MY BACKPACK IS TOO HEAVY... // Vlog from Endla Nature Reserve, Estonia
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- Опубликовано: 29 авг 2024
- I did a weekend hiking trip to try out a new insulated hammock system and discovered that my backpack is too heavy for comfortable hiking. Help me out in the comments by suggesting what should I toss out or what should I change to a lighter version!
Gear that I show:
Husky sleeping bag "Enjoy" bit.ly/huskybag
Arbora 3-season Insulated Hammock Set bit.ly/arboraset - GET -10% WITH CODE "AH51" from their shop!
Sleeping mat Therm-a-Rest Z-Lite Sol bit.ly/thermarest1
Ruffwear Highlands Sleeping Bag for dogs bit.ly/highland...
DD Hammock SuperLight Tarp bit.ly/DDSuperL...
Backpack Ferrino Overland bit.ly/ferrinobag
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saib. - spring waltz
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Great suggestions you have given already, thank you all! Keep them coming. Sometimes it is hard to think outside of the box and that's where you come in :) I have read a lot of new ideas and I will definitely try them out.
Well, it's hard to train wearing a backpack ;) More important are regular breaks during the hike. Everyone can hike on a long distances if remember just one important rule: 50 minutes walk, 10 minutes rest, 50 minutes walk, 10 minutes rest... etc. (or 45 minutes walk, 15 minutes rest... )
Even if you're not athletic, you can walk all day with a big backpack, when you take a regular breaks. Just 10 - 15 minutes every hour.
you should do a new video what you carry now
Lots of solid advice here concerning your gear.
Now, regarding blisters:
1: Tape the areas you usually get them before you start your hike, if you don't already. I do this every time I go hiking and have zero blisters.
2: If/when you notice a "hot spot" starting to develop, STOP walking and take care of it right away.
3: Every now and then, take a break to make sure your bootlaces are nice and tight, but not uncomfortable. While you're doing this, check for any obvious redness on your feet. This is/could be an indication of a hot spot that hasn't made itself known yet. Tape/re-tape as necessary.
There may be a couple more tips/tricks, but this is what I do and my feet thank me for it, and I'm sure yours will, too. :)
Love the vids! Luna is a sweet pup. So obvious is your love for one another. Her bridge crossings crack me up!
I love your videos. You seem like such a kind person and have an inner happiness most people never find.
You can sleep warmer in a lighter bag if you can find stones in your ares. Build a small fire inside a ring of stones. When you are ready to sleep take one of two stones and wrap them in your extra cloths and put them in the bottom of your sleeping bag. The will keep you toasty all night. In the morning just leave them behind for the next hiker.
I worked in Estonia with the US military in the 1990s. It's so wonderful to see the beauty of Estonia's natural places and to see you enjoy them. Also I loved Saku beer!
Before buying anything new, I'd try the same setup without the duplicate items (extra fuel canister, tarp) and get the food plan under control. Keep Luna's items out, as if she were carrying them, and see how your pack is at that point. It's really easy to spend a lot of money shaving ounces & grams instead of removing the extra pounds & kilos from your pack.
Hiker,
Great Videos! We had a dog that looked a lot like Luna. She loved hiking, kayaking, snow, swimming. She did NOT like having a pack on. I tried every training trick possible -- putting raw beef in it & letting her be around it without putting it on. Holding it in the same hand as treats. Having it around for weeks without using it. Etc, Etc.
But when I put the empty pack on her (or empty plus a few smelly treats), this excited enthusiastic dog put her head down and her tail down and walked in slow motion until the pack came off. I tried leaving it on for 10 minutes and a few times for 4 or 5 hours. She never changed while that pack was on. Head down, tail down, slow motion -- a beaten defeated dog.
I finally gave up and carried the small amount of weight she needed. I wish you well training Luna to carry a pack. But do not believe those who say that every single dog can be trained to carry or pull. Dogs have personalities. And some dogs may simply not want to do it.
Our dog continued to be a wildly enthusiastic hiker, kayaker, camper, swimmer, and even nordic ski companion for many years. But not with a pack.
My suggestions are as follows. The next time, only 1 tarp, 1 gas canister (but if you can have a camp fire, no gas, no stove), 1/3 the food and mostly freeze dried meals, an inflatable ultra lightweight ground pad, a different sleeping bag (not down but one with a higher quality fill that is lighter and more compact). Personally for a one night trip, I would have also left the large pack at home and went with a pack of about 20-30 liters. Also I am not sure I would have brought the rain jacket for Luna either. I swear I am not mean, LOL. Everything else seemed about right.
Fun to see you and Luna getting out in spite of the snow and cold weather. We've had 147 days of rain since October 2016 where I live, and it's been miserable. I thought about some things you could do to lighten your pack. The best way to lighten your gear is to lighten up the big three items you have - your shelter, your pack and your sleeping bag. Then pick out a core set of things that you can never, never do without and make sure you always have them. The rest? It will depend on the weather, season and how long you will be out for. One trick is replace your gear over time with things that weigh half as much as what you currently have, and also find single items that can replace two items. For now, just consider all that extra weight as "training weight" and enjoy the exercise! Thanks for sharing your overnight adventure.
Hey Maiu!
A couple things to try that won't cost anything:
-If you have an almost empty fuel canister just leave it at home and take the fuller one. They last quite awhile. Also you may want to switch over to the 100g canisters of fuel as they are smaller and lighter. It looks like you took 220g canisters. Space wise see if you can get the canister and the stove to fit into your cook pot to get them to take up less space.
- Try and cut down on your food and other consumable provisions. Look at servings on the package to estimate how much you will need for your trips. Also try and cut down on excess packaging. Some prepared meals have additional bags and boxes that just add weight and bulk. Strip them down at home before you pack. Also your food bag made some clanging. Avoid canned goods because metal is way heavier than plastic packaging.
- Rolling up clothes instead of folding them makes them take up less space. Unfortunately this won't do anything to reduce weight.
- If the hammock is insulated you can probably leave the sleep pad at home for when you go out with the hammock.Because you're not against the ground the insulation won't compress down like it does on the ground.
- I would leave the spare tarp at home. Now that you've tested your equipment and have some confidence in it you know the tarp for the hammock is good enough.
In the future you may want to buy an inflatable sleeping pad. It will pack smaller and be lighter than the foam one. Hope this helps.
