I am going to buy one of those phone holders. It'll be perfect for backcountry skiing where a dropped phone can go for a ride downhill in the spring snow.
Yeah after springing a leak in my original Vecto (after years of use) I like the idea of a tougher one! The Creepers socks are nice to try because they cost the same as Injinjis so it's not a huge risk. I like mine a lot! Thanks for watching!
Very nice. The Vecto X looks like a nice upgrade. I picked up a Thermacell Backpacker Mosquito Repeller last Fall but haven't tried it out yet. The larger version was nice for car camping. This one uses backpacking gas canisters to heat up the pads.
Nice video! Have a look at a monocular instead. I picked up a 10x Bushnell for literally $10 at Wally world. It works for general 'what's out there' moments. Optics are better than you'd expect, but not great. The advantage is that it's super small and light. I decided a nicer optic was sometimes in order but I still didn't want to go to a binocular. I picked up a Vortex monocular for $75 and is very high quality while being a small, light package (though bigger than the Bushnell). It is a lifetime warranted item though and has a nice clip.
Great ideas andngreat video! Definitely looking at those Apex Giant acessories. I actually got to test the new CNOC-X prototype in early 2022 and was very impressed with the beefy material and the sturdier collar. I have a 2018 version and it just won't quit!
I really like the Cnoc Vecto, but my first one developed a pinhole leak in the seam near the bottom where the screwcap fitting attaches to the bag, and I had minimal success repairing that leak with a Tear-Aid Type A patch. Hopefully Cnoc has reinforced that seam better in the VectoX.
Yeah I don't know why that happens but I found a pinhole leak on my original on a 4-day trip. Could have been bad but I hiked along a river nearly the entire time. This one feels beefier for sure, with very little weight penalty.
I use Gearaid Seamgrip WP to fix the issues with pinholes at the bag screwcap junction. I turn the bag inside out and add Seamgrip to the inside of the bad covering the junction edge. So Seamgrip on the bag and over into the plastic part that has the screwcap. No more pinholes!
Looks like the phone holder slipped off one of the corners. I heard of several others having that issue and dropping their phone. Oops. I have one of the first CNOC bags and I love it! I keep secretly hoping it will spring a leak so I can get one with the tethered cap and slider. Haven't lost the cap yet but have gotten close several times. Nice lineup of gear and gadgets!
It can still hold with 3 but yeah if you don't get it on well the tension can pull a corner off. The new vecto is worth buying, keep your OG one for a backup! :)
@@BackcountryPilgrim - To the cordage. But an extra attachment to the poles could add flexibility. I like the pack bungee attachment from Gossamer gear. Love the cord lock/hook on that puppy. Make that obsessed. attach to a D ring or loop, wrap around whatever and hook back to itself. You can get a smaller version of the cord lock with and without the hook from Dutch Wear Gear. From under .3g for the lock to .75 g for the hook a few grams for the bungee with hook... they can't be beat for adding functionality. Stabilize a loose magnet, add a hook, loop or both to your bungee cord.
So far so good. I did notice some fuzzies after a few hikes but TBH I didn't wash them the way you're supposed to haha. Injinjis aren't know for being long lasting and I doubt these will be much better (since they're pretty close material-wise), but after half a dozen day hikes they're still fine.
@@BackcountryPilgrim makes sense. A video idea for you… wear one of each sock for consecutive days and see which holds up better. Love my injinjis and breaking up is hard to do. But if creepers are more durable I’d go for it.
I replaced my original CNOC Vecto bag with the X, because I kept getting holes in the original. I tried repairing it with their recommended solutions, and they never held, so I decided that I'll just replace it.
The stashers have me intrigued since I first saw them. However, your b-roll of them bouncing against your legs as you walk seems to be a con. I think that would be annoying after a fashion. Thank you for the pointer on the binocular. I've been sort of looking for a decent & inexpensive monocular. I see MidTen has a good looking monocular for ~$45. I'll check out the reviews for it. (I want something worth carrying, but inexpensive enough that I won't be upset when it fails with me giving it a beating.)
