As Decathlon fan from EU, here are some things to know: - all their pants and shorts models are REALLY tight in ties - sleeping bags are budget for car camping, not for hiking. To bulky and heavy for hikers - cookware is also targeted to car campers - sleeping mats are great. Check out foam and inflatable ones, the one you got is really bad - everything merino is high quality and affordable - shoes are really good and reliable you spend Quechua, Forclaz for hiking and Kipsta for trail running To save weight and money you can replace: - sandals with Nabaiji slab 100 a 6 euro slippers - take regular flece MH100 10 Euros - forclaz trekking 100 down jacket for half of price And BEST pillow in the WORLD MT500 inflatable pillow. 10/10 would recommend while one in your video is 4/10. I have them booth
Yes yes yes to the pillow. I tried pricier brands and I still go for the MT500. To the clothing: my body is just not right for their fit (or the other way around). French brands are known for their small sizing (don't get me started with italian and spanish sizing). I am pretty straight forward a Medium in other European sizes, but a XL with Decathlon might be still too small for me as they are sized for small framed, short people. Usually pants are too short and tighs too tight. On the upper parts the ribcage is just too narrow. I don't like it but that's just the way it is.
Ha, now you know how we europeans feel whenever youtubers don't put metric conversions on their videos! I do like Decathlon, it's really good if you are just starting out with outdoors activities and need some affordable gear. I also often wear the clothes for work (I work outside) as they are cheap and hard wearing!
@@greensheep6718 yeah, and actually here in the UK we don't use all metric - we use miles and mph, and most people can use feet and metres interchangeably. Fahrenheit means absolutely nothing to me though, I simply cannot understand it!!
absolutely agree and that's the exact words when I try to explain how Decathlon is! if I'm into a new sport / hobby, Decathlon's product line makes it very easy to get into that sport / hobby. product codes and their prices arranged as XX100 cheap - lower quality, XX500 medium price - quality, XX900 expensive - higher quality. I go with 100 or 500 line if I am new into the sport / hobby. after identifying how deep I would like to go and find out which features I need, I go with 900 or maybe another brand with higher or specific features.
shopping at decathlon is a bit of an art; i have one near me in canada and eventually you start to learn what's likely to be good and what's not. i'll buy the more expensive "500" gear for things that really matter, like rain coats (i want those pit zips...) but you can get by with the cheaper versions of a lot of items. some of the in-store brands (forclaz, quechua, etc.) are also better than others at specific things. it's one of those stores that it really helps to go in person, so it's a shame there aren't more across america also, their women's clothes fitting weird is not just a you problem! i'm a size small and i've had to return or exchange things numerous times because their clothing is just kind of inconsistent, not sure why
Miranda doing mental math for the conversion of water, while holding the nalgene with both metric and imperial is an amazing representation of post-hiking brain. Please never change.
I don’t know if anyone else agrees with me but Miranda and Rainer make the best hiking/camping partners..I just wish I could be there having fun with them ❤❤
Maranda, I would like to challenge you to do some serious hiking !!! Let's say a short one like the PCT from Bridge of the gods to the terminus at WA / Canada border !!!!! The time is perfect for it. Vlog it n share. 🎉
I LOVE these "budget-minded" videos. It's great for people graduating from "I yeeted my gear from my car into my campsite" into "I am willing to walk a little for a campsite."
I’m from Australia and when I was bikepacking in France I bought a lot of gear from decathlon a lot of which they don’t sell here , it’s been six years and I still use the stuff ( tent , sleep pad , blow up esky , cups & plates , gas burner and more .
I already love this budget gear series. Could you do a video about buying used gear? It would be great to see, what kind of set up you can come up with by thrifting and using Ebay, Craigslist, Geartrade, Out-and-Back and Co.
Yes! I’d love to see a video about a budget load of used gear, including helpful tips when looking/buying, etc. I got a used (almost no sign of use whatsoever except for a minor dirt spot) BA Tiger Wall UL2 mtnGLO solution-died tent through the REI re/supply for $160.
