Having hiked late autumn in nz in rain watching cold wet families arriving to the hut with a pack of wet gear and near hypothermic it really spelled it out that keeping gear dry is top priority. Its life or death. A good rainjacket and pack liners are indispensable.
Multiple youtubers have debunked the mold inside air mattresses. I cut my 3 yr old thermarest and had no ,mold. Anyone telling you different is trying to sell you a flex tail.
I totally not agree with your "a warm drink on a cold day is really not necessary" assessment. I found, that even when I am thirsty and dehydrated already, I simply cant gulp down a liter of 2 degrees celsius water, even if I am not feeling particular cold. Impossible. And since staying hydrated is really important a thermos flask is really important. ( I have spent 5 years outdoors and I am specialized to winter camping).
Tent size: Yes. I've always been buying "one number larger" than actual people who were supposed to sleep in the tent. So, a 3 person tent for two persons. The only excpetion is our new Hilleberg (I think it's a Anjan 2), which does indeed fit 2 people. Sleeping bags: The only reason I like to wear as little as possible when sleeping in a sleeping bag is: Once I get out of the bag, and I am already wearing all my clothes, I can't get any warmer than that. But yes, this myth is still circulating. "You warm up the sleeping bag, and the sleeping bag is keeping you warm in return". Huh. So, exactly what layers of clothing do, right? :D
I have been reinvestigating Hillebergs so will give the Anjan a look! Yep, ideally you have a sleeping bag to the correct rating so you need to be wearing as minimal as possible. Thansk for watching and commenting!
The myth about losing (up to) around 80 % heat through your head applies only if you wear no hat, scarf around your neck and no gloves otherwise properly clothed. This is the case of saying part `a` and (in time) forgetting to say part `b`. If you compare it with percentile per body part you get pretty exact number of around 70-80 % of the three uncovered parts. Also depends on your general haircut, if you are bold etc. So it's a kind of truth, but not the whole one and the resource was something about cold of men waiting for trains in the UK about 30 years ago.
Good stuff. While compressing down sleeping bags may be fine, it's still an issue with the synthetic bags that I use for wet locales and ethical reasons.
I've always wanted a hot totty when very cold at the end of the day though I imagine that having one wouldn't help with weariness. A hot toddy is quite another matter.
As far as I'm concerned 24kg what my 3 week gear is, is perfect for me, I do this firstly because of fitness and being able to improvise which happens often, second cause there are still people that don't destroy nature (me and friends) and cause I like to explore stuff mostly buildings but caves are fun too, sometimes i sleep in caves too, it's funny.
My Lanshan 2 tent definitely sleeps 2 people. Vestibules for gear undercover and heaps of headroom. I bought it for my solo trips but it’s way too big and have used it 2 people as well. I do understand that many tents are very tight with stated capacity but things seem to be changing with manufacturers
I really enjoyed this, thank you. I mostly agree about tent sizes...but our Exped Venus II fits my husband and I pretty well. Inner width is 130cm and we don’t have 25 inch wide pads. Having a vestibule each is great.
I agree regarding size of tents. Perhaps the best exception I have found is the Mont Moondance 1P.....it actually fits one person and some gear (I reckon..)
I lug around a three person tent for me and my dog. I could probably save around a kilo investing in a quality lightweight two person tent... But I got the tent for next to nothing, its really good quality, and my dog really appreciate the extra space.
Myth 2- I watched "Out on a Limb" in 1987 and heard the myth that David Heard said to Shirley MacLaine that "your body generates its own aura heat". Funny that I only saw movie back in January of 1987 but I remember that scenario and glad you finally debunked the myth.
Down can withstand a lot of compression, synthetic bags less (that at least used to be the case). Of course, sleeping naked in the bag isn't warmer, but adding too many layers isn't ideal either if you add so much volume that the insulation get compressed. I've seen a lot of "two person" tents and you can fit two average sized people in all of them, but not necessarily two extra wide pads.
The anti-cotton-on-trail movement is exaggerating the disadvantages in my opinion. Cotton actually was fairly common as the fabric inside sleeping bags at least until sometime in the eighties and was also used extensively in outdoor jackets and pants until GoreTex and other "waterproof-breathable" took over. Cotton on the inside of a sleeping bag is heavier than synthetic fabrics, but also feel less clammy. Heavier is of course a disadvantage, but better feel is also important. It will absorb moisture, but for me getting the sleeping bag wet is just something I avoid. I have sleeping bags with synthetic inners now but use a cotton (not necessarily 100%) t-shirt as camp/town/sleep clothes in most situations. It's comfortable, don't smell and has worked without problems on thruhikes of the AT, PCT and lots of other trips. I normally don't use it while hiking and wouldn't bring cotton on a pure winter trip, but down to around freezing it works just fine for evening/sleep.
