I can’t believe how much stuff you got into that tiny backpack! 👏🏻 I thought I was doing well with my pack size and weight but - in the words of Fagin - I think I better think it through again! 😁
I know they are expensive but a simple DCF tarp weighs the same as that pillow and would make a bivvy bag more enjoyable in the wind or rain. Your day clothes could be rolled up to make the pillow. Yes, pegs and a pole of some kind would be needed. I use a 35 litre rucksack and that allows me to take a foam mat as my summer option - no blowing up needed and no risk of punctures. That mat from the back of your pack is much thinner than mine but it would be enough if you knew your pitch was to be on soft turf. But, if your kit keeps you comfortable in the circumstances in which you camp out, don’t change a thing. Good video.
I think you’ve hit on something key, everyone is different and there isn’t really a perfect suit-everyone solution. Part of the fun is figuring out your own kit. I’ve used the bivvi and tarp combo a few times, it is kinda special being able to just look straight up at the stars. I really like it for calm summer nights. My issue with that combo in bad weather is that because I’m usually carrying camera tech, I need to be able to reliably keep it dry and warm, so that’s a big reason I’ve opted for the hooped bivvi. Got my cameras in with me, warmer than outside. It’s especially important for drones as they won’t fly if the batteries get too cold. Although if I’m not bringing cameras with me, I have sometimes gone out with just a bivvi bag and sleeping bag. One of the best nights sleep I’ve ever got was on a pile of heather on a summit in a bivvi, lie lying on clouds.
Btw what foam mat do you use? I’ve tried them in the past and unless I’m on super soft ground, I can’t sleep on them. I sleep in a weird position so always end up with pressure points on foam mats
The point of the pump sacks is to avoid blowing it up with your mouth so no moisture comes in the pad. Moisture produces mold in your pad. Using the pump sack is absolutely recommend 😉
Here is another example of someone who doesn't really know what he is talking about. Again, probably seen the same video as David there, and now thinks he knows all about all types of sleeping pads, but doesn't understand that not all pads are the same. He is really just talking cobblers.
@@StephenJReid silly sausages trying to explain something they don't understand enough about. That pad you have cant grow mould and as you say, you have been using it a long time now with no issue. Thermarest themselves say you can blow up all their pads with your breath with no risk of mould. I'm not going to explain why they are wrong, maybe they will take the time to learn for themselves. People need to educate themselves fully before trying to tell you your doing it wrong ha ha.
Very interesting video - shows me how things have got better/lighter over the last years. I've not been able to go back to lightwieght/ultra lightweight camping and now looks as if I won't be able to dye to my health. Your camping and other videos help. Keep up with them!
Thanks, the camping and even hiking is unlikely- I suffered a stroke beginning August 2021 and now gave double vision and can't walk more than 25-50 metres without short breaks. Still - my wife and I are still looking for ways.
Great video Steve! As you’ve said, gear choice for ultralight/fastpacking is subjective and completely personal preference. For me, there is a balance between keeping it light and having enough comfort to enjoy myself, I never treat fast packing as a military operations which means I sometimes take things that a hardcore ultra lighter would cringe at the thought of the weight/volume. I like a bivy + tarp + bug net combo when there is no rain forecast and I’m only out for a night or two. Otherwise I have a 2 man tarp tent (from decathlon) which gives me the space and comfort I’d like whilst still being light enough. I’ve got a few others things I mix and match with depending on the trip, but I tend to go with options that will keep the trip on the side of happiness over optimal weight choice.
Yeah definitely agree with that, the vast majority of my camping trips are only single nights. I'd definitely opt for a bigger shelter on multi-days with unpredictable weather. `Definitely prefer to enjoy the experience at the time rather than just the satisfaction of "surviving" it later!
Thanks for the tips. For me a Jetboil is great on compact and fuel efficient. I would use a rubble sack inside the rucksack to keep everything dry, I have never had a backpack that stays dry. Many thanks
Great video Stephen. Just realized that I suck at ultralight camping. The bottle of Bushmills, chocolate and coffee are a must but add to the kgs. I’ve only just started to follow you as we have somethings in common. I have the same dialect, same love of the outdoors and running. Moved to Norway in the eighties, so we have a lot of outdoor activities to choose from.
