An interesting contrast is the constant evolution in miltary packs. During my service years, 30 to 40 pound "pack" weight was quite common, but that did not include body armor, helmet, gas mask, night optics, combat knife, ammunition (heaviest) and one or more rifled weapons - those things tended to weigh 50 to 60 lbs. During certain major operations the weights above could even be doubled 😮 Just a little something I like to remind myself whenever I think my pack is too heavy.
Hey, I only get three weeks a year off. I'm ENJOYING those 1.5 weeks of backpacking. Not just trudging through it 😅 Jokes aside appreciate your input and thank you for your service!
Great content as always, but I'm really liking the subtle camera follow you are using now and the new transition graphics, it adds that little touch of "pro" and looks awesome. Well done.
@@DanBecker I went to the comments to say the exact same. Your content has always been very good, but you're taking the presentation to the next level is a great enhancer to the already good content. Keep at it!
Great advice! I also find that people often pack everything into the pack and put it on and go nuts adjusting the shoulder straps and the load lifters, and completely forget to tighten the compression straps on the pack itself. Even if your pack is full, those compression straps really help to keep the load still and as close to your back as possible :)
Thank you for this video. Earlier this year, I bought an Osprey pack thinking that it would be the one because it had everything I wanted for a solo trip one of the trails on Vancouver Island. I loaded up the thing, put it on my back, and it felt off. I adjusted walked with it, and my experience became more and more miserable to the point where my hips hurt and my shoulders were chafed. I returned that pack and ordered a used discontinued Osprey that was the same size and it immediately fit me. No problems whatsoever and it carried like a dream as well when I took it out on some practice hikes. I think that there is a perfect pack out there for people as long as they know what they want, how to find it, and then pack it correctly. Anyway, that's my two cents. Keep up the great work, Dan!
Wow, Dan is THE man..just with those small changes, like adjusting the hip strap first, made a HUGE difference!! Edit: women may need to pack a large bag slightly differently, but obviously it depends on body type.
I had a problem with my first pack so I did a TON of research and choose an Osprey. Instead of just ordering it I went to REI and was fitted for it. I still ended up getting an Osprey but it was a totally different model then I set out for. I also got some packing cubes to keep my small items from shifting. This is a GREAT video!!!
Wow, for 5 1/2 months on the PCT I thought I was a hiker, but now I've learned that I'm really more of a bushcrafter. More than a few hikers have told me that I seem right at home in the woods, but I worry about some of those hikers who are far far from at home, and I've seen too many rescue helicopters this year.
I think this is now my favorite hiking series (does following Second Chance count the same way? - tough call) I'm so over all the self-proclaimed "experts" who go running half naked through the woods with an app to tell them where to go every step. I will no longer waste a minute on those. It was refreshing to see evidence that many hikers who crossed Mt Baden-Powell actually grew some common sense and ignored the app. I love the common sense in this series - there's no "new" right way to hike.
Solid advice - well done, and love the new transitions editing, Mr. Rogers. :) I can't say enough about the staff at REI and their assistance & patience measuring me, loading several models with 20 lbs, and allowing me to walk around the store for an hour. I left with a different pack than I went in for, based on comfort and load balance. Hike on!
Found my way to your channel via _Kyle Hates Hiking_ Sub'd. I've gone through a large number of packs and configurations over the years - and it's still evolving. Definitely agree that you need good adjustability on the pack to trim the fit to suit your body and the way you carry. What I've also done - to get some of the weight off my back, move my centre of gravity forward and make it more convenient to get to things on the trail - is wear a small chest pack as a "balance bag". I use it to carry things like the day's trail food, camera and other things I might need quick access to on the trail when hiking into or out of my chosen camping site. It also can be worn by itself as a day bag - containing camera, lunch, snacks etc - if I want to leave my campsite and go for a wander around the area or if I'm just going out for a day trip instead of an overnighter. Fully agree with your assessment of _where_ to load _what_ in your pack and that footwear can make a major difference in the way your load feels to you.
Thank you! 😭 omg this has fixed my shoulder and back problems carrying heavy camera gears with the LowePro backpack straps not adjusted since I bought it 5 years ago!!! Im just not utilising it properly
Late comment so you might not see this, but this video saved me. 70+ miles in on the PCT fucking with my straps killing my shoulders and ultimately decided to just try to repack everything differently (even tho I’ve watched packing videos). After doing that and strap adjusting, it’s so much better!
Solid advice. Knowing how you're going to use it is the MAIN consideration in getting a pack. A lot of folks just want to drive to a park, maybe hike 5-15 miles and drive home. Those people don't need a 65L pack with a mesh back trampoline and a thick belt. They need maybe a lightweight 20-30L pack that can hold a couple of SmartWater bottles, some clothing layers, Band-Aids, snacks, TP and a filtration kit. I hauled a $260, 65L Osprey Atmos pack carrying 37# up and down Mount Whitney last year. Except for the final ascent to and from Trail Camp to the summit. That 12-hour day I swapped it out for a $19, 28L frameless Ozark Trail Atka pack and carried maybe 10# in it. Know how you hike before running to buy the gear that YT thru-hikers are pimping. It's good gear, but you are likely never going to try hiking the AT, CDT, PCT, etc. Stand firm with what best suits your needs. You don't need a $10 titanium spoon if your idea of a trail meal is a few Cliff bars and gummi bears. And be willing to pay a little (but not a lot) more than you think you should if it means getting the right thing. Buy the wrong gear and you're just going to spend again when you replace it.
In my experience, you don't want the load lifters to bring the top of the pack right against your back. This would cause the upright, off-balance stance you describe of the novice hikers. You want the top of the pack out a little from your back so the majority of the weight is on your hips, not your shoulders. It's one of those "you'll know it when you feel it" things. I've never used a pack with the Arc Blast style suspension, so it may actually work different there. Also, as the trail changes, you adjust the load lifter straps to keep the weight on your hips or the pack from swinging all around, like steep climbs with your hands or rock hopping versus a smooth, flat trail.
Unless you are shaped like me and need the load lifters basically cinched tight on the pack I generally use... there are just too many variables between packs and body types to generalize load lifter position.
Don, exactly correct. A lot of people are unaware that you are not supposed to cinch an external frame to your body. Doing so negates the entire purpose of using an external.
@@bonnevillebagger9147 You're referring to the shoulder and chest straps, correct? The waist strap needs to be pretty tight for the hips to take on weight (at least for my body type)
Great, well thought of video! I have sciatica and I'm 33...it's brutal. I'm an athlete and just got into hiking and hammock camping since I moved to Colorado. My Decathlon backpack (30L) is amazing with the pads and the way you told me to set it up...pure game changer. Thank you bro.
Pretty much any issue i had with hiking has been solved by running...an example: "my feet are sore, are these shoes bad?" After i spent a lot of miles and months jogging, things i thought were problems were easily defeated with fitness... Think of it like this...if you can jog 5 miles, walking with a little weight is very low impact in comparison...so my hikes feel like a break, as they should
I think I mentioned it in another one of your videos but I will say it again. If you go to REI, they can measure you so you can be sure you are getting the right size backpack to begin with. I am 5'9 and a bit on the heavy side. And I was completely shocked to find my pack size is XS. (Very short torso) They were extremely helpful in finding comfort with a pack.
