Ranking the BEST & WORST Backpacking Gear Brands (from a thru hiker)
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- Опубліковано 4 лип 2024
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Edited by: @luke_mckay
MyLifeOutdoors Crotch Pot Video: • I Bought The WEIRDEST ...
My Gear spreadsheet: lighterpack.com/r/9qjh18
BIG FOUR 🤘
Backpack: ula-equipment.9xrw.net/x9oX1x
My FAVORITE Tent: zpacks.com/products/plexsolo-...
Gossamer Gear Tent: www.avantlink.com/click.php?t...
Sleeping Quilt:
Sleeping Pad: amzn.to/35rlMIw
OTHER SLEEPING STUFF 💤
Pillow: amzn.to/3he3mgX
Groundsheet:
FOOD & WATER 🍴
Filter: amzn.to/3pfZ25j
Stove: amzn.to/3simgd1
Cook Pot: amzn.to/3LSjqmJ
Spork: amzn.to/3shROja
Water Storage: amzn.to/3sinBk3
Food Bag:
Spice Container: amzn.to/3LZ2ISz
CLOTHING 👔
Sun Hoody: www.avantlink.com/click.php?t...
Shorts: amzn.to/3sdiQrL
Socks: amzn.to/3M2nPUi
Rain Jacket: amzn.to/3JPMBoy
Down Jacket: amzn.to/3UrHG2Q
Base Layer Bottom: www.avantlink.com/click.php?t...
Base Layer Top: www.avantlink.com/click.php?t...
Shoes: www.avantlink.com/click.php?t...
ELECTRONICS 🔌
Power Bank: amzn.to/3t4fDds
Headlamp: amzn.to/3M9yrke
Wall Plug: amzn.to/3pa3JNJ
Electronics Bag:
MISCELLANEOUS 🤘
Trekking Poles: amzn.to/3hqT39n
Pack Liner: www.avantlink.com/click.php?t...
Ultralight Knife: amzn.to/3t0m3dL
Ditty Bag:
Trowel: amzn.to/3CL0Ys6
Shoulder Pocket for Backpack: ula-equipment.9xrw.net/kjAQm0
For business inquiries only: kyle.s.ogrady@gmail.com
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"TICKS IN THE ASS" is back, baby
P.s., I hiked the entire Appalachian Trail with an Ozark Trail backpack, and personally, I'm offended is not S+++ tier
Hope y'all liked the edit ✌🏼
And covered in stick bugs
I've heard some Ozark Trail stuff is really underrated! I slept in an Ozark Trail tent at Burning Man and it was great. Never used any of their gear for backpacking though,
Don’t call Flossy’s pecker a “tick”!
@jonathanbauman2236 don't have any Ozark Trail hiking gear, but man my coffee mug from them puts yeti to shame 😂
I am surprised a trash bag isn't in top tier since it has all the hallmarks you love. It is light. It has no pockets. And you can wear it as a poncho when it rains.
Lol I've heard him talk about keeping everything in a trash bag for waterproofing before 🤣
Team Trashbag here!
You can also make a good bed out of a trash bag and two poles
Best thing: It's cheap as hell!
Lol
My life outdoors called you Kyle hates chairs and now I call you Kyle hates chairs in my head 😂
Don’t! Now that’s in my brain 😂
Welp. Now it’s in my brain.
He’s Kyle who hates my boots for me lol
@@babiesfartingfire6007 Your username, tho. 😂
How dare you insult Darwin by not immediately putting his creation on THE BEST. Just for that, I will carry not one, but TWO camp chairs on my next overnighter.
😂😂😂😂😂😂
I’m sat here in my Helinox chair, wearing Altras drinking from my Nalgene.
I love them all, I’m feeling judged Kyle!
I had to live in the woods for most the year last year and one of the pantry/donation centers gave me a few pairs of those socks.
I legitimately love those socks, I couldn't believe they were accidentally donated! When I found out they were actually purposely delivered for the needy it floored me. Socks are seriously underrated for what they provide, and if you can't tell how grateful I am for this company by my gushing; buy these socks people.
