Gear from this video: Klymit Static V: geni.us/pt8B Z-Lite Pad: geni.us/fex0 Outdoor Research Sun Hoodie: geni.us/bklBB

Having a dry change of clothes packed in a ziplock bag is the difference between a freezing cold night and a fun story about that time you went camping during a surprise thunderstorm and it was so cold and wet until you could get the tarp up and get changed.

Yeah, I'm going to push back about the extra clothes. It's always always smart to carry at least an extra set of clothes in case of a sudden downpour and the clothes you're wearing get soaked. Not only is it miserable and uncomfortable to hike it soaking wet clothes, if you have to sleep in wet clothes, that could be deadly.

You're forgetting one important thing. Not everyone has the money to afford high-end, aka Moosejaw, equipment. Some people get what they can afford and go hiking/ camping anyway, because they love it!

This advice seems to be aimed at people who stick to easy trails. Up mountains/moors and in wet conditions/ bad visibility having a compass (and knowing how to use it) and spare set of clothes can be the difference between life and death/extreme discomfort.

I always have 3 sets of clothing when I hike. I have 5000 miles under my belt so I’m not a newb. I have 2 sets of super lightweight running shorts, exofficio underwear, and synthetic shirts. This is all lightweight gear as I only hike in warmer climates but still. If I’m out for a week I like to wear a set for a couple days and then clean up super well and out my other set on. I even have gone back and forth hand washing a set every night or every other night. Being clean keeps all Of my gear nice and smells free and makes me feel better. My 3rd set of clothing is my sleeping clothes. I used a sleeping bag for the whole AT and when I was done it had no bad smells to it. It’s because I value being clean. Hike your own hike but just know… you can be clean out there.

As others have said, I ALWAYS carry a change of underlayer clothes. Always. The weight is negligible compared to the benefit if you get soaked.

The one thing that I am absolutely SICK OF is this never-ending genuflection to Smartwater bottles. There's nothing wrong with Smartwater or their bottles, but a bottle of Fiji Water will never roll off the side of a cliff on you.

As a former Marine Infantry who served in Afghanistan 2 times. That sleeping pad was a god send. The best gear is the minimal, YOU DON'T HAVE TO SPEND THOUSANDS.

I agree with every point but… Parts of the hiking community can get very judgemental and having people point out all the flaws in ones gear can discourage them from hiking more than their bad gear would, at least that’s my theory.

Im no ultralight hiker, but ive done my fair share of backpacking and rucks, and there were a lot of parts of this video that came off as elitest. The army puts us in some pretty awful spots, in some pretty awful conditions, and we have essentially foam pads that have saved my back on more than one occasion, and transition between hip belt on and off to change the load distributon on our 50lb rucks. Different hikes like you said, but tearing down someone, even if theyre stock footage, for thinks like carrying too large of an iso can, or having too heavy of a water bottle, only serves to push people away. It really comes down to who is the audience? Newcomers will be scared off, and veterans already know this information

Saying you don't need extra clothes is absolute madness. I live in Sweden, and maybe it's okay during summer, but if you get wet and have nothing to change into that could turn absolutely dangerous. In fact, for a lot of mountain hiking events and similar here, clothes to change into if you get wet are _mandatory_.

just want to mention it is not recommended for disposable bottles to be reused many many times as overtime they will degrade and leak microplasics into the water, personally I get a new one for each trip

Was Moosejaw, the atlas app, or Coca Cola the sponsor of this video? 😆

That GPS is fine and dandy until you run out of a) coverage an/or b) battery life. While the former may never happen (unlikely but not unthinkable), the latter is a given -- and even powerbanks run out of juice, especially the more lightweight ones. I'm all for using technology and navigation apps are super helpful but having a physical map and a compass (which weigh next to nothing and take up next to zero space as backup just seems like common sense to me. Also, a properly laminated map AND can multitask as an extra wind/rain cover, a sleeping mat insulation or a blanket.