I'm still rocking the Ozark Trail 45L lol. Haven't had any issues with it coming apart but i'm definitely in the category of 2-3 times a year guy. Got it packed up now and it's ehh, reasonably comfortable. I pack mine according to what i'll need first mostly. Live in the southeast so pop up rainstorms are pretty frequent so at the very top is my tarp, ridgeline and stakes live on the outside in a pocket. Then the hammock, then whatever sleep system i'm bringing, then food, then clothes. Rain jacket tucked under brain, snacks, meds, tp etc in the brain. Not the best but i'm not banging out 20+ miles a day either. Love your channel. Hopefully with my kids getting old and enjoying sleeping outside i can justify buying some lighter gear.
This video doesn't help me, but I like it anyway! I wish I had seen this video when I was 15, then it would have saved me over 10 years of sore spots, aching back, trouble with unbalanced load and made my hiking really enjoyable. I learned all the stuff you mention in the video eventually, I just hope it help a few people from having the same experience as me in my first years as a camper! With this advice, the hiking will be as fun as the camping! 👍
Great point about " bush crafter " Or " hiker " ... There is an absolute difference between the two... Personally I enjoy both & pack according to what I need for the specific outing.... Keep up the great vids
Just subscribed after watching your channel for a year (along with a couple others whose names I shan't mention to avoid potential jealousy and conflict😉). I really appreciate the practical advice. It helped a lot last year when I needed to replace an older, dying backpack which I'd sewn back together too many times, and a tent in the same category. Wanted to thank you profusely. I'll keep watching for more tidbits of wisdom! Any suggestions about which Camino to hike (looking for the least people and least roadwalking).
You would be surprised how many people see on the trail that have no idea how to adjust their pack. Once on the Lost Coast Trail, we saw a guy with an Osprey Atmos which each strap loose except for along the waist. He already hiked about 5 miles that way until my friend David helped him adjust his pack. He was amazed at how much better it felt.
Reminds me of seeing tons of backpackers in Europe walking around with heavy loads, and hip belts unbuckled. They had no idea that the pack would feel so much better if they fastened their hip belts
Great instructional and advisory video, Dan! I participate in all sorts of outdoor activities and for each one a specific backpack or conveyance bag is used. The backpack used for a specific activity is dialed in to carry that load based on needs. Sounds like BS but it's been my experience in 62 years. My "attic bags" consist of bail out bags to 120L backpacks (with molle attachments). However, you hit the nail on the head. Adjust each backpack so it is comfortable that you can carry it the distance of your adventure. For an upcoming bushcraft trip, I packed and unpacked my 90L backpack three times until it was dialed in. There was another vital point, too, you mentioned. Do a trial run with your loadout. Do an overnighter and use your loadout. Surprisingly, you might discover that one or more items may be unnecessary as I did for my upcoming trip, losing almost 2.5lbs. Luggage and kitchen scales are a huge help in cutting weights.
Great coverage, Dan! I don't know if you've ever used military surplus gear or military oriented gear but it's an altogether different ballgame. Your ZPacks backpack is probably one third the weight of my Mystery Ranch which I use for three seasons and one seventh of the weight of my winter pack. Both can carry heavy loads but comfortably, for me anyway. I evaluate every piece of kit, weigh it and take notes while out on an adventure. Three season loadouts usually range from eighteen to twenty-five pounds. My winter loadouts range from 35 to 50 pounds, sometimes more. The heavier weights are usually due to the fact that I've added weapons and various tools to my packs for whatever reason; however, I am not a hunter and don't kill anything for sport. If game is involved it's for survival or protection purposes. Laying your gear out is great advice though; it gives you an opportunity to inspect, ensure it is a complete kit and to replace anything that looks questionable or outdated. This is especially important with trauma/IFAK kits. My Pathfinder Kit was missing a lid when I neglected to ensure all of its pieces were included on one of my trips. Drinking coffee that chilled quickly was not pleasant.
Thank you Dan great advice! I would take into account even more fitness, smoker, toker, drinker. This contributes a great deal to over all performance. Basically personal everyday habits create the backpacker comfort zone as well. Vitamins are added weight but great performance enhancer.
Load lifers are called "load lifters" because they "lift" the "load" OFF the Shoulders. When cinched, they move the should straps up so that most of the load goes on the hips. Pulling the pack forward is just a secondary effect. Therefore, yes, the load lifters must be above the top of the shoulders. Many RUclipsrs with Arc Series (not you, Dan) seem to wear the packs with the load lifters below the shoulders, which undermine their purpose.
I dont mean to be so off topic but does someone know of a tool to log back into an instagram account? I was dumb lost the password. I would love any tricks you can offer me
Excellent video, Dan! +1 for the pack selection. I believe that’s the single most important thing that you can do to have a comfortable pack. If it is not sized properly, you’ll have weight on your shoulders, or your shoulder straps won’t snow down sufficiently to secure the load. Your load moving outside of your movements, i.e. shifting around independent of your movements, causes fatigue and pain. Just like poorly fitted shoes can cause blisters, poorly fitted pack is going to hurt. I am an Osprey fan. Every osprey pack that I have had has fit me best. Try on your pack at a store where you can load it with weight and wear it a while before you buy it, And check the return policy. REI is my choice due to the return policy.Don’t be talked into a particular pack by sales person, because they’re not wearing the pack you are. Go with what feels best to you. Even though I love osprey packs, I did try on one model that the shoulder straps were set too close to my neck and was very uncomfortable. I loved the pack otherwise, but it was the wrong one for me. The shoulder straps should hug the Lowe’s close to your body and stable, not carry weight. Your hip belt is three times the width of your shoulder straps. It is designed to carry and spread out the weight over a larger area and closer to your center of gravity. Thanks for this video, Dan. I will be sharing it with my boy Scouts prior to a backpacking trip.
Just my own opinion here: Since I was recently in the boundary waters where I came across a campsite "bushcrafter" stayed recently. He left his shelter up, he cut down living branches to build it, took bark off of living trees to start his fire, and left a beer can (illegal to have cans in the BWCA) in a fire pit. If this is how bushcrafters all behave, then they are not good people and they can practice in their own backyard, but not litter my wilderness.
My experience with bushcrafters is similar. Sort of a mentality of ownership, whereas backpackers typically recognize that they are just passing through and that leave-no-trace is a given. Bushcrafting is almost selfish by nature. Building a small cabin for one weekend and leaving it is going to damage the environment any way you put it.
I prefer the types of people who leave litter, toilet paper blossoms and fire rings because they're just plain ignorant over the "bushcrafters" who ruin the wilderness intentionally as a hobby. Do they imagine they're 18th century explorers? Post-apocalypse survivors? How about paying attention to the world you actually live in, and doing your best to enjoy it while preserving it? Bushcrafting is stupid and selfish.
My pack is the USMC ILBE main rucksack. It's super comfy, even hiking with 70lbs of gear. It's rated to 120lbs. It's actually an Arc'Teryx Bora with MOLLE webbing and in digital camo. I'm not a hiker or bushcrafter, I'm a prepper/survivalist. Lot's of good info in this video. By the way, i have those exact shoes, same color and everything lol.
