Dan Becker I’m a section hiker and weekender. I’m one level under budget packer. I’m an eBay/marketplace packer. I just did a 2 day hike of 10mi each day. My pack weighted 30-37lbs. After the first day I realized my insoles sucked. After the second day I have now cuboid pain. Not fun at all. Still my plan is to do at least 10miles a month with an overnight.
Dan Becker are you a Michigan Hiker? Seems like I see hints of it. I am too. How do you go about finding people to hike with? And have you ever done the shore to shore I really want to.
Hey Michael! I’m actually from Southeast Wisconsin but I do hike Michigan. As a matter fact I am going to be hiking either pictured rocks or Manistee River Trail this upcoming weekend! I agree it’s definitely difficult to find people to backpack with. The way I was able to do it was that I bought enough gear to borrow out to friends… Then they didn’t have an excuse! LOL! Or you could check backpacking Facebook groups as well. There’s always plenty of people wanting to hike there!
Weekend hiker. Finished my first short hike this weekend. I enjoy photography, so I want to work up to carrying some nice camera equipment. Instagram.com/photog.lisawilliams
It is hard to find passionate hikers, but they are out there. Even Shug drives hours for many of his hikes. Don’t give up. www.meetup.com/topics/hammock-camping/
@R K Type two fun, definitely. It totally sucks at the time it happened, but it makes a great story to tell later. Hiking out with two broken arms puts you in the badass category.
Finally! So glad to hear some defending a little comfort. I am just a weekend hiker and get so sick of everyone bragging about base weight. I like my chair!
@@Marcus_Aurelius. Its not necessary iff you navigate good without phone, but i need it often to charge my phone to find the way back to home and not only in nature but also in small cities where people talk only French
Exactly! My wife looks at our bank statements and I swear I'll be truly homeless, "ultralighting" with a stolen shopping cart under a bridge if it keeps going the way it has.
I’m very petite and only weigh 90 pounds, but unfortunately most camping gear doesn’t come any lighter just because you’re small. I have to be extra careful on weight because I’m carrying such a larger percentage of my body weight on my back. Still, I managed to barefoot hike the rugged 11 mile Napali trail carrying half my body weight to stay in the wilderness for a full month. It was epic!
Great video. I am newer at backpacking and bought the pack that was most comfortable to me- I have SI joint issues and hip comfort was my #1 priority- which ended up being one of the heaviest packs (4 lbs 9 oz) at REI that day. As soon as I started reseaching via RU-vid I felt shamed for getting that heavy of a pack. Then I realized that I am a long weekend ( a few times a season) backpacker and we ALWAYS bring our kids- so I am moving at a 7 yearolds pace and mileage. My base weight is around 15-17 lbs depending on weather etc. It took me a while to be ok with that. When my boys are teens we'll all upgrade our gear and I'll lighten my load a bit ( and they'll carry more too), but for now its perfect.
First of all, Dan.......REAL TALK. You said everything that "most" of us have been thinking. I was super into backpacking when I was younger, got away from it for various reasons (listed in everyone else's comments). Been getting back into it over the past couple years. Fortunately for me, I'm a single person with a lot less obligations than most and a very flexible career. So...I get out there as often as I can...weekends, sections, whatever. I am saving and training for an AT thru hike in 2020. I came back into my love for backpacking with all my OLD gear (which is mostly no-name items from military surplus shops). When I started attending RU-vid University of Backpacking...I started to re-evaluate and question my whole life and all my choices 😂😂 "ALMOST" to the point of thinking I'm not a REAL backpacker. Almost. Luckily for me, I don't care what people think of me lolololol Buutttttt....a LOT OF people do care....and I sure hope THEY see this video. You nailed it! I do agree that lighter is usually better, but there are different situations and the important thing is to just go out there. Great questions to ask ourselves. Sorry about the really long comment, but I love this video so much. Thank you! You're the best backpacker since THE best backpacker 🐾😊👣 keep up the great videos, you're channel is so good!!
