Great conversation you had together. I'm 100% on board with aluminum. It cooks well, I like the way it both distributes and retains heat better, and it's so much more affordable. The weight penalty from Ti to Al is in the noise level for my loadout.
there's game show potential here. you kit out one hiker, and he kits out another, and they go hiking with your chosen gear/food/route. your conversation and interaction here is compelling content.
In hindsight, it should have been obvious that someone (or many people) would have better, cheaper lists. I like that this young man actually uses the gear he listed, instead of scouring the internet for gram savings.
I agree. It makes for a meaningful and interesting discussion. I’ve been toying with upgrading from stainless steel to titanium pot recently, and after watching this I won’t be doing it. I’ll be on the lookout for a budget aluminum option. Priceless advice! Thank you
Great Video Steven! Way to "pass it forward". Glad to see you're working with Natural Atlas. Would love to see a Versus Video between Natural Atlas and OnX Backcountry.
Quadzilla owns the low cost backpacking phenomenon. Doing the AT right now on a $1000 on-trail total budget. $380 all in for the gear (and still a Dyneema pack). Mostly Aliexpress gear, 3FUL pack and tent. For the kids, it's intriguing. He seam sealed the pack and sacks and even after torrential rains he stuff was dry without liner I think.
It is not a dyneema pack, it is gridstop. Only the reinforcing grid is UHMWPE. Saying it is a dyneema pack is hugely misleading as there are practically no "dyneema" packs on the market. Not sure if he is deliberately being facetious or is simply ignorant about the materials; both are equally concerning for such a serious hiker.
If I remember right Quadzilla's sleeping bad is just a generic CCF "according" pad. The Exped 3R in this list is plush by comparison, but it's what I would choose if those were my two options. There's no way my back could handle sleeping on just a thin CCF pad.
@@syindromemaybe you should make some videos and explain this with material in hand. Lots of companies making packs and claiming to be dyneema out there. I’d watch your video
@@jamicrawford6729 Dan Durston Wapta 30 is the only pack with a new material that uses ALUULA, 100% UHMWPE Dyneema, most other premium packs use Ultra 200X which is 70% ish dyneema (very expensive material), a slightly cheaper options is ultraweave (66% dyneema) and ultra grid (20% dyneema but coatings to improve waterproofness and strength). That is a relative order from most expensive material to least, but i like dan durston packs because they are cheaper than other packs using cheaper materials. However, he uses factory production rather than handmade. "Sure, let’s compare these fabrics: ALUULA: This material is used in the Dan Durston Wapta 30 pack, which is made from 100% UHMWPE Dyneema1. ALUULA is known for its incredible strength, UV stability, ultra-high abrasion resistance, and inherent strength-to-weight ratio2345. It’s also lighter than nylon, polyester, and aramid2. The cost of ALUULA is not readily available online, but it’s known to be a premium material1. Ultra 200X: This fabric is very similar to Ultra 200, just slightly lighter and thinner6789. It’s constructed with a 200d face Ultra-PE blended with high-tenacity polyester, an Ultra-PE CrossPly, and a 0.75 mil film backing10. It’s waterproof to 200+ PSI, 18.8+ Ba10, and far exceeds the technical properties of any similar weight fabric available6. The cost of Ultra 200X is not readily available online, but it’s expected to be similar to Ultra 2006. Ultra 200: This is a lightweight, waterproof, and very durable fabric due to it being 70% UHMWPE in the face fabric8. It is considered a premium fabric for Ultralight packs8. The cost of Ultra 200 is about $35 per yard2. UltraWeave: This fabric is made by Challenge and is considered the strongest pack fabric available for ultralight packs. It’s fully waterproof, incredibly difficult to tear or abrade in daily use, and is available in four different weights (100, 200, 400, and 800 denier), but 100 and 200 are most common6. The cost of UltraWeave is not readily available online, but it’s known to be a premium fabric108. UltraGrid: This is a newer fabric from Challenge. It is a woven ripstop with two 200d strands of UHMWPE (about 20%) + 210D recycled Nylon (about 80%) with a PU inside coating and a C0 DWR outside coating7. It is lighter than similar 210D ripstop pack fabrics and offers high strength and abrasion resistance7. The cost of UltraGrid is approximately $26 per yard34. Please note that the choice of fabric can depend on various factors such as the specific use case, weight considerations, durability requirements, and cost. It’s always a good idea to research thoroughly and consider your specific needs before making a decision. I hope this helps! " - copilot
@@jamicrawford6729 The name Dyneema is used in a few ways. Gridstop is a type of ripstop nylon that uses Dyneema fibers in a grid as mentioned by @syindrome. DCF stands for Dyneema composite fabric and is fairly common. Zpacks packs were, until fairly recently, all made from this. It has a thin layer of Dyneema sandwiched between other thin fabrics. Pure Dyneema (or Spectra, another brand of the same thing: UHMWPE) packs ARE rare. I believe CiloGear uses it. And, for a big extra fee, you can get packs made of it from McHale Packs.
I gotta say, you’re one of the few if not only popular backpacking RUclipsr who doesn’t use verbiage such as “this is the best..” I’ve stoped watching the others, since you are genuinely providing useful helpful info without sounding like a sponsored commercial..the other is Ryan at backpacking light. Just wanted to thank you for helping on many levels.👍🏼
alcohol stoves are heavy. This is because the 5 days worth of alcohol is about the same weight as a Jetboil + 200g canister (also 5-ish days). The benefit of alcohol is that it gets lighter the longer you are out there and it's easy to find alcohol. I bring my gas canister refill tool and give away the large canisters. Rovi flashlights are great but 3 of the 4 flashlights (Aurora A3) have had issues with the internal battery wearing out and failing prematurely. I switched to the heavier Nitecore headlamp because the higher lumens help with bikepacking Durston X-mid 1 is taking the backpacking scene by storm! I'm seeing them everywhere I go now.
Cumulus is an AMAZING brand for sleeping bags, quilts, and hammocks. their stuff honestly competes with Western mountaineering at sometimes more than half the cost, and incredibly fast shipping.
Mine is lighter, better for women especially, but probably not cheaper....but close. Gossamer gear G420 backpack, great shoulder/ hip belt, still ultralight and not expensive, zpacks altaplex -- I'm not tall but older so easier to get in/out of, 19 Oz homemade 15degree quilt, BRS stove, evernew 700ml Titanium pot with spout, befree katadyne filter, nu25 headlamp, uberlite reg wide thermarest pad (Im small but 25" wide makes a huge difference), thinlight pad used in place of provided sit pad, multiuse and adds structure and r value.
You said it right. Only I can chose what's best for me. Dixie just posted a vid about her negative experience on hammocks. I personally love hammocks. My opinion has no affect on Dixie's personal camping experiences. She prefers an ultra light tent. I absolutely love hammocks. Neither of us are wrong. Its just our personal preference. We look to reviewers like you to help us choose and refine our personal preferences. I personally enjoy product reviews. Hikers and camper who view your content, cherish your honest opinion on products. We are all looking to min/max our camping experience. That's why we watch your videos. Thank you for your honesty in reviewing new products. In a world of AI generated affiliate linked fake product reviews, we starve for honest content like yours.
