Love my Garmin instinct. Was picking mushrooms the other day and lost my mora. Was able to retrace my steps and find my knife. So it's definitely useful in more ways than just basic navigation
Best go to food snacks: 1) Jack Links Teriyaki Tender Bites 10oz pack - Walmart 2) Power Up Trail Mix Variety Pack - Costco 3) Dukes Shorty Smoked Sausages - Costco 4) Welch's Fruit Snacks - Costco 5) Nature's Garden Probiotic Apricots (or other dried fruit) - Costco 6) Custom Trail Mix (make as sweet or savory as you like) - Whole Foods/Grocery Store All these items last years, store flat and provide quick protein/carbs. I keep these in my truck bag, range bag and hiking pack.
Love your channel and your beliefs. Keep scalling things down brother . I am limited physically, being paralyzed from the waist down since birth . I've ALWAYS had a love for the outdoor. Wilderness is my church. Long story short , the lighter the better . Love you man . Much love to the family.
As an NC native that has hiked thousands of miles around the southern Appalachians, completely disagree on waterproof boots for hiking in this region. The NC mountains are one of the wettest places in the continental US outside of Washington and Oregon. For 5-6 months of the year it is humid and hot. Waterproof shoes will trap your sweat and will be a burden on all of the creek crossings. One of the reasons trail runners are so popular with AT thru hikers is because the southern Appalachians are so wet, and boots greatly increase your chance of blisters in this climate. I stopped wearing midweight boots in 2009 because it was impossible to keep my feet dry in the summer.
Hard to beat the Grayl system for ease of use, convenience and on the fly use(speed). I think the little bit of extra bulk and cost is out weighed by these benefits. I always pack/carry a Sawyer Mini and a one liter "Smart Water" bottle as a back-up to my Grayl. Also, Self Reliance Outfitters offer a SS cup and lid set that the Grayl will nest into perfectly. JMHO! Thanks for the video and for sharing your thoughts, ideas and experiences with us.
For my water solution I was old school for a long long time-wide mouth Nalgenes and a screw on MSR lever action ceramic filter. But I am on the Grayl bandwagon now for pretty much all solo trips with reasonably abundant water access. And now that they have a silicone valve for the Geopress, I do electrolytes in the bigger Geopress and water in the titanium ultra for meal rehydration. The simplicity and reliability are remarkable. The only things that can really go wrong are an O ring and maybe your filter gets too dirty. So if you have both bottles, you ought to be good. Also I never like reservoirs and the constant sipping on the go. So if I stop to collect water, I might press once, chug, refill and press again. Minimize risk of running out and going thirsty.
I have tried most of the big brand water filters. In the last few years I moved to the Sawyer filters and have never been let down, the cost is perfect as well. I have been really enjoying the Cold Steel FinnHawk lately thank you for that one.
Always the Ferrosi no matter the season but if it's colder the Vigor grid from OR. I too run the Foray II but I do have a Frog Toggs but it usually stays at home or in the car. I run the Sawyer squeeze but have been running the Grayl Geo recently. Always carry fixed, folding and multi tool, Bankline and Paracord as well as a BCO Silny 10x10 tarp and ultra light hammock. Tech stuff is a phone, garmin Instinct, garmin etrex 22x, SPOT. Protection is bear spray and a handgun
Nice video! I usually go for simple foods: Some apples and some dried salamis, French style, German style (for example landjägers) or any other salami that does not require cooling. And a Victorinox Forester or Nomad is always in my pocket since these knives are stainless, easy to keep sharp and have a locking blade and some other useful tools.
Right now I'm breaking in a pair of sketches steel toed work boots. Mid cut. I know they're heavy but I'm a huge believer in at all cost. Take care of my feet.
A thing I picked up from when I was in the Norwegian army was basically a trail mix, we used to call it a "coma bag" . Various nuts, dried fruit, chocolate and sometimes marzipan in a ziplock bag. Most of the time I have a sausage made from moose og reindeer with me as well, I guess it's a lot like a summer sausage.
Where I live and hike/bike, water sources that i would trust to filter can be scarce. I use a water bladder in my backpack plus an extra bottle or two in the side pouches, but still carry a filtration system (with bag) to replenish when I can. I wear higher top ankle breathable boots (esp in wet climates) for ankle stability in rocky slops and snakes. You really don’t want to get trench foot. For food on day hikes, I carry jerky, tuna packs and tortillas (and maybe some mayo and mustard packs), dried fruit, some peanut/almond butter pouches, fresh fruit like small apples or mandarin oranges, and a protein/granola bar or two. For first aid, outside of the boo-boo-kit, I bring bug spray/bug bite stuff, sunscreen, electrolytes, chemical ice pack & folding hand fan (for heat exhaustion), antihistamines, chewable aspirin, chemical heat pack, anti-diarrheal, burn gel, a clean bandana, vet-wrap, tick tool, tweezers, and at least 3 days of prescription meds (more depending on the hike and area). I stock my kit specific for me and my environment.