I am a serious backpacker. However, I love comfort. Nothing better than being the wilderness and not being miserable. What is the point? I have been backpacking for 44 years. I remember being in the sierras and never seeing anybody back in the late 70's. I carry a 4lb tent because I do not want to wake up in the middle of the night worried that my shelter can handle the high winds and hail to torrential rain. I carry an Alite chair 19oz. I carry the wilde ideas bear canister 33oz even when there is not a canister requirement. So much easier than screwing around hanging a bear bag and worrying about rodents tapping in my food. Food is #1 on the trail. I carry a 38oz down bag 12 degree. Comfy. Exped symat large and wide with the snozzel bag to fill in seconds. I also carry a down jacket 14oz and a down vest 6oz. A great cook kit 14oz and I dry bake muffins. Yummy, and an extra fuel canister because I bake. Yes I carry Freeze dried mountain house as well. My total base weight plus the two canisters of fuel ( no food or water ) is 24 lbs. I consider that light weight. Back in the seventies 35 - 40 lbs was the norm base weight. My experiences in the woods is similar to sitting on a lzy both in the living room with the furnace blazing. Life is good. Peace.
On my first hike, I was 12; my father was 55. This was in 1969. My father carried an 8" cast iron frying pan, and a huge can of Dinty Moore Beef Stew (which we never ended up eating.) A few years later, I went on my first long distance hike. My pack weighed 55 pounds, which in 1979, gave me bragging rights on the trail. I was an ex college athlete and could still put on 16 miles a day with that pack (which was over a third of my body weight.) Then life happened, and I didn't hike for many years, like until my late 40s. I threw my back out on one of my first trips and finally understood why light is better. But it is possible to go too far - I was all happy that I found a sleeping pad that weighs 6 oz., and was supposed to be good for all sorts of temperatures. The problem: It was great as long as I slept on my back, but I'm a back/side/stomach sleeper, and in most positions, it was like sleeping right on a shelter floor. So you get to the point that you've gone so light that you can start making decisions and trading off putting a little more weight back into the pack against the overall value. So now I do bring a better (heavier) pad and even an inflatable pillow, and I sleep so much better that it was worth it. My base weight: 12 pounds. Good enough; I can even make some "luxury" decisions and add another pound or two if I want. I'm basically a section hiker - maybe once or twice a year - longest single hike 160 miles; longest year 210 miles, mostly AT in the northeast though I have hiked in the Grand Canyon, which is a whole 'nuther animal.
Can't really get below ~15lbs base weight (including camp wear, ~2lbs) without sacrificing comfort. Yes, my whole kitchen and drink system combined is heavy but I like to have more than just boiling water - that's 2.4lbs (stove, pot, cutlery, hydration bladder, water filter, mug, fire starter - and a flask). If I add an eReader as a luxury item I'm at 15.3lbs
1: Line up what you need on your trip. 2: Remove four items ! 3: Get muscles and stop bitching ! 4: Start walking !!! Ultralight stuff is for the weak and rich.
"Ultralight is for the weak and rich." Sure, that is correct. And for me personally, to spare my banged up knee. Or for those who like to go further each day. Or for those who bring a lot of other equipment, like fishing gear or climbing gear. Or for those who like DIY stuff and make cheaper UL stuff than they can buy regular stuff. It's simply for those who want. Because of reasons... lots of reasons! 😉
@@MrDanAng1 I carry for two persons, including fishing gear. Normally between 26 - 34 kg, for stages up to 30 km. But thats because I'm getting older and the kid hates walking.
@@iberiksoderblom As long as you like it and your body can take it, go for it! 👍 My first long hike at age 15 I was carrying 26 kg (about 57 lbs), which was pretty close to half my body weight back then! I guess my baseweight was about 18 kg (40 lbs). We where doing about 10 miles per day in mountain terrain. Since then, I have tried to get my pack weight down, I managed that hike, even liked it, despite some aches and pains on shoulders, hips and feet. So I started out trying to find out how to go lighter out of comfort, when I was 26 I was in an accident and really banged up my knee for life, so now a fairly light pack is a nescessity for me to be able to make it out, carry heavy burdens isn't even an option for me anymore, with say 20 kg (44 lbs), I might be able to go 5-8 mile before I get excruciating pain in my knee, with less than about 14 kg (or 30 lbs) I can go on until my muscle fail me, the knee joint isn't an issue. My current baseweight is usually between 6-9 lbs, sometimes up to 12, so I can pack about 10 days worth of food without a problem, even up to 14-16 days worth of food if there is ample water sources along my way and I go for the lighter end of the spectrum for my baseweight. I'm not saying anyone is doing it wrong, everyone who pack their backpack and get out on the trail is doing something awesome and that can't be wrong, can it? This is just my circumstances, this is why I carry a very light load.