Only took him over 3 months, but I'm sure its only because he had such important videos like a fucking electric cooler ad. This guy is one of the most pathetic shills on youtube
He blocks all the people who call him out anyways, only took him 3 months to make this video. Must have been busy filming that an ad for a fucking $600 electric cooler. This guy is one of the worst shills on RUclips and not even a decent backpacker
I have that Imusa aluminum mug pot too. I discovered a method for braid wrapping some narrow cut lengths of carbon felt around the handle to make a nearly weightless integrated handle cover so you won’t burn your fingers.
I have that pack and it's one of the most slept on packs on the market. The strap attachment system and the curved bottom section on the back panel are standouts. Better colors, wider straps and better external pockets would make it better but it's a great pack. The super cat stove gets a thumbs down. If you're going to use an alcohol stove capillary action fuel delivery is the way to go. Cold enough water will snuff out the super cat stove. If you don't mind holding your pot over the stove until the water heats up enough to not stop vaporization of the fuel then it can work. But that's worse than the jet noise of the canister stoves. I use the same IMUSA pot too and I pick it over titanium because I do cook in my pot, it works great. Actually it's surprising how similar this kit is to mine. The shelter is the biggest difference with mine being cheaper, lighter and easier to set up. I don't like using two trekking poles and so I tend to avoid shelters that depend on two poles. Plus once you switch to tarps it's hard to go back to a tent.
I switched to an alcohol stove years ago. I initially switched for weight but I really like how quiet they are. When I’m enjoying some piece and quiet I find the noise of canister stoves really annoying.
I got a similar Imusa branded aluminum pot. Super affordable, came with a lid and a strainer. it's a Colombian brand so it's pronounced "Imúsa". Can recomend but yes, the handle stays hot for a very long time, like 20+mins
It anyone's interested in that pack, Granite Gear has it for $104 new on there website right now. They have the newer virga 3 for 140 on sale now too. I've had it for several years now and it is a very solid pack if you're considering going frameless.
Absolutely right about the titanium containers. I had made the switch myself but eventually I went full circle and came back to titanium. I'm not a crazy health freak but after going down a rabbit hole about certain materials and heating water in them, I decided titanium is the way to go. Awesome video.
Nice video in listening to your subscribers. More challenges like this might be neat. Food selection, hiking tools, and luxury items. Have fun. Skillet
Personally I think the convenience and speed of a Sawyer mini beats the weight savings over bleach or tablets. Especially since it's already so lightweight. But I love seeing what people will do to save an ounce
Love the idea of the GGear pad as a frame, I have ben thinking of getting one for my pack from Alien Outdoors; it has sheaths in the back so I can slide a sit pad in there, but that GG can serve double or triple duty. Great video, and that's awesome that you're sending that gear on!
Cumulus has been my go to since the AT in 2021! Used a double quilt on that and have only bought cumulus bags and quilts since then! So glad someone’s giving it some attention 👌🏻
Very interesting setup indeed! Thank you for sharing it in such detail. I may try that backpack, but I have a degenerated disk in my back, so I need to make sure the majority of the weight is on my hips. I am currently using a Z-packs Arc Haul, but it isn’t very comfortable and the water bottle pockets are impossible to reach. Not sure if the frameless would work for me either. One alcohol stove setup you really need to try is the X-boil. It is a foreign (UK) company that creates a product equivalent to the ill-fated Caldera Cone, but a different design. The stove stand/windscreen wraps up to fit inside my toaks pot and has little removable hooks that hold the pot inside or can be removed and stored inside the little stove. It can be used with solid fuel or even little twigs, if fuel is scarce. The entire thing is lighter even than the Vargas and has a better windscreen. (Spoiler, it is a little pricey by the time you pay international shipping, but the owner of the company is a joy to deal with!)
High lumen count is not always better for lights when backpacking. The higher the lumen count, the faster it drains the battery, and the more often you'll need to charge it. Plus, more intrusive to wildlife and other hikers.
same. I use the nightcore and 90% of the time I use the lowest setting. I live fairly far north, so the summer nights don't really get pitch black. But I still need some assistance to see the trail markings. What I look for a in a flash light is a good low light option.
True. Those Rovyvons go pretty low as well. Dimmer moonlight than most headlamps though not as easy to access on the A8 as the A28. The battery is tiny in the A8 - that’s its biggest downside. But that’s why it’s so light.
Lumens are largely a marketing gimmick. Of course you want something brighter than a candle, but some of these things have lumens in the thousands and that's just asinine. Mine is 500 lumens max and I almost never use it on high because it lights up the trail like daylight and then you're blind when you turn it off. I use it on low, which is like 40 lumens and it does just fine.
You're the best outdoor reviewer, thanks a lot for your content - time well spent! I like your objective/semi scientific approach as you review. Greetings from Denmark. Safe trails!
The makeshift foam pad frame sounds good in theory, but I've discovered that the foam pad is extremely grippy. Almost anything you try to slide into the pack grabs that foam pad and makes packing the backpack a royal pain in the...
You put the foam pad against the inside of the backpack and then slip the sleeping pad in front of it so that everything that you place in the bottom of the bag and start stacking on one another doesn’t stick to the foam
I’m thinking if you got the flip fuel or similar other brand and you keep the 100g canister you can always buy the big can and fill your own and then never need the alcohol. Having said that I do a similar thing with a flat pack stick stove. Hey I hike in Australia so there’s free fuel everywhere!! 90% of the time you don’t even have to get up from your chair to keep it going
You speak very well..no wonder you have a huge subscriber number. I picked up a Virga 2 last fall for something like $75 on closeout, but have not used it yet.
im not realy into backpacking at least not multiple day tours. But credit were credit is due .. it takes a good soul to admit that someone has beat you even if its just a gear list
I detest having to cook food while hiking, so I just take food that doesn't require it. Therefore I have no need of a stove. I detest having to keep-dry a sleeping bag, so I dont take one. I use a reflective tyvek bivy instead, enveloped in a plastic bag. The hammock and a ridgeline go thru the bivy, and then a separate ridgeline holds the envelope away from the bivy. This lets me sleep just fine at 40F, in just cammies, balaclava, shemagh, gloves, unlaced shoes, 3 pairs of sock liners. If I add the camo nets and bugnet suits, I can sleep ok at 34F, in wind and rain.. I dont need a poncho, rainsuit, groundsheet, tent, or heavy clothing. I hate the disease risk of bugs, so when it's above 70F, i wear an Amazon full body bugnet "suit". Since they only weigh 1/4 lb each, I use two of them. I dislike having my camp spotted by people, so I carry a couple of 1/2 lb each Amazon camo nets. When it's cold, I use them and the bugnet suits as insulation/longjohns. I use two packs, so that i dont have to waste a lb on a sleeping pad. I empty out the packs, stuff them with debris and use them as sleeping pads, normally up in the net-hammock. The hammock gets me up out of the mud, water, snow, brush, rocks, roots, bugs, thorns and steep slopes dont matter when I have a hammock and a way to hang it. I can rig the hammock as a 'sling-chair-recliner" if all I have is one point of suspension. When it's cold, I hang the hammock 6" off of the ground and kick debris under it to stop air from flowing under me. If it's below freezing I have a way to dry out damp debris. The dry debris is then used to give me another 10F degrees of sleeping comfort. I can use water bottles or rocks, heated in a discrete Dakota fire pit to gain another 10F degrees of warmth, for a few hours at a time. If it's colder, nobody's going to bother me about having an open fire. A Siberian fire lay projects all of its heat in one direction, twice as far as a normal fire. this makes it safe for me to "aim" a Siberian at the open end of my bivy, which I cover with a bit of clear PEVA shower curtain.. Brisk movement adds at least 10F more degrees of warmth, so I can exercise in my bivy during the night and then use the "greenhouse effect" of the morning sun thru the PEVA to gain 20F degrees by 11 am as vs what it was at dawn. I"m not going anywhere when it's colder. It's just too damned dangerous and it's rarely ever that cold where I live (and never so except at night)
Open Country pot W/piepan lid.Aluminum pot- ABSOLUTELY. I use a 3 cup anodized pot and "pie pan" DIY lid. Aluminum is FAR better at transmitting heat than ti thus saving fuel.
