Probably the most useful content a hiking RUclipsr has produced. Definitely will consult it when I have some spare change for hiking gear. Thanks Oscar!
Have you used the Klymit pad? I bought one when I started backpacking 3 or so years ago. I'd say the R-value it reports is a lie. I'd recommend spending ~$50 or so to get a better pad. For example, the REI Helix can often be had on sale and is a much better pad. Good video all the same.
My feedback to some of the gear: - Lanshan 2P tent, you need to seam seal it yourself (added cost), is a bit of work, and the floor is too fragile/thin. It ripped and and I have a nice hole in it from my first hike. Other than that good tent. - Fizan Trekking poles: I've had these for almost 10 years now, they are still going strong, except the tip broke off on one, but they actually sell replacement tips. Put the pole in boiling water to loosen the glue and you can put the new one on easily. - Exped pillow: bought this for the weight, but I find it very uncomfortable: I use a decathlon pillow MT500(130g for 20 euros, or you can leave off the fluffy part and save 50 extra grams). It's super comfortable. It did start leaking after 4 years, but it's one of my favorite pieces of gear. - Forclaz down jacket: still holding up after 8 years. Great for colder hikes when you stop at a peak or to sleep in on cold nights. - Thermarest Corus 20: 660 grams and keeps you warm till about 0 degrees C with a good pad. Not as compactable as the higher fill downs, but does the job. - BRS Stove: still going strong after many years and abuse in my pocket. - Rain jacket, most are around 200 grams, so I just use what I find comfy, in my case a trail running jacket with RET6 from Decathlon so you don't completely soak in your own sweat. - X-lite pad: a staple in ultralight backpacking: haven't had any issues with it, you just have to learn how to sleep in 1 position and not move the entire night, or you will fall off :) - The ultimate budget foam pad is one from Decathlon also MT500 Forclaz. It's a copy of the Thermarest Z-lite but it's cheaper, lighter and wider. Used it to 0 degree C and it worked fine. Just have to get used to the feeling of sleeping on the ground. - Backpack: Gossammer Gear Kumo. It's only around 35L, but for me enough for 3 seasons, and with 540 gram practically impossible to beat. I have daypacks with 20L that are heavier. Very comfy up to 10kg weight. You can even take off the belt (85gr) and the pad (65gr) to make it just 400 grams.
Well done! I did something similar when I upgraded some of the my 20-year gear a couple months ago. I wanted to know where I could get the most weight-savings per dollar so I could strategize my purchases. I found that upgrading my backpack and tent were priorities. I'm still extremely happy with my purchases, but had I seen your spreadsheet - where you investigated a lot more products than I did - I might have considered a couple other options. I hope others find your hard work helpful!
As a retired accountant, I’m way ahead of you. 😉 I did this years ago when I lightened up my kit. I focused on the big three - tent, rucksack and sleeping bag - but saved about 6kg. It transformed my backpacking experience.
I save weight with no-soaking, keto diet, intermittent fasting, so I can efficiently use body fat while hiking. Food and water management can give you huge weight savings. Tarp instead of tent, learning skills like where to camp for comfortable sleep.
Etowah Ultra TNT 5x8 tarp at 100$US for 145g is a sleeper...get a bivy for the ultimate ultralight on the cheap ! I went luxuous with the Paria mesh bivy, (on the heavy side) but still 1.1 pound with the tarp and 167$US total !
It sounded too good to be true, and had to double check the Toaks pot. With lid and handle it weights 112 grams. 62 grams is pot without lid and handle. Otherwise nice job! 🙂
I own that rain jacket, it's a sweat bag. Material has no breathability, the elastic sleeve cuffs lock in sweat, and the lack of full zip provides no venting. Avoid for trekking
great video Oscar. I love spreadsheets and have g saved per USD as one of my columns already. Not only is g/$ important, but also if the item can have multiple uses and if it adds exponential value compared to other items of similar weight. Sometimes weight that enhances the experience more than lower weight items is more valuable, but not usually! Ultralight is usually the best experience! :)
Awesome video! The information is spot-on, and I can only imagine the time that went into preparing all those Excel sheets. Super helpful for anyone thinking about upgrading their gear-really appreciate it! By the way, is this location in the Pyrenees? Cerdanya, perhaps? It looks super cool!