Nalgene bottles: raises an important point for gear considerations. If a piece of gear can serve several purposes, then that's a plus. For example, water bladders do one thing: hold water and allow the hiker to drink it on the go. A Nalgene bottle can be used to scoop water from a stream, can mix foods, has measuring lines, hold hot water for warming a sleeping bag at night, can be used to store items, and yes, can be used to hold water. No, Nalgene bottles should not be used while driving :-). Plastic water bottles are cheap and easy to get but can't support multiple uses. I'd move the Nalgene bottles up on the list
Once he said he hates Nalgene because it weighs 6oz I stopped taking this dude seriously. His body must be made of glass.
Nooooo to trashing my Helinox chair- best extra pound I’ve ever carried! I’m almost 60 and when I hiked the JMT I loved the “ luxury” of having a chair to support my back at camp after a long day of hiking! C’mon Kyle! Everyone in my hardcore hiking group ( even the young ultra-lighters) looked enviously at my chair every night while they sat on a nice comfy rock!
I personally love my osprey pack. I'm a beginner and had to get some budget gear that is not ultralight. Having the ability to carry the extra weight with ease due to its sturdiness and rigidity is nice and saves my bad back. Granted as i get more experience and more play money I'll start getting some of the more expensive stuff as long as I'm not sacrificing my comfort.
osprey packs are awesome ! They're just perfect for beginning hikers with a pretty heavy base weight. When you have budget or just comfortable (= heavy) gear, you can't have a frameless backpack. I find it completely unfair to call gear "trash" just because it doesn't match our way of hiking. That's just not how you rank gear.
Agree, osprey is great if you're not going light weight, for whatever reason.
I loved my osprey pack too - hiked 300 miles in Spain with it and it was great. Super comfy.
There is one situation in which I would absolutely bring along a Nalgene - if I'm backpacking in freezing temps, I would fill it with very hot H2O, and throw it in my footbox to keep my feet toasty warm.
makes sense! I should have specified that I don't backpack in the winter, being able to put hot water in the bottles is definitely good for that
Truly the only remaining use for bringing a Nalgene on a hike!
Honestly as a fairly broke hiker and fisherman Ozark Trail has great entry level gear and I swear by their river sandals.
fair enough! glad you like it
I've outfitted 4 new hikers so far at walmart primarily using OT gear. All of them are now hiking on their own and having wonderful adventures in the backcountry. OT gear is really solid. It's not the best or the lightest and it's cheaply made somewhere in a sweatshop, but it's not going to just outright fail you in the woods. I'm talking pack, sleeping pad, bag, canteen, tent, everything. You're going to be OK, and all it takes to get someone into this hobby is for them to go out there and do it and not die. OT gear won't kill you unless you try really hard. And you can go into a walmart and fully outfit someone for a fast food paycheck.
I think Helinox chairs depend on the trail. There is no point on the AT because there are plenty of rocks, logs, benches, shelters and picnic tables to sit on. I really appreciated my Helinox chair on the Guadalupe Ridge Trail where there are only sharp rocks and cactus to sit on.
Not to mention people who refuse to carry a chair, and knock those who do, are usually the first ones sitting in someone else’s chair at camp the first chance they get 🤣
Cactus 😂
I have the zpacks arc air backpack and fell into a creek rubbing onto a rock that made a hole at the bottom of the internal frame after 250miles of hiking the PCT this year. I lost one frame that just fell out and the other side started to fall out as well. I contacted zpacks who immediately sent me a loaner pack and had me send it in for repairs. They sent me the arc ultra while fixing my pack. I had torn the back pocket a few places and they sewed on a new mesh packer and redesigned the frame adding a center frame stay just like the arc ultra. Since I recieved my repaired pack I have had zero issues with it. Zpacks made my favorite backpack even better at no cost. They warranty their work and are great customer service making improvements to gear. Cant say enough.
I had an arc blast in 2015 doing the High Sierra trail. I also had a hole in the back bottom form from setting the pack down on granite. I sent it back and they reinforced it and sent it back to me. Love zpack. I also own the Nero. I used it on my Camino Portuguese da Costa. Worked great. I now have the HMG 3400 and had the 4400. Awesome packs! 1500 miles on my 3400 and going strong.
zpacks did nothing to help me resolve roblems i had with their pack. i
they put me thru hell and did not care at all about their products. i received the worst suppprt ever. i wasted $2000 ....
