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Can we agree that we love coffee? I admit I'm Bougie when it comes to coffee, Though I am training for my 1st hike, I can't imagine a day without a cup of java that is either French pressed or poured over. And the knees are coming along fine!! LOL

Fun Fact: bought my first little victorinox with scissors to open drink packets initially. i forget which ones were a particular bugger to open, but it was one brand that I had difficulty with.

haven't watched the video yet to see your opinion but the best instant coffee that I have found has been medaglia d' oro instant espresso. i fully blame Shugemery youtuber for leading me to this coffee drink. Shug is a hammock guy who is a very talented juggler and clown.

What is your target number of calories per day?

Nice run down. I hiked the JMT last summer and even though I did thorough load out hikes, I found that on trail I carried too many towels. A snot rag, a bandana, a teeny cook pot rag and a small towel for drying off in streams, which I rarely used. Really? Every thing else was fairly dialed in, including a hybrid bidet and tp system. :) Bear can a pain, but a must. Not much weather or I know I’d be complaining about my rain gear choices. Subscribed, keep it up.

Tensor all season? Is that heated with mylar sheets inside? I ask because I have the tensor extreme, and plan to use it all year round. The reason I can do this, is you flip it upside down for zero R rating, versus 8.5 normal R rating They replaced my old tensor under lifetime warranty, and I paid extra to upgrade to the extreme. Really really really really enjoy my nemo

You drink more with the camelback? I am iffy on them. i like being able to have cold water against my back, but I don't fill it up as often as I should, and so then i conserve water and drink less than I should. It's a major reason that I went to smartwater bottles.

The heavy duty VectoX by Cnoc is rated to handle boiling water (since it is TPU). I've been wanting one for winter camping, but already have the Vecto ..... but yesterday found a big hole in my vecto (almost a shepherd hook size) ooops Have you seen the coupler for the sawyer? It allows gravity feed from the cnoc through the sawyer

Stuff sacks are super nice, but I have to minimize on them also. i've found the one that I use the most is my bugnet for my head. I keep most things for my night next to me in my tent. socks, underwear, headlamp, and any random night thing goes in here. I might not take the headnet when I go as light as possible, but it's a nice luxury item. Seeing through it makes it a very nice sack. Haven't had to use the head net yet, but it's reassuring.

Ultralight isn't a set weight limit of any amount. Someone made that up Ultralight is a mindset of minimalism, and trying to get a low base weight. Too many people game the system with worn weight and other ways to cheat. it's just elitists trying to prove they are lighter than others. Ultralight is having lightweight gear. There's no lightweight backpacking There's no midweight backpacking. So why is there ultralight and super ultralight? It's dumb. My suggestion is not to fall into that trap thinking a specific weight is ultralight

Talking about your ankles in hiking boots versus trail runners is an odd topic. There is a very famous article which talks about this, and discusses how you are less likely to roll your ankle in trail runners. The article suggested that it is proven that boots are worse for people with ankle problems. It seems backwards logic, but your experience is exactly what this article discussed.

Two years for your Kakwa. I enjoy durston gear, as I have an Xmid 2 solid. My new pack is on order, and they are made to custom. The choice was Bonfus Altus, a 38 liter pack weighing under 13 ounces for 220 dollars.

I was drawn to the viddy to hear another enthusiast’s take on picking and choosing what goes and what stays. We all do this if we overnight outdoors regularly. Thanks for sharing. These days I’m moto camping and weight is not a concern, but utility and space are important. As a former Boy Scout I was a bit nervous about running the stove in the grass at 6:20 - I noticed in other shots from this viddy you were camping in winter. Prolly not going to light up the hillside in a shot. I was thinking if I should even point it out. But then I’m thinking about your reach and influence for lay people who might have just got gear for Xmas and plan to go outdoors for the first time this spring. They may not have the proper judgement to know in what conditions they should be taking precautions using “open flame”… Not wanting to throw cold water-not sure where I’d find it and the can is pressurized-but how can you not question fire safety?

Good info, thanks for that. The one thing almost nobody talks about regarding shelter and sleep system is a hammock. I went with a hammock because as a older hiker I don't like crawling in and out of a tent anymore. I know there is a learning curve, but in my opinion the comfort of sleeping in a hammock is well worth it.

Thanks for this one, interesting vid. Happy New Year!

