely making it a point to focus on using gear that doesn’t contain it. I also believe most brands are focused on this too and making the steps necessary to eliminate from their products.
@ I believe it to be a good conversation that has multiple angles and depth. Is it better to buy recycled gear, or does a non recycled gear item that’s very high quality and has a long life span, is that just as good? Just as an idea of thinking. I don’t think it’s necessarily bad to continue using gear you’ve invested into that’s still good, but future purchases would be different being more educated now.
@@BackcountryExposure Yeah I agree. Several pieces of my gear seem to have PFAS. I purchased a new tarp from Simply Light Designs that is PFAS free, and a new hammock underquilt from Outdoor Vitals that is not PFAS free (did not know til after). Trying to decide if I should return the OV UQ. All in all, I cannot really afford to scrap my gear setup and start over, and even if I sell it, it still does not minimize the impact because someone else will use it. So seems like the best practice is to use gear with PFAS rather than let it go to waste. Most of the impact comes in production and the impact upon use is minimal.
I think you would give me a failing grade when it comes to some of these habits 😢.. i am the complete opposite of you when it comes to planning. If i could just be told "show up here, at this time, with food for this many days" i would be in heaven lol. Unfortunately i am normally a solo backpacker.. so i have to do the planning (or just wing it lol) I did changes shifts at my job (actually started my new shift on January 3rd), so now I only work Fri, Sat. & Sun 6a-6p.. which means i get 4 days off in a row every week, while also keeping full time hours! Im super excited about what that will allow me to do this year! Thanks for the video -Alex PS: i love my zippered pouch i got from your etsy store, it is perfect for my first aid kit!
Nah, we all have different ways of doing things. I do still feel like planning is super important, but others may not be as invested in maps as I am. Ha ha.
UL hikers are very annoying. It's like kids who think the more horsepower a car has the better. Hiking is more like a triangle of price, weight and comfort/reliability.
Let’s be honest; the bad habit we would ALL like to see changed is not burying your human waste in a properly dug cathole. And please - if you don’t bury your TP, at least carry it out. Nobody wants to see a toilet paper bloom.
My bad habit is having a job and not getting to going hiking enough.
@@briar35981 dah that blasted 9-5!
Oh me toooooooo!!!!😢
Amen man 😢
This was interesting and actually educational presentation! Great work man!
Thank you!
So good!
Amen to the hyper light gear. So much good gear out there that isn’t “the lightest.” Just think about how much thru hikers used to carry 5,10,15 even 30 years ago when my parents did the AT. The dismissal of “that’s too heavy, it’s bad” notion & push from some of the community needs to lessen lol. 😂
Love your videos. Keep it up. Happy new year!
As someone who's over 40, just looking at the gear we used in the late 90's early 2000's I laugh sometimes at the extreme attitude some folks have over gear weights. As someone who used the old rolled up blue pads, and early Open Cell self Inflatable pads, "This $100 Insulated Inflatable Sleeping Pad is 8oz too heavy" Gets a chuckle out of me.
Timely video, thanks! Habits 1 and 3 are interrelated and something I've thought about the past couple of weeks. I'm retired now and have time to go, but the shift from "only weekends and vacations" to "whenever I want" has taken about a year to figure out.
Now I have a list of hikes I want to make, some weeks-long and some short day hikes, but there will be fun planning and discovering details to check out as well as permit timing. My old haunts close to home will still get visits, but I'll have new views and ideas to add to the home trails.
As for Habits 2 and 4, I started in the in the era of canvas packs, oil cloth or rubber-coated ponchos, and cooking over fires, so everything is lighter these days and anything other people do is better than where I started. But hikers not following LNT triggers my "have you thought about how this affects the environment we visit" button, haha!
Thank you.
I'm a fatty.
6' 270lbs.
I hike 3-5 miles, then I chill.
I'm mostly lightweight but a few things keep me from that:
My chair weighs almost most 2 lbs.
Fat guys need bigger chairs.
My clothes weigh more.
Just backup socks, undies, and my sleep clothes weigh over 2lbs.
I can still get out there, relax and enjoy my time.
Thank you for the always excellent content!
I understand, but you don't need to carry a foldable chair with you. Hiking through a park, I always find a bench to rest on. When in the forest, you can rest on a tree stump or a stone, if necessary. Just a hint.
