3 Backpacking Beliefs I Had For Years That Were Wrong
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- Опубликовано: 31 июл 2024
- 00:00 Hey Y'all
00:12 Stuffing Dyneema Tents
02:33 Prioritizing The WEIGHT of a Backpack Over Everything Else
05:49 Avoiding Zippers on Tent Doors
07:37 See Y'all Next Time
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Still backpacking as I'm pushing seventy years of age and I would recommend folding the tent and placing the poles in the center, then rolling everything together. Much more compact and organized when it comes time to pitch.
I’m 57 and been winter camping and camping for days. Man I thought I was strong. I put on a 25 lb pack and nearly fell over. These videos make it look so easy. I can’t wait but for now I’m gonna be in training. Can’t wait.
Dixie, I did my first A.T. thru hike with a Peak 1 external frame pack and was doing suspension testing for them This was 1990 and there was nothing light weight back then. I showed up on Springer with a 72 pound pack weight. By Delaware Water Gap I had it down to 42 pounds where it remained until Katahdin. My second thru hike, again the A.T. I was using a Dana Bridger internal and swore by that pack. It carried great and I had my pack weight down to 34 lbs. I thought it was wonderful. I have since gone back to an external however I shopped around because I couldn't find what I wanted, they no longer made it. I finally found a Dana Designs external that has the large diameter aluminum frame and weights 4 lbs. It was totally worth it as my thru hike pack weight is now 27-28 lbs. with 4 days food, a crazy creek chair, 1 liter of water and 1 liter of whiskey but it carries like it is 15 lbs. I really liked it but I've only got to use it a few times before my knees stopped working due to Lyme Disease. Don't rule out externals because they can be a little heavier but they carry a load so much better.
All of your advice here is good just like it always has been. Good luck with your future hikes and post me some pictures.
geek, A.T. '90 & '02, PCT '08, 1000 miles.
1l Whisky seems a bit low for a thru hike...
I loved my Kelty external. If fits great and I never feel the weight.
Peak 1 for life!
I did my first 5 days AT section with a Scouts group in The Smokies in 1982 at age 11 using an external frame canvas pack. I didn't carry a tent because they made us use the shelters. I carried pretty much everything I used out there and the pack weighed over 25 pounds with food and water. It was just fine. We had done day hikes and camping on the weekends for some time beforehand. Besides somehow balancing weight better, one of the benefits of external frame packs is they allow for more air flow around the back, which is good when you consider heat and moisture.
geek, that sucks about the lyme disease. I hope it gets better and you stay active with things you enjoy ✌️
Similarly to the weight of the pack, I made the mistake of trying to minimize the weight of my sleep system. Having a pack that is half a pound lighter but hiking with no sleep is not a good tradeoff.
Amen. If you don't sleep good, you don't hike good..................
@@swnorcraft7971 Or for me, if I don't sleep nice and warmly snug, in a spot well away from the trail and the early birds, after an evening by the campfire, and have plenty of spare/fresh socks, then (without those things) I don't have a good hike.
And for a really really good hike I need chocolate. Tootsie rolls work in a pinch.
Did that once. Never again!
True. This is however something everyone need to figure out by themselves . No 2 people have the exact same warmth requirement for sleeping.
@@sx5r So right. So tired of claims of "warm all night" in stuff that would not keep me warm for even 30 minutes.
I was wrong about stand-to-pee devices. They seemed like such a gimmick to me at first. I eventually bought a pStyle, and I am SO glad I did. I have had so many applications for it, like nasty vault toilets, peeing with my pack on, peeing where ticks or mosquitoes are thick, peeing where there's zero privacy, it's cold, along the side of the road.... So many times I've been grateful to have it! It's one of the only models you can use with your pants up, too.
I bring one when I snow / winter backpack. SO do not want to leave my tent in the cold/snow/rain!!
@@gingerthetrailpup7223 I just took mine on my first overnight snowshoeing trip- L I F E S A V E R!!!
I've found them to be extremely handy when in large open areas without a lot of brush to hide behind, or when encountering an outhouse in the wild.
Thank you for sharing this nugget of wisdom! I went hunting and had to get up in the middle of the night to pee after already going before bed. I'm not as young so squatting isn't as graceful and I thought about your comment. Well I did my research and ended up getting a pStyle too. Life changer!! I actually use it everyday now 😅
@@BonaFideWildLife that's awesome! I'm glad to hear you love it!!
I appreciate what you've taught me about a backpack! I walked El Camino with a school backpack (no hip belts) that weighed 9 pounds in April. I then walked Hadrian's Wall (England) with a backpack with hip belts fitted to my size. This pack weighed 14 pounds and was infinitely easier to carry because of proper support.
Thanks again, I learn a lot from this channel! I've learned that I cannot be an ultralight packer - simply because I cannot pack the same way for any two adentures/seasons/weather events/group dynamics. After years of ski mountaineering, I've tried many packs. Lately I was dissapointed to learn my favorite 45L winter ski touring day pack failed to carry skis in spring (despite being "deisgned" to do so). After much tinkering, I learned that this pack lacked riser adjusters on the shoulder straps (BD cirque 45L).....light packs are great, but consider a pack with shoulder risers if you ever go over 15lbs....which for me is often @ 45L in snow. Also, when I'm carrying a partially full day pack of mostly water, I find filling the bottom third or half with packaging air pillows helps keep the load balanced.