I'm generally a fan of your videos, but I feel like watching this would put people off backpacking more than anything else. I'm a pretty seasoned hiker and camper, and I have found the way of doing things that works for me, what I like to carry, how much money I'm willing to spend on my gear, what luxuries I like (a paperback book every hike!) and what I can do without. I know that one experienced hiker can do things totally differently to another equally experienced hiker, and for the most part, it isn't simply the RIGHT way to do things vs what NOT to do. I would hate for someone who'd like to try backpacking, or is planning a first or second longer trip to watch this and think, 'oh no, I haven't got the PROPER clothes, or the CORRECT sleeping pad, what if I carry my water in the WRONG way, or pack things I SHOULDN'T pack. Yes, it's good to share information to help people have the most comfortable and safe trip possible, but exactly like you say, everyone needs to hike their own hike. We all learn from experience, you just have to get out there and find what works for you!

I'm going on a 2500 mile non-stop hike soon through all 15 UK national parks lasting about 2 years and guess what....I'm bringing a chair. I spent a few year homeless in my early days and spent that last year in a tent in the woods. Sitting on the ground absorbing the cold, or leaning up against a tree feeling the hard bark, sure it's bearable for the odd night or two, but do it for weeks or months and your body will hate you. And don't get me wrong, I love sitting on the ground, but on a long hike when all you want to do is relax and even though you're sitting down, your're constantly holding your top half up. The chair allows for full relaxation! Whenever I've been camping with friends since, the chair always gets fought over by the 2nd day.

“True men are intentionally uncomfortable” best line ever!!!

A few counterpoints. First, the classic blue foamy is often used as a cheap protection for more expensive pads. I’ve had Therm-a-rest reps recommend a Z-lite under their Uberlite even in tents for example, so people definitely have opted for the cheaper foamy instead. Realistically though they don’t sell like they used, for good reasons as explained in the video. Second, perhaps the metal bottle is insulated for coffee (this one probably isn’t by the look of it, but let’s roll with the idea it is) and is not a primary source of water. I have hiked and camped with lots of folk who will prep coffee for a quick, no cook lunch, no matter the weight penalty. Third, I hike with a technical polo, as it can provide extra sun protection and take some friction out of the system if layered with a nice wicking tee as well. Nothing wrong with it, as long as it isn’t cotton. Fourth, a map and compass are basic safety measures, and should be a part of most people’s kit (along with some training on it). A map alone won’t help much if you don’t know which way to go. Unless you are also carrying heavy battery packs, solar or some other method of charging your phone, it will die eventually unless you ration it’s use severely (ie:no pictures, music, etc, it’s a map only that’s turned off between checks.). A dedicated GPS is better, and something this load out would probably carry as well as a map and compass, so this dude must just really be into some old school orienteering. Lastly, I personally like having a change of clothes, as it makes me feel more like a human when I change into them. I’m not an ultralight hiker, if you couldn’t tell, but a fresh change of clothes after a dip in a lake is just a nice reward and reinvigorating. But to each their own. Some one definitely did him dirty though, and did not fit his pack correctly or teach him the importance of doing up all the straps. The big fuel can might make sense if he’s going out there for multiple days and is doing some backcountry cooking 🍳. The multiple inaccessible water bottles…. Kinda silly unless unless there’s not a water source near by and he had to pack lots of extra water. As we didn’t see the rest of his gear, he’s probably got a load out that’s not too dissimilar to one’s I’ve had in the past, with a 5 pound-ish tent, a synthetic sleeping bag, a larger stove setup and actual food (not just freeze dried) and some clothing options. Oh and a chair of course 😜. Is it super light, and something you want to put out 20k a day with, heck no. But if you’re shorter hops between sites and want some nice comfortable options, is a great way to go. Long and short is there’s definitely some things wrong with this dude, and he could use some help. However, there’s also some reasons for some of his choices that are valid to achieve certain goals. As mentioned in the video, everyone must hike their own hike. This dude is not an ultralight hiker, and that’s ok, a lot of people aren’t and happy about it. My goal while selling is to help people achieve their goals while outside, be it someone who wants the lightest kit out possible to those who just want to enjoy the creature comforts once they get to their site after a short hike in, and everyone in between. There’s the right equipment for everyone, and it’s all about enjoying the outdoors in a way that makes you happy. Disclaimer: I work for an outdoor retailer, and the above is purely my own opinion, and does not reflect those of my employer.

