Camping with GEAR that’s too EXPENSIVE? 

Thank every who’s entered to win the S2S mug giveaway & the full wild camping setup raffle. Still time to enter if it floats your boat. 🤝 www.messner.co.uk/competitions-giveaways

How refreshing it is to listen to two normal blokes chatting about the outdoors on RU-vid. Cheers gents

I loved this episode , it was like sitting with you guys having a chat about the hobby we love , thanks guys

My new policy for gear is I’ve had to of absolutely needed it 3 times before I consider purchasing. It’s all to easy for us to come up with what if situations for every new thing that takes our fancy. Too many things can lead to decision fatigue and sometimes stop us enjoying actually being outdoors doing what we love.

My first night in the hills was with the scouts when I was 11yrs old. That was in 1964 so you can just imagine what sort of kit we had then. I dread to think what it weighed. These days I'm constantly looking for lighter kit because at 69 my "power to weight ratio" is not what it was! However the weight/cost/comfort balance is a complex one. Really enjoyed listening to you two rabbiting on.

Thoroughly enjoyed watching you and Andy with some gear talk, Paul. I've not been doing wild camping all that long, just a couple of years or so, but watching you both talking about your experiences was really good. Glad it's not just me always wishing I'd packed lighter! Atb.

I need more gear I can’t ever stop thinking about it. Especially stoves 😂

Gentlemen - Paul, what an absolute brilliant video. Loved the chit chat and gear reviews. Totally with you both about the Atom pack mo50 my thoughts exactly. I’ve modified my Aeon Li to suit my liking, ditched the pegs etc for my own preference. Loving your new layout of video buddy more of real you ❤️

Great work Paul. You pair go well together 👍🏼 Hit the nail on the head. Costs for everything through the roof! But I also can’t resist kit/gear. Even love the research. Drive myself mad with the finer details. Then when I get something, if there’s something on it that’s not explained anywhere, I need to know what it is haha. Might be a small loop or bit of material and I’m like, what’s that for, need to find out! Cycling/Fishing yep, all the same! The kit I’ve got for Carp fishing is ridiculous. I vowed never to get a barrow, but just can’t carry the kit for even a single night’s fishing 🥴 There’s some stupidly over priced gear about, but often go back to basics and it’s still great. We love the kit though don’t we, but whether it’s cheap or more expensive, long as we’re happy and enjoying it 👍🏼 Cheers, Gary.

Hi Paul Keep it up, you kept me sane during lock down, carry on with what you're good at ,and that's this. Cheers

Brilliant chaps, loved the chat. Some really good tips and insight in there. All the best Paul, Si

Watching Scouts turn up to DofE expedition with most of their gear vango and the rest all budget gear makes you realise it's not all about price. Great video Guys

That was a really enjoyable video to watch the chat you two had, great to hear from all your experience. I’m still very new to it all. My first experience was in my roof tent with my kids and then a few in my own in random places throughout the U.K. Now I’m I’m car camping in an estate car to see my kids but planning a wild camp on Dartmoor. Like you said you had in the beginning Paul I’ve got some bushcraft gear and military gear also but it’s not light as it’s all in and around my vehicles but now I’m having to look at smaller lighter gear for time away from the car. Problem I have is I’m not a small chap and I want comfort so finding it hard to get light weight packable gear. I bought a 3 man tent for me and the two kids, set it up in the garden to test it & I found I took up half the tent and wouldn’t have been room for my kids, I had to send that back 😬 Is there such thing has a lightweight 4 man tent or do I just accept the fact that it’s heavy and no good for back packing?

Really glad to see you've rediscovered your mojo Paul. My first wild camp was with friends just after we'd finished our GCSEs. We thought we'd head for the Peak District, but this was long before the era of smartphones and GPS, and apparently we couldn't even get ourselves organised enough to take a paper map. So we got the train to Matlock, then somehow managed to walk from the station there in completely the opposite direction to the actual Peak District. Obviously there was still some kind of countryside to the south of Matlock, but it's not really the Peaks. We camped a night in some random patch of woodland, and sometime the next day found ourselves on the outskirts of Derby, a bit confused about what had gone wrong.

I'm 6'4 I have a lanshan 2 pro and it's still a bit small for me sleeping diagonally. I don't think tents are generally made for people my height.

