Honestly I do not understand why somebody spend 600 dollar on a tent. I bought mine for 15 dollar in Tesco. That is 40 times difference. It is a popup tent. For sure it is not 384 gram but come on... I mean I like cool gadgets for sure but my camera of phone costs less, and I am pretty pretty sure those are way more complex products with way way way more features.
I looked at the Bombas after you mentioned synthetic socks. I only saw hiking socks with merino wool, a cotton blend, or compression. What am I missing? Thanks.
I'm a cycling enthusiast and there are NO cycling media outlets that will speak ill about a new piece of gear (in fear of upsetting manufacturers and sponsor daddies.) So refreshing to see a constructive, trustworthy reviews. Thanks!
this is a great channel for really good perspectives. I'm surprised channels can survive when they are just a shill for whatever is new. It's so obvious and a turnoff. I get the temptation though.
@@nedanother9382 I get those kind of channels. It's not like they don't give a nice bit of information - spec readout and a nice set of b rolls of how the gear looks IRL, some level of real functionality is also nice, but it is just that - gear porn.
I agree. Not just in cycling but a lot of other sports where people need the revenue given by sponsors. This channel and outdoorgearreview are my fave channels. The latters speaks more candidly, no bullshit. If he thinks then tent is terrible, he says it, but with an objective breakdown of why that is. He even calls manufacturers to talk to them about their tents
Thanks for sharing your honest opinion. Great job on testing the chair as well or give their designers some great feedback to try and come up with a solution. I’d love to try that tent out but I think the $600 tag is a marriage fight I’d like to avoid 😅
I completely disagree about the synthetic underwear and socks. They get smelly really fast and bacteria grows really quickly and easily on those types of fabrics, doesn't hold heat when we,. for women in the woods they can issues with infection, or cuts or blisters can get more easily infected with the synthetics. Go with wool blends. Wool holds it's heat when wet & naturally resists bacteria.
Funny he recommends his sponsored stuff instead. Makes you wonder about everything else. Everyone that spends time outdoors knows about wool and blends... good grief... silk can be even better... synthetics are better than cotton, but that's it...
I’m with you on this! Merino all the way. It does all the things he said he liked about the synthetic plus being antimicrobial. And, bonus, no micro plastics leaching out of your laundry. Bombas has merino so, same buy a pair donate a pair deal. Win - win - win.
Yeah I don't like synthetic underwear for that situation. Although I have nylon body shaper I perfer wool in that situation for sure. Especially if u are gonna wear it more days.
This randomly showed up in my recommended feed, and while I'm not that much of an outdoorsy person, you made a great pitch for all these products and explained why the worst products should be avoided in a concise manner. No fluff, no BS, and quality camera work. Well made video!
Big Agnes makes a double wide pad that fits the floor of the Copper Spur perfectly. It’s noticeable heavier and bulkier than two pads, but it’s also the only pad I’ve ever used where I consistently wake up in a puddle of drool so it’s crazy comfortable. For couples, it’s the bomb.
@@Northern_Rockhopper Rapide. It’s the only double-wide pad they sell. They also sell the Rapide as a single, so you may see them bundled together as additional size options with the single.
I completed the CT this summer and my list of favorite gear is very similar. I love the Kakua 40 pack, Nemo Tensor, and Zpacks Plex solo as well!!! Amazing how similar our favorites are, there must be a good reason for that. Thanks for the awesome videos and keep them comming!
Hey mark how did the Nemo tensor hold up on the trail ? I know the complaints are all over about not liking it . Did you baby it, use a ground pad anything like that?
@@UniteChopRise I did use a thin pad underneath, but I have seen no problems with the Tensor not being durable. I absolutely love this sleeping pad!!!!
I'm off the Nemo (at least for now). Had the better earlier version when they combined the foil with the Primaloft. Always comfy and as you know the fabric is great.....I just couldn't stop it from getting tiny holes. even had a full blowout once (there was nothing in the tent that was at all abrasive) patched patched until I had to make it a shorty to get rid of the patches. I completely submerge it in a tub w calm water...good to go. Until every other hour at 12000 ft. damn. So now I have an as yet to be tried neoair. Its weird that the one that feels the sturdiest is 10 D thinner than the xlite. cheers
Decades of back country hiking have eliminated most "gear" from my list. My sweetie and I can be very cozy and comfortable with a double tarp/wool blanket system. If we get separated, each has a tarp/wool blanket for survival. I have just wrapped up in the blanket and tarp like a taco after a twenty-four mile hike. But gear reviews are still entertaining.