Great video ! I just got back into hiking after a 10-year gap. I sure had to upgrade a ton of stuff because it was just to outdated or heavy. My Dana Designs 70 pack ( 5.6 pounds ) was great back in 1999, lol. Yikes...

As a 44-year-old, some days I’m 20 some days I’m 60.

I am so intrigued by the bidet and see so many backpack TH-camrs making the switch. But I always wonder, what do you with a wet backside after using the bidet? Let it drip dry, pat some grass..?

Wear the boots for ankle support

😀

Nice video. Regarding your pot lid I have seen some gram counters use a piece of heavy duty aluminum vs carrying the lid.

Great video. Excellent points especially on nutrition- folks need to factor for the proper calorie intact factoring for calorie burn. Agree nut butters, nuts, protein in general are critical vs high carbs. Electrolytes are a very good point as well to minimize cramps.

Hello from Ireland.

Finding the right shoes is not easy. You are spot on with REI. Love their return policy. So, I have worn Merrill Moab’s forever as my street shoes. I think they have about 12mm heal to toe drop. Frozen on Outdoor Adventures talked me into Lonepeaks, 4.5s. Comfortable for sure. But within two weeks I developed plantar fasciitis. I never even made it to the trails. It took me a year and two rounds of PT to get over it. I am currently wearing Oboz Sawthooths. I cannot find the drop measurement of these. I am not entirely happy with them. I will look into those Topo Traverse shoes. REI recommended them to me. I am curious why folks think trail runners beat out typical hiking shoes on rocky terrain.

To Mark from Mark. Great intro video. I wish I had your training scenery. My wife and I are headed to Arizona to try some winter day hikes. No overnighters, because we are still wondering what we are capable of doing with our advanced years and medical challenges. This adventure will help sort out our limitations. Thank you for making this video.

excellent. needed to be said.

More an more i see ultra light gear as a money grab. I remember when the idea first started i didn't understand buying equipment that didn't last. It seems like some stuff has gotten better as far as durability. Then the next problem is the price. As a disabled veteran on a limited budget i can't justify trying something that cost 2months spending money or more. Even though I wear knee braces flexibility and strength are more important then a few pounds. I try to buy stuff that is going to last and do more then one thing. I really like membrane solutions. I love the rebuildable part an the carbon filter. I still love carrying 2 liter bladder. Might be because i was a hiker back when we carried all our water or boiled so we always had a gallon. What does your winter load out weight? Im very curious on ultra light in winter when you need clothes but might have good days. I would never leave my house without a knife.

I have found the best exercise for building leg strength to go up mountains, it is stair steps. I use the bottom 2 steps, step up to second step with leg, then step back, do left leg double steps 100 times, then right leg double steps 100 times, then 100 left, then 100 right, over& over again. Takes me about 1.5 hours to do 1000 double steps. This is a serious workout that builds leg strength from foot to hip

Why do you need such a yuuuuuge truck? Great vid, thanks for this one. 2025 is to be a hiking year for me. Happy New Year!

Just ❤you and the channel. Greetings from Norway

1st one, knees are doing great , up to 4 miles a day, mix of country road and mall walking depending on weather, my trekking poles arrive tomorrow, hope you get better soon Godspeed.

I'm from the midwest, 50 years old, and just starting to get into hiking. I grew up in a rural area, so I basically lived outside as a kid. Life got busy as a grown up, and aside from walking the dogs, I forgot how much I love being outside, in the trees and the dirt. After some big changes in the past few years, I'm very ready to get back outside. I've been going on day hikes on local trails with my dog and it hasn't taken long for me to want to take longer, over night trips. Finding channels like yours has been a huge help. I'd love to travel out west for a hike someday. Is there a first hike out there for a midwesterner you can recommend? Thank you for sharing your knowledge!

What height are you? I'm 5' 9 and wondering if Kakwa 40 backpack would fit me.

I am an avid kayak camper that is just getting into the hiking scene. I have the gear (which is totally different from kayak camp gear) but not the "skill". This video helped. Thank you.

I can't seem to get the Flextail zero deflate to work with my Nemo Tensor All Season 5.4 without pulling the plug completely out. How about you?

That was a useful video. I’m looking to move up from scout leader to something closer to a real backpacker. So any further hints you have about taking g that first multiday hike alone would be great for me.

Thanks friend! I have watched dozens of hiking videos before today. This is the best info I’ve heard.

For myself, the most important thing is to know how to fit your rucksack so your legs do the work and not too tight on your shoulders.