Recently upgraded some of my equipment, I did the same. Glad to see some of them in this list. Did you happen to check Katabatic quilts? They list their quilts with comfortable temps, their 30F weights 560g and costs $350
Great Video! However, I wouldn't recommend the Thermarest Versper. The baffles are really underfilled and it doesn't perform up to its temperature rating. Even after washing and replacement by Thermarest it didn't fix that problem. I would opt for EE, Westernmountaineering, Zenbivy but stay away from Thermarest Down products. Sleeping pads are superior but not their down products.
Thank you for doing this research and analysis, it provides a good starting point to make buying decisions and identify candidates for a more in-depth evaluation but I think that other considerations like usability for each individual should be the first things to consider over the weight & price.
I first bought the basic equipment, about something like the affordabne setup in the video here. On that I tested what suits me. For example, I would definitely want a pack smaller than the one in the video, I found that I don't need a stove, etc. There's certainly no point in buying expensive stuff unless you have experience and know exactly what you want. Now that I have the experience, I've written down what I'd like to buy, how much it costs, and how much weight I'll save by doing so. I am gradually buying from the cheapest things.
The best value is a gym membership. Most people can stand to lose much more body weight than they could save in gear, and they can also get stronger and carry more with greater ease. Soldiers regularly hike with 45-60kg. So we can all acheive 20kg with a bit of work.
@@sillopo3421most average adults can lift a backpack and put it on no problem. Once its on, your spine and knees will do the carrying. If you have a pack that is so heavy it needs you to train lifting weights - you are not carrying it on a hike. Im not discouraging anyone from building muscle or getting a gym membership - do that and get the awesome health benefits. But only training that really benefits hiking is low intensity endurace - for which no gym is needed. Its a different story if you are mountaneering or doing other additional stuff on top of hiking.
I've had a similar spreadsheet to this with my gear upgrade wishlist on for a while. I compare what i have currently to the new item and it calculates cost per gram for that weight reduction ( other way around from Oscar i think?). Helps me figure out which upgrades are giving more marginal gains cost wise compared to others.
Good exercise, however most people should choose either "Best-in-Class" or their favorite piece as their goal, not whichever item pops-out as the best grams-for-buck. By the time someone's getting this close to being "dialed-in," they should be looking for their long-term gear, not the cheapest deal. It is always worth noting where that ideal piece of gear is on the $/g scale, but get the gear your going to use for the next hundred or two-hundred nights, even if it it isn't the cheapest. This sort of analysis may be useful in deciding which Best-in-Class gear to buy next. And by "Best-in-Class," it means whatever you the user thinks is "Best" (which is almost always what many others think is best, or darn close to it).
Expensive-class highlights the problem. This author's current Best-in-Class vs Oscar's recommendations: 1) Backpack: Frames are almost always a problem. They rub, they break. BiC is Nashville Packs frameless, which weighs 470g. 2) Trekking-pole tent. Duplex is classic, but Durston is way better and BiC. Durston is four-stakes, pole doesn't block door, netting stays off ground, 560g. 3) Pad: Horizontal baffles don't cradle. Exped holds more weight. 1R, 3R or 5R is BiC, 476g. Minimalists will choose GG 1/8" foam at 84g. 4) Pillow: Most are 4", Sea-to-Summit Aeros is 5.1", BiC, 70g. 5) Bag: Western Mountaineering is BiC and they make 7' bags. 6) Nobody should carry a puffy. Complete waste of weight/space. 7) Rain-Jacket: Vertice is fine. EE fits better. Poncho breathes better. 8) Stove: BRS is OK at low-elevation. Soto Windmaster or remote-canister at higher elevations and to save fuel-weight (not stove-weight). Minimalists like alcohol, which weighs 11g, but not approved in many places. 9) 1.1L too big for most. Toaks 700? 10) Trekking-poles: GG are probably BiC due to swing-weight, but Durston's are both lighter and stronger.
Dude, that sleeping pad isn't anywhere near it's advertised R-value. You should try sleeping on one before you recommend it. It's absolute garbage and I don't even let folks I don't like sleep on them.
Wouldn't the Qidian Pro Dynema backpack from 3F UL Gear (The same guys that make Lanshan tents) be better since it weights 300g less and costs around the same as the NatureHike one?
It's frameless where that category is just for framed. I do have one though and it's just as comfy to use vs framed packs provided you have a lighter load and stick a sit pad in the back, I'd probably buy the Naturehike if I broke this one though
I'm sorry, but Chinese products do not stand up to criticism. These are very bad fakes of other brands and I definitely wouldn’t write them. Lanshan happens every year that in the hot summer it cannot withstand the rain, it is also cramped and needs to be glued.