Usually like your videos but this one got a little obnoxious for me, have gone backpacking a countles times both in the military and privatly. There ain't any wrong way to go backpacking, carry what you want and need. Have slept a lot on those thin mats in my younger days and tho they are not comfortable I've never been cold laying on them. And it can get quite cold here in Norway.

Fun video, and thanks for including me in the comment round-up! If you opt out of bringing spare changes of clothes, at the very least bring spare socks (one pair per day is optimal, but every two days is ok) and possibly an underwear swap or two depending on trip length. The former is essential for preventing blistering and the latter is just a big comfort win a few days into a sweaty hike. While pads like that are terrible to sleep on by themselves, they are generally very light (even if they're bulky, not a huge deal on the outside of the pack) but are a good cheap "R-value booster" to put under your primary pad in colder weather so you don't need to buy two expensive air pads. They can also be handy as a mat you don't care about to throw down on the ground for a quick break on hard ground where you wouldn't want to risk popping your main pad. I like bringing a compass (and at least a chunk of map covering your hike area) effectively as "emergency" gear, not for regular use. They're light/small and it's good to have a fallback in case you drop your phone and break it, run out of battery, or any number of other issues crop up. For simple trips on well-marked trails it's not important, but on longer expeditions I consider it a good backup. It's even more important on ocean kayaking trips, but still nice to have for hiking too.

I always carry a foam pad that I use under the inflatable pad, just to protect it. They weigh practically nothing. I can't afford to buy new gear all the time. And why must a bottle be reachable? Can't you take your backpack off and have break while you drink? I'd rather stay home than hike in such a hurry that I'd have to drink while I walk. I'm obviously not a true man myself.

I wonder how we survived in the wild before inflatable pads? And how we could have a fantastic experience with backpack without magic straps. Not to mention how we could were able to go outside without a chair costing at least $100? There are cheaper chair, but as we all "know" they are "absolute thrash"... This video has no real value, it is only there to poke fun at those who make do with what they have.

Gotta be said i only bring my metal water bottle as i can boil in it and i aways bring spare clothes i even wash my clothes on longer hikes i just hate feeling sticky and damp in used clothes

Kyle also apparently hates pop tarts! Every hike, I bring a chair to sit in while eating my pop tarts wishing others could share in my joy instead of their love of misery! As always enjoyed the video and appreciate your great perspective!

I always bring map and compass, but it's probably because I rarely follow trails and love to explore. Also, using the smartphone kind of kills the immersion to me. I do that only when I really need to.

What I was expecting was some good backpacking tips, what I got was a recommendation not to wear polo shirts while backpacking and to spend more money on premium gear linked to a plug for an affiliate link. Cue the obligatory weight shaming. PS: Learn to and always carry a compass. North Shore Mountain Rescue is getting tired of rescuing people with dead cell phone batteries. Relying on your phone alone is irresponsible. Leaving a map and compass behind to save 0.02 oz is why a lot of backpackers are tired of ultralighters.

Good information overall. I backpack on occasion, I do not have real expensive equipment, I use what works for me. I usually print out maps, to make notes on. To show my progress, while making notes also. Plus taking plenty of pictures. Thank you for an informative., helpful video

tbh, I only switched from the craptastic foam pads/yoga mat things with an R value of "none" to a thermarest thing recently. sure, nice gear is nice, but its hellishly expensive and the important bit is going outside and having fun.

Steve, I am 67 and will be 68 yo, Spring of ‘24, when I start the AT. This has been a long time coming. All your tips and more are welcome. Thank you for sharing.