I primarily hike on the A T. It's very difficult to find alcohol fuel along the way. 15 years ago every through hiker carried a soda can alcohol stove and fuel was available at the hostels and sold by the oz. Heet in the yellow bottles is also not easy to find. I cringe when I hear people say that alcohol is available every where.
I tested the skurka alcohol fancy feast cat food stove and it out performed aluminum can style alcohol stoves, but so many places dont allow alcohol stoves due to fire hazard so I have a snowpeak stove for a canister and would be happy with the BRS stove.
Greetings from Bavaria, Germany! You guys must try the X-Boil. It’s an alcohol stove made in Germany by a one-man business. It’s a great system that works as a potholder and windscreen at the same time. I hope you have a nice day! Bye and greetings from Bavaria.
@@thomgizziz The UL version weighs 49 grams. In my opinion, that's a much safer and more stable setup. So the price for the x-boil is more or less the same as for the Vargo (49€ here in Germany). The weight difference is about 5 grams (depending on the windscreen for the Vargo), Vargo 29 grams + Titanium Windscreen 15-20 grams compared to the 49 grams for the x-boil. Therefore, I think the x-boil is the safer cooker. It uses a spill-free burner and a nice stable windscreen as a base.
@@thomgizziz I think you may have misunderstood what the X-Boil is. It's a 3-piece kit of alcohol stove with windscreen and pot stand for 49g total. ruclips.net/video/NfjQJ5QtmVA/видео.html
Tkank you for the awsem video it helps to learn from you anf your viewers. As for Aluminum it has serious lomg term negative health impacts especially non anodized I will stick to Titanium. I wish someone would have a full Titanium set that stacks inside itself.
Question for the community: any recommendations for larger tents for backpacking? My husband and I hike with our Great Dane mix, and we'd love recommendations for a backpacking tent. We have a 4-person tent for car camping that is luxurious (and heavy!), but our lighter 2-person tent is too small for taking the dog.
As far as I know, one of the lightest fully-fledged 3p backpacking tents is the Sea to Summit Telos 3p. If you're looking to be more minimal, the Zpacks Triplex might be a good option!
You'd need a 3 or 4 person tent for the dog. While not super common, there are some brands that offer this. Big Agnes Copper Spur is one example of a lightweight backpacking tent that offers a 4P (and I think 5P) version.
Most hardware stores have Velcro strips. Wondering if adding slits to the armpits on a cheap poncho might help a ton with air flow while still being shielded from the rain.
In North America, most hikers who get sick from contaminated water are getting sick from giardia or crypto. Those are protozoan parasites, not bacteria. As you said, they're resistant to a lot of the chemical treatments (that typically target bacteria). Boiling or physical removal via filtration are the best options to stay safe.
Enjoyed this video definitely a great kit. My kit is even less beginner friendly than his but very light. I mostly own this list but decided for my long term it was worth spending more on an EE down quilt and my Dan Durston Wapta 30 pack. I will be in Sierras a lot so I went budget where I can but in addition to spending more on my quilt, I also spent more on a Bearikade bear can rather than a bv450. If I was just making an ultralight kit to beat this one, I'd say: Zimmerbuilt Quickstep myog synthetic quilt or EE Apex quilt Borah tarp, polycro groundsheet, msr mini stakes, paria 1.5mm guyline bug headnet or yama bug canopy or borah bug bivy Nemo Switchback pad trimmed to 6 panels GG Thinlight pad, Flexair pillow sm Frogg Toggs Aquamira tablets Peanut butter jar (stoveless) Nitecore tube headband mod shoutout "DeputySean's Comprehensive Guide to an Ultralight Baseweight"
Great list! As I’m ready to take the plunge into backpacking I’m making a hybrid list from the two. BTW… IMUSA is from South American. Imusa story began back in Colombia in 1934 with the founded name of IMUSA, which comes from Industrias Metalúrgicas S.A. So it’s not I Am USA, it’s eemusa.
Great video. It would nice to see you test some other outdoor stuff from different groups, say bush crafters, militay or suvivalists. I think there they too povide diffeent leaning which might be new to you?
That Polish sleeping bag company, Cumulus, also makes mummy bags in case anyone's interested. I keep thinking about a lighter, warmer bag, and they're on my list of possibilities. But I'll probably make do with what I have for another season...
All I've learned about backpacking is- the less material you want to carry, the more you're going to spend. I think I need to stick to just camping, pretending to be homeless is pricey enough.
I bought another Virga pack bc… well… MY NAME IS VIRGA 😂 and it was AMAZING. I was using mystery ranch packs, the Beta Light from Black Diamond and a hyperlight pack from a friend. The Virga is the best 😏
I tend to wear a brimmed hat so that flashlight setup is tempting, except I'm usually wearing a toque when it's dark enough out for a headlamp... Don't think I'd ever not use a water filter either. I've been stranded by flood waters and having water that looked like chocolate milk end up essentially clear with the filter was a godsend.
No matter what your hobby is we frequently think there is a correlation between high cost and quality. Sometimes it is the result of snobbery or skillful marketing. We need to educate ourselves before spending our hard earned money. Occasionally RUclipsrs contribute to this mindset. If Jose the world's greatest backpacker who has accomplished hi triple crown and has 16 gazillion followers and is sponsored by XYZ company, then I must have it. I still use my IMUSA pot and fancy feast stove thanks to Shug's common sense approach to enjoying backpacking.