Random comment on the ozark trail- I’m a pretty broke college student so don’t have money for expensive gear. I also didn’t have to wait, so I bought a cheap pack, pots/pans, utensils, and several other things there. I can upgrade over time instead of waiting that way. While none of it is fantastic, it’s definitely doable. With everything other than consumables, my base weight is right around 15lbs. My sleep setup was bought elsewhere though lol
That's the way to do it!
Their headlamp is bargain heavy but indestructible and the buttons are intuitive even when half asleep. I don’t stress about losing it or if it breaks for $17. I needed three for me and my fam, so there you go. Their SS mug/pot is solid and cheap so no worries either. Sometimes inexpensive is also less stress.
The Kula cloth is awesome - a great way to avoid using TP on the trail (save it for pooping, when you'll be burying stuff anyway); very well made, easy to rinse out at any water source - definitely belongs in the Awesome category. And they're beautiful, too.
For females. Males don’t need them.
Just curious 🤔 if it's not okay to pee near water sources, then why is it okay to rinse out a pee rag in any water source 🤔?
@@Duckling08 Who in their right mind said that it was okay to rinse-out a pee rag in a natural water source?
@@Duckling08 I should have said 'with' any water source. It's easy to use your water bottle water to rinse it out over land, well away from a natural water source - that's usually what I do.
I love having all the pockets, literally do longer hikes wearing a chest rig
DT socks really are the best. I've been trying so hard to wear out the first pair I ever bought to trade them in. They're definitely thinner now than they were when I bought them, but no holes, no loose stitching after 15+ years. I have at least 20 pairs of DT socks in various weights and shapes and the only time I'm forced to wear something else is when I'm wearing a suit for a wedding or funeral.
Good video! I think you should revisit this again later on and add more brands like Nemo, Durston, Granite Gear, The North Face, Peak Refuel, Backpacker's Pantry, etc.
"EAGLE CREEK" backpacks are INCREDIBLY DURABLE/LONG LASTING! WOW, very impressive!
One nice thing about altras is that they have a signature footprint and you hardly need a gps, map and compass because you just need to follow all the other thru hikers wearing altras . :)
Kula Cloth is AMAZING! no need to use and pack out (most of) the tp.
Your mom uses a Kula!
I think the description you gave for Patagonia applies to The North Face way more.. they literally did a collab with Gucci
North face did a collab with Supreme too
When I was 71 I did the JMT and at full food, fuel and water resupply, loads were 36 and 46 pounds. I used the HMG 4400 and it was just fine.
Just an add on: I've used quite a few exterior frame (Jan Sport+) and interior frame (North Face+) and frameless (GoLite+) backpacks. Jan Sport were great when carrying an extra 20-25 lbs of climbing gear. I wore them all out. I've used the 4400 Porter for 10 years and got the larger pack so it was also good for winter big volume. Got the 2400 for long day cross country ski trips so room for enough warm clothing, etc. when stopping (or emergency overnight) and then the Daybreak (original version) for day hikes. Also use the Stuff Pack as big stuff sack and for summiting or around town.
Hahaha I love my osprey, so comfy on my hips. Great episode Kyle.
After hiking on the AT from Hughes Gap to Overmountain shelter, nothing felt better than relaxing in my Helinox Chair Zero. Kyle, you’re an “Anti-Chairite” 😂
My parents had the Thermarest that air up when you unscrew the valve. They used them when they camped on motorcycle trips. Everything had to fit in the saddlebags. I know they originally had them starting mid 1980’s through 1994ish
Msr should be higher, ground hog tent stakes great. My msr lighting acent snowshoes have been amazing. Tent I wanted for winter was out of price range for first tent.
Thermarest great, nenoair x-therm nsx got me to -18 F.
Nalgene works alot better when pouring boiling water into it to sleep with...
The amount of rage I felt when he put helinox in trash, had me sent. I love this chair. Sure i get it not for backpacking but just as a freaking great camping chair, hell yes. This made me saltier than that drink mix. 😂 However you made a redeeming choice with Osprey. Over complicated trash.
Over complicated and sqeaky.
I am all in on Zpacks. The majority of my gear is from Zpacks. Duplex, 20 degree quilt, Arc Blast, bear bag, down booties, rain gear, rain mitts etc.