The bounce depends on where you place them. I didn't have many options with this pack because there was only one cordage which was angled so they slid forward. Easily fixed, I just didn't do it on the video. I was more impressed with the MidTens than I expected to be - and I have the same theory on those that you do!
Tom - Thank you for giving constructive feedback. I can see some of the more gadgety stuff not being welcome on a thru hike (note: not a thru hike gear video), but I am curious if you would you say that the Vecto X isn't worth it. I believe the thru hiker is what Cnoc had in mind for it actually. If not, what do you use for its function?
@@BackcountryPilgrim - Cnoc's gone in the wrong direction imho. Instead of making it lighter, they made it heavier. Cnoc was already too heavy, because that ridiculous rubber they use is too heavy. Any bag/water-bottle maker could make a lightweight water-bag. Cnoc's innovation was the wide fill-opening at the top, not the rubbery bag-material. Evernew made the best water-bag without wide fill-opening (42g @2L), it lasted years without leaking. Either Evernew should add a wide-fill or Cnoc should switch to the lighter/stronger Evernew material/design and keep their wide-fill? Sea-to-Summit has a wide opening, but no 28mm port at the other end. Sea-to-summit (essentially a dry bag) weighs only 23g @2L and is rated to carry water. If Sea-to-Summit were to add a 28mm-port at the bottom, they'd have a winner. Platypus makes what they call a "Water Tank" that comes close, but it still weighs too much (72g), doesn't have 28mm Sawyer-standard port and the port it does have is located poorly for gravity-feed. It also doesn't seal well when it's cold outside. With dozens of water-bag products on the market and Cnoc leading for a decade or more, it seems odd not one manufacturer can seem to figure out the winning combination? It doesn't seem to occur to a single one of them to add a wide-fill at the (hangable) top and a 28mm port at the bottom, while making it as light as possible?
@@BackcountryPilgrim I used the regular CNOC 3l bag last year on my successful Appalachian Trail thruhike. I kept having to repair pinholes in it with my tube of Seamgrip WP. I have since switched to carrying two Evernew 2l bags. I'm trying them out. I don't know if they are any better. If they don't last I'll try the Vector X. I don't think there is a rugged water bag on the market. I've even thought about installing a closable port into a two liter soda bottle bottle for gravity feed. You can smash a two liter flat and kinda roll it up. Would have to inflate by mouth before use. Two liter bottles are very cheap and rugged. Easily replaceable.
Interesting! Yeah the original vectos are such great bags until they're not haha. I've seen a few patch fails too. I hope Cnoc found the magic formula this time!
What new gear are you using this year?
Definitely a custom printed UL speedo bathing suit from hilltop packs. 🤣😂🤣
I am going to buy one of those phone holders. It'll be perfect for backcountry skiing where a dropped phone can go for a ride downhill in the spring snow.
Perfect!
Thanks Doug! I like the new CNOC and phone products. Nice job! Going to also do additional research on the creeper socks.
Yeah after springing a leak in my original Vecto (after years of use) I like the idea of a tougher one! The Creepers socks are nice to try because they cost the same as Injinjis so it's not a huge risk. I like mine a lot! Thanks for watching!
@@BackcountryPilgrim Really enjoy your videos! Be blessed!
I like the cell phone teather.
It can make a huge difference, especially up high!
The bear spray clip looks handy. 🎉
It is! Plus . . . magnets!
I really enjoyed your video, I am going to buy the Magnetic Trekking Pole Attachments, please do more of those video :)
Will do!
ooo nice stuff. Thanks! The bear spray holder is AWESOME and sold out.
Oh no! Well I'm sure it will be back. :)
It looks like it is back in stock now.
@@charltonswingle3651 already ordered!!
Nice gear review need to get the phone holder for my wife. And like the glass need to get me a new pair. Stay safe my friend and keep exploring
It's good for taking pics from precarious spots too (not that I do that...). :) Thanks for watching!