And yet here we all are happily using 3F UL gear like Lanshan tents in the UK - the windiest, wettest part of Europe - with no problems. You do need to seam seal it, this is true, but also no big deal. Whilst I agree that the AliExpress brands tend to be copies of US/European cottage brands by the time you import them the customs and VAT on the items in Oscar's list would *double* the price of most of these items, and means the Chinese manufacturers blow away the competition. I'll happily pay for innovation, but I'm not paying 500USD for a 250 USD tent after shipping, taxes and customs when they can make a tent that's 80% as good in China for less than half the price. Also remember, most of these cottage brands are also made in China...in the same factories.
Y'all don't need ultra lite and ultra expensive.... You need to exercise more and develop strength.... You're keeping yourselves weak and get what works not what's popular by the industry.... Man some you people are really mindless consumers
Whoah! Hell of a lot of work went into that, thankyou for sharing.
Probably the most useful content a hiking RUclipsr has produced. Definitely will consult it when I have some spare change for hiking gear. Thanks Oscar!
Have you used the Klymit pad? I bought one when I started backpacking 3 or so years ago. I'd say the R-value it reports is a lie. I'd recommend spending ~$50 or so to get a better pad. For example, the REI Helix can often be had on sale and is a much better pad.
Good video all the same.
You can add warmth at low weight and cost with an emergency blanket, the metalised plastic kind.
You are right. With the current ASTM standard of testing it comes in at R1.9 not R4.4. So this is not a good option to be recommending.
This is GREAT, thanks! Personally I'd go with Durston for the tent and Nemo for the pad in the expensive loadout though.
Thank you so much for posting this. I've been a little lost trying to figure out where to best spend my money to upgrade my old gear
My feedback to some of the gear:
- Lanshan 2P tent, you need to seam seal it yourself (added cost), is a bit of work, and the floor is too fragile/thin. It ripped and and I have a nice hole in it from my first hike. Other than that good tent.
- Fizan Trekking poles: I've had these for almost 10 years now, they are still going strong, except the tip broke off on one, but they actually sell replacement tips. Put the pole in boiling water to loosen the glue and you can put the new one on easily.
- Exped pillow: bought this for the weight, but I find it very uncomfortable: I use a decathlon pillow MT500(130g for 20 euros, or you can leave off the fluffy part and save 50 extra grams). It's super comfortable. It did start leaking after 4 years, but it's one of my favorite pieces of gear.
- Forclaz down jacket: still holding up after 8 years. Great for colder hikes when you stop at a peak or to sleep in on cold nights.
- Thermarest Corus 20: 660 grams and keeps you warm till about 0 degrees C with a good pad. Not as compactable as the higher fill downs, but does the job.
- BRS Stove: still going strong after many years and abuse in my pocket.
- Rain jacket, most are around 200 grams, so I just use what I find comfy, in my case a trail running jacket with RET6 from Decathlon so you don't completely soak in your own sweat.
- X-lite pad: a staple in ultralight backpacking: haven't had any issues with it, you just have to learn how to sleep in 1 position and not move the entire night, or you will fall off :)
- The ultimate budget foam pad is one from Decathlon also MT500 Forclaz. It's a copy of the Thermarest Z-lite but it's cheaper, lighter and wider. Used it to 0 degree C and it worked fine. Just have to get used to the feeling of sleeping on the ground.
- Backpack: Gossammer Gear Kumo. It's only around 35L, but for me enough for 3 seasons, and with 540 gram practically impossible to beat. I have daypacks with 20L that are heavier. Very comfy up to 10kg weight. You can even take off the belt (85gr) and the pad (65gr) to make it just 400 grams.
Well done! I did something similar when I upgraded some of the my 20-year gear a couple months ago. I wanted to know where I could get the most weight-savings per dollar so I could strategize my purchases. I found that upgrading my backpack and tent were priorities. I'm still extremely happy with my purchases, but had I seen your spreadsheet - where you investigated a lot more products than I did - I might have considered a couple other options. I hope others find your hard work helpful!
same like me. Now i have a 6 lbs baseweight and a lot less money in the pockets but it was worth it
As a retired accountant, I’m way ahead of you. 😉
I did this years ago when I lightened up my kit. I focused on the big three - tent, rucksack and sleeping bag - but saved about 6kg. It transformed my backpacking experience.
