Backpacking Nightmares: What NOT to do

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[jefftp]

Having a dry change of clothes packed in a ziplock bag is the difference between a freezing cold night and a fun story about that time you went camping during a surprise thunderstorm and it was so cold and wet until you could get the tarp up and get changed.

[brandonb.]

Yeah, I'm going to push back about the extra clothes. It's always always smart to carry at least an extra set of clothes in case of a sudden downpour and the clothes you're wearing get soaked. Not only is it miserable and uncomfortable to hike it soaking wet clothes, if you have to sleep in wet clothes, that could be deadly.

[toejamr]

I always have 3 sets of clothing when I hike. I have 5000 miles under my belt so I’m not a newb. I have 2 sets of super lightweight running shorts, exofficio underwear, and synthetic shirts. This is all lightweight gear as I only hike in warmer climates but still. If I’m out for a week I like to wear a set for a couple days and then clean up super well and out my other set on. I even have gone back and forth hand washing a set every night or every other night. Being clean keeps all Of my gear nice and smells free and makes me feel better. My 3rd set of clothing is my sleeping clothes. I used a sleeping bag for the whole AT and when I was done it had no bad smells to it. It’s because I value being clean. Hike your own hike but just know… you can be clean out there.

[edwarddickins]

This advice seems to be aimed at people who stick to easy trails. Up mountains/moors and in wet conditions/ bad visibility having a compass (and knowing how to use it) and spare set of clothes can be the difference between life and death/extreme discomfort.

[pwesley]

You're forgetting one important thing. Not everyone has the money to afford high-end, aka Moosejaw, equipment. Some people get what they can afford and go hiking/ camping anyway, because they love it!

[ashdot]

As others have said, I ALWAYS carry a change of underlayer clothes. Always. The weight is negligible compared to the benefit if you get soaked.

[rickputnam]

The one thing that I am absolutely SICK OF is this never-ending genuflection to Smartwater bottles. There's nothing wrong with Smartwater or their bottles, but a bottle of Fiji Water will never roll off the side of a cliff on you.

[ajolillen]

Saying you don't need extra clothes is absolute madness. I live in Sweden, and maybe it's okay during summer, but if you get wet and have nothing to change into that could turn absolutely dangerous.
In fact, for a lot of mountain hiking events and similar here, clothes to change into if you get wet are _mandatory_.

[jereldonovan]

I agree with every point but…
Parts of the hiking community can get very judgemental and having people point out all the flaws in ones gear can discourage them from hiking more than their bad gear would, at least that’s my theory.

[wakeandblakevideo]

Was Moosejaw, the atlas app, or Coca Cola the sponsor of this video? 😆

[Lightning_Struck_Spades]

“True men are intentionally uncomfortable” best line ever!!!

[lukewaite]

just want to mention it is not recommended for disposable bottles to be reused many many times as overtime they will degrade and leak microplasics into the water, personally I get a new one for each trip

[AdamTravelsTheWorld]

As a former Marine Infantry who served in Afghanistan 2 times. That sleeping pad was a god send. The best gear is the minimal, YOU DON'T HAVE TO SPEND THOUSANDS.

[LordSpink]

I'm going on a 2500 mile non-stop hike soon through all 15 UK national parks lasting about 2 years and guess what....I'm bringing a chair. I spent a few year homeless in my early days and spent that last year in a tent in the woods. Sitting on the ground absorbing the cold, or leaning up against a tree feeling the hard bark, sure it's bearable for the odd night or two, but do it for weeks or months and your body will hate you. And don't get me wrong, I love sitting on the ground, but on a long hike when all you want to do is relax and even though you're sitting down, your're constantly holding your top half up. The chair allows for full relaxation! Whenever I've been camping with friends since, the chair always gets fought over by the 2nd day.

[siberx]

Fun video, and thanks for including me in the comment round-up!

If you opt out of bringing spare changes of clothes, at the very least bring spare socks (one pair per day is optimal, but every two days is ok) and possibly an underwear swap or two depending on trip length. The former is essential for preventing blistering and the latter is just a big comfort win a few days into a sweaty hike.

While pads like that are terrible to sleep on by themselves, they are generally very light (even if they're bulky, not a huge deal on the outside of the pack) but are a good cheap "R-value booster" to put under your primary pad in colder weather so you don't need to buy two expensive air pads. They can also be handy as a mat you don't care about to throw down on the ground for a quick break on hard ground where you wouldn't want to risk popping your main pad.

I like bringing a compass (and at least a chunk of map covering your hike area) effectively as "emergency" gear, not for regular use. They're light/small and it's good to have a fallback in case you drop your phone and break it, run out of battery, or any number of other issues crop up. For simple trips on well-marked trails it's not important, but on longer expeditions I consider it a good backup. It's even more important on ocean kayaking trips, but still nice to have for hiking too.