Very nice. The Vecto X looks like a nice upgrade. I picked up a Thermacell Backpacker Mosquito Repeller last Fall but haven't tried it out yet. The larger version was nice for car camping. This one uses backpacking gas canisters to heat up the pads.
That sounds super cool! Please let me know if it works!
Nice video! Have a look at a monocular instead. I picked up a 10x Bushnell for literally $10 at Wally world. It works for general 'what's out there' moments. Optics are better than you'd expect, but not great. The advantage is that it's super small and light.
I decided a nicer optic was sometimes in order but I still didn't want to go to a binocular. I picked up a Vortex monocular for $75 and is very high quality while being a small, light package (though bigger than the Bushnell). It is a lifetime warranted item though and has a nice clip.
I've had 1 or 2 of those but I like the idea of a cheapo for what I use it for it'd be enough!
I thought about getting those trekking pole holders. I might give it a try.
They're pretty much as advertised!
Nice Doug!!! a few that were not on my radar...thx...
I love to feature cottage brands and they are rocking it this year!
Thank you
You're welcome!
Great ideas andngreat video! Definitely looking at those Apex Giant acessories. I actually got to test the new CNOC-X prototype in early 2022 and was very impressed with the beefy material and the sturdier collar. I have a 2018 version and it just won't quit!
Good to hear! My OG Vecto lasted 3 years before springing a tiny leak. :)
I really like the Cnoc Vecto, but my first one developed a pinhole leak in the seam near the bottom where the screwcap fitting attaches to the bag, and I had minimal success repairing that leak with a Tear-Aid Type A patch. Hopefully Cnoc has reinforced that seam better in the VectoX.
Yeah I don't know why that happens but I found a pinhole leak on my original on a 4-day trip. Could have been bad but I hiked along a river nearly the entire time. This one feels beefier for sure, with very little weight penalty.
I use Gearaid Seamgrip WP to fix the issues with pinholes at the bag screwcap junction. I turn the bag inside out and add Seamgrip to the inside of the bad covering the junction edge. So Seamgrip on the bag and over into the plastic part that has the screwcap. No more pinholes!
I hope its non toxic haha!
Very good my friend
Thanks!
Neat video doug, lots of cool gear. The Vecto X is likely going to be an upgrade I make if/when my vecto wears out,
Yeah I like it a lot!
Looking that knife!
It's fun!
Great video Doug!
Thanks!
Looks like the phone holder slipped off one of the corners. I heard of several others having that issue and dropping their phone. Oops.
I have one of the first CNOC bags and I love it! I keep secretly hoping it will spring a leak so I can get one with the tethered cap and slider. Haven't lost the cap yet but have gotten close several times. Nice lineup of gear and gadgets!
It can still hold with 3 but yeah if you don't get it on well the tension can pull a corner off. The new vecto is worth buying, keep your OG one for a backup! :)
add an extra cord lock or locking hook to hold the stick stashers in place.... I'll be checking out several of these.
Do you mean to the cordage or to the poles?
@@BackcountryPilgrim - To the cordage. But an extra attachment to the poles could add flexibility.
I like the pack bungee attachment from Gossamer gear. Love the cord lock/hook on that puppy. Make that obsessed. attach to a D ring or loop, wrap around whatever and hook back to itself.
You can get a smaller version of the cord lock with and without the hook from Dutch Wear Gear.
From under .3g for the lock to .75 g for the hook a few grams for the bungee with hook... they can't be beat for adding functionality. Stabilize a loose magnet, add a hook, loop or both to your bungee cord.
NICE!!!
How’s the durability on the creepers socks compared to injinji? Great video. Love the magnetic pole holder idea.
So far so good. I did notice some fuzzies after a few hikes but TBH I didn't wash them the way you're supposed to haha. Injinjis aren't know for being long lasting and I doubt these will be much better (since they're pretty close material-wise), but after half a dozen day hikes they're still fine.
@@BackcountryPilgrim makes sense. A video idea for you… wear one of each sock for consecutive days and see which holds up better. Love my injinjis and breaking up is hard to do. But if creepers are more durable I’d go for it.
