When I started backpacking, the packs themselves weighed nearly as much as your base weight. The introduction of 260g packs changed my life. Even my cook pot is now a Heineken beer can with a foil lid. Most of the time I forget I'm even wearing a pack.
This is my favorite gear list video. Exactly what I was looking for, a minimalist light setup that doesn’t compromise comfort or safety! Also not made by gear loving people who just enjoy to spend money on the often unnecessary super expensive/lightweight stuff and replace them to try other stuff on their next hike. Good job, also love the smart tarp design and the backpack.
I’ve been watching backpacking videos inexplicably as neither a backpacker nor much of a hiker, so I’m hardly the target audience, but I think this was one of the more interesting gear breakdowns I’ve seen. Make some more videos, your DIY approach is cool.
Killer setup. 24 liters is insane. This the best ul backpacking gear video on youtube. Clearly you have your trail time unlike most people making gear review videos. Edit your videos. You deserve way more subs than the current backpacking youtubers.
It was a nice touch in the beginning showing easy ways to save money and weight, while still not endangering yourself going ultralight backpacking. Thanks for showing your gear and I'm looking forward to more trip videos!
Hey Zach, love your video. We did 685kms of the TA in 2019 and then quit - partly because our packs were way too heavy. You've given us some great ideas to go back and finish it off.
Trail name secret squirrel here: AT15, PCT17 -> ultralighter myself and I have to say your backpack design is absolutely perfect. I am about to download the design and attempt to see how well I can sew.
What a pleasure to watch your video, in fact the best I have seen on minimalist hiking gear. Super cool that you have made some of your gear too. Love, love, love it!!
Nice set up dude! And good job making a video covering your gear! I'm a hammock camper in the Rocky Mountains and its awesome to see how people are doing things all over the world in different places!
Great video my dude. To your point at the beginning, it’s all about the trail conditions and terrain. Let your skills and loadout reflect the challenges you’ll face.
Great video, really informative and entertaining too. I’m watching your pack build next, looove bag design! You prob know this, but for anyone else, modern ultralight synthetic insulation used in jackets and sleeping bags is made of ultrafine thermoplastic formed into springy shapes, and has an unfortunate tendency to become permanently flattened under repeated compression. We all know not to store them compressed for long periods, but even being tightly compressed during the day for a few weeks can reduce its ability to recover by 30-50%. Remember this when buying a sleeping bag which may have already been compressed in the shops for months. The worst time to compress it is when it’s very warm. If you can make room in your pack to leave a synthetic bag or jacket loose, it’ll last much longer.
That's awesome. Can't do the cold soaking but yeah, confident set up and a weight you could run it with. I'm lightweight comfort, more abou the 7-8kg baseweight, ie pole tent and quilt, full pad etc but really like your tarp and bivvy setup. Also great idea on the mozzie net as a clothes bag, thanks for the idea, saves me a bag and means I get some bug protection.
Great video and love your approach to UL hiking. My warm weather buildout is almost identical but you did it for a fraction of the cost and I think your stuff looks fantastic. I’ve been doing this for almost 10 years now and actually bought all the DCF stuff you have from the main UL gear makers. While I’m happy to support those manufacturers who help get more people (including me) into UL hiking, your stuff is just as good, 10% of the price and the same weight! Really nice job!! I’m looking forward to seeing your approach to the TA so get off your ass and publish those videos!!
Great video thank you! I felt cold just thinking about sleeping in 5-degree temp in that set-up. Braver than me, and I was born and raised in the south island...
