I have seen a lot of channels from people all over the world and yours is one of my favorite. I might not agree with everything but can certainly see your point of view from down under. Love your sense of humor and you’re to the point. Keep it up. You got a good thing going. Would love to see some on the trail videos.
Thank you so much for the kind words! I'm thrilled to hear that you enjoy the content, even when we might not see eye to eye on everything-that's what makes these conversations interesting! I'm glad my sense of humor resonates with you, and I'm always striving to keep things concise and to the point. I have a few on trail videos backed up and working on them now. Hopefully have them out soon!
I totally agree and have been thinking exactly the same as everything @TheRealAlanStephens raises. Also it’s really apparent you’re a good egg and humble. I’ve gained so many tips and feel like I have saved some time, energy and money! Thanks!
Great video. Love watching Aussie youtubers talk about gear. Our terrain, bush and scrub are so different from other places, and our gear has to be up for it. Appreciate having an Aussie voice contributing to the gear space!
Thanks for your feedback! It's awesome to hear that you appreciate the Aussie perspective on gear-there's definitely a unique experience that comes with our terrain.
The extra and heavy food... yep, that's been me when I haven't planned carefully. One caveat is for safety, bring an extra day's food, something I learned in my wilderness first responder training. Twice that's come in handy. On a trip where my companion became ill, we were delayed by a day. The second time was a solo trip that required getting there in a bush plane. The weather prevented the pilot from coming to get me as scheduled and had to wait until the next day. In that cold stormy weather, it would have been dangerous to run out of calories.
You're absolutely right! Having that extra food can make all the difference in unexpected situations. I usually throw in a couple of packs of instant noodles for backup PLUS my extra last minute food always comes in handy in the event I get stuck.
While I'm keen to stay safe, this is something I've changed over the years. It took me 30+ years to stop taking way too much food after having not enough on one. On most walks now, I don't take extra. Instead, I start rationing from day one. I'm often not actually as hungry as i am at home, or after a really big day. I take what I've worked out I generally need (just under 400 gm/day, I'm only little), but I often am happy to have a cracker less than I've allocated for lunch. If I'm not very hungry at tea time, I don't use the whole meal. I no longer finish off my scroggin for the day just because it's there. If we have a rest/weather day, I'll eat less and save more. After a week or so, I have another day's food. This has worked really well for me, and is part of what enabled me to drop my pack weight from 23 kgs for a week to 14 or 15 kgs for 10 days. I used to take posh food if it was only a 2 or 3 day walk. Now I'm more than happy to enjoy that at home, and just savour being out in the wilderness. My body is very grateful, and I've been able to do much more challenging walks in my 60s than ever before.
I have a groundsheet for my Xmid Pro but must admit that in the 3 years Ive had the tent I have never used it. Even on my Larapinta hike a few months ago, pitching on rocky ground, never an issue. Items that I used to take, but have started leaving at home on longer hikes are my Fuji mirrorless camera/lenses & batteries, recharger. Huge weight savings!
The arguments I most often see for a ground sheet are 1) for condensation/insulation and 2) to physically protect your tent from damage. When not using a ground sheet, I personally haven't had any issues with either of those things. As for a pack cover, it definitely depends on your pack. If you have the type of pack that's going to get significantly heavier if/when it gets wet (like a lot of older or cheaper packs), then a pack cover is probably worth taking. Thanks for the video!
I only hike/camp in the snow. I therefore always have a Hilleberg footprint to match my tent just for that bit of extra protection from the snow. It is also because the tent is just so expensive, I want to protect it. And because it is likely to snow, I do take a pack cover. It is probably overkill as I pack all items in sea to summit dry sacks and never had an issue. My pack is an Osprey Zenith. I should probably just pour water over it and see what the weight increase is when it get wet. I would be happy to ditch a pack cover. Video idea for Mowser....how much heavier do packs get when wet.
It sounds like you have a solid system in place for winter camping! Protection for your gear is always a smart move, especially with the kind of weather you’re facing. Keep up the great work! That is a fantastic video idea! Will pull out the old canvas packs and the newer ones. Thanks!
Thanks for watching! Love hearing your take on the ground sheet debate. Good point on the pack type. I used to use the covers all the time with my older style packs.
groundsheet helps me setup my tent frame and rain fly before i get the innars, but getting to use an xmid 2 changed my view on ground sheets - as it's mostly a pain to add the groundsheet. all depends on where someone sets up IMO as the Canadian shield/ exposed rock can be harsh on the tent floor if it slides around.
