Backpacking Gear You Don't Need 

I started in the later 50's with some of my Dads WW 2 gear. Back then any camping gear was highly appreciated. Later I found this system that works for me. Pack everything you want , over load the backpack if you want to. When you get home make three piles of gear. Pile #1 Items used all the time. Pile #2 items used now and then. Pile #3 items never used. Now take pile #3 and put the stuff in a storage bin. Continue to do that after each trip and you will weed out the items you do not need. Now when you pack take what you need and NOT want you want , the wants stay home. Everyone has different likes and dislikes or methods , here are a few of my likes. Electronics for myself , the I Phone and it's tuned off , for emergencies only. Some form of camp lighting , normally a UCO candle I've had since the 70's. My backpack is a Ultralight along with the rest of the items , I replaced the old gear with lighter items over the years. I have achieved a Base Weight between 7 and 8 pounds. Now the only variable ( consumable ) for me is the amount of food and water. My stove is a ( 4 oz Firebox Nano ) titanium wood burner. I hammock camp so fuel ( dead wood ) is always available.

I couldn't disagree more with the deodorant thing. In my quest to go ultralight, after seeing people online say the same thing as you, to lose the deodorant, as if it's like 5 lbs or something, and "embrace the stank", I tried it on a four day trip. It was awful, I couldn't stand it, never again. I keep a deodorant that's almost done and it weighs next to nothing, some ultralight Sea to Summit backpacking body wash and laundry soap for my polyester shirt if hiking longer than a few days, and it makes a huge difference to me, for a total of maybe 50 grams. I mean, yeah I still smell a little, but with no deodorant it's like carrying a corpse around. Blech.

Good advice. I’d add a couple of tips; 1) put your cellphone into flight mode. It preserves the battery and you can always turn flight mode off if needed in an emergency. 2) Merino wool baselayers. You can wear them for days without stinking (weeks even!), they’re warm in winter and cool in summer. You only really need one and an emergency spare.

from a medical assistant: Coban (the stuff they put on you after you get your blood drawn to keep the cotton ball on your arm) works wonders and is lightweight and great for doing a variety of quick wound dressings and can be applied tighter for more compression on a wound or just wrapped around once if you just need to go over a small wound. Coban, sterile gauze packs, triple antibiotic ointment (neosporin), clean water to flush a wound, and butterfly bandages (just in case a wound is too deep/long to close with compression) are always my go-to for quick and effective wound dressings while out camping and stuff 😊 I’d also bring alcohol pads or some type of hand sanitizer to clean your hands as well as you can before dressing your wound to prevent infection!

I come from Scotland, I think the weather and terrain makes a big difference. You really need proper boots here, too many ways to sparin an ankle up here; scree, lots of loose rocks, peaty areas etc. Also, the rain is pretty much permanent here so you usually go with a a 'dry bag,' in the backpack with enough socks for the trip and a few sheets of newspaper to try and dry out the boots as well as possible.

I’ve been wearing altras for 7 years, my ankles actually got stronger and more supportive not using boots. However, I’m an OR nurse in Alaska and I’ve seen so many ankle fractures from people backpacking or rucking in Muskeg with a heavy pack. Muskeg is like peet tundra and is very squishy and bouncy. I do wear boots when I’m in that type of terrain.

For your first trip, overpack see what you used consistently and get rid of the rest. On the boots and socks/clothes really depends on the conditions you are hiking in, being unprepared in the wilderness does not just effect you but will also cause s&r teams to be putting their lives in significant danger especially in the mountains or in the winter. Be light but be smart. Good video.

On the first aid kit, if you don't know how to use something that's in your kit don't bring it. If at home you don't know what to do with it, you're not going to figure it out when you're in the woods and suddenly needing it.

Please keep I mind that the #1 reason SAR teams have to pull hikers out of the wilderness is because they're unprepared for the conditions. Leave vital gear at home at your own risk. Good list but the "no hiking boots" tip is HIGHLY terrain dependant. If the trail is steep and snowy (PNW spring/early summer) then a hiking boot is more appropriate because it can fit either strap-on cramp-ons or micro spikes. If you fall on snowy slopes and don't have an axe & skills you are a human pachinko and impacting trees or flying off a terrain feature is in your future...you will be seriously injured or die. Good list but PLEASE don't become a SAR statistic.