After returning from another very Windy Solo Desert Hike in 2005 and using my Toggle Idea to keep the Wind from tearing out my Tarp and Tent Grommets I did write a Manufacturer with a Drawing about using Toggles to keep my Tent door Closed with a couple of Velcro spots. That is when I found out unless they had the Patent they were not going to do anything about any one's ideas, unless they worked for the Company.. I really enjoy your videos and appreciate you take the time to explain all the nuances involved. It is not just going to an Outdoor Store and spending a couple of thousand dollars on equipment you do not need and a Tent with Circus and Taco Stand Colors so you are an eye sore in the campground. I started out with an old Oily 4x4 canvas tarp, a Pot a I stole from the Pantry, a Wool blanket and a K-bar knife that was half as long as my arm and two cans of Red Kidney Beans. Shared places of camping. I was under the Scissors Crossing Bridge back in the 80's when it began to Flood and had to scramble out of there. I believe I also camped on the Pinhoti with that great view. Keep up the good work!!
I’m not a backpacker but love the outdoors and hope to work up to being at least a solid sunrise-sundown (with maybe an occasional overnight) hiker. Your channel is just outstanding. Interesting, educational, and no-BS. Every time I watch I pick up a little bit of info that I file away for later reference. Keep up the great work!
Roll everything. Then pack it vertically, thus providing rigidity to the pack. Additionally, thin, rolled items become more available from the top of an open pack vs one item stuffed upon another. For example, five or seven rolled-items side-by-side are each available without removing the others.
what about regular tents like nemo hornet- you still "roll" and not stuff? PS- I'm new to back packing thanks :)
@@nflolo2388 - Roll everything rollable including, tents, ground-sheets, bivys, tarps, clothing. The only thing stuffed is sleeping-bag and that's to fill-in any spaces between the rolled items. By rolling everything, pack-frame becomes unnecessary, thus saving weight.
@@nflolo2388 @Tom Noyb is spot on; roll everything you can then bag fill empty space at the end. Even if you don't care too much about weight, an item takes up less space rolled up which opens up more possibilities.
Separately... with the Hornet, whose bag is long & skinny, if you have a framed pack (either internal or external) you can strap it to the outside & save the space inside for other stuff. Some folks remove just the poles (and their bag) from the bag and strap just those to the outside so they don't poke/break/tear anything inside, while rolling the tent to a shorter but thicker bundle to better fit the space inside their pack. I have a Hornet as well and flip-flop between those two. Really, as long as you have the weight distribution in your pack right (heavy stuff closest to your back, etc.), you can play around with arrangement all you want & see what you like. If you're frameless, you may want the rigidity of the tent giving shape in your bag. But regardless, do roll your stuff.
As a trip leader back in the day (70's), we taught our campers to roll their tents the same way every time. After having them practice un-rolling, setting up and then taking down and rolling their tents several times, we then had them set up their tents blindfolded (which they were able to do). Great training for those times when we had to make camp in the dark.
Yep. The only thing i stuff is my xtra clothes and bag or quilt. And everything is rolled and packed in a specific order inside. Hammock camp 99% of the time so tarp and stakes and suspension ride in the back. Top down inside = Food/Rain jacket - cook kit - pad - bag/quilt - clothes. No hip belt pockets so snacks, headlamp, small first aid, repair stuff, coffee rides in a fanny pack. Nix the pad in the bag if i'm hammocking. Ass pad provides some structure in the pack.
About pack weight: I've been using an REI Flash 62 for several years for anything over a single night trek and I've found it to be capable and comfortable up to 60lbs (I hike in Southern AZ frequently and sometimes need to haul up to 9 liters of water during hot & dry times). It's held up remarkably well and comes in under 3lbs. I can put all my food, water, clothes, gear, tent, quilt and ground pad inside and have room to spare on the hipbelt and top portion. I've got mostly lightweight or ultralight gear for the rest of my loadout and have never thought after a day of hiking that it was my pack itself that needed to be lighter. I also just hiked a multiday trek across the Rincon mountains and after 25+ miles, I can say that my trail runners were the correct choice for me for that distance.
What I've changed is my sleeping pad, from a 20 inch lightweight but with a low R-Value one to a 25 inch with a much higher R-Value. Yes, it's heavier, but I sleep so much better that I carry this extra weight on my back with a smile!!
I've definitely been on a journey of figuring out where my weight to comfort compromise lies. I've gained a few pounds in sleeping gear over the last few gear switches, I also went to a 25 inch pad and also to a zenbivy quilt system, which, while heavier than my old quilt by a full pound, means that I can turn over in my sleep without letting all the cold air in, which is something I do every 2-3 hours, so it was reaaally making my sleep out there.. pretty bad.
I can definitely cut a pound at least whenever I get a new tent, though I'm pretty attached to my current one, and I know I can whittle down weight on all my other gear too, so I think it'll come out even and much, much better suited to me in the end!
(not to mention the biggest thing i'm doing to help keep weight off my knees... losing 30-50 pounds in body weight!)
have you tried the Exped UL-pads? Definetely the most comfy and no weight cost. What they lack a bit is durability, so you need to be more conscious about where you put them (sharp stones etc.).