Cured meats, mayo and mustard packets. Hard cheeses like cheddar individual slices. You could make a simple wrap with that using a tortilla. There are also pouches of chicken or pulled pork like the tuna packets that you could use. Making a quick wrap doesn't take long and will help force a 5-10 minute break even if you start walking again before you eat it. There is a method of eating called cold soaking where you could prep it before you start a day hike and it should be ready a couple hours later, if using cous cous for example you could add some olive oil packets to boost the calories.
Excellent video Aaron. I agree with you 100% on making your own first aid kit. The ability to customize exactly what you want versus relying on someone in corporate America (who may put profits ahead of quality gear) is the way to go. Thanks again for all of your hard work.
OK I'm a lefty and I'm going to get a button lock now to see if your theory proves out. My fave lefty knife and personal fave EDC is my Victorinox One Handed Trekker. It is I guess a backward liner lock which makes it awesome for left handed operation.
Bar locks are ambidextrous. Kershaw just came out with a couple affordable ones that reviewers are praising. SOG Terminus xr is a good one as well for around 55 bucks.
Hey Gideon, the issue you had with the Katadyn befree is really common. For some reason, it doesn't say in the directions, but when the filter is dry, water can't flow through it. You need to soak the filter before use. it takes like 10-30 mins for water to soak into the filter, once that happens water glides through it. What I do is that I'll carry some extra water in the befree when I go on my hikes; that way when I need to use it, it's flowing fast.
You guys all seem to love bic throwaway lighters. Try clipper refillable lighters instead, they last the same amount of time as throwaways but then when they do run out of gas or flint you can just throw it back in your bag and replace them when you get home or pick up replacements when you stop for supplies.
I have seen this video about twenty times or maybe even more. I’m an experienced hiker and thru-hiker but for some reason this video makes me feel calm and cozy. Weird compliment I know. I even use it to go to sleep.
Sawyer Squeeze water filter, scoop water to bottle or bladder, put filter on, drink water. Sawyer Squeeze instead of mini or micro, and you get good flow and 30$ for 100,000 gallons.
Good advice and planning. Planning is useful and my day hike bag is modular depending upon the location I'm hiking. 80% of my hiking is done here in the Northeast and there is plenty of company along our trails. For this reason, we save weight and don't carry extra communication devices, bear spray, or firearms [illegal unless you obtain a permit.] In my 40 years of hiking the most common occurrences that I've encountered where either I or someone else needed assistance: 1). Lack of sufficient water supply. 2). Medical [most often rolled ankles or muscle strains/pulled. 3). Simple cuts and scrapes.] I always hike with a spare Ace bandage in order to assist others. I like to carry 2 Lifestraws for emergency backup water filtration. Finally, I carry a few extra .99 cent ponchos for this exact purpose. These extra items don't even add 1/2 lb. to my pack and through the years I've given them out I believe 8x's in different scenarios.
YOU ARE AWESOME! I hate water bladders and always carry x2 1 liter bottles on either side, but hate having to reach back to get it out of my pouch without stopping. This is exactly what I needed without knowing it! Amazing🎉
I use the Grayl system, easy to use and have the smaller one so it fits easy in a pack. It's funny, the only times I've sprained my ankles while hiking up/down mountains were when wearing boots. Trail shoes during the non-winter months (back when I lived in New England), no issues. One time I sprained my ankle pretty bad near Hermit Lake on Mt. Washington while descending - that was a long 2 mile walk down to the car. I always carry a couple Ace bandages now after having another hiking party give me one when that happened and subsequently, feeling like an idiot for being underprepared.
Oh ive rigged up a souce with a sawyer water filter. Thats for my emergency belt kit. Haven't got around to using it though. But that press looks awesome, a real KISS option, and look robust too!
The Pack I keep in the Truck is a Vertx Gamut Overland. Other than that I use my good old trusty ALICE pack. (Medium). Keeps me from over loading and carrying too much weight. Love my Grayl Geopress so much I bought one for family member's. But I also keep a millbank bag with it to extend the life of my filter. Med kit is a Rhino full on IFAK. I use a solar rechargeable power bank. Works o.k.. Not the best but. Trail food changes all the time. No help there. Great video. Useful info. Thanks.
Your videos are always so interesting and incredibly helpful! I ordered the Sharpal after watching your recent review and, boy, am I happy I listened to you! Keep up the good work and thank you for this awesome channel.
Great video, thanks! Suggestions for Trail food, Single serving Spam, bagged chicken and canned Ross Beef. Great Protein and a good break for granola. Pre make meals to take, planning is the ultimate in preparedness!