Enjoyable video, Dan! At 72 and retired, I hike throughout the year and participate in other outdoor activities such as kayaking, fishing and skiing. Sometimes the adventures are a combination of all of the above. Much of my gear includes military surplus which I've been using for some 50+ years. I can rely on its durability, effectiveness and if survivability ever becomes a factor it will and has saved my life. I often get a chuckle watching some of the ultralighter channels and wonder if ultralight equipment can claim the same. One activity where ultralight is not in the vocabulary is bushcraft camping. One can go lightweight on up to heavyweight. It depends on knowledge and skill level. The gist of it is take what you can afford, get in shape, build on knowledge and skill level and then make necessary changes in gear selections.
Fair enough but a lot of military people - some of strongest, fittest people in the world - are getting serious neck, spinal and join injuries from military gear being ultra-heavy. I do personally use British Army surplus gear, but I'd never take one of their bergens (backpacks) etc. though I do hear good things about the new-ish US army one man tent. Apparently ultra strong but surprisingly light.
Last year was my first season! I am a weekend warrior. My first hike was an 8 miler . My pack weighed in at 65lbs. I used a Military 12lb ILBE. I packed in a 15lb 2 person raft. Plus a bunch of stuff I didn't even use. I got hikers toe and sore knees from that trip. Last year was a learning year. I have since then switched to a 90ltr Kelty Red cloud and look forward to using it this summer. At the beginning of last hiking season I was 250lbs by the end of the season I was 195lbs. So this season I am not only physically lighter but my pack will only weigh 40lbs.
Weekend backpacker. I carry too much stuff but I can handle it. I don't know if I would ever be ultralight. Are camera, charger, mics, etc... included in baseweight?
Just discovering your channel and liking how you go about it. This all seems to come down to balance. Something I have been thinking about recently ( could be a video idea) - is that there are 3 things that you effectively balance when choosing gear: Light, Cheap, and Comfy/Strong. Realistically any item can only really be 2 of these things in any item (but there may be rare exceptions). I would love to see which way you go on what items in your pack. Obviously there are a lot of places where you have gone a comfy route (which you have talked about recently), but I guess I would also love to hear which items you recommend to go predominantly light, or predominantly cheap.
I am an Army Hiker! that means I carry way to much much stuff and most of it never gets used! the Army standard is 30% of your body weight. For me, that would be 69.3 lbs. which is way too much. I say all of that for this simple reason carry what you want as Dan said. you will be happier carrying the stuff you want, opposed to freezing all night or being hungry the whole time. In the end, you will get used to the weight you are carrying, and just FYI I don't like carrying anything over 50lbs total. That whole "don't count your food and water" junk is for the birds.
Wonderland trail around mt Rainier in Washington state this September!! Woot woot ! 94 miles, 27,000 feet of elevation change. I will.try to be on the light side, but not ultra light, I cannot afford that, and I want my equipment to last :)
Take 20% of your body at 20% body fat then add any body weight over 20% body fat divided by 10. So the pack of a 250lb man with 50 extra lbs of body fat will feel 5lbs heavier. Confusing and scientifically untested but that’s my formula lol.
20 to 30+ kilos (65+ pounds Max) for week+ long fishing treks in wilderness of Finnish Lapland. Usually Make My own paths. So i need sturdy Gear that won't fail me.
I figure I can carry a 10-lb base PLUS the same weight in luxury gear as the pounds I lost this year. So I bring a group shelter, all the group's food, a hatchet and a Helinox Sunset chair. Life is good!
Dan new to the channel long time packer..man I got to say I really love your approach to the channel ..the honesty..great delivery .and a family man thanks for bringing you're message to us.
Weekday warrior as I work shifts. My sleeping bag weighs 10lbs. It is alright for now as I mostly canoe, but will hike when the temperature is below 70. One day I will get lighter more specific sleeping bags as it gets harder to do these trips as I get older.
I started backpacking backpacking forty five years ago with an external frame pack and a coffee can stove when equipment was heavy. You can carry as much as you want if your in shape and can handle it (and beefy boots for ankle support). Good insight in your video compared to "canned" videos that REI puts out.
Dan, I have just gained an interest in hiking. Right now I basically take walks with an eye towards being able to call it hiking. :) I enjoy your videos and the huge amount of information they contain. Thank you!