I’m a side and cold sleeper what pad did you upgrade to? Thanks
@@YaYaLee I got the Thermarest NeoAir Xtherm Max in regular wide. Not everybody's cup of tea, but I'm comfortable on it and the "bag of chips" noise doesn't bother me. I'm a deep, side, cold sleeper and this pad really works for me all year round.
@@YaYaLee same. I switched from Nemo tensor insulated 20in pad to Sea to Summit Ether Light XT 25in pad. It just ‘feels’ better to me and I slept great! Something about the cell system made for more comfort that I def noticed. 😊
Your videos have been so helpful to me. Thank You! Glad you finally got the Durston Xmid Pro 2 tent. I love mine too. Looking forward to hearing your talk at the Foothills Trail Conference.
Thanks Dixie for a truly thoughtful video. In recent years, I’ve added to my water weight - the heaviest portion of any backpack! - a double-walled bottle. Having cold water all day (as opposed to body- temp water) was a life changing experience for me! I carry much less water, enjoy it much more, and savour every drop!
Hi Dixie, I've been watching your videos for a long, long time and certainly have enjoyed them as well as learn some great points along the way. I'm old school, but believe in trimming weight when I care too. I laugh when I hear how much importance "UL" is kicked around. In 2000, I re-walked Colin Fletcher's 1000 Mile Summer which starts in Mexico and follows along the east side of California to Oregon. He was old school to a great degree as well for a long, long time.
Though I am well versed in the "Ray Way," my Dana Design Stillwater weighed more than 8 pounds empty. Stupid... maybe, but I've used that thing for over 20+ years and still enjoy it when I use it. Being a gearhead since the 70's I want gear to last for more than a season or two and that usually means it's going to weigh a little more unless I buy top of the line gear at top of the line prices.... which I won't.
I think a lot of UL is nothing more than hype, but if one has the money to throw around..... I'd rather use my "extra money" and buy flowers for my wife and enjoy a glass of wine and steak at a great restaurant off trail.
Thank YOU for all the vids over the years and all the great insight!!!
Great tips, Dixie! Love your videos! I’m relatively new to backpacking but your videos helped me prepare so much that by the end of my first trip last year, I felt like a pro! Thank you! 🤙🏼
I have the XMid 2 and really like it. I'll be watching for your review of the XMid Pro 2 to see how you think it compares to the Duplex and other tents you have used. Thanks for all the great videos!
I was a Boy Scout from the time I was 11 to 19 years old. We went camping every winter once a month. Then in the summertime we camped on our own. We always folded our tents the same way.
The first 5 years we had canvas tents. Then after that I used the same tent for the next 20 years. Other then treating it never had any issues folding over and over.
I’ve never been a ultra light hiker. I personally don’t mind carrying things if it makes me comfortable. As a ex-soldier you learn you are more capable then you think. I’ve watched people go to extremes because of weight that doesn’t matter. Then I seen them suffer. That seems senseless to me. I camp and hike for enjoyment.
My pack isn’t heavy but it’s not light either. I usually carry 35lbs to 45lbs depending on season. With summer being lighter but not by much.
I can't testify to tent stuffing, but I have a sleeping bag that I have stuffed instead of rolled that I have used since the 1970's. My kids still pick that bag to take to a summer camp. It has synthetic fill. I have a picture of that bag in my tent at the 1973 National Scout Jamboree in Moraine State Park, PA.
The "don't roll a tent" advice is pretty old school, it came mostly from coated nylon tents where the waterproof coating could crack if repeatedly stressed in the same place over hundreds of uses. This hasn't really been current advice for lightweight tents for a long time, besides dyneema, silicone-impregnated nylon also doesn't fail in the same way coated nylon fails, and rolling is not a big deal. Amazing how persistent some ideas are
Thanks
ah yes - the communal memory is often actually decades behind current standards for loads of things! (who still double de-clutches on a manual car! ME)
Old school it's the best school...
Sure, but is it actually bad for the modern materials? Or it's just not necessary? Because I still think stuffing is much easier and faster than rolling personally.
@@KR-bn4bg .Yes it doeeeeees.... Best option for tents, tarps, hammocks, mattresses, etc... longevity, comfort in packing and unpacking and settings, contamination inside the backpack, soaked and wet gear after the rain, etc... it's to roll and bend like civil war soldiers did... only that instead of "over the shoulder", it's over the backpack and behind the rain cover.
Back in the late 70's, I read an article in my local Backpacking Magazine penned 'The Naked Hiker' which espoused the advantages of 'minimalism' regarding gear carried. Mentioned therein was 'a Crazy New Zealander' going for a long weekend up into the Drankensburg (Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa) 'armed with only a sleeping bag tied around his waist, a good Outdoor Jacket and Boots, Biltong (dried meat) and vitamin pills'.
'Lightweight' was a term becoming increasing prevalent in the Outdoor Community .. however a caveat was issued .. 50 lbs of lightweight gear / stuff still weighs 50 lbs!
A common temptation is to 'include this and that because they weigh so little'. The end result, similar to the Bill at the supermarket checkout after filling a trolley with 'low-priced items'.
There is always a price to be paid ..