I'm in the Netherlands and I use a lot of Decathlon stuff for hiking! I used to have a backpack of theirs, and the only reason I got a different one is because I didn't like the lack of exterior packing space. I like to give everything its own place, and this bag was more of the 'keep it all in the main space in the bag' variety. But it's super comfortable, and was the ONLY small volume 'woman's' bag I could find, which I need, because I'm short, and most unisex bags don't fit my body right. And I simply do not need 60 liters 🤷 I haven't tried any of their sleeping mats, sleeping bags, and tents, because they don't really have lightweight stuff that's also good for lower temperatures. Currently, I think I have a headlight, inflatable pillow (with padded cover), longsleeve, tanktop, t-shirt, shorts, some cooking stuff, socks, underwear, fleece cardigan/jacket, rain gear, beanie, thin gloves and waterproof gloves, and probably some small stuff I'm forgetting about, in my gear rotation. I also used to use their electrolyte tablets, but they don't have the ones I used to get anymore ☹️ and the backpack was really good quality, so I would recommend it, but it wasn't exactly what I personally was looking for so I got a different one.
I'am french and i was shocked by the price of decathlon gears. They are at least 10 dollars cheaper in my country. The exact headlamp is 15 dollars here, and for 20 dollars you have a really better one, only 45g. For the sleeping pad, for the same price, you can afford the upper model which is way more confortable and thicker. So i agree, for the price Miranda paid, it's not worth. It goes the same way for european, US gears are a lot more expensive for us.
There are more gears Decathlon sell in other countries than in the US. We used to have an actual store of Decathlon here in the bay area a few years back (pre Covid) and they used to carry way more stuff (including backpacking tents). Now they have shifted their focus in the US and only commit to selling hike/camp and bicycle gears. I have their sleep bag liner, hiking boots, trail runners, and my boyfriend has one of their packs, we also have an inflatable kayak from them, and all of these have been working really well. Most of their gears are easily 30% - 50% cheaper than other brands offered in the US, but be sure to check out more reviews on them before you buy (reviews can be hard to find, a lot of those reviews are prob coming from people in Asia or Europe)
It’s sad to see how much less stuff they sell. I used to be able to order just about anything not long ago. I actually emailed them and they said that each “Country” picks which gear they want to focus on. That’s why you can’t not climbing gear anymore for example.
I remember years ago Backpacker Magazine did a trip using gear they got from Wal-Mart. It did pretty well, except their tent leaked pretty bad. I'd like to see Miranda do an updated version.
I used a Decathlon pillow (£12) on my AT hike. It is the best pillow I’ve found in 4yrs of looking….add in the removable fabric cover that can be cleaned…….its the best out there I have other Decathlon gear. It is very keenly priced gear.
I love this! Now, I hope this comment reaches the team. I don't know if this is available in your country but I'm from the Philippines and all of my gears are either Dacathlon or Naturehike(mostly). Maybe you can consider reviewing Naturehike products next time. 😁
Decathlon's Forclaz Trek (now called MT apparently) packs are easily THE budget pack pick for me. There are things about it that I like more than my Granite Gear pack (easy adjustments, TILTED WATER BOTTLE POCKET!, great access, and very durable). I've been more skeptical about some of the other things I've seen from them, but I bought a pack for my friend as a gift, and it is so impressive.
I have a 13 year old decathlon 2 season sleeping bag that cost me £30 and I love it, it’s super comfortable and packs really small,I don’t think they make it anymore though, but it’s definitely stood the test of time and so many expeditions!
“Literally could not have been more wrong.” 😂 That cracked me up. Sometimes the Earth surprises us. ❤ Great video. Once again making backpacking accessible to everyone AND challenging old pros. The research on the prices and the discussion on cost versus value was great. Team MGO is awesome!
I’m always unpacking and repacking my Atlas Adventure to try and shave some weight off but still have everything I need/want!! In fact my gear does that more than actual camping. So when I saw yours weighing in at 31 lbs. I started the process all over again because my kit tips the scales at 21 lbs. My goal has always been 18 lbs. Mainly because I’m a senior, weight only 135 lbs.due to recovery from cancer and all the other issues that come along with aging. You my friend give me motivation and strength to keep plugging away!!!!! For that I’m forever grateful!!!!!
Thanks so much for the beginning of a budget series ❤ Can I suggest also including budget backpacking food?? The branded dehydrated meals we usually see you using are too expensive for some of us, so homemade or alternative options would be awesome to explore
Excellent video! I love all of them, you and Rainier are the best. I discovered you right after I retired during covid isolation and you make me want to backpack. I'm in good shape for my age and I'm active and you make me want to get in even better shape and take up backpacking. Not many people inspire me to get into better shape so pat yourself on the back. Thank you for looking at budget gear, it will make it easier for people on a tight budget to enjoy the outdoors, including me. Keep doing what you do, you show the world how much fun can be had out there.