Hello 👋 my outdoors friend, greetings from Northern California. Thank you for sharing this most informative video. It looks like you are well set for a day hike. All the best to you. Stay safe out there. My hiking boots of choice are the Lowa Renegade. They've served me quite well. 🤗 👋
Nice video, I like the hard side system you've DIYed. I've been using CNOC bladders for water collection. Really easy to collect water and then you just put you filter on then end of the bag and either squeeze or let gravity do its thing. 28mm or 42mm so almost any filter would work but I recommend the regular sawyer squeeze, not the mini or micro, the flowrate is good and can be easily backflushed in the field if it get clogged. I further modified mine and added a quick connect tube so I can filter directly into my bladder without taking it out of my bag. Also use a Zoleo.
I'm glad you talked about communication. I've wondered why people don't emphasize the convenience and safety of having local communications, particularly when hiking in a group.
For water purification, I love the Grayl Ti and rely for short hikes. For longer I like the HydroBlu Versa and CNOC Vecto combination. Victorinox SAKs are awesome. For hiking I like the Outrider or Farmer X, same toolset as the Evo you showed but slightly larger. The Outrider also has locking blade.
Great vid. Always useful to hear different ideas about gear selection especially to help save weight & cost. For me there are two foundation items where I am happy to spend some money to get comfort, usability & reliability - boots & packs. I prefer the support and extra protection of boots. Make sure that they fit well. Bad boots = bad feet = pain. As for the pack; 1) if uncomfortable it also leads to pain and 2) if it fails you're in a different type of pain. Everything else is negotiable to some degree. Sharp blades all.
for outer layers i usually take a lightweight Columbia rain jacket, as well as either a wool sweater as a warming under layer. its pretty light and small and works well for changing weather in the rockies in the spring/ summer of course
How do you know what “your needs” are for medical kits? Do circumstances not dictate “needs”? I never understood that whole “build my med kit to my needs” thing.
@@6030jdr If you think the woods are overrun with homicidal Manson hippies waiting to leap out from behind every tree then I doubt there is anything anyone can say to persuade you otherwise.
20:15 DO NOT USE SWAT-T ! Every medical professional I've talked to says throw those away! They are NOT approved by the TCCC for use and they will fail. I actually just recently asked about those and I bought some a while ago and I was told DO NOT USE THEM by several individuals. They are a liability. Get a SOF-T or CAT.
@@gideonstactical @gideonstactical true, anything is better than nothing. Glad you had it for that which is why I carry a lot more supplies than I think I'll need, looking at some of the ultralight hikers they would lose their minds 😂. Just got my hand slapped by a friend who's a veteran army medic said what are you doing just use the proper tools for the job don't half ass it and cheap put lol gotta love how straight forward and blunt those guys are. He's saved lives before. Anyway, like your videos keep up the good content.
Another great episode. For food, I second an earlier recommendation of the RXBAR. It’s not a calorie bomb (200) and contains just a handful of ingredients. I prefer the peanut butter flavor, that contains just “Dates, peanuts, egg whites, natural flavors, sea salt.” For something savory I like Vermont Smoke and Cure’s meat sticks, in the original beef & pork flavor.
but but...my first hike this year painfully reminded me that I need to retrain for 50+ pound loads...my ten mile trek had me wishing I had chosen a six mile loop...lol
I just hike at a mountain bike park pretty fun and can keep everything in car if need be looping trails over a mountain. Do plan to go backpacking next year tho so this is good info!
I know you said cliff bars get boring but honestly the peanut butter flavor cliff bar is SO damn refreshing. It's tasty and filling. An opinion that isn't something you have probably had, are cuties, or smaller type oranges/tangerines/hybrids of those. I found some tangelo from Walmart that are absurdly juicy and fulfilling. I'd take them everywhere. Downside to those is you'll need to rinse your hands off be cause they are just so juicy you are bound to have sticky fingers after! Other suggestions is just pack a few plain old sandwiches! =) sorry if i suggested nothing of use to you lol. Love your videos =)
Thank you for all that common sense. I've also been feverishly searching for the hard side small mouth solution for months. Finally!! Thanks for the 28mm Hardside heads up.
I do love the Evo Grip choice. Victorinox is #1 in my heart from my boy scouting days. But I keep grabbing my Leatherman Signal because it checks so many boxes in a small package, with nothing superfluous.
I have the LifeStraw Flex, looks like your Katadyn BeFree. If you like to try another Brand. LifeStraw Flex, fill and drink. Flex because also adapts to standard water bottles and hydro sytems (hydro blatters and now hydro bottles (I guess you call them that)).
I really feel RUclips is nothing but marketing. I really miss the old videos when people tried to find the best and cheapest gear. Really hard to believe anything when most of the gear looks brand new.
... Watching this while doing chores , but heard comment of study of footwear .. Mid to higher hiking boot not improved support ,, TOTALLY FALSE ... will Never succeed to trail runners for a backpacking trek .... a day hike with minimal load ,, maybe ,, but probably not ,, because my day hikes are on same terrain conditions as longer hikes .... trails with rocks and roots will destroy the ankles given the chance ...
