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I’ve been backpacking for over 20 years. I have had X-Mid 1P for a few years now. Upgraded the V2 mesh inner when it first came out. Best tent I’ve ever had. I don’t have the bank account for the dyneema version. Spent many nights in 30+ mph winds and no problem. I had a friend sew in a clip at the bottom of the door zipper just like the one on the solid version. It works awesome as a zipper strain relief and also for extra ventilation: no need for a double zipper- just keep it clipped and open the zipper as much as you want. Dan Durston told me about the Tarptent trekking pole adapters- they work great! I pitch handle up so no rat chewing on my wrist straps and I hang my pack on the wrist strap. I also swapped out the stock guy lines for 3’ of 2mm Lawson cord at the corners with a barrel loop at the end to lock around the stakes- I never lose a stake if they pullout- which my 8” DAC stakes have never done. The barrel loop also allows me to secure around rocks ine sand where no stake will hold. I camp in windy areas a lot so I always bring 4 8” DAC J stakes for the corners and 8 7” Z Packs Sonic stakes for all the other tie out points. Never failed me. I recently bought the solid inner for sandy/windy spots. So far works great. I really wish Durston would put the clip at the bottom of the door zippers on ALL MODELS (Dan, are you listening?) It’s worth the extra 5 grams weight for the added versatility and security!! I even reinforced all the auxiliary tie outs with GearAid tape.

Curious…I’m going to buy a kakwa and really waffling between the 40 and 55. Weight difference is so little. I can pack my gear into either and only $10 difference has me landing on 55. You seem very happy with 40. Advice???

Been watching you for about a year. Part of the draw to watch you is your age. I am turning 50 soon, and hope to continue backpacking well into my years. I played the contact sports in my youth, but most of my own wear and tear came from years of infantry training. I too haven't had to go in for warranty service, but I have to admit I don't start in the morning like I once used to either. Any advice for a pre-senior aged man, looking to maximize backpacking for at least the next 20 years?

This is the only review I've found on this tent. What drew me to this tent is the fact it only requires two stakes/free-standing option. I was initially drawn to TT because of the Rainbow being free-standing using trekking poles but this ain't a bad option either. On the pole inserts, I've had many tents and this part is always finicky no matter what. I don't understand why we have to do sleeved poles though. It sucked for the heavier tents so it was a godsend to not have to worry about them on the lightweight end of the spectrum yet we are going back to them once we get into ultralight territory. Just a step backwards from the more traditional pole clips, which would also make it easier to attach the rain fly afterwards if we need to. Other than that, the specs are there for you to decide. I can't really see any faults in this tent other than the sleeved pole inserts and think this is a great option both from a free-standing 1p or a 2-stake option.

So so pretty… ❤ Michigan

That was stone cold 🫡

A lot less sleepy than Joe, and a lot less Orange than Trump. Ahead of the game for your age, and an example of what is possible for the rest of us!

Clever use of the CNOC bag

Was a 12 hour drive to get there but glad I did this trail last month and added a couple days to explore all the nooks and crannies. A real picturesque coastline, especially the middle parts past Coves. Your shots capture the memories well, thanks! Getting into the 60s and all the abuse on my joints is making it tricky. As kids we'd practically play in traffic and thought we were indestructable. My kids are much more careful with their bodies, much smarter than we were that way. I guess bad influences can be good influences!

You are a positive inspiration. I am so impressed by your command of the English language and your cognition I assure you is on point. Watching you helps me to stay focused on the positive and what really matters. Especially at this time of widespread anti-intellectualism and hatred as people seem to be willing to be led like sheep to the slaughter.

Carrots and bananas always disappear quickly at a trail magic stop. Us aging hikers just learn to listen to that part of ourselves a little better than the youthful hikers. You’ve got a great channel with a lot of great tips. I’d like to see more about those homemade walking sticks you designed but don’t use much anymore- I always think those things could be way more useful than they are with a little bit of creativity

Great video. I attempted the Colorado Trail this summer. I did a lot of work on dehydrating my own food, especially vegetables and good quality meat. I can't believe what I see some thru hiking TH-camrs eating! The video clips at the end were a beautiful bonus. Thank you for sharing.

If you pick the wrong trail, maybe choose to wear the wrong footwear for that trail, hiking can also definitely take a toll on your body. I completed Pennsylvania’s Black Forest Trail a few weeks ago and I’m still feeling repetitive stress injuries on my feet. “Rocksylvania” is beautiful, but no joke on the feet.

Great topic! You're really an inspiration for my wife and I (in our early 40s) to keep active and proof that we can keep enjoying our favorite hobbies of hiking and backpacking as we grow older.

Keep smiling!

You can get a kit to quickly install a pair of plastic snap fasteners to your kangaroo pockets. I've done this with bunch of pants and shirts, super quick and easy. They are also removable with flush cutters.