@@mowsertas I had two, one was lighter...more compact. Took it on an interstate coach trip. Arrived after a long journey to have people ask me if I was going to be in the bus depot awhile...turned out a bus driver had left a primary school aged girl ALONE...after the bus arrived early. Her Dad was on the phone to her, in another state. Her Mum was driving as quickly as she could through heavy traffic. The girls phone was about to run out of battery, so I lent her the powerbank. When her Mum arrived, strangers hugged...one Mum to another...and tired as I was, I forgot about the powerbank. They left with it... totally accidentally. No way to contact me. So I lost it. HOWEVER...that little girl travels regularly (family custody related) and she now has a good quality, reliable powerbank. So I'm thinking I was meant to be her guardian angel and she's meant to keep it. Maybe it will help her again in the future:)
Ground sheet: Useful for fly first pitch in bad weather. Comforting to think it will extend the life of your expensive tents floor. When i try to go extra lighter or smaller, I might leave it at home. Definetly over priced in most cases.
There are some very helpful tips here to help keep weight to a minimum on a hike, whether it's a short one or a multi-day trek. Carrying a little bit of extra food for an emergency would be the only exception, but even then, that doesn't have to add too much extra weight. Great video as always, keep up the great content! - Justin @ Vanquest
SOLAR PANEL - Need one? Depends. I find VERY few actually need it, but if you have a good reason, sure! I read and write a lot AND normally hike three weeks a month. So, a solar panel works for me with two battery banks (use one, charge the other, batteries would be heavier) PROVIDED there's sun at least half of the time (power use is fine if I don't watch more than several videos). On hanging one on your pack, right, not worth the trouble if hiking through shaded areas, MAYBE if you're in the desert.
The argument that makes the most sense for me for tent footprint is to keep it clean. It is obviously possible to clean the debris from the bottom at home, but I don’t seem myself doing it 😂
Absolutely! Keeping your tent footprint clean is definitely a smart move. It makes packing up so much easier when there’s less debris to deal with. Now i think about it that was the main reason i always carried one! 😂
Great vid as always mate, and a great way to start the weekend. I'm glad I'm not guilty of these, but then again, I'm not as innocent as you. I don't need to take some 18 year old Irish wisky, but try and stop me. I also don't need to take a half kilo piece of prime rib eye for that first night, but again, try and stop me. The great thing is it's only a 1 day carry, then it's gone, but the memory lasts a hiketime.
Thanks! You definately have the right idea! I love heading out for a weekend and taking some similar luxuries. We've been known to go a bit crazy with the gourmet on occasions! And you're right - a 1 day carry, so worth it!
3:42 i do agree with you for those that run newer/ modern bags. but a rebuttal for those that still run the more "traditional" fabric packs, not all are water proof and the fabric still soaks even if you're running a pack liner. the weight of the bag being saturated by rain is (at least in my books) relatively worth bringing a lower weight cover. I have a sea to summit ultra-sil cover that has a strap that gets it to attach itself to the bag (wraps around the bag) and hasn't blown off on my trip to Kluane National Park 2 weeks ago. but overall i do agree, the cheaper covers can be more of a pain with heavier winds. a few grams to add to the bag but much less that a solar panel! Too much food was also my issue, 3rd day back from the trip and still have 6 granola bars, noodle pack, freeze dry meal, and too much tea +sugar. over packing food will simply reduce itself as we get onto the trail more often i think - we narrow down what our bodies do need and dont but bringing in a Reese peanut butter cup is a fantastic moral boost One in my team for the 3 day hike had his shoe sole tear off most of the way (shoe goo failed) and Ductape semi fixed it by keeping the sand out but being creative with some rope to hold the heel up was what saved the boot for the last day and a half of the trip. i tore part of my tent fly door due to my knife hanging off my bag and the tenacious tape i had used was the wrong kind and didn't stick (i had regular tape but needed the +SIL version) but ductape worked just as well till i got home. Miranda Goes Outside!! had made a fantastic pill bottle with the basics of rope and ductape that i followed had helped us out on trail. I ran a small sized Seas to Summit Drylite towel, it's really nice to dry off the legs and feet after 4 water crossings! but didn't need it outside of that, using wool undershits/ wicking fabrics kept me dry till getting to camp and didn't need a wipe down. small towel is good, but anything the size of a beach towel is absolutely overkill Thanks again for the video, lots to think about and reflect on after my first big trip (50km in 3 days)
Yep agree with you there. That's why I did used to use a cover - with my old canvas packs. Will have to check out Miranda's pill bottle kit. Thanks for the tip and the super comprehensive overview, love it! Sounds like the trip was a good learning experience.