Just checked the Durston site because a rave like that deserves some research. Looks like the Kakwa 40 is scheduled to start shipping around mid-March and the X-Mid Pro 2 tent should start shipping around April. So look for these if you're planning a mid-late summer trip or something later in the year.
I have used the MSR Freelite in windy/pouring conditions and had no issues when entering or exiting the tent. I just tapped on the roof and the door flap outward like I do with all tents in the rain. With that said, I do wish the headroom was just a little wider.
It is so strange how every reviewer of this tent has failed to figure that out?? Like you, over the years with various tents I’ve always given a quick tap or tug to the vestibule to clear it of water… I do the same with this tent and water dropping in is a non-issue.
Problem with tents that are for two with a bigger floor but not taller heights is that they get moist in all the bad ways and sleeping next to the wall will be like sleeping next to a wet wall that drips no matter how good the ventilation is.
That Nemo Tenaor pad is CLUTCH. It's good by itself. But... Pair it with a Nemo foldable switchback underneath and it's just like sleeping on your warm bed at home even in freezing conditions. 👌👌💯💯👍👍 Bet pad and best pad combo I've ever used
I took a pair of bombas and a pair of smartwool up Mt Rainier in mountaineer boots. The bombas were horrible. They didn't wick moisture away, left my feet extremely cold and then caused blisters. I took them off in blinding snow (-10f) at the bottom of Muir Snowfield. Didn't even last to camp Muir because I didn't want to suffer the 1.5hr up the Snowfield in such terrible socks. Never again.
The Big Agnes Copper Spur UV2 is an excellent, spacious tent to use solo. I did the whole CDT and GDT with it alone and loved it. It's comfortable and light weight if you're alone, but the narrator is right here that it wouldn't work for two people.
I have the copper spur HV UL2, and I’m not sure if it’s the HV that’s making the difference but me and my partner (6’3” 240lb) fit just fine every time.
Ok... I'm in the deep South. Humidity and heat, right? For me at least, synthetics are not optimal. I do get it, and 100% synthetics have specialized uses for me. However, I find that Merino wool, wool blends with synthetics and yes, some cottons are Primo. I realize that it is counterintuitive to modern and popular belief, but Cotton is not an automatic outdoor enemy. I have some very light/thin cotton hoodies that are some of my favorites year-round. I have also had incredible success with bamboo fiber as in the Freefly Hoodie. I appreciate your hard work and information. Peace! This is certified by and Old .
My favorite piece has lasted for decades. It's a blue hiking pack with a metal frame by north face. It was made in the 1980s. It's gone through Yellowstone, the Tetons, the Cascades, and many many others. It's a little on the heavy side once full, but I've stayed on trail for 2 weeks without resupply with this thing.
4:20 Pop up tent. 1.5 pounds no setting up needed, deploy in 5 seconds. Once you get the hang of it you need exactly 10 seconds to compact it again. Small enough to fit into a backpack.
I do like the LifeStraw Peak. However, I don't use it with the included bag. I use it with my Cnoc bag. It weighs about half of what the Squeeze weighs and has comparable flow.
I’m not a fan of the helinox. Took it on an elk hunting trip in Colorado and the leg broke on the second day. I had a cramp in my leg and went to stretch my leg out and snapped a leg on the chair. I was sitting on the ground the next 9 days, it sucked! For a $150 chair I was expecting more
I'm from the U.P. Michigan and i found if you foam the inside of the tubing you won't have the bending or breaking of chairs or anything else. I did this because I have friends in the 300lb + weight and this works great.
