My Big 3 - Backpacking Gear - Backpack, Sleep System, And Shelter

I thought it would be good to walk you thru what I bring as by big three backpacking gear items. My backpack, sleep system, and shelter. I hope you will comment and share your big three as well so we can all learn and help each other dial in our setups! This gear isn't necessarily ultralight but it is definitely a lightweight setup. Let me know what you think!

The Gear:

My Camera Gear:

[DanBecker]

🚨VIDEO UPDATE!🚨 Someone commented and informed me that Hammock Gear has a new version of their quilts where the baffles now run the length of your body (thank you!). My HG quilts are 1-2 years old and are apparently the older version. Sounds like now you can’t go wrong with a Hammock Gear quilt! Way to go Hammock Gear for fixing the baffles 🙌!

[kayakangle]

Love the trekology pillow. One of the best bang for the buck items in my pack. Great vid!

[WhoobieD]

Love the channel, humor, research and common sense. I've purchased several items b/c of this channel.

[DragonRoams]

Nice pics a good solid setup. Here's what I'm rocking.
Shelter- WB Blackbird XLC the older version with beetle buckles. WB Mamajamba tarp with the removable doors
Pack- Osprey Exos 48
Insulation - DIY costco quilt set for summer. Hammock Gear under and Underground Quilts Top for the sub 50 degree trips

[johnchry]

Nice setup! I have two Ridgerunners. Love em! Modified my 2 HG UQs to fit them. 40 degree models. In retrospect I might have gone with the Wookies. Warbonnet makes such quality stuff. Catching up with your videos, since I’m new to your channel. I like your mix of comfort, quality, fun, friends and getting family in the mix. Got a couple of Warbonnet Superfly tarps on Black Friday sales. Can’t wait to try them out. Looking forward to some new ridgelines and some Dutch hardware for them. Want to make setup quick and easy. I spends lots of time setting everything up and need to focus on speed and relaxing. Gotta get fine tuned if I bring the other two daughters along this summer; which is the plan. Cheers! Love the videos. We have a lot of similarities in philosophy and gear. 👍🏻.

[RaceForGoodLife]

Dan! I just came back from backpacking the Grand Canyon! Had so much fun! I made a mistake on the preparation and because I trusted my wife to grab instant coffee into the backpack and It was Decaff 🙃 Now it makes sense why we both had headackes going back up on the bright Angel trial 🤣 Anyways we had so much fun in our two day hike to the Grand Canyon and your videos helped us a lot before hiking! Peace! Marlon

[jamesfisher]

Just getting in to backpacking. Really like you videos. Especially budget friendly!!!

[elvismikel]

My big 3: JRB Hudson River Quilt, JRB Greylock 3 Underquilt, Hammock Gear Down Pillow, WBBB XLC Hammock, WB Superfly Tarp, ULA Circuit Backpack.

[nuclearoutdoorscampingtips]

Big agnes Mckinnis is a notable mention for a bag and comfy

[ratherbehiking]

Nice set up! Can't go wrong with that. I use:
ULA Circuit Backpack (Awesome Pack)
Warbonnet Blackbird XLC Or Lightheart Gear Solo Awning(dynema) Depending on hammock or tent
Warbonnet Mambajamba tarp with optional removable doors if hammocking
Warbonnet 20 degree Wooki Underquilt (if hammocking)
NeoAir Trekker if tenting
Hammock Gear 20 degree quilt with Outdoor Vitals pillow


Happy Backpacking Everyone!!

[hikertrash]

Hennesey hammock (survivorman) it's a little heavy but I trim on some other things to justify the weight, coleman sleeping back with a fleece inner sleeping bag. And my clothes for a pillow. LiteAf 40L pack.

[trailcat]

I have two hammock gear quilts that are my pride and joy:) haven’t noticed the settling but that doesn’t mean anything. I’ve primarily ditched the quilt in favor of an xlite for three season. Thanks for sharing:)

[TheAdventuresofEli]

Very Impressive!! My big 3 is almost identical yours. 🤣🤣 except the Hammock .. which will be a future thing lol i’m looking right now.
Pack: Zpacks Arc Blast (green)
Tent: Zpacks Duplex. (Green)
Sleeping quilt: EE Revelation
Sleeping pad: ThermaRest Zlite long
Pillow: Sea to Summit Aeros Normal size
Maybe thats 5 things lol ohh well but hey you did the work for me now i don’t gotta weigh my pack 😂

[MrDanAng]

Nice setup.
A few of the cottage makers and very few of mainstream companies have really accurate weights for their stuff, but generally even a cheap, poor scale are way more accurate than the weights the companies put on their websites.

My favorite is the EE quilt, I have a 50F Revelation, and with down socks, long johns and a down jacket I slept comfortably with it in sub-freezing temperature.
Really good stuff!

[hailalexander]

Backpack: Osprey Aether 70 AG
Sleep System: Thermarest Xtherm + Sierra Designs Cloud 800
Shelter: Kelty Salida II

[BackcountryForward]

Great video Dan, love your screen presence! I love my trekology pillow too! Been thinking of switching to hammock for a while... but just not sure yet!
Subbed and looking forward to more videos!
Keep Moving Forward!

[BackpackingWithJason]

My friend has the Blast and he loves it to. I have that tarp absolutely love it. I’d like to see your Hammock. Looks comfortable. Great job on the video Dan.

[finerbiner]

I've got the accomplice and it is awesome. 36oz for two people with a 20 degree bag and light enough to use alone.

[felipecastellon]

I still have the old Osprey Exos 48. Very comfortable and has all the compartments that I want. It weighs 2lbs 8oz. I want the HMG Southwest but not going to break the bank. REI quarter dome 2 at approx 4 lbs with poles and stakes. I was going to get the BA Fly Creek 2 but although the QD2 is about a lb heavier it is more rugged, costs the same. REI Radiant 20 sleeping bag. A little heavy but I like it also have the Costco Black Diamond quilt. I have the Thermarest accordion type sleeping pad but not comfortable. I use it in conjunction with the REI Flash when car camping, backpacking only the Flash. Sea to Summit pillow. I wrap my buff and put it inside the sleeping bag unless too cold then I put my head with everything I can find to cover me up. I was going to use this set up for the PCT in 2019 but things got in the way.

[Sean-ecvp]

I use a Dutch chameleon wide with a warbonnet mountainfly tarp 20d sil-poly, enlightened eq 20 tq revelation, and a hammock gear 30 Econ incubator reg length, my pack is a ULA Circuit.