Shoe choice really depends on the kind of hike in my opinion. For just „hiking“ I definitely agree that trail runners are waaaay more comfortable (especially if part of the hike is on roads etc) but as soon as it gets climby (when approaching a peak etc), a stiff mountain boot can make all the difference when talking about safety in my opinion. Great Vid, Cheers from Germany!

I've been backpacking in Colorado since the age of 14 -- 1969. Boots are a must for me. And yes, you don't need a massive first aid kit until you have a massive injury. Having been on the Alpine Rescue Team, I know things can go south in a heart beat.

I agree with those that talk about experience being a good teacher about what you need and what you miss or don’t miss, but think that videos like this are useful for getting people to think about their choices. To me, the one critical disagreement is with only using a single light source. I’ve actually had a headlamp crap out on me, and being stuck in backcountry at night with no light source would really suck. Regarding deodorant, I’d say that it is a personal comfort thing for actually being on the trail, but whether you take it or not, take some handi-wipes to at least do a courtesy scrub for when you emerge back into a civilized location. It doesn’t completely sub for a shower, but staff at restaurants or resupply locations will appreciate any freshness you can add.

Well for medical it is always too much or not enough, nothing in between. What you have is a boo-boo kit for small wounds, blisters from boots and bruises, that does not stop you from moving, just annoying if unattended for a day or two. And that's OK. But I always come with at least mini IFAK similar in size of your kit, but to treat bigger wounds with significant bleeding, deep cuts, broken bones or twisted joints. So SWAT tourniquet and HaH compressed gauze, ideally two of each. You can use such kit as tourniquet application, combine together for pressure bandage for almost any part of the body, limb fixation with trekking holes (for such, the two SWATs are really more helpful than one) , better joint fixation if knee or ankle sprains occur, or certain women problem when unprepared for. And boy, what other uses can a clean, dry, long cotton gauze protected in plastic help you with, if you end in kind of problematic situation (water filtration, fire starting). Or strong durable bungee-like tape (repairs, cordage). If you want to cover as amateuer with ultra-light mind other common life-threatening situations (other than heat/cold overexposure), add few tablets of some antihistamine (Zyrtec), some fructose sugar and a bit of salt. Tablets and sugar apply both under tongue for quicker transfer to blood stream - to help somebody with strong allergic reaction having problems with breathing from swollen neck or somebody with diabetes and having hypoglycemia. Water + sugar + salt in right combination also helps better with dehydration (just water is actually worsening the state, google "rehydration solution"), from heat overexposure or diarrhea. All such problems can easily happen on a trail, are all deadly untreated, but can be helped with with few grams of the "right thing", at least giving some vital time before true medical help is available.

I agree with most of these but I feel I've used my roll of paracord a lot when out. I've used it to hang a tarp from the trees so we could have shelter from the rain while bbqing and also used it to fix shoes, tie things onto backpacks, etc. Honestly I use it maybe half the trips I'm out camping and backpacking.

I upgraded my medical kit after a meth head got on the AT and did a machete attack, killed one, severely injured another. I include a tourniquet and vacuumed packed a 5x9 abdominal bandage + cohesive wrap to handle cuts and arterial wounds. I may have to put pressure on a cut wound and a person can bleed out in 2 minutes if an artery is cut. A recent dog attack in Houston punctured a mans artery and he had to receive blood b4 he could be life flighted to hospital.

Lol I’m the huge medical kit guy. I always want to cut it down but I’m also the what if guy haha

Rope is useful for things like hanging a bear bag if you're already bringing it. I bring some paracord for convenience like tying the tent down more in high winds or making a clothesline for wet clothes.

I think that footwear comes down to a combination of personal preference and appropriateness for the season/terrain. I wear hiking boots even on day hikes that most people do in runners because I have sprained my ankles so many times that my ligaments are permanently stretched, so I am safer and more comfortable in my wonderful boots. First aid kits can also be very personal - I have lost track of the number of ankle sprains and knee injuries that I have sustained (I have a genetic disorder that affects my connective tissue and can dislocate joints just from stumbling), so I personally choose to carry both braces with me even on day hikes. However, most people don't have that problem.