Great topic! "Hike your own hike," -different weighs/gear for different people!!! 👍👍👍 FYI, I happen to be on the Committee of Backpackers... we decide if your backpack is acceptable or not. 😜😏🤣😂😉
@TheBestBackpacker Dude! :) I'd love to see you and Dan collaborate on a "Committee of Backpackers Official Backpacking Pack Standards & Bylaws That Must Be Obeyed"-type video.
TheBestBackpacker I’m fairly certain Reddit Ultralight community IS the committee of backpackers who determine what weight you must carry. And may God have mercy on your soul if you suggest bringing camp shoes. 😃
Hey thanks for your help on topics like this. I’m a weekend one night guy. I bought a Sawyer and never got to use it because I can’t pull off more than one night. It’s still good to learn about different gear and options. I carry a chair, partly because having a mix of ultra light products, helps to carry luxury items. Spending good money for some things to save weight, some cheap items , some comfort and some bare necessity all combine to have a great combination of everything. Being light helps, especially your big three.thanks again for your info vids
Family/solo Weekend Warrior all the way! Some people gotta work bro!! 2 kids/new house/... etc 😂Below 10 pounds 🤣 fairy tales ... and dreams. I’m happy around carrying whats comfortable for me. This weekend i don’t even know how much my pack weighted 25-28lbs idk loaded down... usually carry 4 liters of water .. pack your fears right lol gotta have those comfort items man!
Great observations. I also have three kids, Dan. Many of the popular RU-vidrs are childless and have much more freedom. That’s OK. I love the fact that you bring your kids and put their enjoyment and ‘memories’ as the main driver of your gear and length of hike. Comfort is so important to a great night sleep and wanting to go more often. 👍🏻
I have found the solution to my backpacking weights problem... How much would you charge, per mile, to carry everything I need for me? I’m in need for a Sherpa!!! Great vid, Dan! Love that you are considering all of the variables and not shaming others no matter what they want to take and their base weight. Great stuff brother
Mostly weekend trips.. When starting this aventure, i also saw and read about how important low weight is.. But spoke to some of my norwegian friends that hikes a lot, both weekends, but also weeks in a road in the norwegian mountains.. And they all said, forget weight, think stay warm, dry, and fresh with good sleep, and try stay under 20kg as a max.. I have around 16kg with me and can walk long trips, short trips, well knowing that i sleep with comfort.. 😃
Hey Dan, great video, I'm part ways through it now and wanted to make a couple of comments: 1) Heavier people can carry heavier weights. You seemed to imply it was the other way around. Now, if you get to extremely heavy that may not be the case but someone that is say 6'2" and weighs in at say 250 can carry a lot more, comfortably than someone 5'5" weighing in at 130. But of course the larger person's clothes and equipment needs to be larger and will weigh more. 2) My method of figuring out what to purchase / bring is to create a list of options with weights (I happen to use excel but paper works well). Figure out the "lightest" setup, regardless of cost that you think you can go with and be OK but eschew comfort items. Now, look at each item and swap it for something more comfortable or way less expensive but heavier and see what difference that makes. Go all the way through your list and look at the before and after numbers. If you have too much weight gain, swap stuff back. Keep swapping back and forth until you are OK with the weight, cost and comfort. For me I'm currently looking at a Backpack and "base" comparison is the ZPacks Archaul but I think I prefer the ULA packs more and then I need to compare the Circuit to the Catalyst (more weight). I suspect I'll go with the Catalyst even though it weighs more but I think it'll be more comfortable, durable and will let me carry what I'll need (like a BV500 horizontally. OK, I paused half ways through, back to the video :).
I hump hills and jungle in Nam carrying 50 to 75 pounds load out...but over half that weight was ammo...Started backpacking in 1976...my winter pack weight about 40lbs to 45lbs pounds...summer pack was about 35lbs....now at 68y/o I still carry a 35lbs pack...But that is everything I need for 3 nights...Weight is important but in my book durability and function are king.