It’s been a game changer, my base weight is about eight pounds and my pack is a joy to carry. I am well into my 60s and I am hiking bigger miles than I did thirty years ago. I only have about 800 miles on my new gear but so far so good. Getting ready to add another few hundred miles shortly. Let’s not forget not only is their gear great it’s not made in China by some kid chained to a sewing machine. Zpacks is a joy to work with.
i had the opposite experience. spent a lot of money with zpacks. if you want to spend a lot of money with a company and wish for poor quality support and products then this is the company for you!
@@conniesjourney5806 May I ask what did you purchase and what failed. I see a lot of Zpacks on the trail and a lot of Duplex tents. I have never met anyone who disliked their gear. I would say with UL gear you need to handle it a bit more gently, especially the packs. Their tents and quilts are top notch. Take care
HMG packs come in right at 2lbs a piece and are essentially water proof. I carried mine on an AT thru and put it through the ringer. Never was the bag wetted through and the durability is top notch. No issues. I’m positive it’ll last another thru. Plus, they now how a 1p and 2p tent at $600-700
You know what else is more waterproof than a pair of rubber boots is "ECCO" shoes. I don't know if they sell hiking shoes/boots but I bought a pair of their lightweight walking shoes (that feel like slippers so didn't expect much as far as durability).
Well, I got caught in a torrential downpour, wearing them and fully expected my feet/socks/shoes would be completely drenched when I got home and I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT - my feet/socks/shoes were completely DRY!!! Not a drop of water seeped through! Best walking shoes EVER!!!
HMG packs are great. Have a ton of miles on mine and I love it
The ozark trail lightweight package are PERFECT for things like raves, music events, a single day hike, etc
Your videos are very entertaining and full of good and or controversial info. Personally I LOVE my MSR stove but you have done a ton more hiking than me. Also I love my Osprey pack! I am not familiar with a few of the brands you mentioned so now I'll check them out. Thanks man ands keep making videos!
Thank you so much! To each their own, glad the gear is working for you!
I just watched your trail tails with Jessica Pu, and my sternum strap broke on the LT last summer like 75 miles in on day 6 right after Little Rock Pond Shelter, I fixed it with a paper clip and it lasted me all the way to Canada.
Would love to see more of this in the future but maybe with more segregated categories. You could do UL focused cottage gear, the bigger brands, budget gear brands or you could even do specific categories of gear (quilt manufacturers come to mind).
I know everybody loves tier lists so it’s annoying but it’s good info anyway.
Side note: I recently got the Zpacks arc haul ultra and it’s been cool so far. I’ll try to remember to let you know if it falls apart but they’re using ultra 400 fabric now instead of the rip stop material they were using before.
HMG has turned things around with their new MID-1… I’m liking it! Mountain house is part of the jeja vu food group…looks the same coming out as when it goes it… 😂 Nice job with the stack up.
Round 2 with Farpointe/Senchi. Cnoc. Toaks. Nemo. Big Agnes. Nitecore. App gear co. Hilltop packs. Bonfus. Enlightened equipment. High tail designs. Palante. Waymark. Platypus. Katadyn. Katabatic. Durston. Hoka. Topo athletic. Outdoor research.
Cnoc .... I've had two of their products and the threading on the screw tops both leaked. It in fact cost me a night in a hotel. I didn't realise my water supply had dribbled out on the trail. My choice was head into town or continue to the next watering hole that was too far away as it was getting late.
Love this video, you should do more lists but separated like best sleeping bag brand, best tent brand, etc.
good idea! I had fun with this
@@KyleHatesHiking All of your work is great! Love the Dan Becker jokes too, shit is hilarious.
Love my ULA Equipment backpack!
Nalgene bottles only have a place in the dead of winter because you can fill them with hot water and use it as a hot water bottle. Patagonia clothes are really good, if expensive. Love their hoodies.
I agree, that's a great use of ye olde Nalgenes. Keep your tootsies toasty for sure
I have several insulated nalgenes for both winter hiking and mountaineering. In addition to the use you cite, (which is a game changer since a liter of hot water keeps me comfortable with an insufficient bag for at least 6h) the wide mouth cannot be discounted. When you're hiking or mountaineering in sub 0F temperatures, it's not about keeping your water from freezing, it's about being able to drink water that is already partially frozen for as long as possible. You're just not going to be able to keep a smart water bottle from freezing its neck unless you carve out a little cavity there in your body. You can continue to drink a partially frozen nalgene for at least 80% of its capacity, and then you can shake the shit out of that thing and eat the ice chunks that remain.
