Trips and tips for saving money on hard up hiking & broke backpacking as well as plein air art videos from my various hikes and camping. All gear is bought with my own money, I have no sponsors or freebies! All opinions are my own, I'm truly independent - so if you can donate that would be ace ko-fi.com/tjbarts
I am a hiker & artist (extreme plein air painting on cliffs and remote locations, I lug all my art gear there) I'm based in the UK unlike many hiking channels, so can give local advice for European/UK hikers.
You can see my work via my own site www.tjbaker.co.uk/my podcast 'Jaunt' anchor.fm/jaunt or sometimes Instagram instagram.com/fingertrouble/
A little bit of Vaseline or triple antibiotic ointment on 1 cottonball.. 2 or 3 prices of 10cm fatwood about 3 mm thick. Light that THEN put all your wood in. Will fire right up. I love the idea of a wood fueled backpacking stove, but I HATE the soot.
Oh I can feel them “quack”midges again. It “quack” brings it all back. Anyway, great “quack” video Tim I really enjoyed it. Will have to do it again some time. Just less “quack” midges
Fantastic and awful all at the same time 😂. Well done for staying the two nights and how bada$$ is Paul with just a t-shirt for protection from the midgefest.
Ethan is a master at killing a joke with overuse! 😂🤣 We're constantly telling him to stop making the same joke (and telling him to stop making inappropriate jokes too) but he does have a great sense of humour nonetheless 😄
I think those noises were biffa. I heard similar sounds when we camped at Northampton! 🤣😂🤣 I think it's his stomach reacting to a lot of fatty food and booze 🥴
We walked the second half of the Cape Wrath Trail at the end of April, Strathcarron to the Cape. I used the Quidian Pro for that trip and was happy with it. I had some initial shoulder discomfort, but I'm not sure if that was due to the load/ lack of frame, or due to a complete lack of training hikes prior to CWT. I wanted a lighter pack, and that's what i got. Storage was great, although i added a shoulder pouch to have easy access to my phone. I did the first half of CWT last year with an overloaded Osprey Atmos 65 and was happy with the decision to change Pack this year.
Yeah I've had that too - I used it for a much shorter hike (!) recently - 10-15 miles there and back, and same, I did get some shoulder discomfort when I use it. I think it is the lack of frame, and the slightly weird strap placement (not angled like most, sort of 90 degrees to the pack? But it's great for shorter trips. Longer trips I still use my Kelty 80 because even overloaded it's so comfortable you don't care! But still looking for a 50-60L with that level of comfort. I think it could be OK for longer trips, then storage becomes an issue unless I go very UL, like use my Lanshan 1, small Ti Pot, etc.
I have seen a few of your videos now and have enjoyed each one, I like your style and your approach to walking, art and even life! take care and thank you
It is a scam. They don't back there product. They do ignore you. They tried to tell me it might be the battery is a problem. To me it's a waste of money. It also doesn't perform like it's supposed to.
@harduphiker someone has to be paying or promising something to these people to say it's a good product . It's a joke. After I told them I figured you wouldn't back your product they stopped messaging. They also referred me to temu where who I went through to purchase it. Temu is a joke of their own lie cheat and decive customers. Product comes all beaten up in a plastic bag. Half the time opened when you get it. Temu blames it on the delivery company. Big mistake to shop that site
@@user-sl2hj2cb9v yeah I've bought preceisely 3 things off Temu, the BBQ was OK but again had some slight rust? Stains? But the first thing I sent back because it was a scam (advertiisng a down blanket but switching in a polyester one) and the second thing was OK but heavier than the advertiser said. And often Aliexpress is as cheap and less shady.
I have a generic version of this stove. I found it can be a swine to light, but once its going (and provided you can feed it fast enough) it is a very effective.
Yeah the feeding of the stove while cooking is the problem, cos you don't really have time to stop and stir or add ingredients while furiously adding sticks.
Yes, I watched your Thames path videos and they were very enjoyable to watch. You must know that I am watching from ‘afar’ in Minnesota USA, I am English Expat from Hull. I am now 70 and looking back on my life, your videos bring me some tears of sadness and joy.
I looked at that tent and the reviews on you tube and 'no' was my decision, I went for the OEX Hyena II, and at around 54 quid 'a steal', you need a tent that you can pitch when it is pissing it down with rain. Yes a free-standing tent is great but it is only 'free-standing' of the 'inner' once the fly is installed and pegged-out it is just like any other tent, you are now in-camp so you are not going to move the tent.
I have pitched it during rain, outer first. It's fiddly but very possible. Not sure what you mean with your other comments, you can see from the video it free stands with the inner, or just with the groundsheet. No guys, the frams just stands on it's own. You don't need to peg out the groundsheet, it's probably a good idea as I pointed out cos things might shift...But you can move it around all you like. A free standing tent is more storm proof. Hyena is if I recall a double hoop tunel tent that needs tension from the pegs to stand up, those guys/pegs fail, it collapses? Still fairly storm proof, maybe more so with the heavier poles and fabric, but it's a point of failure I'd not really want. It means you can't easily pitch it on stony/hard ground, I bet it would go as well as my Lanshan 2 on a pebble beach! Also I'm not going to hike 170 miles with a 3kg tent.
