Popular Backpacking Gear I Would NEVER Buy

I Would NEVER BUY This Popular Backpacking Gear...

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[flevine]

Nemo Tensor user here. Different pads for different bodies. I’m a side sleeper and love mine. You do have to make sure you’re not over inflating it or it’s uncomfortable

[michaelcannon]

That's kinda funny, I have never understood why someone would never use a footprint to protect their expensive gear. Every time I get home from a bikepacking trip my footprint is covered with sap, dirt, sand, etc. I also like having that extra protection for my sleeping pad, it's easy to miss something pointy when setting up your tent, especially when you are tired. Cheers

[PMarsh]

I've had Exped, Neo Xlite and Tensor All Season and the only uninterrupted, sleep through until morning was on the Tensor. By far the most comfortable and the warmth and packability is outstanding. Everything is subjective. After years of sleeping on Neo Air pads, I'm sure that is simply what you're used to now and will unlikely find anything different that you prefer, this is the case with many things in life - we're creatures of habit. You're a legend.

[rong]

Just got back from a 4 day 3 night in the eastern Sierra with my crocks, Jetboil, Nemo pad, hydration bladder, and footprint.
Had a great time.

[bjf]

I really like my JetBoil Stash. Yeah, it's a bit more expensive than the cheapest stove + pot, but I like how small it packs down especially for short trips, and the super high efficiency is a nice bonus for longer trips.

[erindewhirst]

I love how gear items are subjective and change with style of hiking and personal preferences. Everybody needs to find their jam and not try to copy anybody. I love how you emphasize this truth.

[lilibellenada]

the hydration bladder thing comes down to one thing for me: If I go on a multi-day hike, I‘ll use bottles. As you showed in the video, it is quite annoying to refill it, especially if you don’t carry water for the whole day. However, I often don’t drink enough when I‘m using bottles, as I forget about it. When I‘m on a day hike, I‘ll probably always bring my bladder - it‘s just sooo convenient to drink, I‘ll take small sips often instead of half a bottle at a time (and then having it slush around in my stomach). As I‘m hiking in the Alps and mostly on ridges and peaks, I want to bring enough water for the whole day anyway, so no refilling needed. And I just make sure I clean and dry it well after every use and use baking powder every once in a while to deep clean.

[tangara]

I'm a hammocker, and over the years I've gotten lots of footprints in the mega sale bin and use them as tarps. The biggest ones have often been the cheapest, and tons cheaper than a regular tarp. Thanks to manufacturers that hype them.

[kerrir]

Agree with you on everything except the nemo tensor pad. I started with a thermarest pad and felt like I was sleeping on a bag of chips. I’m a side sleeper and I sleep very well on the tensor. Sleep is personal and subjective.

[paddle_hike]

I agree with a lot of it... But I sleep so well on the Nemo Tensor (I think it's all about how you sleep and it will be different for so many people) Like a pillow or even shoes.

[hoser]

Crocs are possibly the best footwear in so many applications. Reasonaly light. Cool. Warm. Float. Slip on or buckle down. Dry while wearing. Wipe dry if not. For canoeing, kayaking, rafting and summer treks up north I wear nothing else!! Yes I do wish they looked better, packed smaller, and were lighter but I stand by them as one of the greatest footwear items ever!! And we use them all the time for water crossings. The grip is outstanding. From Arkansas to Iceland to Canada they kick but in water. 😮😁. And I may never take a water filter again. Tablets are lighter, purify, and are easier. Not sure just yet but leaning that way…

[jefftp]

I wouldn't take a water bladder for a backpacking trip, but water bladders are super useful for day hiking in hot temps or high altitudes because the easy access to water helps you stay hydrated without having to keep reaching back for a water bottle. My little hot weather day hike trick is to load my 3L bladder with ice water and load up my Osprey Stratos 24 daypack with the bladder between the back mesh and the pack. Nothing makes a hot hike go better than a cold ice/water bladder next to your back that lasts through a 12 mile hike in 95 F/35 C 80% humidity weather. This might be a problem particular to hiking in the Sam Houston National Forest in June through September.

[TheNypenfan]

Weird about the tensor….by far the most comfortable pad I’ve owned. Guess everyone’s different.

[SteinarBergheim-tyvh]

Dear Darwin. When you go alone and drop into a shop every other day, you better use a small titanium pot, a mini gas burner and one 100 g gas canister. But if you go on a long hike or paddling tour, and you have to bring fuel for some weeks, you better use a jetboil. I`m from Norway and travel around in Scandinavian mountains, and has also been on long trips in Canada. A friend of mine followed your advices. He walked alone and burned the same amuont of gas as me and my wife together. We baked pan bread, cakes and fried fish besides heating water for 2-3 meals a day. My friend mostly heated water and seldom used his frying pan. Why did he spend twice as much gas as we do? Because the jetboil system is much more efficient with its heat exchanger and insolated pot! So my friend at last bought a Jetboil - the lightest of them - the jetboil stash. About 200 grams weight - no pot insolation - but the same efficiency as minimo. How many days do we need to be out on the trail to be lighter than your system? Three, four days, maybe a week if you eat mostly cold food? We are also trying the stash when backpacking, and so far it works well for two people too. Final I will give you all a great tips for how to make gas canisters independent of cold, and I mean freezing cold winter like 25 deg celsius below: Just keep a cup of warm or lukewarm water on a thermos and fill it in a bowl or similar. Place the gas canister into the water bowl, and the stove will run as it was summer time! Its 100% safe! The small bowl included in the minimo kit fits perfect for 100 gram canisters. Jetboil is our choice all year around, exept when we have to melt snow for all our water supplies. Then we bring a Primus.

[steveh]

Do, a series on how to convince your wife you want to do a thru hike

[semo]

I use the lighter version of tyvek as footprint as I hate dealing with dirty wet tent floor otherwise. It weights just couple of ounces

[RaaRaaSeattle]

Great video and helpful to hear your take.

My Hydration bladder opinion - I’ve totally solved the “refilling “ problem by adding a valve to the hose I can switch off to refill through the hose. It attaches to my filter and I just refill the bladder directly. I never have to take it out of my pack or open it up. Cleaning is easy. I just rinse it out at the end of the trip and put wadded up paper towel inside to keep it open to dry. Reasons I like the bladder: a) puts weight at center of your back where it should be b) super convenient on trail c) I can store up to 3 liters w/o having to stop and refill.

Downsides: it’s not convenient for camp. I carry an extra collapsible silicone bottle I use to drink from around camp.

[dahuman]

footprint is good when it's raining, you setup your rain fly before your tent so you can avoid most of the rainwater going into the actual tent, depends on where you go pretty much.

[herbertcornell]

As a part time mountain guide I use a water bladder as I am constantly busy assisting my guests on climbs/hikes. I also require a lot of hydration (sometimes >4 liters) so I am sipping on fluid all day. I find its just convenient to have the water right there which cuts down on how many times I need to access my pack. Also, when melting snow or providing water for a large group, a stove like the msr reactor is worth the weight.

[johnpowell]

Groundsheets can be very light and keep most of the crud of your tent. Can double up for outdoor sitting (yes I also have a sitpad but...) and occasionally as a kilt.