2023 Gear NOT WORTH Buying - AND The Gear That IS!
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- Опубліковано 3 чер 2024
- Check out Bombas Socks: geni.us/UoAqg5
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Bombas hiking Socks: geni.us/tLd75Dj
Bombas running Socks: geni.us/F29Ltu
Gear Not Worth Buying:
Duplex Zip: geni.us/OOhn
CS40 Pack: geni.us/viqvoN
ZOOM UL: geni.us/pWpe6
XLITE NXT: geni.us/jR51Ho
Gear WORTH Buying:
Hornet 3P: geni.us/zZA87q6
Exos Pro: geni.us/lbo5
Offset Solo: geni.us/ysVzo
X-Mid Pro 2 +: geni.us/C0uDg
Big Agnes Rapied: geni.us/bO48Qum
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Check out Bombas Socks: geni.us/gcvdQ
Use code MYLIFEOUTDOORS to get 20% off your first purchase. New Customers Only.
Bombas hiking Socks: geni.us/XKip6
Bombas running Socks: geni.us/jJaU1A7
*Gear Not Worth Buying:*
Duplex Zip: geni.us/Agxnca
CS40 Pack: geni.us/4kCs
ZOOM UL: geni.us/gprgMe
XLITE NXT: geni.us/950XEty
*Gear WORTH Buying:*
Hornet 3P: geni.us/e0wJZkt
Exos Pro: geni.us/OlmFdC
Offset Solo: geni.us/SYLh
X-Mid Pro 2 +: geni.us/W12f
Big Agnes Rapied: geni.us/Qu8G5
I just scoff when I see something like this… a review of pads and tents… and see where he’s pitched it amongst trees… and then I’m so thankful for my Hennessy hammock.
Hammocks are great until you visit Norway or Icelandic mountains getting totally blasted by wind
I really love your channel man. You’re my main watch during lunch break!
It’s so fascinating to hear about what the online outdoors community is buzzing about each month. Even though I only get out once or twice a year, I still love learning about R-Values and bathtub floors and such.
Great videos, I always click. :)
I’m so glad I get to be a part of your lunch break! Thanks for bringing me along!
The Neoair NXT is thicker than the original Neoair. It's definitely more comfortable to me; just don't inflate it to the maximum amount of air it can hold.
I agree. Its a comfortable pad for me.
Feels like a board to me. Better than closed cell but compared to all other air pads it’s the least comfortable for the same price
I would not recommend the neo air but I do actually recommend the xtherm nxt if you do really cold weather camping. It's not the most comfortable but the warmth that this thing produces is pretty magical. It actually feels like you have a battery powered heated pad under neath you. It's also has a bomb proof 70 d bottom which is important in hard icey conditions. It also lightens the pack when everything else in winter load outs tend to be heavier..... I do agree with the rapide sl recommendation in 90% of most trips...
Hilleberg Soulo red label ( payed 400 Euro Second-Hand 5 years ago).
Sea to summit Ether Light XT Extreme large ( payed 180 Euro Second-Hand).
Those never let me down no matter in which country and weather I was in. I just had to replace the Schock Cords inside the poles recently, but after a Mail got this for free from Hilleberg.
Cheers from Switzerland
LOVE my Soulo as well. Arguably Hilleberg's are the toughest and strongest tent's on the face of the planet. Really wanted to get into the UL tents but for my type of backpacking - summit camping; they just weren't strong enough in high winds (50 - 60 mph). Recently brought my Durston Xmid Pro up on a summit overnighter and had x2 of the guys rip due to the wind. don't get me wrong, UL tents are fantastic for summer/less extreme conditions but for summit camping? Hmm, not soo much.
2:13 I can confirm that this Rapide SL (Wide) has really changed my sleeping game. I've always thought that in wilderness you can't sleep non-stop for 8 hours like you do in home. I usually woke up every ~1,5h to roll around to the other side. But once getting that, I'm sure sleeping like I'm sleeping at home. Also switched to a quilt, and now I can roll around in a wide comfortable pad with no issues.
Id throw in the updated durston gear kakwa 55 pack. For the money its near impossible to match.