3kg, yes, depends, on what else you are going to pack. In your video you say that you can walk home from your site, so not too far away. A one night camp out you don’t need much food and water or clothes.
@@jaspurr6173 for that camp, yes. Which is why it's a test camp, I don't do test camps in the wild walking over a hundred miles with a tent I've just got ;-) Thames Path I did 170 miles West Highland Way + Great Glen Way 160-170 miles Thames Path Part two will be over a hundred miles. I might use this tent, or might use the Lanshan 2 which is similarly weighted, but either one, I need a tent I can thru-hike with for weeks...or at least a few days covering some distance. I mean I'd not want to do the hike I've just done to Dorking to Leith Hill - 5-7 miles there and almost the same back with a tent that heavy, it's around the weight of my old Coleman! And yes that was a one-nighter wild camp, but as the highest hill in Surrey you don't really want to lug a 3kg tent upto the top of it...
Nice tent Tim. I'm a hyena fan but other than the cheap price and high hydrostatic head it does have it's issues. Btw I'm actually in a hammock in the woods right now. Woop woop broke my camp virginity 😂😂😂.
I just ordered a Trangia knock off. I like the design. I'm just going to make a simple windscreen out of a disposable baking sheet. It comes with a pot stand. It can do it all because it has a simmer ring. Another thing is presoaking food that is dehydrated so it uses less fuel. I've made pop can stoves, but it's nice to be able to seal it up and preserve the fuel for the next time.
Yup I do all that now...my Speedster has a simmer ring, and it's so useful for saving fuel and cooking slowly, risotto, pasta etc. And yes I find that pre-soaking helps, I often make a hot chocolate then use the warm pot with water to soak my dinner for 20-30 mins or more then heat it up. I made a Caldera Cone, working on V2 atm, the first is in my videos - that's from a aluminium platter, same sott of deal as a baking sheet. It works well. I see people using beer cans too. I also made a pot stand from a coathanger.
@@harduphiker I was thinking about cooking rice and putting it in a glorified tea bag of sorts. on account of attempting to stop any burning. I suppose using gel fuels might help as they don't give the heat of a gas stove. I've thought and of all sorts and experimented with concepts. But you know what, after all that I still prefer my trangia 1ltr pot over my titanium pots any day of the week. It does the job and cleaning it is easy as my hands can get right in there.
@@vespasian266 after I made this video I tried alcohol stoves with the same pot in the video, cos that's what I use now. Same problem - it's less, but you still get that 'hotspotting' and it still can burn! I think yes boil in the bag /sous vide cooking might get past that burn issue, @Tominthetent does this, he has a vacuum sealer and makes his own premade meals that way, and means no mess.
@@harduphiker have you looked at the Keith titanium rice cooker?. solves some problems. I did a version using a cup inside a pot to boil rice or veg. a diffuser of sorts.
I've seen lots of comments here about titanium and stainless and the pro's and con's of both but nobody seems to be talking about the Elephant in the room the fact that people turned away from aluminium due to the medical profession believing it was connected to the cause of Alzheimer's disease !
They are talking about that - it's all over the comments! It's actually not true according to Alzheimers and Dementia societies: www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/managing-the-risk-of-dementia/possible-risks-of-dementia/metals
@@harduphiker So called science reports and research should be taken with a pinch of salt (sadly) because it is usually funded by big businesses to spin it in there favour this is why you often see news headlines report research which contradicts another report made six months before (think of how often you see a report in a newspaper claiming red wine is bad for you or visa versa !) This has been exposed over the years ! Think of all the extra money made from selling tobacco long after it was linked to lung cancer because they managed to keep the debate going and sow seeds of doubt ! It can be seen more recently with global warming and the climate debate but everyone is still buying oil ! And when you take into account people who do scientific research are usually not funded until somebody thinks they may profit from it they will take funding where they can ! That report did not say much but more left you to read between the lines so you should ask who has made contributions to there funding and I wouldn't be surprised if you found funding from one of the large cola companies who may be concerned they may have the floodgates of litigation opened because they have been putting their product in can's for years !
Word of warning to everyone this shill is promoting some dodgey Pseudo-Science website and giving out unqualified medical advise in the comments when I pointed out why the website was dodgey he deleted my comment The only reason I can imagine he has done this is because he is being paid to send traffic there !
Totally understandable. It’s clear how you pushed yourself again and again, showing huge willpower in tough conditions. You made the right call - when it becomes clear that what you aim to do isn’t physically possible , or would be really dangerous, it’s best to press the pause button and resume when things have improved. I’m seeing drier paths now on my hikes, so hopefully you can soon get the project underway again! Walk the Thames has good updates on their site about conditions along the river and suggested diversions to avoid problems (under News > Route Alerts)
Yeah and I actually tried to ford it... The title isn't click bait, I did almost drown there cos if I had fallen off that plank, falling into deep freezing water would probably have killed me!