Hey Dan, I like your videos, but I think your belief on factory published weight data is certainly wrong. The thing that you've seen other youtubers weighing gear and have different results is imho mostly the truth. Companies fancy to generalise weights and they are keen to keep them the lowest possible to have their products desired for the low weights for backpackers. In my experience, a huge brand name of hammock producer marked a much much lower weight on the package of one of their tarps and when I have weighed it, it was a 10-15% difference. When I have complained, they offered me a complementary snake sleeve, to get lost. I don't say that cheepo scales are exactly accurate, but to trust companies blindly for data they promote (in general) is simply neglecting. Just my 2 cents. Keep it up! Chris
Holy fuck dude.. Standard British army back pack is 40 ibs. Most people carry half that weight for 3 day hikes.I carry 10kg for a 3 day hike and feels like I am carriyng nothing...The biggest weight is water if I know there is not a reliable water source on my trek..As you say. You can be sucked into the commercial buy this buy that bullshit.. Key factor in my experience is pack your gear for a daly itenary. And do not pack ifs and maybes ...
I just weighed my pack and it's for long term. Maybe it's excessive, but it's 52lbs. Closer to 57 with everything. But I've carried it for years now and am used to it. Lighter is definitely more comfortable but it also depends on the pack. A good pack with good padding and support always helps. I picked mine up from an army surplus store, I had it for about 10 years now. It really is based on what you are capable of carrying. Stay healthy and Happy Trails.
I've gone on alot of 12-15 mile backpacking in the idaho wilderness as crazy as it is and all my packs have been 40 to 45 pounds. Sucks but I like my 3 man tent that I can stand tall in. Been doing it since I was 14 years old
I'm a 58 year old, 5'11", 215 lb, solo hiker in Ontario Canada. Long time canoe tripper getting into backpacking the last 4 years. I hike in 3 seasons currently, and will get back to winter camping next year. The minimum I'll hike is for 5 days. I try to get out every 1-2 months. But longer hikes are better. I'll manage three, 7+ day hikes each September, October, and November. My backpack is a Seek Outside Divide 4800. I have many canoe packs, but this is only my 2nd hiking backpack, and it's been awesome. They are made for 30 - 50 lb ++ weight. It's pretty typical that I have a 45 lb ++ pack on day 1. 2 lbs food per day = 14 lbs 4L wine bladder = 9 lbs Base weight = 22 lbs, this goes up in October November. The Helinox Chair One, Wine and folding saw are from my canoe pack. Cooking amounts to boiling water with a Jetboil MiniMo. I sleep in a hammock. I'll lose 4 lbs a day in food and wine, so on day 4 it's about 29 lbs. Works for me, covering about 10-12 km per day (6 - 7 miles). I hike very rugged trails, with lots of climbing, water crossings and navigational challenges. And regardless what my pack weighs I only seem to average about 2-3 km/hr. I'm old, give me a break 🙂 I could easily remove 10-15 lbs from my pack. But I choose not to.
Man, thanks... I've watched a ton of your videos, have way too many products recommended by you.... Don't get to go out very often anymore. You know kids have a last-minute opportunity to head out tomorrow. I started getting stressed out If My pack was really light enough, wondering if I should go buy more stuff.... (mostly just one heavy tent 6lbs.) This made me chill bout and just go! You rock. I look forward to binge watching a year of content once per year from you😅
I’m getting into backpacking recently and I’m trying to make smart purchases. I work in the trades. Blistering heat or freezing cold. My tool pouch and harness are 30lbs alone. I’m usually carrying additional materials or tools. I generally walk 15,000 steps a day at work. I feel I could accommodate a 30 lbs backpack for 12 hrs hiking if needed
One thing to think about is your body weight. A "fit" person isn't supposed to carry a pack that weighs more than 20% of their body weight. (People, horses, mules, donkeys, llamas and yaks can safely pack about 20% of their own weight. Goats, reindeer and dogs can do 25% and Camels can do 30%.) (You can carry more, but it's like the "we tell you this so you can't sue us later"/"at your own risk" kind of thing, for REALLY fit people) I'm going for the 10 lb base weight lol! But I "could" carry around 35 lbs (I weigh about 175, so 175*.2=35 (your weight * 20% = the amount you can carry)). I'm not fit, and I haven't tried it. I'm the know-nothing pre-backpacker who wants to get out there, so it's all just hear-say to me. This kind of thing can influence whether you want to do winter backpacking, because of the heavier weight of winter tents and sleeping bags, fuel, etc. Packgoats are part of my "dream backpacking" lol! ;) If you have old injuries (or new ones) pack goats are great. There are lots of pros (i.e. goats don't run when they spook, they stay with you). packgoats.com (I'm not an affiliate) has some great information. And there's also a fitness program called "Train to Hunt" (I'm not an affiliate). It doesn't teach you hunting skills, it's about the physical fitness, packing heavy things in and out, and logging miles, long term endurance. It gets you in shape for backpacking (and more, but whatevs). Hunters are basically just off-trail, multi-day backpackers. (The hunting aspect is that you need enough muscle so that you aren't a worn out wreck when you need steady hands to shoot something, or too tired to pack it back out. You don't need to be a hunter to do the program.) The most important rule to exercise is to avoid injury, in the gym or in the woods.