Cheap uncomfortable and cold foam pad. I have been using one of those for over 20 years (before I bought my first inflatable). I never slept uncomfortable and even took it down to -20°C without freezing (used snow for added insulation). I think inflatables are great. But they sure have many big disadvantages and I would only recomment them to people, who are overweight, unfit, too old or have backpain. I dislike the general attitude from people who generally disregard foam pads. They are a great option and they certainly have a right to exist.

All great points but a steel water bottle is good for survival situations if boiling is your only way to purify drinking water. I like Smart Water bottles but a stainless steel bottle is still in my pack as a backup to my filter, especially for day hikes.

Whatever you do don't watch bushcrafters' videos. You're gonna have your mind blown if you do.

I use two cheap sleeppads - one eva and another inflatable. together they provide enough comfort and warmth. But I like simple eva pad cause I can use it to sit anywhere and near the fire also while inflatable requires much more care.

Gonna be honest my favorite non inflating pad is a rollable. The Savotta sleeping pad with its extended flaps to keep you from rolling onto the ground at night is amazing. It's worth the extra half pound compared to the Nemo and Therm-a-rest foam pads in my opinion. Also about the not needing extra clothes thing, thats just gross, always carry 2 or 3 outfits including your current. A lot of you ultralight backpackers have gone way to far. As long as you stay under 50lb with the way modern backpacks frames are made you should have no issues, and if it is a weight issue at any point under 50lb's then you seriously need to bulk up for your own health. You shouldn't be sacrificing major comfort just over minor weight gains.

Ur videos are the best.... Minutes go by like seconds and u make very good breakdowns of the gear

This video is a prime example of one of my pet peeves with the backpacking community. So much condescension and judgement about what is the "proper" way to do things. Gear heads comparing the latest thing on the market, know-it-alls that have an opinion on the best way they think things must be done and the down right elitist attitudes that make any conversation or outing nothing more than a outdoor colonoscopy.

“hike your own hike” “no judgement here” “tell me everything you see WRONG with this backpacker” I would assume it was satire if it wasn’t Serious Steven. There are much better ways to make a guide for beginner hikers without judging and picking on all the things they’ve probably been doing and making them feel bad. Judgemental hikers suck and give the rest of us a bad name. I feel like this is more likely to make someone stop backpacking than it is to make someone spend money they don’t have (or don’t yet want to spend on an expensive new hobby) on all of Steven’s Top Picks From Moosejaw.

I use a woobie and poncho as a bedroll shelter extra clothing for emergency on my bottom of my pack strapped for easy access and it's space saving for a smaller pack I use I also believe in carrying a metal bottle for emergency boiling I try to be minimalist. I'm constantly learning and changing as I feel my skills improve. Most survival experts push the bic and even duct tape not every one is a full metal jacket fire kit person lol I like your videos thanks

I absolutely disagree with not having a complete set of dry clothes in the bag. Multiple pairs of socks as well. I would *never* go for a multi-day hike with only one set of clothes. That's like, survival 101. But maybe we have a different view on what a "hike" is.

No compass? I walk and sail and know many people who just use electronic navigation when sailing and hiking. I know TWO people whose power failed while sailing and they did not know how to navigate with traditional methods. I also walk in the mountains for 2 week stretches where I have to use power packs to recharge my phone - so I switch it off and use a tiny power pack for emergencies and just use map and compass

Having a good pack and setting it up correctly makes a major difference. When I first started I just bought a cheap pack that had no internal frame, support or structure. Even though I was only carrying at most 15kg of gear within an hour of hiking my shoulders especially would be aching. Getting the weight close to you and on your hips makes a world of difference, I moved to a tatonka lastenkraxe frame pack due to the need to carry additonal water here in Arid Australia and can easily carry upto 25kg without any back or shoulder strain. Your legs feel the weight but I find your legs can cope with it better than your spine and shoulders.

On the PCT and CDT, I saw many people with foam pads, rolled up and folded. Course, what do they know after thousands of miles.