8:22 The 45-degree angle for the load lifters is a mechanical optimum, maybe, but a taller frame (smaller angle) may be better for carrying heavier loads. The shorter frame / larger angle that you show in the vid suggests that your pack frame is too short for your torso.
Great topic and great tips Dan! I believe a lot of people overlook getting their pack adjusted correctly and packed correctly. Thanks for bringing all of this to light. Cheers.
The 7th cervical vertebra "C7" is nicknamed "vertebra prominens" which is where the spinous process is often most prominent and you can feel the palpable bump on the lower portion of the back of the neck. This is the upper landmark often used for measuring torso length. The lower landmark is often referred to about the height of the illiac crest, which commonly intersects the L4 fourth lumbar vertebra in the lower back.
I’m just starting out but at far as packing your pack, I would think that putting the least used items on the bottom (change of clothing) would be the first priority. Then the heaviest items, (stove, food,) & most used items at the top (rain gear, tarp, snacks) I will be taking a tarp on my first ever back packing jaunt just so if it starts to rain around the time I set up for the night, I can hurry up & hang the tarp , then finish my setup under it , staying dry. I’ve camped for over 40 years (I just haven’t gone backpacking) and one of the most irritating things to have to put up with is a tent that’s wet inside and with a backpacking tent I’ll have a lot less dry area inside the tent. I’ll also bring a small piece of tyvex for the entrance so that there’s less chance of tracking in dirt, & leaves......... so like I said, I’m going to be a first time backpacker (next year if health permits) so I’m starting my research & purchasing equipment now so that everything is tested and I’m well informed. Please let me know if my logic is screwed up
I've lightened everything except my pack over the years. Just can't justify the cost for how often I can go, just gotta live with my 20 yr old Gregory thruhike. It's heavy, but....$$$
Thx for the info, the details and way you went through it was excellent! That cleared up some questions I had as well as some advice I had been given prior in just a to over simplified way. Its funny even the design inside my pack makes more sense now. Thx for branching out from the usual backpacking mantra while still including/meshing bushcraft and less serious hikers in the equation. Thx for all you do, its helpful and appreciated by myself and I'm sure many others. Keep up the great stuff and be well.
This is a pretty good video, very informative as usual. Keep it up Dan, I'm going to share this with a couple of my buddies who are just getting into backpacking.
For starters I think it's how the pack fits you. Then I would include the weight of everything when it's on your back. It took me about 50 years to do this. I used a external frame Kelty for years , comfortable but heavy and unnecessary gear taken. Later I went to a lighter , internal , pack. Then the realization that a lighter pack and less gear is a lot more fun. The next step was to the Zpacks Nero ( Frame-less 38 liter , 10.1 oz ) for warm weather camping. Cool weather it the 9.4 oz heavier Zpacks Arc Blast. ( Framed , 55 liter , 20.1 oz ) It takes the top and under quilts for the hammock plus some warm clothing with room left over. Lighter packs and gear helped but what really did it was the " Do I want this or do I need this question " when packing. The Wants stay home and the Needs go. Any question between the Want or Need then the is it going to be used or end up being carried as extra ( unnecessary ) weight. Remember ... It does not add any weigh to the pack if it's left at home. Now you know there really is backpacking gear that actually weighs ...... NOTHING...... LOL
Great video Dan, very informative for the beginner. You have just made the difference for someone not wanting to continue to backpack vs. enjoying the great outdoors comfortably! Cheers Dan!
I am currently having the same issue. I am 54 and weigh 130. My pack is 35# I feel like I want to get out of backpacking forever because my pack is so damn heavy and uncomfortable. I use both the HMG 4400 and the zpacks arc haul.
I did 2 days (1 day in, 1 day out) of the bottom part of Eagle Rock Loop, Arkansas with a 65L Ozark Trail pack. Total weight was 28 lbs. Never again. So much hurt.
Very well done man! Soo many factors go into being comfortable and definitely alot of trial and error! The packs out there vary greatly. I loved my original osprey stratos. It had the air core back mesh for breathability. It was kinda a pre zpacks arc in a way and i loved it because my back could breath! But it wasnt big enough so i went bigger. Granite gear blaze was very nice but still not my thing. I tried alot of military style packs like the medium alice but it was too heavy and not very comfortable. Then i tried companies like Karrimor, Mystery ranch,Kelty,Condor,Camelbak and so on. Internal frame sheet style packs became my go to instead of external frame packs. They are lighter, more comfortable usually but still rigid! The Futura harness saved my hiking! It allowed for easy quick torso adjustment. First the mystery ranch bighorn with futura and then camelbak tri-zip! It gloves my back severely comfortable!! But i think a semi thick padded waistbelt is important and long semi thick padded shoulder straps! The sternum and load lifting straps are very important too! Adjust to your liking of course! I do my waistbelt first then my shoulder straps followed by sternum strap and load lifters. Some packs even have waistbelt straps on the side which pull the pack bottom closer to your back. Adjusting all those straps is very important! Try to keep your gear weight under a ton too lol...I would love to talk to Mystery Ranch and design a lightweight pack (Possibly dyneema) and have them integrate their futura harness on to it. Make that pack in all of the most popular sizes and im telling ya it could possibly be the best pack ever made!!! LOL in my opinion! That would be sweet!!! Thanks for all you do for the backpacking world Dan!!! Hike on man!!
Another killer video bro you gave some really really good tips especially the one that is figuring out if you are a hiker or a bushcrafter that makes a world of difference unbelievable tips ✊🏻
I've been having my straps way too loose. Now I know what all those straps are for! I just let them dangle! Thanks man. My base weight is just under 10#! Which is good, cause now I can add more things!
I have 2 disc bulges and one slight herniation in lower back, soo ultralight ia esential to me. Last year I manage to pack a 7.5 kg backpavk total weght includind the backpavk itself, tent, sleeping stuff, camera, food. This year I want to limit everything to 5kg, this means new lighter stuff wich are more expensive but better for lower back wich is quite problematic for me lol.
I hike in skateboarding shoes with supportive insoles in them, because the shoes are flat. I made this choice because skate shoes have always stood the test of time for me, and "hiking" shoes are made to break because of the focus on being light and squishy. Two things about skate shoes compared to "hiking" shoes: they don't breathe quite as well (they are leather), and the soles are smooth (but I prefer sliding a little bit over rolling an ankle or something). I've tried "hiking" shoes on the trail, and they gave me more blisters and I had more issues with them, so I always went back to my skate shoes. Try replacing your insoles before you replace the entire shoe.
Dan if I may, you are tensioning the load lifters too much, they should be tighten enough but without lifting the shoulder harness that should follow the curvature of your shoulders. In your video you can see a gap large enough to fit a finger between the straps and your shoulders. Just my 2 cents :)
Load lifters are exactly as described. And it is up to you how much load you want on your shoulders vs your hips. Oh and how you load your pack!! Lighter stuff at the bottom. food / heavier stuff in the middle/ easy access stuff at the top. Or what ever the heck works for you!! At the end of the day, And I hasten to say I think Dan would agree with me? When I say please! Don't go UL without testing your gear in the environment you plan to hike/camp in... But hey if you want to come up this way?? We have every climate imaginable, short of the Sahara. Tho I do have wild cacti growing in the backyard? Welcome to W.I! The forecast will change by the hour so please plan accordingly!!