I still think the #1 way to build out an affordable set of gear is: SHOP, SHOP, SHOP! If you're watching this video, then you're on the internet ... and the internet is just a massive marketplace. And, like most things in life, it's a trade-off of time or money ... which do you have more of? E.g., if you need a Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2, then you can get one tomorrow for $530. If, instead, you have more time than money, then you can spend the next 10 months scouring the internet and waiting for sales and get that same tent for $250 - $350. It's not always about finding lower-priced alternatives to the premium brands. It's more about tireless shopping + time + alternatives. Going back to the tent example, my #1 choice was MSR Hubba Hubba 2 (for Steven's reason for it being a true 2-man, 50" wide floor), but MSR never, ever went on sale for me. But, my #2 choice did. It takes a lot of patience and you may have to live with sub-optimal gear as you're waiting for your upgrade/preferred gear to go on sale. And, don't forget about direct. Some of the best deals I've got were from the manufacturers themselves, rather than a retail outlet (REI, Backcountry, etc.). Big Agnes and Sea to Summit are two examples of brands that frequently have massive deals that surpass the discounts found at retailers.
I always wear a hat so i sewed straps to my hat and attached a small og nightcore. One of my coolest hacks. I still carry a more robust headlamp for night hiking with 350 lumens
I need to come up with something to cover an old, poorly healed collarbone break. It's got a big lump and hurts after a bit when the strap runs over it. On a long trip I think a strap could actually make the lump break through my skin. Maybe some kind of gel donut thing to go over it. I don't know, anyone ever come across this issue?
Imusa is a Colombian brand. It’s an acronym that stands for metallurgic industries “Industrias Metalúrgicas” and the SA means anonymous society which is basically our way or saying LLC. And they make AMAZING products.
The quilt caught my eye, but WAY out of my budget 😕, the flashlight was pretty good too but my head torch cost about the same & does a great job. Good vid though, thanks 😁
Did You Know - Shaving that prodigious beard might afford you a thicker quilt? Bad joke aside, I had my gram-counting phase too -- and it can get quite obsessive, Excel spreadsheets etc. But I do value comfort, good rest and good sleep, especially given that I'm broad-shouldered side-sleeper. At some point I realised that it's not about how much weight you carry, but how you carry it!!! So, taking inspiration from British dismounted infantry, I've built a custom belt-kit that allowed me to place heavy items (water, food, hygiene kit, cook-kit, electronics, tools, possibles, etc) on my hips. These are also the most frequently used items which are now within arm's reach. The items that are lighter but have more volume (sleep system and clothing system), go into a small bergen. My setup is not ultralite, by any stretch of definition - 8.7kg base. HOWEVER, carrying main load on the hips, I noticed, I maintain a better balance, agility and speed, cover more distance, am less exhausted at the end of the day and generally less prone to injuries. Also, dedicating some time to strength training doubles your load carrying abilities. Lift some barbells and you won't feel the difference between 4kg and 10kg base.
You could take a look at the GSI mug/pot at MEC. İt's stainless steel, about 5oz. No lid though. İt's under $20 CAD (still a far cry from two bux lol, can't even buy a coffee here for two bux anymore!) 🤷🏻♀️
Maybe it was for the camera, but your alcohol stove had a yellow, sooty flame that is NOT the preferred fuel type. Methanol-based fuels burn blue to nearly invisible, and you don't get residue on the bottom of the pot.
My experience is that UL packs definitely hit a wall when you approach and exceed their weight-carrying capacity. I'm shocked that he says he carries 45lbs with that pack; without a rigid frame, a lot of weight will fall onto the shoulders and that's very uncomfortable. I've had the Gossamer Gear Mariposa, rated to up around 30-32lbs, and if you carry anything over 35lbs for more than the first night, your shoulders will be complaining. I have the Granite Gear Crown2 now, and it does a bit better when you get into that weight range. Of course, you should only buy a pack that can carry the weight you need to carry, but I'm a photographer who generally carries an extra 3-6lbs of camera gear, so I'm always pushing the limit. I just want to warn folks that weight limits on UL packs should be complied with.
Only had to carry 45lbs with it once, but yes, it was a lot for that pack! I actually used a thicker (Walmart blue) foam pad, rolled into a cylinder, as a makeshift frame. Not the most comfortable experience but it was a 10-day food carry, and I was also lugging along a couple of pieces of gear for a friend.
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*Max's Gear List:*
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Thinlight Pad: geni.us/8Jaj
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Stove: geni.us/nisld
Pot: geni.us/PeiV6v
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Poncho: geni.us/JekGre
*My Original List:*
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Exped 3R: geni.us/BZiouTx
Alpha 30 Quilt: geni.us/lY29uQF
BRS 3000T Stove: geni.us/wPgXB
Toaks 750ml Pot: geni.us/3R6N8Ez
VersaFlow Filter: geni.us/e4if1
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NU25 Headlamp: geni.us/3ThMg
Frogg Toggs Suit: geni.us/ihAV
Thanks again, Steven! So glad I had the chance to talk to you about my choices. You're a fantastic guy to chat with.
Where in Idaho you looking to go?
@@justinsmith7808 I actually live here and I hike all over the state! I'm taking my friend up to the Sawtooths.
Way to go Max! Great list!
@maxwellerickson7066 I'm hiking into Sawtooth lake area next week
Great conversation you had together. I'm 100% on board with aluminum. It cooks well, I like the way it both distributes and retains heat better, and it's so much more affordable. The weight penalty from Ti to Al is in the noise level for my loadout.
there's game show potential here. you kit out one hiker, and he kits out another, and they go hiking with your chosen gear/food/route. your conversation and interaction here is compelling content.
Really enjoyed how you chatted back and forth (and how he wanted to pass it forward to his friend)
In hindsight, it should have been obvious that someone (or many people) would have better, cheaper lists. I like that this young man actually uses the gear he listed, instead of scouring the internet for gram savings.
Thank you!
I agree. It makes for a meaningful and interesting discussion.
I’ve been toying with upgrading from stainless steel to titanium pot recently, and after watching this I won’t be doing it. I’ll be on the lookout for a budget aluminum option.
Priceless advice! Thank you
Great Video Steven! Way to "pass it forward". Glad to see you're working with Natural Atlas. Would love to see a Versus Video between Natural Atlas and OnX Backcountry.
Im curious as well. I’ll see what I can do
Quadzilla owns the low cost backpacking phenomenon. Doing the AT right now on a $1000 on-trail total budget. $380 all in for the gear (and still a Dyneema pack). Mostly Aliexpress gear, 3FUL pack and tent. For the kids, it's intriguing. He seam sealed the pack and sacks and even after torrential rains he stuff was dry without liner I think.
It is not a dyneema pack, it is gridstop. Only the reinforcing grid is UHMWPE. Saying it is a dyneema pack is hugely misleading as there are practically no "dyneema" packs on the market. Not sure if he is deliberately being facetious or is simply ignorant about the materials; both are equally concerning for such a serious hiker.
If I remember right Quadzilla's sleeping bad is just a generic CCF "according" pad. The Exped 3R in this list is plush by comparison, but it's what I would choose if those were my two options. There's no way my back could handle sleeping on just a thin CCF pad.