Hi Maiu, nice video and looks like every backpacker try to reduce some weights once in a while ... 18kg isn't that bad for a 2-3 days overnighter trip, especially if you have some staff for Luna included as well. Guess Luna can carry a little for herself and some dogs are taking a small pack with proud ;-). Eliminating double items is a good way getting rid of something, e.g. the 2nd tarp or the insulation mat. There is a nice under quilt incorporated in your hammock and if the quilt keeps you warm you may replace the full length insulation mat by just a little pad to sit on which Luna can use as her sleeping mat as well. Synthetic sleeping bags are bulky and heavy, no doubt. Down bags are more lightweight and compress perfectly, maybe you can use a smaller/lighter backpack in a second step than. Down bags are at least 3-times more expensive-maybe you get one for a reasonable price if you chose a 90/10 or 85/15 down/feather mixture with e.g. 700cuin fill power instead of an really expensive UL down filling. Looks like your mug is made of stainless steel, a titanium cup/pot saves some weights as well. There is special dehydrated trail food available where you just need to pour boiling water into it's own bag and let it rest some minutes until the food is done and ready to eat. This method saves some fuel as well since your stove need just to heat up the water. To be honest, I don't like the most of those special food much. I prefer standard dehydrated food from the supermarket as such soups or those which are based on noodles or rice. It packs and weight little as well and it is much cheaper than the specialized trial food. Cooking time depends on the dish and varies from 3 minutes up to 10 which saves some fuel/gas (compared to cooking with fresh ingredients) as well which is a fair deal ;-)
ATB. Franz, bugikraxn
I just came back from a 3 night hike covering 20 klms and had to carry a 37lb backpack over rough rocky terrain.
My suggestion would be to carry no water if hiking around a lake. Use your old hammock with a car windscreen reflector at your back. Weighs nothing. For food only eat morning and night. Snacks midday.
I have learnt my lesson.
aw man--I love your videos. Luna is a great camping dog. Dogs sleep outside in the cold, on warm stuff under them, and their under-coats keep them warm on their tops. Not to worry. You will soon develop your "woods-ears" where you will be able to sleep through the night & disregard extraneous noises. The important noises will wake you up--don't worry about that. Unless you fear people, there are few noises to awaken you. I love your watercolors, too...please show more of them! :)
I think many have already chimed in with similar comments, but to cut pack weight I focus on the big 3, pack, shelter, and sleep system.
1. Pack
You’ve mentioned wanting to upgrade the pack before, and at 2.3kg, you could definitely save weight there, but that could get expensive.
2. Shelter
If you stick with tarp camping, you’re shelter is already pretty light. Even the hammock (deducting the insulation) with tarp isn’t excessive.
3. Sleep system - Yours and Luna’s
Maybe 1kg of the hammock is the insulation which counts toward your sleep system, so add the bag and you have 3kg for your sleep system and another 760g for Luna. Probably your best opportunity to reduce weight and bulk.
For warmer months, you could get a lighter bag and adjust warmth by layering clothing at night.
If you can buy or make a topquilt, I highly recommend it. The bottom insulation in a sleeping bag doesn’t help keep you warm. A top quilt does away with it so you are not packing useless weight. They work on the ground as well, your sleeping pad is the insulation.
You can test out the idea using a normal mummy style sleeping bag. Unzip it to the foot box and drape it over you like a quilt rather than getting inside it.
For Luna, you could also look to children’s sleeping bags. They may be lighter than the dog specific bags.
4. Cook kit and food
Your setup is pretty light, but you may want to look to alcohol (heet or denatured alcohol) fueled stoves. Common ones run 20-30 grams, and takes 20mL of fuel to heat 500mL of water. Total weight is probably less than one of those canisters. That will probably only work if you switch to dehydrated meals, which will likely save you a substantial amount of weight on food. Backpackingadventures has some good meal planning videos as does sintax77.
5. Stuff sacks
They don’t seem like much, but they also add up. If you still use a plastic bag liner, just cram all of the gear you want to keep dry into the liner bag and roll up the top. It will probably reduce pack size as well since you will have no wasted space. You also won’t feel like you’re packing melons through the forest.
6. Keep testing to get confidence in gear
Noticed you brought some redundant items. Sleeping pad with an insulated hammock. Two different tarps. Every gram adds up. The more you trust your gear, the less you’ll feel the need to bring backups. Car camping and little trips like this are a great way to test new gear and still allow yourself the security of a known setup if it doesn’t work out.
7. Dog packs
Luna looks strong and has a lot of energy, she may be able to carry her sleeping bag and food with her own pack and some practice.
8. Planning
Knowing the weather conditions can help you plan better and bring only what’s needed. Similarly, planning meals as mentioned earlier will help avoid bringing too much.
9. Don’t forget the small things
Once you’re through the big things, you’ll need to look to smaller items to save weight. Can you find a headlamp that uses fewer batteries? Is there a lighter knife that would do what you need it to? Do you need a rain poncho and rain jacket and a pack cover? Would something like a poncho tarp or Snugpak patrol poncho (which also covers your pack) be a smaller, lighter alternative and just as functional?
10. Find your comfort level
At the end of the day, cut only what you’re comfortable cutting. If the extras give you peace of mind, bring them. We’re all guilty of it :) I will say that hiking has become more enjoyable as I've cut pack weight.
Another outstanding video! With all the great comments here, my only suggestion is to determine ahead of any further trips, your base ideal backpack load. Next, only swap out one or two items for evaluation. For example, leave your original tarp, and evaluate the hammock. Or swap out your original stove & fuel canister to evaluate a bio-fuel stove or maybe an Esbit or Trangia alcohol stove, etc. That way you are not bringing duplicate items which unnecessarily increases your base pack load weight. Definately, keep your watercolors kit, thats a fantastic creative break on the trail that adds to the hiking experience & gives you something tangible to look back on for many years. That and "Dogs Rock!" My rat terrier loves going on hikes, canoe trips & rides in the Jeep. Dogs are great, little entertaining companions! Keep up your fun videos & sharing your beautiful country.
Good hike! Luna was so brave crossing that bridge!!! My suggestions: 1. Get Luna to carry her own gear. 2. 1-1.5 Kg - Swap out the sleeping bag for a down top quilt. I made mine from a Costco down throw that only cost $20. It is only good for temperatures around 45F though. Lots of vendors sell them, or you can DIY one for less. Also good for ground camping as your pad is all the insulation you need. 3. 2 kg - Get a Sawyer mini water filter, and carry a 1 liter Nalgene water bottle that you can refill using gravity and a small hose vs. carrying all that heavy water - 3 bottles! Plus, you can fill it 3/4 full with hot water (or even boiling water actually) close it tightly, and put a wool sock over it. Place it between your legs when you go t bed to warm your femoral arteries. A really great way to stay warm in cold weather! 4. .5 kg - Only one tarp. :). 5. 1-3 kg - Dehydrated backpacking food, instant oatmeal, etc. Carrying bread and a whole block of cheese seems a bit heavy, but delicious! 6. A titanium cook pot will save you 100 grams or so. 7. .5 kg - Once you decide to switch full-time to hammock camping (I have!) you can leave that sleep pad at home. 8.. All those "little things" can really add up. 8. Take a single 100 gram fuel canister, vs. the large 230 gram ones. It should nest inside your cook pot. Weigh your canister before leaving for your hike to determine if there is enough fuel in it for the duration of your intended hike. I also love my Firebox Nano Stove. www.fireboxstove.com/3-inch-folding-firebox-nano It uses wood (no fuel to carry) and apparently an unlimited resource in our area, and is perfect for cooking on, toasting bread & cheese sandwiches :) or boiling water. The stainless steel version is only 170 grams, and it is tiny! Total weight savings just from the above = 6.1- kg, not counting the "little things" and Luna's items. That's a whopping 33% reduction in weight! There's a saying here in the states: ounces = pounds and pounds = pain. Once you get everyone's suggestions, you should do a pack weight loss video. :D
DannyH Wow, great list, thanks :)
Top 3 upgrades: Down bag, 1 tarp,and a Doggie pack for Luna.