I'm a bushcrafting hiker i suppose lol, i hike at least 17 miles before testing out my axes and stuff, but i hike so far in for the scenery and tranquility
I've compromised to some extent but 23lbs is as far down the lightweight I'm prepared to go . If you're more comfortable wearing your pack upside down does it matter. I load heavy on hip line as I find heavy high makes me top heavy.
I've watched almost all your videos and this is probably one of the best I've seen yet. Hardly anyone has put one out like this. Great, great vid for the beginners.
Ditch the cook kit and heavy foods. Chia Seeds, Pinole, and Protein Rice Powder. All you need is 5 to 6 pinches followed by a big gulp of water a day. What those Mexican Ultra Runners live on.
I M H A Torso length is very important for frame packs when it comes to that sweet spot for shoulder stabilizers. In order to get the strap positioned in the middle of the shoulders, at the correct 15%-45% angle you need the frame to extend up to 50mm above the shoulders for a perfect fit. In my case I'm five foot seven and a half and a 55cm-56cm - 22" pack is perfect for me. A shorter person would need @ 50cm, and a taller person 60cm+ or even 65cm for a giant. 'Love your Arc Blast...My names Dave and I'm a packaholic!
Great video, Thanks! One more note... use those compression straps on the side of the back to hold everything in place. A shifting load is uncomfortable no matter the weight. Keep the vids coming.
Generally sound advice on adjusting a pack and packing. You did over tension your load lifters in the video though. Generally that's not advised. You want just enough tension to keep the pack snug against your back for stability on the trail. Too much tension can actually put pressure on the shoulders. I've definitely been the guy on the trail with the huge pack with stuff hanging off of it. Generally though it's because I'm carrying shelter, sleep systems, and food for 2 or 3 when I take my son's backpacking. Those trips are relatively low mileage though. I can't imagine how many are we there yets I'd get in 15 miles :-)
I started backpacking when I was a kid. My dad always put the heaviest items in the bottom of his basket pack. I always packed that way until I read you are suppose to,put the heavy items in the middle. That was one of the most painful backpacking trips ever. Noe I am back to packing the heavy items on the bottom.
I would like to hear more about this Margaret. I am experiencing miserable backpacking trips and want to quit because of it. So you are more comfortable packing heavy items at bottom?
They are awesome but they are extremely expensive! A couple other great backpacks that essentially do the same thing and are much less expensive are… Gregory optic, Osprey Exos, Osprey Levity, Deuter Futura.
My pack has been rubbing my hips raw.. that bone towards the front not the “iliac crest” I’ve heard so much about I don’t know if my pack is too low or too high on my hips..? I have scabs from a 20 mile hike and I’m dreading going again now
Ah! The struggle to mesh light weight hiking AND bushcrafting is a real thing for me. Although if I were super skilled....all I'd need is a knife....and that's not likely to happen. 😁
Get an external frame backpack. I hiked 15 miles over two days on a section of the AT as a complete noob with about 50lbs in my 20 year old Jansport external frame backpack, and it never came close to hurting me. I had absolutely NO shoulder or back pain the entire time.
I still have my 40 year old Jansport external frame pack. I loved it and it was comfortable - too bad the zippers no longer work 🙂. Oh and was probably carrying 50 pound loads.
As a 5 foot tall female sadly the biggest backpack I can wear is the Gregory women's XS frame so not the greatest for room for things but it is good enough. For backcountry camping. 😆
Don’t be offended by this but Osprey makes a kids backpack called the Ace. It’s a 50 liter pack and adjusts to your torso height. It adjusts from a 13” - 19” torso. Might be worth looking into. I’ve had adults use this pack on trips that had a shorter torso and it did great.
I pack my kit in a very similar way. Only real difference is I keep my tent towards the top, because that's usually the first camp chore I take care of.
Goatlord Hiking when I tent that’s what I do as well! When I hammock it goes at the bottom. My hammock tarp goes on the outside for a quick easy access when I get to camp.
LoL!!! A Mr. Roger's moment! You need a sweater!! 🤣 Great job on the video. Oh, tell th dude to ease up on the mowing while you are down to serious recording. 😁 Take it easy. Roger
Dan, have you ever participated in any gear rings? I'm thinking this could be a new way to get exposed to new gear but I'm feeling unsure. Wondering about your experiences. Also it took me about 2yrs to get my pack nice and comfy. Always looking for ways to improve my ease and comfort on the trail. Thanks.
An interesting contrast is the constant evolution in miltary packs. During my service years, 30 to 40 pound "pack" weight was quite common, but that did not include body armor, helmet, gas mask, night optics, combat knife, ammunition (heaviest) and one or more rifled weapons - those things tended to weigh 50 to 60 lbs.
During certain major operations the weights above could even be doubled 😮
Just a little something I like to remind myself whenever I think my pack is too heavy.
Semper Gumby
Rucking around with body armor, helmet, loaded mags and a slung rifle makes you appreciate a typical hiking load-out that’s for sure.
Of all the gear, Helmets were the worst. Wearing those kevlar helmets on a hump was 50% of the pain.
10kgs in the webbing + your rifle before you put on the bergan....
Hey, I only get three weeks a year off. I'm ENJOYING those 1.5 weeks of backpacking. Not just trudging through it 😅
Jokes aside appreciate your input and thank you for your service!
Great video! It's amazing how hard it can be to really dial in your pack. Learning how to use all the straps and load lifters is vital!
Great content as always, but I'm really liking the subtle camera follow you are using now and the new transition graphics, it adds that little touch of "pro" and looks awesome. Well done.
Thanks so much Paul! That means a lot because I had no idea how to use a camera 10 months ago LOL!
@@DanBecker I went to the comments to say the exact same. Your content has always been very good, but you're taking the presentation to the next level is a great enhancer to the already good content. Keep at it!
+1
Keep it up Dan!
Please I picup
Great advice! I also find that people often pack everything into the pack and put it on and go nuts adjusting the shoulder straps and the load lifters, and completely forget to tighten the compression straps on the pack itself. Even if your pack is full, those compression straps really help to keep the load still and as close to your back as possible :)
You mean just like how I totally forgot to put that in the video?? LOL!
@@DanBecker Bwahahahaha!
Dan Becker hey you can always go in and splice or edit the forgotten compression part? No all Newbies like me will read the comments. Thanks Ruth
Next level on the camera equipment and editing. Looks great dude. Loved the vid and info 😃
Thank you for this video. Earlier this year, I bought an Osprey pack thinking that it would be the one because it had everything I wanted for a solo trip one of the trails on Vancouver Island. I loaded up the thing, put it on my back, and it felt off. I adjusted walked with it, and my experience became more and more miserable to the point where my hips hurt and my shoulders were chafed. I returned that pack and ordered a used discontinued Osprey that was the same size and it immediately fit me. No problems whatsoever and it carried like a dream as well when I took it out on some practice hikes. I think that there is a perfect pack out there for people as long as they know what they want, how to find it, and then pack it correctly. Anyway, that's my two cents. Keep up the great work, Dan!
Wow, Dan is THE man..just with those small changes, like adjusting the hip strap first, made a HUGE difference!!
Edit: women may need to pack a large bag slightly differently, but obviously it depends on body type.