I initially wanted to argue against Packtoter's system based on weight, but the durability, bottle accessibility, and ease of use could justify the 1-2 ounces it weighs over other systems, IMO. Thanks, Packtoter, for sharing this idea. For the fellow weight weenies, the system in the video is a 2.12 oz 1L CNOC (Packtoter actually has a 2.8 oz. 2L in the vid, but I was giving the system all the ground I could.) + 0.2 oz coupler + 1.355 oz 1L Smartwater bottle, which totals 3.675 oz. Alternatively, a 0.399 oz. 1 gallon freezer bag and funnel (Adotec 0.17 oz, Tyvek from USPS mailer 0.07 oz, or funnel cut from the top of a 16.9 oz water bottle with the threads removed 0.0056 oz.) leaves 3.1 to 3.67 oz for a container, presumably with a wider mouth, to equal the same weight. For reference, a 32 oz. Body Armor is 1.66 oz, a 28 oz. Gatorade bottle is 1.57 oz, a Talenti jar is 1.9 oz., and a 32 oz. Ziploc Twist n' Lock is 2.0 oz.

Cool, I knew I wasn't just me re dyneema and trekking poles.

I love this. I've always used a CNOC for my dirty water bag that I filter from. Now I'm getting another for powdered meals. Thank you

Why not just stop at a gas station and buy a 20 oz Gatorade or Leaf Tea bottle, which also have the wider tops? I hate SmartWater bottles because the plastic is so thin that they easily puncture if dropped on a rocky surface, and they are round without any edges or texture so it’s easy to have a SmartWater bottle slip out of the hand, or even out of the pack pocket they’re stored in should you bend over to tie a shoelace while wearing the pack or something.

Similar to the method our child’s kindergarten teacher showed us for our daughter to put on her coat. Lay the coat down upside down , put your arms into the sleeves then flip it over your head.

Good chat, mate. I have watched that GearSkeptic video-so detailed and so useful. Should be required watching for anyone working in a gear store. To anyone who is going to watch it: Bring a notepad to the video because you’ll need it.

👍

Maybe some kitchen gloves that would fit over the fleece? Should be a lot lighter than your blue ones there. Maybe even nitrile?

Buy a Milbank bag it will prolong your grayl filter.

Carry 4-pair, 1) White sun-gloves, 2) Merino fleece, 3) Water-resistant finger-gloves, 4) eVent shell mitts. All UL (7oz total). Each pair rolled by a Kam-snapped hair-Scrunchie and all 4 fit in the Left hip-belt pocket with room to spare. Gloves are key to thermal management without stopping or removing pack. Typically start day with only Astroman thin sun-hoodie, even down to 20°F, while piling on as many gloves as needed to compensate for the insufficient torso insulation. Gloves and hoodie make it comfortable. Then shed layers of gloves and hood(s) as hiking warms it up. Same with hoods. In addition to the Astroman hood, carry a merino balaclava and a MYoG'd dcf-wpb shell-hood. Carry a hoodie-fleece and no puffy. Rarely use the 6oz fleece hoodie.

I pack a dedicated pair of tent/sleeping gloves (liner weight Smartwool), as I sleep with my hands over my head and my hiking gloves can be wet and drying. I also don’t want to transfer dirt from my hiking gloves onto my down quilt. They’re fine in the tent from warm weather down to around 25 F.

I have a pair of the Showa gloves without insulation. I use them as a waterproof cover over my light gloves. Hard to get them up sized to fit over the fleece or knit ones. Anyone know a US source for unlined Showas? Amazon does not list them

Only bad thing walking the trail with hands in ya pocket is if u trip n plant ur face or ur head hits a rock. I get the small hand warmers n put inside my gloves

Just another reason to filter your water...

What tent are you using these days?

Could carry fishing gear in storage poles.

I love my full size sawyer and a CNOC bag. The gravity feed collar is gold. The others just don't measure up (yet)

I took a group of city folks through the Pictured Rocks. One of the gals refused to drink filtered water from the backcountry and forced her boyfriend to carry 16 oz bottles of spring water for the entire four day trip.

A water filter system is useless if it isn’t dependable. You can either bring a backup, or a heavier system. By this I mean the BeFree really isn’t field serviceable - once it starts to slow down, and I’ve found that this happens quickly if you filter anything but clear water, swishing it around in clean water per manufacturer recommendations doesn’t help. With the Sawyer, you have the syringe to backfill the filter with that’s much more effective as a cleaning solution. Bladders are also important. I’ve dropped both the stock bladder from a Sawyer system as well as a SmartWater bottle when filled. The Sawyer bladder tore at the seam with the hard plastic its top, and the SmartWater bottle fell on gravel and had a hole punctured into it. I now carry a CNOC 2 liter bag with a wide bottom opening for easy filling. The CNOC bag is also easy to get a lot of pressure forcing the water through the filter so it’s fast. The other thing I like about the Sawyer is that if something happens to my dirty water bottle I can find a replacement bottle cast away by someone as trash along most trails, or at a gas station. It’s rare to find a threaded bottle to work with a BeFree outside of an outfitter or Amazon. Last in my system is the bottle I drink from. I have a 16 oz Nalgene HDPE square narrow mouth bottle. It holds closer to 20oz, which on most trails is 5-8 miles of water for me. The “narrow” opening is being compared to a tradition Nalgene bottle. The opening is large enough to pour in powdered drink mixes without issues. I like the bottle’s profile as I can fit it into the front pocket of my hiking pants and pull it in and out. HDPE means it will take boiling water without issue, so I can make a hot drink or even a hot water bottle at night if I’m cold in my sleep system. It’s also super durable. I’ve dropped it 20 feet onto rocks and it just got a few scratches and a dent. The dent popped out as soon as I put warm water into it.