I have a Grayl ultra because of your videos my man. I like it for the bombproof construction. No soft bag that can spring a leak and cripple the filter. Better drop resistance and filtering than hollow fiber filters too. Also a big fan of the Lionsteel T5. Very well rounded woods knife and light for a thick 5" full tang. One area I lack is hot weather clothing and boots. The Salomon Quest 4 gtx are great but like you say the waterproof boots hold heat. Do you have a go-to non waterproof boot for hot/dry weather? They're seeming somewhat hard to find. Everything is waterproof these days.
Aqua tab brand is the best.. only requires 30 minutes till purification in most water ... Many purification tablets require 4 hours not good if you're thirsty.. . I always carry some type of water purification filter or a water purification straw... Depending on type of kit..
Many hiking and trail runners have A shank is a semi-rigid insert that fits in the midsole of the boot. They serve several functions: they protect the foot from sharp objects, give the boot enough stiffness so it flexes at the ball of the foot even when loaded, and provides stability on rough terrain. Without them, your feet will feel bruised and tired after a long day on the trail.
I have some real small survival kits.. one is made out of a small fanny pack just for hiking.. I found in use..#95 Paracord .. 50 ft at hobby lobby... It takes up very little space and can be used for ridgelines or anything a reasonable use except for climbing.. very strong so I can pack 2...50 ft Bunches of cord 100 ft total in my little pack and it doesn't take up any room or wait
Always .. ALWAYS carry a personal satellite locator beacon!! .. whether it's the zolio or another one or the one that's only for emergency which is like $300 and no monthly or annual cost.. break a leg out there and you're not going anywhere
Looking good brother.. love my sawyer for the filter and what they are doing for clean water to the nations … source 100%… maybe add some leukotape for just in case ..curious what you are doing now for work? Also appreciate the work done on this vid.
Love my Garmin instinct. Was picking mushrooms the other day and lost my mora. Was able to retrace my steps and find my knife. So it's definitely useful in more ways than just basic navigation
Sweet!! That is really cool.
was it a mushroom knife with the brush?
No it was my mora bushcraft. Not super expensive but I've grown quite fond of it
Best go to food snacks:
1) Jack Links Teriyaki Tender Bites 10oz pack - Walmart
2) Power Up Trail Mix Variety Pack - Costco
3) Dukes Shorty Smoked Sausages - Costco
4) Welch's Fruit Snacks - Costco
5) Nature's Garden Probiotic Apricots (or other dried fruit) - Costco
6) Custom Trail Mix (make as sweet or savory as you like) - Whole Foods/Grocery Store
All these items last years, store flat and provide quick protein/carbs. I keep these in my truck bag, range bag and hiking pack.
Love your channel and your beliefs. Keep scalling things down brother . I am limited physically, being paralyzed from the waist down since birth . I've ALWAYS had a love for the outdoor. Wilderness is my church. Long story short , the lighter the better . Love you man . Much love to the family.
Thanks for sharing and excellent to hear you getting out there!
@@gideonstactical WHAT BLUE THING HOLDS CABLES? NEED ONE
Yah three knives for a day hike might be overkill
@@stopspotburning6841 no,no & no 😃
@@BOOSTEDLASER I think it’s a nite ize gear tie
As an NC native that has hiked thousands of miles around the southern Appalachians, completely disagree on waterproof boots for hiking in this region. The NC mountains are one of the wettest places in the continental US outside of Washington and Oregon. For 5-6 months of the year it is humid and hot. Waterproof shoes will trap your sweat and will be a burden on all of the creek crossings. One of the reasons trail runners are so popular with AT thru hikers is because the southern Appalachians are so wet, and boots greatly increase your chance of blisters in this climate. I stopped wearing midweight boots in 2009 because it was impossible to keep my feet dry in the summer.
North Georgia here. Yep. I haven't worn boots on trail in a decade at least.
Through hiked the AT in 2023 and went through 5 pairs of trail runners; HOKA speed goats.
Hard to beat the Grayl system for ease of use, convenience and on the fly use(speed). I think the little bit of extra bulk and cost is out weighed by these benefits. I always pack/carry a Sawyer Mini and a one liter "Smart Water" bottle as a back-up to my Grayl. Also, Self Reliance Outfitters offer a SS cup and lid set that the Grayl will nest into perfectly. JMHO! Thanks for the video and for sharing your thoughts, ideas and experiences with us.
For my water solution I was old school for a long long time-wide mouth Nalgenes and a screw on MSR lever action ceramic filter. But I am on the Grayl bandwagon now for pretty much all solo trips with reasonably abundant water access. And now that they have a silicone valve for the Geopress, I do electrolytes in the bigger Geopress and water in the titanium ultra for meal rehydration. The simplicity and reliability are remarkable. The only things that can really go wrong are an O ring and maybe your filter gets too dirty. So if you have both bottles, you ought to be good. Also I never like reservoirs and the constant sipping on the go. So if I stop to collect water, I might press once, chug, refill and press again. Minimize risk of running out and going thirsty.