Former gram weenie here. On especially rough terrain I like to carry a 1/8" foam pad rolled up with my ground sheet on the outside of my pack to protect my inflatable pad. Few things are worse when backpacking than waking up in the night on the cold ground because your pad got punctured. As far as extra clothing goes... an extra pair of socks is a must in my book. Always keep a fresh clean pair on while you rinse and dry the previous miles off of the other pair, and your feet will thank you.

just found your channel going on camping for first ever time in august very excited thanks for all the great informing content!

I like to bushwhack so I use a compass often. Granted it's just a pin-on ball compass that I can glance at to make sure I'm headed in the correct general direction. Also most of my hiking is in the White Mountains National Forest so compass navigation skills are not that important. There's enough fire roads that as long as you know you are headed in the right general direction you will either hit the road or a major obstacle that you can see on a decent topo map to know how to adjust your course. (Note: I also had lots of training for using the ball compass and reading the landscape as a youth hunting on 100+ acres of woodland)

with detatching the hip belt, I sometimes will choose to detatch it for a bit, if on the off chance my shoulders get sore faster (I have a bad shoulder from a MTB injury) I can transfer weight to my hip belt or the other way around, if my hips (or for me my right knee, I have always had a really bad knee since I was 14) then I can detatch the hip belt for a bit to give it a break if I don't want to stop moving, whether it's late or there is a storm

I'm not trading my metal water bottle for anything. It's durable as hell and has lasted me nearly two decades with barely a dent in it. It's double-walled/insulated, so it doesn't freeze on day hikes, even when it's -20 degrees Celsius out, and it has a loop in the cap so that it can be tied to my pack, so even if it falls out of the pouch, I don't lose it. There are absolutely practical reasons to carry a good metal water bottle. Combined with my Katadyn BeFree filter bottle and a 3L CamelBak in case I have long hauls between water sources and as far as I'm concerned, that's the ultimate setup for most situations. As far as not needing extra clothes, either you're incredibly lucky and always end up hiking in nice weather, have never been caught in a severe mountain storm that leaves you soaked and freezing, or you're just a hell of a lot tougher than I am. A fresh set of clothes in a large ziplock bag is an absolute must-have for any multi-day hike in my opinion.

Thanks for the videos! I'd just like to see them having chapters so that I can share points with my friend whom I'm trekking with.

Sometimes I hike through dense forest and terrains with shrubs and other obstacles, then a compass is really useful to keep a straight course as you zig-zag between the bushes and rocks.

"True men are intentionally miserable." I unironically love this quote. Choose your misery, be intentional with your discomfort.

I have never used a sleeping pad even in winter on -15\20° I just used double sleeping bags + space blanket 😊

Last time I camped I used an ultralight air pad but I also took an old roll up foam mat. Sharp rocky ground (can we mention crampons too?) even smooth rock slabs and you'll be really glad of that roll mat under the air sleeping pad

I’m 67 yo. I have carried a folding chair for 50 years. My first chair was a folding stool that slid down, over my closed backpack. Now, I have a break down folding stool that’s no lighter but fits inside the pack. I’ve found if the feet are a closed loop, the stool feet won’t dig in when I sit down. Go ahead, don’t carry a stool. Sit on the ground or a wet log, or just stand…heh, heh…Bring along a piece of plastic or sleeping pad. I’ll be up, off the ground, on my stool.

Sleeping pad I have one that folds but I usually just bring it to have something to lay on so I am not right on the ground to get damp or wet, during dayhikes. If I do tent and such I have another one that is a blowup one with R4 value.

I spent years living out of a back pack while homeless and I honestly never felt like i needed a pad to lay on. Just the sleeping bag. In fact at one point my sleeping bag broke and I started carrying just a comforter as a replacement, lol. It somehow did the trick. Collected dust and added more weight tho.

Bro, we use rollmats in the military, they're perfectly fine.

Great advice and I'm pretty sure it applies to folks running a bug out bag as well.