Great advice. I’m not an avid backpacker like used to be, but it took me many trips of coming home and unpacking crap I barely looked at. I do amp up my first aid kit a bit more that you might and I always carry a handful of alcohol/handi-wipes. They are pretty good for a quick armpit clean, and well, wherever else.

I agree with pretty much everything you suggested. I've been guilty of carrying too much food and clothing many times. I still prefer ankle-high hiking boots over other footwear though, mainly to protect my ankles from being gouged by deadwood and jagged rocks. But on a clear trail, shoes would be fine. Thinking about needing a way to recharge my camera gave me a chuckle. I use a manual 35mm film camera. Batteries not required! 😁

Good tips for sure. I really like the lightness and comfort of trail runners as well

Good advice. Also bring a few zip ties and safety pins, and wrap 10' of duct tape around something. Great for on-the-spot repairs.

I love tips and info like this👍 thank you for the heads-up, much appreciated

Great advice here For hikers of all Levels from day to weeklong trips

My opinion on boots vs shoes: Shoes preferred for easy and dry trails and day hikes. Backpacking I do boots. I have to say, I disagree with the, they will probably get wet. I have been hiking for many years with waterproof boots, and I've never once had wet feet. If its raining, wear gaitors and you'll stay 100% dry even in knee deep water. That being said, I know a big challenge for some is sweaty feet too, sorry for your luck haha. My feet expel very literally 0 sweat no matter how hard I push, so they stay very dry. Think I'm fortunate for that one I guess.

I think as you gain experience you figure out what to bring. I tend to bring more when I am not familiar with the trail. That’s when I put on my trail runners but if I am in shoulder season I have been caught in deep snow at high altitudes and glad I had my hiking boots on.

For me, the med kit is a little light. I've always got some ibuprofen, butterfly closures, and moleskin. They're light and worth more than their weight in gold if you end up needing them. Great video. It's a good place for people start *thinking * about what they really need to pack.

After a few decades on the trails, I was all ready to start debating what you were going to say, as most of these types of videos are from UL backpackers who have some crazy small list of items. However, I was 100% in agreement with you on everything...... except the flashlight. Things really start to suck when your light fails, and it's dark. having even just a tiny light for a backup is fine. My only other comment would be footwear. It's really trail/environment dependent on what you should/need to wear. All in all, great video!

The man is spot on Nitecore headlamps are the sh** especially the NU20 - $25-$29 I bring an extra one they weigh nothing.. in case one dies. I need Hiking boots for off-trail especially loose rocks in steep terrain yet I’ve seen people in runners out there too ..F*that..

Massively in favor of trail runners vs boots for the exact reasons you mentioned. People often don't think about how waterproof works both ways. If you get water into your waterproof boot/shoe it's going to take forever for the inside to dry out. Between downpours, sweat from hiking, slipping crossing streams, or just forging a river in summer months...it's hard to NEVER get water in your shoes in the backcountry

Great info to know! I'm trying to get into camping & backpacking so it's nice to have all this information at hand.

1) hiking boots or not depends on where you’re going (rule of thumb: the higher the terrain, the higher the boot) and what you’re used to. Not sure how you can say use trail runners without context. 2) solar panels are used to charge a power bank, so it’s not either-or. Of course a power bank charges your phone faster, but if runs empty …? 3) clothing: not planning for “what-ifs” is a receipe for desaster, unless your’re just hiking in your neighbourhood. Socks will never save your life, warm/rain clothing may if the weather changes.

Altra Olympus 4s are 👌 nice video man

Just got a goalzero 10 watt solar panel at an REI garage sale and took it out for 4 days in maroon bells. I have to say I was really impressed, I charged a smaller battery pack or whatever device was low with it while hiking and at camp. It was able to keep both my gf and my phone/watch topped off. It’s not light but it’s a great piece of mind knowing if my gps runs out of battery I have a way of getting it powered back up!

I do a lot of hiking/backpacking in the Adirondacks in New York and I've gotta say, I can't picture hiking without my boots. The amount of mud and muck is enough to only take waterproof boots, but also, the amount of rocks and roots on the trail is insane. I smash my feet against everything (especially after a long day when I'm walking like a zombie), so my Salomon GTX 4D boots have saved me from quite a lot of pain lol. I would totally love to try just trail runners for day trips, but I think it depends on where you hike, too

I really like the Sketchers waterproof trail runner shoes! A little heavy but a solid shoe!

