วีดีโอ

G'day mate I found them at BCF in Perth and have worn it from Walpole to Albany on the Bibbulmun track. Without at doubt the best headwear I've had, its light and doesn't blow off in gale force winds. Thanks

Did you get your cap in Perth? The light reflective colour appeals.

great video, I agree I use a frameless pack and almost always prefer using it with a hipbelt because my shoulders start to hurt if I don’t. Which backpack is more comfortable for you? The MLD burn or cutaway?

That's Bushcraft gear, not Day Hiking Gear. My 50 plus years of day hiking did not include a full tang knife, multi tool or saw. Since I've transitioned to Bushcraft/Mountaineering these past five or so years I now carry a Mora Knife mounted horizontally on my belt and a DIY two saw blades ensconced in a heat reshaped & resized piece of plastic vacuum hose with bolt & wing nut locking with Wilson tennis wrap and a pair of glued webbing straps for horizontal mounting on my belt. One saw blade is used externally. I did that to reduce the eight ounce of handle weight. I have my Dad's micro milt-tool with flashlight. My primary survival device is a 2 inch x 3 inch DIY device with a retractable whistle, a container with water purification tablets with compass mounted on the lid. A removable 650 lumen flashlight, another container with tinder, a ferrocerium rod epoxied on a side of the substrate and a diamond knife/hook sharpener epoxied on another side of the substrate. The substrate is a survival mirror. I have a freznel lens, Victorinox device and a Boker folding knife secured with rubber bands on the face of the mirror. I have a removable lanyard for wearing the device around my neck or secured to a hand. I also have about 70 feet of 200 test strength Kevlar cordage on the side with the whistle, etc. The cordage is for supporting my DIY Dyneema 4.05 ounce floor less tent from above - tent sits in the palm of my hand, now a staple of my survival gear. I reserve my DIY alcohol aluminum lid stove along with my DIY perforated titanium three piece wood stove for overnight stays. My DIY heat reflective, breathable, wind & water resistant/proofed sleeping bag for 50 degree F temps and my DIY heat reflective, breathable, wind & water resistant/proofed Anorak and Over-Pants are also a staple of my survival gear for sleeping, cold and wet weather, combined weight of 6.5 ounces, providing excellent freedom of motion & warmth.

KFC: Knife Fire Cover

Very interesting gear choices, I have a very similar outlook as well. As someone who also has low back pain from time to time, I also prefer a hipbelt, carry weight in front, and have used a light internal aluminum frame as well (Hyperlite and custom Superior Wilderness Designs DCF packs). I am curious if you are still using the MLD Burn in DCF and whether you have found it to be comfortable for someone with low back pain as it lacks a frame?

Thanks Simon. I always enjoy your videos and appreciate your attention to detail. Also, as an Aussie it's great to watch homemade content! Cheers.

Really like your video and all your opinion about these two setups. Thank you for doing this video!

Really enjoyed your video Simon. Thanks! As a fellow Aussie I appreciate the homemade ultralight hiking content. Please keep it coming! (The link to your detailed PackWizard page is brilliant too. Thanks 😊)

I wear them to work out.

1) Roll packed items (vs folding or stuffing) and set them side-by-side to provide rigidity (and easy access without removing so many items to get at things). 2) Dense items as close to body and hips as possible. Food is normally densest. 3) Every inch of separation between pack and body adds 5% to shoulder-straps, due to torque. The pack itself doesn't get heavier, but the 'pull' on shoulders gets worse. (think, holding pack at arm's-length vs holding it close). Therefore, it is a losing battle to use lightweight pads as shown. Better to roll pad and put inside, as far from back as possible. That way, your GG 1/8" pad becomes much more vertically rigid, while moving dense items closer to body. (more...) 4) 'Boxy" packs don't allow as much rigidity as packs sewn the ∫-shape of one's back (e.g. LiteAF's "Curve" packs). The sewn shape of a pack is important to shift weight to hips because it moves weight as close to body as possible, while maintaining rigidity. 'Balloon'-shaped packs are the worst. ∫-shape are the best and 'Rectangular' Box-shapes (e.g. MLD's "Burn") are mediocre. Packing thusly can improve comfortable load-carrying capacity to at least 35lbs. Considering the downsides of frames (rubbing, uncomfortable, weight, maintenance, etc.), frameless becomes the clear winner below 30lbs.

