I agree, but with a couple of caveats from my experiance: If it's cold enough that I'm using my boots of a multi day hike I use a liner, it's easier to wash and dry a thin liner, and the spare is smaller and lighter. If I'm in my trail runners it's just a single medium weight sock. Regarding the sleeping naked, for a while I tried sleeping in leggings which got clammy, and from there ended up colder. I tried a few types with the same result. Lately I've been using OMM core tights when it's cold, and so far the extra breathability is working for me. That said, I try to use sleep clothes, just to try to keep the quilt cleaner. UK hiker, what works for me may not work for you :)
Never used a liner but always sleep in a base layer like you… will try the Alpha Direct 60 leggings this year and I hope the added breathability will leave me less sweaty and more comfortable. And what works in UK most of the time works here in Sweden 🙂👍🏻
Desert hiker here 🏜️ Yes, I returned from a three day hike recently. I wore my 1L rain jacket most of the time in the mountains, and goretex rain / windpants in the camp. The cut allows for a better movement and layering options than wind shirt. Also the material is durable, keeps up with more serious weather. Hard shell would be way too much and lightweight wind jacket just not enough. Thank you for the video.
Another interesting video with good information! :) R-value What Robert is mostly true. Why mostly? Because it's not so simple. Your "warmth comfort" doesn't depend on your sleeping pad only. It also depends on your sleeping bag and sleeping cloths. And... everyone is different, some will get colder faster, other won't. That's the famous "Trade-off rule of the outdoors"! Other than that, you can improve the R-value by a lot if you know how to do it right. A simple thin and very lightweight mylar blanket will greatly improve the r-value of a sleeping pad. FYI, THE best sleeping pad out on the market today is using 4 sheets of.... mylar blankets (they call it "aluminized film"). However, never add the blanket into your sleeping bag! The best is one under and one over the sleeping pad. Reflectix is stating that the best way to use their product is to make a "sandwich". Talking of reflectix, you could also use that product which is bubble wrap sandwiched by mylar. But it's bulky... The other way is to use a very thin wool blanket on top of your sleeping pad. You'd be surprised by how much warmth it's adding to any sleeping pad (Airlines used to have that, not it's polar). Another myth about rvalue is that a too high rvalue will make you sweat in summer time. Totally false! So, IF you have the budget, why not going for the NEMO Tensor Extreme with an rvalue of 8.5 right from the start? So now you know what to do if you want to keep your low rvalue sleeping pad and improve it's warmth! Otherwise, 3-3.5 is about right for 3 seasons. TENTS Very true. UL tents like the Zpacks won't resists high winds on a mountain. And, sorry to say that, but the Durston will fail too (I've seen it more than once). The reason is that most UL are using trekking poles and it makes them more prone to failure in very high winds. The same applies to the famous Hubba Hubba even with their new poles. Also, the fabric is of concerns. More rugged tents are better when mountaineering. Keep that in mind... WATER FILTRATION Also very true. But Robert, you missed the most important: WHY. So, for everyone watching the video, the reason of why having a filtration system with you at ALL times (nano tubes, ceramic, chemical, etc..) is very simple. You could be on the most remote location in the world and be sick because of the water. I've been with some folks in one of those areas and had to trek several days, quick, to reach a certain point. We knew that we were probably the first humans there since hundreds of years if not even ever. The lake looked pristine clear but.... what if an animal died earlier and his corpse still not fully desintegrated at the bottom? Or what if, very simply, an animal had defecated in it not too long ago? That's why you ner know and it's important to purify your water at all times. Now, here's another story for you. - Guy: Damn, I'm sick :( - Me: What happend? - Guy: Well, I went hiking for a few days and was lucky to find a beautiful lake, very remote from any human locations. The water was incredibly good! And now that I've come back, the tap water tastes real bad and got me sick. - Me: When where you in that "pristine location" - Guy: Oh! about a week ago... - Me: Well, my friend. I'm sorry to inform you that your "pristine water" got you sick, not the tap water. - Guy: How can you tell!?? It was pristine, I'm telling you! No human's habitation around! - Me: My dear friend, your diareha is mostly caused by giardia, and guess what? - Guy: What? - Me: giardia take about....6 days to develop and get you sick. - Guy:..... f*ck! NAKED I don't know where you've heard that sleeping naked keeps you warmer, but I've never heard that in more than 40 years of experience. HOWEVER... this could be true. But only one one condition. If you're wet and have no other clothes for sleeping. We even strip naked those victims of hypothermie after falling into water. So, if you're wet, even just damped. Then, yes, it's better to be naked. Otherwise, it's a myth I agree with