You also have to consider the individual. Their fitness level and their age and if they have any physical issues. My 24-year-old son who has an excellent shape works out all the time, runs all the time. He could throw on a 35+ pound pack and hike 10 miles with ease. However me, at 64, couldn’t do that. I also know I have low back issues. So I need a pack that will be supportive comfortable and transfer the majority(80%+) of the weight to my hips. And typically only packs with a more heavy duty suspension system will be able to do that. Two little vertical aluminum stays is not going to work. but the rest of the gear can be ultralight to compensate for the heavier pack
Sure lighter is better. However many people have hiked the entire Appalachian Trail carrying external frame backpack with probably 40+ pounds of gear. And they survived it just fine. Maybe modern backpackers are weaker and less tough? Maybe modern conveniences have made people soft. They don’t want to suffer in the slightest.
Throwing cash in the camping world is exactly the same as it is in the Cell phone world "I Must have the latest model even though my current phone works fine" Bollocks to that, i'm not a cash cow so I've settled at around 20 lbs base weight using my ten year old Golite Hex 3. As a 66 year old if i cant walk for 6-8 hours with a few breaks its time to give up walking and just do site camps. Plus of course for me time is not a constraint as i don't work anymore so I get tired, I stop. simple. My latest purchase? a wonderful inflatable sleeping pad as i'm getting old and the bones don't like just a hip dip anymore. Next trip is the South West Coast Path in the UK Length: 630 miles, Elevation change: total climbed is 114,931 feet should be fun but a steady stroll not a bash it out hike, far too much to see and absorb on route. PS try using a waxed cotton tent an ex WD pack and Primus stove like i did in the early 70's it must have been at least 70lbs, even the tent poles were bloody wood. A real lung buster going up the steep hills Happy trails guys what ever floats your boat
Very true! There's a balance between camping and hiking we all must find for ourselves. Just a brief word about how 'ultra light' became a thing. It was associated with a guy named Ray Jardine. Fascinating story! He was reacting against the commonly 50lb + loads that were thought of as backpacking. The previous wisdom was that a pack could be 1/4th to 1/3d of your body weight. So dummies like me carried up to 70lbs on huge frame style packs. So anything less than 50lb can be called "ultra light"!
The best way to lighten your weight is to ignore this kind of norm.. 1. 2 is 1 ... this is just insane.. you are not a child take care of your shit. 2. You do not need a Rambo knife, saw , ax or multi tool.. you definitely do not need a hammer! 3. You don’t need a dozen ways to light a fire! If Daniel Boone was alive I guarantee he would use a box lighter!!! 4. You can get a 20 dollar pup tent that will keep you dry.. it is okay to get a bigger tent but you need to gauge it by cost and weight .. 5. Weight is always important but it is a trade off. Forty pounds is a son of a bitch over time... unless you are in a canoe... 6. If you are putting together a bug out bag remember you are bugging out! You are in a hurry! There is a danger! And you are on foot.. the lighter you are the faster you are. You bug out to get away.. bug out to somewhere just not from somewhere... 7. Yes you carried 80 pounds a a Jeep on your back in the service! I know you were Superman.. but did you enjoy the experience? Do you ever wake up and think today would be a grand time to walk 20 miles with a sixty pound pack? Service experience should tell you that heavy is not smart.. 8. You are not going to starve to death in three days.. be realistic in your food! 9 once you pack a pack take it for a five mile walk to see if it is fun... or folly...
love this brother, bought a load of cheap gear to hike in Ireland, so I am worried about the wet and cold. Coming in at 24lbs for a weekend trip. I'm fairly fit and in my mid 30s. It's trail and error and I appreciate not spending a fortune to get me started.