I had a problem with my first pack so I did a TON of research and choose an Osprey. Instead of just ordering it I went to REI and was fitted for it. I still ended up getting an Osprey but it was a totally different model then I set out for. I also got some packing cubes to keep my small items from shifting. This is a GREAT video!!!
Wow, for 5 1/2 months on the PCT I thought I was a hiker, but now I've learned that I'm really more of a bushcrafter.
More than a few hikers have told me that I seem right at home in the woods, but I worry about some of those hikers who are far far from at home, and I've seen too many rescue helicopters this year.
I think this is now my favorite hiking series (does following Second Chance count the same way? - tough call)
I'm so over all the self-proclaimed "experts" who go running half naked through the woods with an app to tell them where to go every step. I will no longer waste a minute on those.
It was refreshing to see evidence that many hikers who crossed Mt Baden-Powell actually grew some common sense and ignored the app.
I love the common sense in this series - there's no "new" right way to hike.
Solid advice - well done, and love the new transitions editing, Mr. Rogers. :) I can't say enough about the staff at REI and their assistance & patience measuring me, loading several models with 20 lbs, and allowing me to walk around the store for an hour. I left with a different pack than I went in for, based on comfort and load balance. Hike on!
Me too, April. Cameron was great at REI and so patient loading up various backpacks for me to try.
Found my way to your channel via _Kyle Hates Hiking_
Sub'd.
I've gone through a large number of packs and configurations over the years - and it's still evolving.
Definitely agree that you need good adjustability on the pack to trim the fit to suit your body and the way you carry.
What I've also done - to get some of the weight off my back, move my centre of gravity forward and make it more convenient to get to things on the trail - is wear a small chest pack as a "balance bag".
I use it to carry things like the day's trail food, camera and other things I might need quick access to on the trail when hiking into or out of my chosen camping site. It also can be worn by itself as a day bag - containing camera, lunch, snacks etc - if I want to leave my campsite and go for a wander around the area or if I'm just going out for a day trip instead of an overnighter.
Fully agree with your assessment of _where_ to load _what_ in your pack and that footwear can make a major difference in the way your load feels to you.
Thank you! 😭 omg this has fixed my shoulder and back problems carrying heavy camera gears with the LowePro backpack straps not adjusted since I bought it 5 years ago!!!
Im just not utilising it properly
Late comment so you might not see this, but this video saved me. 70+ miles in on the PCT fucking with my straps killing my shoulders and ultimately decided to just try to repack everything differently (even tho I’ve watched packing videos). After doing that and strap adjusting, it’s so much better!
The, "Are you a bushcrafter or a hiker?" was really a lightbulb moment for me. Thanks for the insight, Dan!
I'm pretty sure you are the first channel that actually adjusted a backpack on camera. Dead useful and thank you.
Solid advice. Knowing how you're going to use it is the MAIN consideration in getting a pack. A lot of folks just want to drive to a park, maybe hike 5-15 miles and drive home. Those people don't need a 65L pack with a mesh back trampoline and a thick belt. They need maybe a lightweight 20-30L pack that can hold a couple of SmartWater bottles, some clothing layers, Band-Aids, snacks, TP and a filtration kit.
I hauled a $260, 65L Osprey Atmos pack carrying 37# up and down Mount Whitney last year. Except for the final ascent to and from Trail Camp to the summit. That 12-hour day I swapped it out for a $19, 28L frameless Ozark Trail Atka pack and carried maybe 10# in it.
Know how you hike before running to buy the gear that YT thru-hikers are pimping. It's good gear, but you are likely never going to try hiking the AT, CDT, PCT, etc. Stand firm with what best suits your needs. You don't need a $10 titanium spoon if your idea of a trail meal is a few Cliff bars and gummi bears. And be willing to pay a little (but not a lot) more than you think you should if it means getting the right thing. Buy the wrong gear and you're just going to spend again when you replace it.
In my experience, you don't want the load lifters to bring the top of the pack right against your back. This would cause the upright, off-balance stance you describe of the novice hikers. You want the top of the pack out a little from your back so the majority of the weight is on your hips, not your shoulders. It's one of those "you'll know it when you feel it" things. I've never used a pack with the Arc Blast style suspension, so it may actually work different there. Also, as the trail changes, you adjust the load lifter straps to keep the weight on your hips or the pack from swinging all around, like steep climbs with your hands or rock hopping versus a smooth, flat trail.
Great point, Don! Like I said, whatever works for you!
Unless you are shaped like me and need the load lifters basically cinched tight on the pack I generally use... there are just too many variables between packs and body types to generalize load lifter position.
Don, exactly correct. A lot of people are unaware that you are not supposed to cinch an external frame to your body. Doing so negates the entire purpose of using an external.
@@bonnevillebagger9147 You're referring to the shoulder and chest straps, correct?
The waist strap needs to be pretty tight for the hips to take on weight (at least for my body type)
Highly entertaining and concise! Camera skills and transitions in this video were professional!
Thanks Dan-Great acvice sir!To the point told me exactly where to adjust
Great, well thought of video! I have sciatica and I'm 33...it's brutal. I'm an athlete and just got into hiking and hammock camping since I moved to Colorado. My Decathlon backpack (30L) is amazing with the pads and the way you told me to set it up...pure game changer. Thank you bro.
Pretty much any issue i had with hiking has been solved by running...an example: "my feet are sore, are these shoes bad?" After i spent a lot of miles and months jogging, things i thought were problems were easily defeated with fitness...
Think of it like this...if you can jog 5 miles, walking with a little weight is very low impact in comparison...so my hikes feel like a break, as they should
Best backpacker ever.....Sam Wise from Lord of The Rings. Great video...I like watching these...sometimes we forget the basics.
🤣🤣
Legolas was an ultra lighter lol
I think I mentioned it in another one of your videos but I will say it again. If you go to REI, they can measure you so you can be sure you are getting the right size backpack to begin with. I am 5'9 and a bit on the heavy side. And I was completely shocked to find my pack size is XS. (Very short torso) They were extremely helpful in finding comfort with a pack.
I'm still rocking the Ozark Trail 45L lol. Haven't had any issues with it coming apart but i'm definitely in the category of 2-3 times a year guy. Got it packed up now and it's ehh, reasonably comfortable. I pack mine according to what i'll need first mostly. Live in the southeast so pop up rainstorms are pretty frequent so at the very top is my tarp, ridgeline and stakes live on the outside in a pocket. Then the hammock, then whatever sleep system i'm bringing, then food, then clothes. Rain jacket tucked under brain, snacks, meds, tp etc in the brain. Not the best but i'm not banging out 20+ miles a day either. Love your channel. Hopefully with my kids getting old and enjoying sleeping outside i can justify buying some lighter gear.
This video doesn't help me, but I like it anyway!
I wish I had seen this video when I was 15, then it would have saved me over 10 years of sore spots, aching back, trouble with unbalanced load and made my hiking really enjoyable.
I learned all the stuff you mention in the video eventually, I just hope it help a few people from having the same experience as me in my first years as a camper!
With this advice, the hiking will be as fun as the camping! 👍
Great point about " bush crafter " Or " hiker " ... There is an absolute difference between the two... Personally I enjoy both & pack according to what I need for the specific outing....