Love my X-mid 1P & the 2P. Can't say I've pushed them to any limits as I don't typically end up out in the field with any bad weather but it's nice knowing in the case I was it will hold up really well.
my first trip out with my xmid pro was a very windy, wet night on top of mount mitchell, north carolina. no rain but spent the entire night literally inside clouds so tons of humidity and moisture, and some very gusty wind. it did fantastic, barely moved in the wind and a tiny bit of condensation formed on my sleeping bag but not enough to affect the warmth at all. its a great tent
I'm definitely not an ultralight hiker. Sleep comfort is paramount, so the weight is worth it. Other (I feel) necessities take me into the light hiker category. That being said, I agree with you, Dixie, that a heavier pack with better suspension is worth the weight for comfort in carrying the additional weight. It's the journey, not the destination..................Thanks for sharing.
What first comes to mind is 25 years ago in my original backpacking days you had to wear hiking boots that's just the way it was in my mind at least. Now in my new backpacking life I've accepted trail runners and Ive been blister free since
Germans still think boots are a must
@@Malvasala So do.... the DUTCH
dun dun DUUUUN
@@Malvasala Not all 😀 - but I agree, it is the tradional way, and therefore many people tell you the myth of ankle support and stiff shoes as a necessity. And many of us Germans like to be overequipped. I admit that I wore light boots during the summit night for Kilimanjaro, because I feared very low temperatures and wind, but otherwise (e. g. JMT) hike in trail runners.
Do these support your ankles? I wear boots bc they support your ankles and protect higher up the leg than a shoe would?
While hiking the CDT, I had to change to hiking boots in snowy Colorado. Boots are just better in rough conditions. The rest of the trail was easy walking so trailrunners were enough. But I do recommend to start with more supporting shoes and go lighter until the personal limit is reached.
I love that you are willing to go back and admit your mistakes. I'm sure every RUclipsr makes them and I appreciate the tips!
I really like this stuff documenting the evolution of your packing philosophy.
Thank you! I hope your folks in FL are doing ok.
Thanks for the video. Just ordered my x-mid 2 the other day. Can't wait when it comes in February to try it out.
Dixie, You keep sharing new and interesting topics! Thanks. I particularly agree on the weight of the backpack, and gladly carry the extra 3/4 pound of my Seek Outside Divide pack as it is designed and built to carry hunter heavy loads (way more than I ever would carry), and it has much greater comfort than packs approaching their weight capacity. And it is particularly telling after a resupply when the pack is a bit heavier.
I never tire observing others pack setups. It can mirror the success of outdoor manufactures ad campaigns. Maybe you’ve done it already, but your thoughts on the craziest things you’ve seen on the trail would be excellent. My favorite was Elvis on the PCT in Oregon, complete with a full size guitar on his pack.
I'm with you on these points especially the zippers. As long as it's a number 8 YKK zipper. I camp in the desert south west a lot and the sand just eats up lesser zippers. I'm willing to take the weight penalty. It's honestly the only thing I'd really like to change about my Zpacks shelters. I love how they don't have zippers that can be chewed up by desert sand but I know some super windy day it's really going to bite me in the a$$!
I did some research on shelter zipper failure. Curved zips do fail quite regularly, even on upmarket brands. But straight up and down zips are pretty reliable if you do some basic maintenance and keep them free of grit. The main risk is that the sliders wear out - so it's a good idea to replace them before any major trip. Or do what I do and have a spare slider already on the zip - then if the active slider gives out, just prise it off and the fresh one is ready to go.
Love it! I’ve been folding and rolling my Zpack tri since 2017. I only have one issue, the ZIPPER on one side lol. Good call. A few years of tropical island life will do it though. Much love TY
I do not have your experience with serious backcountry stuff, but your advice on backpack size/weight absolutely lines up with my experiences for day hiking. I like to be a bit comfortable and can bring some cookware for lunch, 5 or so pounds of micro 4/3 camera equipment, and the usual emergency stuff, bathroom kit, etc. Thanks to the camera and cooking stuff, it's really nice having something with good suspension and slightly thicker materials to keep things stable and supported. But, I can do a few liters of water, snacks, and all that gear for under 20 lbs total weight and feels good and carries well. I've had super light daypacks before and the thinner materials just don't work as well with the camera stuff for me.
My X-Mid Pro 2 held up splendidly last night through a very gusty night on the AT in the Three Ridges Wilderness. I've spent 8 nights in it since getting it a few weeks ago but I've yet to spend a night in the rain (hard to believe). I'm looking forward to putting it to the test in both wind AND rain.
Dixie, The XMid Pro 2 does great in bad weather. I have had it out in 40 MPH winds with all of tie downs used. I used MSR 8&6” stakes and glow wire cord, and it took the wind and rain like a champ. I didn’t even get any rain in the ridge vents. One thing I have done is use 2mm bungee cord at the end of the guide ropes to minimize strain on the connection points.
Thanks for the video. I am looking forward to your review of the Durston (X-Mid Pro 2 I assume?) - the tent looks great on paper, especially some of the finer details are impressive. Let’s see how the floor holds up against really wet conditions 😇
Fold and roll also allows you to keep dirty bottom touching dirty bottom and clean top touching clean top.