that (but never heard of it tho... Maybe people in Scandinavian's countries....lol joke). SOCKS I have to disagree about that one. You forgot the cardianl rule of the outdoors: "Everything is a question of trade-off". Also what applies to one, may not apply to someone else, and even be the total opposite. Your mention of the toes doesn't change the fact about the heel's blisters (which are the most common with 90-95%). So the truth is: IT DEPENDS. Yes, sometimes, two pair of socks will help and it's false to say that two pair will get your feet much warmer. There are some very good "socks liners" that are fantastic and doesn't make your feet sweat. BUT.... liners may actually cause blisters to some. Stats on the three most used trails in the world (CDT, AT, CT) shows that some people benefited from liners, and some others had blisters when using the same liners. So the truth is... IT DEPENDS. What works for one may work or not work for you. That's why the second cardinal rule is very important as well: TRY BEFORE YOU LEAVE for your adventure. Pro tip: Leuko tape is fantastic for when you have blisters. Always carry some with you. SLEEPING BAGS More precision here: There is now a worldwide ANSI certification for sleeping bags and most good companies are using it. They now have 3 ratings: comfort, limit, extreme. And as stated by Robert, the temperature comfort maybe not be the same as yours from someone else. It;s best to go by the comfort first. Also, the norm "comfort" is more oriented thoward women and the "limit" toward men. Best is to try in your backyard. Then you can adjust be wearing warmer sleeping cloths, adding a mylar blanket under your sleeping bag, or simply using two sleeping bags if you don't have the budget to buy several sleeping bags. I own more than ten and still adapting depending on the situation. (I know... I'm a gear freak). RAIN GEAR Again i agree. One very simple thing to do is to have one of those ultra wide and ultra light ponchos at all time in your backpack. This could make the difference between being miserable and quit vs mumbling and to keep going. And don't foget, you could even use that poncho under heavy snow, make an emergency shelter or.... to make a kit if you're getting bored and wanting to have some fun! (And... the kit could also be a signaling device in case of a survival situation...)
Hello Robert and thanks for sharing the advice. I Backpacked for years wearing two pairs of socks - a very thin pair under a thicker knitted boot sock. I agree, my feet did sometimes get hot in leather boots (I'm talking about more than 30 years ago) but when I stopped for lunch I would often take off my boots and outer socks, let the feet cool down, air the bots etc. I consider myself lucky that I never had a blister while wearing two pairs of socks. These days, if I was going backpacking again, or for day walks, I really should investigate the newer makes of sock and trail shoes.
Here in South Africa there used to be an AMAZING range of socks. Double-walled. They were called Falke. Not made any more. I used to use them road running. I imagine they would be good for hiking and backpacking.
I always think redundancy is key, especially on the essentials like water purification. Since I bought my first new sleeping bag in 2001, I have never slept with less than a light base layer (long pants and long sleeves), including a light cap, gloves, and socks. I have always brought these sleeping layers as designated for sleeping and separate layers from the layering system that I use to keep warm on the trail and in camp. I do this to prevent my body oils, and any dirt that might be on me from a day of hiking, from getting in my sleeping bag and on the insulation m. This system has worked out very well for me. Even in the hottest weather I have a 5 ounce (total) layer system I wear to sleep in, including some silk tights I found thrifting, an Icebreaker 150 top (not sure they make this anymore, but mine has lasted since 2008) I thrifted and thin gloves, hat and socks. I have since sold my first sleeping bag ever (and it was in pristine condition, even after relatively heavy use), and I now have a down sleeping bag which I believe is even more important to keep as much dirt and body oil out of as possible. Keeping the sleeping bag clean eliminates the need to launder the sleeping bag and thus saves it from that extra wear. That said I have not gone on any extended backpacking trips (longer than three nights), but I’d say keeping a sleeping bag clean and as lofty as possible is probably even _more_ important on longer outings.
I totally agree and I do the exact same thing, always sleep in a base layer unless a few times when it’s been too warm and I needed to remove the pants/socks!
love your videos, I stopped bringing rain pants on warm weather hikes, if my pants get wet I have to put up with it until they dry, but because I have separate sleeping gear, there's little risk to that when temps aren't too bad, it's different in mountains or cold weather
Glad to hear 🙂🙏🏻 and yeah… for summer and light summer rain in nice warm climates you can do fine for sure! Totally understand… for the mountains with the less predictable weather, not so much. 👍🏻
In any event sleeping naked is a bad idea if you have to get out of bed in a hurry at night if there is an emergency.