Keep up the great vids
Just subscribed after watching your channel for a year (along with a couple others whose names I shan't mention to avoid potential jealousy and conflict😉). I really appreciate the practical advice. It helped a lot last year when I needed to replace an older, dying backpack which I'd sewn back together too many times, and a tent in the same category. Wanted to thank you profusely. I'll keep watching for more tidbits of wisdom! Any suggestions about which Camino to hike (looking for the least people and least roadwalking).
You would be surprised how many people see on the trail that have no idea how to adjust their pack. Once on the Lost Coast Trail, we saw a guy with an Osprey Atmos which each strap loose except for along the waist. He already hiked about 5 miles that way until my friend David helped him adjust his pack. He was amazed at how much better it felt.
That’s awesome. And so true!!
Reminds me of seeing tons of backpackers in Europe walking around with heavy loads, and hip belts unbuckled. They had no idea that the pack would feel so much better if they fastened their hip belts
Great instructional and advisory video, Dan! I participate in all sorts of outdoor activities and for each one a specific backpack or conveyance bag is used. The backpack used for a specific activity is dialed in to carry that load based on needs. Sounds like BS but it's been my experience in 62 years. My "attic bags" consist of bail out bags to 120L backpacks (with molle attachments). However, you hit the nail on the head. Adjust each backpack so it is comfortable that you can carry it the distance of your adventure. For an upcoming bushcraft trip, I packed and unpacked my 90L backpack three times until it was dialed in. There was another vital point, too, you mentioned. Do a trial run with your loadout. Do an overnighter and use your loadout. Surprisingly, you might discover that one or more items may be unnecessary as I did for my upcoming trip, losing almost 2.5lbs. Luggage and kitchen scales are a huge help in cutting weights.
Great coverage, Dan! I don't know if you've ever used military surplus gear or military oriented gear but it's an altogether different ballgame. Your ZPacks backpack is probably one third the weight of my Mystery Ranch which I use for three seasons and one seventh of the weight of my winter pack. Both can carry heavy loads but comfortably, for me anyway. I evaluate every piece of kit, weigh it and take notes while out on an adventure. Three season loadouts usually range from eighteen to twenty-five pounds. My winter loadouts range from 35 to 50 pounds, sometimes more. The heavier weights are usually due to the fact that I've added weapons and various tools to my packs for whatever reason; however, I am not a hunter and don't kill anything for sport. If game is involved it's for survival or protection purposes. Laying your gear out is great advice though; it gives you an opportunity to inspect, ensure it is a complete kit and to replace anything that looks questionable or outdated. This is especially important with trauma/IFAK kits. My Pathfinder Kit was missing a lid when I neglected to ensure all of its pieces were included on one of my trips. Drinking coffee that chilled quickly was not pleasant.
Thank you Dan great advice! I would take into account even more fitness, smoker, toker, drinker. This contributes a great deal to over all performance. Basically personal everyday habits create the backpacker comfort zone as well. Vitamins are added weight but great performance enhancer.
Great point! That sounds like another video I should make LOL!
Load lifers are called "load lifters" because they "lift" the "load" OFF the Shoulders. When cinched, they move the should straps up so that most of the load goes on the hips. Pulling the pack forward is just a secondary effect. Therefore, yes, the load lifters must be above the top of the shoulders. Many RUclipsrs with Arc Series (not you, Dan) seem to wear the packs with the load lifters below the shoulders, which undermine their purpose.
Thanks for the tip!
Lol idk what you're saying, but it's physically impossible for the load lifters to be higher than your shoulders and still lift anything.
They are meant to be adjusted as you climb and descend
The shoulder straps need to be loosened to certain extent for the load lifter to transfer load to hip effectively, according to Gregory.
I dont mean to be so off topic but does someone know of a tool to log back into an instagram account?
I was dumb lost the password. I would love any tricks you can offer me
Excellent video, Dan! +1 for the pack selection. I believe that’s the single most important thing that you can do to have a comfortable pack. If it is not sized properly, you’ll have weight on your shoulders, or your shoulder straps won’t snow down sufficiently to secure the load. Your load moving outside of your movements, i.e. shifting around independent of your movements, causes fatigue and pain. Just like poorly fitted shoes can cause blisters, poorly fitted pack is going to hurt. I am an Osprey fan. Every osprey pack that I have had has fit me best. Try on your pack at a store where you can load it with weight and wear it a while before you buy it, And check the return policy. REI is my choice due to the return policy.Don’t be talked into a particular pack by sales person, because they’re not wearing the pack you are. Go with what feels best to you. Even though I love osprey packs, I did try on one model that the shoulder straps were set too close to my neck and was very uncomfortable. I loved the pack otherwise, but it was the wrong one for me. The shoulder straps should hug the Lowe’s close to your body and stable, not carry weight. Your hip belt is three times the width of your shoulder straps. It is designed to carry and spread out the weight over a larger area and closer to your center of gravity. Thanks for this video, Dan. I will be sharing it with my boy Scouts prior to a backpacking trip.
Damn! This is a noticeable improvement in production quality and editing. I really like how much energy you bring to it as well. Keep it up, mate!
Just my own opinion here: Since I was recently in the boundary waters where I came across a campsite "bushcrafter" stayed recently. He left his shelter up, he cut down living branches to build it, took bark off of living trees to start his fire, and left a beer can (illegal to have cans in the BWCA) in a fire pit.
If this is how bushcrafters all behave, then they are not good people and they can practice in their own backyard, but not litter my wilderness.
My experience with bushcrafters is similar. Sort of a mentality of ownership, whereas backpackers typically recognize that they are just passing through and that leave-no-trace is a given. Bushcrafting is almost selfish by nature. Building a small cabin for one weekend and leaving it is going to damage the environment any way you put it.
I prefer the types of people who leave litter, toilet paper blossoms and fire rings because they're just plain ignorant over the "bushcrafters" who ruin the wilderness intentionally as a hobby. Do they imagine they're 18th century explorers? Post-apocalypse survivors? How about paying attention to the world you actually live in, and doing your best to enjoy it while preserving it? Bushcrafting is stupid and selfish.
Real bushcrafters practice leave no trace, just like real backpackers do. Try not to generalize so much.
My pack is the USMC ILBE main rucksack. It's super comfy, even hiking with 70lbs of gear. It's rated to 120lbs. It's actually an Arc'Teryx Bora with MOLLE webbing and in digital camo. I'm not a hiker or bushcrafter, I'm a prepper/survivalist. Lot's of good info in this video. By the way, i have those exact shoes, same color and everything lol.
8:22 The 45-degree angle for the load lifters is a mechanical optimum, maybe, but a taller frame (smaller angle) may be better for carrying heavier loads. The shorter frame / larger angle that you show in the vid suggests that your pack frame is too short for your torso.
Great topic and great tips Dan! I believe a lot of people overlook getting their pack adjusted correctly and packed correctly. Thanks for bringing all of this to light. Cheers.
The 7th cervical vertebra "C7" is nicknamed "vertebra prominens" which is where the spinous process is often most prominent and you can feel the palpable bump on the lower portion of the back of the neck. This is the upper landmark often used for measuring torso length. The lower landmark is often referred to about the height of the illiac crest, which commonly intersects the L4 fourth lumbar vertebra in the lower back.