For light I bring a Black Diamond headlamp and a Streamlight ClipIt. The Clipit attaches to the pack strap and recharges from the battery bank. It'll run for hours off a single charge. I've had too many headlamps just cut out without warning to ever rely on just a single light source again. I need mids for footwear due to past leg injuries. If I tried hiking with trail runners I'd be down for the count after a not-so-long period of time. While overly large med kits are overkill, I don't agree on a minimalist kit, especially if alone and far from the trailhead.

Couldn't agree with these points more! You only gain this knowledge with experience. I'm in the British Army and live near a National Park which I'm in every weekend with my dog. Go light, light footwear and small layers. No big coats etc.

Yeah... I kind of do crazy rocky areas so having a good set of hiking boots with ankle support is key! I also bring trail runners but there rarely used unless at camp! I always bring a headlamp and a small emergency flashlight... for the very small extra weight its nice to know that I have a guarantee light source! Lastly i always bring two 50m paracord, one for my food bag and the other is for the tarp setup!

Love my Altra Superiors. I’m a Croc guy for camp and getting out of the hammock at night. I also hang a Luci light to save on headlamp batteries. It’s said that folks always pack their fears. Mine must be food. 😳. Good stuff cheers from Chicago.

Really should bring a tournaquitte just in case of a serious bleed event. You can improvise one but a professional one is small, easy to use and easy to get it as tight as it needs to be and that can be hard to to on larger people/limbs

👍👍👍 .. Agree completely. Boots. I discovered this back in 1968 during my National Military Service. A pair of Suede Boots (later 'hockey boots' ('takkies') for bush work) replaced my 'Jumpers' as much as possible. 'Unsprung Weight' .. same as for motor vehicle lightweight wheel rims ('mags'). The benefits are out of all proportion to the lesser mass to be lifted with each step.

It's always interesting to hear others opinions on gear and why they don't like them. Combining this with personal experience really helps get your gear dialed in for what you are doing! Thinking of trying trail runners this season. I've been an avid supporter of over the ankle boots mostly because I was just raised skiing and playing hockey which both require heavy ankle support so I just always believed hiking required it too. But now I'm seeing how if I'm heading out on heavily traveled well maintained trail it might really be needed and maybe overkill. I'll give it a shot on a couple short hikes and see how I feel about it.

Great video. I am a gram counter. I have been known to cut the handle of my toothbrush to save on weight, lol. I cut the mesh pockets out of my tent and cut the tags off everything! They even put them inside the air mattress storage bags. I think the more experienced you get the better you get at knowing what you don't need. Trail and error, trial and error!

I hike a lot of unmarked trails in the Red River Gorge and throughout Kentucky. I carry and use ropes regularly to access arches and waterfalls. If I stayed on marked trails I could leave the rope at home. However, it seems the longer you've been out in the forest the more things you try until you're rappelling through a window in an overhang and you're still calling it hiking.

Thanks for the list. I have the conversation about the rope with my husband every time. He even carries his throw stick. No kidding.

Very interesting, look forward to more

Footwear depends very much on the terrain you are walking in. I had an experience climbing a peak in tennis shoes with a friend. It was a one day trip and we loved the experience, but decided on getting proper boots before taking on the next peak. a few months later we did the neighboring peak. Wearing boot made a huge difference, it was like night and day. Everything was so much easier. Even though the boots where heavier, it seemed like we expended so much less energy. So if you are walking on very technical terrain especially on rock and cliff, a stiff boot is definitely preferable in my opinion.

im the medical kit guy, you never know when someones gonna lop off a toe or have some other major fuckup out in the woods you need to plug, patch, or tq.

Trail runners all the way. You’re also completely right about solar chargers. They do not charge fast enough to be useful. I think the key to this topic (what gear you “need”) is to understand that’s it’s a spectrum. Each piece of gear needs to be evaluated on the basis of benefit/weight. For example, the guys who don’t take stoves or fuel and instead cold soak their food. You don’t NEED to cook your food. But after a hard, cold day on the trail I really want a hot meal. So for me, it’s worth it

50' paracord for food cache, maybe an extra few feet for tent/rain fly tie downs, small waterproof raft bag works great for food cache, and the deodorant, depending on the aroma, may attract bears; animals smell bad so they don't care if you do too. I'm not a hard-core backpacker but my basic backpack kit could sustain me for a couple days; water filter and a couple bottles (Nalgene, whatever) are paramount, fire starter/matches etc., are good to have but I've rarely use them. Bright orange/reflective vest, signal mirror, things to alert S&R in case things go South is also a very good idea.

