Hey RU-vid friends! I'm Tim and love backpacking and making things with my camera.
If you're new to my channel, you can expect to find videos about: 1. Ultralight backpacking in the Pacific Northwest 2. General backpacking skills 3. New gear I'm excited about 4. Anything else adventure-adjacent that might bring value to my subscribers
Trekking poles the other way up maybe - to stop any rain or condensation and dirt from running down the polls and into the joints. Good comprehensive coverage of knots :-)
Nice. 👍 Add to foam mat, cheap rubber airbed! (Or even a plastic one, aka, li-lo or Lilo.) For years and years I kept using the same cheap rubber airbed, because, that's what all my friends used as well, and so, that's what we used. (And when eventually it couldn't keep air in anymore, I bought another one! Because!) Had many freezing nights on it, body heat just goes straight into the ground. Popular advice (also from my friends) was, put an emergency foil blanket on top of it if you're cold. Or, just get something decent. My first proper Thermarest mat was a total revelation! 😲👍❤
I've used an msr XKG? burn anything that's a bit scary to light. but it's been loyal, and I've had it for years. But once it gets going its Katie bar the door. It needs to retire, and I've been eyeing a windster but I'm having trouble turning to canister. I've resisted so long I don't know if I can do it.
Love your channel, just subscribed! The bear bag video alone sold me. For others*: You could have your mind made up about quilts, but if your quilt has loops on the side you can really cinch it down. You are then able to have a dream state wrestling match under there and the quilt won't budge. I felt the same way as you do before learning about those little widgets.
Thanks so much for the kind words and for subscribing! Yeah it seems like everyone has had a different experience with them, and I'll be the first to admit that it may have been user error on my part. To each their own, my friend!
in my experience the temperature ratings on sleeping bags are extremely conservative. At comfort I have to open the side up to air out the sweat. At limit it's a good nights sleep and at extreme it's cold enough that I need to think about additional assistance. Like drinking warm tea before bed, putting on a hat and/or socks and making sure to eat properly before going to sleep. But if I do those things even nights at "extreme" temperatures are pretty nice
Thanks for the comment, Tim! I think it depends a lot on the person - I used to sleep super cold but that seems to be changing for whatever reason. Maybe my body is just getting used to it haha.
I'm always so tempted to buy one! I have a hard time with the half pound hit to my base weight, but thats really a Tim problem and not something that I think most people should think about when it comes to a good night's sleep haha
Hey Tim, I don't know if you are a man of faith, but it seems like you are looking for something in your life. If you ever have any questions or are curious about God hit me up. It always feels like a risk to bring this up and put it out there but I would be selfish to put the opinions others have of me ahead of your soul. Thanks for all that you share with us.
Thanks for reaching out, Ben! I really appreciate it. At this point, I'm satisfied with my spiritual beliefs and way of seeing the world. Like most, I search for a deeper sense of meaning in my day to day life, but for me that's part of the fun. No risk in bringing it up with me, so no worries there. We all have different ways of seeing the world and there's always something to learn from others, even if we ultimately choose different paths. Enjoy the rest of your week!
For me (an super active sleeper as well) I feel like quilts are giving me superpowers compared to sleeping bags. Quilts allow me to roll around, side to side, so freely compared to sleeping bags, so I don't even wake up at nights anymore with quilt. I wouldn't say that quilts are not for active sleepers :D
Thanks for watching! Great point - it is similar, although a clove hitch should be a bit easier to untie. I admit though I haven't really messed around with the constrictor knot. I've always wanted to try a configuration with a floor! I feel like I'd shred my thin DCF tarp doing it, so I'd need to get something a bit more durable.
Yes! A new Tim Schwartz video! Always love your perspectives and you being you in this space. “Exploring and sharing it with others” is an amazing purpose and resonates very deeply with me. Thank you for those words.
I quit smoking and changed my alcohol habits drastically for the sake of hiking/backpacking. I also went through a very traumatic experience in 2022. Hiking was a huge part of healing from that experience. I get a special clarity about lifes problems when i spend time outdoors. I know not everyone enjoys the outdoors but for me it is a special gift.