Check out Dark Energy’s new Spectre 18w solar panel, it rolls up real well and I’m sure it would fit in most chair bags, light as a feather too! Pair it with the Cairn XL 10,000mah battery/flat lantern and you’re good as gold.
A pro tip for towel use: Use a Swedish dishcloth. Extremely lightweight absorbs huge amount of water and drys fast. In Sweden you can buy them on a roll and cut them to length.
Is there a "no frills" guided hike? Something with the safety of am experienced hiker/guide...but at a lower cost? Alot of options I've looked at include 3 course meals, comfortable glamping set ups etc and cost $3,000-$4,000 per person which is simply out of reach for us.
I don't really know of anything out there much cheaper in cost. Having run a guiding company in the past, the overheads are fairly expensive and it can be hard to keep costs down when you are only running trips over summer. There is a company called Tasmanian Hikes but I have no idea what they are like.
recently me and my buddy did 200km in 7 days in North Sweden. I packed hydrated meal with 1000kcal per day with snacks but we were burning nearly 3000kcal so food was not enough even tho we didnt felt hungry ... so i feel in future i need to work on better meal kcal packing skills :)
That sounds like an amazing adventure! It's definitely a learning experience when it comes to meal packing for long treks. I try to work on around 3000-4000 calories per day.
I disagree about the raincover. I use mine all the time and wind&rain is usually very present when I do my longer hikes. I have never had a problem with it coming off, but my raincover did come with the pack so maybe it’s a better fit. I still pack everything in dry bags though to make sure everything stays dry and organized 😊
Pack liner and dry bags, K-Mart $1 thongs, an Olympus Tough G6 canera, an Aldi 27000 mAh power bank, 270 g of food per day for a fortnight, kitchen sponge for my towel are the items that stay on my pack.
I was just thinking about towels and how the hell im gonna dry off after a swim in the glacier lake im headed to, until i see your comment! Thank you sir! Just saved me a whole lotta weight
I've never carried a multi tool and have never really needed one. I just carry a micro swiss army knife which has a small knife, tweezers and toothpick. I find it does the trick for me. I have a micro leatherman but have never actually taken it hiking. Comes in handy when I travel though!
On some backpacks pack cover makes sense, but I’d say that DIY modifications are a must. As you’ve said, a strong wind makes an average cover useless. Additional anchoring is a must. The purpose would simply be to keep some weight off from the pack when it soaks in with water overtime. Saying all that, I’d personally skip it if now rain is in the forecast. Shower will be fine with any decent pack with fresh water repellent treatment.
Absolutely! DIY modifications can really enhance the effectiveness of a pack cover, especially in windy conditions. It’s all about finding what works best for your adventures!
For a long trip it is better to bring a couple small batteries instead of a big one. Just the nature of batteries the first 30% charges about twice as fast as the last 30%. So if you hit a lodge or ranger station and want as much recharge for your lunch break, you get more capacity plugging an empty 5K battery than a half filled 10K. And since batteries are pretty much the same - no company has a special kind of lightweight lithium ... the only extra weight is the little bit of more plastic casing around the battery.
Thank you for your thoughtful comment! It’s always great to hear from fellow hikers who understand the importance of smart packing. Your tips will definitely help others!
I love my Sony A7iii but no longer take it hiking. I can't bring myself to use my phone camera, for me the Sony RX100 is an excellent compromise. I still take my tripod tho ;)
Nice choice! I have an A7IV and I used to have an RX100 and have lately been thinking of getting another as i have the exact same issue. I really want something a bit more than my phone!
in general i agree with most, if not all...1. solar panels though ... went on a 10 day hike, had a 155 gram klarus 10.000mah and a 115 gram sunslice 6w panel, kept the powerbank topped off just by 1 hour charge midday and 3-4 hours end of day (so only stationary) - conclusion, long hikes and sunny weather, it works, so definitely something for specific use cases ... 2. footprint, never use them.... never had issues... 3. pack cover, totally agree, especielly if you have a laminate fabric pack (ALUULA, DCF, ULTRA, ECOPAK...) 4. agree .... figure out if you like it first ... 5. camp shoes, well if you use shoes, diefinitely not, boots, well makes more sense perhaps (personally i never use boots) 6. agree... 1 good mirrorless and 1 lens, or for most just a smartphone 7. well... depends what you got and your trip :) 8. food - agree 9. depends on your trip - duch tape in general is not the best for anything - super glue is close to useless - having saving someone elses trip a few times bringing proper shoe glue and tear aid type repair tape - works a lot better than duch tape and super glue, doesnt weigh more than 20 grams ...