I recently went on a 4 day hike and im not using anything but a sleeping pad and sleepingbag. Im 40+, no back problems from sleeping like this. That thermarest is very similar to the one i use. I also overcarry weight (probably) but its not a concern i worry about, been doing sports my whole life and i know my body fairly well. Camping chair to me is essential as i wanna sit when relaxing and im not gonna sit on a hard rock or directly on the ground. I carry about 20-25kg and my weight is ~70kg. 4h walk is not a big deal but i do take breaks. Its good to get suggestions unless its "dont do this" since every person is different, what works for one doesnt mean it has to be any benefits to someone else.

Not bringing extra clothes is fine but you still need extra socks!

for me that live very close to the Arctic circle I need a HUGE sleepingbag and pad much of the year, also heavy and bulky winter clothing... at times bringing my pack past 25kg when enough calories and cooking fuel us added. Oh, I also need enough fuel to melt snow/ice for water as everything is frozen in winter (1.5m of ice on lakes and streams not uncommon) . Almost forgot, recommend to bring 2-3 1liter thermos flasks just to keep water from freezing, and even possibly warm most of the workday (usually soup in one for both warmth and easy calories), belowv 30C even simple things get more difficult.

Whatever you bring, the right packing and carrying technique makes it so much easier. Last week in an outdoor store the usual picture: people who never carried a larger Rucksack are walking around in the store with huuuuge bags to try them out for a few minutes. People half my weight with backpacks I couldn't carry for a 5 hour hike.

There are dozens of gear combinations for every backpacker and type of trip. Right or wrong should only be judged by the one that humps it in and hopefully back out.

I always have extra clothes in zip-locking bags. I change into the dry stuff when I'm at camp for the night. However, I do put the wet stuff on in the morning. In the lean-tos on the Long Trail in VT, I beat the clothes against the walls to help displace some of the moisture. I place them flat in a garbage bag under my sleeping bag to at least warm them a little while sleeping.

I use a pad similar to the z rest. Comfortable and warm (R1.8, find it warm enough for late spring to early fall) enough for me and very lightweight (275g)

Not backpaing that often...but... I've got the black EVA type 1.4cm which has R-value=2. The Z-lite type tends to flatten to a very thin film which really isn't fine for sleeping, and somehow in the morning the pad was full of condensed water. If you consider something different, the RidgeRest may be a good choice, but it's similar to the EVA. Maybe I should look for the inflatable ones, but the EVAs are indestructible and...that's not an unimportant consideration.

I'm into going as ultralight as possible so I've got the option of adding extras like a chair if required. It's about options.

Its very important to have used used the crappy gear, forgotten your waterproofs. Not brought enough warm clothes/sun protection? Bug protection. ECT So that you NEVER make that mistake again and you life will be saved forever when SHIF (on trail)

This was great! Lots of LOLs and relatability. Thank you for the content.

Regarding the water situation; I could not tell if he was in US nature or someplace like Scandinavia or some parts of Europe. Water filtering has only become a thing I see on hikers here in Sweden after the rise of UKposts and people getting their gear lists from US hikers for their conditions. Running water is *everywhere* and is also clean enough to just... drink. Carrying a smaller metal water bottle that you can plop right into a campfire to heat it up is what I learned to do some... 30 years ago. I wouldn't use a colourful alu one though.

Thanks for explaining the reason for getting smart water instead of the cheep stuff, and yes mucho men are eternally grumpy I work with one

I do not need ANY R value if I'm sleeping at a low of 80 degrees in ATX 💀🥵 R.I.P. to all of my other natives trying to camp around central Texas right now. Watching this video to prepare for a Big Bend trip and I love your videos, you are very informative and deliver information without much bias. 👍🙌🙏❤ Keep it up man!

Excellent video. I don’t carry extra pants, but I will bring basketball shorts because they're lightweight and I like to sleep in those and could also be used in an emergency. I also bring a very small military sewing kit. Not even sure it would register on a scale.

the smart water plastic is called "PET" same stuff good beer cups are made of. they are so durable you can turn them inside out without breaking.🤙 happiest known time. yabadaba doo

Loving your videos. We don't back pack and we're in the UK but I'm sure your advice will be useful one day! Keep them coming.