Awesome and informative video- especially loved the home made gear! Although I have to admit, having experienced just how unpredictable and cold NZ weather can be, your lack of thermals made me a little nervous 😅
I watched this over a year ago. ( RU-vid says it is one year old )🤷♂️. At the time I honestly thought that you were a complete lunatic. I could not convince of such minimalism. I still can’t to be honest. The tarp is minute and open. Anyway I have progressed in my thinking a good deal by watching hundreds of gear lists by completely crazy people like you. Without any recollection of your gear list I have ironically settled on the exact same primary pieces such as a tarp, bivy, closed cell pad and am toying with making my own pack using in part bits bought online such as zpacks. I’m 55 this year and can’t do it quite as hard as yourself but I can get my base weight to the 10-11 pound range. So thanks for being brave and surviving to tell the tale. Very much appreciated. 👍
Legend! Sometimes I need to remember how much of a lunatic I can seem to people. Carrying this little is normal to me, I've hiked like this for years! Thanks for putting things in perspective. It's awesome hearing your success story! Us humans really don't need much to get by, it's all marketing and modern comforts. Cheers mate 👍
Really liked this kit and the thinking behind it (something most folks never talk about). Great complimentary update from your previous vid. PS: Stole the cold soak sushi idea and loved it on the trail (thanks!).
Omg - Brilliant. I’m doing the Cape Reinga to Auckland section in January 2021. I’m old. My biggest anxiety is the weight of my pack & it will be too much for me and balance. You are my hero. This is the way to go....thank you 🙏 I would love to know more about what you cold soaked? Come on Zac pleassssse make some more fcken videos ..😉
YES! Preach brother. Really great video. I reckon your mindset is spot on. Wish I could do the cold soak, I'm too much of a wimp, but definitely gonna go try the sushi idea, genius. PLLLLEEEEAAASSSEE do more videos, great to see local heads on the tube. Regards, your man in Sydney.
Thanks man. I might have to do an entire video on mindset and debunking myths. Unfortunately it is all too common in Aus/NZ to think UL is dangerous and stupid. I think I explained myself most days on my thru hike to squabblers and it got really old. Thanks for the support!
@@ZacDeclerck Ha, I did a last minute guided group walk of the South Coast Track about 7 years ago. I had a 4kg base load in a MLD Prophet. The guide made me go through my gear with him to prove that I had adequate gear. After that he wanted to know all about everything I had whenever we were in camp, CONVERTED ; )
@@phrayzar I have a very similar story when I used this setup on the Overland Track a few weeks before the TA. I think I converted at least 2 of the park rangers!
Captain Hikes the only thing that is dangerous is your lack of a proper first aid supplies but that really depends on the trail your hiking so maybe this setup here is not dangerous. I’m not familiar with the trails you said you hiked. Good video though straight to the point and informative, thank you for sharing. I subscribed looking forward to more from you
Cool to get a reminder about what is possible when you go minimal - living in the South Island there are times when weight is unavoidable to stay safe, especially for extended transalpine style trips, but this definitely inspires me to do more with less in summer! Did you stay in many huts or did you just camp the whole trail?
Hey Captain Hook. I’m planning on doing the TA this coming spring. I’m still saving at the moment but honestly got no idea how much I need. All the budgets I’ve seen so far seem excessive. I’m keen to freedom camp and much as possible and hitchhike instead of paid transport to keep costs down and experience more. I feel like your budget would be a great gauge for myself. Cheers mate I love your videos
Hey mate! Hopefully I can chip in here. I did the trail in 88 days and can't quite remember my budget but I think it was $4000. The majority of my expenses was paid campsites on the north island (no freedom camps, so $15p/n at a holiday park), and beer. If you can avoid these 2 things your hike will be really cheap. Easier said than done with the holiday parks since it's difficult to hide on the north island, but I slept in some gardens and sand dunes lol. The best way to save is to hike faster! Less days on trail = less money spent. I also opted to hitch often. Cheers
Another reason for going ultralight is medical. I'm a heart patient , since 1998 a implanted defibrillator/pacer , 2013 a triple bypass. Weight restrictions since 1998 so I got my basic pack weight down to between 7 and 8 pounds. On rare occasions as low as 5 pounds. I'm just as comfortable in camp as I was with a heavy pack. On the trail a lot more comfortable since I don't feel like there is a large stone on my back. I use a small ( titanium ) wood burning stove. No problem with finding wood , I hammock camp so dry twigs are always around. I also cold soak with a empty Talenti gelato one pint ( 473 ml ) container.