Thanks for sharing your insights! It sounds like you have some great experience with gear on your hikes. Your specific use cases for solar panels are really helpful for others considering them!
Phew, thankfully didn't mention coffee equipment, now I can continue bringing my 3 kg of coffee equipment on every trip 😛 (I don't actually do that.... Though I do bring a grinder and whole beans)
Regarding the camera, I don't agree. Yooo. agree, don't carry a lot, but bring a good compact camera. It is far better than using the phone. I myself use a Sony RX100 which sits in a case on my chest, so I can take it out while I'm hiking.
Hell will freeze over before I will get a pack cover: 1. They get ripped, and ripped off, in scrub. 2. They don't actually keep the contents of your pack dry because they don't stop moisture entering around the harness area. 3. I use ultrasil dry bags to protect the lid pockets. 3. If anyone can offer an intelligent, logical reason why a pack cover is better than a pack liner I would dearly love to hear it.
😂 Sounds like you’ve got the pack cover on ice! Who needs a pack cover when you've got those ultrasil dry bags? I can't see myself ever using a pack cover again.
I can't imagine not taking a footprint. After all the years ive seen people not bring them and bad stuff always happened. Every boyscout packed with a trashbag. Usually took 2-3 bags. Always had a bag for trash. In the army we had fancy waterproof bags. The one thing i get from ultralight backpackers seem to believe just because they haven't had a problem then the safety precautions us old backpackers take are extra weight. Funny how they always except help when things break or go wrong. I personally think ultralight is a gimmick that turns into a virus. Ive seen people take crazy risks or suffer at night to save a pound. With gear nowadays you should sleep great.
I definately would not say I am in the ultralight camp. As I said in the video, i'd still take a footprint on my off track expeditions but maybe not when I am on tent platforms or well manicured sites. Do love taking my super comfy sleep system. Happy hiking!
@@mowsertas I didn't mean it to be directed at you. More the idea and the crazies that promote ultra light. I've seen a few talk about maps being a waste. Knives being useless. The sad thing is when everything is perfect you don't need a map and compass you don't need knife. They don't understand like firstaid you carry it for the time when everything turns upside down. I'm sorry if I wrote it wrong.
Footprints are gimmicky. I refuse to buy a "lightweight" tent that then i feel the need to carry added weight in the form of a footprint. Why don't tent makers just build the tent with a properly solid bottom? Pack covers can be useful for protecting the pack from birds that know where the potato crisps are stashed and know how to unzip zippers.
Totally agree! I've mentioned the importance of carrying a beacon or satellite communication device many times in the past. I've been carrying a beacon or sat messenger/tracker for over 25 years now. Comes on every trip. Super crucial bit of gear and might just be coming up in next weeks video 🤫
When your fjallraven kajka absorbs water, it transforms from heavy 3,2kg backpack into very heavy 5kg backpack. So no, I will not leave my pack cover, thank you very much.
![Seungmin "그렇게, 천천히, 우리(As we are)" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kAzmhLHePqU/mqdefault.jpg)
I have seen a lot of channels from people all over the world and yours is one of my favorite. I might not agree with everything but can certainly see your point of view from down under. Love your sense of humor and you’re to the point. Keep it up. You got a good thing going. Would love to see some on the trail videos.
Thank you so much for the kind words! I'm thrilled to hear that you enjoy the content, even when we might not see eye to eye on everything-that's what makes these conversations interesting! I'm glad my sense of humor resonates with you, and I'm always striving to keep things concise and to the point. I have a few on trail videos backed up and working on them now. Hopefully have them out soon!
I totally agree and have been thinking exactly the same as everything @TheRealAlanStephens raises. Also it’s really apparent you’re a good egg and humble. I’ve gained so many tips and feel like I have saved some time, energy and money! Thanks!
Great video. Love watching Aussie youtubers talk about gear. Our terrain, bush and scrub are so different from other places, and our gear has to be up for it. Appreciate having an Aussie voice contributing to the gear space!
Thanks for your feedback! It's awesome to hear that you appreciate the Aussie perspective on gear-there's definitely a unique experience that comes with our terrain.
The extra and heavy food... yep, that's been me when I haven't planned carefully. One caveat is for safety, bring an extra day's food, something I learned in my wilderness first responder training. Twice that's come in handy. On a trip where my companion became ill, we were delayed by a day. The second time was a solo trip that required getting there in a bush plane. The weather prevented the pilot from coming to get me as scheduled and had to wait until the next day. In that cold stormy weather, it would have been dangerous to run out of calories.