I have tried most of the big brand water filters. In the last few years I moved to the Sawyer filters and have never been let down, the cost is perfect as well. I have been really enjoying the Cold Steel FinnHawk lately thank you for that one.
Always the Ferrosi no matter the season but if it's colder the Vigor grid from OR. I too run the Foray II but I do have a Frog Toggs but it usually stays at home or in the car. I run the Sawyer squeeze but have been running the Grayl Geo recently. Always carry fixed, folding and multi tool, Bankline and Paracord as well as a BCO Silny 10x10 tarp and ultra light hammock. Tech stuff is a phone, garmin Instinct, garmin etrex 22x, SPOT. Protection is bear spray and a handgun
For food, packet tuna, nuts - trial mix, biltong or jerky and dried fruit.
Nice video! I usually go for simple foods: Some apples and some dried salamis, French style, German style (for example landjägers) or any other salami that does not require cooling. And a Victorinox Forester or Nomad is always in my pocket since these knives are stainless, easy to keep sharp and have a locking blade and some other useful tools.
Right now I'm breaking in a pair of sketches steel toed work boots. Mid cut. I know they're heavy but I'm a huge believer in at all cost. Take care of my feet.
A thing I picked up from when I was in the Norwegian army was basically a trail mix, we used to call it a "coma bag" . Various nuts, dried fruit, chocolate and sometimes marzipan in a ziplock bag. Most of the time I have a sausage made from moose og reindeer with me as well, I guess it's a lot like a summer sausage.
Where I live and hike/bike, water sources that i would trust to filter can be scarce. I use a water bladder in my backpack plus an extra bottle or two in the side pouches, but still carry a filtration system (with bag) to replenish when I can. I wear higher top ankle breathable boots (esp in wet climates) for ankle stability in rocky slops and snakes. You really don’t want to get trench foot.
For food on day hikes, I carry jerky, tuna packs and tortillas (and maybe some mayo and mustard packs), dried fruit, some peanut/almond butter pouches, fresh fruit like small apples or mandarin oranges, and a protein/granola bar or two.
For first aid, outside of the boo-boo-kit, I bring bug spray/bug bite stuff, sunscreen, electrolytes, chemical ice pack & folding hand fan (for heat exhaustion), antihistamines, chewable aspirin, chemical heat pack, anti-diarrheal, burn gel, a clean bandana, vet-wrap, tick tool, tweezers, and at least 3 days of prescription meds (more depending on the hike and area). I stock my kit specific for me and my environment.
Life straw makes a collapsible one just like that. Works great. But nothing beats my grail
Cured meats, mayo and mustard packets. Hard cheeses like cheddar individual slices. You could make a simple wrap with that using a tortilla. There are also pouches of chicken or pulled pork like the tuna packets that you could use. Making a quick wrap doesn't take long and will help force a 5-10 minute break even if you start walking again before you eat it. There is a method of eating called cold soaking where you could prep it before you start a day hike and it should be ready a couple hours later, if using cous cous for example you could add some olive oil packets to boost the calories.
Excellent video Aaron. I agree with you 100% on making your own first aid kit. The ability to customize exactly what you want versus relying on someone in corporate America (who may put profits ahead of quality gear) is the way to go. Thanks again for all of your hard work.
Thanks for watching and commenting Kristen. Really appreciate it.
Lifestraw squeeze is a good lightweight minimalist option
OK I'm a lefty and I'm going to get a button lock now to see if your theory proves out. My fave lefty knife and personal fave EDC is my Victorinox One Handed Trekker. It is I guess a backward liner lock which makes it awesome for left handed operation.
Bar locks are ambidextrous. Kershaw just came out with a couple affordable ones that reviewers are praising. SOG Terminus xr is a good one as well for around 55 bucks.
I like the benchmade axis lock as a lefty.
Hey Gideon, the issue you had with the Katadyn befree is really common. For some reason, it doesn't say in the directions, but when the filter is dry, water can't flow through it. You need to soak the filter before use. it takes like 10-30 mins for water to soak into the filter, once that happens water glides through it. What I do is that I'll carry some extra water in the befree when I go on my hikes; that way when I need to use it, it's flowing fast.
Thanks for the info I will try it out!
The titanium grayl all day long..... NO QUESTIONS!!!!!!!
Just got mine. I agree 100%
You guys all seem to love bic throwaway lighters. Try clipper refillable lighters instead, they last the same amount of time as throwaways but then when they do run out of gas or flint you can just throw it back in your bag and replace them when you get home or pick up replacements when you stop for supplies.
