Backpacking gear I wish I would’ve bought sooner

OTHER GEAR I USE

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Flextail Zero Pump review. Thermarest missed the mark. Camping gadgets 2023

[BeckiandChris]

I bought a real pillow for camping because of you, completely changed my relationship with sleeping outdoors

[kathrin]

I'm 30 and to be honest, I only recently started to use trekking poles and I love them, they make hikes more accessible and comfortable to me when hiking with fitter people or on harder routes. I have chronic pain and these save me from a lot of additional pain in that aspect too.

[karlakramer]

My husband and I feel like kings when we hike to the top of something and whip out our chairs to chill and have a snack or meal. They're super handy when packing up to keep things on and keep them clean.

[carllauderdale]

Dan, my man!! Watched and learned from your videos from Dec '22 - Jun '23, where my 2 sons and I braved the Appalachian Trail NOBO from Springer Mountain. I can't tell you how ACCURATE this video is!! Decent tent - a MUST. Chairs for all 3 of us - dude, I fell asleep in my chair after a 10 mile uphill hike in North Georgia. Just passed out. MUST HAVE. Sat comms - absolutely, WITH INSURANCE for the Medivac because I was NOT losing my life savings b/c a 17 year-old decided to be an idiot. I have the Sea To Summit water cell - CAME IN CLUTCH. This was in June - so we drank a LOT of water. You can also hang the water cell from a tree, and just walk up, unscrew the spout, and poor straight into a water bottle. Add some Mio and voila! A good pit stop. We all had the real pillows too - thanks too your previous videos!! We had AllTrails, not Onyx, but hey, nobody's perfect! And thanks for the tip on the Tokes. I need to check that out. Cooking was a struggle b/c I was actually cooking from Chef Corso's cookbook. So better consolidation will help. Overall GREAT VIDEO, and I can attest to ALL OF IT BEING WORTH IT!

[comfykruczek]

Straight to the point, great advice and a thumbnail that I could finally click on without cringing thinking about mr beast and other mainstream youtubers, good job Dan

[Tfaonc]

I've always just used a waded up jacket or hoodie as a pillow. I'm going to have a jacket anyway, I can make it any shape i like. It works great and I don't need to carry a pillow.

[memathews]

This is great, Dan, lots of solid backpacking and safety advice in this video. One addition might be an annual subscription to an air ambulance service; you got doubly lucky with your Grand Canyon rescue, but Dixie ended up with a big air ambulance bill (the coverage premium is usually around $75/year, far less than a likely $10, 000 invoice).

[outdoorslifesurvivecraft]

I have to say, I do really like your videos. They are lighthearted, honest, very helpful and they don't push the typical "you have to have this high-end high dollar gear" that so many other youtubers push. You give examples of gear and your opinion through your experience and let the viewer decide for themselves on what they want or need. Over the summer I had 2 different people ask me about winter camping. I said I would be glad to help them out and take them. I also told them to watch your videos and Lukes's gear reviews so they can get a better idea of what it's like and what they will need.

[RiseAboveGym]

I 100% agree on trekking poles. One of the best purchases. Reduces fatigue for me

[grandtheftlemon]

I love love my crazy Creek chair.
IDC about the hardness of the ground, what I need is something that lets me relax my back!

[jasonwhite]

As a paramedic that used to work in a VERY rural area of MN by the boundary waters, please buy the satellite communicator. I can't tell you the number of times when the only reason we knew where someone was injured was because of a satellite communicator. I once took a float plane into the BWCA to rescue a kid that had hit his head and the only way that we had any idea of where they were was because of one of these things. Can't recommend it enough.

[semo]

What i use for pillow - zpacks stuff sack pillow with semi-deflated bigsky inflatable pillow and puffy inside. Inflatable creats an adjustable height while puffy a very soft layer. 2 oz and two of 3 items are multiuse

[chrisunderwood]

I used moleskin in the military for some very long marches w/o much of an issue. Applied correctly, it will stay in place for days...even a week. Round your edges and make sure it stays flat and in place when putting your sock back on. Cutting a small hole for the blistered area also helps. But, I'm going to try the tape you recommend. Thanks.

[wwjclemd]

One piece of gear I wish I had bought sooner is the Sawyer adapter that lets me pump water straight into my bladder through the drinking hose! Everyone (that uses them) hates taking their bladder out. I thank God on every hike for this little adapter!

[stevelahr]

If I may, I'd also add the following: bring with a fire steel (it will light fires even when wet), I'd bring some fire plugs or cotton balls rubbed in vaseline for starting fires, I'd upgrade to an MSR winder burner pro stove that is way more efficient, and buy a real sleeping bag - not the sub-par down bags that turn into a snotball when wet. Sleeping bag is your PRIMARY survival tool - so buy a real one. The best on the market is Wiggy's. I'd also suggest at least a small folding saw by Silky, and a bushcraft knife great for everything from feather sticks to battening - Mora bushcraft black. It's worth the extra tiny bit of weight for these items. I'll pass on his tent idea, not a fan. I do agree with trekking poles, they are a Godsend. The first time I used one was by Mt. Robson on the hike to Emperor Falls - huge difference on the pressure it takes off ones knees and legs (and I only used one). I since bought a pair of trekking poles. Happy Trails! - and yes, I just said that! How lame...

[SavageVoyageur]

Thanks for the video. I always take a pillow and a Garmin InReach unit when in the woods.

[jae]

I'm not a hiker but use a trekking pole as my daily walking stick, with a back that's fused in places and bent out of shape plus an ankle with limited movement due to an old fracture and dislocation I've found that a trekking pole is light, I can adjust it to greater height when needed and the handle is more comfortable.

[DerekHardwick]

Like Dan, I hate air pillows, but I also don't want the weight of a 'proper' pillow. I now put my down jacket in a dry bag (usually the one I keep my clothes in in my backpack), leave a little bit of air in there, and wrap something around it (a buff, a shirt, etc). 1000% more comfortable than an inflatable pillow, zero extra weight.

[RustyOutside]

Cheers thanks for sharing. Some good tips here, a number I've already done myself. I've been using trekking poles for years and would never leave home without them.

[dallas_jessup]

Eric’s sleep set up w/ Miranda’s actual gear for sure. Just bought the outdoor element 💩 bag 🎉