You're absolutely right! Having that extra food can make all the difference in unexpected situations. I usually throw in a couple of packs of instant noodles for backup PLUS my extra last minute food always comes in handy in the event I get stuck.
While I'm keen to stay safe, this is something I've changed over the years. It took me 30+ years to stop taking way too much food after having not enough on one. On most walks now, I don't take extra. Instead, I start rationing from day one. I'm often not actually as hungry as i am at home, or after a really big day. I take what I've worked out I generally need (just under 400 gm/day, I'm only little), but I often am happy to have a cracker less than I've allocated for lunch. If I'm not very hungry at tea time, I don't use the whole meal. I no longer finish off my scroggin for the day just because it's there. If we have a rest/weather day, I'll eat less and save more. After a week or so, I have another day's food. This has worked really well for me, and is part of what enabled me to drop my pack weight from 23 kgs for a week to 14 or 15 kgs for 10 days. I used to take posh food if it was only a 2 or 3 day walk. Now I'm more than happy to enjoy that at home, and just savour being out in the wilderness. My body is very grateful, and I've been able to do much more challenging walks in my 60s than ever before.
Another fantastic episode man, you put so much effort into your films! Inspirational work 👏👏
Thank you so much for your kind words! I really appreciate your support and I’m glad you find my work inspirational!
Great channel and great content, thanks for all your efforts.
Much appreciated!
I have a groundsheet for my Xmid Pro but must admit that in the 3 years Ive had the tent I have never used it.
Even on my Larapinta hike a few months ago, pitching on rocky ground, never an issue.
Items that I used to take, but have started leaving at home on longer hikes are my Fuji mirrorless camera/lenses & batteries, recharger. Huge weight savings!
sounds like you're following a similar path to me!
The arguments I most often see for a ground sheet are 1) for condensation/insulation and 2) to physically protect your tent from damage. When not using a ground sheet, I personally haven't had any issues with either of those things.
As for a pack cover, it definitely depends on your pack. If you have the type of pack that's going to get significantly heavier if/when it gets wet (like a lot of older or cheaper packs), then a pack cover is probably worth taking.
Thanks for the video!
I only hike/camp in the snow. I therefore always have a Hilleberg footprint to match my tent just for that bit of extra protection from the snow. It is also because the tent is just so expensive, I want to protect it. And because it is likely to snow, I do take a pack cover. It is probably overkill as I pack all items in sea to summit dry sacks and never had an issue. My pack is an Osprey Zenith. I should probably just pour water over it and see what the weight increase is when it get wet. I would be happy to ditch a pack cover.
Video idea for Mowser....how much heavier do packs get when wet.
It sounds like you have a solid system in place for winter camping! Protection for your gear is always a smart move, especially with the kind of weather you’re facing. Keep up the great work! That is a fantastic video idea! Will pull out the old canvas packs and the newer ones. Thanks!
Thanks for watching! Love hearing your take on the ground sheet debate. Good point on the pack type. I used to use the covers all the time with my older style packs.
groundsheet helps me setup my tent frame and rain fly before i get the innars, but getting to use an xmid 2 changed my view on ground sheets - as it's mostly a pain to add the groundsheet. all depends on where someone sets up IMO as the Canadian shield/ exposed rock can be harsh on the tent floor if it slides around.
Groundsheets can also be a pack cover, mainly depending on where you are camping durability wise it is better for rough areas than softer grasses.
Oh yay, i invested in that same anker powerbank, I've had it for years.. it's helped us at home during power outages, on the move and hiking etc.
That's awesome to hear! Anker power banks are really reliable for all those situations. Glad it's been a trusty companion for you!
@@mowsertas I had two, one was lighter...more compact. Took it on an interstate coach trip. Arrived after a long journey to have people ask me if I was going to be in the bus depot awhile...turned out a bus driver had left a primary school aged girl ALONE...after the bus arrived early.
Her Dad was on the phone to her, in another state. Her Mum was driving as quickly as she could through heavy traffic.
The girls phone was about to run out of battery, so I lent her the powerbank.
When her Mum arrived, strangers hugged...one Mum to another...and tired as I was, I forgot about the powerbank.
They left with it... totally accidentally.
No way to contact me.
So I lost it.
HOWEVER...that little girl travels regularly (family custody related) and she now has a good quality, reliable powerbank.
So I'm thinking I was meant to be her guardian angel and she's meant to keep it.
Maybe it will help her again in the future:)
Great tips!
I often take my tent footprint if rain is in the forecast. On the brand of tent I have, it lets me pitch the fly 1st, then hook up the inner.