The man on the left is a clever and wise bloke - some sound advice from experience and practice... the bloke on the right's not too shabby either. Some great questions asked and answered. I thought it was going to be a 'quick' 15 min video, but turned out to be an hour long interview. Loved it 👍

i would recommend the banshee for a first time wildcamper 👍i have the same ethos as andy your pack weighs what it weighs just as long as your enjoying it. but just be sensible not too heavy lol . there is plenty of good budget equipment instead of needing to spend hundreds on equipment we dont need .

Your right budget gear is always better than NO gear!!😁✊️🔥✌️💚

Have you ever heard a more northern accent? 😂

Love listening to folks say they gone lighter in last few years I’ve been doing it for ten years lol definitely worth it and funny when folks say they don’t care about weight good luck exactly as you both say carrying it Nice to hear you two rabbit on :) great to see you embrace talking videos lol

Hope your Deluxe works better than mine, under a year old and the valve didint close properly and the piezo took maby 8-15 attempts before it worked. Send it back and bought the SOTO Windmaster, that one works like (almost) 90€ water heater should work😅

What tent is this again?

You mentioned the Six Moons Skyscape Scout Solo Tent Could you further comments on it how was it

Thanks Paul for another great video. Really enjoyed hearing you compare notes about gear. Like yourselves I love trying out new things after lots of research and reading reviews. I still love bargain hunting for camping and bushcraft gear. Watched your video on the pocket stove and went off foraging on tinternet for Trangia style stove + 2 in one windshield pot stand. etc I'm well pleased with what I bought and it didn't cist an arm and a leg. Ended up I bought kit to make up pocket stoves (Highlander/Trangia style) for myself and my 4 adult children for their birthdays this year. 😁 Last year, I bought a single skin "5 second popup tent" , which is great! And this year bought a £7 lightweight tarp to give the tent a bit of extra protection against heavy rain, and a bigger porch area for storage and cooking. (Previously bought a pair of lightweight twist-telescopic poles which are ideal for supporting the tarp at the front of the tent). As of last year my survival gear includes a Millbank bag, Sawyer water filter and 1.5L stainless steel water bottle to collect water from the Millbank bag and sterilise on campfire by bringing to a rolling boil. (I once lost my water bottle on a 2 day trek to Beinn Eighe in Torridon, and had to melt and boil icecles. With the Sawyer filter I can drink from a swamp if necessary).. Your videos are a great inspiration. Thanks Paul.

Well done lads, great format! p.s (genuinely!) love my Evernew stove set just goes to show it really is each to their own, which is exactly what you describe through the chat. Cheers gents

I bet the Yanks can’t understand a word that’s being said. Mint!

unless I'm going on a day hike, I always carry a heavy pack full of gear and camera equipment. My empty rucksack weighs almost 5kg, and when it is full of heavy equipment it can weigh anything from 20kg to 45kg, which is certainly a load on the back when climbing almost vertically up mountainsides. I value quality over weight, and in almost all cases, heavier materials will outlive thin, fragile, ultra-lightweight materials. Winter ❄️🗻 always means heavy packs due to extra clothing, although I often take winter down bags and clothing to the high peaks during summer, due to the high possibility of changeable weather, or being hit by a sudden storm.

Great video again Is there a link to Andy's channel.... I want to see his stove setup. Thanks again 🤘🏼♠️🥃🏚️🤠🚬

Loved this vid and the last one you did together. You're both so calming and so spot on, like hearing my own thoughts echoed. It's therapeutic to watch and I'm guessing for you too. Hope you're doing OK, but always here if u need owt. ATB 🙎‍♀️&🐕

Nice chat over gear. Everyone really needs to do their own research. It's best to get out there (with any gear) & see if you take to wild camping first, because a lot of people find it isn't for them. Next is routes & navigation for me. That's my particular weak spot.

Really enjoyed that Paul and Andy. A great discussion from two respected hikers who really know their stuff.