Big fan of Durston tents! Can't wait to see your review :)
Dyneema Composite Fabric (DCF) is typically two biaxially-oriented polyethylene terephthalate (brand name "Mylar") layers sandwiching Ultra-High-Molecular-Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibers, optionally affixed to additional polyethylene fabric for greater durability. Stuffing DCF stresses the Mylar layers harder and leaves the fabric stored and compressed with more creases, so the fabric is more likely to pinhole sooner than if you had folded and rolled it.
Wrong on Chem description
@@georgesheffield1580 Wrong post.
We’re getting heavy winds and rains with hurricane Ian. Maybe testing a ⛺️ will happen sooner than later.
I hope you stay safe!
Thanks for the excellent tips!
I had a lot of bad ideas too. Wearing thick gore-tex hiking boots on a thru hike, BAD idea. Wearing rain gear while hiking, usually a bad idea unless it's really cold. Pack cover, didn't work! And the list goes on of things learned on the trail...
Hello 👋 Dixie, greetings from Northern California. Thank you for sharing your helpful tips. Always stay safe out there..I look forward to your next adventure. 🤗
I had a zipper failure once from pitching my tent on a sandy site. Since then. I avoid sandy sites. Attempting to repair a zipper in the bush with a pair of pliers and cooking oil can be a trying experience.
Great post Dixie. Much love, care and blessings to you and your channel/ efforts. 🏃♂️💛🥰
Yes the XMid worked great in Iceland, Did the “L” trail. There were 3 of us, 2 XMid 1P’s and 1 Zpack without fully closeable fly - she had a hard time keeping the wind out.
My greatest days backpacking are those spent in bad weather. I love the challenge of being prepared and overcoming the adversity. Your Iceland experience was extreme and I have great respect for what you have accomplished. I’m looking forward to following you on your next adventure.
👍🏼It’s not in being prepared for every possible problem but knowing you will deal with whatever it is you have to face.
Nope, it sucks when you have to spend the whole day in wet clothes. Can’t stop for a break, have to pitch the tent in the rain, have to get out of the tent and pee in the rain, have to put on wet clothes in the morning, have to unpitch the wet and cold and dirty tent …
Going for a walk or run or bicycle ride in bad weather is perfectly fine and enjoyable (after the first few minutes) because the exercise keeps you warm and once you are home you can put on dry clothes.
Thanks for the tips and tricks, cheers from Norway 🙂
Hi Dixie, sorry I missed the rest of your Iceland adventure but I promise to catch up when I return home as I am currently in Leon, Spain doing the Camino Frances.
For the Camino I had gotten the Osprey Tempest 40 back in 2019 when I was going to to do the Camino in 2020. But now about 12 days into using it one if the chest straps came off its railings and cannot put it back, so I wrap it on the shoulder strap. In addition to having snapped off the adjustable strap slides off and does not hold. The pockets for the water bottle one would have to be a contortionist to reach in to get it out but could never put it back on its pocket. The zippers on the little belt pickets ... useless. I have seeb several pilgrims using this backpack and one asked me for my comments ... needless to say Ospray will hear from me on my return.
I keep my high density items in a durable waist pack. For me it's mostly bushcraft gear, but it could be electronics, camera gear, etc.
The waist pack can be worn front or back, but I wear in in front when hiking with my big pack.
Heavy items are best carried close to the body to minimize balance problems, and by carrying the weight of front it offsets some of the back weight which improves posture and works better for walking with a heavy load. It does interfere with squatting and sometimes sitting, but those aren't as big a deal as the long trudges. When I leave my main pack at camp to explore around, I carry my waist pack (essential survival items) in back for more freedom of movement.
The waist pack is just one option for backpackers not focused entirely on going total lightweight, trail runner style.
Sounds like Iceland was a good test for your gear. Because the weather where I am can change often we tend to have a summer tent and a strong mountain tent for the winter. I guess the weather your way is a little fairer ? Well done on the Iceland trip it looks amazing.
Thanks for the useful information.
Yes, Iceland will test the wind capabilities of your tent!🤣 I have been backpacking on the hornstrandir peninsula with confirmed winds of 29ms (65mph) and unconfirmed winds of 35ms(78mph) from an English guy. I was happy to have my Hilleberg Anjan 2. It bent the polls which I replaced but it held up compared to other tents. I like being above the treeline or no tree line in Iceland's case! :)
Well, you have had slightly unusual wear issues with zpacks tents so maybe stuffing at least didn’t help? As for pack weight I measure much more by percentage of body weight. I weigh twice what you do so I think I can get away with more weight. Maybe not twice but still mire than you before it affects me too much.
I never realized that the duplex didn’t have a zipper on the vestibule. I like to zip the vestibules on my 6MD Haven before packing up to lessen wear and keep things a little more sane. With two vestibules it’s unlikely that both would fail and maybe it would just fail closed rather than open? It also helps if it’s all closed up when setting up in the rain. Then just clip in the dry net tent and you’re good to go. They used to offer a dyneema version but it was discontinued. Maybe not as popular as it was an extra $300 to save six ounces. 👍🤗
Always enjoy your discussions and sharing of your experiences. Most informative.
Great video! Thank you!
Another mistake which I wish the tent manufacturers would learn is that, when hiking in cold places or high mountains, it is much warmer to make the inner tent of, say, 1.1 oz uncoated ripstop than 0.9 oz mesh. The latter kind let the wind and the condensation in and do not deserve to be called "double wall". The difference is phenomenal and I have been compelled to sew my own tents just for this reason. The weight difference is tiny.