That's a smart approach! Pitching the fly first helps keep everything dry. It's always good to be prepared for unexpected weather!
Ground sheet:
Useful for fly first pitch in bad weather.
Comforting to think it will extend the life of your expensive tents floor.
When i try to go extra lighter or smaller, I might leave it at home.
Definetly over priced in most cases.
Great video and very informative.
Thank you! I’m glad you found it informative. Your feedback means a lot!
There are some very helpful tips here to help keep weight to a minimum on a hike, whether it's a short one or a multi-day trek. Carrying a little bit of extra food for an emergency would be the only exception, but even then, that doesn't have to add too much extra weight. Great video as always, keep up the great content! - Justin @ Vanquest
Thanks, Justin! Glad you liked the video!
SOLAR PANEL - Need one? Depends. I find VERY few actually need it, but if you have a good reason, sure! I read and write a lot AND normally hike three weeks a month. So, a solar panel works for me with two battery banks (use one, charge the other, batteries would be heavier) PROVIDED there's sun at least half of the time (power use is fine if I don't watch more than several videos). On hanging one on your pack, right, not worth the trouble if hiking through shaded areas, MAYBE if you're in the desert.
The argument that makes the most sense for me for tent footprint is to keep it clean.
It is obviously possible to clean the debris from the bottom at home, but I don’t seem myself doing it 😂
Absolutely! Keeping your tent footprint clean is definitely a smart move. It makes packing up so much easier when there’s less debris to deal with. Now i think about it that was the main reason i always carried one! 😂
Great vid as always mate, and a great way to start the weekend.
I'm glad I'm not guilty of these, but then again, I'm not as innocent as you.
I don't need to take some 18 year old Irish wisky, but try and stop me. I also don't need to take a half kilo piece of prime rib eye for that first night, but again, try and stop me. The great thing is it's only a 1 day carry, then it's gone, but the memory lasts a hiketime.
Thanks! You definately have the right idea! I love heading out for a weekend and taking some similar luxuries. We've been known to go a bit crazy with the gourmet on occasions! And you're right - a 1 day carry, so worth it!
3:42 i do agree with you for those that run newer/ modern bags. but a rebuttal for those that still run the more "traditional" fabric packs, not all are water proof and the fabric still soaks even if you're running a pack liner. the weight of the bag being saturated by rain is (at least in my books) relatively worth bringing a lower weight cover. I have a sea to summit ultra-sil cover that has a strap that gets it to attach itself to the bag (wraps around the bag) and hasn't blown off on my trip to Kluane National Park 2 weeks ago. but overall i do agree, the cheaper covers can be more of a pain with heavier winds. a few grams to add to the bag but much less that a solar panel!
Too much food was also my issue, 3rd day back from the trip and still have 6 granola bars, noodle pack, freeze dry meal, and too much tea +sugar. over packing food will simply reduce itself as we get onto the trail more often i think - we narrow down what our bodies do need and dont but bringing in a Reese peanut butter cup is a fantastic moral boost
One in my team for the 3 day hike had his shoe sole tear off most of the way (shoe goo failed) and Ductape semi fixed it by keeping the sand out but being creative with some rope to hold the heel up was what saved the boot for the last day and a half of the trip. i tore part of my tent fly door due to my knife hanging off my bag and the tenacious tape i had used was the wrong kind and didn't stick (i had regular tape but needed the +SIL version) but ductape worked just as well till i got home.
Miranda Goes Outside!! had made a fantastic pill bottle with the basics of rope and ductape that i followed had helped us out on trail.
I ran a small sized Seas to Summit Drylite towel, it's really nice to dry off the legs and feet after 4 water crossings! but didn't need it outside of that, using wool undershits/ wicking fabrics kept me dry till getting to camp and didn't need a wipe down. small towel is good, but anything the size of a beach towel is absolutely overkill
Thanks again for the video, lots to think about and reflect on after my first big trip (50km in 3 days)
Yep agree with you there. That's why I did used to use a cover - with my old canvas packs. Will have to check out Miranda's pill bottle kit. Thanks for the tip and the super comprehensive overview, love it! Sounds like the trip was a good learning experience.
Check out Dark Energy’s new Spectre 18w solar panel, it rolls up real well and I’m sure it would fit in most chair bags, light as a feather too! Pair it with the Cairn XL 10,000mah battery/flat lantern and you’re good as gold.
Will check it out. Thanks!
Solar panel is absolutely necessary if you are serious about your photography on a 15 days Himalayan trek.
A pro tip for towel use: Use a Swedish dishcloth. Extremely lightweight absorbs huge amount of water and drys fast.