Dang birds always making bird love at night. Thanks for the video
Easiest way to reduce the weight is to wait for summer🌞, all your winter gear has you stressed.
Loved the art, you should show us some more.
+Decide on the difference between 'what you might need' and 'what you cant do without' and get rid of the 'what you might need'. Use a smaller rucksack -it concentrates the mind. Get a harness for Luna with pockets so she can carry some of her own gear. Buy ear plugs - cheap lightweight and effective. Use dehydrated rations if water is abundant. Or just take the pain and carry the weight. Best wishes. Nigel
Her in US, Luna would be carrying a pack with her stuff in it, that should lighten you load a little...
I love your videos, and your sweet, light hearted touch. Stay with the synthetic bag. Warm even when wet. Worth the weight. With a little planning for the food, and leaving the second tarp, your pack weight will be fine.
Hey! Nice video. The Weight problem of you pack is totally normal for a "begginer" with a limited budget. Invest in lighter products when you can afford it but don't overdo it. A normal backpack for an overnighter in the winter weights in at 12-18 kg depending on how much luxury things you bring. Do you need extra clothes, tarp, a lot of food/snack's, toiletries, "good to have"things? If you want to go lightweight you will have to skip many of your hikingluxury things=all the things you carry around but never use 😁
18 kg is not to bad(you also carry for Luna) See it as training, next time you go out on a hike, you will be stronger 🙌💪 Keep it up👍🎖
My wintergear camp setup weights in as follows: Sleepingbag 800g(-9°), sleepingpad 580g(-9°), Hammock 500g, tarp 900g, If you want to know what brands and models I use, please ask😀 Some of the things are really expensive but some is cheep. /Richard
The big 3. Shelter + backpack + sleeping bag. If you want to save some weight. First what you have to check is big 3.
In your case Shelter weighs tooo much. Even you will take only one tarp, it is too big.
Also our water on the hiking routes is quite clean just boil it or use some filters (to example Sawyer Products Mini Water Filtration System ~ 20$). You don't need to take it from home.
Food. It also cant be so heavy. 500g per day is enough. Just use home-made dried food (meat, vegetables) and cereals (Rice, buckwheat). You can also buy some snacks.
Great video. Nice hammock system. Maybe one too many tarps and sleeping bag. Way too much food even a lighter pack might help. Just found your channel. Liked aaand subbed. Greetings from Ontario Canada
Good video. Like others have said, Luna can carry her own food, bed, and clothes. She can carry around 20 percent of her body weight but needs to get used to the weight by walking at home with it. She can even carry some water along. Many native people from Canada use their dogs as pack animals. My medium sized Labrador seems to like her back pack. For her it means going for a walk or hike which she enjoys. But you do need to spend a lil money on a good pack for her so it is comfortable. Also with an insulated hammock you might get by with less sleeping bag because you only need a quilt or doubled bag over the top of you since you're insulated from underneath already.
👍 👍🏻 👍🏽
Research dog packs....get Luna a saddle pack, so she can carry her food. water.. sleeping bag etc.
winter camping is going to be heavier and bulkier. A down bag would be great if you are sure it will stay dry, if you or Luna get it wet its not going to be warm. For help hammock camping and fun videos I would like to suggest shugemery on you tube to help you. he has some nice how to vids. Luna can def share part of the load carrying her food and sleeping bag and that will help and wont hurt her at all.
A couple things that might help lighten your pack:
Have Luna carry her own food, sleeping and jacket. I seem to remember another video where Luna had a backpack too.
Also, your food looked really heavy. You can choose lighter items and dehydrated meals are much lighter too.
Your english has improved very much:"That...kind of sucks.."...lol. Luna sleeping on her pillow(?), so peaceful....
holy cow thats a big bag, one hack i use is to buy a smaller bag so it makes me think about what iam bringing becasue less will fit and it makes the whole packing hassle so much more enjoyable so thats what i suggest to u
The hammock looked great and is so much more comfortable than ground dwelling. I love the honesty of your videos and the national park looked great. I'm sure you've heard of the big three. Rucksack, sleeping bag, and shelter. It looks like sleep system and shelter are taken care of with your new Arbora set up. You're right about the sleeping bag, down is the way to go to save space and weight. But the I'm also sure you could save a couple of lbs with that rucksack. You'll make more saving here for your money than by spending money on the small things where the gains are also small (think titanium tent pegs or cutlery). Agree with a couple of comments about not duplicating kit (why two tarps?). A good piece of advice is not to pack your fears. Do your research re weather and don't pack things 'just in case'. You're near water so pack more dehydrated foods and less 'wet' foods. Your blisters will probably be because of the extra weight so it's worth planning better because a lighter pack is easier to carry and makes everything easier and more enjoyable. Make small changes everywhere. Do you really need stuff sacks when you have a compacter/bin bag lining your rucksack? Do you need tent pegs when you are in the woods and can easily make them? Can you cut short some of the straps on your rucksack? If your taking 'wet' food take it out of the cans/bottles and pit it in zip-bags? Your lightest kit is the kit you leave at home. Knowledge is lighter than kit. I hope this helps :)
The stronger Luna gets she should be able to carry her food and sleeping bag. It will ease some of the weight you have to carry. Thank you for sharing!
Cool idea with the elevated fireplace.
keep Luna and yourself warm during any night camp out , heavy on your back or not. Always enjoy the great outdoors and use more of common sense to lighten the load of back packing at any time.. As , Sir- Baden Powell's famously words are still alive... ALWAYS BE PREPARED. !
Its the time of the year. I live in Sweden and the birds are making so much noice right now.