Great video, awesome set up. I actually had (and still have) that little tin 10+ years ago when I made my own little survival kit. Might have to take it along on my first wild camping trip!
25 liters during the warm months is plenty. For what I call my bedroom , I use a Jungle Hammock and rain fly. The mattress is a Therm-a-rest 3/4 length mummy style , self inflating. I let it inflate about 1/2 to 3/4 so it conformers to my body and the hammock. The stove is a Titanium Firebox nano Gen 2 with a Titanium cup. The same knife , Swiss Army's camper because of the saw blade. I can trim 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick twigs to size , for the stove. The rest is the standard ultralight gear all packed in a 25 liter Chicken Tramper Day pack. Water is no problem ( Be Free filter ) it's everywhere and the meals are dehydrated ones ( home made ) for freezer bag cooking.
Thanks for the comment Chuck, always interesting to hear what other people use. I want to try hammock camping again, the one and only time I tried it was in winter and I didn't have a rain fly or under quilt. Was a very cold uncomfortable night! I've got a similar stove to that for burning twigs etc, if im camping in a forest I'll often swap it for the gas stove.
@@StephenJReid ... "O" Yes without something to insulate your backside in a hammock you can suffer what we call " The Cold Butt Syndrome". You have 360 degree cooling in a hammock so something under you is a necessity when the temperature drops a little. Usually from 2 A.M. to daylight.
Good set up for 6.5kg, btw the reason that you should use the pump bag instead of your breath for the sleeping pad is so that you don’t introduce moisture from your breath which can lead to mold growing inside the pad and ruining the insulation.
Interesting! Never heard that before. Although I’ve been using my breath with that mat for over two years and it ain’t gone moldy yet. 🤷♂️ it’s kept in a warm and dry location when it’s not being uses
@@StephenJReid get yourself a Exped schnozzel pump bag. They make the job of inflating your mattress much easier, but also double as a waterproof pack liner to keep your sleep kit dry.
I don't think David knows what he is talking about, people who use 'you should', need to be careful that they aren't just talking cobblers. No doubt he's seen a video about a different type of sleep pad and doesn't understand that not all pads are the same.
Thanks! The blurry edges was an experiment to see if I could beat the RUclips compression and get better looking footage from my phone. Didn’t really work 😂
Isn't the idea with mattress pump,that you don't blow moisture in and thus prevent mold? P.s. I went dizzy when you were blowing it up! I couldn't use the hooped bivvy,too claustrophobic.
Yeah I’ve heard that, but I’m not entirely convinced that’s a problem. I could be wrong though. I’m a runner so maybe I’ve just got more puff than usual.
@@StephenJReid other factors also help prevent mould which you might be doing, like leaving the valve opened afterwards to allow moisture to escape and where/how you store your pad (cool dry location), also your pad might just have good anti-mould treatment inside of it. PS Mould isn't always visible, some moulds are white, smell is the best indication.
@@StephenJReid Stephen J Reid's arm you see millions of midges and you are assuming there are biting you but it's is horseshoe fly's and mosquitoes that are biting you. Midges with wings don't even have a mouth and will starve to death within a day or two.
I’m seeing the individual midges on the surface of my skin as they dig in and bite just before I squish them. They bite with their head right at the skin as they don’t have a proboscis to stab you with like a mosquito. Horse flies are worst than either, they take a proper chunk out of you. Maybe we have different definitions. But it’s well documented that midges bite.
This vid just popped up as a suggested watch I enjoyed it, I am down to 9.3ish as light as I can go including about 3 litres of water, tonight I am up to 12 !!! Food and 4 litres and extra clothes You can’t beat a bivy camp I just love it Alpkit hunka and a small 1.4 square tarp is all I am using, I have yet to pack up in the rain as would be awful and if rain was forecast 100% I would use my tent !! Keep em coming
Sounds like a good setup! I’m quite often carrying 15kg+ by the time I add my bigger cameras and drone. So when I’m not bringing them I like to go as light as possible.
I can’t believe how much stuff you got into that tiny backpack! 👏🏻
I thought I was doing well with my pack size and weight but - in the words of Fagin - I think I better think it through again! 😁
Haha, I’ll have to refine it this year even more!
Add a windshield to your cooking set up, such that it is close to the cup and tall as, so heats the sides. So much more efficient
I usually just set my pack up as a windshield, has served me well.