I generally like gear that isn't necessarily heavy, but very durable. I like military style packs because they are significantly more durable. This generally puts my weight up higher than is popular, but so far I have not had issues. Either way, the most important thing is to get rid of excessive stuff. I carry around a full med pouch on my pack, so my idea of excess my be different than yours. You get the idea though. Most military packs do have one significant advantage over most others packs though, and that is their webbed molle hip belts. You can get molle bottle sleeves one put one on each side. Water is probably the heaviest thing you will be carrying, and you can comfortably carry up to two liters on each side right on your hips. Sure, you can rig something similar up with other packs, but it won't carry nearly as well.
I have not heard of the MOLLE bottle sleeves. They have been needed for 20 years.
Big issue for me is that I do not shop online for outdoor gear as a matter of principle.
Any kind of places sell such items retail? or maybe I could make my own if I can find a good picture of one.
@@paulrevere2379 You are really limiting yourself by not shopping online. A lot of companies have their own web stores, so you don't have to go to Amazon if you don't want to. The sleeves I have on my pack are from 5.11, but you can buy similar items from several places. If you must go to a physical store, they have a few scattered around. Good places to look are surplus stores, tactical stores, and outdoor fishing and hunting stores. You can just look it up online to find pictures if you want to make your own.
I really think that the overall design of the Durston tents make them the best on the market right now for ultralight and lightweight backpackers. And I put my money where my mouth is, I ordered an X-Mid 1 V2 less than a minute after they came back in stock yesterday. They're light, spacious, only need 4 stakes to setup since they're a rectangle, and they're very durable. There isn't another tent on the market that is overall a better product. Lighter? Yes, but then you lose durability. Dan Durston's philosophy on design has made for a great well rounded product that does great in every way.
I like them but the short guy ropes make them tricky for hard rocky ground and platforms. The duplex is good in that respect. Long guy ropes. Lots of choice where to stick your pegs, or tie off to or put a sideways peg under a big rock. I wish zpacks would do an offset pole version of the duplex or Durston would do a long guy rope, tall bathtub floor version of the pro. That would be ideal.
@@petersherman2552 Dan is big on community interaction. I'd email him with your thoughts laid out and he'll get back to you on it!
As for me, I'm a hobbyist, I don't know what you're talking about tbh
@@petersherman2552 Maybe I'm missing something but wouldn't it be trivial to extend the length of those short guy lines?
I've looked at Durstons before and may pick one up. I love the "fly first" set-up. Could really have used that this summer when a huge storm hit and soaked everything and rained for hours. Having a dry spot would have made all the difference.
@@CarryOnRTW You can't tie one rope to another rope. That's just crazy talk
I have the x-mid 2 (not pro) and if you do end up in some high winds just make sure you have all the guy lines setup including the optional ones. They aren't needed in fair weather but are pretty critical when the winds pick up. I now use them pretty much all the time anyways so I don't have to get out and anchor them in the middle of the night if the weather changes.
I agree with you 100% on the pack it self wt issue. One thing I think is a very poor metric to use is "base" weight. It is much better to use what your typical total weight is. If you don't expect to carry more than 35 total pounds, go for the quality 2# pack. If you're a bring the kitchen sink type, choose the 5# pack. My favorite pack is the Crown 2 from Granite gear. Try carrying more than 35# in that pack..not good. If you think this might limit its use, think again. I did a seven day stretch in the Sierra, and my total pack weight leaving VVR was 26#, including the bear barrel.
For tents, I sorta hybrid. I fold it in thirds so that the outside (dirty) floor is out and walls/cords are inside, the stuff that in the sack. When I unpack the next night the exterior dirt/leaves/duff is dry and mostly falls away, the sides and netting may still be damp, but air dries during dinner
Great information. With years of hiking under your belt, it only makes sense you change gear somewhat.
Yep, Learned that one on my through hike on the AT, folding was easier and fit better.
Thanks for this! Struck a resonating nerve for me is the pursuit of lightweight for the sake of lightweight - and i think it's a commonly tread learning curve that more need to make.
Good exam of the tales around us around hiking. I am a folder regardless of fabric but to protect the mesh that is often less robust than the body fabric. I need a 2.5 to 4 pound packs that have a frame sheet or internal frame for stability and to protect my back. I am a zipper fan, but I hike on desert and dusty places and the zippers need post trip care. Just water and a soft tooth brush to keep the teeth at their best.
Yes! I think the post trip cleaning and care of gear is sometimes overlooked when some people complain of things failing or breaking easily. Cleaning zippers definitely helps keep them in working order, and taking care to not put tension on them when stored is important!
I started backpacking in the late 70s when a light load was anything under 30lbs. I read a magazine article (no internet then!) where the author tried to get his baseweight under 20lbs and I followed suit. I've been carrying pretty much the same gear (albeit replaced in some cases) since around 1982 and the baseweight is 17lbs (and 20 in winter). The 60L sack is about 3.5lbs but is by far the most comfortable carry I've ever had. If I was cutting weight it would be my tent which is a chunky 4.5lbs which was light when I bought it in 1978 but decidedly heavy nowadays.