I have seen this video about twenty times or maybe even more. I’m an experienced hiker and thru-hiker but for some reason this video makes me feel calm and cozy. Weird compliment I know. I even use it to go to sleep.
Sawyer Squeeze water filter, scoop water to bottle or bladder, put filter on, drink water. Sawyer Squeeze instead of mini or micro, and you get good flow and 30$ for 100,000 gallons.
Having my zoleo in the cirque of the towers last year let's me know my mom passed away. I will never go out without it again
Put off getting the garmin instinct for a long time. Wish I had gotten it sooner! Awesome watch I actually use everyday
Peak freeze dried meals are the tastiest I’ve had. Merrell Moab boots. Grayl is my primary (pnw)
Good advice and planning. Planning is useful and my day hike bag is modular depending upon the location I'm hiking. 80% of my hiking is done here in the Northeast and there is plenty of company along our trails. For this reason, we save weight and don't carry extra communication devices, bear spray, or firearms [illegal unless you obtain a permit.] In my 40 years of hiking the most common occurrences that I've encountered where either I or someone else needed assistance: 1). Lack of sufficient water supply. 2). Medical [most often rolled ankles or muscle strains/pulled. 3). Simple cuts and scrapes.] I always hike with a spare Ace bandage in order to assist others. I like to carry 2 Lifestraws for emergency backup water filtration. Finally, I carry a few extra .99 cent ponchos for this exact purpose. These extra items don't even add 1/2 lb. to my pack and through the years I've given them out I believe 8x's in different scenarios.
YOU ARE AWESOME! I hate water bladders and always carry x2 1 liter bottles on either side, but hate having to reach back to get it out of my pouch without stopping. This is exactly what I needed without knowing it! Amazing🎉
Need to put filter in water before. When put away for while takes a bit for filter rods to soak up and work properly
For boots: Salomon mid-height (waterproof). For trail food: dried fruit and soft jerky.
Peanut butter/fluffernutters are my favorite thing for hikes or kayaking. Sugars, protein, and dense so it fills you up really easily.
I use the Grayl system, easy to use and have the smaller one so it fits easy in a pack. It's funny, the only times I've sprained my ankles while hiking up/down mountains were when wearing boots. Trail shoes during the non-winter months (back when I lived in New England), no issues. One time I sprained my ankle pretty bad near Hermit Lake on Mt. Washington while descending - that was a long 2 mile walk down to the car. I always carry a couple Ace bandages now after having another hiking party give me one when that happened and subsequently, feeling like an idiot for being underprepared.
Oh ive rigged up a souce with a sawyer water filter. Thats for my emergency belt kit. Haven't got around to using it though. But that press looks awesome, a real KISS option, and look robust too!
I like having a SPOT communicator. Aside from that I keep a charger for my phone.
The Pack I keep in the Truck is a Vertx Gamut Overland. Other than that I use my good old trusty ALICE pack. (Medium). Keeps me from over loading and carrying too much weight. Love my Grayl Geopress so much I bought one for family member's. But I also keep a millbank bag with it to extend the life of my filter. Med kit is a Rhino full on IFAK. I use a solar rechargeable power bank. Works o.k.. Not the best but. Trail food changes all the time. No help there. Great video. Useful info. Thanks.
Nice thanks for sharing your run down.
All trail, darn tough wool socks, Electrolytes! and tell someone where and when you're going.
Really liked that smart water hydration kit! Going to click some links.
Your videos are always so interesting and incredibly helpful! I ordered the Sharpal after watching your recent review and, boy, am I happy I listened to you! Keep up the good work and thank you for this awesome channel.
Glad you enjoy the content and it helps!
Great video, thanks! Suggestions for Trail food, Single serving Spam, bagged chicken and canned Ross Beef. Great Protein and a good break for granola.
Pre make meals to take, planning is the ultimate in preparedness!
Hello 👋 my outdoors friend, greetings from Northern California. Thank you for sharing this most informative video. It looks like you are well set for a day hike. All the best to you. Stay safe out there. My hiking boots of choice are the Lowa Renegade. They've served me quite well.
🤗 👋
I recommend home made beef jerky and powdered eggs but I feel better ketogenic running on fats for fuel on a hike when it comes to trail food.
I’ve been using RXBAR Protein Bars mostly to better conform to my diet.
Nice video, I like the hard side system you've DIYed. I've been using CNOC bladders for water collection. Really easy to collect water and then you just put you filter on then end of the bag and either squeeze or let gravity do its thing. 28mm or 42mm so almost any filter would work but I recommend the regular sawyer squeeze, not the mini or micro, the flowrate is good and can be easily backflushed in the field if it get clogged. I further modified mine and added a quick connect tube so I can filter directly into my bladder without taking it out of my bag. Also use a Zoleo.
I carry a folding umbrella in my bags. Only 8 to 10 inches long and easily packed. Quickest way to instant shelter.
Defense. To be honest, in hardcore grizzly country now I’m packing heat. Not even messing with spray anymore. Act accordingly.