I know they are expensive but a simple DCF tarp weighs the same as that pillow and would make a bivvy bag more enjoyable in the wind or rain. Your day clothes could be rolled up to make the pillow. Yes, pegs and a pole of some kind would be needed. I use a 35 litre rucksack and that allows me to take a foam mat as my summer option - no blowing up needed and no risk of punctures. That mat from the back of your pack is much thinner than mine but it would be enough if you knew your pitch was to be on soft turf. But, if your kit keeps you comfortable in the circumstances in which you camp out, don’t change a thing. Good video.
I think you’ve hit on something key, everyone is different and there isn’t really a perfect suit-everyone solution.
Part of the fun is figuring out your own kit.
I’ve used the bivvi and tarp combo a few times, it is kinda special being able to just look straight up at the stars. I really like it for calm summer nights.
My issue with that combo in bad weather is that because I’m usually carrying camera tech, I need to be able to reliably keep it dry and warm, so that’s a big reason I’ve opted for the hooped bivvi. Got my cameras in with me, warmer than outside. It’s especially important for drones as they won’t fly if the batteries get too cold.
Although if I’m not bringing cameras with me, I have sometimes gone out with just a bivvi bag and sleeping bag. One of the best nights sleep I’ve ever got was on a pile of heather on a summit in a bivvi, lie lying on clouds.
Btw what foam mat do you use? I’ve tried them in the past and unless I’m on super soft ground, I can’t sleep on them. I sleep in a weird position so always end up with pressure points on foam mats
The point of the pump sacks is to avoid blowing it up with your mouth so no moisture comes in the pad. Moisture produces mold in your pad.
Using the pump sack is absolutely recommend 😉
Hmmm I'll have to check for mold then, I've never used the pump sack and have had the mat for about 3 years now.
Here is another example of someone who doesn't really know what he is talking about. Again, probably seen the same video as David there, and now thinks he knows all about all types of sleeping pads, but doesn't understand that not all pads are the same. He is really just talking cobblers.
@@StephenJReid silly sausages trying to explain something they don't understand enough about. That pad you have cant grow mould and as you say, you have been using it a long time now with no issue. Thermarest themselves say you can blow up all their pads with your breath with no risk of mould. I'm not going to explain why they are wrong, maybe they will take the time to learn for themselves. People need to educate themselves fully before trying to tell you your doing it wrong ha ha.
@@DJunclepaul2nd You should see the mold in some of the water bottles I drink from! 🤣
Very interesting video - shows me how things have got better/lighter over the last years. I've not been able to go back to lightwieght/ultra lightweight camping and now looks as if I won't be able to dye to my health. Your camping and other videos help. Keep up with them!
Thanks Jonathan 🙂 Hope you manage to get out camping again. But if not, I’m glad the videos help
Thanks, the camping and even hiking is unlikely- I suffered a stroke beginning August 2021 and now gave double vision and can't walk more than 25-50 metres without short breaks. Still - my wife and I are still looking for ways.
Great video Steve! As you’ve said, gear choice for ultralight/fastpacking is subjective and completely personal preference. For me, there is a balance between keeping it light and having enough comfort to enjoy myself, I never treat fast packing as a military operations which means I sometimes take things that a hardcore ultra lighter would cringe at the thought of the weight/volume. I like a bivy + tarp + bug net combo when there is no rain forecast and I’m only out for a night or two. Otherwise I have a 2 man tarp tent (from decathlon) which gives me the space and comfort I’d like whilst still being light enough. I’ve got a few others things I mix and match with depending on the trip, but I tend to go with options that will keep the trip on the side of happiness over optimal weight choice.
Yeah definitely agree with that, the vast majority of my camping trips are only single nights. I'd definitely opt for a bigger shelter on multi-days with unpredictable weather.
`Definitely prefer to enjoy the experience at the time rather than just the satisfaction of "surviving" it later!
Wow... You are really well prepared. Thank for sharing what you packed in you bag 👍
No problem, glad you found it useful
Thanks for the tips. For me a Jetboil is great on compact and fuel efficient. I would use a rubble sack inside the rucksack to keep everything dry, I have never had a backpack that stays dry. Many thanks
Good tip!
Great video Stephen. Just realized that I suck at ultralight camping. The bottle of Bushmills, chocolate and coffee are a must but add to the kgs.
