Trying out my new zero chair this weekend. Like those little wipes, need a sack full for the car. Last easy hike for the kids they're gonna have to keep up with grandma soon. When I saw y'all fighting that tree I thought of my old uncles on a family camping trip. John (grey feather) said " white man big fire stand back and freeze, Indian build small fire sit close stay warm." And all around the fire shuck their heads in agreement. He had spent alot of time on the resevation. I had been one of the kids sent after wood with clear directions on wood size and type and exactly where to look. No saw necessary, always dry wood even in in the rain! Loved camping with that crowd!
Back in my Army days, we used super thin socks with the boot socks... it let the two socks rub and not your skin.... just a thought! :). I’ve seen some nasty looking feet until we switched to the two sock trick... cheers!
Yes! Since the 70's I've been wearing thin, baseball "sanitaries" (the white sock players used to wear under the colored stirrups - when the style was to wear pants that ended just below the knee) with thicker wool hiking socks over them. Almost never get blisters.
Agree with Jeremiah I’m gonna check those WYSI towels out for my poop kit. Long tangent incoming, Loved the Andrew Skurka podcast. He used a phrase I think it was “Charmin Blossoms”. With so many more people going into the back country not using cat holes and leaving TP around I thought that phrase perfectly stated what is happening. I was listening to another podcast today “Trust the trail” They mentioned adding those doggy poop bags you get at the pet store to your poop kit to help with LNT and packing out your TP. Dig your cat hole, do your business , bury the poop and use the doggy poop bag to pick up and seal away the TP and pack it out. I thought that was a genius way to help remove the “charmin blossoms” from the trail and help with LNT. What ya’ll think? Am I totally crazy? Keep up the great work!
5:45 whizzy wipes aren’t biodegradable, so you need to pack them out. Same with wet wipes. You also shouldn’t flush them as they clog pipes and can lead to clogs and leaks.
Hammer Toe Brothers unite! My pinky toes do the same thing and I can't hike without my Injinjis --- they're the 1 piece of gear that means I can comfortably hike for miles on end, for days on end!
Brilliant. Been walking for many years and never comes across those dehydrated wet wipe towel things. Just ordered some, i feel a new must take item coming on. Thanks!
Wysi Wipes...what a great idea. We actually dry out wet wipes before we go on the hike then wet them on the trail. These sound like a much better item. Thanks!
My go-to is the Cold Steel Spetznaz Shovel. Sturdy, no moving parts to break or pinch, can be used to dig a latrine, level your sleeping area, chop light firewood, use as a close-in defensive weapon, and it's fun to throw.
Completely agree on the GSI mug. I still use just my toaks 650 for a mug when I am using my 24 L stealth daypack backpacking kit because of limited space, but that GSI comes with me on every other trip. Another important piece of kit is my Planters Peenut jar. This is the 20 oz size which gets me through the night. As you get older, you will find this very useful.
Short arms or not, the water bottle pouch is a must. I first used one when I bought my SD Flex Capacitor 40-60L and realized how handy it is. It's so much easier to stay hydrated with one than to fiddle around with your side pockets while you're walking. I'm with Jeremiah and rock the red Walmart silicone mug. Fits perfectly over my cook pot lid.
Just found your channel today and as soon as I receive my wysi wipes they will be in my pack, car, gym locker, work desk, pocket and anywhere else I can think of! Thanks for the vid!!
I literally wear injinji toe socks under my Darn Toughs every single day. On my feet a lot for work, and it's the coziest! It's also amazing for backpacking
I don't wear caps or hats for summer hiking (too hot!), but a Buff on the head saves me from sunburn and keeps mosquitoes away from my head. Bonus tip: dip it in water to help cool down, mountain streams are always cold.
Agree that the water bottle strap pouch is a game changer. No more try to dislocate my arm to grab my hydration options while still moving on trails. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and tips.
Straw for a smart water or life water bottle can be made from 1/4” plastic tubing (the kind used for water supply to your refrigerator ice maker). Measure the length you want and cut. The tubing slides into the sport flip cap on either bottle.
@@john_kelley I just drill a hole in the standard water bottle cap slightly smaller than the tube I have from a bladder system. Also poke a second small hole with a heated tack or needle to make a breather hole.
I have something I bring occasionally, it's the Thermarest mini airpump that is battery powered. I don't remember the exact name now. When I make camp, I start up the stove, set up the tent and start blowing up the sleeping pad with the pump, and by that time, the water is usually about to boil, so I put the water in to start rehydrate the food and before it is time to eat, the pad is blown up, it may need a blow or two manually to have my preferred hardness. Then spread the sleeping quilt over the pad, and I usually still have to wait a few minutes before the food is ready to eat, so the camp is entirely made before the meal is ready. I use an inflating bag at other times, but the battery powered pump is just making the process so much more relaxing. 👍 BTW, I found this video as a recommendation from RU-vid and hit subscribe halfway through the video!