I carry a Blackhawk in 45lc+p when I do some hiking.
Love these types of videos
Thanks so much Doug!
I'm glad you talked about communication. I've wondered why people don't emphasize the convenience and safety of having local communications, particularly when hiking in a group.
For water purification, I love the Grayl Ti and rely for short hikes. For longer I like the HydroBlu Versa and CNOC Vecto combination.
Victorinox SAKs are awesome. For hiking I like the Outrider or Farmer X, same toolset as the Evo you showed but slightly larger. The Outrider also has locking blade.
Great vid. Always useful to hear different ideas about gear selection especially to help save weight & cost. For me there are two foundation items where I am happy to spend some money to get comfort, usability & reliability - boots & packs. I prefer the support and extra protection of boots. Make sure that they fit well. Bad boots = bad feet = pain. As for the pack; 1) if uncomfortable it also leads to pain and 2) if it fails you're in a different type of pain. Everything else is negotiable to some degree. Sharp blades all.
I dont like water bladders because I can't tell how much water I have left.
Great video, gear failures seems like a untapped area. Most gear reviewers only talk about the positive rarely do they point out gear failures
Glad you enjoy it! I will try to discuss more failures 👍
for outer layers i usually take a lightweight Columbia rain jacket, as well as either a wool sweater as a warming under layer. its pretty light and small and works well for changing weather in the rockies in the spring/ summer of course
I'm all for ultralight, but I would never compromise and not carry a fixed blade or Good quality folder
Kate's Real Food Energy Bars. I have been using them for a long time.
How do you know what “your needs” are for medical kits? Do circumstances not dictate “needs”? I never understood that whole “build my med kit to my needs” thing.
Getting a good understanding and some basic training will help a lot.
Never go into the woods without a firearm. Concealed handgun for sure when hiking near other granolas.
@@johnnysilverhand1733 do you honestly not know? Hippies, bud, hippies are granolas. 😂
Wait just a second.
You need to carry a gun to feel safe around hippies?
Priceless.
@@AclockworkPurple Only the Manson kind
@@6030jdr If you think the woods are overrun with homicidal Manson hippies waiting to leap out from behind every tree then I doubt there is anything anyone can say to persuade you otherwise.
I never go into the woods without my fire weed. 😂🔥
Not Foogi.. It's FIJI!!!! FEEEE-G 😅🤣🤣
20:15 DO NOT USE SWAT-T ! Every medical professional I've talked to says throw those away! They are NOT approved by the TCCC for use and they will fail. I actually just recently asked about those and I bought some a while ago and I was told DO NOT USE THEM by several individuals. They are a liability. Get a SOF-T or CAT.
CAT is better but literally used one to save my friend life, and if size is an issue would rather use this than a belt.
@@gideonstactical @gideonstactical true, anything is better than nothing. Glad you had it for that which is why I carry a lot more supplies than I think I'll need, looking at some of the ultralight hikers they would lose their minds 😂. Just got my hand slapped by a friend who's a veteran army medic said what are you doing just use the proper tools for the job don't half ass it and cheap put lol gotta love how straight forward and blunt those guys are. He's saved lives before. Anyway, like your videos keep up the good content.
Another great episode. For food, I second an earlier recommendation of the RXBAR. It’s not a calorie bomb (200) and contains just a handful of ingredients. I prefer the peanut butter flavor, that contains just “Dates, peanuts, egg whites, natural flavors, sea salt.” For something savory I like Vermont Smoke and Cure’s meat sticks, in the original beef & pork flavor.
but but...my first hike this year painfully reminded me that I need to retrain for 50+ pound loads...my ten mile trek had me wishing I had chosen a six mile loop...lol
Trail food? Skittles, & Gummy Bears for the win!!! Sarcasm aside I really like Honey stinger waffles with Justin's almond butter spread on them.
I had to rewind 4:33 a few times 😂 i was like "he has to be saying woodscraft right?" Because the first few times it sounded like "witchcraft"
A good fix is flex tape excellent patch
I just hike at a mountain bike park pretty fun and can keep everything in car if need be looping trails over a mountain. Do plan to go backpacking next year tho so this is good info!
Sounds great and glad I could help!
Food, I'm British so a jam and Banana sandwich, peperami, some sort if cheese, custard creams and jelly babies 😅
I know you said cliff bars get boring but honestly the peanut butter flavor cliff bar is SO damn refreshing. It's tasty and filling. An opinion that isn't something you have probably had, are cuties, or smaller type oranges/tangerines/hybrids of those. I found some tangelo from Walmart that are absurdly juicy and fulfilling. I'd take them everywhere. Downside to those is you'll need to rinse your hands off be cause they are just so juicy you are bound to have sticky fingers after! Other suggestions is just pack a few plain old sandwiches! =) sorry if i suggested nothing of use to you lol. Love your videos =)
Hahaha! Thanks for the comment.
for high protein healthy snacks i think of homemade beef jerkey, boiled eggs or just cans of fish/meat.