@@syindromemaybe you should make some videos and explain this with material in hand. Lots of companies making packs and claiming to be dyneema out there. I’d watch your video
@@jamicrawford6729 Dan Durston Wapta 30 is the only pack with a new material that uses ALUULA, 100% UHMWPE Dyneema, most other premium packs use Ultra 200X which is 70% ish dyneema (very expensive material), a slightly cheaper options is ultraweave (66% dyneema) and ultra grid (20% dyneema but coatings to improve waterproofness and strength). That is a relative order from most expensive material to least, but i like dan durston packs because they are cheaper than other packs using cheaper materials. However, he uses factory production rather than handmade.
"Sure, let’s compare these fabrics:
ALUULA: This material is used in the Dan Durston Wapta 30 pack, which is made from 100% UHMWPE Dyneema1. ALUULA is known for its incredible strength, UV stability, ultra-high abrasion resistance, and inherent strength-to-weight ratio2345. It’s also lighter than nylon, polyester, and aramid2. The cost of ALUULA is not readily available online, but it’s known to be a premium material1.
Ultra 200X: This fabric is very similar to Ultra 200, just slightly lighter and thinner6789. It’s constructed with a 200d face Ultra-PE blended with high-tenacity polyester, an Ultra-PE CrossPly, and a 0.75 mil film backing10. It’s waterproof to 200+ PSI, 18.8+ Ba10, and far exceeds the technical properties of any similar weight fabric available6. The cost of Ultra 200X is not readily available online, but it’s expected to be similar to Ultra 2006.
Ultra 200: This is a lightweight, waterproof, and very durable fabric due to it being 70% UHMWPE in the face fabric8. It is considered a premium fabric for Ultralight packs8. The cost of Ultra 200 is about $35 per yard2.
UltraWeave: This fabric is made by Challenge and is considered the strongest pack fabric available for ultralight packs. It’s fully waterproof, incredibly difficult to tear or abrade in daily use, and is available in four different weights (100, 200, 400, and 800 denier), but 100 and 200 are most common6. The cost of UltraWeave is not readily available online, but it’s known to be a premium fabric108.
UltraGrid: This is a newer fabric from Challenge. It is a woven ripstop with two 200d strands of UHMWPE (about 20%) + 210D recycled Nylon (about 80%) with a PU inside coating and a C0 DWR outside coating7. It is lighter than similar 210D ripstop pack fabrics and offers high strength and abrasion resistance7. The cost of UltraGrid is approximately $26 per yard34.
Please note that the choice of fabric can depend on various factors such as the specific use case, weight considerations, durability requirements, and cost. It’s always a good idea to research thoroughly and consider your specific needs before making a decision. I hope this helps! " - copilot
@@jamicrawford6729 The name Dyneema is used in a few ways. Gridstop is a type of ripstop nylon that uses Dyneema fibers in a grid as mentioned by @syindrome. DCF stands for Dyneema composite fabric and is fairly common. Zpacks packs were, until fairly recently, all made from this. It has a thin layer of Dyneema sandwiched between other thin fabrics. Pure Dyneema (or Spectra, another brand of the same thing: UHMWPE) packs ARE rare. I believe CiloGear uses it. And, for a big extra fee, you can get packs made of it from McHale Packs.
I gotta say, you’re one of the few if not only popular backpacking RUclipsr who doesn’t use verbiage such as “this is the best..” I’ve stoped watching the others, since you are genuinely providing useful helpful info without sounding like a sponsored commercial..the other is Ryan at backpacking light. Just wanted to thank you for helping on many levels.👍🏼
Backpacking snobbery on full display.
alcohol stoves are heavy. This is because the 5 days worth of alcohol is about the same weight as a Jetboil + 200g canister (also 5-ish days). The benefit of alcohol is that it gets lighter the longer you are out there and it's easy to find alcohol. I bring my gas canister refill tool and give away the large canisters.
Rovi flashlights are great but 3 of the 4 flashlights (Aurora A3) have had issues with the internal battery wearing out and failing prematurely. I switched to the heavier Nitecore headlamp because the higher lumens help with bikepacking
Durston X-mid 1 is taking the backpacking scene by storm! I'm seeing them everywhere I go now.
Cumulus is an AMAZING brand for sleeping bags, quilts, and hammocks. their stuff honestly competes with Western mountaineering at sometimes more than half the cost, and incredibly fast shipping.
Very happy to see you supporting a young fella going outdoors. Even better thst he is passing it on. A very smart sbd pleasant young man at that!
Mine is lighter, better for women especially, but probably not cheaper....but close. Gossamer gear G420 backpack, great shoulder/ hip belt, still ultralight and not expensive, zpacks altaplex -- I'm not tall but older so easier to get in/out of, 19 Oz homemade 15degree quilt, BRS stove, evernew 700ml Titanium pot with spout, befree katadyne filter, nu25 headlamp, uberlite reg wide thermarest pad (Im small but 25" wide makes a huge difference), thinlight pad used in place of provided sit pad, multiuse and adds structure and r value.
Thanks for pointing me to the Evernew pot. I'll take made in Japan over made in China every day.
You said it right. Only I can chose what's best for me. Dixie just posted a vid about her negative experience on hammocks. I personally love hammocks. My opinion has no affect on Dixie's personal camping experiences. She prefers an ultra light tent. I absolutely love hammocks. Neither of us are wrong. Its just our personal preference. We look to reviewers like you to help us choose and refine our personal preferences. I personally enjoy product reviews. Hikers and camper who view your content, cherish your honest opinion on products. We are all looking to min/max our camping experience. That's why we watch your videos. Thank you for your honesty in reviewing new products. In a world of AI generated affiliate linked fake product reviews, we starve for honest content like yours.
I hope all the haters come back to the comments to give you props for following through like you said you would!
Only took him over 3 months, but I'm sure its only because he had such important videos like a fucking electric cooler ad. This guy is one of the most pathetic shills on youtube
He blocks all the people who call him out anyways, only took him 3 months to make this video. Must have been busy filming that an ad for a fucking $600 electric cooler. This guy is one of the worst shills on RUclips and not even a decent backpacker
@@jcarter5665 Seems harsh given that he was moving states at the same time...
and here I am and it's great fun. xD
best thing about having extra gear, is folks can use em when you want to let others join in the adventures.
Tell that to the wife 🤣
I have that Imusa aluminum mug pot too. I discovered a method for braid wrapping some narrow cut lengths of carbon felt around the handle to make a nearly weightless integrated handle cover so you won’t burn your fingers.
I have that pack and it's one of the most slept on packs on the market. The strap attachment system and the curved bottom section on the back panel are standouts. Better colors, wider straps and better external pockets would make it better but it's a great pack.
The super cat stove gets a thumbs down. If you're going to use an alcohol stove capillary action fuel delivery is the way to go. Cold enough water will snuff out the super cat stove. If you don't mind holding your pot over the stove until the water heats up enough to not stop vaporization of the fuel then it can work. But that's worse than the jet noise of the canister stoves.
I use the same IMUSA pot too and I pick it over titanium because I do cook in my pot, it works great.
Actually it's surprising how similar this kit is to mine. The shelter is the biggest difference with mine being cheaper, lighter and easier to set up. I don't like using two trekking poles and so I tend to avoid shelters that depend on two poles. Plus once you switch to tarps it's hard to go back to a tent.