I've really enjoyed this video, just had it on in the background whilst doing other stuff, very interesting content 👍

Can anyone list his meths cooking gear? I'm afraid I can't quite make some of it out (although I know I can't buy stormin norman stuff anymore :( ). Great video, quality chin wag

Hi Paul, I just wanted to say hello. Over the past couple of days, I've watched what must be hours of your videos. Your content is cracking. you're such a natural and engaging guy. Please keep doing what you're doing, I've never wild camped as you do, but I've spent many years camping with friends and family. Your videos have me convinced this is something I want to have a go at. So for that I wanted to thank you. Best wishes to you and the family.

it's interesting to listen to what other people used to use years ago. I started walking properly over 25years ago and I tried to get below 35lbs, my rucksack was a Karrimor jaguar s 60-80 and weighed over 5lbs alone, I am trying to start back up again and I have got one of my sons interested. Good sound video, if people don't like a video then don't watch it when someone goes out of their way to share their experience and enjoyment. Carry on

You just be yourself Paul that's what people in the beginning tuned in for all the luck in the world Paul James

Great vid Paul. Enjoyed the chat. Couldn't help giggling as your accent morphed int' t'broad Yorkshire at t'bits🤣 I do it all the time, when I'm away with work. I get home forgetting how to speak😅 But, again great geekout vid it wuh. Loved it.

I got a Vango Nevis 300 for my first tent, it was pretty good, bit heavy and bulky but good. I've now got a Vango Helium UL1, it's a lot lighter and less bulky, sacrificed a bit of space inside but as long as I keep my stuff tidy then there's plenty space.

If you're out for a walk, fancy a quick brew, Gas is the way. But if you're on a trek and a camp, no rush, alcohol is so nice, so quiet and weighs nothing, 300g for an xboil setup.

Goosebumps on first solo wild camp, I totally get that. Nothing quite like it! ❤

Same goes for motorcycle adventure - so many take too much rubbish, then struggle to pick it up when they drop it in the bush. Carry less, and have an amazing time RIDING the bike, like hiking with a lighter pack.

Lads, are talking about easy dexter? I was talking to him a couple of days back. Are you saying he invented atom packs? I believe he holds the record for the coast to coast, 4 days 12 hours if I remember correctly. I was watching that not 24 hours ago.

Do you have any sleeping bag or quilt? I have a £60-100 budget, trying to find something on sale. It is tricky because I am a female, so I have found that I feel the cold more (tried liner, considering a less drafty tent than Lanshan so looking at other factors too) and I am also more incentivised to have a smaller pack. Please help? Ps. I use a reflective pad for £10 (similar to the silver thing you put on your windshield to keep the car cooler) it is light, and I put it under the tent as ground sheet.

Great vid and nice to hear views of such experienced people. I wish I had the same positive opinion of Rab though but after being told I was lying about how the plastic fasteners on a down jacket had melted (they melted in the dryer), I’ll never pass up the opportunity to slag off their customer service. I’m still disgusted by it years later.

Love listening to you two chat , is this going to be a regular thing ?

I can understand purchasers sorting their own guy-lines and locks, but I think all tents should be seam-sealed on arrival.

Great show... Camping/Backpacking is sort of like taking pictures. Once you familiarize yourself with your camera and gear, you will finally start to take really nice pictures and have fun doing it. You really don't need much to get great images. Camping/Backpacking I believe to be the same. Dang I'm envious of that cool weather. 93 F at 6pm here. Thanks for the video!

Where would you recommend that I buy outdoor trousers from. Was looking to buy a couple of pairs but was not looking to break the bank. Any help would be appreciated

I like it, about the clothes. I’ve not spent any money on going out gear for 3 years and when I go to my wardrobe I have to question myself what I wore last time I was out. But you look to the right there’s all my outdoor gear🤣

Nice to see you with a smile again my friend 👍 I'm Looking forward to the next one, keep up the great graft 🙏

Enjoying this format and getting more of an insight into you two! I have so much spare gear I just turn up at my mates house, tell him to grab his boots, we're going camping! as I've packed him a bag with a full set up in it made from all my extras 🤦‍♂️

thanks for the advice gents, can I ask though the osprey exos packs, the latest version has the plastic adjuster in the back setup, do they dig in the shoulder blade? or is this a new addition to the pack since you had yours?

You are inspiring me .Don't listen to rude people they are not happy with themselves and jealousy is the worst.

My first real wildcamping tent was also a zephyros 2 but it failed within 10 uses the zipper ripped off the door panel

I was a rock climber/camper for years and every time a new piece of kit came out I bought it. At the end of the day, I had cupboards full of gear I wasn't using. The point is, that when I did go out I had total faith in the gear I carried.

I was wild solo camping 35 years ago with very cheap gear and I only have good fond memories of it. You really don't need it all to enjoy the outdoors, great content , thanks.