I use CNOC bags with my Befree, haven't had any issues.
I found Merrills to hold out really well. I'm a surveyor that goes in places most folk have better sense to go.
12:50, that right there is Khukuri, the Gurkha blade.
Thank you for all that common sense. I've also been feverishly searching for the hard side small mouth solution for months.
Finally!! Thanks for the 28mm Hardside heads up.
Also ordered both large and small swig rigs. They'll arrive in 2 days. Can't wait to try them out.
Won't have to slow down or stop to hydrate.
Finally! Someone who takes liquid bandage with them!
For real!!!
This is over the top doomsday vibes for a day hike
I do love the Evo Grip choice. Victorinox is #1 in my heart from my boy scouting days. But I keep grabbing my Leatherman Signal because it checks so many boxes in a small package, with nothing superfluous.
I didn’t see anything regarding #2 relief!?
We live in se Wyoming, for day hiking and day one of a backpack. A good sandwich lots of meat and cheese. I like roast beef and cheddar.
Just ordered a geopress, can’t wait to use it!!
I have the LifeStraw Flex, looks like your Katadyn BeFree. If you like to try another Brand. LifeStraw Flex, fill and drink. Flex because also adapts to standard water bottles and hydro sytems (hydro blatters and now hydro bottles (I guess you call them that)).
I really feel RUclips is nothing but marketing. I really miss the old videos when people tried to find the best and cheapest gear.
Really hard to believe anything when most of the gear looks brand new.
Skippies peanut butter pouches and honey pouches.
Epic provisions bars. Love their bison cranberry. High protein. Delicious.
... Watching this while doing chores , but heard comment of study of footwear .. Mid to higher hiking boot not improved support ,, TOTALLY FALSE ... will Never succeed to trail runners for a backpacking trek .... a day hike with minimal load ,, maybe ,, but probably not ,, because my day hikes are on same terrain conditions as longer hikes .... trails with rocks and roots will destroy the ankles given the chance ...
I have a Grayl ultra because of your videos my man. I like it for the bombproof construction. No soft bag that can spring a leak and cripple the filter. Better drop resistance and filtering than hollow fiber filters too. Also a big fan of the Lionsteel T5. Very well rounded woods knife and light for a thick 5" full tang. One area I lack is hot weather clothing and boots. The Salomon Quest 4 gtx are great but like you say the waterproof boots hold heat. Do you have a go-to non waterproof boot for hot/dry weather? They're seeming somewhat hard to find. Everything is waterproof these days.
it would be cool if mora made an inexpensive outdoor folder
Aqua tab brand is the best.. only requires 30 minutes till purification in most water ... Many purification tablets require 4 hours not good if you're thirsty.. . I always carry some type of water purification filter or a water purification straw... Depending on type of kit..
It’s called trail mix ;)
Can you define what a shank is in your hiking shoes? Thank you.
Many hiking and trail runners have A shank is a semi-rigid insert that fits in the midsole of the boot. They serve several functions: they protect the foot from sharp objects, give the boot enough stiffness so it flexes at the ball of the foot even when loaded, and provides stability on rough terrain. Without them, your feet will feel bruised and tired after a long day on the trail.
ive picked up a morakniv kansbol for my pack knife, its Fixed blade, but super light and razor sharp!
Thanks for the medical advice I didn't think of anti histamines
Satellite communication and ham radio for communication is must !
I generally just go with a sawyer mini... And Sawyer now has a 32 oz water bottle with a sawyer mini inside for only$19.99 at Walmart
What jacket were you wearing? Thanks
Outdoor research ferrosi hoodie love it!
Great video as always, awesome to hear thoughts and observations from tried and tested situations.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Such a fun and enjoyable video!
Thanks for watching! 👍
I have some real small survival kits.. one is made out of a small fanny pack just for hiking.. I found in use..#95 Paracord .. 50 ft at hobby lobby... It takes up very little space and can be used for ridgelines or anything a reasonable use except for climbing.. very strong so I can pack 2...50 ft Bunches of cord 100 ft total in my little pack and it doesn't take up any room or wait
Fantastic video, ton of good information!
Always .. ALWAYS carry a personal satellite locator beacon!! .. whether it's the zolio or another one or the one that's only for emergency which is like $300 and no monthly or annual cost.. break a leg out there and you're not going anywhere
New iPhone has satellite SOS. Good for a day hike.
Looking good brother.. love my sawyer for the filter and what they are doing for clean water to the nations … source 100%… maybe add some leukotape for just in case ..curious what you are doing now for work? Also appreciate the work done on this vid.
Tillamook old fashioned beef jerky
What would you take for a day kayaking/ canoe trip?
yeah make a lunch or meal the day before its not going to go off by lunchtime.