Our camping chairs just arrived yesterday, I can't wait to try them on a real trip. About compasses, I moved to Ireland, where there's just not that many hiking trails available. Most books recommend going up on a certain side of the mountain, so here an app is not that great, but that said, I still haven't used a compass since I stopped orienteering. I still carry it if I go on mountains that can get cloud coverage real quick, but other than that, I agree, it's just not necessary. I have a sleeping pad with 1.8 R value, in Hungary that's usually more than enough, however, spending a night out in May in Ireland, I'll be getting a better one real soon. :D And the last thing is, I'm clearly not an ultralighter, but one (or two!) sets of clean hiking shirts, that weigh around 60g is definitely worth it. For me. :D

Yep! I carry one set of extra clothes and three pairs of socks (one pair in a plastic bag in deep storage). Cheap insurance!

The klymit vstatic + silver windshield cover keeps you nice and warm.

I like bringing a couple of smaller stainless steel (unpainted and single walled) water bottles. I can boil water, melt snow, and heat a water for cold weather sleeping. I find plastic bottles to be a waste of space in cold weather camping.

Have to add a comment about the "sign" of the rolled up closed-cell pad on the back of the backpack.... My wife and I rent a cabin in the mountains around Christmas of every year and go on ski & snowshoe day trips. I typically carry an ensolite pad so we can sit down in the snow, take a break or eat lunch and not get a serious case of cold butt. I cannot count the number of times we've had another day tripper ask if we were out camping overnight in the snow.

I love a chair. Setting by a fire with a great view I never seen before is why I hike.

I sign every point except two on which I highly disagree: My military service taught me that a map and a compass are essential tools on every tour, because GPS will fail at some point - usually when you need it the most. I had many occasions where GPS failed me, whether it was the phone, or a GPS watch and a map and a rough awareness of my location saved me from going unnecessary kilometers many times. Second point: always have dry clothes with you. Not necessarily a full set, underwear (shirt, underpants) are enough most of the times, but at the very least a spare pair of socks, because you never know what you're getting into. Whether you slip at the edge of a a stream and you step or even fall into it, or rain surprises you with a fresh shower. I had some instances where I was glad that I had spare clothes with me.

ok, I can explain all these because I've been here before. The roll mats are a lot better than nothing at all and I have camped out in probably about 3 degrees Celsius with one of those fine so I don't know what you're on about with it being summer only. Water is carried inside the bag mostly - it's somthing you bring extra of because it gets dangerous running out of it. You stop to have a drink and a sit down so not having your waist strap on doesn't matter that much. Fully tightening the load straps is a pain when you constantly take the bag off so for a shorter trek before a break it is fine. You make most of the journey with most of them on properly but if you're new to it then you won't instinctually realise somthing is amiss. With a physical map the guy is probably scouting out a good place to camp. One day he'll bring his friends so he'll want to know the landmarks in the area so they don't get lost. Polo shirts are cheap and multifunctional. The average person doesn't understand the functional properties of materials. Polo shirts are short sleeved therefor for warmer weather - done. You can also find them anywhere. Gas canister is just standard practice. You need to cook your food and not everywhere lets you build a fire. Chances are that he's not even going to use it and he'll just build a fire but it's there just in case. If it rains or he had trouble starting a fire then it will just work. You really think he's the kind of guy who will complain about chairs being unessessary? The guy looks like a normie! You tell him that bringing a camping chair is totally worth it he'll 100% believe you. The guy isn't totally experienced and is clearly new to the hobby. Cut him some slack - he's probably openly looking for advice.

I would say that using map and compass on a hike is better than any app. In fact I would suggest to leave ALL electronic devices behind. We are using them so much and it's actually very good for mind to just be with nature without social media and being 24/7 connectable. And sure you can have some sort of emergency beacon or gps with you but should not be primary way to navigate.