I switched to an alcohol stove years ago. I initially switched for weight but I really like how quiet they are. When I’m enjoying some piece and quiet I find the noise of canister stoves really annoying.
I got a similar Imusa branded aluminum pot. Super affordable, came with a lid and a strainer. it's a Colombian brand so it's pronounced "Imúsa". Can recomend but yes, the handle stays hot for a very long time, like 20+mins
I wonder if that handle could be plasti-dipped ... 20 minutes is a long time and I definitely use the handles on my cookware.
It anyone's interested in that pack, Granite Gear has it for $104 new on there website right now. They have the newer virga 3 for 140 on sale now too. I've had it for several years now and it is a very solid pack if you're considering going frameless.
Honestly, one of the coolest video/challenge out there! Thanks for taking the time to do this 🤙🏾
Absolutely right about the titanium containers. I had made the switch myself but eventually I went full circle and came back to titanium. I'm not a crazy health freak but after going down a rabbit hole about certain materials and heating water in them, I decided titanium is the way to go. Awesome video.
But once-cry-once. But the price has come down for much of the Titanium gear in recent years.
@GH0ST369 yeah exactly and my titanium pot is still going strong after being beat up for many years
Nice video in listening to your subscribers. More challenges like this might be neat. Food selection, hiking tools, and luxury items. Have fun. Skillet
Personally I think the convenience and speed of a Sawyer mini beats the weight savings over bleach or tablets. Especially since it's already so lightweight. But I love seeing what people will do to save an ounce
Love the idea of the GGear pad as a frame, I have ben thinking of getting one for my pack from Alien Outdoors; it has sheaths in the back so I can slide a sit pad in there, but that GG can serve double or triple duty. Great video, and that's awesome that you're sending that gear on!
Cumulus has been my go to since the AT in 2021! Used a double quilt on that and have only bought cumulus bags and quilts since then! So glad someone’s giving it some attention 👌🏻
I carry esbit as a backup for the same reason. I love my Vaughn flashlight. I actually carry two when I have long night hikes.
Very interesting setup indeed! Thank you for sharing it in such detail. I may try that backpack, but I have a degenerated disk in my back, so I need to make sure the majority of the weight is on my hips. I am currently using a Z-packs Arc Haul, but it isn’t very comfortable and the water bottle pockets are impossible to reach. Not sure if the frameless would work for me either.
One alcohol stove setup you really need to try is the X-boil. It is a foreign (UK) company that creates a product equivalent to the ill-fated Caldera Cone, but a different design. The stove stand/windscreen wraps up to fit inside my toaks pot and has little removable hooks that hold the pot inside or can be removed and stored inside the little stove. It can be used with solid fuel or even little twigs, if fuel is scarce. The entire thing is lighter even than the Vargas and has a better windscreen. (Spoiler, it is a little pricey by the time you pay international shipping, but the owner of the company is a joy to deal with!)
High lumen count is not always better for lights when backpacking. The higher the lumen count, the faster it drains the battery, and the more often you'll need to charge it. Plus, more intrusive to wildlife and other hikers.
same. I use the nightcore and 90% of the time I use the lowest setting. I live fairly far north, so the summer nights don't really get pitch black. But I still need some assistance to see the trail markings. What I look for a in a flash light is a good low light option.
True. Those Rovyvons go pretty low as well. Dimmer moonlight than most headlamps though not as easy to access on the A8 as the A28.
The battery is tiny in the A8 - that’s its biggest downside. But that’s why it’s so light.
Lumens are largely a marketing gimmick. Of course you want something brighter than a candle, but some of these things have lumens in the thousands and that's just asinine. Mine is 500 lumens max and I almost never use it on high because it lights up the trail like daylight and then you're blind when you turn it off. I use it on low, which is like 40 lumens and it does just fine.
I like how you did this challenge. Fun and informative
Max is legit, glad he won the challenge!
Really appreciate your honest approach in your videos. Thank you.
You're the best outdoor reviewer, thanks a lot for your content - time well spent! I like your objective/semi scientific approach as you review. Greetings from Denmark. Safe trails!
Really awesome and thoughtful presentation thanks to both of you
The makeshift foam pad frame sounds good in theory, but I've discovered that the foam pad is extremely grippy. Almost anything you try to slide into the pack grabs that foam pad and makes packing the backpack a royal pain in the...
You put the foam pad against the inside of the backpack and then slip the sleeping pad in front of it so that everything that you place in the bottom of the bag and start stacking on one another doesn’t stick to the foam
I’m thinking if you got the flip fuel or similar other brand and you keep the 100g canister you can always buy the big can and fill your own and then never need the alcohol. Having said that I do a similar thing with a flat pack stick stove. Hey I hike in Australia so there’s free fuel everywhere!! 90% of the time you don’t even have to get up from your chair to keep it going
I take handles off of everything and carry a pot grabber mainly cause i kept grabbing the handle when they were fire hot.
6:01 a one ounce alcohol burner… any DYI pop can or cat food can stove works at least 90% as well at 1/3 the weight, and a DYI stove is free.
That pot is sooooo versatile .lm a slow traveler and it goes everywhere with me....coffee, ramen, leftovers, travel dog bowl....etc etc
Omagosh. I learned so much and enjoyed this video immensely. Please make this a series!!!
You speak very well..no wonder you have a huge subscriber number. I picked up a Virga 2 last fall for something like $75 on closeout, but have not used it yet.
im not realy into backpacking at least not multiple day tours. But credit were credit is due .. it takes a good soul to admit that someone has beat you even if its just a gear list
I really like how he's doing a lot of what people did in the early 2000s and UL gear was almost exclusively DIY and making unconventional tweaks.
Thanks for the video! Very informative and real world usable. Thanks, Steven!
I like this back and forth exploration format.
I detest having to cook food while hiking, so I just take food that doesn't require it. Therefore I have no need of a stove. I detest having to keep-dry a sleeping bag, so I dont take one. I use a reflective tyvek bivy instead, enveloped in a plastic bag. The hammock and a ridgeline go thru the bivy, and then a separate ridgeline holds the envelope away from the bivy. This lets me sleep just fine at 40F, in just cammies, balaclava, shemagh, gloves, unlaced shoes, 3 pairs of sock liners. If I add the camo nets and bugnet suits, I can sleep ok at 34F, in wind and rain.. I dont need a poncho, rainsuit, groundsheet, tent, or heavy clothing.
I hate the disease risk of bugs, so when it's above 70F, i wear an Amazon full body bugnet "suit". Since they only weigh 1/4 lb each, I use two of them. I dislike having my camp spotted by people, so I carry a couple of 1/2 lb each Amazon camo nets. When it's cold, I use them and the bugnet suits as insulation/longjohns. I use two packs, so that i dont have to waste a lb on a sleeping pad. I empty out the packs, stuff them with debris and use them as sleeping pads, normally up in the net-hammock. The hammock gets me up out of the mud, water, snow, brush, rocks, roots, bugs, thorns and steep slopes dont matter when I have a hammock and a way to hang it. I can rig the hammock as a 'sling-chair-recliner" if all I have is one point of suspension.
