The Gear I Choose Over EVERYTHING Else

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[brycewalburn]

"I'm falling in love with umbrellas" is a hilarious quote out of context.

[xHuge]

Still the best backpacking channel out there. Always quality videos.

[alisondickinson]

We both bought a helinox chair on your advice, Steve. They are one of our best pieces of camping equipment. We’ve hiked into an area and had no place to stop to eat and so we setup right in the trail. Mind you, we rarely see anyone on the trails where and when we go out, so we have yet to block traffic. But sitting on a chair in the backcountry is a game changer.

[JustMikeH]

Minor correction: ZenBivy doesn't /require/ a rectangular pad. If you prefer a rectangular pad, GREAT - No judgement. If do you personally do not require rectangular you can save a few ounces by using a semi-rectangular or mummy shaped pad. Both work great with Zen Bivy.

Great video, cheers!

[richardbergin]

2 days agoa zpacks umbrella saved my life, had flash flooding cause hundreds of falling rocks in the alps. Completely exposed on a narrow ledge, i hid under my umbrella with my arm over my head and survived. My umbrella was damaged but only 1 small rock hit my head, the rest were deflected.

[ndk]

200, 000 subscribers! Congrats. Keep the videos coming. In find them very informative; this one is no exception.

[AndreFavron]

from you, this video actually matters. Many can talk about their "favourites" but they don't have the experience and comparison history you bring. Thanks. BTW, you forgot a link... Six Moon Designs Hands-Free Trekking Umbrella Kit

[Dsparky]

I live in norther Minnesota and often find my self camping is below zero degree weather, I would love to see a video like this going over your favorite winter supplies

[NascentCatalyst]

Can you do a followup video on your preferred clothing? Everyone focuses on the upper layers(jackets, sun hoodie, etc), but what sock brands do you like? Pants/undies? Do you bring additional base layers to sleep in?

[davestagner]

I’m bringing an umbrella and a chair for a thru-hike of the Black Hills I’m starting on this weekend! Did a shakedown night with some friends last week, and one was amazed at how much of a difference a chair with back support (Big Agnes) made, even over the picnic bench at our campsite.

[gregeberhardt]

Bought that chair two weeks ago based on your recommendation (in Australia)…..first hike in the rainforest, mud everywhere, few leeches, no where dry……chair was awesome! Might have something to do with being 52 lol

[nwsports]

Your recommendations have done us well. Love the helinox chairs and the zenbivy sheet but mod-ed our down quilts we had made to work with zenbivy sheet. But we did something really unusual for most. We bought a freeze dryer and make our own freeze dried meals and snacks. We even use the FD food in our regual home life as an augment to canned and frozen preservation. Expensive initial payment but well worth it in the long run for avid outdoor people and people who maintain a pantry like us farm folks. See you in the woods!

[charlescollier]

Thanks for this, Aaron. Cold Steel XL Triad folders are top shelf hiking tools for me, and especially the Rajah 2, XL Drop Point Voyager, and Large Espada. A machete is the essential primary cutting implement for my environment, because tropical rainforest, vines, and thorns. But I've done hikes with one of these folders serving as either a backup to a machete, or as a substitute for one. I find the XL Drop Point especially impressive, because it is big enough and tough enough to hack through some jungle, agile enough to do fine carving and food prep, and only comes in at 7.5 ounces. Even my favorite field knife, my Steel Will Argonaut 810, has slightly less reach and weighs 2 ounces more WITHOUT the sheath.

[LMay]

I have a women's Zpacks Arc Haul and have not taken it out on a single trip yet. I've done several multi day trips, but the narrowness of the main compartment prevents me from taking my usual equipment in the Arc Haul. I think it has a lot to do with the bars that curve to provide air flow for the back. It really reduces the useable volume. My base weight hovers around 10lbs and my food and water carries vary. I'd say I end up taking 18lbs total weight for 4-5 day trips. My shelters may vary from a 9X7 dcf tarp to a XMid Pro 1P. My quilts range from 12 ounces to 18 ounces. Regardless of my gear, I can never fit it comfortably in the Arc Haul. Perhaps I'm packing it wrong. I generally flatten my pads on the bottom, then insert a pack liner to hold my quilt (no stuff sack), down booties, trekology pillow and my EE torrid puffy and alpha tech sleep pants, sleep socks and an extra sun hoody. After twisting that down, I load my food sack, repair/first aid kit, electronic cords and a nitecore 10k battery pack and tent. I generally pack my rain gear, ground sheet, cook set and little poop kit on the outside of the pack in the stretch pockets and side pockets.