For me even at home most of my items are not cotton. But yes there is a band range where it is fine and other materials work just the same but I think it is the outer limits where it is the main difference.
Excellent video as always. I want to offer you a challenge! Imagine you just got into overnight hiking. You have gone through the initial couple of overnight hikes by borrowing gear, and now you have caught the bug. You have $1500 AUS to create your loadout. What will you buy . A few details, you can buy second hand but it has to be something you can actually find, and it has encompass a full kit. Sleep, tent, bag, cookware, first aid, electronics and clothing. Would love to see what you come up with.
@mowsertas LoL, I initially had $1000 and right at the end, and though, nah, even with second hand, that's bloody hard, mainly because I added clothing in the line-up. Good luck, and I really can't wait to see what you come up with. Mainly to criticise. 🤣
@mowsertas Well mate I just watched an Eric Hanson backpacking gear for under $500 US. And it was horrible, 2.5kg tent, a climit static V sleaping pad. Australia's honour of being practical is now on your shoulders. Good luck mate.
Very good video. A mesh base layer eh! that takes me back 20 -25 years and, let say some nightclubs? Just shows there is nothing new. I used to blow up my pads, but now use a little flextail pump, so much easier. I've always wondered about the sleeping bag storage one, it never did seem to make total sense. Also a new sub.
Very helpful! I often wondered about stowing my down bag compressed. I always have due to not having enough room in my closet and it always lofted back up just fine. I do that with my jackets as well with no issues. About breathing into your air mattress! It is good the hear it does not cause mold if you dry it out properly, but what about the myth that blowing into your pad during the winter will cause the moisture in your breath to freeze and make you cold during the night?😮
Was at Decathlon yesterday and got an MH120 then went to Aldi for a cheap mid weight fleece which is fine for knock about clothing. But if I was going bush for a week into the high country I'd be taking my Patagonia R1.
Some points that I do not agree on: 1. I use a high quality pack cover if I am using a Bivvy bag and need to store my pack outside in the snow (but not otherwise ie. If I have a tent with a vestibule, for example). Otherwise, Yes, they are a waste of time. 2. I do not agree with the so called ‘expert’ stating that storing down bags does no harm. I have high quality (850 loft goose down) high altitude mountaineering bags, high altitude clothing including one/piece suits snd heavy high altitude jackets snd down gloves some of which are over 35 years old, older than the expert. Don’t list to them. Store your down products uncompressed in a cool, dry, well ventilated stuff sack in a space out of direct sunlight and wash them as needed but do not over-launder them. 3. I have never had any signs of mould in any Thermarest that I have owned, despite never using a pump and using breath to at least partially inflate them. Something that I agree with: 1. Purchasing gear in part or as an entire system is a choice made by ultralight walkers. The individual has to make their own choice. A lot of ultra-light gear is more fragile and less comfortable and often less durable. A lot of ultralight walkers never develop the strength to carry durable packs, tents and equipment. For example, carrying disposable cheap disposable fragile plastic water bottles instead of a Nalgene bottle of water bladder. Some ultra lighters push their gear to limits that decrease their margin of safety or rely on others (‘ultra-borrowers’). Quality high-end equipment can still be lightweight without being ultralight, is stronger, more durable and will out-perform the ultralight gear ie. A quality tunnel tent or geodesic tent v. A Dyneema walking pole tent.
Thanks for sharing your insights MB! It's always interesting to hear different perspectives on gear usage and storage, especially from someone with such extensive experience. Your tips on caring for down products are especially valuable! I don't think I could store my down gear compressed either.
Thanks! The shirt is made by a Norwegian brand called Norrona. I absolutely love their gear! The model i'm wearing is calle the Svalbard Flannel shirt. Older model so only available in their online outlet here now i think: www.norrona.com/en-GB/loyalty/?referralCode=LO0A2XLPX2
@@mowsertas we both used only the supplied inflation sack and my zero micro pump. Also, I think you will be happy with the Brynje gear, for me the top works really well, not so in love with the legs.
Mate, when you mentioned the widths of sleeping mats, you referred to them in inches. I have two nemo mats and a thermarest, which all display metric measurements in their packaging and labelling. I'm guessing you want to appeal to your American audience. Its annoying watching American videos where imperial measurements are stated. It might be a good idea to try and educate your American viewers by using metric or at least both systems if you dont want to piss the rest of the world off.
Yes sorry, my bad. I do normally put both measurements on screen but have totally missed that on this occasion. For reference a 25inch pad is 63.5 cms. Thanks for watching!
I was born into the metric system and wouldn't know what pad he was talking about if he used the metric size, I'd have to calculate it into inches. Some things are better said in imperial while other things are better in metric.
@mowsertas no worries mate, I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't rip into Taswegians. I am full bottle on both the metric and imperial systems and can convert to and fro if I need to. Ounces are a stumbling block though. I enjoy your channel, thanks for all you put into it, keep it up.