It seems like backpacking is getting to be ridiculously expensive and I feel like it never was meant to be so much about the gear but more about the experience. Gear is definitely important though. I think backpackers need to start taking more of a DIY perspective on backpacking and get back to the basics. There are a lot of good substitutions for lightweight gear that is still lightweight and can be fabricated at home. Why is backpacking gear so expensive….easy answer is that consumers are driving the market by demand.
There is a ton low cost gear available. I have a lot of expensive gear but that’s only because I am older and light weight is very important for my older body. That said even the lower cost gear is super light.
Two of my best additions are both from Durston - the X-Mid 1 (and the Pro) and the Kakwa 55 backpack. The Kakwa is the best backpack I’ve ever owned by a country mile.
Please, please, please do a review of the Tarptent Triple Rainbow. Looks like a palace for two and able to fit gear inside. Very intrigued with this tent but have yet to see any reviews.
Great video! Love the concise, hard hitting points.
I have loved the Rapide SL pad. Ive taken this to 20 degrees F with no cold spots and love the raised side baffles. It makes a huge difference for me.
As you know, I continue to love my Exos 55 pro back as well. My only three minor gripes are the hip belt pockets are a little too far back and i wish the outer mesh of the pack was a little more stretchy.
Great review Steven! I am a big OV fan and have enjoyed many of their products; however, I had purchased a Durstan Kakwa 40 just before the new OV pack came out. I cannot say enough about the Kakwa!!! Definitely the best purchase of the big 3 I have ever made. Once again Steven, I enjoy your honest assessment of gear, t is very helpful. Can't wait for the next video.
My husband and I were cosy and comfortable in our Hornet on the John Muir Trail this summer. We were out during Hurricane Hilary and it kept us totally dry!
Spot on with the Zoom. Comfy yet cold
I got a set of Bombas running socks in the swag bag of a 5k and I love them. I will definitely check out their hiking socks!
Great job. Consise and informative.
I really like this video, it makes my outdoor equipment more complete. I personally like this tent. I think I need to own one too.
Really looking forward to a review of the Offset Solo. Ive had a duplex for a few years and added the pole cups to each end to pop it out a bit but this seems like a natural evolution. Trying to get a better sense of it vs x-mid pro 1 so really lookin' forward to it!
I took the Exos Pro 55 on a 7-night trip loaded with 30 lbs. Everytime I put the pack on the ground, the adjustable suspension would come apart. I had to tie it back together for the trip. The regular Exos 48 and 58 with the older suspension are more reliable.
Awesome video! As allways!
Thanks! Love your Videos
Thank you for the support
The Exos still has one unredeemable flaw in its design which is that the side compression straps go over the side pockets, making it hard to simultaneously get good compression and have easy access to water bottles. This is baffling to me, since older versions of the Exos used to have straps you could run under OR over the side pockets. Big step back and another reason while I’ll be sticking with the Exos’ biggest competitor, the Gregory Focal.
excellent. well done video. . (as usual). yabadaba doo. 🤙 congratulations with the channels success.. i am not surprised.
Would love to see even an initial review of the offset solo.
Interesting. I had the zipper come apart on my new Plex Solo due to missing tape. It was my second trip out using it. I ended up fixing it myself.
I’ve got an Ashcroft 2 tent I love it, it’s a little heavy but I like it
Great video
Osprey Exos 55, isn't that the pack that pools water in the hipbelt pockets?
I'm not paying $20 for Chinese socks so they can give another pair to "someone in need". Instead I pay $20 for US made Darn Tough and Farm to Feet socks so they can give JOBS to people in need.
U got them wrong - they do give jobs to people, just those people may live in the Ujgur concetration camp. Those Durston tents that everyone is raving about are also made in China, the enemy of its own ppl and the US. But $ dont smell ...
@@semo7566 Durston tents are made in Vietnam, I think, but your point still stands. Interestingly, I saw a video of a Chinese factory that had literal toddlers working in it. It was a sock factory, too. They were sitting on tables and taking socks from a stack and putting them on foot shaped wire forms.
Everyone has a gimick. No one is giving you free stuff if it lowers their profits.
@@canadafree2087 That's a fact. The seller probably pays $1/pair for those Chinese socks and then meticulously records every pair they give away to some junkie so they can claim them as charitable donations on their taxes.
Good list, but I'd note that it would be worth mentioning the true pack weight of a tent like the Hornet 3P. The weight listed is the minimum weight and not everyone reads all the details before purchasing a recommended item. I know, that's on them, not you. Still...