Yep, that pretty much sums it up for me. Agree with all of that. For me, the outdoors, when the weather's behaving, just makes my soul soar. Thanks for uploading, Tim. 🏔👍
I couldn't agree more with you Tim. Despite an ocean and a continent between us, you give me the feeling we have a lot in common. Nature and The Outdoors are my personal 'religion'. I've been following all your videos for about one year and took a lot of your technical advice, eg: going 'tarp', packing lighter, getting rid of some heavy and unnecessary stuff, on my last mini through-hike in easter France. Actually, this and maybe a couple more channels, are my only 'social media' activities. Thanks for sharing with us. Keep the vibe alive, and all the best for your health! 🙌
Thank you for checking out the video, and for all of your kind words! Im honored that I'm one of the few folks that you follow! I'm actually not much of a social media user either, believe it or not haha, and I also have a very small number of channels that I watch, so that really means a lot. Have a great week!
I traded booze for adventure over 2 years ago. I've done things (and have future plans to do things) I never thought I would. The more that I'm outdoors the more I feel connected to the world.
Sounds like we're on the same page! So glad to hear that things are going well for you and your able to connect deeply with the outdoors. Thanks so much for watching!
Man every single point made strongly resonates with me! I’m pretty sure using the word “saving” when describing what hiking and backpacking in the outdoors does for me, is the most accurate I can think of. So very glad you share these thoughts. Lets us know there are others who feel this passionately about nature. This made my day.
I find it puzzling that those who have really felt the embrace of nature along their journeys continue to use the phrase “backpacking” to describe their activity. When we think about it, the term “Backpacking” centers on a piece of gear that’s not really necessary in acquiring the positive mental experiences you’ve described when outdoors, and is a consumer good to boot. It’s a short and common term, but when we start talking about a zen-like experience in the outdoors it seems like the term “immersive wilderness experience” or “multi-day hike/saunter” is more appropriate.
I feel exactly the same, I just cannot wait to go hike, excited every time to be away from this modern stupid and very shallow society. Away from people in nature is just the best hahah lol
Hahaha! I like my alone time, as well, but I have to admit there are some wonderful experiences to be had amongst friends, as well. I'm always trying to strike a balance between the two. Thanks for watching!
I really enjoyed this video Tim. I too have learned SO much from my life outdoors backpacking and through endurance sport. And I seem to learn something new with each new endeavor and as my stage in life changes. ☮❤🤝
Solid points, deeply personal and valid.Though for some, they are not 'either/or' options; drinking or smoking can be a fairly fun part of a hiking lifestyle, and I dont just mean liqour over beer to reduce weight. Some of my best experiences were while high in the wild. Life is a balance, only you can find yours.
Thanks for the comment, Stuart! Not my thing to tell anyone else how they should be enjoying their time outside (or their life, for that matter), more just sharing my own personal experiences. For the sake of transparency to you and whoever else might be reading, I didn't swear off alcohol or anything like that. It messes with my joints so it seemed like a good idea to take a break. Overall, I've been enjoying saving some money, being a little more productive in the evening, and I'm notably less anxious. I say this because I always enjoyed a beer after my hike as much as the next person, and I don't want there to be shock and confusion if someone sees me with a drink in my hand at some point. For now I'm just in a holding pattern with it.
Well said Tim. Those 5 points totally resonated with my experience of backpacking and the outdoors. While I love gear videos, it's great to see someone discussing the 'why' of backpacking.
Considering i dont go camping very often, its not really a problem to be a bit limited on what i can make on such trips. Thin slices of chicken should work fine in a titanium pan, and instant rice and béarnaise sauce should work great for titanium pots. By investing in a dehydrator and food processor, you can make your own backpacker meals with minimal effort. Most vegetables i have tried tasted very similar to fresh vegetables - and having various vegetables chopped up in advance also makes home cooking a lot faster; comparable to less tasty and nutritious freeze dried meals. Another benefit is that by making bigger batches at a time, you dont have to clean the food processor (or knife and cutting board) every time you make food 👍
"This is the namco boilblaster 6000 xl micro 12guage cookmaster deluxe 4.0 liter twin turbo humbucker... and i cant imagine making camp late' without it" Sorry, that's what i heard
My iPhone 15 Plus (the big one,without a case) fits in the back pocket, you have to just insert it horizontally one side first than it will close no problem ✌🏻