I've had similar experiences with most of what you're testing here, minus the sleeping pad, which I was warned away from up front by a friend who did the experiment for me. Started back to backpacking a couple years ago after quite a few years off, needed all new gear, didn't want to shell out for premium brands where I could avoid it. From what I bought at the time, I'm still using the wool shirts, shoes, MT100 men's jacket when I need a hooded one (that same friend gave me a non-hooded, button version of the Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer which is a great and much lighter "1.5 season" option), and pillow. I still have the men's version of that MT100 50L pack, and the 23F version of the sleeping bag you used. I got a lot of use out of both of them over the fairly short time I've had them, but I did finally have to go with lighter options. I'm not an ultralight purist by any means, but I'm in my 50s and lightening the load is a health issue: dodgy knees, sciatica, back issues, etc. The men's version of that pack is 3.5lbs, and the sleeping bag is 4.6 lbs. Replacing them with lightweight options -- at significant expense, it's worth noting -- took more than 5lbs off before I even started looking at packing less clothing, packing food based on need rather than fear, etc. For a 2-day trip I think they're both probably fine, but if you're carrying more than a couple days of food plus a bear can, they're really not usable unless a 45-lb carry before water weight is feasible for you.
As a Jindo owner myself, I watch for the few fleeting glimpses of the trail dog. He looks just like my good boy Sonny. And, oh yeah, the tremendous personality of the host adds a lot :)
Weird sleeping mat. Decathlon has better inflatable ones with higher R values. Decathlon have MT500 & MT900 products that are usually higher quality and lighter/smaller. They also do down sleeping bags. I think some of those would have worked better for you. Especially, regarding space.
awesome!! Decathlon is THE biggest outdoors gear shop here in Brazil, and it´s great to see a famous outdoorsy youtuber talking about some of their gear since most of the US stuff is unavailable or way too expensive for us here
How did you get so lucky with a partner like Rainer! "Yeeeeeeaahh" "No, no none of that" Impressive gollum reenactment Absolutely love you Miranda and your random blurts 😂
I am forever grateful for the friends and near-strangers from Meet Up groups who lent me backpacking gear while I was building up my own collection over a few years. I tell myself that the reason I now have so much gear now is not that I am a gear junkie... lol... rather (also) that it allows me to bring others on trips with me who don't have or don't want to invest in a full kit of backpacking gear!!! Borrowing from friends also lets you figure out what you maybe like or don't like in gear. I'd love to see a video on types of gear in a kit where it's like, Budget or Nah. There are some items that are 100% not worth spending a lot of money on these days thanks to what's available (lightweight cook kit, water filter, pillow...) but there are others where it can absolutely be worth it to spent some extra money for value, durability, comfort.... And some pieces can be wobblers, you can cheap out and be fine but you can also spend a ton of money (apparently, down jackets.) Great video!!!
I have that burgundy Forclaz puffy, too. I think it looks really nice and fitted, but I can also wear layers under it. It’s been on many backpacking trips so far.
I don’t get on with decathlon packs but I love some of their layers! I have a hooded merino zip jacket which is one of my favourites and some cheap winter snow boots which are great for slippy commutes
That campsite was gorgeous. Loved the gear review. I learned about Decathlon when I visited Morocco and Spain last year. I was impressed with their clothing. A much needed review from you about their gear. Cheers!
People, it's not only wool, but it's merino wool. Merino and alpaca wool are temperature regulating, breathable, very soft, quick drying and most importantly odour-inhibiting textile. I have those merino shirts from Decathlon as well, also many other merino clothes from brands like Odlo, Löffler, Devold, Vaude and the ones from Decathlon work just as great as these expensive brands. I got mine for 20€ from discount, and I'm very with them. It is true though, European sizes aren't as large as US sizes.
Actually, Decathlon offers pouches to attach to the empty spot on your hip! Where I live, there's two different variants, one for a camera and one that can be used as a separate little sling bag (which is the one that I have, and have been happily using together with my 40L decathlon backpack)
Those barefoot sandals are my daily sandals since a few weeks! Not sure how long they'll last but so far they are holding up flawlessly and I'm very happy with them!