I save weight with no-soaking, keto diet, intermittent fasting, so I can efficiently use body fat while hiking. Food and water management can give you huge weight savings. Tarp instead of tent, learning skills like where to camp for comfortable sleep.
Another awesome and very informative video, Oscar! Thank you
Etowah Ultra TNT 5x8 tarp at 100$US for 145g is a sleeper...get a bivy for the ultimate ultralight on the cheap ! I went luxuous with the Paria mesh bivy, (on the heavy side) but still 1.1 pound with the tarp and 167$US total !
I wonder why the new Naturehike R5.8 mat isn't on the list? It's one of the most affordable at $80-100 for 410-570g depending on size
This is an awesome video. Thanks for taking the time to gather all the information!
It sounded too good to be true, and had to double check the Toaks pot. With lid and handle it weights 112 grams. 62 grams is pot without lid and handle. Otherwise nice job! 🙂
Excellent ! More of this : shoes, watches, bikes, guest houses ...
6MoonsDesign Poncho Tarp is the very best bang for your buck. Rain jacket/tent needing only 1 trekking pole
I own that rain jacket, it's a sweat bag. Material has no breathability, the elastic sleeve cuffs lock in sweat, and the lack of full zip provides no venting. Avoid for trekking
great video Oscar. I love spreadsheets and have g saved per USD as one of my columns already. Not only is g/$ important, but also if the item can have multiple uses and if it adds exponential value compared to other items of similar weight. Sometimes weight that enhances the experience more than lower weight items is more valuable, but not usually! Ultralight is usually the best experience! :)
Awesome video! The information is spot-on, and I can only imagine the time that went into preparing all those Excel sheets. Super helpful for anyone thinking about upgrading their gear-really appreciate it!
By the way, is this location in the Pyrenees? Cerdanya, perhaps? It looks super cool!
Recently upgraded some of my equipment, I did the same. Glad to see some of them in this list.
Did you happen to check Katabatic quilts? They list their quilts with comfortable temps, their 30F weights 560g and costs $350
Great Video! However, I wouldn't recommend the Thermarest Versper. The baffles are really underfilled and it doesn't perform up to its temperature rating. Even after washing and replacement by Thermarest it didn't fix that problem. I would opt for EE, Westernmountaineering, Zenbivy but stay away from Thermarest Down products. Sleeping pads are superior but not their down products.
Perfekts attēlojums, lai skolēniem parādītu, kāpēc jāmācās statistika. 😅
Great work, very thorough.
Thank you for doing this research and analysis, it provides a good starting point to make buying decisions and identify candidates for a more in-depth evaluation but I think that other considerations like usability for each individual should be the first things to consider over the weight & price.
I first bought the basic equipment, about something like the affordabne setup in the video here. On that I tested what suits me. For example, I would definitely want a pack smaller than the one in the video, I found that I don't need a stove, etc. There's certainly no point in buying expensive stuff unless you have experience and know exactly what you want.
Now that I have the experience, I've written down what I'd like to buy, how much it costs, and how much weight I'll save by doing so. I am gradually buying from the cheapest things.
really nice video. Where did you film it ?
15:00 I don't understand why the two top scoring tents didn't make it into any of your setups.
The best value is a gym membership. Most people can stand to lose much more body weight than they could save in gear, and they can also get stronger and carry more with greater ease. Soldiers regularly hike with 45-60kg. So we can all acheive 20kg with a bit of work.
An even better value is eating less and doing home workouts. While I agree with your message, that is not really what this video is about.
Gym doesnt make you lose weight by any significant amount. You need to eat less, which actually costs less than eating more.
The gym builds more muscles, and muscles are quite heavy compared to the same volume of fat. But more muscles make a heavy pack easier.
@@sillopo3421most average adults can lift a backpack and put it on no problem. Once its on, your spine and knees will do the carrying. If you have a pack that is so heavy it needs you to train lifting weights - you are not carrying it on a hike.
Im not discouraging anyone from building muscle or getting a gym membership - do that and get the awesome health benefits. But only training that really benefits hiking is low intensity endurace - for which no gym is needed.
Its a different story if you are mountaneering or doing other additional stuff on top of hiking.
Yeah once you've lost 30kgs, you still want a lighter pack. I know this from first hand experience.
wow this is nuts. awesome
can you add naturehike sleeping pad (r5.8, ~670g, ~$100) and maybe 3f ul backpacks and aegismax sleeping bags
I've had a similar spreadsheet to this with my gear upgrade wishlist on for a while. I compare what i have currently to the new item and it calculates cost per gram for that weight reduction ( other way around from Oscar i think?). Helps me figure out which upgrades are giving more marginal gains cost wise compared to others.