A bigger bag has some benefits. As you base kit shrinks the extra room in your pack can hold your coat, or one or more mid layers, while active. People make the mistake of buying a small pack and then try and fit everything they need and want to bring without success. When starting out cheaper gear is bulkier, the same for winter camping where more food, clothes, and footwear must come. A pack that is 60-70 liters that can compress with compression straps is a better choice than buying two different sized packs imho. To be fair you are packing for two with Luna so you need more volume just less weight. Side compression straps can be sewn on if your pack doesn't have them. For decades I have mostly used a medium ALICE pack as it could be made smaller into an assault pack or left as is. Sewing on a diy sternum strap to the shoulder straps is key. Later on I sewed up a frame sheet with foam and an aluminum stay to replace the frame. For colder weather I used a large ALICE pack with diy sternum strap. As the decades rolled on I also used other internal and external frame packs. With advent of MOLLE gear I can plus up the volume on the medium ALICE by snapping a sustainment pouch to the side webbing on either side. And with two Jam knots on the bottom attach any size sleeping bag. Many non military people mistake its kidney pad for a hip pad. They make after market frames and more modern Military shoulder straps and hip pads belt now. A pack with a hip pad with belt and sternum strap is super important. You may get away with a 45 or 50 liter pack for mild weather. To be in nature we go to be just a little comfortable. You layer your clothes. You should layer gear as well. Scale it up or down. Use a thick fleece blanket or fleece sleeping bag with your thermals if needed for summer. Early fall use a down blanket with extra clothes, maybe a Mylar bivvy if needed. Late fall use a two pound sleeping bag. For early winter use your 4 pound sleeping bag. For winter put your 2 pound sleeping bag in your 4 pound sleeping bag. You get the idea. Think outside the box. Your tarp video was excellent thinking. I personally don't mind a heavier pack if it is comfortable with the ability to plus up volume or reduce volume, and that it is durable. I look to save weight not necessarily bulk on shelter, sleep system, cooking kit, water, food. Why do I hammock camp or hike? With a reflective truck size windshield sun screen tied to the top of the hammock the cold does not touch my head, back, or butt. It makes for a wonderful chair. Here in the mountains of Virginia, USA, there is little level ground. The ground is often bumpy with rocks or roots. So I have the option to sleep anywhere with a hammock. In warmer weather there are a lot of bugs and snakes on the ground. In colder weather the air is very cold and damp nearest the ground. Not good to breathe that in. For many years cold camping I brought a wool blanket to throw over the sleeping bag and my head to trap warmer air. Hammock sleeping was and is good for my back which I injured. I have done some improvised things to my sleep gear for sleeping in the hammock. I have started to load some Videos and will get to more topics like this in the future. I'm 63 and have been in the outdoors since 11. Way before nylon anything. I have done hiking and camping with modern and military gear being a Veteran, and am still a reenactor of 18 th century American and Canadian militia. The on going quest of what can you do without to be happy and safe is something you get better at over time (depending on season and weather). As you can imagine I have done a lot of camping in the rain. I bring a big tarp when I go, but mostly stay home in heat or rain. It's hard to get cool unless camping by water, and rain permeates everything. Rain is loud and restricts many outdoor activities. I mostly do cooler to cold weather camping now. No bugs, snakes, bears, people, lightning or wind storms, and less rain. I enjoy the solitude. You draw, I read. I do camp with friends and enjoy that too. When I started camping with the BSA knowledge was more important than particular gear. You can always make do if you know what to do..
Hey Hiker, great video again, thank you.
I have been trying to make my basic gear more lightweight the last year. This is what I have done.
Try to find a backpack that is lightweight and not bigger than you would need (that means your summer bag will be much smaller than your winter bag). Most larger backpacks contain some kind of metal carry system that can be heavy (and for a reason of course) but you may want to avoid such systems.
Try to find a down sleeping bag, they are usually much lighter and very compressible, great for saving space and weight (I have 2 down sleeping bags now, one for summer, one for winter.)
I am in the process of replacing all my stainless steel cups and pans for titanium ones, as this is much lighter.
I replaced my tarp for a light weight tarp (dd), that saved about 300 grams.
What is heavy is food and water, don't take with you what you don't need, but as you said, you know this (However I usually make the sacrifice for beer or wine -> really heavy)
I ditched my tent pegs, you can make really awesome pegs from wood that you find in the forest, and carve them with a small knife (a knife is such a great multi-tool, that I have this with me anyway).
I usually cook on wood that I find, in that sense you can save bringing fuel. The downside is that your pans get dirty, but that's what I have containing bags for. Otherwise I bring an alcohol stove and a small bottle of bio-ethanol. (I still need to obtain a titanium wind shield, I have a bit bulky aluminum wind shield now). You can go and test how many grams of fuel you use for cooking, and then figure out if one gas container may still do the trick, instead of bringing a new one as well. And as you may know, there are smaller gas containers that will fit your burner. They will be more expensive, but a little lighter.
I usually sleep on soft forest ground, so I don't need a mattress. I do sleep inside of a bivi bag, so I may even ditch the tarp, but I haven't tested this yet, maybe this summer :)
There are things I added as well, like a waterproof bag to contain my tarp, so everything stays dry, even if I have to pack up after it has rained (but if you can dry things before you leave, it is much lighter).
As someone already mentioned, your dog can carry some of her own stuff, that could save you a lot of weight.
Happy hiking!
--if you want a list of my gear, let me know. I love gear! But out there, the least amount possible :)
About packing your pack: You can use additional straps to compress the size of your sleeping bag. This hammock is interesting, but too heavy with 2 kg. For the same price you payed you can get a 2 person tent that weights little more than 1 kg. So in a tent there is also room for Luna. Btw, when you use the hammock, why do you still carry that big pad with you?
Luna can help you buy carrying a little of her own stuff, like her sleeping bag and food.
I'm a K9 Search and Rescue volunteer, so my pack tends to run big and heavy anyway. I'd rather bring more than I need than be caught without something important.
We're having the same problems with late winter weather in the Pacific Northwest... I'm itching to get out!
Most of what you brought seems fine to me, especially since you're test driving things for longer hikes. Your bag will always be bigger and heavier in the winter, so keep that in mind. The sleeping bag can be smaller in the summer with a higher temp. rating, you can probably lose the insulation from the hammock in the summer and just use a sleeping pad (an inflatable one might work better with the hammock). Two tarps are not necessary, though I understand why you brought the second. The nearly empty can of gas could be used on a day trip, just bring the full one. It's probably not heavy, but it will always take up the same amount of space.
I agree that Luna can probably carry some stuff, but you'll have to work her up to it. Remember that adding weight to her will slow her down and she won't be able to go as far. You'll have to observe her carefully because she'll try to do more than she is able to safely.
If the hammock you used kept you warm, you won't need the sleeping pad for yourself, just the smaller one for Luna. Also with the bottom of your hammock being insulated, you can use what's called a "top quilt" for covering yourself up, thereby saving the full weight of a sleeping bag with it's zippers. A top quilt is essentially a blanket or upper half of a sleeping bag without zippers. Of course down is the lightest insulation but it's worthless if gotten wet and takes a long time to dry out once wet. It's also expensive. My hammock setup uses only four stakes to hold down the tarp but you may need more for yours. If not, just take what your setup requires. Bringing food is essential and for really long trips, freeze-dried food can save much weight although it's kind of expensive. Luna probably wouldn't like it so you might still need to carry the food she likes. Also, studies have been done that prove lighter footwear really conserve energy. I'm not sure but it seems a pound off your feet equals something like ten off your back so it's important to try to keep your footwear light. I think you're on the right track with your equipment choices though so keep hiking and having fun!
For short hikes and overnight stays take only dehydrated food. And if you know for sure there is water at your campsite take only what you need for the hike in. You may be able to source natural food, for instance Stinging Nettles, which are very nutritious thus reducing how much food you need to carry.
