Welcome to Mark Goes Hiking! I share my love of the outdoors. We will talk backpacking trips, section hikes, day hikes, gear, and share plenty of funny and probably embarrassing stories. Be sure to 'like' and "subscribe"! And don't forget to hit the bell for notifications!
🤣 You bet! It can be hard to not get into too much detail. I try to just to the point (although sometimes my intros to the topic get wordy 🤷♂️). I figure people can look up the specs while I focus more on the experience and usability. Cheers! 🍻
I was going to expand my topics on this channel, but ended up creating another channel to do that…so, back to this channel’s origins 😁. I hope you’re well, Jason! 🍻
I pushed the limits with my Get Out Gear blanket last weekend. I forgot my thermometer so I don't know how cold it got. Was supposed to be 45°F but I think it got colder because I was in a valley near a river and the wind picked up during the night. I think I would have been fine if it wasn't windy.
Nice video. That's cool how you try to push the limits of gear. I've thought about adding more buttons to the blanket to convert it into a quilt or underquilt. It bugs me when my feet are cold. Lately I've been using the same blanket as like an extra hooded area around my head when car camping.
I have a similar puffy blanket (Puffer Wolf). I've used it as my only hammock insulation in the summer (underquilt aside). I'm impressed that you got this one down so cold!
I rarely bring one... but on a long multi-day hike or thru-hike ...sadly I have to cause I broke my tailbone and I need to sit well at some point cause I go in severe pain and this can make my life and health miserable.
The idea of the two layers for the war bonnet is so you can use a sleeping pad. I have not used the ridgerunner or enos version but I have tried the enos and the brand does not compare. Like walmart to rei. Even though enos is sold there I would never buy one.
If you read the website, the difference is primarily for weight capacity, but yes, also good for a pad. There are different ENO hammocks for different uses. Get the right one for the right use and they are great. Thanks for your expert input. Cheers!
I’m a senior and love my Helinox chair. As a senior there is another reason besides comfort to consider. I find the small height above ground makes it much easier to get out of the chair for everything I forgot to bring close to me. In an afternoon & evening this can be many times.
Nice video, very informative and to the point. IMHO tarping has a very narrow and specific niche. As a biased hammock hanger here, I see that the greatest advantage of a tarp setup is the weight savings, but in general it combines many of the disadvantages of a hammock with those of a tent. Like a tent, you need flat hard ground to set it properly. If you have soft and irregular terrain with rocks, roots or vegetation, or on an incline, well... tough luck. In this case you have yours set up between trees, like a hammock, and you want that for ventilation, but if you don't have trees you would have to use your trekking poles, or some kind of pole, at that point you lose most of the ventilation. For me, if I have to use my trekking poles, I might as well go with poles I can hang my hammock from, such as the Tensa Trekking Treez, and not have to worry about ground dwelling, but again I'm biased toward hammocks. So I'm always going exhaust all the hammock options before I consider going to ground. Great video!
I think this may be part of the evolution of tent camping. Having a UL tarp that can act as a rain fly and also possibly as a poncho (similar to the gatewood cape by SMD) but also being able to have a bug net underneath for a dual wall set up while being right around that 1 lb mark all in is very attractive. Versatility, multi-use pieces of gear while still being UL are slam dunk purchases.
I do like the looks of that setup. That would be great where you cannot hammock. However, for where you set-up I would prefer a hammock for the better sleep. Air flo is key during summer camping. Again, great looking set up.
Ey nice setup! The hammock tarp gives some nice coverage. That's a lot of space in there for the bug bivy. Very cool. I still have to try out the Paria bug bivy in bug season but kind of scared lol. Another advantage is the full 360 deg views if it's open like that.
I’ve got a 1-man tent that looks like your bivy without my rain fly. It never occurred to me to put a tarp over it for extra ventilation & “openness”. I may try that! I could even bring the tarp up higher & sit under it if need be. Incidentally, I went backpacking for a night last week & had a nice bowl of Carter Hall in my cob.
As you probably know I've been using this style of food bag for years! I never really liked roll top style food bags. Glad you found a good one, even if it wasn't mine! ha ha ha! Thanks for sharing man!
I've been using the bag called a cube from one of the ultralight companies. I like how it opens like a lunch box and everything is laid out in front of me for easy access.
first i used fuel tablets to cook water on my Bcb crusader Mk2 stove. great compact syteem. But 1 was looking to upgrade the heating source. Found this and it works great to cook water in the field.
Part of what makes Ben awesome is his ability to collaborate and root for other companies other than Hilltop. It's awesome to mix things up now and then!
I've recently started using a bag like that for hammock accessories. I think they're cheap shoe bags. Same concept where there's a zipper down the middle. I also started using them for tarps since they're easier to stuff a tarp in there ( easier than the stuff sacks the tarps came with).
I don’t have a link. I’ve had this bag for almost 2 years. If you pull up Etsy and type in dyneema bags you will see several options. I think Devin from Backcountry Exposure might make them too. Cheers!
To reduce weight, I usually leave my workout dumbbells at home. I can save at least 40lbs that way. Instead, I just find some big rocks or logs to... pump... (clap)... me up.
Mark - what kind of weather are you dealing w/there ? We just returned from a multi-week trip in SC & Ga. and it was brutally hot until we got to the Mts at the end. (@ the end of the Foothills Trail) we needed some ice packs, UL be damned.
