Do I backpack? No. Am I an outdoors type of person? No. Do I go camping at all? No. Have I been binge watching your videos for the past two days subscribed and placed so many things into my Amazon wish list? YES! 😅😅 keep up the great work 🎉
A couple of tips about some of the gear on this list: if you’re using a CCF pad like the Gossamer Gear under an inflatable, draw on one side with a sharpie and always place that side on the ground. Those foam pads can get pine needles or other stickers stuck in them, which can still pose a threat to an inflatable pad if you don’t know what side is the “dirty” side. Also for pack liners, another alternative are trash compactor bags (not contractor bags). They’re essentially just trash bags that are designed for compacting trash cans, so repeatedly being crushed while filled with stuff. I was a backpacking guide for a summer and used a single compactor bag without issue for 90 days in back country, and a roll of 30 is something like $5 for a literal lifetime supply.
I'm a middle-aged dude trying to get back into backpacking.. did it a little as a teen but never since (tons of day hiking though). Bingeing content like yours is helping me get oriented and efficiently allocate my limited funds for my initial setup.. I really appreciate it!
You can usually get away with bargain or second hand items for almost anything related to hiking with one exception: Footwear. Now this does Not mean that spending more or spending top dollar will guarantee that you get what is right for you. Feet are not all the same. Try to ignore all the marketing hype when you research. Simply put, you should not be getting blisters in well fitting footwear doing moderate miles, but beware excess cushioning as well. Early on you should be able to figure out whether you are a backpacker looking for an unhurried self-reliant wilderness experience (heavier load), or a lightweight tourist hiker looking to zip through the forest at high speed. Either way is ok, but the distinction usually calls for different kinds of footwear. One is more sturdy/protective and dependable as priority and the other (more trendy) prioritizes lightweight. There is no one best style for everyone, not even close. Just be especially wary of anything less than $100 full price. Sale price under that is ok in many cases. Lastly, if your plan is to go 600 plus miles then it's worth factoring in that certain highly popular trail runners are only good for 200 to 300 miles while others not so lightweight cost the same or less and last about 300 miles before they even show significant wear and are good for around 800 miles give or take.
honestly so refreshing to see someone saying "I was wrong about this gear in the past", I feel like it can be so rare to find people willing to try out new things or express different views on the internet. I love hearing your gear recommendations as someone who is also not totally in the ultralight camp but loves to lighten my pack where i can!
It took me over a year of camping in the Scottish Highlands, and maybe a bit of ego reduction, to realise that an umbrella is a top shelf piece of kit. It keeps 90% of the rain entirely off your body It stops the sun from baking and burning you It acts as a wind break when starting campfires Its a free walking stick. Everyone laughs at the hikers with umbrellas ..... until it starts to rain.
The adage "ounces equal pounds" is so true, if you can find a handful of things to swap out that weigh slightly less, but don't sacrifice any functionality or comfort, you can drop a not insignificant amount of weight from your overall pack.
1000%. I didn't expect these few little things to make such a difference!! It definitely adds up - in both directions - and being able to make small changes that don't sacrifice on comfort or enjoyment is fantastic. I think this approach to lightening the load is also more approachable to those of us who've been shamed or made to feel incompetent by people who swear UL is the only way.
Love the video Miranda, lighter packs for everyone! Different packing options: - use ziplocs instead of dyneema ditty bags/food bags etc. - super cheap, reusable, I even use one as my wallet - use trash bags as pack liner - especially construction waste bags are incredibly durable, light and cheap
Thank you!! I've ripped too many ziplocs on trail though to feel confident using them to waterproof stuff 😳 Same with the compactor bags, but I know some people LOVE them! Thanks for the suggestions 💚
I'm in the ziplock camp. You can bring so many extra for little cost and I've literally forded rivers with dry cell phones in ziplocks (although I do double bag for the phone)
I wish you would do a video showing that going UL does not mean you are uncomfortable. I have a base weight if about eight pounds. I am just as comfortable as I was when my base weight was closer to 14 pounds. I recently was hiking on the Long Trail in Vermont and I ran into three women hiking. They were all much younger then I but they could not believe how fast and effortlessly I could hike. They were all carrying packs weighing well over thirty to forty pounds. Me less then 16 pounds . Some pack to camp and some pack to hike I get it but it really does make a difference. The quilt was the last major gear change I made and all my other gear is mostly made of DCF. Waterproof and light as can be. Take care
I'd love to hear more about sleeping bags versus quilts for those who are anti mummy bag. I have a nemo forte. Would love to explore a lighter more compact option but i have to be able to be warm and move.
Using that gossamer gear pad as protection for my sleeping pad is a game changer!! I have been bringing my closed cell foam pad on every trip literally just because I got some punctures at inopportune times and want to protect my inflatable. Using the gossamer gear pad instead of the usual closed cell foam options out there saves almost a pound, and it’s way easier to pack. Plus it has so many other uses too! If I need additional insulation it’s not the way to go, but for 3-season protection for my pad - must have!! Plus it’s just $20.
