My Favorite Backpacking Gear of 2023 (Top 10)

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[DarwinOnthetrail]

What's been some of your Favorite Backpacking Gear of 2023???

👇👇Let Me Know Down Below👇👇

[banyantree]

The CNOC was a game changer for me - small, lightweight but most importantly, fast. I now recharge my water more often vs holding out. Another advantage - when stopping for the night and refilling my bottles, I fill the CNOC ready for refilling after breakfast without needing to revisit a stream.

[SophisticatedDogCat]

Thanks for the videos, Darwin. Met you a couple years ago on the trail. On military deployment now and can’t wait to get back home for hiking. Cheers. 🍻🏔️

[Teddy-forlife]

I finally got a flextail pump, around 3oz. It blows up my neon-air X-lite reg-wide and is a light that hangs up inside my tent with 3 different brightness levels. So much better than 40- 45 breaths after a long day of hiking. I also got the gg thin-lite foldable pad. I put it in the back of my pack and then put in my trash compactor bag. Then all my gear. When I got to camp and pulled it out it was a little chewed up from putting my gear in. So it rides on top of pack, folded in half. It’s a little delicate but is nice under pad to protect and prevent sliding in tent.

[sheilahenry]

A year ago you were inspired to get away from YouTube algorithms & do documentaries. I love the few I’ve seen by Eric Hanson & the one you did w/ Sawyer. Please give more informative details along your journeys. I’d love a state by state if the AT like what’s common tho that area & interview a few locals at the hostels & stores, restaurants. I’d bet they have stories to tell! Why are certain mountains named their name what’s unique there. Any animal attacks or local hikes there. Just an explored view of each & every area. I’m over equipment reviews! Thanks
You do have a creative talent & the Sawyer was such a treasure.

[OneEyeHikes]

Great video! Years back, you provided a tip on how to carry your Thermarest sleep pad. Roll it up and horseshoe it in pack. Provides a great nest for stoves/pots etc. this tip takes the hassle out of folding and wrestling with your pad. Thanks for the tip!

[michaelsagehorn]

Mine?- Same Sierra Club cup since 1973, wool trousers and Pendleton Board shirt, Kelty external frame pack( 1975), and Kelty tarp

Classics go never out of style 🎯 Columbia Bora Bora boonie and Silver Ridge shirt won me over this year. DD SuperLight Tarp got me hooked on tarpology.

[dsa]

I love the Soto stove, too. I couldn't turn my other stove to a low simmer without it blowing out. Maybe I'll try the Sawyer again. I had 2 Sawyers that I barely had any time on, and even with back flushing, they would take forever to filter even clear water. I switched to Katadyn, much better flow.

[dennispixton]

First off Darwin… ty for coming back !! I’ve always loved your style of filming and content and personality and when I watched your last segment of the CDT ( the Winds) then saw you stepped back for awhile I was bummed but I completely understand .. I too had same experience with Micro squeeze filter when it came out so I don’t believe you had a dud. Been using mostly the platypus QuickDraw last couple years… started using Alpha Direct in Oct 21 on my Ozark Highland Trail hike made by Timmermade and absolutely fell in love it!! ( own 7 !!!) and recently acquired some made by Senchi .. if in a bushwhacking scenario I’ve learned to use a light sun hoodie over the alpha direct because if snagged it’ll def make a hole, but love using the 2 of them together so not a big issue… and I too started using that exact shoe, same color, and all. Was able to finally use them back in Sept on my 3rd return to the Winds . Actually saw a comment made by Matt Shafter about them, and having followed Matt for awhile and following his advice on how to pack your backpack properly( need to check it out if you haven’t seen that ) and loved it and have packed my pack that way ever since .. I bought a pair . I did have one issue on my trip to Winds on Knifepoint Glacier… having used Brooks Cascadia then Ghosts, they having narrow toe boxes, was successfully able to use a ultra light set of Petzl to crampons in the Sawtooth’s, I packed them for this trip. While putting them to cross Knifepoint I immediately sensed I was going to have issues using them because of tbe Pursits wide tie box… and I did have the issues… still love the shoes though and am thinking bout reaching out to Petzl to see if there is anyway they can make a wider front piece on that model of crampon, which are the most lightest model, weighing less than microspikes even… anyways Darwin welcome back and always always always look forward to your videos coming out…
Dennis Pixton

[jerbear_everywhere]

Thanks for the video Darwin. High tail designs Fanny pack is something I take on every trip- I like having small important things right on my waste when at camp or on the trail.

[EverestMystery]

Love the EBC shot at 14:07, good stuff @DarwinOnthetrail keep bringing it in 2024!

[grantthepilgrim]

Sending some love for The Ranger. Used it a lot this year and it is a good piece of kit.

[Tgauchsin]

Dude!!! Just saw you were back on beckers channel. Turned off his vid and came here. Love your content friend! Glad you are back. Don’t feel obligated to put out content all the time. Just glad to see you are doing well!

[michaelpuett]

Im glad you still make these videos! Thank you very much for the tips I would have never found the Ombras

[howardkellogg]

I just acquired a pair of Ombraz Leggeros in the special mirror frost frames with side shields. I always wear leashes but these are "too cool for school!"🕶

[memathews]

That Cnoc TKO model is great, love mine with the PCT "map" down the side! (TKO - Trailkeepers Of Oregon)

[edwardstroud]

The gossamer pad looks brilliant. Definitely gonna switch to that. Greetings from the UK.

[jasonkelly]

Hey Nick good to see you're back sometimes just people need to take a short break and a short pause but it's good to see you came back I hope things are going well for you

[zackaryc]

For someone who needs to wears glasses while hiking and being outside, what do you recommend? I prefer not to wear contacts and I've found a lot of my glasses start to get uncomfortable a few hours into a hike.