When it's cold, I hang the hammock 6" off of the ground and kick debris under it to stop air from flowing under me. If it's below freezing I have a way to dry out damp debris. The dry debris is then used to give me another 10F degrees of sleeping comfort. I can use water bottles or rocks, heated in a discrete Dakota fire pit to gain another 10F degrees of warmth, for a few hours at a time. If it's colder, nobody's going to bother me about having an open fire.
A Siberian fire lay projects all of its heat in one direction, twice as far as a normal fire. this makes it safe for me to "aim" a Siberian at the open end of my bivy, which I cover with a bit of clear PEVA shower curtain.. Brisk movement adds at least 10F more degrees of warmth, so I can exercise in my bivy during the night and then use the "greenhouse effect" of the morning sun thru the PEVA to gain 20F degrees by 11 am as vs what it was at dawn. I"m not going anywhere when it's colder. It's just too damned dangerous and it's rarely ever that cold where I live (and never so except at night)
Open Country pot W/piepan lid.Aluminum pot- ABSOLUTELY. I use a 3 cup anodized pot and "pie pan" DIY lid.
Aluminum is FAR better at transmitting heat than ti thus saving fuel.
I primarily hike on the A T. It's very difficult to find alcohol fuel along the way. 15 years ago every through hiker carried a soda can alcohol stove and fuel was available at the hostels and sold by the oz. Heet in the yellow bottles is also not easy to find. I cringe when I hear people say that alcohol is available every where.
Great guy! Lovely video.
I tested the skurka alcohol fancy feast cat food stove and it out performed aluminum can style alcohol stoves, but so many places dont allow alcohol stoves due to fire hazard so I have a snowpeak stove for a canister and would be happy with the BRS stove.
Greetings from Bavaria, Germany!
You guys must try the X-Boil. It’s an alcohol stove made in Germany by a one-man business.
It’s a great system that works as a potholder and windscreen at the same time.
I hope you have a nice day!
Bye and greetings from Bavaria.
@@thomgizziz The UL version weighs 49 grams. In my opinion, that's a much safer and more stable setup. So the price for the x-boil is more or less the same as for the Vargo (49€ here in Germany). The weight difference is about 5 grams (depending on the windscreen for the Vargo), Vargo 29 grams + Titanium Windscreen 15-20 grams compared to the 49 grams for the x-boil. Therefore, I think the x-boil is the safer cooker. It uses a spill-free burner and a nice stable windscreen as a base.
@@thomgizziz I think you may have misunderstood what the X-Boil is. It's a 3-piece kit of alcohol stove with windscreen and pot stand for 49g total. ruclips.net/video/NfjQJ5QtmVA/видео.html
Tkank you for the awsem video it helps to learn from you anf your viewers.
As for Aluminum it has serious lomg term negative health impacts especially non anodized I will stick to Titanium.
I wish someone would have a full Titanium set that stacks inside itself.
Love my aluminum pot! Tried the titanium and still went back to the sams old aluminum I'd been using
Question for the community: any recommendations for larger tents for backpacking? My husband and I hike with our Great Dane mix, and we'd love recommendations for a backpacking tent. We have a 4-person tent for car camping that is luxurious (and heavy!), but our lighter 2-person tent is too small for taking the dog.
As far as I know, one of the lightest fully-fledged 3p backpacking tents is the Sea to Summit Telos 3p. If you're looking to be more minimal, the Zpacks Triplex might be a good option!
Have a look at 3ul gear, lanshan 2 pro. You need to seam seal the tent
Big Agnes gold camp UL 3 or 5. You have to buy the inner and fly separately.
I haven't used it but I was considering it.
You'd need a 3 or 4 person tent for the dog. While not super common, there are some brands that offer this. Big Agnes Copper Spur is one example of a lightweight backpacking tent that offers a 4P (and I think 5P) version.
Most hardware stores have Velcro strips. Wondering if adding slits to the armpits on a cheap poncho might help a ton with air flow while still being shielded from the rain.
I have this pack and somehow got it for $80 online new. I love it. It’s super light and very versatile.
Aluminum impacts taste on coffee and acidic foods.
Bleach doesn’t kill giardia or cryptosporidium. Just use a filter.
In North America, most hikers who get sick from contaminated water are getting sick from giardia or crypto. Those are protozoan parasites, not bacteria. As you said, they're resistant to a lot of the chemical treatments (that typically target bacteria). Boiling or physical removal via filtration are the best options to stay safe.
@@67L48 why did I read this and thought you were talking about cryptocurrency xD
Enjoyed this video definitely a great kit. My kit is even less beginner friendly than his but very light. I mostly own this list but decided for my long term it was worth spending more on an EE down quilt and my Dan Durston Wapta 30 pack. I will be in Sierras a lot so I went budget where I can but in addition to spending more on my quilt, I also spent more on a Bearikade bear can rather than a bv450. If I was just making an ultralight kit to beat this one, I'd say:
Zimmerbuilt Quickstep
myog synthetic quilt or EE Apex quilt
Borah tarp, polycro groundsheet, msr mini stakes, paria 1.5mm guyline
bug headnet or yama bug canopy or borah bug bivy
Nemo Switchback pad trimmed to 6 panels
GG Thinlight pad, Flexair pillow sm
Frogg Toggs
Aquamira tablets
Peanut butter jar (stoveless)
Nitecore tube headband mod
shoutout "DeputySean's Comprehensive Guide to an Ultralight Baseweight"
Great list! As I’m ready to take the plunge into backpacking I’m making a hybrid list from the two.
BTW… IMUSA is from South American. Imusa story began back in Colombia in 1934 with the founded name of IMUSA, which comes from Industrias Metalúrgicas S.A. So it’s not I Am USA, it’s eemusa.
Great video. It would nice to see you test some other outdoor stuff from different groups, say bush crafters, militay or suvivalists. I think there they too povide diffeent leaning which might be new to you?
That Polish sleeping bag company, Cumulus, also makes mummy bags in case anyone's interested. I keep thinking about a lighter, warmer bag, and they're on my list of possibilities. But I'll probably make do with what I have for another season...
Its down coats/jackets are also highly regarded, but rarely discussed (relative to Mountain Hardwear, e.g.).
Interesting fun video, thanks to both of you 🙏
Great job with the video. Lots of useful money saving tips on gear here.
I have that flashlight too and it's amazing. It's the perfect EDC light.
Good budget list. My back is too important to go frameless for me. If I was in my 20's I would possibly try it.
All I've learned about backpacking is- the less material you want to carry, the more you're going to spend. I think I need to stick to just camping, pretending to be homeless is pricey enough.
Not hiking YET. Later this summer, but I loved this video!
The 3FUL Qidian Pro is quite cheap and still impressive value/quality at that price point; I got one at 111$ cdn delivered
I bought another Virga pack bc… well… MY NAME IS VIRGA 😂 and it was AMAZING. I was using mystery ranch packs, the Beta Light from Black Diamond and a hyperlight pack from a friend. The Virga is the best 😏
6:08 natural atlas........not available in your country
Sad that distance tool sounds great
does Natural Atlas weather work while offline?