Did the AT back in 2003, with a near identical set up (Golight Breeze, pack and a few other things that look in the same stream, your thoughts I would echo-$, water, rain gear, safety). I read Ray Jardeen in high school and it really made sense. Anyway, after 20 years I’m planning the next big one and found this helpful-might need to finally make the pack!
Thanks for sharing Zac! Cool homemade gear :) Didn't know the Nitecore TIP had a hat clip, that's a clear winner in weight against the Nitecore NU25 + headband... Also that sushi mat is a unique luxury item!
Thanks Captain. Sweet info and ideas, bit too hard core for me though, Im a lush for a comfy sleep setup, just over 2kg of sleep gear!. Im walking Cape Otway (when I can get into Vic again!) so these radical lightweight tips were gold.
great kit unload & well said about the safety aspects.. the borah bivy is excellent innit ;) love your tarp.. might have to have a go at that & the sushi mat is genie arse!
Dude 🤘👌 great job. Loved your video and very impressive making your own backpack and tarp. You also have a great attitude and would love to see your TA vid
In Finland and northern regions where even in summer nighttime temperature can go near zero celsius, the guy on the left is going to die of hypothermia because he doesnt have DRY and WARM clothes on for sleep.
Sure he is. This is almost the same setup I used on the PCT where I experienced below zero at least 10 times. My clothing setup is the same as most thru hikers minus clean pyjamas.
NZ can get cold. Nelson Lakes is quite high up and I think went down to 3 Celsius when I was there in late summer. By the way, that trip was before phones so you could save weight by not taking electronics. I also did not have a filter - more scope for weight saving. Most NZ stream water is fine. Pollution tends to be down river from huts with long drops which have been in place for decades. Watching Americans filter water was a bit of a spectator sport. The locals weren’t bothering. Also, trekking poles were rare - more potential for weight saving. That tarp could have a cord from the apex to hold it up or you could do the RayWay thing of finding a stick. This is just me saying what it was like in the old days. I carried much more weight than you - kilos of maps, for example, and I’m impressed by your outfit for high summer.
Skipping trekking poles is absurd, I truly cannot understand people who don't use them because "weight". It takes massive pressure off your feet, shoes last longer, gives your arms a workout split with your legs and feet, no fat hands, HUGE difference in balance and stability especially on slippery surfaces. Seriously.
Great Video, subbed. If I may, just one comment: Don't put too much energy addressing negativity around UL, people who get it will get it and for others - well, you won't change their opinion anyways. Also a request: More details on DYI!
i know you know this - but just want to say that sometimes some of those "luxuries" are necessities depending on how cold your nights get. you touched on it saying that you hiked in peak summer in the middle of the vid but would be cool if more "whats in my pack" videos up front said what temp ranges theyre dealing with. very enjoyable video!
Thanks man. This setup is good for the occasional below freezing night but not ideal late in the shoulder seasons. I'd add gloves and leggings for those times, and maybe a down puffy. I'm an incredibly warm sleeper and stick my bare feet out no matter how cold it is. I used this in a -18c night in California last year and was comfortable. I also overheat easily while walking and often opt to wear no extra layers unless it's below freezing. People's personal body temps differ greatly so pack accordingly. Like I said at the start of the vid, this is what works for me.
@@ZacDeclerck damn! -18c. all of my backpacking is in CA. youre bolder than I. usually around -4c im wearing everything i brought which includes a puffy, beanie. and light gloves.
Awesome video. I'm curious what you used the headphone for. Also I can only assume that Australians aren't worried about what might crawl into their sleeping bags in New Zealand....did you end up squishing a few bugs in your sleep? I guess I'm so used to sleeping in an enclosed tent system.