Their cheap tents and sleeping bags are usually bulky. They do have lighter but costlier stuff. Their 2-person MT900 tarp tents are 1.3 kg with a packed volume of 4 litres and cost 200 Euros. Nothing is really ultralight, but this one gets somewhat close. They also have an MT900 dome tent which is 50% heavier and bulkier for the same price. Their down sleeping bags are also around 200 Euros. Most of their sleeping pads/mattresses have low R values, maxing out just above 4. But their wearable stuff and bags are really great for the budget. Check out their Merino base layers and beanies if you get a chance.
I'd love to see your take on 32 Degree sports wear. I have a ton of their stuff (sun shirts, base and midlayers, packable light puffy jacket, etc.). It's dirt cheap, and for me it's consistently some of my favorite trail clothing. I cannot and will never be able to afford a $200 Patagonia anything, but I'd love to see how 32 Degree stacks up to the really expensive stuff (which I can't test myself)
Hello from the Land Down Under! I'm so glad you have gone to producing your episodes weekly. I do my cardio in the gym on Tuesday mornings and the elliptical machine was so boring until I now have your show to watch each week. It makes the time go by so fast. Love how you keep it real. Also, love the budget gear videos. Keep them coming.
I have the mens Decathlon 50L rucksack, while it only has 1 quick access bottle pocket it does have 2 side pockets, one of which bellows out to hold a 1.5 litre Nalgene with room to spare. The single hip belt pocket is a bit of a miss but I've added a pouch to the other side with straps that go around the padded belt.
Decathlon is great. I have a wind jakcket that I bought 6-7 years ago in France for about 120-25 EUR and I still have it. No broken stickers or stitches only some smudges because I spilt stuff on it. Amazing value.
Miranda, I wanted to thank you for introducing me to LMNT. I have Hashimoto's, and LMNT has been a game-changer in keeping me hydrated. My skin has never looked better, and my migraines are less frequent. It makes me smile every time I see them sponsor your videos. :)
Such a shame Decathlon doesn't have many stores over there! I visited them often here in the Netherlands and especially for the important purchases (tent, mat, sleeping bag) it is so nice to see and feel them before buying. Usually most of the stuff is on display like a wall of unfolded sleeping bags and inflated matresses, this could've avoided the disappointment I feel.
For budget backing brands, could you also include MEC? Its like the canadian version of REI, and it would be awesome to see how it compares to some of the other stuff you're testing!
I have the same sleeping mat and you can definitely deflate it a bit to make it softer! You have to push the rubber thing in the inflating hole. And it does automatically inflate the first bit, you can just blow a bit extra if you like. I kinda like this sleeping mat ngl
I feel your pain with the different ways of measuring. Every time I think I will make something that a person from America has shard and it's in cups. Lovely film.
Love the idea of this budget gear series, especially with the end goal of coming up with the ultimate budget kit! If you have room for another video in this budget gear series, please take a look at Paria Outdoor Products.
Hehe, great try on the metric 😂 Your biggest problem was that you tried to have the F/C make sense. Farenheits make sense, Celsiuseses(Smeagul voice) make even more sense, but converting one into the other is a total clusterduck.
Celsius makes sense if you're talking about water. Otherwise, Fahrenheit is better. Yes, I've lived day to day with both for years at a time. Yes, I will die on this hill
@@Neurotrace Then prepare to die, heathen! Jokes aside, I think if you've been brought up with F° than it makes more sense, for me it requires mental gymnastics to translate it somehow. Inherently, it's funny to think that room temperature of 70 makes more sense than 21. Why? Both are random numbers. If it was 50 as a sweet spot temperature, maybe I would understand. And why does water freeze at 32, and 0 is freekin too cold for almost any normal activities. My oddest is the body temperature of 98. Why is it not 100? So to anyone that says it makes more sense in every day life, it just doesn't, it makes more sense to you since you're used to it.
@badbasic I'm probably biased because my experiences with Celsius were from living in cold places like Canada and Ireland but 50F/10C is a pretty mid temperature. 100F/38C is dangerously hot, 0F/-18C is dangerously cold. It's not perfect because right around 68F/20C is my ideal spot but the 0 to 100 range still makes more sense to me than the -18 to 38 range. I'm also being generous and rounding Celsius numbers instead of using fractional values (many wars have been waged over whether the thermostat should be 69F or 70F (20.5C or 21.1C)) because using decimals in temperatures feels wrong. At the end of the day though, you're right. They're arbitrary numbers and whatever you grew up with will most likely make the most sense
Brilliant plan. I'm always on the lookout for budget gear. I'm a huge fan of the Walmart/Ozark Trail olive green aluminum hiking pole set with cork handles. They're $20 and have served me well. You could buy 5 pairs for what one set of Leki poles would cost and if you were on a thru hike, there would be a Walmart at most town stops if you needed a replacement.