In Sweden you can buy them on a roll and cut them to length.
I always just used a Mirco fibre style towel for car drying but made it smaller.
great tip. I know someone travelling in Sweden right now. Will have to get them to pick some up! Thanks for the tip!
@@mowsertasthe best cloths are called Wettex. All the best
Is there a "no frills" guided hike? Something with the safety of am experienced hiker/guide...but at a lower cost?
Alot of options I've looked at include 3 course meals, comfortable glamping set ups etc and cost $3,000-$4,000 per person which is simply out of reach for us.
I don't really know of anything out there much cheaper in cost. Having run a guiding company in the past, the overheads are fairly expensive and it can be hard to keep costs down when you are only running trips over summer. There is a company called Tasmanian Hikes but I have no idea what they are like.
@@mowsertas thankyou, I appreciate you taking the time to respond:)
recently me and my buddy did 200km in 7 days in North Sweden. I packed hydrated meal with 1000kcal per day with snacks but we were burning nearly 3000kcal so food was not enough even tho we didnt felt hungry ... so i feel in future i need to work on better meal kcal packing skills :)
That sounds like an amazing adventure! It's definitely a learning experience when it comes to meal packing for long treks. I try to work on around 3000-4000 calories per day.
A lot of this sounded like conversations from a few weeks ago while at camp! 😂😅
Nice video mate.
Yep! That was the inspiration for this vid! Cheers!
What is that backpack at 6:25? Looks like its 100 litres.
Hyperlite Porter 85L. That angle does make it look huuuge!! 😜
I want to know where I can buy those Maltesers and Mars Bar biscuits 🤤
These were a random find in the supermarket one day! How could i not take them 😂!
I disagree about the raincover. I use mine all the time and wind&rain is usually very present when I do my longer hikes. I have never had a problem with it coming off, but my raincover did come with the pack so maybe it’s a better fit. I still pack everything in dry bags though to make sure everything stays dry and organized 😊
Yes, I find the pack cover a controversial topic. If it works then stick with it! Thanks for watching!
Pack liner and dry bags, K-Mart $1 thongs, an Olympus Tough G6 canera, an Aldi 27000 mAh power bank, 270 g of food per day for a fortnight, kitchen sponge for my towel are the items that stay on my pack.
Thanks for sharing your packing essentials! It’s always great to hear what others consider must-haves for their trips.
I was just thinking about towels and how the hell im gonna dry off after a swim in the glacier lake im headed to, until i see your comment! Thank you sir! Just saved me a whole lotta weight
@@Legoliam47I mean the flat square ones and brand new as well.😂
Thanks, great ideas :)
Hey Mowser, do you bring a Leatherman or multitool of some kind or is there not much need for it?
I've never carried a multi tool and have never really needed one. I just carry a micro swiss army knife which has a small knife, tweezers and toothpick. I find it does the trick for me. I have a micro leatherman but have never actually taken it hiking. Comes in handy when I travel though!
@@mowsertas thank you Mowser great to know how you do it 🙂
On some backpacks pack cover makes sense, but I’d say that DIY modifications are a must.
As you’ve said, a strong wind makes an average cover useless. Additional anchoring is a must.
The purpose would simply be to keep some weight off from the pack when it soaks in with water overtime.
Saying all that, I’d personally skip it if now rain is in the forecast. Shower will be fine with any decent pack with fresh water repellent treatment.
Absolutely! DIY modifications can really enhance the effectiveness of a pack cover, especially in windy conditions. It’s all about finding what works best for your adventures!
For a long trip it is better to bring a couple small batteries instead of a big one. Just the nature of batteries the first 30% charges about twice as fast as the last 30%. So if you hit a lodge or ranger station and want as much recharge for your lunch break, you get more capacity plugging an empty 5K battery than a half filled 10K. And since batteries are pretty much the same - no company has a special kind of lightweight lithium ... the only extra weight is the little bit of more plastic casing around the battery.
Thank you for your thoughtful comment! It’s always great to hear from fellow hikers who understand the importance of smart packing. Your tips will definitely help others!
Thanks 👍
Would you recommend taking an inflatable wondawedge?