I love Cnocs! For both the product and because the company is amazing with their customer service. I got mine in 2018 before a trip to trek in Mexico. One was defected and they overnighted me a replacement and told me to send the defected one back when I returned from my trip. And they were so caring throughout the entire exchange. Its been five years since then, so I really hope they've maintained that level of customer service. Its one of the main reasons I recommend them SO MUCH to people. And yes, the bags are excellent. So happy when they made caps and closures that connect to the bag. That was a major design improvement. So happy to see them getting representation on your videos. Definitely on my list of favorite backpacking/hike gear. I also take them on day hikes to bring back spring water.
Great video Miranda. I use the 3L CNOC and found it to be super useful to have a little bigger dirty water bag. When it’s empty it doesn’t weigh much more than the 2L. After refilling my clean reservoir, I’ll schlep 3 liters of dirty water back to camp and have fresh squeezed for cooking, coffee, friends, bidet, or what have you.
This was exactly my thought process when I bought the 3L CNOC too. It's really great filling it up when I get to camp and then having water all evening and morning. And the weight of the 3L vs the 2L is negligible.
I wanted to add…the Sawyer Clean Coupler will fit BeFree filters with the sport top fitting as well. Gators treated with permethrin are clutch in tick season! Happy hiking!
The gravity filter with the adapter works with the more rigid bottles also .. just loosen the adapter just enough to let air in. Although i now have the cnoc collapsible, i actually still prefer my smart bottle as it doesn't crush in my grip. But i use the collapsible for expanded storage. Love my cnoc gear! (i also use a handmade adapter for a hose so i can drink wo removing the bottle - you can buy them now, but ...)
I am a huge fan of Enlightened Equipment. I always disliked my mummy bags, so I made the leap into quilts with the EE Revelation. I loved the light weight and the freedom to move around, but I would have gladly paid a bit of a weight penalty to have less tiny, less fiddly buckle clamps on the pad straps. And in general, fussing with getting the straps set on the pad and quilt every night got a bit old. Eventually, I bought an EE Convert, which is sort of a "halfway" compromise between a traditional sleeping bag and an ultralight, minimalist quilt. It's roomy and with no hood, like a quilt, but it uses just one simple, full-length zipper and closes up completely, like a bag. (I went the custom route, and added a draft collar.) Yes, the extra fabric beneath your body is "wasted weight," I get that, but the Convert is still pretty dang light, and I don't have to fuss with it AT ALL when I'm tired and just want to crawl in and get right to sleep. (To save weight, the zipper is VERY tiny, so I do have to be a bit more slow and patient when zipping/unzipping.)
Hey Miranda and co.! As someone who lives on the east coast, ticks are a huge problem now. I'm often stuck wearing clothes that I overheat in because I'm paranoid and have every inch of me from shoulders to toes completely covered. I'd sure appreciate a video talking about the best ways to stay comfortable but still protected. :)
A sunshirt or sun jacket is the way to go for light weight bug protection on your top half. For reference we live and hike in Florida with heat, humidity and a ton of bugs.
I'd be interested in this. I live in the UK and don't worry so much about ticks but often encounter paths overgrown with stinging nettles. They're not dangerous, they just hurt. Because of that I prefer to wear trousers. I got a thin, stretchy pair of walking trousers but sadly they were too thin to protect from stinging nettles 😪 so I'm trying to find something thin and lightweight enough for summer that still offers protection.
I’m not giving up long pants here in Minnesota tick country, no matter what. Every piece of clothing I might wear while hiking is treated with peremithrin. I generally wear Outdoor Research Ferrosi pants - my next pair will probably be convertibles, just to see if it’s ok. I also treat my shoes (Lone Peaks) and gaiters, and of course socks. I generally wear a Columbia Silver Ridge long sleeve shirt, which is the coolest shirt I’ve found AND long sleeve. I’ll try a sun shirt at some point, if I can find one with a breast pocket.
@@beeking7971 hey what hiking trousers are so thin? I live in Hawai'i and we got nettles but they don't sting so I need something super thin to combat the humidity and heat.
I’m also from the southeast originally and I saw a great tip recently! The hiker brings a lint roller and rolls it all over their clothes and any ticks crawling around stick to it. It’s especially great for those small, tiny ticks. Happy hiking to you!
Thanks for GGG suggestion. My daughter started Scouts this year and our family has fallen in love with hiking. The wife and I are doing our first all day hike on the Florida trail soon and your suggestions have really helped us gear up. Thank you.
Hiking TH-camrs must be living in some lovely weather conditions, since I see more and more people promote the umbrella for hiking. I live on the west coast of Denmark, and I don't even use a regular, sturdy umbrella because the winds here are often strong enough to break it or at least make it more of a problem than a help. I'll definitely be sticking with more regular rain gear options. But I agree on the CNOC and a quilt. Those are great gear choices! And my 3-season quilt has the same colour combination as yours. Though, living i Europe, I use quilts from Cumulus Equipment.