Not a bad idea!
I replaced my original CNOC Vecto bag with the X, because I kept getting holes in the original. I tried repairing it with their recommended solutions, and they never held, so I decided that I'll just replace it.
I wondered if there was a good patch option. Now I won't bother haha!
@@BackcountryPilgrim They recommend using either cyanoacrilate glue or Tear Aid type 2. I tried both twice alone and once together and it didn’t work.
The stashers have me intrigued since I first saw them. However, your b-roll of them bouncing against your legs as you walk seems to be a con. I think that would be annoying after a fashion.
Thank you for the pointer on the binocular. I've been sort of looking for a decent & inexpensive monocular. I see MidTen has a good looking monocular for ~$45. I'll check out the reviews for it. (I want something worth carrying, but inexpensive enough that I won't be upset when it fails with me giving it a beating.)
The bounce depends on where you place them. I didn't have many options with this pack because there was only one cordage which was angled so they slid forward. Easily fixed, I just didn't do it on the video. I was more impressed with the MidTens than I expected to be - and I have the same theory on those that you do!
Do you use your creeper socks as liners or as hiking socks?
Yes. :) I've done both and they work for both. The additional breathability is really nice liner-wise too!
Gerber LST? 1.2oz, 2.6" blade.
$20?!?!?! That's great!
@@BackcountryPilgrim I see $30, and the STL for $20. Both are small and light (
Glad you threw Ben a bone
Ben rules! His gear is top notch and he over-the-top takes care of his customers. 100% real deal!
Experience thruhiker here. I watched your whole video and won't be buying any of these things.
Concur. Not one is worth its weight.
Tom - Thank you for giving constructive feedback. I can see some of the more gadgety stuff not being welcome on a thru hike (note: not a thru hike gear video), but I am curious if you would you say that the Vecto X isn't worth it. I believe the thru hiker is what Cnoc had in mind for it actually. If not, what do you use for its function?
@@BackcountryPilgrim - Cnoc's gone in the wrong direction imho. Instead of making it lighter, they made it heavier. Cnoc was already too heavy, because that ridiculous rubber they use is too heavy. Any bag/water-bottle maker could make a lightweight water-bag. Cnoc's innovation was the wide fill-opening at the top, not the rubbery bag-material. Evernew made the best water-bag without wide fill-opening (42g @2L), it lasted years without leaking. Either Evernew should add a wide-fill or Cnoc should switch to the lighter/stronger Evernew material/design and keep their wide-fill?
Sea-to-Summit has a wide opening, but no 28mm port at the other end. Sea-to-summit (essentially a dry bag) weighs only 23g @2L and is rated to carry water. If Sea-to-Summit were to add a 28mm-port at the bottom, they'd have a winner.
Platypus makes what they call a "Water Tank" that comes close, but it still weighs too much (72g), doesn't have 28mm Sawyer-standard port and the port it does have is located poorly for gravity-feed. It also doesn't seal well when it's cold outside.
With dozens of water-bag products on the market and Cnoc leading for a decade or more, it seems odd not one manufacturer can seem to figure out the winning combination? It doesn't seem to occur to a single one of them to add a wide-fill at the (hangable) top and a 28mm port at the bottom, while making it as light as possible?
@@BackcountryPilgrim I used the regular CNOC 3l bag last year on my successful Appalachian Trail thruhike. I kept having to repair pinholes in it with my tube of Seamgrip WP. I have since switched to carrying two Evernew 2l bags. I'm trying them out. I don't know if they are any better. If they don't last I'll try the Vector X. I don't think there is a rugged water bag on the market. I've even thought about installing a closable port into a two liter soda bottle bottle for gravity feed. You can smash a two liter flat and kinda roll it up. Would have to inflate by mouth before use. Two liter bottles are very cheap and rugged. Easily replaceable.
Interesting! Yeah the original vectos are such great bags until they're not haha. I've seen a few patch fails too. I hope Cnoc found the magic formula this time!