HydroBlu Versa-Flow is the most convenient because it has 28mm threads on both ends, built-in caps on both ends, flows almost as fast as Sawyer-Squeeze, yet is a couple ounces lighter and smaller (especially after all the adapters and dry-bags Squeeze requires). [ps. HydroBlu has half-size carbon filter that screws onto the regular Versa-Flow filter for Florida water.]

2 mins in and no hacks… just talking about the problems of a different kind of heat source. I’m out. I would prefer getting to the point faster. Thank you and good luck. 👍🏻

I am only 1.88 m but it's small. Put my pack under it and im complete wet. So i use it with raintrousers and pack over it.

yep, best pee bottle ever

When I first started hiking and camping, I was a complete newbie with no reference to ‘standard’ practices. No one to show me the ropes. When a friend who had camping experience joined me for a weekend, I was shocked when she brought out a gas canister, stove and started boiling water. I was wondering why she was carrying so much water. I had never thought about eating hot food or drinking hot drinks whilst being outdoors before. 30 years later and I still mostly drink cold water and eat cold food. I still find it odd watching people go through the hassle of setting up a stove to make a hot drink. All these You Tube videos obsessing about fuel efficiency, how fast it takes X, Y and Z solution to boil water. It only takes me a few seconds to drink cold water, done.

Butane is Like Propane, and may FREEZE UP at below 30 Degrees, or a bit before ! I have SEEN that Any Butane Lighter BETTER be NEXT to Your own Body to keep it warm ! WHAT Temperature are you camping in ????? Other than that, Great Show !

I've had gas stoves and eventually they break down or leak. Then there are the canister stoves and eventually the seal in the canister will leak ( not all the time , only when you really want a hot meal ) and you have nothing to light for a hot meal. The previously mentioned stoves have working parts and like anything mechanical something will break keeping everything else from working , Murphys Law. Next is the dreaded noise and I do not like listing to jet engines when in the peaceful and quiet woods. This brings me to the two types of stoves during my 80 years that I prefer to use. Alcohol , burns clean , nothing to break , no working parts and quiet. Plus if you use food grade alcohol ( Not Denatured ) you can have a 190 proof drink or treat wounds with it. I have burned both but prefer denatured , it costs a lot less. Then there are the wood burners , titanium ones like the Firebox ones. Or stainless like the Solo Stove lite which has the fire self contained in the burn chamber. Both of those will also accept a small alcohol burner giving you a choice of fuel , alcohol or wood. I like both and use the combination because I go slow , stop early and leave late and do not worry about a destination , I go to relax.

That fuel filler thing looks interesting. Thank you for the video.

I like alcohol. I have a 6 inch fry pan from trangia that's no stick. Pretty nice. 10 dollars. I've made pancakes on it. I'm going to try dehydrating some eggs and blending them into egg powder and then fry them with spam. With alcohol you need a nice close wind screen. The weight is very small unless you are out for a week or something. I'm not into boiling a bag dinner from pinnacle or something. It's about 5 minutes to boil a couple cups of water. I have a gallon of fuel alcohol that cost about 20 dollars. I have larger propane canisters that I'll refill when car camping, not into those little things. Cooking is part of the experience for me. I have way too much time at camp.

In NZ, outdoor wood fires are forbidden in all national parks and many other places. I don't get the obsession with speed. To me near-silence is much more important when I'm out in the back country. I hate stoves that sound like jet engines. Gear Skeptic comprehensively proved that boiling slower uses less fuel, the difference between a four day trip and five days in some cases. Eating cold is all very well in summer, but when it's 5 Celsius (40 F) or less, hot food and drink get pretty important, psychologically if for no other reason.

Maybe I'm crazy but I think me and my daughter met you on S Manitou! I think we passed you on the trail while you were sitting. We talked briefly as I was trying to find an old trail. TH-cam just recommended your Jordan Valley Pathway video to me and I did a double take! Wonderful to see your channel.

Recently found your channel…can I thank you for taking the time to share your experiences. You’ve certainly provided me with a lot of knowledge but most importantly, you’ve inspired me to ‘go long’….keep on recording 🙏

I’m curious since I’m new to hiking what makes IR such a great destination? Is it the scenery? Seems like really hard to get to.

for water at that shelter on the cabin side, i jumped over the railing on the downstream side and got water. ive camped up on that hill since the early 90s

Good advice. Not sure the backpacks are safer on boats though. Took my 3 sons on the Queen IV out of Copper Harbor. We handed them off at boarding and one of our packs got damaged so badly it was almost unusable. There's no recourse for that. Fortunately we were able to make repairs and had a great time. Love IR.