That’s a great idea. In this case it wasn’t the aluminum tube that broke it was the plastic hub. The company has identified the problem and pulled the chair from the market. They are currently fixing the issue and will rerelease in the spring
Great lists! You are the first to verbalize exactly why I also dislike the lifestraw filter. I really wanted to like that thing, but when I tested it out before a trip, I found the same flaw. I just couldn't filter all the water when it got down to the filter. I lucked out and have someone close selling the Durston Pack and I'm excited to give it a try soon. My Plex Solo arrived earlier this month and that will also be going out on a few trips with me. I'll have to give that OV jacket a go. It didn't impress me on paper, but everyone who wears it seems to recommend it.
Someone (Steven) should put a gear list together of the absolute worst but serious gear on the market...the life straw (in every form) ...that unbelievably arrogant million dollar backpack from Big Agnes...if you include outrageous price as well as horrible design you can throw in most of the latest tents from Big A (for the record I love the brand, they just got lost). that chair ...all chairs and so on. A gear list of shame.
the lifestraw was so bad and hard to get anything out of, that I'm not surprised their new creation also sucks. I also had issues with the competitor's filtering devices too, and found that someone old army contraption worked way better. Problem is, we couldn't find what it was called to even figure out how to buy one online. (FYI for others: The Lifestraw was meant for only last resort. Its surprising how many people think its for every day camping, hiking, prepping. No! Its only meant for "gotta go now, or we die" and "we must drink now and no time" time situations when you can't use or bring the better stuff with or when the better stuff goes bellyup because of weather, etc. With that said, Lifestraw company is not known for brilliance in ease of use.)
@@jerryrocketandthegogogirls3517 The whole point of a life straw is a last ditch resort in extreme circumstances. Its not for any other purpose. I wish people would get this straight! Think Shtf on steroids. Think your backpack with everything is stolen, but you got your Life Straw because it was where it belonged - stuck in a spot where it can't fall out, in a securtiy bag around your chest, for example.
Hollow performance socks. I tried them on a whim and I prefer them to the Darn Tough socks, and I really like my DT socks! But the Hollow socks are Alpaca and come in 3 different styles. The boot socks are thicker and more appropriate for winter.
I can’t believe the Tensor is on here. Every single one I saw this year on the AT including mine delaminated. No one was using a Tensor by the end of the trail. Most including myself moved to a XLite or the CCF Switchback.
The NEMO pad feels amazing, The freight is GREAT!......if you live in a dry area .....agree, but I own it, my wife and daughter share it, plenty of room, and its 2 pounds! NOTHING comes close to that with ..... 2 pounds! 2 MAN TENT.... and they are on sell cause they do suck if I lived in Virginia still
Love your vids. Always so concise and well-informed. I'm a bushcrafter/backpacker hybrid, so I like your vids for backpacking gear and Coalcracker Bushcraft's for bushcrafting tutorials. I love getting the best of both worlds when it comes to old, resourceful knowledge and new high-tech equipment. If anyone reading this knows any good channels that do bushcrafting/backpacking hybrid content, let me know!
Hello Gabriel - check out a channel called Nagualero. I don't think he focuses on the backpacking/gear part, but i remember being pretty gripped by his skills. I know next to nothing about bushcrafting, so it might be a bad suggestion for someone like yourself :)
Check out WIGGYS gear. Made in Grand Junction, CO. Sleeping bag system is great. I have a HUNTER bag with a hood. Almost big enough for two. Outer bag with 2 different liners, one down to -80 F rating. Even winter camping I rarely zip it all the way up. Jacket and leg blankets (chaps) are the warmest outdoor gear I have ever had. All Wiggys products are machine washable, which is a huge plus. Supplier of cold weather gear to the Air Force and USMC.
My 4 year old (now) copper spur had a failure of the elastic in the poles. Big Agnes said they had a problem with the elastic, and wanted an 8 week turnaround. They wouldn't send me just the shock cord, so I could fix it my self. I have spent 1000+ on their gear, and where I live, we have an extended camping season. I understand a backlog, because of staffing shortage or parts unavailable. 8 weeks is not acceptable, urrgh.
@@geoff4705 You are correct, it is super easy. The good news is big Agnes contacted me and expedited the warranty repair. It took about a week and a 1/2 turnaround time and I now have repaired poles. Going to try them out next week.