made the mistake yesterday over packing my backpack and paid the price after 15 miles of hiking what was not that heavy became really heavy after so many miles . i tried to compensate by putting more weight on my waist belt and iv woke up today with what feels like bruised sides and it just put more pressure on my feet that has gave me 2 big blisters that ruined my fun tbh but you learn from your mistakes and your a fool if you dont
Do the hike hate the weight. I just love the camp. To each his own. In addition on the subject of quilts, I think using the under quilt as a top layer to a 40 degree quilt is a great idea. Layering both quilts during ground camping is allot cheaper than running and buying a complete new quilt
Thank you! This is a great and very necessary video. The vast majority of popular RU-vid hiker channels are made by youngish thru-hikers. Many are tall, in-shape males. I'm a short, female, older, and doing weekend hikes in challenging terrain. I know the lighter I go, the easier it will be; yet I also want some comfort. Every person has to find their own sweet spot. (Plus, I love my Osprey backpack and swear that extra couple pounds of padding are worth the weight.)
I think in this day and age there is a substantial amount of people who combine hiking with bush crafting which means shorter distances and more equipment.
You're doing great Dan... keep em coming. Im a weekender, wanting to be a section hiker... dreams of a triple crown one day. My tip... find your balance point between weight, cost, and Reality.
First... love from Wisconsin!! I am a weekend warrior, thankfully I have Fridays off as well. I am also an instigator, I help those who have never gone backpacking buy throwing some beginner backpacking and beginner backpacking with pet trips late spring thru early fall.
I am a weekender and have section hiked once on the AT. I carry about 30 pounds, including everything, and I'm comfortable with that. I'm also the person that hikes with a book, journal, and multiple multi-coloured pens.
Thank you sooo much for making this video. Seriously. My brain has exploded with all the information and comments/opinions about what's "right or wrong". I'm a weekend backpacker, solo or with groups. Yes, I've adjusted some items for weight purposes, but only because my first long backpacking trip (16 miles) I carried my 6# tent that ended up causing me some significant pain by the time I got off the trail. But like so many...I just wanted to get out there and try it, so I went with what I had! You learn lessons as you go, and adjust where you need to, but focus on FUN! For God's sake, please continue to make it FUN! Again, thank you Dan...your videos are helpful for all of us, no matter what kind of hiker we are. And I too, LOVE my backpacking chair! #nobodylikestositonlogs 😉
I have never been backpacking and i'm going to norway to hike 140 km (87 miles) - In this moment, i meassure my pack at 9 kg (20 pounds) no food and water - I have been out walking to see how it feels. It feels great, but i don't know if it will feel very heavy after a while or with food and water. after watching many many youtube videos about backpacking and weight. I have also come across many ultra light videos. And now i don't really know if 10 or 12 kilos is way too much :( - and i dont really know what to not bring, because i feel like i need it all.
I agree everybody tries to be trendy and I do the same thing and I have been trying to go really lite , recently bought the zpacks plex tent and you definitely suffer as I used to have the hubba hubba MSR but my knees were bothering me maybe I wasn't in the best of shape and was just holding a little too much weight I'm a firm believer and seeing what you haven't used at the end of trips and you can cull those items and basically you would never miss them
Ultralight=$$$$ Just going lighter is costly ie tent, quilt, backpack, Probably the 3 major cost factors. Good video. Weekend and section myself, work gets in the way of my fun. But always trying to get lighter.
Changing the gear will of course cost money. Building an equipment from scratch will be the same or cheaper than traditional backpacking. It's hard to find a cheap and light sleeping bag, but a backpack is often cheaper, cook kit is often cheaper, clothes is about the same or cheaper, shoes is cheaper (but more expensive in the long run, the light ones doesn't hold up very long), tents is about the same unless you start to go for festival tents. And of course, with some planning, you will buy fewer items for a lightweight kit. If you really want a light kit in the 5-6 lbs range or less, then it's really start to cost or it really start to sacrifice comfort, choose one (or both, but that would be stupid)! But a sub-10 lbs baseweight doesn't have to be expensive. I compare equal buying power here, comparing a DCF-tent with a Walmart tent isn't fair, for those who shop at Walmart, compare with lightweight tents from AliExpress or other China tent, for those who shop at REI, compare with lightweight silnylon or silpoly tents, for those who buy DCF-tent, compare with something like a Hilleberg tent. Just my two cents from experience of comparing packing lists of different style backpackers, those who buy budget items will continue to do so, those who buy high end will continue with that, unless there is a serious change in income and/or interest for hiking.
