7 Backpacking Myths That Are 100% Wrong

In this video, we're busting 7 backpacking and hiking myths, that are 100% wrong.

▼ SOURCES AND ATTRIBUTIONS
8. Microplastics in reusable water bottles study:

▼ THRU-HIKING POSTERS (MADE BY ME & MY GF)

▼ GEAR I USE (affiliate links)
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▼ TABLE OF CONTENTS
00:00 - Myth 1
01:16 - Myth 2
02:02 - Myth 3
03:12 - Myth 4
04:59 - Myth 5
06:54 - Myth 6
08:13 - Myth 7

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▼ AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE
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[OscarHikes]

Hey everyone! Let's set this straight. If someone links a photo on Imgur or a similar photo-sharing website showing a cut-open sleeping mat with mold inside, then I'll pin a comment saying that it isn't a myth after all. When making this video, I found 5 comments online from people who said they had mold inside the mat, but not one video/photo. I spent like 3 hours searching the web for this. 😂 For all I know, these could be bots from gear companies.

[mtadams]

The Gear Skeptic is a great channel for factual information when it comes to backpacking. He busted that myth about mold in great detail. He also goes into great detail about boots vs trail runners. I find people on YouTube just keep repeating similar stories. Thanks for owning it and setting the record straight. Western Mountaineering says you can compress your down bag and it causes no issue. So yes it’s another myth.

[krivak]

Aluminium water bottles are actually lined with thin plastic layer, to prevent the bottle from forming/releasing poisonous aluminium salts. The only solution could be a heavy stainless steel bottle, without plastic lid/cap. IMO, this is not a good solution for hiking.

[peterclyne]

And now onto whether one should sleep clothed or naked in a sleeping bag. In Australia, we tend to use a silk liner inside the sleeping bag. This keeps the bag clean (the liner is washed after each trip), it adds around 4 degrees C to the warmth of the bag and, if the bag is too warm, the liner can be used by itself or within a partially unzipped bag (without the draft).

[tenkararod]

Myth 1 - it’s better to stuff your tent or sleeping bag into the stuff sack because if you repeatedly fold it you’ll weaken the fabric, which will cause it to fail. This might be an issue with oilcloth and waxed canvas, but I’ve never heard of a gear failure along fold lines. I fold my clothes and they last years with repeated folds.
Myth 2 - it’s better not to use stuff sacks, especially with your sleeping bag, because it’s will “fill in the gaps” between the other gear and take up less space. I understand the concept, but using a compression sack compresses the sleeping bag smaller than having it loose in your backpack.

[Salamaleikum]

Thumbs up for having the balls to admit a mistake

[leslieroesler]

If screwing and unscrewing the cap is the primary cause that study found to release the microplastics, that's another reason to pick up a sport cap and use that (in addition to the obviously greater convenience).

[willek]

I've seen two cases of people claiming their pad became bad after using their breath. One guy in Sweden, a youtuber, and one guy in the great lakes (north america). Both of these places are notoriously moist environments. Conversely, I've seen loads of people from around California/rookie mountains experiment with this, but those areas are also dry environment, so that doesn't surprise me. I've not decided one way or another. My point is that where you live, may make a significant difference on the total outcome.

[camping_guru_uk]

I've just recently found my down sleeping bag from when I was a teenager 40 years ago. It was packed in its stuff sack. It is as good as ever and lofted back up really well in about an hour. I was amazed.

[walkingoutdoor]

It's ok to wear clothing in a sleeping bag, but you should start with your baselayer and only adding, if cold. If you get in fully stuffed, it's possible you sweat and when your body comes to rest, you start freezing in wet clothing.

[ifell]

Here's a myth to try. Always pack the heavy stuff at the top.
The military uses this technique for long rucks and whilst it is good on the flats it's better to pack the heavy stuff as close as possible to your center of gravity.

[lynxoutdoors]

I've only ever found 1type of boot that truly "locks" my ankles, and they are downhill ski boots. Most modern-day hiking boots are very flexible, and I've never bought into them providing significant extra support by having a thin layer of synthetic or leather with some extra padding above my ankles. Heavy boots, such as mountaineering boots, do offer much more support to be sure. I think personally that many people assume that the very flexible and comfortable "mid" heights such as Soloman Xmids or Merrell Moab Mids help more than they really do. I also greatly prefer trail runners.

[Sleepy]

On Myth 4 Ankles you need to talk about slips rather than rolling. Sprained ankles are fine but if you slip in a shoe you're likely to get a Trimalleolar fracture if you're pivoting weight onto one foot. I was in an anatomically correct (read large foot/toe box) with nonslip grip.


Chef, Marathon runner, bicyclist and avid outdoors hiker and hunter here. It happened to me and I acquired CRPS from it.


Mobility exercises and weightlifting is the best thing for your body and I was slacking in both but at least I kept up my dynamic stretching.

[brent_f]

A common refrain, I hear in grizzly country, is “hey bear!!!.”

[tylerdias]

Every hike I have been on especially on moors or peat bogs I have my trail runners buddies complaining about sprained ankles, me in my army style magnums have 0 issues.

[TobysWildernessAdventures]

Amazing Tips. Thank you for the videos.
Also to warm up fast in a sleeping back, you can also do couple jumping jacks or push ups to get your blood flowing and warm yourself up right before crawling into the sleeping back.

[wiktormarcinkowski-fotogra]

Hey, great video as always. What about compressing synthetic insulation? Like in the case of a cheaper jacket, or a sleeping bag? Is that also ok?

[jerrywinters]

Sawyer water filter advertises that they remove 100% of microplastics.

[peterclyne]

Once you have (properly) sprained your ankle, it will never be the same again. It will be stiffer and, since some of the proprioceptive nerve fibres will have been torn, your position sense from that ankle will have deteriorated. Of course, post-injury stretching will help but damage is damage. Whether or not high-ankle boots will protect the ankle from passing its range of motion, they will give you better sensory feedback as the ankle rolls and pushes against the high boot, so you can feel the ankle pronating earlier, increasing the likelihood that you can save yourself before you damage the joint.

[dylanpausic]

Love the details about the compressible down being most effected by the stalk size. Never heard of that before but makes a lot of sense.