Thanks for your insight. Ditto to all you shared. On zippers, one the PCT just before I10. The pass had 70mph winds (per the weatherman the next day) my tents zipper failed. It was messy. However, I still believe the whole tent would have been destroyed if the zipper had not failed.
My summer tent stuffs in its own pocket. My winter tent is good and roll in its stuff sack, this is mostly due to rainy wet conditions that hold air in the fabric and stick to the stuff sack. Different techniques for different situations seems to work.
Thank you so much for talking about pack weight. I work at an outfitter, and I am constantly educating people about packs. I absolutely support lightweight packs, but only if your gear is also light. And this is such a common misconception. Buy the pack that supports your gear and feels good.
When we were younger all we had were big 5 pound Kelty external frame monsters filled with 40 pounds of heavy gear. The Zpacks Zero at 9 ounces allowed us to keep hiking as we get older. With a base weight of 10-12 pounds, the Zero feels like carrying nothing at all. It's so light that it doesn't even require a hip belt. Sometimes I forget I'm even carrying a pack.
Outfit folks as well, and I frequently get people shopping for a superlight or ultralight style backpack but with no sense of the gear heading inside. Unfortunately, once someone stops in to get a backpack, somehow my task is to narrow in one the ideal one for maybe an overnight but no more than a week and preferably all seasonal with a ventilated backpanel and plenty of compartments which can also hold my full camera setup and is waterproof might use for a mountain and no idea of gear weight but 5lbs seems reasonable for a 1 person tent but maybe it is a 2 person which is 3lbs… also keep the pack at sub2lbs cause that is the most important aspect.
YES!!!! I hear this all the time.
Roll or stuff while out hiking because the maximum time spent like that is 12 hours, but hang on coat hangers in a cupboard when not in use. Tents hate being in bags when they're not being used and it's when the biggest & baddest creases form.
Cheers to getting wiser! Loved the video Dixie.
7:13 nerver heard of asslind ;) love your videos by the way
Love your comments after Iceland. We, a family of 7, were there in July & collectively looked out for each other. Especially those with less experience on trail. Dixie you are doing the same thing. We all thank you!
A trail makes most everyone sympathetic to someones troubles and therefore we are drawn to offer help. Here in the Camino, this happens every day, if not to you to someone else ...
Roll & fold versus stuff:
It seems to depend on how the item (tent, sleeping bag / system, jacket, etc) was designed. Most of my tents pack down smaller if I fold then roll them.
I love your videos. I thru hiked the AT 10 years ago and plan re thru hike the AT next year and triple clown in the next 3 years. thanks for all the great content!
Good evening Dixie. Excellent video with superb production values. Thanks for sharing. 😉😉
I've always folded and rolled up my tent. It's easy to do it and you save time on putting it inside the bag (usually tent bags are made in a very tight manner in order to save space, so cramping your tent inside by just pushing it until it fills up the bag takes longer). In addition setting up your tent is also faster since you just need to unroll it. Tents are made to be folded.
As for the zippers - it depends. You really need to be careful with those and also invest time and effort into maintenance. I suck at that when it comes to zippers...
On the "stuff vs. fold & roll", I've been advised both ways by reputable manufacturers. I think a lot of fabric stress is caused by most stuff sacks having been designed by the marketing department to look compact on a store shelf and therefore at least a size-and-a-half too small. I often end up with the vest in the puffy sack, the pillow in the vest sack, the headnet in the pillow sack etc. or just sew up a sack that's big enough. Sacks in your pack that are hard as bricks don't really save much space since they end up with air in between them anyway. Also a backpack that is bigger than you "need" doesn't have to have the gear as tightly crammed in and therefore stressed and the pack weighs an extra handful of ounces.
As for weight vs. comfort I think you need to tailor your system to the trip. If I'm going to walk all day, sleep, walk all day, repeat then I'm counting grams (but I still believe the most important thing to carry up the trail is a good night's sleep). If the trip involves more than meeting a mileage goal I adjust luxury items accordingly. Carry a camp chair? Absolutely, IF you're going to have time to actually sit in it. In the 1970s I routinely carried 50 lbs. In the 2020s I can carry 20 lbs or less and have a level of comfort unimaginable five decades ago. Most importantly just get out as much as you can.
Great topic. Thanks, Dixie!
Back in the day, I thought all leather boots with "ankle support" were needed. This was before the ultralight movement and big clunky boots were the norm. I hike in much lighter weight footwear these days and sometimes (but not always) just trail runners. One thing I'll say for them is that those all-leather boots lasted much longer than the lightweight ones. They took forever to dry though and on many a cold morning, I was putting ice blocks onto my feet when getting out of the tent. Oh and I'm a stuffer too. I used to pride myself on being able to go from laying down with my cup of coffee to hiking in like 5-minutes. You cannot fold stuff neatly and achieve the NASCAR pit-stop packing speeds. Plus I'm lazy too. I just would stuff the tent, not even in the stuff sack, into my pack. In fact, I rarely carry the stuff sack for the tent. It goes on the outside of the pack when wet, and inside on the bottom under my garbage bag liner when dry. I don't use Dyneema though so I have no comments on folding vs stuffing that material. I've used it before but I don't like the noise it makes in the wind. I'll carry the few extra ounces and stick with the cheaper materials.
I fell for the "ankle support" thing too. I'm a trail-runner man now. I find that if I stuff my tent direct into my backpack I also stuff dirt direct into my backpack. I flip-flop between using a stuff sack or not.