Good exercise, however most people should choose either "Best-in-Class" or their favorite piece as their goal, not whichever item pops-out as the best grams-for-buck. By the time someone's getting this close to being "dialed-in," they should be looking for their long-term gear, not the cheapest deal. It is always worth noting where that ideal piece of gear is on the $/g scale, but get the gear your going to use for the next hundred or two-hundred nights, even if it it isn't the cheapest. This sort of analysis may be useful in deciding which Best-in-Class gear to buy next. And by "Best-in-Class," it means whatever you the user thinks is "Best" (which is almost always what many others think is best, or darn close to it).
Expensive-class highlights the problem. This author's current Best-in-Class vs Oscar's recommendations: 1) Backpack: Frames are almost always a problem. They rub, they break. BiC is Nashville Packs frameless, which weighs 470g. 2) Trekking-pole tent. Duplex is classic, but Durston is way better and BiC. Durston is four-stakes, pole doesn't block door, netting stays off ground, 560g. 3) Pad: Horizontal baffles don't cradle. Exped holds more weight. 1R, 3R or 5R is BiC, 476g. Minimalists will choose GG 1/8" foam at 84g. 4) Pillow: Most are 4", Sea-to-Summit Aeros is 5.1", BiC, 70g. 5) Bag: Western Mountaineering is BiC and they make 7' bags.
6) Nobody should carry a puffy. Complete waste of weight/space. 7) Rain-Jacket: Vertice is fine. EE fits better. Poncho breathes better. 8) Stove: BRS is OK at low-elevation. Soto Windmaster or remote-canister at higher elevations and to save fuel-weight (not stove-weight). Minimalists like alcohol, which weighs 11g, but not approved in many places. 9) 1.1L too big for most. Toaks 700? 10) Trekking-poles: GG are probably BiC due to swing-weight, but Durston's are both lighter and stronger.
Love the Dutch meme at the start! Hooookaaaayyy letsgooooo
Dude, that sleeping pad isn't anywhere near it's advertised R-value. You should try sleeping on one before you recommend it. It's absolute garbage and I don't even let folks I don't like sleep on them.
Not all heroes wear capes.
Great work. Commenting to let the youtube gods know they should get this video more views. 1 up for the best picnic table view ever
Wouldn't the Qidian Pro Dynema backpack from 3F UL Gear (The same guys that make Lanshan tents) be better since it weights 300g less and costs around the same as the NatureHike one?
It's frameless where that category is just for framed. I do have one though and it's just as comfy to use vs framed packs provided you have a lighter load and stick a sit pad in the back, I'd probably buy the Naturehike if I broke this one though
I don't carry a pillow or trekking poles at all = no money + all weight savings. (
What tent do you use if you don't have trekking poles?
Zpacks is waaaaaaay overpriced.
I'm sorry, but Chinese products do not stand up to criticism. These are very bad fakes of other brands and I definitely wouldn’t write them. Lanshan happens every year that in the hot summer it cannot withstand the rain, it is also cramped and needs to be glued.
And yet here we all are happily using 3F UL gear like Lanshan tents in the UK - the windiest, wettest part of Europe - with no problems. You do need to seam seal it, this is true, but also no big deal. Whilst I agree that the AliExpress brands tend to be copies of US/European cottage brands by the time you import them the customs and VAT on the items in Oscar's list would *double* the price of most of these items, and means the Chinese manufacturers blow away the competition. I'll happily pay for innovation, but I'm not paying 500USD for a 250 USD tent after shipping, taxes and customs when they can make a tent that's 80% as good in China for less than half the price. Also remember, most of these cottage brands are also made in China...in the same factories.
I'm a keyboard warrior
Y'all don't need ultra lite and ultra expensive.... You need to exercise more and develop strength.... You're keeping yourselves weak and get what works not what's popular by the industry....
Man some you people are really mindless consumers
Neat. 👍
Why not both? I train, lose weight and buy ultralight equipment.
@@stigcc don't feed the trolls.
@@stigcc never said you couldn't, don't be a mindless consumer and follow the fads, that's it.
This RUclips thing has made a marketing hell .
@@stigcc Exactly. Being both in shape and having light equipment (though I am far from ultra-light) makes for the best experience in my opinion.