I'm 230 pounds, and working towards getting back towards 200 pounds. It'll do more than reducing weight in my pack
@@isherwoodwilliams8812 Oh I always carry a chair. The comfort out ways the weight every time for me. When I don't have it. I always wish I did.
Regarding weight, my 4.6lbs paria bryce 2p appreciates your comments lol.
I do like the tent, maybe disregard the 8oz ground sheet next trip
Good video. For weight, I typically set a weight target for a particular trip based on overall goals, mileage, environmental factors, etc. Then, I make trade-off decisions on gear to hit that target weight. That way, I'm not just going UL just for the sake of UL, but rather to help achieve the objectives I'm setting out for the trip.
So very true! I have definitely seen similar comments in the comment sections. It’s your hike, go hike it as long as you aren’t hurting anyone, yourself, or nature. Thank you for sharing! Also, does three years of planning my huge trip count as enough? 🤣🤣
Nice point on not obsessing about UL gear. As a new backpacker, I returned a lot of the UL gear I bought. I reinvested the funds in slightly heavier equipment that’s more durable and cheaper. I feel a lot better about my investments in backpacking now.
I enjoy the planning part, especially for those multi day adventures in very remote places. The trick is to not over think it for extreme contingencies and pack fears of the unknown. Good list.
My bad habit is buying new gear that isn't "really needed" Good job encouraging others to just get outside.
I find that the"weight "bad habit comment also coincides with needing to buy expensive equipment to go backpacking. Many times, the ultralight stuff is extremely expensive. I have appreciated many of the videos you and Eric Hansen have put together on budget gear. The pricing stopped me from backpacking for almost a year because in my research, so many people tell you to invest in the most expensive gear because it will pay dividends. However, I realized that not going out because I couldn't buy the lightest and most expensive gear was preventing me from experiencing the amazing backcountry!
I've been section hiking the AT the past 3 years. My "switch up" this spring is walking the length of Manhattan southbound one day. Gonna make a 3 day weekend of it and hang out in some of my favorite places in the city.
All true! Well said, Devin. I'd rather hike a shorter distance with all I want in my pack to have an enjoyable experience than have lighter stuff and not so enjoyable!! Hence the sayin...."hike your own hike!!!"😊🎉
Every single one of my thru hikes has been successful because of impeccable trip planning. If you put in the time, you’ll enjoy your time better on trail. In the gear department, it’s byog IMHO. I think finding a balance between comfort and weight is essential. The UHT will stoke you out on the Uintas again. I did my long walks in Nevada and Wyoming the last two summers. Hike your own hike right? I’ll never tell a viewer what to take backpacking. I just share how it went for me. Cool vid Devin!
Apropos of number 1: I meticulously planned and permitted a backcountry backpacking trip through Yosemite last year. I had 10 pages of itineraries and sights and contingencies and reservations ... and it was super-fun to put together. When I got there and had a couple of decisions to make, my first thought was "what did the planning document say?" Then I realized I was allowed to decide. On a similar note, I did a trip to Sedona/Flagstaff, and somehow missed Red Mountain. That oversight still smarts 9 months later.
I think if somebody else is out having fun in the back country, that's all that matters. Who am I to tell them they're doing it wrong as long as they're respecting the environment and not intruding on somebody else's joy? If it's simply me having an OCD issue, that's my problem, not theirs.
Good points Devan, great thoughts and things i will defiantly consider.
You should always go as UL as possible and you should have approached this video the right way! JUST KIDDING! 🤣Great suggestions, Devin. Great video!!! 🍻
Yeah I'm way too lazy to plan far ahead 😂 I need to find the motivation. I'm not too picky. I still like hitting up my local state park so it's all impromptu.
With the way I'm going I might end going the opposite of ultralight and bringing 20 knives with me 😂
Thinking of taking out my freestanding tents more. Realized I didn't use any last year.
As I've gotten older I now enjoy my helinox ground chair, I enjoy my Mont Moondance 1p tent. But I still care about weight somewhat and as I also bikepack the overall volume that the piece of gear takes up.
Great topic! In regards to #3, I'll come to Utah and you come to California! Problem solved!
While I agree with the planning part, there is more to it and a big danger of over planning. Some of the best experiences are those that happen organically and weren't planned. Certainly plan your equipment, etc and have some kind of structure but allow things to happen to otherwise you can be in danger of sterilising what could have been a wonderful adventure.
Sometimes the trail will throw all your plans out the window 😂
Absolutely and a lot of people rely so much on the plans that they really can't handle the changes or for things to just happen organically.