I bring a 40 once metal (uncolored) bottle with because I can cook in it or at least boil water. I also use smart water bottles but you can’t boil water in a smart water bottle

YO, i definitely learned something. Good video... Im in the process of learning more about Qiviut Wool clothing

I like a small backpack on the front as counterweight. If you have trees around, I know nothing better than a cheap, lightweight hamac, upgraded with a package cord, a thin plastic you use for painting and some clothespins to attach the plastic over the cord down to the hamac on both sides. The warm exhaled air will ballon the plastic during the night. Good for >=-5° C with an ordinary 12°C comfortable sleeping bag.

Great analysis that I never thought about in these b-roll vids.

About the extra clothes, one can get away without extra clothes if you don't mind just throwing a rain jacket or poncho over you once it rains, wear the right gear that's water resistant or proofed from the get go. Extra socks. A whole outfit? Meh maybe one really compact outfit if you can afford it but that depends on what your doing. For airsoft like milsim preparation for example they recommend a change in clothes but honestly might be able to get away in the same outfit despite sweat, dirt, mud, wet etc. Have a fire and hang out by the fire before bed. Clean the mud off of the bottom of your pants a bit somehow if it bothers you. Moisture wickening layers and stuff like that helps with reducing the cold and wet to begin with that comes with even sweating, water proof socks something I wanna try for the feet. Sweating is also something to be wary of as you can go hypothermic in pretty much any season. Not just a winter thing. Don't dress or gear up too warm or too cold in any of your gear choices. Even the sleeping bag or system should be summer, spring rated in temperature range. Woobies or the warmer jungle blanket are effective. I want a surplus jungle blanket. Consider keeping some like foot powder and like baby powder and stuff for rashes, foot blisters, creams and solutions for medical issues. Personally I plan to have a proper molle attached or velcro rip and tear with bandages, tourniquets, bandaids, disinfectant, ointments and creams, maybe keep powder in it too if it can fit in there etc. Hemostatic gauze you name it for what's important and really pack for emergencies that are actually probably likely to happen to you.

Something I noticed that wasn’t brought up was that the red metal thing probably wasn’t a water bottle, it was probably liquid fuel. I have a trail stove that uses fuel that is in a container almost exactly like that. If not, he shouldn’t be using a water bottle of that color as it could be confused with fuel

The other benefit to carrying a paper map and compass is practice. It encourages you to practice using that skill regularly.

It's the little things that get you lost, like not knowing how long you expect to walk before you come to the next waypoint or fork in the track. A map and compass also needs a wristwatch. And William W. Naismith.

There is no way that the comment was from Kyle hates hiking. He never mentioned anything about our moms.😂

Dependent on the situation extra clothes aren't necessary but if you have the room id bring some and at a minimum extra socks are for sure key.

I love how much conversation you get going with this video. The comments section is wild!

Yes for most (and you are the pro) but I sweat like a beast and hike+camp in all weather in the Japanese Alps. I need extra (dry) clothing.

On an extra set of clothes - I think having one in your pack, inside the liner or in a ziploc, is kind of a must have item if you are packing anywhere it rains (which is everywhere). At least bring something dry to sleep in. Sleeping wet will wet out your down gear and could turn dangerous. But I'll give you this much... the extra clothes should never be so you have something clean to start your day in. They should be an emergency backup. But HYOK. I've known hikers who would go out for a weekend trip and bring a set for each day and a sleeping set. Whatever luxuries your willing to carry are fair game, I suppose.

My last hike we were off trail for an entire day and used a map and compass. And if you are actually using a compass - you don't carry it around your neck - as you should be checking your bearing every minute or so!

Thanks for the tips however most synthetic clothing is polyester which makes me sweat and does nothing to wick away the sweat. Really dislike polyester.

I started in Boy Scouts in the 90s. We were children with 30 Lb packs. Everything was metal. We all had those pads. Classic.