The Silky Pocketboy is amazing! I take mine on every hike and bike ride for impromptu trail work when there’s a small tree down across the trail I can’t just pull off trail!
Great video! Although it makes me laugh all the hiker guys just discovering what toe socks are lol I'm sure the hiking version is newer, but all us girls were wearing toe socks back in the 90s and from what I read they go back to the 70s lol definitely want to get some for hiking for blisters and the nostalgia 😄
I have to have my butt pad. I take it on day trips, overnighters, to cheer and band competition for the bleachers. I take a chair on most over night trips to but I take the pad every time. And it’s multi purpose. Use it to fan the fire, block wind when cooking, a door matt for my tent and to sit on.
On multi-day trips having a nail clipper has saved me so many times. I always forget to clip my toenails and that can really screw up a day of descending. Definitely worth the weight.
Another good video. Buffs - always have at least two with me camping/backpacking Coffee mug - nostalgia reasons, I gotta have a classic enamel coated coffee cup Brew Buddy coffee filter - need 'real' coffee at least once or twice during an outing. Instant for the other times Pocket telescoping fire bellow - makes fire tending so much easier. Many options on amazon and other places, I made my own by cutting off the ends of a telescoping fork from the dollar store. Camp sandals - to let your feet dry out after walking in wet shoes all day. Huaraches sandals take up almost no room. Xero Shoes has premade and kits. I followed their instructions and picked up the materials at a local tractor supply. Spike Table - Similar to, but a simpler DIY version of the Schwarze Biene tables. Even if I don't bring my camp chair, it's nice to have the table next to my hammock Nite Ize MoonLit Micro lantern - I leave this clipped to my hammock ridgeline even when I pack the hammock. Yes I could use my headlamp, but there's no buttons to fiddle with and it gives off a good light in all directions. Requires a strong enough squeeze to turn on/off that I haven't had it turn on by accident in my pack yet Lastly, and very important to me, I've added soap to my first aid kit. Last season it was liquid in an eye dropper bottle, this year it's going to be a small piece cut from a bar of soap. I need this in case I get into any poison ivy. I want to be able to wash those oils off as soon as I notice it.
@@john_kelley I wrote a reply on how I made my table. I think youtube messed up and it's not here. I tagged you on an IG photo of it. Real easy to make for ~ $7 if you want to try one before spending the $$$ for the one Shug has.
Two things that I take each time. Microfiber cloth to wipe down my wet tarp before packing up. And a thermometer that records the lowest and highest temps. I feel I will forever be dialing in my sleep gear and clothes and the thermometer helps with that.
Yeah buddy. My must have gear is my helinox chair zero 1lb. I keep it on the outside of my pack and use it every time I take a break and also at camp. CHAIR ZERO!!!!
In yoga. we practice something called Paschim Namaskarasan. Do that for a few months everyday (for around 4-5 minutes after a hot bath) and your arms will start to reach behind to your water bottle. Initially it will be painful.. but do it. Having flexible arms and shoulders for hiking is super convenient.
My #1 item I always take with me is a 6-7 foot piece of paracord with a loop tied at one end. Works as a tie-down, a guy line, a belt, a cloths line, a dog leash, general repair material, etc. Don't leave home with out it.
Instead of that fold-out pocket saw, have you tried those survival saws that are like 1.5 feet of serrated cable with a ring or loop at each end? I think they're also called rope saws or wire saws. I was given one years ago and it weighed nothing at all and worked pretty good. But I only had two trips to bring it on before it disappeared.
@@markpanarese2452 my hiking partner has personal stuff to take care of so we are starting middle to end of March. I am on my way to Louisiana, then FDR state park to do a couple hikes, then hiking the Benton Mackay until she can get there. Next week I should be putting out a couple videos a week, then daily as much as I can when I hit the trail. I am so ready to just get started lol. Thank you for asking.
I've heard of the towelette things, but never seen them. Interesting. I use Wet Ones pocket size singles. I used to do the Zpacks aqua clip and I tied a loop of shock cord lower down on the daisy chain to keep it from bouncing. My new hydration system is smart water bottles in the side pockets with an Osprey hydration tube run as a hose in the bottle and clipped on sternum strap with Osprey magnet
Water bottle on my shoulder strap is essential. I use a soft flask though, and rather than a pocket, I use static cord around the nozzle and shock cord around the bottom to attack it to the shoulder strap daisy chain. And I have a bite valve on a straw, but i didn’t make it - it came with the flask (Hydrapak). This is standard running pack gear. I’m sure there’s been lots of gear I didn’t know existed before, that I now find essential. After decades wearing a poncho, getting an XL Frogg Togg jacket that covers me and my pack was kind of a eureka moment.