As a hunter who is taking up backpacking for offseason activity I struggle to lighten my pack. When I’m in the bush redundancies in gear keep me safe so not taking spare batteries or a full med kit is hard to do. It’s not just about me but about others I may encounter and need help. Do you have a target load out and then drop gear from there?

I think that first aid should come first. Yes you can lighten the big bulky kits that we get, but you have to be sure that you have all the right stuff for the worst case scenario. I've seen people that almost died because they were out for a hike and didn't have a tourniquet.About a year or two ago in Greece, a hiker tripped and fell off of a cliff. He ended up with an open leg fracture. He was lucky that a rescue team got to him fast enough and didn't die of excessive blood loss.

I took a solar panel on the PCT and it was amazing. I never had to wait to charge stuff in town; I could just drop in, pick up my box, and go, giving me more time to enjoy the outdoors. And it weighed less than the lightest battery bank. It's a very situational piece of gear, but so is every piece of gear.

The trail runners vs boots argument, couldn’t agree more! My initial long distance walking trail I wore a pair of £300 meindl boots under the false illusion they’d protect me, particularly my ankles, was obviously mortified when on day 5, I snapped ligaments in my ankle… due to the heavy, often boggy terrain in Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 I went over my ankle and as I was in a stiff soled boot there’s no recovery with any forefoot flexion as with a trail runner or lighter weight boot. Therefore all the pressure went to my ankle and the ligaments went. I actually continued walking the trail with a ballooned ankle and lots of ibuprofen but changed over to my Salomon speed cross’ and discovered how much more agile I felt as well as allowing the forefoot flexion to bend and take pressure off the ankle. That was 2016 and I have never looked back! Trail runners all the way! would occasionally wear a Salomon gtx quest 4d boot purely to keep my feet dry if bad weather. Thanks for the content! 🤝

Idk man.. hiking boots are important and do make a difference. To each their own. Great vid nontheless

Solid recommendations in my opinion, good video! I'd replace the deo with tic and mosquito repellent all days of the week instead. Greetings from Sweden!

Your whole list is spot on in my opinion from my own experience, something new I am going to ditch this year maybe is my small Leupold Binoculars as I never see any wildlife where I backpack.

The safety joggers i use for work are pretty slim line, decent for bad terrain too and you can get capless versions too

I strongly disagree with the blanket statements on almost all of these. For example with shoes, how long would trail runners last on a scree slope? And how well do they work in slush or snow? In reality, no shoe or boot is ideal in all conditions and it's silly to say one is always better than the other. They each have their purpose. Same goes with extra clothes. In some of the mountain areas I go, the weather is scarily unpredictable and I have literally gone from overheating in a t-shirt to bundled up in merino and down jacket well below freezing temperatures within a few hours. Backpacking in those areas means, yes, you do carry extra clothes even in summer and even if the forecast says it will be sunny because people die if they aren't prepared. Usually that ends up being extra weight, but it's still necessary to be safe. People need to plan for each trip appropriately and choose use the right tools for the job.

I completely agree with pretty much everything here (had several of the same experiences myself when learning, 5 pair underwear, boots, etc. for a 2-night trip), except... I always bring about 100 ft of extra paracord because, as a hammock sleeper there are times where there aren't quite enough close trees available to string up the hammock using just the straps that come with. And that extra paracord comes in really handy. Or, I may need to throw my tarp up a little higher or tie it off to multiple trees in an unexpectedly windy situation. It weighs next to nothing and takes up little to no room in my pack. Also, I've found a bedroll with a light sheet and a couple of light to medium wool blankets to be preferable to a sleeping bag on most trips...even in snow or freezing weather. It's just as functional and warm, and far more flexible and comfortable if put together right. There are ultra-light sleeping bags and quilts out nowadays that I'm sure are less than half the weight...but they cost as much as a small country, and can't be safely used close to the fire without fear of ember scars. Cheers... 🏕

My feeling on 1st aid kit is that its purpose is to stop minor problems from becoming major problems. You're not going to treat a broken bone from your 1st aid kit. So I agree - it doesn't have to be big. Some band-aids, some antibacterial gel, Vitamin I / tylenol. That's really about it..