I agree, but with a couple of caveats from my experiance: If it's cold enough that I'm using my boots of a multi day hike I use a liner, it's easier to wash and dry a thin liner, and the spare is smaller and lighter. If I'm in my trail runners it's just a single medium weight sock. Regarding the sleeping naked, for a while I tried sleeping in leggings which got clammy, and from there ended up colder. I tried a few types with the same result. Lately I've been using OMM core tights when it's cold, and so far the extra breathability is working for me. That said, I try to use sleep clothes, just to try to keep the quilt cleaner. UK hiker, what works for me may not work for you :)
Never used a liner but always sleep in a base layer like you… will try the Alpha Direct 60 leggings this year and I hope the added breathability will leave me less sweaty and more comfortable. And what works in UK most of the time works here in Sweden 🙂👍🏻
Accidentally hit your video in the staff room at work: love how you started with “Sleeping naked is nice…”. I got a few looks!
😂👍🏻 hilarious !! 🤣
Desert hiker here 🏜️ Yes, I returned from a three day hike recently. I wore my 1L rain jacket most of the time in the mountains, and goretex rain / windpants in the camp. The cut allows for a better movement and layering options than wind shirt. Also the material is durable, keeps up with more serious weather. Hard shell would be way too much and lightweight wind jacket just not enough. Thank you for the video.
Another interesting video with good information! :)
R-value
What Robert is mostly true. Why mostly? Because it's not so simple. Your "warmth comfort" doesn't depend on your sleeping pad only. It also depends on your sleeping bag and sleeping cloths. And... everyone is different, some will get colder faster, other won't. That's the famous "Trade-off rule of the outdoors"! Other than that, you can improve the R-value by a lot if you know how to do it right. A simple thin and very lightweight mylar blanket will greatly improve the r-value of a sleeping pad. FYI, THE best sleeping pad out on the market today is using 4 sheets of.... mylar blankets (they call it "aluminized film"). However, never add the blanket into your sleeping bag! The best is one under and one over the sleeping pad. Reflectix is stating that the best way to use their product is to make a "sandwich". Talking of reflectix, you could also use that product which is bubble wrap sandwiched by mylar. But it's bulky... The other way is to use a very thin wool blanket on top of your sleeping pad. You'd be surprised by how much warmth it's adding to any sleeping pad (Airlines used to have that, not it's polar). Another myth about rvalue is that a too high rvalue will make you sweat in summer time. Totally false! So, IF you have the budget, why not going for the NEMO Tensor Extreme with an rvalue of 8.5 right from the start? So now you know what to do if you want to keep your low rvalue sleeping pad and improve it's warmth! Otherwise, 3-3.5 is about right for 3 seasons.
TENTS
Very true. UL tents like the Zpacks won't resists high winds on a mountain. And, sorry to say that, but the Durston will fail too (I've seen it more than once). The reason is that most UL are using trekking poles and it makes them more prone to failure in very high winds. The same applies to the famous Hubba Hubba even with their new poles. Also, the fabric is of concerns. More rugged tents are better when mountaineering. Keep that in mind...
WATER FILTRATION
Also very true. But Robert, you missed the most important: WHY. So, for everyone watching the video, the reason of why having a filtration system with you at ALL times (nano tubes, ceramic, chemical, etc..) is very simple. You could be on the most remote location in the world and be sick because of the water. I've been with some folks in one of those areas and had to trek several days, quick, to reach a certain point. We knew that we were probably the first humans there since hundreds of years if not even ever. The lake looked pristine clear but.... what if an animal died earlier and his corpse still not fully desintegrated at the bottom? Or what if, very simply, an animal had defecated in it not too long ago? That's why you ner know and it's important to purify your water at all times. Now, here's another story for you.
- Guy: Damn, I'm sick :(
- Me: What happend?
- Guy: Well, I went hiking for a few days and was lucky to find a beautiful lake, very remote from any human locations. The water was incredibly good! And now that I've come back, the tap water tastes real bad and got me sick.
- Me: When where you in that "pristine location"
- Guy: Oh! about a week ago...
- Me: Well, my friend. I'm sorry to inform you that your "pristine water" got you sick, not the tap water.
- Guy: How can you tell!?? It was pristine, I'm telling you! No human's habitation around!
- Me: My dear friend, your diareha is mostly caused by giardia, and guess what?
- Guy: What?
- Me: giardia take about....6 days to develop and get you sick.
- Guy:..... f*ck!
NAKED
I don't know where you've heard that sleeping naked keeps you warmer, but I've never heard that in more than 40 years of experience. HOWEVER... this could be true. But only one one condition. If you're wet and have no other clothes for sleeping. We even strip naked those victims of hypothermie after falling into water. So, if you're wet, even just damped. Then, yes, it's better to be naked. Otherwise, it's a myth I agree with that (but never heard of it tho... Maybe people in Scandinavian's countries....lol joke).