You are correct. I thought I was listing the packed weight but got them mixed up by accident.
Yes, I only want to know the full weight of the item you are trying to sell me. Companies be like: "Well if you leave the pegs, the poles, the footprint, the fly, the guy lines, and the tent itself at home, then our tent only weighs 4 pounds in your pack." lol
I'm really enjoying your channel.
I wish I'd known about Therm-a-rest noise before I bought one.
I 💜 bombas socks.
Excellent video. I love a lot of the outdoor vitals gear but it just doesn't have the "this is different" approach for me either. Maybe they should donate socks?
I am keeping my fingers crossed that you will quickly post a dedicated zpacks offset solo review - please 🙏 😊
Only 3 decibels.. 3 decibels would be a halving of sound level. 3 more decibels louder would be a doubling in sound.
On the Duplex Zip, you can add the magnetic tie backs DIY. Zpacks sells those separately for just a few bucks. And frankly, the zippered vestibule seems like a downgrade to me. No added functionality (negligible added wind resistance notwithstanding) AND significant reduction in durability. I agree, this one is not worth it.
Thanks for this and your other reviews. Have you ever looked at or reviewed Green Elephant tarp poles? One comment bomba’s socks. I purchased an olive drab green pair, and I really liked them at first, yet with normal wear and rotation, the heels shredded before my other socks showed any signs of wear. Just a comment. Skillet
Can you do a video on camping gear from Temu? There’s some pretty interesting items, for example a small universal backpacking stove wind screen that attaches directly to the burner. I’m just wondering if any of this gear is worth the money…
I like that you call things as you see them and saying things that a lot of people are scared to say about their beloved gear.
By the way, the decibel scale is logarithmic, not linear, so a 3-decibel difference would definitely be noticeable. In fact, I believe a 0.5 decibel difference can reliably be detected by a lot of people. Every 3dB change represents a doubling or halving of sound energy, so... yeah.
I don't think both people are supposed to sleep with their head on the same side in the XMid. You put your head on the side where the trekking pole is, so you get the max head room...
I had no idea the Thermarest NeoAir was known for discomfort. When I bought it most reviews I saw raved about the comfort, but I hate it!! I constantly feel like im about to fall off, and honestly half my body is hanging off much of the time.
Biggest issue for me with the zoom UL pad was how it deflates. Really annoying to try to roll and get the air out at the same time.
Darn Tough socks are IMO are more comfortable than Bombas
The Xpacks offset solo basically looks like the same design as the Gossamer Gear one. And for 270 (mine was 209 on sale) I love it. Have used it for 10 nights now, roomy and easy to setup.
There are some similarities to The One but also some big differences. That said I did a comparison of 6 UL tents and The One scored the best. It’s a great tent for sure!
It is very interesting that the GG "The One" is practically the exact same weight as the Offset Solo, while being made of SilPu Nylon and being significantly cheaper. One disadvantage that "The One" is going to have is that coated Nylon still absorbs water and takes a long time to dry. DCF does not. Also, the ZPacks Offset Solo also incorporates a small pole to pull out the mid-panel tie-out on the foot-end to make more interior space. The GG tent has a mid-panel tie-out loop on the foot end but you have to supply your own short carbon fiber pole, line, and stake (adding extra weight). These are subtle but perhaps significant differentiating features to some.
Kyle Hates hiking interviewed the marketing manager for Zpacks and he said even if you gave him the materials to make their products they could not match the cost of many of these offshore products. He said labor was a big expense. He also said it was good that others had jumped into the UL tent game because it got them off their asses. That is the offset design. He also said you are kidding yourself if you think many of these tent designs and that includes Zpacks have not been done before. I myself hate imported stuff and will continue to support Zpacks, Waymark etc.
You are so wrong about the Duplex Zip. I have one and have used it extensively. Its brilliant and i love how much room i get with such a light tent. I had the Mid 2 Pro... awful...nuff said about that. That said, if i had the zip fail on me like it did on you i would be fuming too!