All of this! I have learned that if I didn't need it on my last three trips, I probably won't be taking it on my next one. I take one set of hiking clothes and one set of sleeping clothes. One extra pair of hiking socks so I can rotate them out every other day. That's it.

I love my Anker solar panel + power bank! I use my phone a lot hiking (I listen to podcasts and gps) so will burn through the phone battery in a days worth of hiking. I recently took my powercore along the UK's North Yorkshire Coast - You are absolutely correct about them not working under trees, they have a much reduced charge even under clouds but mine kept me charged all week. I set mine out at camp at the end of my hiking day and let so it's thing while I chilled.

I do have a caveat on the deodorant. When I backpack I always carry a small travel size one with me and not necessarily for my under arms as you might imagine. As someone that doesnt have the luxury of thigh gap, chub rub (thigh chafing) is a massive struggle. However, a little deodorant between the thighs can save you from having a massively uncomfy hike from chafing inner thighs. Can't be gel though, has to be the powder style. Its cheaper than buying anti chafing items, as a rule is less bulky, and is dual purpose. :)

100% agree with every one of your recommendations. I started backpacking in 1966 with an external frame pack and down sleeping bag, along with the other items you mentioned. Over time and extensive military field experience, I learned to live out of my web gear. I now hike in Sketchers with a surplus military Fighting Load Carrier vest, 2 water bottles, a poncho, wind shirt, thermal shirt, poncho liner, bandanna, and a few small survival items (headlamp, compass, lightweight Mora knife that cost $9). Over time, experience teaches us that less can be more, if it is safe.

Great advice in general. I always try to reduce gear in whatever I do. One exception I take is to your boots comments - that's really highly dependent on where you hike. I'm in rocky terrain a lot and I really appreciate the toe cap in solid hiking boots that prevent my toes from injury when accidentally hitting a rock on a step. trail runners afaik have none such protection. A good compromise, especially when you are in warmer climate are low rise hiking shoes that still have the toe cap. They are lightweight, and don't tend to get as warm. Over ankle boots are essential when you are in snow and generally nice when its cold out.

Big thumbs up on the snake venom extraction kits, especially the ones with blades that open the wound more. A friend of mine extracts rattlesnake venom for a living and is constantly reminding people you can't suck it out after you're bit. Also, unless you're in southeast Asia or somewhere else where cobra type snakes are common, don't tourniquet the limb either. You're usually better of letting the venom get processed throughout your whole body than concentrating the venom in one limb.

😂 The one reason why I can't go backpacking is because I have zero ability to ditch stuff. Somehow I always meet Mr Murphy on my holidays. Or more correctly: his laws. I usually travel with my bulky heavy, double gear & clothes. The few times I decided to not bring X, Y, Z either to some sunny destination, I ended up cold and/or (consistently) wet or missing some item I lost, broke etc. Decided that I could make pictures with my iPhone, and leave my (moderate quality) camera at home. Pretty sad being in South Africa finding out your iPhone works fine if you do very little with it (next to socket), but fails when trying to make several pictures in hot climate. 😂 Always meeting Mr Murphy when I do limit my stuff, not exactly good for my selection abilities. Furthermore, I'm always thirsty, so on a usual day I'm hauling my "lady-handbag" with at least half a liter of water. Let alone if I'm not near a tap.... On a (day/half day) trip in a hot climate I'll bring around 3 liters (and drink it).

Agreed I am notorious for packing like 4 different lights and only ever use one. Once you can hone in the tendency to think “well what if…” then you can start to thin out your pack. Like when people go on trips and feel the need to pack 2 pairs of underwear for each day. How often do you have spontaneous explosive diarrhea in your life that you need 2 pairs a day??😛

A big medical kit is definitely useless if you're not properly trained to use everything in it. I carry a pretty good size medical kit, but that's also because I've been certified in wilderness medicine and like to be prepared for both the common stuff (blisters, bites, scrapes), and the big stuff (bleeding, fractures, anaphylaxis). It's definitely a very "what-if"/"just-in-case" type of item, but the harm in not having it when you need it is definitely a lot greater than something like an extra change of clothes. You can certainly improvise a lot like splints and the like, but there's not much you can scrounge up to replace a package of QuikClot. I definitely agree on the points about UL or solar panels though. Some of my gear is basically UL, but that just gets offset by the heavier stuff I tend to carry like my not-very-UL tent and my Whisperlite. Battery banks > solar panels any day though, cuz if you really need more duration.. just bring another battery. Heavy, but probably cheaper.