Paul i think you should do a competition and take a newbie who wants to start camping with cheap gear and you go with the best and then swap half way through and see what works best

You hit it right on the spot with the dilemma of buying budget to start to see if you like it. I am sure there are a lot of people that hated it because of the weight and bulk, rather than the activity itself. I really wish there was a service where you could hire lightweight camping gear. It would let you try wild camping, without the burden of choosing weight or cost

I put 3mm silicon tubing on the handles of my pot to insulate them. Doesn't seem to affect you though. You must have asbestos hands!

The 5 quid foil mat off amazon is definitely a god, doesn't matter what you put on top of it, your arse will be warm 👍

Hi Paul Totally loved you and Andy going through your thoughts and kit. Was a great vid Atb Graham 👍

dose camping in the wind and rain ever give you headaches watched a lot of your trips and from others im to old for it myself lol but remember when i did camp i got bad headaches due to the preasure of the air and wind but no one on these videos seems to suffer from them or just not replyed about it

Nice microphone, too! What brand is it? I'm looking for a good one like yours. Thanks for sharing!

Now that's what I call an accent! Wonderful video, as always!

Liked the easy-going style of this vid, and genuine thoughts/thought processes regarding gear👍 I get most bang for buck whilst learning something new. That is the key. A new hobby/interest, lots to learn, skills to acquire, things to try, seeing what others do. We are all prey to confirmation bias I guess too! As experience is gained, the thrills can level off and new thrills are sometimes not such easy pickings. Chasing new gear may result in micro-learning experiences, but beware diminishing returns… can be a costly way of re-living that elusive “fix” that came effortlessly and relatively cheaply whilst learning! Keep up the interesting and varied content on your channel, Paul🙂. I particularly liked the opening and closing parts of the vid by the way, the splendour that gets us all (who doesn’t like a good view?) and the bare bones reality that doesn’t always get published (miserable wet morning and gear to get packed up etc!).

where can I get the components for this cook system that Andy is talking about at 26:55 ?.

I'll bet you enjoyed camping just as much then😊

I like too add my thoughts, this interview was very interesting too listen to two experience people casually talking about something they have a honest interest in , Paul this is a new way to talk a bout hiking.it would be a good thing to interview other RU-vid bloggers out in the field, sit them down and slowly getting answers about there love for wild camping, well done 👍

Paul what mat would you recommend for a tall guy at 6ft4 ? I live in Norway so I only do 3 season camping.

I really enjoyed that chat Paul. Top video. 👍

Really enjoyed this lads....bit different for the good, full of knowledge! No nonsense honest Andy 💯

Great video pal I've only just found your channel so only started watching when I get the chance. I'd love to be able to go wild camping like you do looks like your living the dream! I was wondering what you recommended for some good warm waterproof hiking trousers? Thanks in advance keep up the good videos and take care Paul and merry Christmas

If you pay what could be big money (dependimg on your budget) for a tent it should come seam sealed properly.

Can anyone recommend me a good lightweight tent light please?

Id love a small compact down sleeping quilt, however I'm allergic to the feathers. Great video.

I'm new...seen you pop up on my suggestions lately...thought I'll subscribe....hope the best for you mate be safe and keep hiking love from van diemens land 👍😎🍻 lutrawita

47:40 (Keeping up with the Jones')

I’m still working with army surplus

Really enjoyed listening to you both.

That was a great bleather* :-) Thank you both *

As you get older you want lighter end of 😊

Regards boots I have a long narrow flat feet with a tendency to roll my ankles, I spent a few days driving to different stores like decathlon, go outdoors, snow + rock, Cotswold outdoors and finally Ellis Brigham in Manchester trying on boots. I finally fell in love with the LA Sportiva TX5 GTX boots, the best pair of shoes I have ever owned.

Needs vs wants this videos about🎬 init💪🏽

Great video. I recently bought the Hilleberg Soulo, and if I’m being honest, I probably won’t use it in weather anywhere near that it is capable of handling. I bought it for piece of mind if the weather did change drastically from what was originally forecast. Buying outdoor gear is an addiction it’s a fantastic feeling when u arrive home from work to find your parcel. Then trying to explain to the wife why u need the said item 😂

My first tent was a Saunders fellpine. Shame they aren't around any more. Quality tents. My 1 man is a Vango Helium but I also have a Vango F10 mk3 Jaffa. I've had Coleman cobras as well (good but heavy) and tried naturehike ( condensation). I'm now waiting for a Dan Durston Xmid 2 solid. My main weakness is stoves though and, guess what, I don't have any MSRs. Got Soto, edelrid, Trangia, speedster, optimus etc but no Msr. Backpacking and hillwalking is my hobby. Being comfy is worth the money.