I'm not sure where I'm going wrong with the arc haul, but it is NOT wide enough to get all of this in comfortably. In the video, you say that you got a BV 450 inside? Really? This thing is just super narrow. I want to use it and I want to love it, but its just doesn't seem to hold my gear as do other UL packs. I'd love for you to show how you pack your arc haul comfortably, especially considering you are packing considerably more gear than I do. I've had it about a year and will probably end up selling it without ever having taken it on trail. I'm still searching for the perfect pack, having tried the Lite AF Curve, a Pa'lante V2, a Nashville Cutaway, an Atom Plus, OV Shadowlight and a Durston Kakwa. My OV Shadowlight (very similar to my ULA Circuit) is a pretty comfortable carry when I MUST take a bear canister. Otherwise, I'd say the Durston has proven to be very comfortable. When I can keep weight very low, below 15lbs, I'll opt for the Nashville or Pa'lante. They are super comfortable with small loads and when water is plentiful.

I believe you when you say you like the pack. Many others have said the same. It just seems super narrow and doesn't carry even the lightest of my load outs very well.

[eric]

Steven I just wanted to say thanks for all the gear reviews. I liked this video in particular because it wasn't a manufacturer pushing a specific piece of gear. I actually bought a number of items you recommend here, much of it from Garage Grown Gear (located near me in Minnesota!). I'm really happy to support a small business and also get the things I want for backpacking. I had a tiny problem with one order and GGG sent out a new item right away and I had it 24 hours later. I also enjoy your videos about places you have travelled and would love to see more of those (I know you don't get so many views on them, but they are great). I probably won't be travelling far from my home state this year (2023) but next year I definately want to do at least one good backpacking trip, probably in the western USA. Thanks again for the great content; you've got a fan.

[TheNoobHiker]

Steven I consider you one of the foremost experts in gear and gear reviews. I purchased a lot of new gear based on the reviews you have done, and it has helped me cut my base weight from 32 lbs. to 15 lbs. GGG and Moosejaw are awesome, and I never would have found them without watching your videos. With all that being said I wanted to express the high regard I have for your opinion. I do have one question....the Alpha Cruiser fleece, did you get that in the men's or ladies department?

[philip]

Being in the UK, it's really interesting how different the gear is in the US. Single skin tents, different sleep systems, frameless packs etc. You guys really do ultralight very well. I've just bought a Tarptent Stratospire 2, but with the solid inner. It's better than anything here in the UK.

[BenMcmillen]

Easily one of the best backpacking channels out there. Keep up the great work!

[agrivere]

I might point out that while I also like the Nemo Fillo pillow, it is unfortunately not lighter than really, well, anything else you might bring, including most of the foam pillows. I was just doing a bit of a gear shakedown and weighed quite a few different pillows on a very accurate scale I have.

Nemo Fillo: 271.0 grams (9.56 ounces)
REI Trailmade Mummy Pillow (a foam pillow new this year): 154.2 grams (5.44 ounces)
Thermarest Compressible Pillow, Size S (also a foam pillow): 207.0 grams (7.3 ounces)
"Old" REI Trailbreak Foam Pillow: 304.0 grams (10.72 ounces)

Choosing a pillow is always tricky, and it's super important to be comfortable with your pillow, just don't fool yourself into thinking the Nemo Fillo is lighter than a foam pillow. It is unfortunately not.

[anselmocat]

I use my zenbivy with a mummy style pad (thermarest uberlite and thermarest therm) works fine.