Excited to try the Pinnacle meal. It is staring at me now just waiting for a trip. Maybe once New England acts like New England and not the Amazon. But jealous of your scenery. Can't wait for your REI review. Many of our customers love your videos.
I’m super excited for it too!! I actually have all the gear ready for me, sitting in my gear room 👀 can’t wait for it, and hopefully it’ll be helpful for co-op members 💚
@@MirandaGoesOutside I feel like a walking advertisement for REI (but my students still don't know my secret identity) There is so much great gear. Fun fact, one of our managers opened West Hartford with you.
My decathlon backpack have for something around 12 years for all my scout camps (and hiking scout trips) and it’s really good and I am thinking about yours as my second one.
Featherstone Outdoors is where I bought my budget friendly tent. It’s been working amazingly for me so far! They also sell pads and quilts. I hope to try those next!
My experience with the Forclaz hoodie/puffy is that it is narrow and long. I am a short, stocky person and to get the size I needed for my chest, the sleeves were about 6” too long! Other than that, it was fine.
Europe definitely has a lot more options when it comes to decathlon gear, my main tent is a decahtlon tent, 2 person forclaz mt900 which is still pretty light, my backpack is decahtlon, sleeping bag is decathlon (actually a down bag, rated for 5 celcius but comfortable for me at slightly sub-0) i do use a nemo tensor instead of a decathlon mat because of the vertical baffles instead of dimpling which i prefer.
if you're doing Walmart, the $35 blue Ozark Trails 90L duffel is excellent as an airline checked bag outer pack (or car camping duffle). It has backpack straps but also folds flat into like an 11x11 folio pouch
I remember from my childhood in the 70's that 28g was equal to 1 ounce dry. It would probably be illegal to say what we weighted but maybe you can guess. It was imported from Colombia. duty free kind of sort of.
6:14 I hâve these shoes ! I only use them at camp grounds, after a long day of biking with closed sports shoes. They're nice to go to the shower and leave with wet feet.
As a former Traeger+ user, I've found that Asmoke has significantly changed my camping experience. What I love most about Asmoke is the convenience it brings. It's battery-powered, so I can use it anywhere, from backyard BBQs to camping trips. This was a game-changer for me. As for the taste, the wood pellets give a distinct smoky flavor that is simply unmatched. They come in different flavors, which adds to the whole culinary adventure. Lastly, the temperature control is top-notch; I can grill with precision ensuring that my food is cooked to perfection. The switch to Asmoke has truly propelled my outdoor cooking experience to another level. #Asmoke
What an interesting experiment to go backpacking with only budget gear from Decathlon! It's great to see which items were hits and which were misses. Your honest reviews and thorough testing provide valuable insights for anyone looking to gear up without breaking the bank. Thanks for sharing your adventure and the detailed feedback on each piece of equipment! Cheers, Simon - Tales From Abroad
That MSR stove that she didn’t mention is 4 times the price of the little $12 Desert Fox (that’s what it’s called now). I bought mine for about $7 before they got popular.
I have a lot of Decathlon gear. Not for backpacking, but for car/festival camping. Like you said, their gear isn't really light enough for my backpacking kit. I love almost everything I have gotten from them! But they closed all their stores and even their online shop in Sweden this year. I'm very sad about it. The outdoor gear market in Sweden is full of high quality Swedish brands, which are amazing, but expensive. It was nice to have a budget option. Thanks for the video! It was really useful. I kind of want to order that down jacket, but I have started to suspect that I'm allergic to down unfortunately.
Simple hack for getting pitch out of your sleeping bag or any other gear you may get pitch on, use hand sanitizer to dissolve the pitch and then soak it out with a napkin or a paper towel or something that will absorb the moisture out. TaDa!!! Pitch be gone. ( I wish I could say it was magic but it's not, it's the alcohol in the hand sanitizer that dissolves the pitch, so anything that you can get alcohol out of you can use to get the pitch out, but the extra glycerol and stuff in hand sanitizer makes it a little more gentle on delicate fabrics)