This isn’t for me, or probably anyone else, but when I was trekking down the John Muir one time I came across a guy and his buddy. They both were wearing denim. One was in shorts and only wearing sandals. So the whole cotton thingy doesn’t hold up for everyone. With where they were I’m pretty sure this wasn’t the first time they had been out.
The problem with water coming into your tent when opening the rainfly is universal no matter where the zipper is, it seems to me. The main advantage when you dont have to reach down into the tip of your apsis is, you also dont get a cold, wet piece of cloth into your face when opening your tent.
Thanks for this video. I haven't considered buying american outdoor products in the past, just because I knew little about them, but you are changing my mindset.
JMHO: A camp,chair should seat us at normal chair height. A seat that was designed to be comfortable to a pre school child simply doesn’t hack it. Even a $25 kindergarten chair that sells for $125-$150. Courtesy of Half Vast Flying
I think having the main horizontal connector rod being front side to back side is the reason for the collapse. I got a Chinese knock off from Amazon that is extremely light weight. However when I leaned back, it held. The main horizontal rod is position side to side.
I love my Ranger UL but then again I got it at a steal for $250 out the door. Only had two other down bags, both from klymit, so not a whole lot of comparison.
Your criticism for the Agnes copper spur for 2 people is valid. However, for one person this is an awesome solid roomy tent that’s light weight with 2 doors. The only criticism I have is the packed volume is high.
I’ll need to check out the Bombas briefs cause I sure love their socks. I now backpack with one pair of Bombas and one pair of Injinji socks. Love them both but if I had to only choose one pair I’m leaning toward the Bombas! Great list of Best/Worst!
Your my new favourite content creator on RU-vid. Great perspective without all the bells and whistles. I recently invested in the memo tensor sleep pad. Loved it until the material failed in in the middle of the night on last night of a 6 day hike. I will give it one more chance as it was a very😢comfortable sleep
Adding crinkly foil inside a sleeping mat is a no-no. Instead of increasing the R-value you try and cheap out. I guess it's a bit more ultralite but I want my mat as silent as possible.
I’m using the lost ranger ul and personally it’s the warmest and most comfortable bag I’ve ever owned. It also attaches seamlessly to most air pads. My only complaint is you have to be careful of the zippers snagging. Plenty of snags, no tears yet. Expensive, yeah, but quality always is. 9/10 would recommend.
Thanks for this video. I haven't considered buying american outdoor products in the past, just because I knew little about them, but you are changing my mindset.
In the UK I only use Bridgedale socks, had some for almost 20 years and still going strong. Wouldn't use any other kind. But I like the charity aspect of the socks you've talked about, that's great
Good video! Pretty sure you can live with cotton underwear though. Been doing everything from day hikes to multi day technical alpine climbs and never worn anything but cotton underwear. I always hate the stink from synthetic base layers, assumed synthetic underwear would be yucky after a few days.
Bombas makes incredible socks. Hiking, backpacking, work, you name it. Theyre just great socks. I wear them on the jobsite every day because my feet are soaked by the end of the day otherwise
Niiiice, I’m super stoked for my Tensor pad to come in, it’s replacing my trusty if not that warm or comfy Thermarest scout, I’m hoping the extra 6 inches of length, 5 of width and extra 1 R value will get me back out earlier for 2023
It’s widely understood in this equipment field that the tent buyer should consider going up 1 - so for 2 people comfort consider the 3 person version of a tent, if available. For an expert to damn a highly regarded tent as to be avoided because the 2 person version is cramped for 2 and not mention the little heavier 3 person version of the ultralight tent seems either unexpert or a motivated omission for some reason.
Man Im glad I didn't jump on that chair. I was really hovering on the Kickstarter, but I felt i would break it. I didn't think it would be the front hub that's breaking though.
I would think that any chair with a north-south structure would fail when tipping back on 2 legs. The stress on the plastic hub is at 90 degrees to its strength. The east-west chairs like Helinox work in line with the stresses of tipping back. I never liked the way north-south chairs sway so I would never buy the Trekchair anyway.