Hello! Good to see you posting a video again. A few tips that I can give you before I go to bed is this. There are doggie backpacks for Luna, so she can carry all he own stuff. 2 Water is one of the heaviest things that you will carry so get a water filter especially if you near water or will be passing water ways. 3 Food, make or buy dehydrated food. There are a few more things but you hit on them already but those 3 things will save you the most weight. OK going to go fall asleep now, take care.
A ULA OHM 2.0 would make a great pack. A down top quilt to go with your hammock. Line your new pack with a trash compactor bag to keep everything dry. You would also want to lay diagonally in your hammock for a flat lay. And, if the hammock works out for you you can cut that pad into a very small piece just to be used as a sit pad because with the hammock you have no use for it other than that. That would be a BIG first step to lightening your load.
Luna more than pulls her weight in providing you with a faithful buddy to go hiking with... and considering everything i'd think long and hard about adding to her load.
also think long and hard about replacing your gear with expensive lighter gear... be faithful to your channel because thus far it's inspired people of whatever budget to get out there.
but the good news regarding your kit is.... you took too much! but what a wonderful opportunity that offers you regarding content for your channel... using your gift (because you do have a gift for this stuff) and your community to figure out solutions to the challenges we face out there on the trail.
(i love your channel by the way!)
You read my mind! I was wondering why that fire pit, or whatever it was, was so high. I think an empty 8oz canister weights about 5oz so it's quite a bit. Once it's low just carry a new one and save the almost empty ones for car camping.
I find that in the winter (and cold spring/fall) sometimes you just have to deal with a heavy pack. I also used to carry gear for my dog, but I recently bought her a pack of her own, and she now carries about 5-6 lbs of winter gear I used to carry for her.
Very nice video and you have a great traveling companion. Sleeping in a hammock is great. That's the only way we camp now. My wife loves her down quilt. I would cut down on your food and try a small pack on Luna. Would be nice if you could borrow one to see how she likes it. Also dogs are very resilient to weather. In those temps she should be fine. Take care and really enjoy your videos, Al and Sue
In the U.S. Some have decided to sow together their own equipment, especially the big three (backpack, sleeping bag and tent). Back when I was in College (University), I used tube tents in the winter when I did not have to worry about Mosquitos. A 2-man tube tent was only 2 lbs, which was pretty good for being back in the early 1970s. Back then I was a poor student And I had to "make due" with what I already had. The biggest thing is to look at your stuff when you come back from a trip and determine what you didn't use. And ask yourself if it would be safe to leave it behind. And of course the food! Food is really heavy. But of course this short hike is really an experiment on your part. You are trying out things so you will be heavier.
Smaller & lighter backpack
It looks like your cook kit is stainless. If so, try titanium
If the built in hammock insulation is warm enough, the sleep pad isn't needed
Better meal prep (as you already mentioned)
If you stick with a hammock, switch to a top quilt instead of a sleeping bag (less material)
Only bring 1 tarp (as you mentioned)
Great video as always. For better sleep, have your Hammock friend show you how to hang your Hammock with a 30 degree angle and sleep at a diagonally to the center line. Your Hammock was a bit too tight. He can help you. You can use a down bag turned upside down with your feet in foot box for an over quilt. Luna might be fine with just a ground pad. She might have been reacting to all of the noise and was too warm to get into bag. God bless you. John
Drink one liter of water each hour, twice , prior to leaving on the trip. Starting the trip properly hydrated is key to temperature regulation. Boiled water drunk warm or cooled down is easier to consume and absorb. Didn't see your cook set. A Two cup or one liter pot painted black, that is thin metal, with a lid, reduces boiling times and makes low pressure stoves more efficient. I bring either a zytel plastic spoon or a metal spoon. Other type spoons brake which is a major inconvenience. I bring one extra pair of medium weight wool socks and foam soles, or 2 extra pair of socks in warmer weather. I put the foam soles in my boots at camp not while hiking. I always bring rain suit for rain, wind, second pair of clothes. I use Frog Togg brand instead of goretex. It's lighter in weight. For colder weather I hang my hammock lower and drape a tarp over a ridge line and stake down 3 corners. The fourth is tied to a a piece of wood so I can get into the hammock easier. By draping the tarp an staking it I reduce convection under and around me. I bring a heavier sleeping bag like you only when I go winter camping, 30 F or below.
The best way to cut food weight might be to prepare a plastic zip bag for each meal, so you don't take more than you need of any item. Plus it's handy -- at mealtime you pull out one bag and you have all the food items you need. Individual food items can go in smaller plastic bags of their own. You'll use a lot of bags but they're so light it doesn't matter. Just a thought!
Hello once again Maiu, as always enjoy your videos. Luna looks thrilled to be out on the trail ,a great trail companion and the antics keep spirits up. To keep on topic,I personally say do not skimp on sleep system,selter,sleeping bag and quality pad. Your rest is even more important while out on treks alone.Views and opinions will vary,but what you take along is for your own interests while out on your own hike. You will work base items out as you continue your adventures,food and water vary,but also get lighter as trek goes on.Unless you are trying to design your pack as a survivalist,#30 lbs for 1 or 2 days doesn't seem too heavy to me. As best as could be seen on video, a good pack with padded belt adjusted just above hips and adjustable shoulder straps pulled tight should handle that weight easily.Compression units {straps} might help to reduce size but items will still be the same weight. Pack bulky light on bottom,,heavier on top at shoulders. Your pack looked pretty good fit but didn't show to have shoulder straps tight. A day hike or a thru hike where you restock regularly would be certainly different,,packing for a trek and being self-sufficient does get heavy, just take breaks as needed. Use trekking poles to help stabilize the weight on trail.I love your attitude and constant desire to learn new things...stay safe and God Bless...
If you have not tried it. Even on dayhikes, I lay out the gear I need and organize them into groups. These helps in understanding your loadout and make the choices over what to shed and take with you.
Maybe you need a K9 pack in order that Luna might help you with her gear. The first time I stayed in a urban area I could sleep at all.
Meal planning is key to saving weight. Also, with whatever bag you have, there is a tendency to fill it up. Lay out what you think you need for however long you will be out before you start putting items in the backpack. I really like your videos. I am in West Central Colorado. Keep on hiking :-)
Look into a down quilt. They're lighter, cheaper, more compressible and offer more range of motion. With a down sleeping bag, the weight of your body compresses the down underneath it and it dramatically decreases the efficiency of the down. Love your channel, I've been subscribed from the beginning.
I would love to see some of your paintings, another great video...thank you!