I’ve only just started to follow you as we have somethings in common. I have the same dialect, same love of the outdoors and running. Moved to Norway in the eighties, so we have a lot of outdoor activities to choose from.
Haha, it’s always the luxuries that create the weight. But sure if you didn’t enjoy it, what would be the point.
I’ll get to Norway eventually! On my list, but I’m in no rush
Great video, awesome set up. I actually had (and still have) that little tin 10+ years ago when I made my own little survival kit. Might have to take it along on my first wild camping trip!
Hard to beat a sawn off toothbrush 😁 Definitely gotta use it though!
Thanks for the video !! I loved your backpack, could you do a full review about it please 😇 ?
Emergency toilet roll doubling up as a rattle stop for your tin . I like it 👌
it's the little things 😁
Are you not surrounded by suitable material
@@markthomasson5077 not in the middle of a forest. Though I did once use pine cones in an emergency.
Pine cones….ouch! There is always a handful of lovely soft damp moss where I am.
25 liters during the warm months is plenty. For what I call my bedroom , I use a Jungle Hammock and rain fly. The mattress is a Therm-a-rest 3/4 length mummy style , self inflating. I let it inflate about 1/2 to 3/4 so it conformers to my body and the hammock. The stove is a Titanium Firebox nano Gen 2 with a Titanium cup. The same knife , Swiss Army's camper because of the saw blade. I can trim 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick twigs to size , for the stove. The rest is the standard ultralight gear all packed in a 25 liter Chicken Tramper Day pack. Water is no problem ( Be Free filter ) it's everywhere and the meals are dehydrated ones ( home made ) for freezer bag cooking.
Thanks for the comment Chuck, always interesting to hear what other people use.
I want to try hammock camping again, the one and only time I tried it was in winter and I didn't have a rain fly or under quilt. Was a very cold uncomfortable night! I've got a similar stove to that for burning twigs etc, if im camping in a forest I'll often swap it for the gas stove.
@@StephenJReid ... "O" Yes without something to insulate your backside in a hammock you can suffer what we call " The Cold Butt Syndrome". You have 360 degree cooling in a hammock so something under you is a necessity when the temperature drops a little. Usually from 2 A.M. to daylight.
Don’t you an amazing bladder to use hammock?
….or do you fit a drain hole!
Bivvy bag almost as bad
You are having way too much fun.. :)
How much fun is too much fun?
Have a look of the carinthia tropen it's the bag I sue gets down quite a bit smaller than. The snugpak and is rated to minus 8 extreme I love it
Very cool pack, wish they made larger packs.
Atom packs are kinda simialr
If you blow directly into your sleeping mat, the condensation from your breath will drastically reduce the R value
You should come down to Coast & Marine (Whitehead) some weekend and I will sort you out with a Kelly Kettle kit for your next camp trip.
Ooooo seriously? That would be class, Thanks! I've seen them a couple times but never actually used one myself.
@@StephenJReid I'd never heard of them till this week. Surprisingly quick to boil water, great idea.
Nice video 😊
Well done. Crow
Thanks! 🙂
Nice setup. Make it more interesting though and show us your lightweight winter kit 😜
Haha, wait until winter and I'll see what I can do. I reckon I can do a winter version that's still under 10kg. My current winter kit is about 15kg
Jojoba oil spray or moisturiser for midges, I live in Donegal and this seems to be the best at repelling them.
Very cool very useful, thank you
Thansk Andrew!
Nice camp tools I love it sir😍
Thanks Ajay!
@@StephenJReid you are welcome sir
Love the vid! I am wondering where all of your kit is when you get into your shelter
It all ends up in with me around the head area, there’s a bit of space
Quite good selection of gear but wheres your mini trowel for incase you need to take a dump... ' Leave no trace brother'
I just dig a hole with a stick. More ultralight as nothing to carry
Marks & Spencer tin.....now you're just trying to impress us. ;)
Haha, spared no expense
Good set up for 6.5kg, btw the reason that you should use the pump bag instead of your breath for the sleeping pad is so that you don’t introduce moisture from your breath which can lead to mold growing inside the pad and ruining the insulation.
Interesting! Never heard that before. Although I’ve been using my breath with that mat for over two years and it ain’t gone moldy yet. 🤷♂️ it’s kept in a warm and dry location when it’s not being uses
@@StephenJReid Hold it up to the light. If it's anything like Thrmarest Neoair Xlites you'll see all the mold.