Synthetics shed micro fibers, can't leave no trace, plus washing puts it into the water supply. Wool, silk and linen are better choices for apparel. Wish there were more companies producing non synthetic gear.
I don't feel like I have a hard time finding quality non-synthetic gear. The issue I normally find is the price vs synthetics is normally the issue. The loss of synthetic fibers isn't enough to get me to pay a lot more for a wool solution. Especially when it comes to outer layers. Not a lot of great waterproof alternatives to a synthetic, and I don't want to wear seal skin.
Leather gloves are a must for me . Save you from burns, increases grip on tools and provides approximately 25 percent grip strength when opening lids that are stuck
Late to the party here... but I see another problem with trekking pole chairs IF you use a trekking pole tent... Which one do you get to use? No chair once your tent is up, or no tent when you want to sit...
This video is HIS PERSONAL OPINION. Dont take it for grain of salt... I have only great opinion about LifeStraw experience. It's so practical and versatile. I love it.
I got the black tail hotel 3 bike packing for my cycling touring adventures, and I LOVE it. It’s sooo roomy. It’s the only piece of big Agnes I have, the footprint for the tent ripped on first use, and you have to pay 70 bucks extras for the footprint. Hopefully I just got a dud, and the new one doesn’t rip right away. Good advice on the underwear and socks, I just got a osprey aether 65l pack and want to start backpacking more, during the wet season.
Excellent work as always buddy! The channels that came out with their Trek Chair videos 5 minutes after getting them with no real testing really did a disservice to the community.
Copper Spur needs a rectangular floor. The extra half ounce would be worth it. That and make the doors like a 2008 REI Half Dome. The door should open at the foot of the tent, not at the head so tall people don't have to touch their knees to their chin just to get in and out.
BA UL tents while being absolutely amazing quality pieces of kit have weather resistance of zero. I have no idea why people keep using freestanding tents in one kilo zone.
Most stuff advertised on your channel as well as all other channels are self serving to all you tube makers, most everything is well above the price most people can afford.
I used the copper spur for over 400 miles last year. It's absolutely big enough for two people. I'm 5'10 210lb and I felt like the tent was WAY too big for one person.
A small suggestion: I think your videos would benefit greatly if you showed the names of the items you are reviewing in text on the video when you introduce them. Most of these names are not normal English words that I would easily recognize. Also for someone who isn't familiar with the brand names, it's very hard to understand these names just by hearing them. I'm sure they're in the description of the video, but for example in this one here you haven't sorted the list in the description. So I really have to think about which name you said to see which product in the description you probably meant.
That’s a great suggestion and one I’ve considered doing before. The main reason I haven’t is the extra time it takes to do this properly. I’m still a one man show working under time constraints. But I may give it w try and see if it adds as much time to my workflow as I fear it will. Thanks again for the suggestion and for watching and supporting the channel
Aargghhh!!! From the BEGINNING I said the Ventus should be a full-zip. I decided I wouldn't buy. But then there were all of the good reviews. And a backpacking trip in Sept. So I got the quarter zip Ventus in September. Please don't tell me when the full zip came out! Haha. Is the fit of the full zip equal to the quarter zip? Dang! Could I sell my quarter zip and get a full zip? 🙂 So you reviewed the Nemo sleeping pad but you rated the Zenbivy quilt system. Have you tried the Zenbivy sleeping pad? I have to get the inflation just right, otherwise, oddly, I have difficulty sleeping. However, I really like the pad. It's my first insulated pad, so I have no comparisons. However, it inflates and deflates well and appears durable. I bought an EE quilt despite really liking the Zenbivy. The latter just packed down larger/heavier. Happy with the EE. I like my Copperspur, and BA takes care of their customers. However, after that September backpacking trip where we just avoided heavy rain, the X-mid was available for pre-order. I pulled the plug. Why? Because I firmly believe that all UL tents should be made to allow fly first setup....because at some point you are going to have to set up in the rain. I could do so with my CS, but it was risky setting up the crossbar without damaging the flying. Thanks for the reviews!
Yo the fact that the chair at the end keeps breaking and I have an Amazon special chair similar to it that I basically use as a rocking chair, is downright embarrassing for that brand.