I tend to wear a brimmed hat so that flashlight setup is tempting, except I'm usually wearing a toque when it's dark enough out for a headlamp...
Don't think I'd ever not use a water filter either. I've been stranded by flood waters and having water that looked like chocolate milk end up essentially clear with the filter was a godsend.
@@thomgizziz It's the warm half of the year I need to switch. The cold half of the year the toque is on all day (Canadian Rockies)
The problem with aluminum pot is the aluminum oxide from using it. Good thoughts for equipment.
you gotta shop used, but also check out your local outfitter! I managed to snag an osprey exos 38 for $100 flat brand new!
No matter what your hobby is we frequently think there is a correlation between high cost and quality. Sometimes it is the result of snobbery or skillful marketing. We need to educate ourselves before spending our hard earned money. Occasionally RUclipsrs contribute to this mindset. If Jose the world's greatest backpacker who has accomplished hi triple crown and has 16 gazillion followers and is sponsored by XYZ company, then I must have it. I still use my IMUSA pot and fancy feast stove thanks to Shug's common sense approach to enjoying backpacking.
I still think the #1 way to build out an affordable set of gear is: SHOP, SHOP, SHOP! If you're watching this video, then you're on the internet ... and the internet is just a massive marketplace. And, like most things in life, it's a trade-off of time or money ... which do you have more of? E.g., if you need a Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2, then you can get one tomorrow for $530. If, instead, you have more time than money, then you can spend the next 10 months scouring the internet and waiting for sales and get that same tent for $250 - $350.
It's not always about finding lower-priced alternatives to the premium brands. It's more about tireless shopping + time + alternatives. Going back to the tent example, my #1 choice was MSR Hubba Hubba 2 (for Steven's reason for it being a true 2-man, 50" wide floor), but MSR never, ever went on sale for me. But, my #2 choice did.
It takes a lot of patience and you may have to live with sub-optimal gear as you're waiting for your upgrade/preferred gear to go on sale. And, don't forget about direct. Some of the best deals I've got were from the manufacturers themselves, rather than a retail outlet (REI, Backcountry, etc.). Big Agnes and Sea to Summit are two examples of brands that frequently have massive deals that surpass the discounts found at retailers.
Or you can buy 2nd hand
Does Natural Atlas provide global coverage, or is it limited to certain geographic areas?
Loved lov d loved that video! Will definitely look for a cheaper backpack. Thank you.
It took me a minute to figure out your shirt. Lol!
A problem with the aluminum pot is that it is aluminum, which many are staying away from.
Is Natural Atlas available or useful for Ontario, Canada?
Buying used is the best budget hack especially fb buy/sell groups specific to ul backpacking.
Did you ever try the X-Boil build from a guy in germany?
The lightest version weighs about 40g.
I always wear a hat so i sewed straps to my hat and attached a small og nightcore. One of my coolest hacks. I still carry a more robust headlamp for night hiking with 350 lumens
May of missed it. What lid was used on the aluminum pot?
I was using a sea to summit X-mug. I didn’t include it in this load out but do use it often even on my titanium pots.
I need to come up with something to cover an old, poorly healed collarbone break. It's got a big lump and hurts after a bit when the strap runs over it. On a long trip I think a strap could actually make the lump break through my skin. Maybe some kind of gel donut thing to go over it. I don't know, anyone ever come across this issue?
"It's just ridiculously light for the weight"
Imusa is a Colombian brand. It’s an acronym that stands for metallurgic industries “Industrias Metalúrgicas” and the SA means anonymous society which is basically our way or saying LLC. And they make AMAZING products.
Jupiter has mentioned these Ravon min flashlights before.
Now how long of a wait till they can restock most of the big 4 stuff,and what's the next wave of new gear gonna offer
The quilt caught my eye, but WAY out of my budget 😕, the flashlight was pretty good too but my head torch cost about the same & does a great job.
Good vid though, thanks 😁
Did You Know - Shaving that prodigious beard might afford you a thicker quilt? Bad joke aside, I had my gram-counting phase too -- and it can get quite obsessive, Excel spreadsheets etc. But I do value comfort, good rest and good sleep, especially given that I'm broad-shouldered side-sleeper. At some point I realised that it's not about how much weight you carry, but how you carry it!!! So, taking inspiration from British dismounted infantry, I've built a custom belt-kit that allowed me to place heavy items (water, food, hygiene kit, cook-kit, electronics, tools, possibles, etc) on my hips. These are also the most frequently used items which are now within arm's reach. The items that are lighter but have more volume (sleep system and clothing system), go into a small bergen.
My setup is not ultralite, by any stretch of definition - 8.7kg base. HOWEVER, carrying main load on the hips, I noticed, I maintain a better balance, agility and speed, cover more distance, am less exhausted at the end of the day and generally less prone to injuries.
Also, dedicating some time to strength training doubles your load carrying abilities. Lift some barbells and you won't feel the difference between 4kg and 10kg base.
i like this kind of video (dialogue and democratic)
U.S. G.I. poncho, baby!
Yellow Heet is the best white gas fuel source every automotive place has it
No it isn't, outside of the US it's not necessarily available.
I have the same. I love it!
Love this but the mug is 65$ CAD here 😂 man those Canadian prices are insane. Nothing here is budget for me:(
You could take a look at the GSI mug/pot at MEC. İt's stainless steel, about 5oz. No lid though. İt's under $20 CAD (still a far cry from two bux lol, can't even buy a coffee here for two bux anymore!) 🤷🏻♀️
Maybe it was for the camera, but your alcohol stove had a yellow, sooty flame that is NOT the preferred fuel type. Methanol-based fuels burn blue to nearly invisible, and you don't get residue on the bottom of the pot.
I am thinking of going straight up Clint Eastwood High Plains Drifter poncho... Thanks for sharing... I gear. 👴
Very fun project. But no way I use any aluminum for cooking or drinking ever. Otherwise really cool setup.
My experience is that UL packs definitely hit a wall when you approach and exceed their weight-carrying capacity. I'm shocked that he says he carries 45lbs with that pack; without a rigid frame, a lot of weight will fall onto the shoulders and that's very uncomfortable.
I've had the Gossamer Gear Mariposa, rated to up around 30-32lbs, and if you carry anything over 35lbs for more than the first night, your shoulders will be complaining. I have the Granite Gear Crown2 now, and it does a bit better when you get into that weight range.
Of course, you should only buy a pack that can carry the weight you need to carry, but I'm a photographer who generally carries an extra 3-6lbs of camera gear, so I'm always pushing the limit. I just want to warn folks that weight limits on UL packs should be complied with.
Only had to carry 45lbs with it once, but yes, it was a lot for that pack! I actually used a thicker (Walmart blue) foam pad, rolled into a cylinder, as a makeshift frame. Not the most comfortable experience but it was a 10-day food carry, and I was also lugging along a couple of pieces of gear for a friend.