I’m just starting out but at far as packing your pack, I would think that putting the least used items on the bottom (change of clothing) would be the first priority. Then the heaviest items, (stove, food,) & most used items at the top (rain gear, tarp, snacks) I will be taking a tarp on my first ever back packing jaunt just so if it starts to rain around the time I set up for the night, I can hurry up & hang the tarp , then finish my setup under it , staying dry. I’ve camped for over 40 years (I just haven’t gone backpacking) and one of the most irritating things to have to put up with is a tent that’s wet inside and with a backpacking tent I’ll have a lot less dry area inside the tent. I’ll also bring a small piece of tyvex for the entrance so that there’s less chance of tracking in dirt, & leaves......... so like I said, I’m going to be a first time backpacker (next year if health permits) so I’m starting my research & purchasing equipment now so that everything is tested and I’m well informed. Please let me know if my logic is screwed up
This is the only useful instructional I've seen on the topic in my years. Thanks so much!!!!
Wow! Thank you!!
I've lightened everything except my pack over the years. Just can't justify the cost for how often I can go, just gotta live with my 20 yr old Gregory thruhike. It's heavy, but....$$$
Hey Dan,
This video clearly expresses just why Kyle is so very jealous of you.
Great information. Keep it up.
Thx for the info, the details and way you went through it was excellent! That cleared up some questions I had as well as some advice I had been given prior in just a to over simplified way. Its funny even the design inside my pack makes more sense now. Thx for branching out from the usual backpacking mantra while still including/meshing bushcraft and less serious hikers in the equation. Thx for all you do, its helpful and appreciated by myself and I'm sure many others. Keep up the great stuff and be well.
This is a pretty good video, very informative as usual. Keep it up Dan, I'm going to share this with a couple of my buddies who are just getting into backpacking.
Really impressed with the production value of these new videos. Great job.
For starters I think it's how the pack fits you. Then I would include the weight of everything when it's on your back. It took me about 50 years to do this. I used a external frame Kelty for years , comfortable but heavy and unnecessary gear taken. Later I went to a lighter , internal , pack. Then the realization that a lighter pack and less gear is a lot more fun. The next step was to the Zpacks Nero ( Frame-less 38 liter , 10.1 oz ) for warm weather camping. Cool weather it the 9.4 oz heavier Zpacks Arc Blast. ( Framed , 55 liter , 20.1 oz ) It takes the top and under quilts for the hammock plus some warm clothing with room left over.
Lighter packs and gear helped but what really did it was the " Do I want this or do I need this question " when packing. The Wants stay home and the Needs go. Any question between the Want or Need then the is it going to be used or end up being carried as extra ( unnecessary ) weight.
Remember ... It does not add any weigh to the pack if it's left at home.
Now you know there really is backpacking gear that actually weighs ...... NOTHING...... LOL
Great video Dan, very informative for the beginner. You have just made the difference for someone not wanting to continue to backpack vs. enjoying the great outdoors comfortably! Cheers Dan!
I am currently having the same issue. I am 54 and weigh 130. My pack is 35# I feel like I want to get out of backpacking forever because my pack is so damn heavy and uncomfortable. I use both the HMG 4400 and the zpacks arc haul.
I learned a lot .. a lot of things from you , keep going , you are a guide in hiking.THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!
Great video! the only issue I have is I don't like putting the smell of the bear bag/can on the inside of my pack so I put my weight on the top.
I did 2 days (1 day in, 1 day out) of the bottom part of Eagle Rock Loop, Arkansas with a 65L Ozark Trail pack. Total weight was 28 lbs. Never again. So much hurt.
I can relate. I live a couple hours away from Eagle Rock Loop. I tried 55 lbs after letting myself sit for a few years. It was not a nice experience.
Very well done man! Soo many factors go into being comfortable and definitely alot of trial and error! The packs out there vary greatly. I loved my original osprey stratos. It had the air core back mesh for breathability. It was kinda a pre zpacks arc in a way and i loved it because my back could breath! But it wasnt big enough so i went bigger. Granite gear blaze was very nice but still not my thing. I tried alot of military style packs like the medium alice but it was too heavy and not very comfortable. Then i tried companies like Karrimor, Mystery ranch,Kelty,Condor,Camelbak and so on. Internal frame sheet style packs became my go to instead of external frame packs. They are lighter, more comfortable usually but still rigid! The Futura harness saved my hiking! It allowed for easy quick torso adjustment. First the mystery ranch bighorn with futura and then camelbak tri-zip! It gloves my back severely comfortable!! But i think a semi thick padded waistbelt is important and long semi thick padded shoulder straps! The sternum and load lifting straps are very important too! Adjust to your liking of course! I do my waistbelt first then my shoulder straps followed by sternum strap and load lifters. Some packs even have waistbelt straps on the side which pull the pack bottom closer to your back. Adjusting all those straps is very important! Try to keep your gear weight under a ton too lol...I would love to talk to Mystery Ranch and design a lightweight pack (Possibly dyneema) and have them integrate their futura harness on to it. Make that pack in all of the most popular sizes and im telling ya it could possibly be the best pack ever made!!! LOL in my opinion! That would be sweet!!! Thanks for all you do for the backpacking world Dan!!! Hike on man!!
Great tips and well said!! Thank you!!!!
Super helpful. Better articulated that what I’m capable of with my buddies. Now, I can simply send them the link to this great vid.
Bushcrafting: Walk 1/2 a mile from your car with old, heavy gear, clear out 1/2 the forest to make a hobbit home, then cook up some Denny's.
Another killer video bro you gave some really really good tips especially the one that is figuring out if you are a hiker or a bushcrafter that makes a world of difference unbelievable tips ✊🏻
As a bushcrafter and with a proper rucksack and weight distribution I can hike for hours with ease. I am talking aboutbl 24kg of gear
Carrying a backpack is for chumps. I now run into the forest and just call for a resupply airdrop. Literally all you need is a 5 kill streak.
🤣🤣🤣
Airdrops are for sissies; eat what you kill. :P
Must be a former Grunt!! Love it!
Ultimate chadhiker
@@williamcunningham1586 I don’t think he served, think he’s a videogame player
I've been having my straps way too loose. Now I know what all those straps are for! I just let them dangle! Thanks man. My base weight is just under 10#! Which is good, cause now I can add more things!
Under 10 pounds?! That’s great!
actually its unbelievable. You must be tentless and stoveless?
I have 2 disc bulges and one slight herniation in lower back, soo ultralight ia esential to me. Last year I manage to pack a 7.5 kg backpavk total weght includind the backpavk itself, tent, sleeping stuff, camera, food. This year I want to limit everything to 5kg, this means new lighter stuff wich are more expensive but better for lower back wich is quite problematic for me lol.
I hike in skateboarding shoes with supportive insoles in them, because the shoes are flat. I made this choice because skate shoes have always stood the test of time for me, and "hiking" shoes are made to break because of the focus on being light and squishy. Two things about skate shoes compared to "hiking" shoes: they don't breathe quite as well (they are leather), and the soles are smooth (but I prefer sliding a little bit over rolling an ankle or something). I've tried "hiking" shoes on the trail, and they gave me more blisters and I had more issues with them, so I always went back to my skate shoes. Try replacing your insoles before you replace the entire shoe.