U should get a pack from uk manufacturer Built to Send. Best pack I've ever seen and owned
Eyyy i just got the rapide
I have an OV Shadowlite sitting for me at the post office till after boxing day. What caught my eye was an ultralight pack with actual pockets and 1/2 the price of many ultralight packs. However, I would not buy it today because of the price has gone way up and the useless center zipper. Wait? I have one at the post office now? Only because I bought into their membership so it was kinda like paying for it in instalments. Once a pack liner is put into this non-waterproof pack the center zip becomes meaningless and the mesh pockets are smaller than a single mesh pocket. I also really, really wanted it to be green in color. Be careful of companies that use their customers as their "free" R&D team. OV certainly hasn't answered customer complaints about the center zip. It will be my first ultralight pack so in that regard it is a change for me over my old Kelty.
4dB is a lot... unless you're sleeping on it!
Most of the OV Products are overpriced for what they are, the value just isn't there. They aren't bad, just rarely worth it compared to other options, even options from USA made manufacturers if that is important to you (it isn't to me).
I dunno, that offset solo weighs almost as much as my xmid 2 pro with the woven floor (it'd be heavier than the full DCF version), and the xmid gives you so much more space and volume... I absolutely love my xmid 2 pro, and I'd love a like 1.5 version (I think the 1 is a little small). And yeah, Dan constantly iterates his designs and is very engaged with the community. It's super refreshing to see him actually listen and update his tent designs based on feedback from hikers.
Good on zpacks for thinking out of the box though and solving their fundamental design issues.
Coming from the audiophile world. 3db is a doubling of noise output at the same distance. 3 dB may not seem like a lot, but it really is significant
A bunch of people mentioned this the last time and I'm surprised he spouted off this silliness again.
As an audiophile, you would know that 3db is a doubling of energy, not perceived loudness, and that pure physics has never accounted for the biological effect.
@MrGusman200 Yes, that is what noise output means. Thank you for saying what I said in different words. We can really create a solid sense of what I was trying to articulate
@@cpemberton77028noise is what we perceive, pressure is what we measure. As he mentioned, biology affects noise. It’s possible to have something that sounds noisier while measuring less pressure.
@atomicsmith this could be the effect of reading the whole spectrum and not looking at the specific frequency range. As you can have different frequencies at different dB values
Putting a tent on the roof of your car is crazy my bro ?!?!?!
Old or new Rapide SL?!
Just waiting for you to fall down the rabbit hole of bikepacking.
I had a closer look on the exos pro. Unfortunately the frame is the same as in the levity, it's steel and that steel rusts as hell after 2000km.
I have no clue why osprey makes that, i mean, create a lightweight backpack and using steel, how stupid is that... The packs would be great, but that destroys everything for me as a long distance hiker who hikes over 4000km every year.
Last year that rust was on my clothes and even on my body, what i'm sure isn't that healthy.
I don't know if you get a kickback or anything from Bombas but I put in the code and they raised the price on the socks I ordered. Wanted to charge me the original price instead of their automatic website code for 20 percent off. Was pretty upset would like them to know you're bringing business to them.
Hmm. That seems strange. I’ll pass this comment on to them. I know my code is for new customers only. Have you bought from them before? I wonder if that has anything to do with it. Either way I’ll make sure they know. Thanks for supporting the channel.
He does get a kickback, that is the whole idea of a sponsor. Be it money or extra gear, it is all a kickback. Beware of "special codes exclusive to the UA-camr" You will often find the same discount offered to EVERY other UA-camr in the field. One YT had an "exclusive" offer using his code, but if you went directly to the website the same deal was for everyone using a holiday code. Companies are just selling at the price they really want, and the discount is often a mark up. Say I want $20 for socks, so I list them for 20% more than that, now I can afford to give you a "20% discount".
Appreciate all of your videos!
Do you know if the Rapide Sl 25x72 fits with the Zenbivy sheet? I think Zenbivy states the max pad height of 4" and the Rapide is 4.25" on the outer chambers. Thanks!
I’m trying to remember if I’ve used the ZenBivy on my Rapide. I wouldn’t hesitate to take them both. I know I’ve used the ZenBivy double with the double wide Rapide, and it worked fine. I think it would work just fine.
@@MyLifeOutdoors Thanks for the fast response, I appreciate it!
I wish you would test the Nemo Extreme Conditions UL with the 8.5R value
So I did this test:
ua-cam.com/video/M3rMJmenSWo/v-deo.html but i admit my testing had some issues.
I had it down to 23F with no problems but have yet to get it lower. Hopefully this winter.