Only if one of my friends carries it 😜
I love my Sony A7iii but no longer take it hiking. I can't bring myself to use my phone camera, for me the Sony RX100 is an excellent compromise. I still take my tripod tho ;)
Nice choice! I have an A7IV and I used to have an RX100 and have lately been thinking of getting another as i have the exact same issue. I really want something a bit more than my phone!
in general i agree with most, if not all...1. solar panels though ... went on a 10 day hike, had a 155 gram klarus 10.000mah and a 115 gram sunslice 6w panel, kept the powerbank topped off just by 1 hour charge midday and 3-4 hours end of day (so only stationary) - conclusion, long hikes and sunny weather, it works, so definitely something for specific use cases ... 2. footprint, never use them.... never had issues... 3. pack cover, totally agree, especielly if you have a laminate fabric pack (ALUULA, DCF, ULTRA, ECOPAK...) 4. agree .... figure out if you like it first ... 5. camp shoes, well if you use shoes, diefinitely not, boots, well makes more sense perhaps (personally i never use boots) 6. agree... 1 good mirrorless and 1 lens, or for most just a smartphone 7. well... depends what you got and your trip :) 8. food - agree 9. depends on your trip - duch tape in general is not the best for anything - super glue is close to useless - having saving someone elses trip a few times bringing proper shoe glue and tear aid type repair tape - works a lot better than duch tape and super glue, doesnt weigh more than 20 grams ...
Thanks for sharing your insights! It sounds like you have some great experience with gear on your hikes. Your specific use cases for solar panels are really helpful for others considering them!
“Ducktail” at 9min53 seconds.😂
😂😂😂
Wet socks are better than sandals.
Phew, thankfully didn't mention coffee equipment, now I can continue bringing my 3 kg of coffee equipment on every trip 😛 (I don't actually do that.... Though I do bring a grinder and whole beans)
I have been known to do the same! Hence the omission! 😂
Regarding the camera, I don't agree.
Yooo. agree, don't carry a lot, but bring a good compact camera. It is far better than using the phone.
I myself use a Sony RX100 which sits in a case on my chest, so I can take it out while I'm hiking.
I’m thinking of moving back to an RX100. Used to have one but sold it. Great camera!
Hell will freeze over before I will get a pack cover:
1. They get ripped, and ripped off, in scrub.
2. They don't actually keep the contents of your pack dry because they don't stop moisture entering around the harness area.
3. I use ultrasil dry bags to protect the lid pockets.
3. If anyone can offer an intelligent, logical reason why a pack cover is better than a pack liner I would dearly love to hear it.
😂 Sounds like you’ve got the pack cover on ice! Who needs a pack cover when you've got those ultrasil dry bags? I can't see myself ever using a pack cover again.
That might work in dry australia but try that in europe and I can promise that you would regret it
I can't imagine not taking a footprint. After all the years ive seen people not bring them and bad stuff always happened.
Every boyscout packed with a trashbag. Usually took 2-3 bags. Always had a bag for trash. In the army we had fancy waterproof bags.
The one thing i get from ultralight backpackers seem to believe just because they haven't had a problem then the safety precautions us old backpackers take are extra weight. Funny how they always except help when things break or go wrong.
I personally think ultralight is a gimmick that turns into a virus. Ive seen people take crazy risks or suffer at night to save a pound.
With gear nowadays you should sleep great.
I definately would not say I am in the ultralight camp. As I said in the video, i'd still take a footprint on my off track expeditions but maybe not when I am on tent platforms or well manicured sites. Do love taking my super comfy sleep system. Happy hiking!
@@mowsertas I didn't mean it to be directed at you. More the idea and the crazies that promote ultra light. I've seen a few talk about maps being a waste. Knives being useless.
The sad thing is when everything is perfect you don't need a map and compass you don't need knife. They don't understand like firstaid you carry it for the time when everything turns upside down.
I'm sorry if I wrote it wrong.
Footprints are gimmicky. I refuse to buy a "lightweight" tent that then i feel the need to carry added weight in the form of a footprint. Why don't tent makers just build the tent with a properly solid bottom?
Pack covers can be useful for protecting the pack from birds that know where the potato crisps are stashed and know how to unzip zippers.
Very wise words!
I rarely hear any hiker youtuber say, carry an emergency location beacon. Why?
Totally agree! I've mentioned the importance of carrying a beacon or satellite communication device many times in the past. I've been carrying a beacon or sat messenger/tracker for over 25 years now. Comes on every trip. Super crucial bit of gear and might just be coming up in next weeks video 🤫
@@mowsertas I totally agree
When your fjallraven kajka absorbs water, it transforms from heavy 3,2kg backpack into very heavy 5kg backpack. So no, I will not leave my pack cover, thank you very much.
Absolutely with those style packs I'd understand this. When I used to use a pack cover it was with the style of pack that does absorb water.
Knife better NOT be on this list 😅
Definitely need a knife!
don't take anything you don't know how to use
That's a great reminder! It's always best to familiarise ourselves with tools before diving in.