@@MrDanAng1 I have been a it a few years now and have gone through my initial gear. Which in most cases was heavy. I can say for certain that upgrading to lighter gear comes with a bigger price tag. That's not even looking at equipment made out of dyneema/cuban fibre. They tend to pack a higher price as well, as far as I have researched anyway. I suppose you can take a chance on the chinese sourced gear from amazon and take your chances. Not saying it's all junk. But I have read more than a few negative reviews. I guess it comes down to you get what you pay for. While rei has a good return policy then are not cheap either. There are deals to be had though. I must agree that backpacks have crept down in price. But any of the major companies don't post bargain basement prices. I am currently looking at a Gregory Paragon 68L that is going to run me $300 at mec. Cheaper yes, steal of a deal no. But it is lighter than my Osprey Xenith.
@@wanderingaloudwithmark3057 Osprey Exos for example is a bit more than half the weight and a bit more than half that price. Gossamer Gear Mariposa nearly half the weight off, $75 less ant their Kumo is about a third of the weight and $105 less. Mountain Laurels Designs Exodus less than one third of the weight, $65 cheaper and that is their biggest model, even in DCF it's still $10 cheaper, at about the same weight. Ok, Zpacks for example, their Arc Blast is a bit more expensive (DCF, about a third of the weight, $325 list price) but the DCF Nero is $100 cheaper and a fifth of the weight or less. No problems at all to find lighter, cheaper backpacks, even fairly high volume backpacks. And I didn't look at many places, there is tons of really good, lighter and cheaper backpacks out there. There is also a fair amount of lightweight tents from renown makers in the $200-400 price range which is pretty normal for a fair quality tent, if you go much cheaper, you just end up with the exact same problem, a cheap tent made in China with unknown quality, only heavier than the ones from AliExpress, Ebay or Amazon. So yes, you basically get what you pay for. A high quality tent is expensive, a intermediate quality is fairly priced, a budget is playing with chance. Regardless of the weight. And as I said, even if every item was the exact same price, lightweight will still be cheaper, since the lightweight philosophy including multi purpose items, so instead of maybe 50 items, you buy 20. This is my experience, I don't say you are wrong, just that my experience and yours differ, and that it's fairly easy go get both good and really lightweight stuff without paying through your nose.
Section hiker here. (Thru hiking one section at a time). We are the ‘repeat offenders’. We go back to the trail again and again and again. We’re always around. We aren’t just passing through. Agreed, a lighter load makes a more comfortable hike. But a comfortable hike isn’t solely lightweight. Great video, Dan!!
Believe it or not, I get dehydrated easily so, not only do I have to carry a lot of water, but I have to plan my hikes so that my campsites are near a water source. Generally, I don't carry less than 104 ounces of water. That's usually gone by 6 pm the first day out. Once I get dehydrated, I get severe cramps in my legs, which makes it nearly impossible to walk. If the cramps come at night, I can't sleep. Is that dangerous? You bet. Do I still go hiking? Absolutely. Nothing stops me from getting out
Good advice mate. You're carrying the kit so the problem is yours not the "ha ha 26lbs? you're mad" brigade. In my fairly long experience of back packing and what's now called bushcrafting (scouts for grown ups), there has always been the must have the latest kit and weight fraternity . As you so rightly say Dan walk your own trail i In fact I no longer hike I do long distance strolling Happy trails my US friends Knock kneed Lee
I could be under 10 pounds if I got rid of just the luxury items like my second sleeping pad LOL. I have all sorts of things I could do without and I'm under 13 lbs but yes, it takes a lot of money to get it down. It cost me 250.00 to trade a Columbia sweater for a Patagonia jacket to shed less than a pound. As you get older you need to shed as much weight as you can (at least I do) When I had a 20# base-weight I got knee problem the second day out of a 10 day PCT section hike and had to quit. A super light pack and tent alone can set you back 800 to 1,000 buckaroos
I think my bacpack fully loaded might hold 20lbs for everday carry its 13.2lbs keep in mind my knife weighs about 1lb. But i also make my own tent pegs bedding and shelter when im out in the bush i could lose weight by cutting out my survival kit... But no.