Ditch the sleeping bag... agree with the top quilt suggestion as a replacement, that and thick thermals/socks just to sleep in (NO hiking or camp work in those... keep them sweat free) ... Choose one tarp, two of them is overkill. If you need a ground sheet use your poncho... Go lighter on the food, look for specific backpacking meals and snacks... I recommend using a folding stove & fuel tabs instead of a canister one (two canisters is overkill... part 2)... Besides, you didn't use it on the trip anyway (AWESOME outdoor grill there!!) .... Oh, you might want to pack some ear plugs
The most heavy items are: hammock, top quilt, bottom quilt, tarp. A modified sleeping bag can be used as a top or bottom quilt. This could give you flexibility when you want to use a tent later on. Otherwise, a top quilt and bottom quilt are your most useful items, rather than a sleeping bag. In a hammock, the bottom quilt will be what goes UNDER the hammock. This helps it retain it's loft and warming functions. A sleeping bag would mean your weight compresses the down or synthetic, and lessens its effectiveness.
Alot of those items you could put into vacuum seal bags that you can vacuum with your lung to keep the size down. I use them for my clothes and am moving over to sleeping bags as well to keep my kit closer to my body when I hike.
If Hammock sleeping is finally fine then: Leave out sleeping back, use top quilt, pair of extra warm socks, use a beanie or bella clava, get dehydrated food, use water from the lake, let loona carry some stuff, consider alcohol stove (fancy feast). Go shorter distance, more focus on nice places.
wow! 39 lb! That is double my base weight. Hammock camping isn't my forte, however my friends have noticed advanced hammock camping sometimes approaches the weight of traditional tenting methods. As for volume, as others have commented, your sleeping bag is the real killer. Down is delicate but worth it. Some hikers, more sewing inclined, even fabricate their own sleeping systems by ordering down and fabric straight from the suppliers. You'll have to make multiple bags in order to save the money, but they could make great gifts! There are a number of tutorials floating around. The other thing I noticed was the spare clothing. Perhaps I'm odd, but one pair of pants, one base layer, and one midlayer (plus shell) is fine for a whole week, as long as you don't plan on mucking through the mud. I just change my socks and underwear (even merino underwear can go multiple days ;)). I've also noticed you have wonderful shelters on your trails. Do you even need to bring along a complete shelter if you planned on staying at those locations? I'd feel safe with just a warm sleeping system and a tarp or bivy if it's leaky. Love the videos!
-Jordan
1. if you will stick with hammock bring only one tarp.
2. If you have hammock that is insulated enough you dont need sleeping pad for yourself, maybe just for Luna.
3. when using hammock top quilt is much easier to use and much lighter than sleeping bag.
4. Plan your food carefully. I first plan how long i will be gone and how many snacks, breakfasts, lunches and dinners i will need exactly. Then i will lay everything on floor or table and see what i will bring for each day. There will be temptation to bring more just in case but try not to give into it too much.
5. There are backpacks for dogs if Luna is willing to carry little weight.
6. If you sleep cold there are few tricks to stay warmer during night so you dont need so heavy and warm sleeping gear like using warm water bottle near your feet or body or put jacket on your feet and choosing location with minimal wind and so on.
7. Lighter backpack.
8. For short solo trips use the smallest gas canisters (100g or so) they last quite long but are more expencive than bigger ones for the amount of fuel.
9. Look at the small items. Small grams add up to kilos.
Great video (as always), some lovely scenery and you've matched it with your choice of music perfectly. Luna looked like she was having a whale of a time (apart from when she stepped into the bog!!) :-)
You seemed to answer most of your own pack-weight problems, just a few observations. I've recently converted from a synthetic sleeping bag and underquilt to a down top quilt and underquilt and the improvement in weight/ pack size and warmth is truly amazing. I've spent nearly two years resisting because of the cost involved, but I can guarantee you that it is totally worth it.
Secondly I used to bring a lot of duplicate/ extra kit 'just in case' like you seem to do (especially clothes). The way I improved the situation was to take a thermometer with me on each trip, note what the coldest temperatures were and what clothes/ sleeping bag etc. I used/ was comfortable in. After a few trips I could look at the weather forecast and know what gear I would need without having to take extra 'just in case'. I also took heed about the mantra that 'layering is your friend', thinner lighter layers can be adjusted easily and don't take up as much room or weigh as much as bulkier clothes.
I also use the line-loks on my tarp lines and they are excellent, I think eventually you might be better off with a separate hammock and underquilt (smaller pack size and more adjustability (but more cost of course). I'm glad you weren't cold, but I would always recommend taking ear plugs!! (Just enough to block out the annoying noises but not enough to stop you hearing any dangers.)
I hope you stick with the hammock but you must get a more diagonal lie to be truly comfortable.
Unless you can persuade Luna to get a doggie back pack you're always going to have to carry her gear a well, so it may be that you will always be chasing the lightweight dream!! :-).
Excellent video I look forward to the next one. Steve xx
Some really good tips already in the comments. I would also dehydrate as much of the food as possible. It saves weight, space and is actually fun to do :).
I'd use the Arbora tarp in nice weather, but would use a square tarp for colder and windier days. You can set it up so the corners fold around the end of the hammock, creating alost a cocoon-like tent around it, pretty much windfree :).
As for the bulkiness, I guess that is part of the whoile winter camping, almost impossible to get around, but you can definitely cut corners on the weight.
Have fun :)!
I agree with you, hammock camping is highly unenjoyable when your back is cold. I find that a closed foam insulator helps. You may have found it very cold, as another viewer stated. With the lack of loft, thickness, beneath you.
I look forward to seeing what solution you come up with
I have backpacked with dogs for over 20 years. I always have them carry their own food (my dog eats 6 cups a day). I also don't have a sleeping bag for them, sometimes just a towel, they aren't like humans, they don't need what we need. FOOD: Cheese weighs a lot I usually just bring dried food. My food weighs 5lbs for a 7 day hike... Backpacking is usually just oatmeal and noodles oh and some chocolate (Shhh..). SLEEP/SHELTER: My tent (solo) weighs about 2-3 lbs, never skimp on your sleeping bag, us woman need warmth. In my 20's my backpacks weighed total of 45-55 lbs (7 day trip) now on my 3-4 day trips my pack weights 31-38 lbs - keep in mind gear is now even better/lighter. Hope that helps.
Great video love that pup it looked like you two had an awesome time
I've been kicking around a V2 Trifecta bivvy sack. It can be a blanket, bivvy sack, or tarp. its got a thermal layer inside its fairly light and not crazy expensive. idk if this will help or not but the only other thing i see is food choices. i stay light with just add water meals and high calorie snacks. you did great with your water, I'm kinda jealous. i usually have to carry 3-4 liters. I carry a big heavy sleeping bag too for cold weather too but a good down one is way to expensive for me right now. Trekking poles will help too. They really help with rhythm and weight distribution. don't let Luna carry to much weight at first if she's not used to it and keep an eye on her pads and nails. On long hikes you need to put Musher's Wax on her paws. I've rambled on enough lol. keep up the good work!
Love listening to your exotic accent!
How much does your empty pack weigh?
Leave the compression sacks home. Let your pack hold them. If you are worried that things will get wet without the sacks, use a heavyweight plastic trash bag as a pack liner.
Some hikers in the US remove "excess" weight by cutting away the tag ends of adjustment straps on the pack itself after they have set the pack up for the comfort they want
JohnLocke1632 You can also remove a good pound by unbuckling that too portion and leave it at home.