61!! 😮 I'm 45 and sometimes I feel 75 😅 Your food advice is on point btw 💪🏽 Just discovered your channel. May our Father, upstairs, shine his light upon you, brother!

I had never done any hiking and was about to embark on an AT thru hike so I found some reasonably priced trail runners. They fit fine and worked fine on the dry flat central Texas trails. And since I wear size 15 I stocked up knowing I would have to have them sent to me on trail. Big mistake. My feet are still recovering. When I got home I found Altra lone peak 3.5s size16 on sale and bought 4 pair. So much better I have done about 2400 miles for miles on the PCT with them. Get about 600 miles to a pair but that's pushing it.

I carried an earlier version of this bag on my 2018 AT thru hike. Feb 23 start on very cold year. Kept me reasonably comfortable with temp down to single digits . My bag had side zipper 750 gram fill, long version.

Hi, just found your channel. You offer a lot of good advice that I discovered the hard way. I might add to work on balance. Hiking the PCT two years ago at the age of 71 I had to cross many water crossings on fallen trees or slippery logs. I discovered my balance wasn't what I thought it was.

I love Seinfeld, but I would have ditched the puffy shirt.

I have a small piece if plastic, a little bigger than a macaroni noodle and straight. Cover one end with your thumb and blow on the other and it makes a good loud whistle. Its like 2 grams.

Some smart choices here. I’ve changed out similar things: Nitecore NU25, MSR pocket rocket, Zero ZTrail sandals, Katadyne BFree, Smart Water bottles (took the label off), Topo Athletic Terraventure-not ultralight but much better than what I had before. Also love my Kakwa. Also, your ankles might be stronger because they don’t have the support of the boot and your body makes what it needs.

I also swaped those items out, and I also dont use camp shoes😂. I use to bring an 800 g inflatable sleeping pad, a 450 g foam mat and a 1500 g synthetic sleeping bag = 2750 g for sleepsystem, now i bring a 250 g inflationen sleeping pad, a 97 g thinlite foam mat and a 575 g sleeping bag with downquality 900 cuin. In total 922 g for sleep system. I skiped 1.828 g on my sleeping system by getting lighter options that still did the job. And most of the items i got instead even did the job better than my old ones. And on trail the redused weigt made it easyer to walk the distances, have more control over my body movement (that will say less risk of injury) and have the feeling of more freedom. When I watch TH-cam videos thay talk alot about chairs. I have 2 different types of those. Very light weigt. Very popular ones. At home, never with me on the trail. I just dont use it chairs out there.

loved the vid, keep em coming agree on the mayfly's , I'm using the new Zpacks UL camp shoes

I have questions. If I am in my late 40's and I am trying to start this hobby of camping, backpacking, and hiking where do I begin? The thing that really puts me off is the cost. Why is everything $200+? I mean I get if you want ultra-light you are going to pay for it but regular backpack should not be $200+, sleeping pad should not be $160+, and sleeping bag should not be $400+. Is it just me or are those prices outrageous? I don't mind spending money if the gear is going to last years and years. I guess what I need to know is this not the hobby for me because I feel the price is too much. If it can be done for a reasonable price, can you help guide me? It seems every channel talks about spending $1000's of dollars on their gear and I just can't do that. Lastly, is a tent necessary? It seems like a huge cost in dollars and weight. Can I get away with a tarp?

I am 66.5 yrs young woman. I did not really discover backpacking until I was around 58. Trekking poles. Ultralight gear as much as possible. Huge for me was a visit to see a sports medicine professional and also go see a podiatrist. I did not do these things until I had several injuries and ended up in surgery. The sports medicine people helped me to see what I needed to do and improve my hiking performance. Then, huge !! The podiatrist pointed out that due to my foot structure I should never have been in the no rise shoes. Huge for me. Don’t pick your shoes based on what other hikers on forums tell you are best. Shoes are literally different for each person. I ended up with Hoka one one in addition to an insert with even more heel rise. And this totally changed my ability to hike. I am also about to hire a trainer. Just short term because I will be spending most be of the summer in Yellowstone national park. May thru end of September. And will be leaving for a 600 mile hike second week of September in Spain. I am a slow walker. So it will probably take me two months instead of everyone else’s one month. Then , March of 2026, hoping to hike from campos ca up to Kennedy meadows. Will decide at that time if I want to go further. I will be 67.5 years by that time. So need to take it a section at a time.

Informative and beneficial video!