Thanks for the video, cool analysis of what "felt" like was happening with my frameless pack. I also think the more compacted the stuff inside the pack is, will add some rigidity to the pack overall.

I made a diy Caldera like cone with a light cut down can for a burner. The burner is only about 2.5 cm tall so the space between the top of the burner and the pot is an inch. Used a 1 liter pot from my Trangia 27. It rolls up and fits like the Sidewinder. I have a cheap lid from another brand. Going to make one to fit a 900 ml wide TI pot soon.

Clever experiment. Thanks for sharing.

That is a good test.

So why not just be a little less of a weight weenie and just get a fairly light, fairly small backpack with some form of support or internal frame, and with hip belts and chest straps?

I think this analogy was a pretty good representation. Nice work

Another variable to consider is shoulder strap tension. If you loosen the straps, even with a full pack with no frame-sheet with secured hip-belt, the pack weight will be transferred to the hips somewhat. The weight be pushing down into your hips, but instead, sagging from your hips.

🗣🗣🗣 🥱🥱🥱😴😴😴

Enjoyed your video and thoughts. 👍

I want to see you do an overnight with this stuff to prove your theory.

Nice set up. I have the cutaway, and it’s a shame you’re using a waist pack with it. I have a waist pack collection and love the handiness of putting lots of things in it. But with the cutaway, I just put all those things in the bottom pouch and it’s easy to reach back (even with my short arms) to get stuff. Skullcap, phone, snacks (snack bag in a sturdy ziplock), gloves, AirPods, etc. Not having a waist pack is incredibly freeing, improves visibility, balance and therefore safety. Also just more fun. Yes, adding some weight to the front is a good idea, but not at the sacrifice of visibility and mobility. If you pick up the pace, the waist pack bounces around. If you scramble/climb, your knees go up and the thigh can bump into it. With a lightweight set up, adding more weight to your front in a waist pack isn’t doing that much - the water bottles on your chest are 90% of the weight you’ve transferred. I went to a no soaking when I got my Cutaway. Just made it my mission to find delicious and nutritious food that I like which is nutrient dense and hiker friendly. You could save about a pound in weight and go from over 11 lb base weight to under 10 lbs. another change I made after getting the cutaway, going to no-soaking, and ditching a waist pack, was getting good hiking pants and using those pockets (on sturdy hiking pants) for adding more of the small things that are comfortable to wear and won’t impede motion. Liner gloves, small packets of emergency medicine, small flashlight, etc. Just something to consider if you want to drop about 1 lb of weight and have a more comfortable ride. The hard part is researching food, but everybody likes a ton of no-soak food , they just don’t know it yet. Only hardcore coffee addicts need the stove. I like tea, but realized I can get matcha tea and brew it cold. Problem solved. Also- I’d move the poncho gorundsheet to the back pocket and put food/other stuff in the bottom pouch. That pouch is for what you need while hiking- snacks, phone, gloves, buff, hat, etc. I wouldn’t use that valuable real estate for a groundsheet tarp, even if I knew it would rain. Lastly, I’m skeptical that your improvised hip belt is accomplishing anything. There’s nothing to transfer load from the back/pack to the hip from that. You need a frame or some kind of rod, like zpacks uses. More importantly, just get a pack with a hip belt that’s designed to transfer the weight. But if you’re ultralight, you don’t need that. The cutaway, the way I wear it, I feel the pressure spread out around my chest from the running style . It’s amazing and comfortable. My back feels pressure mostly around the bottom. Perhaps toggle with the adjustments, but a lightweight load shouldn’t be at all uncomfortable or need a hip belt for you. You say you have some issue… if so, get a pack which actually is physically capable of transferring load to the hips. Your set up with the hip belt addition just seems redundant.

I never understood why people think that if you get lost while hiking that you be find your way out or be rescued in no more than a day or two . . How do you know that you'll be rescued in only a day or two . . . There's no guarantee that you'll be rescued in a day or two . . . I carry gear that will last at least a whole week or two. . . Because I don't have any guarantees that I would be rescued in a day or two . . . If your lost the longer you can survive the better chance you have of being rescued. . . . Isn't your life worth a little more effort to carry a little more gear that could help you last a little longer if you did get lost . . . remember there is no guarantee that you will be found in a day or two . . . A little more gear might be a little more inconvenient to carry . . But just imagine how inconvenience it would be not having the gear if you got lost for more than a day or two . . . That's just my thoughts . . . Better safe than sorry .