ZPacks Arc Blast , original aluminum frame. Almost 8 years in and still in great shape. Most comfortable pack ever. Carries exceptionally well.
Two chairs, a table, and a swing ball set in my backpack 😂
I was only a day hiker, but luckily live in Eastern NC near 2 large military bases. Military surplus is the way to go if you want top notch gear at give-away prices. Everybody also has boxes of MREs, so trading around for your favorites is a popular pastime.
I agree with you on most of your rankings. Thanks for the effort. I am a big fan of the Altra, 0 drop Superior 3.5. Unfortunately, this model has been discontinued. I changed the foot bed out though. Combined with the Darn Tough mid weight and Injinji liners, it is the most comfortable set up for 15 + miles a day, even when wet. I live in CO so do a lot of backpacking here. Heading to N. Tahoe in Oct (Sierras).
Pretty cool idea!
Defenitly do another one just like this.
Love the return of Experience Over Things editing
Back in full force, babyyyy 👌🏼
Holy shit bro. You blew up big time. I remember when you were just pushing hard to hit 20K subs and now 188k?! My boyyyyyyyy what a legend 🇦🇺
Thanks for the recommendations and reviews💜 I am wearing some Darn Tough socks I bought on sale online recently - they have a picture of a squirrel holding a camera - try to beat that!!🐿
Thank you this was very useful.
I wouldn’t rate z-packs so high. Too expensive and it wears out too fast. What about Nemo, and outdoor vitals? Big Agnes? There are a lot of brands I was hoping you would include. I love Aqua quest, my Nemo Tensor is dope, black diamond makes great trekking poles…definitely need to make another video.
I’m trying to find info on the Bonfus Framus 58L pack. Any insight?
Waymark Gear, Soto, Enlightened Equipment, UGQ, Katabatic, Nunantek, LiteAF, Hilltop Packs, Lanshan, BRS, Big Agnes, Nemo, Sea to Summit, Coleman, Stansport, and so many more. Maybe time for a round 2 and 3.
Durston
@@dustyoldhat Nice gear but I will not pay that kind of money to support F China. They could make it here but chose to make it overseas.
@@mtadams2009 uhhhh what
Durston is designed in Canada and made in the same factory in Vietnam that MSR uses bro. They can't "make it here" affordably. Durston Gear is literally Dan and his wife. That's the whole company.
Also, if you think when you're buying "Made in USA" or "Made in Canada" gear, the materials were also made there, you're gravely mistaken. We live in the 21st century and the supply chain is global. Durston is the least of the problem. If you want to stick it to China, don't shop at Walmart.
@@dustyoldhat I am totally aware of the Durston story and I have even had an exchange with him. That said for what he is charging it should be made in North America. I will stick with Zpacks and yes I know all about Durston taping and how much more superior it is to Zpacks. I don’t shop at Walmart and do my best to purchase my goods from anywhere but China. Fortunately in backpacking there are multiple options. I told Durston when he moves his manufacturing I would certainly consider his products . They look very nice until that happens it’s a no go. Take care
@@dustyoldhat Durston Gear. Definitely "The Best" tear. I have an X-Mid 2P (Drop version) and can vouch for that rating.
All I can say is BD Alpenglow Pro sun hoodie. That alone makes it an S-tier contender to me. I practically live in those shirts during the summer months.
I do enjoy me some Osprey, though I suppose that makes more sense for me as I refuse to touch the ultralight thing with a 50ft trekking pole. The sturdiness, carry comfort and built-in organising options make life easy for me and I'll gladly lug around the extra weight for that. Then again, I don't limit the use to backpacking, which probably bumps it up a few points as well.
I had a pack so terrible once I had to learn how to sew . You ever tried to learn how to sew in the rain . It's amusing and frustrating at the same time 🤣
Appreciate your sense of humor and honesty 😂
Have I ever done a hike? No. Do I have any desire to start hiking at any point in the future? No. But I’m still watching this channel.
I tried lmnt... saved the ones that sounded the grossest to me for last and they ended up being my favorite lol. chocolate salt and orange salt ftw.
Chocolate salt is the biggest sleeper. Same thing thought it was going to be horrible as a drink but was oddly satisfying.
Chocolate Salt, yes. Epic with cold water.