Thx for video - - the WYSI WIPES: look like a great option and will definitely give them a try. The Justin UL Water Bottle holder is great and part of my standard gear.
In this day a buff can be a face mask during town resupply on long distance hikes, gsi is too expensive and heavy , get a microwaveable soup cup. Love the wysi wipes, avoid fires, take pack off, sit down and take a water and snack break.✌️
if you want to save weight and have a single item pull double duty swap any cordage you have for kevlar cordage. Not only is it super light and small compared to any version of paracord it is much stronger for the size and it can stand up to great deals of pressure and heat. Wrap a tent stake on either end as handles and it will work as a saw. You can easily cut through surprisingly large pieces of wood this way. It can also still do anything your current cordage can with the exception of pulling apart into longer, thinner cords but with the 0.5mm cord being able to support 50lbs its plenty thin already. 2mm can support 500lbs, making it a much smaller and lighter paracord replacement.
@@john_kelley one new bit of gucci kit I discovered a year or so ago was a present from my niece. It’s a Sigg flask. Like one of the normal Sigg bottles but insulated and designed so that you can drink hot drinks straight from it. It keeps drinks hot for hours. My little luxury when camping is to make a hot drink last thing at night and put it in a flask, so that I can have a coffee immediately I wake up and before I even get out of my maggot (sleeping bag). The Sigg flask is excellent and of course you can fill it with water… :)
I was going to go with the PocketBoy, then I found out their F180 saw had a larger 180mm blade and was lighter than the smallest pocketboy. That sold me. But yes having a saw to process wood is great, especially in areas where loose down wood is heavily used. Ive come across this issue in trails which you are only allowed to camp in designated areas.
Just purchased an F180 this season. Holy cow, was that a great acquisition. Was in an old burned out area in Desolation Wilderness and there was a ton of bleached wood laying around. However, most of the small stuff had been gathered and burned already. With my F180, I made quick work and had a huge pile ready in no time. I was the king of the campsite!
@@53nd4k The f-180 was my entry drug into folding saws. Next I had to get the big boy 2000 and then the silkie nata for batonin larger pieces of wood. Been waiting on a 650 katanaboy to go on sale and I'll be set.
If you use an alcohol stove try using Everclear 190 for fuel. Works well and has multiple other uses. Like; fortified Packit Gourmet Moonshine Margarita mix
Yes, campfires are the best! I like your backpacking philosophy, honest in telling what works for you, without imposing it as a rule. Thanks for that. Cheers from a new subscriber.
3 года назад
A man that enjoys the outdoors! Really enjoyed the video as it came across very personal, but objective.
I have been using them for about two years now, it’s amazing how many uses you can find for them. If you put just a few drops of water and then use a little hand sanitizer it is amazing for cleaning up some messes.
John man how's it going. Man I love it when you do gear talk like this. One thing I got to have with me is the buffs man. I had a heat stroke one time because I did not have the back of my neck covered. Everytime I don't have my neck covered in the Sun the back of my neck get real real hot. Since I had my heat stroke weather I'm hiking , kayaking , riding a bike , yard work , partying no matter what I'm doing i got a buffs on. The water bottle pocket is awesome I need to add that to my gear list. Great video man thank you for sharing.
I have used the GSI insulated mug for 2000+ miles. There is no need for the insulation. Leave it at home. Without it, the mug will warm up your hands and still stay very hot for around 30 min. Only take the insulation if you want hot coffee for 2 hours.
Hello John, it's good to see you again. Greetings from Northern California. Thank you for sharing this informative video. The very best to you. Stay healthy. 🤗
Weird that I did the opposite and switched from the paper towel tablets to a simple pack of wet wipes... IME rehydrating them gives identical performance to a fresh pack, they're cheaper, and it's just simpler to just pull out a new wipe instead of having to wet and then unroll one
Greetings from a fellow t-rex. I prefer to consider myself a hobbit. If you like the bite valve/hose system of a platypus, get the tube and cap from the Platypus Hoser. it fits on to standard water bottle threads, invert your bottle and use it like a really small bladder. You can buy just the hose/cap/bite valve system (no bladder)on Amazon or the Platypus site for $12.95
Great idea on the towels. Per the water bottle. I use a zpack “Aqua Clip”. It works well for me and I completely avoid the “yoga moves” required to retrieve my water bottle from my side pocket on my pack. The dangling feeling doesn’t bother me in the least. I do carry a Buff, and love it. Per the saw on any hike... I’ll have to see your saw for myself. It would be handy to have, but the added weight?To each his own... Anyhow, great video...
