Thank you for this very good video. You said it best! The eja is fine if you will be hiking many miles and maybe only camping a night or two. In this case, you don't need to pack as much food, water, etc. But if you prefer to do less hiking and longer camping, hence carrying more food, water, and other stuff, then the Aura is much more comfortable. Please don't leave the first aid kit at home. You could edit your kit a little. First aid kits tend to have a little of everything anyone may need in any situation. Much of the stuff in the kit you would never need for a backpacking trip. And maybe add in a few extras. Two additions to ours include (1) an eyeglasses repair kit and (2) a small container of table salt in case of dehydration. (also in ours is tea tree oil for burns, bites, or poison oak, arnica montana tablets, rescue remedy). also the emergency blankets and extra battery for the flashlite. And a small word about GPS. Please also bring a map and compass and learn how to use them. You can practice at your campsite. Too many stories, better to have them. A friend was dayhiking in our local hills, fog came in and he got disoriented. He had to build a shelter out of branches and wait til morning. He will never leave home without that compass again. You appear to enjoy being in a beautiful place more than you are driven to log the miles. Use the Aura, take your camera, sketchbook, binocs, bug net, and soft pillow, keep warm, and eat well! You and your husband seem to have a great relationship, taking up a new hobby adventure and learning from scratch, nothing wrong with walmart gear. In the beginning, I scrounged a khaki canvas flannel sleeping bag and a khaki canvas duffle bag from my parent's garage. I still have my old heavy coleman gear in the garage, Just can't part with this old stuff, so many memories. It's not so much about state-of-the-art as it is about the two of you enjoying the beauty of nature together. And don't ever criticize your body again. You and your husband are beautiful people. I made my decision to buy the Aura based on your honest and real experience video. Thank you, Marty. Happy Trails To You (1952, Rogers and Evans).
Well done, Newbie. Consider a Molle attachment for your missing "loop." Getting more lightweight gear is feasible fiscally for the frugal. Consider rentals to test out gear for shake down hikes. Trade sites are also helpful if you know what you're looking for. There is always a knock off or cottage brand that can meet needs for the Big 3. Shaving weight without sacrificing comfort is a process. Bottom line is, get outside!
Thank you! That answered all my questions about choosing a pack. I'm a newbie and by my own calculations am an XS/S size. I also walk hot so need the ventilation (which is why I've settled on Osprey), but I also sleep cool so I need the space for a warm sleeping bag (I'm thinking of a sleeping bag suit as I get claustrophobic in those mummy bags). But I weigh 50kg so I should only carry 10kg, which is why I'm thinking that a lighter pack will give me a head-start on the weight. I think I would be able to dial in the gear fairly well is I can find a lightweight solo tent (your thoughts on this?), because I am vegan and can live on nuts, seeds etc so won't really need to carry heavy food and possibly not even cooking gear. However, I love the idea of the Biolite because it can also be used to charge phones etc. But that weighs a kilo already. Anyway, thanks for the great review. I'm looking forward to more from you.
I would look into a quilt instead of a bag. The down doesnt really insulate you if you lay on it and its more like a blanket. As far as a tent, it depends on what you need. We first purchased the groundbreaker tent from rei. We love the tent for one person but it didnt have a vestibule and for two people that is needed because of space.
@@realworldmom Thank you for the advice. I was looking at a quilt but am worried that it will slide off - I'm pretty restless - which I why I thought maybe one of those hooded sleeping suits would do. As for a tent, I would be solo and the lighter the better. But I also prefer the darkest material I can get as I'm sensitive to light. Anyway, thank you.
They carry pretty much the same. Obviously the aura has more padding so if you are going on a longer hike, I’d take the little extra weight. Short trips the Eja would be fine.
Thank you for this very good video. You said it best! The eja is fine if you will be hiking many miles and maybe only camping a night or two. In this case, you don't need to pack as much food, water, etc. But if you prefer to do less hiking and longer camping, hence carrying more food, water, and other stuff, then the Aura is much more comfortable.
Please don't leave the first aid kit at home. You could edit your kit a little. First aid kits tend to have a little of everything anyone may need in any situation. Much of the stuff in the kit you would never need for a backpacking trip. And maybe add in a few extras. Two additions to ours include (1) an eyeglasses repair kit and (2) a small container of table salt in case of dehydration.
(also in ours is tea tree oil for burns, bites, or poison oak, arnica montana tablets, rescue remedy).
also the emergency blankets and extra battery for the flashlite.
And a small word about GPS. Please also bring a map and compass and learn how to use them. You can practice at your campsite. Too many stories, better to have them. A friend was dayhiking in our local hills, fog came in and he got disoriented. He had to build a shelter out of branches and wait til morning. He will never leave home without that compass again.
You appear to enjoy being in a beautiful place more than you are driven to log the miles. Use the Aura, take your camera, sketchbook, binocs, bug net, and soft pillow, keep warm, and eat well!
You and your husband seem to have a great relationship, taking up a new hobby adventure and learning from scratch, nothing wrong with walmart gear. In the beginning, I scrounged a khaki canvas flannel sleeping bag and a khaki canvas duffle bag from my parent's garage. I still have my old heavy coleman gear in the garage, Just can't part with this old stuff, so many memories. It's not so much about state-of-the-art as it is about the two of you enjoying the beauty of nature together. And don't ever criticize your body again. You and your husband are beautiful people.
I made my decision to buy the Aura based on your honest and real experience video. Thank you, Marty.
Happy Trails To You (1952, Rogers and Evans).
Well done, Newbie. Consider a Molle attachment for your missing "loop." Getting more lightweight gear is feasible fiscally for the frugal. Consider rentals to test out gear for shake down hikes. Trade sites are also helpful if you know what you're looking for. There is always a knock off or cottage brand that can meet needs for the Big 3. Shaving weight without sacrificing comfort is a process. Bottom line is, get outside!
Thank you! That answered all my questions about choosing a pack. I'm a newbie and by my own calculations am an XS/S size. I also walk hot so need the ventilation (which is why I've settled on Osprey), but I also sleep cool so I need the space for a warm sleeping bag (I'm thinking of a sleeping bag suit as I get claustrophobic in those mummy bags). But I weigh 50kg so I should only carry 10kg, which is why I'm thinking that a lighter pack will give me a head-start on the weight. I think I would be able to dial in the gear fairly well is I can find a lightweight solo tent (your thoughts on this?), because I am vegan and can live on nuts, seeds etc so won't really need to carry heavy food and possibly not even cooking gear. However, I love the idea of the Biolite because it can also be used to charge phones etc. But that weighs a kilo already. Anyway, thanks for the great review. I'm looking forward to more from you.
I would look into a quilt instead of a bag. The down doesnt really insulate you if you lay on it and its more like a blanket. As far as a tent, it depends on what you need. We first purchased the groundbreaker tent from rei. We love the tent for one person but it didnt have a vestibule and for two people that is needed because of space.
@@realworldmom Thank you for the advice. I was looking at a quilt but am worried that it will slide off - I'm pretty restless - which I why I thought maybe one of those hooded sleeping suits would do. As for a tent, I would be solo and the lighter the better. But I also prefer the darkest material I can get as I'm sensitive to light. Anyway, thank you.
how does the eja carry vs aura?
They carry pretty much the same. Obviously the aura has more padding so if you are going on a longer hike, I’d take the little extra weight. Short trips the Eja would be fine.
I'm so glad that this video exists, thank you very much🫂