I think your two bonus Cs are more important than some of Dave’s 10 Cs.

Not only a great list of gear, but also great explanations of why you carry what you do. Thanks!

How did the light AF hip belt end up working out?

if you are going to carry a tarp then why not a U.S. size poncho and poncho liner ?

how about propa pronunciation vowels ! propa stove, propa bushie knife !

the American bowie knife does the knife work and the axe work !

Gday Simon! Thank you so much for your video. Mate what brand is that bivvy bag with the insect netting? Thanku😁

Hey Simon, can you give me some more details on your Bivy bag, can't seem to find sabori gear bivvy ? Much appreciated

A really comprehensive review. Thanks so much for this. Happy trails mate.

Good advice I once heard is to bring ground insulation for your lost/injured/stranded day pack survival kit. Personally I always take an extra full sleep pad for this in addition yo a sit pad. If sick or hurt you may not want to, or be able to, perch on a tiny pad. Also the survival ridk may not be your own but rather another person that you are assisting.. I consider the extra 17 oz. for the pad to be worth it. I still carry a couple of drum liners too. Two is one!

Yes! Thing is we all have individual ideas about what should work for us as individuals.

Dave didn't invent this process. Frontiermen has been carrying this kit for a hundred years

This is such a good video. I hiked my first thru hike in April this year in England. It was the South Downs Way - a 100 mile hike. After researching it all, I ended up using budget running leggings with quick-dry shorts (that had zipped pockets) on top. It worked very well for me - for all of the reasons you describe. Mobility was especially key. You feel very free, no snagging and no noise of material flapping or rubbing. I was wearing my leggings down to 0 degrees C so first thing in the morning after breaking camp they were briefly nippy! However it encouraged me to start off briskly and I soon built up warmth. I also noticed they dried pretty quickly in light showers. Sometimes I didn’t bother with stopping and putting on the waterproof trousers. Great video. ATB- Ben 🇬🇧

I always enjoy a well planned kit!

Mors Kochanski has a survival scarf, which was a handmade rip-stop nylon bag, that could be used for filling with leaf litter for insulation and worn around the neck during the day.I think just a sleeping bag liner would work just as well, and also against insects.

Yes it does have a 90deg spine.and towards the tip, it will strike a ferro quite impressively. I own one and have tried it. Cheers!!

Great video thanks for sharing

lol who cares what people think! Im going on a 4 day hike and it sounds like a no brainer. No chaffing!

I use Ribz! I love them!

19:16 if "camping man" was a superhero

Your sleep kit represents Aussie temperature - not so realistic in colder climates in winter. Just so long as newcomers realise this. The sleep system you suggest obviously is for an absolute emergency and it's certainly better than nothing. But I would replace the bivi with an SOL bivi which is breathable. Mylo stuff won't necessarily keep one warm, it only reflects hear off a heat source, people get that mistaken. So one really needs a fire to rely on such a minimum kit in the winter. If fire is not possible - if being stealth, or in a blizzard, then there is more of a risk of hypothermia. It's a difficult one, as one's intent is not to camp out, just go for a hike. And the hike needs to enjoyable, hence only bring lightweight, non bulky gear. I would consider adding a compatible goose feather sleeping quilt, or at least a goose feather vest for core body temperature, along with a pack of hand warmers. But good video all the same. Clear and succinct.

“Really quick unboxing ..” 🤣🤣🤣🤣 After the hour and a half Gear review we should know better

Hey mate, for my own sizing questions, how tall are you? You've got the 19" straps and 20" torso length there right?

Did you go for non cuben bivy and tarp from borah to reduce the volume? Or was cost a factor? I find my zpacks 7 x 9 tarp quite loud in the rain too, silpoly is much more subdued. Which Argon top material did you choose for the bivy? I use an MLD bug bivy at the moment, squashes to nothing weigh 180g and the tarp is 138g for 318 total. I think I want more splash/warmth protection though.

Nice to see someone else combining ultralight with some good bushcraft 5Cs style approach for safety. Durston Kakwas have an internal frame too, my 55L pack is 880grams.

Thanks Simon. I appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts and experiences. Sounds like a good idea to me.

Onya mate, currently getting ready to tick off the northern section and might treat myself to some new gear. Definitely going to grab some compression pants, I’m sick of being bitten by ticks and mozzie 😕