They are all good with cold water, but the chocolate salt; hella good
For me, Patagonia fits just right and the quality and sustainability make it worth the price. Have lots of years with their puffies, base layers and fleeces.
Our brand new arc haul broke after 3 days on the JMT. They fixed it, but still had a week and a half to go before we got off trail lol
Hey what do you think of Durston mid 2 tent? Also I use Superior Wilderness Design backpack. Any thoughts on these 2?
Have two of each…. Love them all.
That was fun. I'm sure we'll see more backpacking tier lists in the community now hah.
Darn Tough sox are awesome!!! Helix camp chair; good for use around fire pit in backyard!
What do you think about Teton packs? I know it's not Ultralight , but does anyone use one on the trail?
I have the gossamer kumo 36 and I love it
I HIGHLY recommend "Eagle Creek" backpacks. I've been using mine and jamming it full w/heavy items for 10 yrs and there isn't a stitch out of place or a zipper that's ever failed or anything else you'd expect after so long. It's in as pristine condition as the day I bought it! It's incredible!
Took my ozark trail tent from wally woeld out to banff and jasper and my tent was the only one that didnt soak thru. That tent was awesome. For 30$ it was bargain but then others spent 200+ and their tent flooded and mine didnt. Hehe
I think you should have specified that the majority of outlooks you have on gear companies are with “ultralight” in mind. MSR stoves are heavier than BRS… but they are bomb proof and BRS is not. Nalgenes are also bomb proof and useful for some situations. Hyperlite is by far one of the lightest packs that can comfortably carry a lot of weight. Most of my gear is ultralight but throw in a rack of climbing gear and now your pack needs to carry 30+ lbs. Anyway, the video was good and I appreciate you trashing Altra shoes (mainly for the price to durability ratio).
Oh on the camp chairs. Sportneer's camp chair has an updated model that makes it more sturdy with a little more weight. It also only costs 40$
I love gear. Fun video. Agree for the most part. Darn Tough is money. I have worn out numerous pairs of these socks and love them and the company so much, I have never asked for a free pair. Buying some more today. I'm a freestanding tent type guy (copper spur) but u could bump MSR up to solid. You gotta try REI outdoor Afro shorts (or something like that) they are the best ... 3 zip pockets. Now... take this to the bank... Sprayway glass/window cleaner, you can get at Wal-mart, sez "best in the world" right on the can, and it is. You will never buy anything else! Good job dude!
What a freakin hilarious video! Brilliant. Well done Kyle! 😂✌️
Thanks so much for watching!
I saw a video with some with a hyper light pack on Mount Everest
Osprey in my opinion is pretty much bomb proof. Yup, a bit heavy but built to last.
I don't know if any of my fellow lady hikers feel the same way but I was so excited to try the kula cloth and it failed miserably for me. No matter how you wash it, the first time you use it (and i've tried two different ones), it has this very bad odor that is a dealbreaker for me. I went back to using a bandana with absolutely no issues whatsoever.
I use Castile soap to wash mine out with. If it starts to smell, I’ll leave it to soak for a few hours while I’m at home. Seems to work well for me. Hopefully you have better luck next time if you give it another shot!
Love your content, it's dope 😅
Can't seem to find anything googling for OLV supply, any links?
Gossamer Gear packs are equal in weight or lighter than equivalent size Hyperlite packs (2lbs or less), and they’re way more cushy and comfortable with thick padding in the back, shoulder straps, and hip belts.
Those wal-mart trecking poles are actually really solid.
Osprey rules! Nalgene rules! Dan Becker rules!!! BOOM!
My thoughts pretty much align with yours, but in a future video I'd cover Atom Packs (to me they are the Darn Tough of backpack companies) and Tarptent.
I was all on board until you put REI over Patagonia. Patagonia's customer service is far superior to any other brands customer service. But then you won me back over when you put ULA in the best. Solid Packs.
Yep patagonia also does good work especially for watershed areas.
WTH Kyle? I got the altra lone peaks because of you! So I then got my friends and foot doctor to get them. LOVE them. Only shoes that does not aggravate the. Neuromas through out my feet.
What about Durston? Would love to see you compare the Plex solo with the Xmid 1 pro.
Look I have an ozark trail tent for car camping and I love it
Hot Take: If Kyle had a chair he would have finished the PCT.