Was thinking of buying a solar panel for a 100 day 3500km hiking trip next year, but is the panels almost «useless» if there is cloudy? For charging a 20k powerbank or just a phone for example. Cause here in Norway there are pleeenty of clouds 😅

While I agree that deodorant isn't really needed for B.O., the stuff with aluminum chloride in it can be applied to fresh bug-bites to make them to stop itching, and reduce swelling within a day. I always hike with a travel-size stick of deodorant primarily for post-bug-bite Rx, since I'm horribly bothered by mosquito bites.

Agreed on the deodorant stick, but I make my own at home and can put it in a small 2 oz container for the trail. Only need to apply when your own stank bugs you and any wipes you brought arnt cutting it 😉. Or if you feel self conscious rolling into town.

Solid advice. Very helpful. Thank you.

Most people have started hiking with pretty cheap and affordable gear. And great thing is that usually they do the job almost as well as more expensive ones. Most of time you don't pay for better performance but you simply pay for weight reduced. When you see people with all kind of small gadgets and fancy ultralight gear, it's usually accumulation of years of hiking. People rarely walk into outdoor store and spend thousands buying new gear. I just bought new hobo stove this year. And it is only thing I bought. Next year I will probably get something else (I have been thinking better sleeping bag). Don't let all hiking RU-vidrs to keep you away from nature. You don't need fancy and expensive gear. Go out and enjoy it!

Great video, I have been trying to justify the solar panel thing but the watt hours to weight ratios just don't add up for me. I am still trying to figure out my clothing situation as its a balance of weight and safety. I get cold easily but never realized until my last trip that you can just wrap your sleeping bag around you if you are relaxing around camp😵. I feel silly just now figuring that out but it definitely puts my mind at ease when leaving that pair of pants or extra mid layer at home during the shoulder season.

Couldn’t agree more on the hiking boots! Lightweight trail shoes allow your foot to do a lot of the work sparing ankles and knees!

Thanks. Just getting into backpacking. This is helpful.

Totally agree hiking boots aren't needed. They don't do much for ankles. However, what they are better for is foot support on rough terrain. I hiked the superior hiking trail in northern Minnesota with my Salomon trail runners, but the very rocky rough terrain beat my feet up in those thin, pliable soles. I wish I had my oboz Bridger boots.

Good list. Personally, I always bring a pretty significant first aid kit that I make myself. I've seen a lot of mechanical injuries and illnesses in the backcountry and wouldn't feel comfortable not being able to address them.

Love your thoughts on shoes great thinking

Hi Great Video and thanks for the top quality content. Here is my 50p worth reference hiking boots. It definitely depends on the climate! I love trail runners but here in the UK, even in the summer, it's wet, most days, and in trail runners my feet have been wet through for days on end with no opportunity for them to dry out. For my it depends on the forecast as if I see bed weather I'll switch to the boots. I guess in the US the climate is drier but for the UK it's definitely 80% of the time in boots due to the weather. Cheers

hoka makes a boot thats everything you said you like about trail runners just shaped like a boot

Thanks for the advice on headlamp, I’m sooo guilty of over packing headlamps. 4 headlamps and 2 of those twilights from eno. Also 3 lbs of misc batteries. Some things I though I’d share from my experience taking first timers backpacking through national forest ( not state parks very different) Toenail clippers but no knife (??) Tooth brush and toothpaste ( personally I don’t leave without mouthwash and I’m ok with 7 days sun toothbrush Bear spray Laptop Cast iron skillet ( yes I’m serious he attached it to the outside of his backpack too!) A dremel ( for those who are not familiar it’s an electric rotary tool) Warm coat in the summer Gloves in the summer Cold weather sleeping bag in 90degree temp Gas powered bug fogger

Love the shirt! Thanks for the tips!