[SeanMather]

A few counterpoints. First, the classic blue foamy is often used as a cheap protection for more expensive pads. I’ve had Therm-a-rest reps recommend a Z-lite under their Uberlite even in tents for example, so people definitely have opted for the cheaper foamy instead. Realistically though they don’t sell like they used, for good reasons as explained in the video. Second, perhaps the metal bottle is insulated for coffee (this one probably isn’t by the look of it, but let’s roll with the idea it is) and is not a primary source of water. I have hiked and camped with lots of folk who will prep coffee for a quick, no cook lunch, no matter the weight penalty. Third, I hike with a technical polo, as it can provide extra sun protection and take some friction out of the system if layered with a nice wicking tee as well. Nothing wrong with it, as long as it isn’t cotton. Fourth, a map and compass are basic safety measures, and should be a part of most people’s kit (along with some training on it). A map alone won’t help much if you don’t know which way to go. Unless you are also carrying heavy battery packs, solar or some other method of charging your phone, it will die eventually unless you ration it’s use severely (ie:no pictures, music, etc, it’s a map only that’s turned off between checks.). A dedicated GPS is better, and something this load out would probably carry as well as a map and compass, so this dude must just really be into some old school orienteering. Lastly, I personally like having a change of clothes, as it makes me feel more like a human when I change into them. I’m not an ultralight hiker, if you couldn’t tell, but a fresh change of clothes after a dip in a lake is just a nice reward and reinvigorating. But to each their own.

Some one definitely did him dirty though, and did not fit his pack correctly or teach him the importance of doing up all the straps. The big fuel can might make sense if he’s going out there for multiple days and is doing some backcountry cooking 🍳. The multiple inaccessible water bottles…. Kinda silly unless unless there’s not a water source near by and he had to pack lots of extra water. As we didn’t see the rest of his gear, he’s probably got a load out that’s not too dissimilar to one’s I’ve had in the past, with a 5 pound-ish tent, a synthetic sleeping bag, a larger stove setup and actual food (not just freeze dried) and some clothing options. Oh and a chair of course 😜. Is it super light, and something you want to put out 20k a day with, heck no. But if you’re shorter hops between sites and want some nice comfortable options, is a great way to go.

Long and short is there’s definitely some things wrong with this dude, and he could use some help. However, there’s also some reasons for some of his choices that are valid to achieve certain goals. As mentioned in the video, everyone must hike their own hike. This dude is not an ultralight hiker, and that’s ok, a lot of people aren’t and happy about it. My goal while selling is to help people achieve their goals while outside, be it someone who wants the lightest kit out possible to those who just want to enjoy the creature comforts once they get to their site after a short hike in, and everyone in between. There’s the right equipment for everyone, and it’s all about enjoying the outdoors in a way that makes you happy.

Disclaimer: I work for an outdoor retailer, and the above is purely my own opinion, and does not reflect those of my employer.

[Stig]

Usually like your videos but this one got a little obnoxious for me, have gone backpacking a countles times both in the military and privatly. There ain't any wrong way to go backpacking, carry what you want and need. Have slept a lot on those thin mats in my younger days and tho they are not comfortable I've never been cold laying on them. And it can get quite cold here in Norway.

[Tornado]

I'm generally a fan of your videos, but I feel like watching this would put people off backpacking more than anything else. I'm a pretty seasoned hiker and camper, and I have found the way of doing things that works for me, what I like to carry, how much money I'm willing to spend on my gear, what luxuries I like (a paperback book every hike!) and what I can do without. I know that one experienced hiker can do things totally differently to another equally experienced hiker, and for the most part, it isn't simply the RIGHT way to do things vs what NOT to do.

I would hate for someone who'd like to try backpacking, or is planning a first or second longer trip to watch this and think, 'oh no, I haven't got the PROPER clothes, or the CORRECT sleeping pad, what if I carry my water in the WRONG way, or pack things I SHOULDN'T pack. Yes, it's good to share information to help people have the most comfortable and safe trip possible, but exactly like you say, everyone needs to hike their own hike. We all learn from experience, you just have to get out there and find what works for you!

[ericcorbett]

Kyle also apparently hates pop tarts! Every hike, I bring a chair to sit in while eating my pop tarts wishing others could share in my joy instead of their love of misery! As always enjoyed the video and appreciate your great perspective!

[zofiavonhotzka]

That GPS is fine and dandy until you run out of a) coverage an/or b) battery life. While the former may never happen (unlikely but not unthinkable), the latter is a given -- and even powerbanks run out of juice, especially the more lightweight ones. I'm all for using technology and navigation apps are super helpful but having a physical map and a compass (which weigh next to nothing and take up next to zero space as backup just seems like common sense to me. Also, a properly laminated map AND can multitask as an extra wind/rain cover, a sleeping mat insulation or a blanket.