A shame, but understandable. Hopefully the paths are a lot better in the Summer. Given the amount of river path that was inaccessible to you, will you resume from Goring, or continue from Clifton Hampden? I'm looking forward to seeing the rest of the trip. Last year I was in Faringdon, Oxfordshire for reasons, and got to see some gorgeous countryside. I'm looking to seeing more of Oxfordshire and beyond.
You should have gone on Bullseye...... The one person that actually would have had a use for the star prize....... A speedboat! 😂 I admire your spirit and will to carry on, unlike becoming washed out like the Thames. Mentally washed out I mean. Great content as usual. I already dislike hiking watching these 🤣🤣🫡
I hear you about not pushing yourself too far. I enjoy challenging myself but it has to have some personal value. That could be physical or mental improvement, maybe just leanring new skills or gaining a different perspective on something. Or simply just enjoying the experience, be it exciting or relaxing. If you aren't getting anything out of it then it really isn't wprth the risk of pushing yourself too far. I'll look forward to seeing you finish the path if the water level ever goes down 👍❤️
That secret garden was a lovely surprise. I also think that is a maze in the garden. The buttressed wall was impressive too. I can't believe how long that path has been bogged for so long! I am not surprised how little the farmer has done to remidy it unfortunately 😒
That's so classic! 😂 Camped in a wretched place only to find a lovely spot 10 minutes further along the route! If I had a quid for every time that's happened to me... I wouldn't be a millionaire but I'd have enough for a takeaway 😉
Not filling up all the way is just because it has a low static pressure, lower than most people like filled. It works as advertised, it's just that the advertised spec is low. This also explains why some folks are OK with it, because they don't mind having the pad a bit softer. I wouldn't go so far as to call it a scam.
This may be a bit of a weird suggestion but the weight of welly's I would imagine would be a problem but I picked up a pair of cheap "crock" type slip-ons (the type with the strap you can have around the heel or over the front) they are very light and cost £4 also they seem to be moulded so basically 1 piece of plastic/rubber so drying wouldn't be an issue. combine these with a small supply of appropriately sized rubble sacks. This would give fairly waterproof (dependant on the structure of the sacks staying un-punctured) with the benefit of possible glass under the water not cutting your feet. Yes you would look pretty weird 😆. Great video as always.
I did take plastic sandals on my Scottish trip with waterproof socks for this reason... I didn't actually encounter any bogs or streams. But I am using something similar when I go back
Loving this series! Tried to comment on the last one but I think I got blocked for adding a link. Look up Skinner’s footwear - they’re ideal for wading safely. I wear mine all the time for hiking (not just for wading) but I realise that’s not for everyone!
They’re like socks but with a protective sole. I’m a fan of ‘barefoot’ footwear, so I hiked a lot of the Thames Path wearing Skinner’s - but you could just slip them over your waterproof socks as needed, then roll them up to carry. They come in a waterproofish bag.
@@annevasey7146 I have water shoes now, similar idea but with waterproof socks as well. Walking in socks itself is risky on the TP with all that hawthorn
Another gem of a video! If you were promoting hiking then this wouldn't be the best promotion with all the floods. Looking forward to the trip Saturday 🫡
Well it is a realistic hike in March (a few bits I think are like this all year round!) so yes, I think it is not the best time to hike that part of the Thames in Spring. See you tomorrow!
I’ve an MSR XGK EX stove. I’d need 20 layers of space shuttle tiles and a concrete pot to prevent food burning! It’s like an afterburner on a jet fighter. It burns water 😂
I'm afraid I'm one of those who cycle down some footpaths when there aren't any better alternatives. However, I go slowly and give way to pedestrians as i expect the same from others when I'm walking. I'll even get off and walk it if the path is busy and narrow. You can place the handcuffs on now guvner 🙌
It's fine if you accept it is not where you should be cycling and act accordingly. The problem I find and found there is people were ringing their bells to get me out of the way on a path they should not have been on in the first place! Had the same with people riding dangerously on crowded pavements...they have no right of way. Similar with shared paths where cyclists are supposed to slow down... They don't and thus people stop walking those paths because being bombed at every few minutes by lycrablokes at 25-30mph is dangerous. The ones who stop and get off are fine.
@@harduphikerwow! That's some speed to be flying past people! I do ring my bell for walkers when on a shared pathway, not to say 'get out of my way' so much as a polite heads-up that I'm about to go by them (from behind). But I wouldn't pass anyway at those speeds even on a shared pathway, that's crazy! They should think about some cycle barriers if they're bombing along like that
I also confess to being a cyclist >.< (and a dog walker) but I ALWAYS give way which can mean stopping with the mutt on a super short lead (you never know how others will perceive your animal) or actually stopping my bike until pedestrians have noticed you (me) and then give a super wide berth. However Tim I am ecstatic that you still hold to the mantra " IN SOCKS WE TRUST ! " lol <3