I really like and completely agree. Thanks

Your first two are kind of contradictory. You can get away with trail runners only if you pack super light. The more weight you carry, the more you need a supportive boot.

I recently learned not to bring my 16 year old

I agree with all of these bar solar panels....I have one, used it for decades, it works. I do both. Thing is, I'm not doing short 4-5 day hikes, - just got off a 20 day camping/walking coastal trip - and although some campsites let me recharge, it's easier to setup the solar at the tent as I day hike. If I did wildcamping, that would be even more needed. But I also take a larger battery too, and a smaller one to take with me, so the solar 'tops up' the bigger battery.

Good one.enjoyed is a Lot.Great video.Thank you Very Much. Looking foreward to more adventure s from your Channel.

There's some solar panel research going on in Germany that may improve efficiency from ~21% to ~42%, but for now I totally agree with the battery pack. Hiking boots are great for wet muddy conditions, otherwise I prefer something lighter too.

Definitely agreed on the headlamp and flashlight. Having both is redundant!

nice tips, great explanation too. but there is one thing that i'll always carry two: flashlight. i had an unfortunate event where we had night walk and my main headlamp went out of business. luckily buddy had two, so he lent one to me. headlamp/flashlight (for me at least) is a must combo. and since both use same batteries (18650 or 21700), there is no problem with huge amount of spare batts needed.

I did a trip once where I knew I would be in relatively close proximity to civilisation throughout the trip and the weather would likely be gentle aswell . So I took the opportunity to say "lets find out what I really need!" and brought nothing except an empty school backpack and a wad of cash. The idea was that the logistics of the trip allowed me to aquire "needed" items along the way. Id advise anyone to try it out and see what actually happens when you dont bring things you think you need. At the end of the trip the contents of the backpack are the actually needed items. And big surprice the summer pack is basicly a handful of lighters and a roll of laundry cord. And extra socks.

I am a wilderness first responder and did summer search and rescue for years. Agree with most except the med kit and only having 1 light source. I advocate for a well stocked..maybe even slightly overboard med kit because depending on where you are sar may be days out to get you and days out to pack you out. And a small lightweight mini flashlight as a back up is always a go to when we backpack because if you only carry a headlamp and it breaks in whatever way you're screwed. We have a head lamp, a flashlight then an emergency mini light in the 1st aid kit. Boots, pack, gear...whatever all that is preference but a health and safety is where I splurge weight.

Trail runners in warm months and booths on colder months. Shoot my feet get cold during warmer months so yup booths helps during winter.👍

This is applicable to certain types of hiking. I wouldn't wear boots on a trail hike that has been traveled over and over, and I would not wear trail runners if I am going up steeper grades, or on a rocky terrain. Basically, the gear one needs has to fit the type of hike they are on. Socks are an important part for sure, I used to carry 3 pairs, in each pair I always had a small baggie of foot powder, and a small bottle of talc. A small pack of baby wipes for those "behind a tree" moments! Even in small first aid packs, there was always dry and wet wipes, alcohol wipes, iodine and betadine wipes, burn ointment. There was always a roll of Ace bandage, even on a known trail, a misstep can lead to a sprain. One other item I always tossed in my pack a 15ft by 15ft waterproof tarp. Even the best plans for a hike does not control a pop up rain shower!

Can't fault that list. I'm a convert to lightweight shoes, they do make a big difference, but the weather and terrain can have a huge impact on whether I use them or boots (here in Scotland ground conditions are often wet).

Another thing that a person doesn't need is a GPS, i see a lot of people bringing these things along with solar panels for charging them. I recommend using a map and compass and learn how to use them. It's not hard and you can save a lot of weight and space in your backpack. When i went to boot camp in the Army i had a couple of people i was going through boot camp with who were not the brightest people in the world but they learned how to use a map and compass and we were bush wacking through the woods with no trails and we got through just fine. As long as you keep track of where you are on the map you will be fine. Last year i hiked the PCT trail with only a map and compass to navigate with and many days i didn't have to use it because the trails were marked pretty good. When you do use a map and compass i recommend getting a pace count so you know how far you walked. It's a little more challenging than using a GPS but a lot of practice will make it easier. There were a lot of people looking at me strange for using it but my pack was a lot lighter