I loved your hyperlapse and you are also a very good water color artist. So many talents.
I would consider changing backpack for some smaller and lighter one; this one looks a bit old and heavy by itself.
It's awesome to watch your videos, I already recomended your channel few of my friends, keep it going, good job! :)
Great video! What a beautiful hiking area you have there in Estonia.
My wife and I are hammock campers too.. we love it. We sleep better in our hammocks than in a bed! Sorry about the bird noise.
We used to have very heavy packs too. Our strategy was to slowly replace the heavy gear with lighter gear. And over time it has come down considerably!
My personal favorite was switching to an alcohol stove. That way I can see exactly how much fuel I have (clear container) and not have to bring 2 fuel canisters when one was low.
Well . . . Came to the party late . . . Excellent advice from your viewers . . . Love your vids . . . 👍👌👍
What a delightful person you are!! Great video!
Regarding your sleeping bag: with summer coming you could set aside a bit of money every month towards a more lightweight winter down-filled bag. Might not pay for it in full, but will help offset the full price of one. Also yard sales (if allowed), local ads, etc., to sell anything you don't use/have need of any more can also help offset the cost associated with the bag (or even find one!). Ebay, too, is an option. Local flea markets, too. If you find a good used one, take it to the dry cleaners.
If Luna really needs something strap them right on her.
Get youself a puffy jacket. Even if it's synthetic they pack down small, they're light and really warm.
This might not be new but you could lighten your gear for the summer by swapping sleeping bag (500-700g) and mat(300-500g) without much money spent. Also by getting rid of warm clothes and the stove.
Look up the Osprey Exos backpacks. They come in 38, 48, 58, 1-1.1kg, 120-170eur. Vietnamese made.
Get youself a strong Eesti man to carry a two person tent.
Thumbs up for not carrying much water :)
Get a dog backpack. Make Luna carry her own stuff. Ruffwear makes a couple good ones. They have an Approach and a Palisades model which are great. I bought a Palisades pack for my dog. I put each of my dog's meal into vacuum sealed bags (plastic storage will work fine too). That way I do not have to measure food or worry about it getting wet. Too bad you live so far away, you go on some amazing hikes. It would be fun to tag along.
I use the free soldier hammock & tarp setup as you can set this up on the ground as well maybe Luna can then join you in the hammock keeping you both warmer. as long as you are insulated from the ground you should be both happy hikers. you can lose weight on many things. there is some great advice here. I take a matchless fire set to light fires, I never use fuel canisters or a stove. light sticks for illumination as well as my rechargeable headtorch. .. great for saving weight. love your videos & enjoy listening to your English-speaking, you do it very well. love from the UK.
This was a fun video. While I carry a heavier pack, I swapped out my sleeping bag for a lightweight synthetic, which helps. However, for colder temperatures I use a down bag - it requires a little more care, but I get very cold when I sleep and like the extra warmth.
Planning out the food is always an issue for me - I always bring too much. Dehydrated meals are lightweight, though for shorter hikes sometimes I just bring actual food that I've cooked and frozen before the trip. usually I bring too much trail mix and too many bars. Try putting the food for each day in a small bag, so that you know what you have to eat ( and can say "Wait, I have 2 kilo of trail mix - maybe that's too much.)
Another nice video, Great to see Luna enjoying the outdoors with you, and like the other commenters say - let Luna carry a little. It's cool you share your adventures with us, im glad you are doing what you and Luna love.
I carry food that both me and my dog can eat (2-3 kg of dried food and some snacks and some treat for the dog). Some light weight items for the dog to carry... leave the stove since you can make fire there...The rest I think you doing it good and fine for cold night/day camp.
Me, I'll just tell you what I did to save weight and it helped me so much! It's only a suggestion but it comes at a price!
The big 3!
1- I switched my backpack for a lighter one. I went with KS-Ultralight but there's a lot of good options out there like Gossamer Gear (Mariposa) or Zpacks (Arc Blast)
2- For overnight trip I've come to realize that I much prefer sleeping in a tent than in a hammock. Actually my favorite piece of gear ever is my Zpacks Duplex tent. Expensive but worth every dollar! All my friend here in Canada want one since they saw mine;)
3- I much prefer Sleeping quilt over Sleeping bag so I went with a Down quilt from Katabatic Gear (Alsek 22). Down is warmer and lighter than Synthetic but it looses all of his property if it's wet so be sure to have a very good Dry bag if you go with that option. Again, Katabatic Gear is expensive but there's some other good options out there like Enlightened Equipment or Zpacks. (Yes, Zpacks are not only great with tent but with Sleeping quilt too!!!)
Finally, like some other people mentioned, Sawyer Squeeze filter (to only keep water to minimum) is a must and Luna should have a little backpack for her to bring her own stuff!
Oh ya, they say not to bring more than 2 pounds of food per day but I guess it's up to anyone!
I did not look at other comments if I am repeating an idea it must be a good one thing I saw is that you had 2 cans of fuel, I would trade them in for a folding wood stove they are very light weight, take up very little room in your pack. also you just use big and small twigs as fuel. One other thing is in wormer weather go with a sleeping bag or top quilt for wormer weather that should lighten the pack in wormer weather. have fun thanks for great videos keep up the great work.
Awesome video again! In the winter / spring it is always smart to be prepared. You answered your own question by taking a little extra due to cold...you just never know. The only thing I would do is a good quality down bag. I bought mine 20 years ago and still use it. It was well worth the extra cost.
Cheers from British Columbia!
Bryan
Hello neighbour! (Finnish here) Ditch another tarp obviously. Also if you decide to go hammock-camping, you could drop the sleeping mat since you've got no real use for it.
When camping in the summer (with that hammock) I doubt you will need that sleeping bag since your hammock is insulated. Or use the sleeping bag and drop the hammock.
You can get small backpacks for Luna. She can carry her own food water and other small items. Will help take some weight off you.
Hi!
Recent follower from Sweden here, also struggling with too heavy backpacks even for shorter hikes.
I'm not a gram-hunter but I want to enjoy the hike more than to struggle with too much weight on my back.
I feel you answered all your questions in the video so I just wanted to share my 'journey' to a lighter bag.
I tried buying a pretty expensive lightweight backpack.
But it was so un-comfortable to wear so I went back using my old one. Comfort should not be ignored
To me that extra weight is worth it. So that was "learning money" spent.
Then I switched from synthetic to down sleeping bag. Let me tell you! Best buy i ever did
With comfort temp of -10C it works well from about march to october:ish
I have a Hilleberg Unna 1 person tent with room for all equipment and a dog, it was really expensive but 2kg including poles is worth it.
Another good thing about the tent is that it is self supporting.
So once you raised it and realized it wasn't a good location, you can just pick it up and move it.
But watching this episode i will scan the market for tarps and hammocks.