SOCKS
I have to disagree about that one. You forgot the cardianl rule of the outdoors: "Everything is a question of trade-off". Also what applies to one, may not apply to someone else, and even be the total opposite. Your mention of the toes doesn't change the fact about the heel's blisters (which are the most common with 90-95%). So the truth is: IT DEPENDS. Yes, sometimes, two pair of socks will help and it's false to say that two pair will get your feet much warmer. There are some very good "socks liners" that are fantastic and doesn't make your feet sweat. BUT.... liners may actually cause blisters to some. Stats on the three most used trails in the world (CDT, AT, CT) shows that some people benefited from liners, and some others had blisters when using the same liners. So the truth is... IT DEPENDS. What works for one may work or not work for you. That's why the second cardinal rule is very important as well: TRY BEFORE YOU LEAVE for your adventure. Pro tip: Leuko tape is fantastic for when you have blisters. Always carry some with you.
SLEEPING BAGS
More precision here: There is now a worldwide ANSI certification for sleeping bags and most good companies are using it. They now have 3 ratings: comfort, limit, extreme. And as stated by Robert, the temperature comfort maybe not be the same as yours from someone else. It;s best to go by the comfort first. Also, the norm "comfort" is more oriented thoward women and the "limit" toward men. Best is to try in your backyard. Then you can adjust be wearing warmer sleeping cloths, adding a mylar blanket under your sleeping bag, or simply using two sleeping bags if you don't have the budget to buy several sleeping bags. I own more than ten and still adapting depending on the situation. (I know... I'm a gear freak).
RAIN GEAR
Again i agree. One very simple thing to do is to have one of those ultra wide and ultra light ponchos at all time in your backpack. This could make the difference between being miserable and quit vs mumbling and to keep going. And don't foget, you could even use that poncho under heavy snow, make an emergency shelter or.... to make a kit if you're getting bored and wanting to have some fun! (And... the kit could also be a signaling device in case of a survival situation...)
Hello Robert and thanks for sharing the advice. I Backpacked for years wearing two pairs of socks - a very thin pair under a thicker knitted boot sock. I agree, my feet did sometimes get hot in leather boots (I'm talking about more than 30 years ago) but when I stopped for lunch I would often take off my boots and outer socks, let the feet cool down, air the bots etc. I consider myself lucky that I never had a blister while wearing two pairs of socks. These days, if I was going backpacking again, or for day walks, I really should investigate the newer makes of sock and trail shoes.
Here in South Africa there used to be an AMAZING range of socks. Double-walled. They were called Falke. Not made any more. I used to use them road running. I imagine they would be good for hiking and backpacking.
I always think redundancy is key, especially on the essentials like water purification. Since I bought my first new sleeping bag in 2001, I have never slept with less than a light base layer (long pants and long sleeves), including a light cap, gloves, and socks. I have always brought these sleeping layers as designated for sleeping and separate layers from the layering system that I use to keep warm on the trail and in camp. I do this to prevent my body oils, and any dirt that might be on me from a day of hiking, from getting in my sleeping bag and on the insulation m. This system has worked out very well for me. Even in the hottest weather I have a 5 ounce (total) layer system I wear to sleep in, including some silk tights I found thrifting, an Icebreaker 150 top (not sure they make this anymore, but mine has lasted since 2008) I thrifted and thin gloves, hat and socks. I have since sold my first sleeping bag ever (and it was in pristine condition, even after relatively heavy use), and I now have a down sleeping bag which I believe is even more important to keep as much dirt and body oil out of as possible. Keeping the sleeping bag clean eliminates the need to launder the sleeping bag and thus saves it from that extra wear. That said I have not gone on any extended backpacking trips (longer than three nights), but I’d say keeping a sleeping bag clean and as lofty as possible is probably even _more_ important on longer outings.
I totally agree and I do the exact same thing, always sleep in a base layer unless a few times when it’s been too warm and I needed to remove the pants/socks!
love your videos, I stopped bringing rain pants on warm weather hikes, if my pants get wet I have to put up with it until they dry, but because I have separate sleeping gear, there's little risk to that when temps aren't too bad, it's different in mountains or cold weather
Glad to hear 🙂🙏🏻 and yeah… for summer and light summer rain in nice warm climates you can do fine for sure! Totally understand… for the mountains with the less predictable weather, not so much. 👍🏻
I'm a British hiker so I'd be a fool not to take waterproofs! If we get a day without rain it's one for the diary. 🤣
😂 same same here!!
Is this a reupload? I swear I watched this already…
Hi 👋🏻 and yes, playing around a bit with new styles and using shorts in longer formats. This is material from an episode a month ago.