@@parajared - That little bit of dirt isn't going to kill you. Just think of it as natural talcum powder. Shake it off good before stuffing it and at the end of the day, assuming everything is dry, just shake it out of the pack. Of course, at one point in my life, I went months without a shower so as they say, consider the source.
Had a 2 man lafuma tunnel tent, quality, zipped vestibule, 2 layers, waterproof layer plus a mosquito layer. The mosquito layer was part of the groundsheet, which had a 6 inch high wall. 1st time I got caught up in a thunderstorm overnight, I slept like a baby, waking up the next morning to a floating sensation. It seemed I had pitched my tent in a brand new 5 inch deep lake 50 feet square, the vestibule was half empty and when I finally stuck my head outside to see an audience of other campers being entertained by my predicament. I just smiled, told them I was bone dry and waded out to collect my flotsam.
Good observations. Thanks Dixie!
As someone who professionally fitted packs for 15 years, I will say I would rather you have a pack that fits you well, and weighs a pound more, than a pack that weighs a pound less and doesn’t fit you well. THe heavier well fitting pack will feel like it weighs less.
Good video and I just want to say I've never had an issue with folding my tent because more than likely I'm never folding it exactly on the same crease more than a few times as even I'm not that good. Secondly if you got a good zipper it should last longer than the floor of the tent would last, as I'm using a tent from my dad still that came out of the 1980s and the zipper still works perfectly. Also with the exception of a good sleeping bag I find that I can roll most items up tighter than I can stuffing them taking up less space. Again thanks for posting, just throwing my two cents in there.
Dyneema cloth, even 20 years ago, was used as high tech sailcloth. IIRC the result of very expensive professional use and tests was to roll the sails up when possible. But of course you can't roll a tent into a pack. Repeated folding creates a stress line, so if you fold, try to fold along a different line or direction each time, to spread the stress around.
I'm happy that you have seen some of the "mistakes" that you made with gear. I was thinking about some of these things already back then but then it really depends completely on the person. what can be perfect for the one is devastating for the other.
I could never sleep on a kid size half mattress for instance.
I always used to say, "take a compass". Having now rocked a Garmin GPS watch for a year, I'd say modern hiker watches are very capable navigation devices. But... 400 bucks (Vs 40 bucks for a compass). Even so, pays money take choice.
You needed to carry the North face stormbreak 2 in Iceland heavy tent but it can take on some serious storms and wind
Rolling is a lot more space efficient than stuffing too. I've always done that with all my clothes and what not. A friend of mine in the army told me it's an old army trick.
Hey Dixie love your videos been watching you for years hope to see you on the trail one day
I would love to hear your thoughts on the Durston Kakwa as well as the Seek Outside Flight and Gila.
Seek Outside: I use the Divide 4500 (bigger bag than Gila but otherwise same) since 4 years and during around 60 full days. It carries very easy if adjusted well. Used it for up to 25 kg. - I tried to convince Jessica to try it in the past still w/o success ;) - The Flight seems to be a newer model, didn't exist in 2019 when I bought mine. It does not have the same carriage system as the other Seek Outside packs, so don't know how much comfort you loose. - German here, too.
I like folding my tent with the more fragile mesh facing in. Plus when I unroll it, it’s always in the same position
The advice to not fold your tent in the same place all the time dates back to older fabrics. I heard that advice in the 90's. Now sil-nylon is still easier to stuff, with DCF, things pack so much smaller if you fold and roll. My first cuben fiber tarp lasted 8 years without any issues on the folds.
In a similar vein to picking pack weight based on weight of the rest of your base weight, a big factor for me is how much food, water and fuel I need to carry. I am older but not in the same universe as Dixie in experience, but if I will be in for 7-10 days without a resupply, especially at altitude, I will be carrying enough weight in consumables for the calories I need, that better suspension makes a much more positive difference for me than the negative of weight.
Being able to admit that you are wrong is so refreshing in todays society. It hardly ever happens but can be so helpful to others. Thanks for your honesty and authenticity in all of your videos and gear reviews. Also buying all of your gear yourself gives you credibility. Thank you and prayers for you and your families health challenges.
I just watched your video for the first time and subscribed because your advice was objective and from experience, you didn’t tell us what to do but gave the best options in your opinions 👍🎩
Talking about zippers... Once I was going camping in the woods behind our home (State Management Area) with my son, wife and granddaughter. The granddaughter and I went out early to setup because the other 2 had to work and would come out after dark. Bugs started coming out so we set up a citronella torch kind of close to the tent and both of us basically dove into the tent to get away from the bugs while the torch was starting to do its magic. Apparently I didn't plant the torch deep enough and the wind blew it over and through the fabric it looked like it was close enough to catch the tent on fire! So we were going to climb out and take care of it when the screen zipper got stuck... panic was setting in because it wouldn't budge and it seemed like it was taking forever to finally get it unstuck and all the while I'm thinking of how bad we could be burned if we can't get out of the tent so that didn't help. Fortunately, I finally got it open and the torch was about 8 inches away from the tent though looking at the flame through the walls made it appear to be closer. I don't trust zippers either. Love your videos, Dixie!
Camping in terrible weather is the best. My personal favorite is snow storms