Def my bad habit is packing too many upper base layers !
I don't go anywhere too crazy, but i already planed my April trip. Still working on May and June though 😂
Hi Devin. Come back up to Idaho. There are still a ton of areas in the Sawtooths to explore, and the White Clouds. Plenty of backpacking and fishing.
@@ValkyrieHikes white clouds are on my list!
@@BackcountryExposure They're on mine, too. I love that they're directly across the valley from the Sawtooths.
That Fenwick is too heavy for backpacking. Palsa indicators fall off too much. I kid. I do notice some fly fishing gear in the back there. I like you more now.
Fretting about weight too much is rookie. Most backpacking trips aren't long enough for ulralight to be worth the cost and sacrifice for comforts like good pads or chairs and stuff.
I'm not yet burnt out or complacent in the High Uintahs, but it's coming soon, I can sense it.
In the section on planning, which app is that you’re using?
@@McBlamin it’s OnX Backcountry. I’ve got a link in the description that gives 70% off!
@@BackcountryExposure Thanks!
.. Design different puposes beyond just hiking for your adventures .. The Uintas are loaded with awesome fishing lakes that actually get little pressure ... A slightly heavier pack won't be an issue if the miles are not the focus ..
@@rockytopwrangler2069 there are a ton of lakes id like to visit for that very purpose. Crater lake is one spot I’ve wanted to get to for a long time.
Something I am struggling with is the PFAS issue. I have recently upgraded some gear, and also just learned about he PFAS issue. Some of this gear I have been waiting for so long to upgrade and finally did, I found out has PFAS. I am wanting to minimize PFAS usage but also feel like I am making a mistake by going backpacking with PFAS gear. Probably seems stupid to some, but for me it's been on my mind. How are you handling the PFAS issue and using/buying gear that still has PFAS?
@@CaseyEasterwood I also am cognizant of the PFAS issue and I am definitely making it a point to focus on using gear that doesn’t contain it. I also believe most brands are focused on this too and making the steps necessary to eliminate from their products.
So would you say using gear that has PFAS is still a good option rather than letting it go to waste?
@ I believe it to be a good conversation that has multiple angles and depth. Is it better to buy recycled gear, or does a non recycled gear item that’s very high quality and has a long life span, is that just as good? Just as an idea of thinking. I don’t think it’s necessarily bad to continue using gear you’ve invested into that’s still good, but future purchases would be different being more educated now.
@@BackcountryExposure Yeah I agree. Several pieces of my gear seem to have PFAS. I purchased a new tarp from Simply Light Designs that is PFAS free, and a new hammock underquilt from Outdoor Vitals that is not PFAS free (did not know til after). Trying to decide if I should return the OV UQ. All in all, I cannot really afford to scrap my gear setup and start over, and even if I sell it, it still does not minimize the impact because someone else will use it. So seems like the best practice is to use gear with PFAS rather than let it go to waste. Most of the impact comes in production and the impact upon use is minimal.
Any tips for getting more time and parental permission is a problem also
I think you would give me a failing grade when it comes to some of these habits 😢.. i am the complete opposite of you when it comes to planning. If i could just be told "show up here, at this time, with food for this many days" i would be in heaven lol. Unfortunately i am normally a solo backpacker.. so i have to do the planning (or just wing it lol)
I did changes shifts at my job (actually started my new shift on January 3rd), so now I only work Fri, Sat. & Sun 6a-6p.. which means i get 4 days off in a row every week, while also keeping full time hours! Im super excited about what that will allow me to do this year!
Thanks for the video
-Alex
PS: i love my zippered pouch i got from your etsy store, it is perfect for my first aid kit!
Nah, we all have different ways of doing things. I do still feel like planning is super important, but others may not be as invested in maps as I am. Ha ha.
UL hikers are very annoying. It's like kids who think the more horsepower a car has the better. Hiking is more like a triangle of price, weight and comfort/reliability.
I took #2 as a personal attack 😂😂
10:46 this last point! Amen!
@@the_average_backpacker 😊
Let’s be honest; the bad habit we would ALL like to see changed is not burying your human waste in a properly dug cathole. And please - if you don’t bury your TP, at least carry it out. Nobody wants to see a toilet paper bloom.
Great video! I’ve watched your channel for a long time now. If you still have that old Lanshan 1 do you want to sell it😂?
Thanks. Sorry, don’t have the tent any more.
Awesome
Weight totally matters.