Great stuff man! I’ve been using all these things for several years now but the wysi wipes were new to me. I gotta check those out. Thanks for sharing🤙
I'm old, fair-skinned, grew up before the invention of sunblock. Back of my neck/collar is pre-cancerous from simply walking around all my life. Not out hiking in the hot sun, not baking at the beach. Just incidental sun. So slather up and cover up and get that gaiter.
I like bringing some video glasses, so i can watch a few episodes of my favorite funny tv shows before going to sleep. I would not use this in bear country though. When you cant see anything but the screen, and cant hear anything except the sound in the earbuds, and you know that bloodthirsty killer moose are lurking in the shadows, you will get all the excitement you need..!
Neck gators,yes but make your own. Ninety-nine percent are synthetic, the fibers are bad for the environment, if you are prone to acne or eczema irritates skin. Easy to make, use an old tshirt, or cotton knit. Wet wipes NO. They are synthetic too, more microfibers in to our waters. Make some wipes out of old cotton sheets probably don't need more than two a day. if you don't want to pack them out they can be used for fire starter or buried since the biodegrade. I always take an emergency blanket, mylar blanket. In Sweden, even in July the temps can get low enough a standard sleeping bag isn't enough, also might help a fellow camper that didn't pack warm enough.
Thanks for the tips: I was going to buy one of those water bladders. OMG 😳 they are ridiculously expensive! Even the cheapest ones that look like they’d blow out after the first use are $25 or more. Plus keeping them clean looks like a lot of extra work. So I had been delaying the purchase wondering if it was worth it. I think the water bottle pocket on the strap is so much better for the money. The tiny wipes I knew about. Awesome 😎
I use the GSI Outdoors Fairshare Mug II and my 750 Toaks rest inside. The Snow Peak 700will rest inside too but only with the lid off. I take my MH meals and put them inside the mug with measured boiling water, screw the lid down and setup camp while my meals rehydrates. I also prepare oatmeal in the mornings with it. But my drinking mug is the Snow Peak double walled 450. All that and my summer bag is still less than 7 lbs without food and water. The Fairshare with my stove, toaks 750,sponge and lighter weighs 1 lb.
Hey John, good list. Get yourself a Bahco 396 XT7 folding saw, the hi-viz better bladed version of THE bushcrafter's choice Bahco Laplander. It cuts better than that Silky (i have that one too and hate it, comparatively) and the teeth don't break like on the Silky. Plus, it's lighter weight and a sleeker design. Cheers!
I thought neck gaiters were common sense :-P. Bandanas too. Many uses for both. Wet them when you're hot. Use as towels. Extra shoestrings - if you don't bring these you are making a big mistake. One of the most essential things to have. Just consider for a second the trouble you will be in if your shoe strings start to come apart. Imagine walking even 3 hours with no shoe strings. I've been there, while walking down a literal mountain. One of the worst things that can go wrong. The skin might just be rubbed completely off the bottom of your feet at the end due your feet moving around inside the shoe. By that I mean disconnected but still attached. You'll see what I mean if it ever happens.
wysi wipes are major. and so are toe socks. i usually brought wet wipes. but these wysi wipes are so much lighter and i can bring how much i need instead of the whole pack.
It's always great when you find the pieces of gear that change the game for you. Darn tough took care of blisters for me but man the toe socks are great for when I run. I'm a fan of the sea to summit cup but our buddy has the GSI you should be good with the switch.
I already use several of your recommended pieces of gear. Thanks for sharing. Saw your fingers were dry and cracked. Can highly recommend CeraVe SA cream. It works really well for me. Be sure it has SA on the label. You may have to buy it online. I don't see the SA cream very often in the stores.
For me it's the side table. Gotta have it, don't like cooking in the dirt. I have the REI Flash 55 which is one, if not the only pack that has dedicated pockets that make it easier to grab your water bottle. Only other dude on Tube that I see carry it is your most recent Backpacking Podcast guest, Justin Outdoors! I don't dig having things on the straps. Miyagi on the trail or MacGyver on the trail? Hahaha. (prob didn't want to collide with Spiguyver) Great video!
Something else you may be interested in: Lems shoes and "correct toes" brand toe spacers to help train your pinky toe back into the position it should be in.