Since I like real food and can't stand the taste of freeze dried stuff,
I've experimented with drying food myself in the oven at home.. works great and the food is much tastier than freeze dried
Only thing I can think of from your video is to maybe leave the cheese home for longer trips 😉
And for a daytrip, gear tryout, don't bring backup.. you're there to try the new gear.
Excellent video as always, keep up the good work!👍
See you on the trails
Oh one more thing.. have you considered having Luna carry her sleeping bag and or food?
I have several hammocks. The lightest is my 7 ounce Grand Trunk. I also have a double layer hammock. What i like about that is i can fit a pad between the layers and my sleep movements won't dislodge the pad from it's original position. It weighs less than 1 pound. I also bought 2 discontinued down sleeping bags which i DIY into a Top quilt and bottom quilt. If you look around you can find cheap quilt options or sales. If you want, i can get you links that would help you greatly. I have a cheap/DIY hiking gear system. my system weighs about 12 pounds, minus food and water, for 3 days use in temperatures not less than 0 degrees celsius/32 degrees F. Any colder and i will have a better rated quilt.
might sound silly, but I sleep with my dog in our hammock- no need for a sleeping bag for her and she also makes a perfect insulating system. Requires some learning, though. After some practice, it works great! Thx to that I don't need a bag designed for cold temperatures. And yet another suggestion- Have you considered a quilt ( in case of hammocks, a top quilt) istead of a full bag? you dont need the insulation unerneath you anyway, because if you compress it, it doesn't give any warmth whatsoever. Quilts are much lighter, needless to say, but quite hard to find in Europe, I'd say, because here they seem to be a new trend.
Hi Maiu,Congratulations on a brave decision. Happiness is more important than wealth any time.
You have a great personality, loads of enthusiasm and Estonia is very lucky to have you as a tourism ambassador.I'm a hiker from Australia and I'm interested to see more of your beautiful country and people - so different to where I live. Also you could make a video about how to cope when a piece of your hiking gear is lost or damaged or simply doesn't work.Keep the videos coming - your channel will grow.Gerry:)
I enjoyed this. I liked your time lapse sections. You got some great shots in a very pretty landscape. I bet watching those birds take off by the thousands was a bit mesmerizing in person.
I have to respect anyone who asks for a critique from the unknown masses preoccupying themselves with the buffet that youtube has to offer. The masses are generally an opinionated bunch with miles of anecdotes of how experienced they are.
The fact is, we all have something to learn from someone, no matter how experienced we are.
So, with that said, I will say that I do know a little bit about cold weather hammock camping, and have approached it from various DIY angles. THAT Arbora insulated hammock looks cool and a neat idea. I would certainly try it, especially if it is weather resistant. My approach is pretty simple. I carry a second, weather resistant hammock(inexpensive). It is connected to the ends of the first hammock. This creates an air gap that is insulation by itself. In between you can put a sleeping mat, bag, and anything else you want to use as insulation, depending on how cold it is.
As for you bag weight and setup, at approximately 36lbs, your pack should be comfortable, if fitted correctly and packed right. I think what you have is almost the basic minimum. However, what you have can certainly be tweaked. Some things, if light enough are wise as an extra, like a tarp. I would rather carry those extra grams/ounces if the need arises. I try to err on the side of being too prepared rather than not enough. That philosophy tends to make a heavy pack for me, so I've had to apply some hard thought to what can I do to make the pack lighter. In your case, you showed us a fat bag of food. There are two solutions for that: 1. Have your dog carry as much as she can of her own food. 2. Carrying primarily dehydrated food is a must, preferably freeze dried. If you know you have access to a water source, carry a liter of back-up water and utilize a simple flow through (rather small and light) filter like this: sawyer.com/products/sawyer-mini-filter/
You can back flush it with clean water and use it indefinitely, thousands of liters.
You also showed us two fuel canisters. Carry just one. If you are worried then carry just the full one. But to me it seemed like you were going where the map indicated fire pits, so the lighter canister as a cooking back-up would most likely been fine.
The thing we as viewers tend to forget.... and we have all failed at this at some point, we don't know how you specifically experience things. Something that bothers one person (a noisy bag, for example) is nothing to another. We all have our preferences. It's when preferences influence survival priorities that we seem to make more absolutes: " Water, fire, food, shelter..." or "no, it's shelter, fire, water, then food!". Personally, I need to be warm and hydrated. If I carry a tarp, then I can make a quick shelter. I have a set of tools I always carry in my pants pockets: pocket knife(with a saw & scissors), cord, and fire starter. If I lose everything else, I'll still have them. These are my priorities and I realize that they aren't the same for everyone. Your priority here is input on a lighter backpack. Without knowing specifics, I hope that what I suggested saves you 5-10 pounds. As I write this, you have 245 comments. I'm sure someone is suggesting something that might save you even more. I hope they do. Personally, I tend to avoid reading internet comments. :)
As well, try a back - pack with aluminum light weight frame and wide but not tall is best !, It is much much better than vertical back packs. Always ensure LUNA Is warm and you as well. Cheers from me in Northern Canada.
Estonia is lovely. pack is ok. try to get a quilt like "enlightened ewuipment 24oz. you need an insulated pad under. this will alow you yo sleep on the ground slso. and under your tarp. if i ever go camping there i promis to cary your pack.
wow so good nature looks thanks for providing us inspiration so we can also go out instead of idling in front of laptops and tv
2:49 best part of the video
12:15 is a couple of ideas I should keep to myself :)
Hi. 2 sugestions. I saw on Amazon west for dogs, so Luna can carry some stuff. And you can use smaller backpack. This will force carry less. It's work for me.😀
To be honest, there is one more, but I only saw it once and never used myself. Very light hammock and emergency blanked ( or hawever we call it, from first
aid kit ) used for insulation. Works on the ground, maybe will work for hammock as well.
Definitely get a down top quilt. Not a sleeping “bag”. A top quilt will not have insulation under you from the knees up. It also doesn’t have any useless zippers. You can get by with a much narrower topquilt when sleeping in a hammock because the underquilt wraps around your sides a good amount too. You are supposed to use an underquilt to insulate your backside.
For the stove, you can use a special tool that's easy to get that will allow you to transfer the remaining fuel from one can to another, so stop carrying two cans! I bet they are on Amazon. I use an alcohol stove myself because they are much lighter. They are also quiet, which is a plus and usually easier to obtain fuel for when resupplying during a long hike. They can often burn several kinds of fuel, not just one kind of alcohol. The drawback is they take about twice as long to boil water and they do require a windscreen and some practice to master. You could cut that pad down some more since you already have an underquilt, your insulated hammock is basically a non-removable underquilt. If you find yourself coming home with food a lot, try carrying less food. Especially when it's warmer and you aren't burning calories just to stay warm. If it's shady, not sunny, try carrying less water because you will sweat less. You might be able to save a pound or so by getting a lighter backpack too. Try to get as small as you can because you will always fill your big pack up if you have one. A smaller pack will help train you to be more frugal. The more you know, the less you carry.
So what have you changed already since this video?
And one other thing,, I just absolutely love your accent ! And now ,, you know.