Good chat that, you always end up chatting like this if you go out with someone. Agree completely with Andy on the exos with the support system, mentioned it to him when got out with him in the Lakes. Enjoyed that. You defo enjoy things more of its lighter esp on multiday, and we're not getting any younger 😂 top drawer video. TFS David 👍

I'm a foreigner. What region is Andy's accent?

👍👍👍 .. a very interesting listen .. thanks. 'Gear' 🙄😏. I emphasise 😁. 'Stoves' .. one of my (many) failings. Although, the very first two stoves I ever got (not including the family Primus No 1 'Roarer' used from back in the early 60's) .. my Military Issue 'Esbit' Folder (1968) and Campingaz Bluet 206 Butane Stove (mid 70's .. the one with the windscreen) .. both are still in regular use with both being used just in this week. I must agree, I also have developed a fondness for Alcohol Stoves .. the Trangia being a very good all-rounder although, a little 200ml Energy Drink Can homemade Burner, together with the Esbit Folder and an Aluminium Windscreen (when necessary) tends to top the list. Each to their own. My 'itch' to go out and splash out on new (and often eye-wateringly expensive) gear has been rather tempered by the depth of my pockets .. which have shrunk somewhat since going on pension. A saving grace is that generally, my gear choices, some from many years back, have been (by chance or otherwise), wise ones .. and they have lasted. Once again guys .. a good posting .. thanks. Take care ..

I've just ordered a MLD Duomid can't wait to get it your thumbnail strikes my interest 🤣✌️💚

I went to enter the raffle but noted it's UK only it seems. Never mind, good luck to the entrants! 😀👍

Of course if you're smart about when you buy stuff, you can have the very best gear for not much more than low-mid range alternatives. I just purchased a Montane Feather-Lite Down Jacket which as an MSRP of £200 for just £85 and a Rohan Mistral Jacket, £140 MSRP, for £70...because no one wants them in the Summer 😁

I am from South Carolina retired from BMW so used to hearing English with their accent. Even worked in Oxford for Mini for about 6 weeks. I need subtitles to understand your buddy 😂. Enjoying the channel.

I enjoyed the chat. I had it playing in the background while I churned my way through the morning admin for my business. Paul, we are all far more average than we like to think and so if you like this style of video, rest assured many others will too. Many may not but as mentioned before, your core audience will enjoy it and the rest can skim, flick and move on.

Enjoyed this vid Paul, and the format I feel worked well. Hope you are feeling better and enjoying yourself again.

So buy a great matt and be free...

Great bit of insight, would probably make a good podcast if you could round up some of the other popular wild camping faces on RU-vid. Nice to hear that sometimes paying a fortune for kit isn’t always the best and personally feel that there is most definitely an air of KIT SNOBBERY and DICK MEASURING amongst some of the wild camping community, its horses for courses and personal preference. 👍

Really interesting and insightful stuff. Much appreciated. Only thing missing was a camp fire (maybe a camp stove in the foreground) since you can’t be lighting fires when wild camping. Paul, you’re a legend.

Hi Paul. Always a pleasure to watch your vids. But here's a thing - you often light a stove in the open, and with little or no protection from the wind. I know from long experience how much more fuel it burns than when with some decent protection. One time, for an experiment, I boiled half a litre of water with full wind break, and then tried to boil another half litre without any. The second time I could not get the water to boil at all. I know it's not so important if you know you will have enough gas, almost regardless of how much gets wasted. But my backpacking life has generally been predicated on max efficiency, minimum weight - within reason, I am not one of these light weight fascists - and it ? 'concerns' me how much gas you must waste over time. Just saying (-;)~

Nice listening to this, found it quite relaxing. Did I hear you correctly - are those the MLD Duomid or the Solomid XL? I used to camp exclusively in my Scarp 1 but recently I have been using the Lanshan 1 Plus (2021 model), I much prefer it purely because of the weight but the Lanshan does worry me when the weather takes a turn, hence me looking at the MLD tents - I’m thinking of selling the Scarp 1 and buying either the Solomid XL or the Duomid. Cheers 👍

The mid section of this would make a good audio only podcast/spotify.. etc... cheers to you both... (edit blimey u got full racing slick tread left on them boots paul...certainly worth a longterm review)