Hey!!!! The long awaited how to adjust your backpack video 😁😁😁👍👍👍
🙌🙌
Always entertaining and informative. Thanks. Keep'em coming.
EVERY TIME I WATCH YOUR STUFF, I WISH I COULD HIT THE LIKE BUTTON TWICE!!
Love it!!! Thank you!!!!
Gregory Maven 45L. Love it.
Dan if I may, you are tensioning the load lifters too much, they should be tighten enough but without lifting the shoulder harness that should follow the curvature of your shoulders. In your video you can see a gap large enough to fit a finger between the straps and your shoulders. Just my 2 cents :)
Load lifters are exactly as described. And it is up to you how much load you want on your shoulders vs your hips. Oh and how you load your pack!! Lighter stuff at the bottom. food / heavier stuff in the middle/ easy access stuff at the top. Or what ever the heck works for you!! At the end of the day, And I hasten to say I think Dan would agree with me? When I say please! Don't go UL without testing your gear in the environment you plan to hike/camp in... But hey if you want to come up this way?? We have every climate imaginable, short of the Sahara. Tho I do have wild cacti growing in the backyard? Welcome to W.I! The forecast will change by the hour so please plan accordingly!!
I'm a bushcrafting hiker i suppose lol, i hike at least 17 miles before testing out my axes and stuff, but i hike so far in for the scenery and tranquility
I've compromised to some extent but 23lbs is as far down the lightweight I'm prepared to go .
If you're more comfortable wearing your pack upside down does it matter.
I load heavy on hip line as I find heavy high makes me top heavy.
I've watched almost all your videos and this is probably one of the best I've seen yet. Hardly anyone has put one out like this. Great, great vid for the beginners.
Wow! That’s great to hear!
Ditch the cook kit and heavy foods.
Chia Seeds, Pinole, and Protein Rice Powder. All you need is 5 to 6 pinches followed by a big gulp of water a day. What those Mexican Ultra Runners live on.
For day or short section hikes that might be an idea. For something like the AT you can be sure it'll be ditched by the time the NOC is reached.
Great tips Dan. An uncomfortable backpack is no fun. Cool video my friend 👍
Great video, solid info that we all need to visit every now and then
I M H A Torso length is very important for frame packs when it comes to that sweet spot for shoulder stabilizers. In order to get the strap positioned in the middle of the shoulders, at the correct 15%-45% angle you need the frame to extend up to 50mm above the shoulders for a perfect fit. In my case I'm five foot seven and a half and a 55cm-56cm - 22" pack is perfect for me. A shorter person would need @ 50cm, and a taller person 60cm+ or even 65cm for a giant. 'Love your Arc Blast...My names Dave and I'm a packaholic!
Great video, Thanks! One more note... use those compression straps on the side of the back to hold everything in place. A shifting load is uncomfortable no matter the weight. Keep the vids coming.
Earnie Burfitt thanks, Earnie! I completely meant to talk about that but forgot! That happens to me sometimes when I film and edit all by myself LOL!
Generally sound advice on adjusting a pack and packing. You did over tension your load lifters in the video though. Generally that's not advised. You want just enough tension to keep the pack snug against your back for stability on the trail. Too much tension can actually put pressure on the shoulders.
I've definitely been the guy on the trail with the huge pack with stuff hanging off of it. Generally though it's because I'm carrying shelter, sleep systems, and food for 2 or 3 when I take my son's backpacking. Those trips are relatively low mileage though. I can't imagine how many are we there yets I'd get in 15 miles :-)
I started backpacking when I was a kid. My dad always put the heaviest items in the bottom of his basket pack. I always packed that way until I read you are suppose to,put the heavy items in the middle. That was one of the most painful backpacking trips ever. Noe I am back to packing the heavy items on the bottom.
I would like to hear more about this Margaret. I am experiencing miserable backpacking trips and want to quit because of it. So you are more comfortable packing heavy items at bottom?
I needed this video 30 years ago 🤣
Great video Dan, I really want one of those arc haul backpacks pretty bad
They are awesome but they are extremely expensive! A couple other great backpacks that essentially do the same thing and are much less expensive are… Gregory optic, Osprey Exos, Osprey Levity, Deuter Futura.
My pack has been rubbing my hips raw.. that bone towards the front not the “iliac crest” I’ve heard so much about I don’t know if my pack is too low or too high on my hips..? I have scabs from a 20 mile hike and I’m dreading going again now
I love your videos. I always learn something new!!
Ah! The struggle to mesh light weight hiking AND bushcrafting is a real thing for me. Although if I were super skilled....all I'd need is a knife....and that's not likely to happen. 😁
A warrior can handle the rain, but a wise man gets his ass under shelter.
- paraphase of an ancient Chinese proverb.
Man Dan, you have a beautiful backyard
Thank you! That’s the back part of my yard where the woods start so I kind of let it do what it does LOL!
Get an external frame backpack. I hiked 15 miles over two days on a section of the AT as a complete noob with about 50lbs in my 20 year old Jansport external frame backpack, and it never came close to hurting me. I had absolutely NO shoulder or back pain the entire time.
I still have my 40 year old Jansport external frame pack. I loved it and it was comfortable - too bad the zippers no longer work 🙂. Oh and was probably carrying 50 pound loads.
As a 5 foot tall female sadly the biggest backpack I can wear is the Gregory women's XS frame so not the greatest for room for things but it is good enough. For backcountry camping. 😆
Don’t be offended by this but Osprey makes a kids backpack called the Ace. It’s a 50 liter pack and adjusts to your torso height. It adjusts from a 13” - 19” torso. Might be worth looking into. I’ve had adults use this pack on trips that had a shorter torso and it did great.
I have a Gregory extra small maven that is 65 liter- plenty of room
I pack my kit in a very similar way. Only real difference is I keep my tent towards the top, because that's usually the first camp chore I take care of.
Goatlord Hiking when I tent that’s what I do as well! When I hammock it goes at the bottom. My hammock tarp goes on the outside for a quick easy access when I get to camp.
@@DanBecker I'll try that set up next time I hammock!
LoL!!! A Mr. Roger's moment! You need a sweater!! 🤣 Great job on the video. Oh, tell th dude to ease up on the mowing while you are down to serious recording. 😁 Take it easy. Roger
RkF it’s a beautiful day in my neighborhood! 🤣🤣
@@DanBecker 😆
Excellent info Dan!👍😎
Good video, thank you. I enjoyed it. It was a great review.
wonderful, thanks !
New logo? I like it! Same strong, relevant content.
Thanks!!!
Excellent video Dan. Thanks
Thanks Dan I always enjoy your videos.
I use a Mystery Ranch pack. My pack never hurts. 15hour day and heavy load, no problem.👍
This dude looks like a mix between Jim from the Office and Pete from the League
great video with great tips and advices !!!
All great tips, and another excellent video.
Dan, have you ever participated in any gear rings? I'm thinking this could be a new way to get exposed to new gear but I'm feeling unsure. Wondering about your experiences. Also it took me about 2yrs to get my pack nice and comfy. Always looking for ways to improve my ease and comfort on the trail. Thanks.
No I have not! As a matter fact I don’t even know of any. But I think that’s a great idea!
Seriously thank youuuuu
Great video! Helpful tips!
great video Dan, as always!!