Oh and MSR Snowshoes are among the best… of course Kyle Hates (winter) Hiking😂
I met you in line at the concert tonight . My name is Jesse , pumped my wife up that I knew a famous guy. Super friendly guy
I do unfortunately own a single osprey pack BUT it’s one of their travel ones and I just took it around Europe for a month and it was sick.
Oh man, I just ordered my first pair of Altra trail runners. I hope they are better than meh.
Hyperlight Mt Gear is high quality, reliable and ultralight gear. While not inexpensive, it’s some of the best stuff out there. It’s a US company and small business that is worthy of support!
Altra: Solid
Darn Tough: Solid (Silverlights are THE BEST)
Evolved: No idea - yeah, “Promising” would have been a good category.
LMNT: Amazing (Yeah, I know they were the sponsor, BUT…)
Gossamer Gear: Meh - no, the strap is hugely important on a trekking pole - crotch-pot earns a -2…
Helinox: THE BEST - my baseweight STARTS with my Helinox!
HMG: Solid (all from friends/family input - I just got one of their tarps, but have no usage to rate it by)
Kula Cloth: THE BEST (from female friends/family)
Mountain House: Meh at best…
MSR: Solid
Nalgene: Meh
Osprey: Solid
Ozark Trail: Trash
Patagonia: Meh - yeah - absolutely massively overpriced
REI: Solid
Sawyer: THE BEST
Thermarest: Amazing
ULA: Solid
ZPacks: Solid for tents, Meh for packs (I own 1 tent & 1 tarp, I know several who have had less than ideal experiences with their packs…)
Super cheap ozark trail lightweight folding camp chairs are great.
People here who have mentioned the Walmart OT and OP camping and hiking gear.
I can totally agree with those two products are good for people who are just getting into camping and hiking gear.
And don't want to spend a bunch of money on something that they may regret later.
Because they have found out that going camping and hiking out in the middle of nowhere.
Is not what they expected and just learned from their experience.
It wasn't something they were really into and because those two products are not very expensive.
At least they tried but also didn't pay up the you know what. For some top of the line camping and hiking gear.
16:58 isn’t the Zpacks dup the same price as Hyperliiiiiiites?
I have a zpacks arc haul. It made it through the PCT, but barely. The frame rods poked through all 4 of the holders and the back mesh got destroyed. Also at the time, they didn't have enough hip belt replacements available meaning I was unable to downsize my hipbelt on trail and my shoulders got wrecked. Their customer service was good though and they were willing to give me a loaner pack to get the back mesh fixed. I did decline that repair though, because they didn't have a new hip belt and I didn't want to deal with the logistics for just that repair, so serious credit to their customer service. Overall, my impression was that the arc haul was an ultralight pack that they scaled up but didn't account for the higher durability needed for a larger volume pack
I have a Arc Blast and I had zero issue getting a smaller hip belt.
I think their customer service has greatly improved over the last couple of years. They seem to ship stuff out very quickly. I think light weight gear in general is not as durable as standard backpacking gear. It’s a trade off I am willing to make. Then again I am old and money is not a big deal. I would rather be young though . Congratulations on your PCT hike.
Never used ozark trail backpacking stuff but there tents (for car camping) are good
You should try some of Black Dimonds gear. I have a headlamp and trekking poles from them and they are the best!
Darn Tough Sox are awesome but when I wear them out I got my moneys worth and buy another pair. Mountain House are nice only thing is there not cheep but they taste great. MSR is great gear pocket rocket to heavy you need to Man up Kyle :) Osprey and Kelty are awesome everything thing made ultra light weight does not last as long period ! Liked the Vid by Laurel Falls ! Yes REI has some solid gear ! Sawyer is awesome. Thermarest is Awesome. TC and I hope to see you on the trail, beer is on Me :)
I love my Kula cloth. Thanks for showing it love for your lady viewers like me!❤
Can confirm Darn Tough makes the best socks. Not from Vermont so no bias. Mine have survived numerous military training events and just keep being the go to socks. Also curious about your opinions on Mystery Ranch as a brand?
HMG definitely has a good marketing department. I used the Southwest for one season and sold it again. Just not comfortable enough for how heavy it is
Dude Nalgenes are super clutch when its cold. You can use them to store things, and at night you can pour boiling water in them and toss them in your bag and they stay warm all night.
Man, this one was f@&#$in funny 😂