@@StephenJReid get yourself a Exped schnozzel pump bag. They make the job of inflating your mattress much easier, but also double as a waterproof pack liner to keep your sleep kit dry.
@@markduffy5945 totally agree. The exped schnozzzle bag would make most of the other stuffsacks unnecessary
I don't think David knows what he is talking about, people who use 'you should', need to be careful that they aren't just talking cobblers. No doubt he's seen a video about a different type of sleep pad and doesn't understand that not all pads are the same.
That was quite amusing to see whatever you could pull out of that little magical backpack :-)
What's with the blurry edges tho?
Thanks! The blurry edges was an experiment to see if I could beat the RUclips compression and get better looking footage from my phone.
Didn’t really work 😂
@@StephenJReid RUclips compression does horrible things to videos from no matter what apparatus.
Isn't the idea with mattress pump,that you don't blow moisture in and thus prevent mold?
P.s. I went dizzy when you were blowing it up!
I couldn't use the hooped bivvy,too claustrophobic.
Yeah I’ve heard that, but I’m not entirely convinced that’s a problem. I could be wrong though. I’m a runner so maybe I’ve just got more puff than usual.
@@StephenJReid other factors also help prevent mould which you might be doing, like leaving the valve opened afterwards to allow moisture to escape and where/how you store your pad (cool dry location), also your pad might just have good anti-mould treatment inside of it. PS Mould isn't always visible, some moulds are white, smell is the best indication.
great video, well overall orgenized packing. By the way what is the outdoors watch you are wearing. Can you tell me full name of the model :)
Thanks! It’s a Garmin Forerunner 245
13:04 wow you do ASMR now??
On occasion 😂
Thanks for sharing. Did u lose a tooth?
Yes I did indeed, broke it on popcorn watching the new Top Gun. Snapped off at the gum line. Seeing a dentist next week
@@StephenJReid you are a bit lighter in the end!
the issue with using your BREATH to pump it up, is that it gets moldy inside ;-) you don't want that. much better to use the pumpbag
A lot of debate on this one, some say it’s a myth, others say they’ve had it happen
@@StephenJReid had it happen to mine ages ago, so I stopped
Midges don't bite, but we do have mosquitoes and horseshoe flies which do.
Tell that to my itchy arms all covered in midge bites 😂
@@StephenJReid Stephen J Reid's arm you see millions of midges and you are assuming there are biting you but it's is horseshoe fly's and mosquitoes that are biting you. Midges with wings don't even have a mouth and will starve to death within a day or two.
I’m seeing the individual midges on the surface of my skin as they dig in and bite just before I squish them.
They bite with their head right at the skin as they don’t have a proboscis to stab you with like a mosquito.
Horse flies are worst than either, they take a proper chunk out of you.
Maybe we have different definitions. But it’s well documented that midges bite.
My last time doing the Devils Coach road I got ate alive be midges!
Horse flies are awful things
They most certainly do lol
How many kilos in total?
6.5kg Inc food and 750ml water
@@StephenJReid cool.. pretty light
All those luxuries and no food!
There was food! I had a dehydrated meal pack, granola bar and sweets.
Is this a tech review 🤔
Erm nope 😁
Yes.
Such a strange accent. Like a non-Doric Aberdonian with a slight NI twang. Great video though, need to give it a try
Northern Ireland has a surprising range of accents. Most people assume it to only have the Belfast accent or rural farmer accent
This vid just popped up as a suggested watch
I enjoyed it, I am down to 9.3ish as light as I can go including about 3 litres of water, tonight I am up to 12 !!! Food and 4 litres and extra clothes
You can’t beat a bivy camp I just love it
Alpkit hunka and a small 1.4 square tarp is all I am using, I have yet to pack up in the rain as would be awful and if rain was forecast 100% I would use my tent !!
Keep em coming
Sounds like a good setup!
I’m quite often carrying 15kg+ by the time I add my bigger cameras and drone. So when I’m not bringing them I like to go as light as possible.
Binge watching your videos back to back- and adding comments for the algorithm~! 🌻👍 Keep up the great content!
Thank you!
Tooth brush? That looks like something I'd use on my shoes.
On your shoes?! 😂 your feet must be tiny!