@@MyLifeOutdoors I can't wait to see the results of your real world conditions test.
I second this
Thought the pinnacle was Tarptent Dipole 2 Li :)
The X-Mid 2 plus might be edging it out. It had everything the Dipole has but is lighter.
@@MyLifeOutdoors Interesting to hear, but it doesn’t have the two windows, though 😉 and I found this to be a great feature. At least gives people with two strong options here
@@TrekOfficiel you are right it doesn’t have the windows. I should correct myself and say it had everything that I liked about the Dipole but is lighter. Not that I don’t like the windows. It just wasn’t what I was raving about that tent.
I have not bought any Durston products but am a big OV fan. I think what OV and Dan are doing is listening to us. We the consumers are the best testers as well we all have differnt needs and wants and by listening too us wether good or bad will make a better product. I feel to many of the big companies fail to do this thus why I like the smaller cottage stuff
I disagree with using customers as gear testers. Do your R&D before you put the product out. However, OV is a company full of actual hikers making hiking gear, so that has a lot going for it over the traditional big brands. It is also good to listen to what your customers want, but things like squeaky frame stays should have been fixed before it reached the customers.
It can be hard to admit you were wrong or publicly change your opinions/recommendations. Thanks for earning my trust.
I don't agree re the OV CS40. For me it's been fantastic, transferring weight superbly as a result of the carbon fibre stays and the load lifters, and carrying up to 40lbs with no issues. See Justin Outdoors' review of the pack for a different, more positive perspective.
I also really like the CS40, it carries weight very comfortably and so far has been very durable for me.
Yay Rapide!!!
Comfortable pads have side-rails. Otherwise, it's just a balloon and you will always have to balance yourself toward the pad's centerline at night. A mere half-inch side-rail makes all the difference, but Thermarest refuses to design-in side-rails.
X Lite Neo i can recommend. The negative judgment of this pad in this video is highly exaggerated.
people want quiet wen sleeping, maybe they should have done more R&D before putting out a pad with a chip bag as a liner. They deserve the scorn they get.
What about people with less than one billion dollars to spend on camp gear
The door is to your left, just close it after you left please. Thanks
Great gear if you're rich 😃
Go away please and close the door. Thanks
I disagree with your bombas assessment. Last Christmas I got 4 pairs of bombas. 7 of the 8 socks have gotten holes in them before this Christmas. DONT BUY BOMBAS !
so, 9 months ago, you highly recommended a sleeping pad and, here you are today changing your mind and, now highly recommending a different sleeping pad - maybe you're the problem, not the manufacturers ?
Haven’t we all had gear that we changed our mind about? Personally, I think it’s great that he updated his recommendation after further testing.
@@jpriddle - yes, we have all changed our minds but, this UA-camr/influencer needs to understand that his words/opinions have a far wider reach than a close circle of friends and family, and it also includes financial considerations for the people he relies on for Ad Revenue...
Did you buy this pad on my recommendation? If so I apologize. If you go back to the original video i mentioned the pad feels colder than rated then too. I even knocked points off it’s rating because of it. What I’m realizing now is I may not have knocked enough points off. It is fair amount colder than I first realized. All I can do is offer an apology. I’m only human. I try to choose my words carefully knowing people are relying on my opinion to choose their gear. But If I get to a point where I can’t make mistakes then I have to quit. Even doctors make mistakes. And they are dealing with much higher stakes than the right sleeping pad.
If you did buy this pad I apologize again and offer the same advice i mentioned in the video. “It’s not a bad pad, it’s just not the one pad I would buy for 3 season use.” Thanks for watching and for understanding
@@sebastianforbes1 You certainly have a valid point. I guess the way I see it is similar to a review publication, like Consumer Reports, Wirecutter, Outdoor Gear Lab, etc. It is common for them to rate a product as “the best”, then later change their decision based on certain criteria like reliability, reader feedback, further testing, etc. I just don’t think it’s a fair expectation of anyone, no matter how much reach, to have an unequivocal and unchanging opinion about the products they recommend. Much better for them to continue to evaluate that opinion and be transparent when it changes then to hold a bias or stay quiet.
Most reviewers are. It is called creating content. I'd much rather watch channels that show skills from people who use the same gear for 5-6 years, than someone who has a new review every week. Really, how much are you living with the gear you test if you can test a tent every month?