I also wouldn't consider an umbrella because of the wind. But even without, I don't want to imagine the nightmare of hiking in the mountains, aka up or downhill, on nice hiking paths that are challenging while coordinating my feet, the backpack on my back, the hiking poles in my hands, the umbrella and the ground that is more likely to be slippery because of the rain. Like do I want to fall or not? I will stick with an umbrella, the only case where it could work would be for sunshade, but not anything else
Some hikes, like the PCT include nearly every typeof climate on earth except for tundra and a couple of others. Some hot sunny stretches are typically calm and others have winds so feirce that you can hardly stay standing. In the Washington State part of the Cascade range, the heavy forests really block the winds pretty well most of the time, but not so much when closer to the Columbia River (border with Oregon)
Miranda, A+, for explaining the, “WHY”, for your decisions. Listening to your lecture was a delight. I am interested in ultralight. I too have been a traditional backpacker…changed toward ultralight. Thank you for sharing. From northern Kentucky
Awesome recomendations! The EE Revelation quilt is amazing. For those that don't want the hood, you may be comfortable wearing a beanie, like the All-Paca Fleece Beanie, instead to sleep with the quilt on cold nights. I also use a Nylofume Pack Liner, also available from Garage Grown Gear, instead.
I carry two of the CNOC bags. One has an orange cap and is the dirty bag. The other has a blue cap and holds filtered water for those stretches where 2L in bottles is not going to be enough. If I'm in the desert, I carry two clean bags with blue caps. They are FANTASTIC. Super durable, but still light and totally waterproof. In demos, they actually stand on them to show how strong they are. I have three of the newer ones that are a few years old now, and I have a few of the original design that are at least 5 years old, and they are all in perfect shape.
We switched to a gravity filter about five years ago and I’ve never looked back. It’s so much better than squatting on some rocks pumping water through a filter which I used to do. But we carry stainless water bottles because I just don’t want to drink water stored in plastic. I have that same green plastic trowel! We don’t bring it to the BWCA anymore, because we realized it’s easy to just find an empty campsite and use the pit toilet instead, but we do bring it backpacking.
Watching this cozied up in camp under my EE quilt ready for a near 0C night in the northern territories of Canada. Wishing I had that hood right about now!
I LOVE my Revelation quilt! I have a 45 degree quilt and have taken it down comfortably to about 30 degrees. It's so versatile for tempeture variations.
The main thing about ultralight for many people is the PRICE. True ultralight sleeping bags and quilts cost hundreds of dollars, like the one you link. I would argue it is WAY more cost effective these days to get an ultralight TENT and just a normal lightweight sleeping pad/quilt. There have been massive improvements in tent technology these days. It is actually reasonable to get an ultralight tent for under $200 in that 2-2.5 lb range. Get a normal lightweight sleeping bag thats 2-3 pounds for around $100 and boom, the only combo youll ever need for most weather conditions. I do like the sleeping pad suggestion, great idea there.
Great video. My other "won't hike without it" lightweight item is my home made reflectix coosey for my tokes titanium pot. It has a handle slot. It keeps the heat in my pot, weighs nothing, and is the "bag" that my kitchen lives in.
Another GREAT video! Thank you, one and all!!! Muchos kudos to your editors, Miranda! They, and Rainer (and of course, YOU, most of all) are invaluable to us!
I use the cnoc bag, swayer filter with adapter, and smart bottle gravity feed system. I just loosen the smart bottle a little to let the air escape while the bottle fills.
So. A couple of things: 1. Put me in the BeFree camp. I had 3 Sawyer Squeezes break in 1500 miles on the PCT last year. 2. The CNOC bags are great. If you ever have to carry a lot of water a long distance ( like the half mile climb from Apache Spring up to the PCT ), the 2 or 3L bags will come in real handy. The long piece of plastic that you slid off the top can be used to do the "Magic Leaf Trick" at water sources that are too shallow for scooping water. 3. The 1/8" GG pad will also help keep your air pad from sliding around your tent if your tent has a dynema floor.
Just came here to rah-rah the Enlightened Equipment gear… I've also got a puffy and a quilt from them (and gloves and pants and booties, all synthetic) and I just love them. So warm, so light, and also really breathable.
When you brought out that sleeping pad, I was worried you were going to say everyone should use it as their only sleeping pad 😂 My back and hips would say hell no
the people who sleep on close foam nemo type z pads and only that are backpacking beasts i will never aspire to be lol. i'm a side sleeper with severe scoliosis, i dont think i would be able to walk if i didnt have an inflatable pad AND a closed foam z pad
Miranda, a cold downpour is exactly when the UL umbrella is most effective and may protect your health. It sheds the water/sleet/snow that would otherwise hit your rain gear, cooling the material, thereby sucking heat out of the underlying Torrid Jacket.
Great point, but I think it's important people know that when the rain turns sideways the umbrella isn't enough protection on its own and can become a liability if it turns inside out. Plus it isn't wind protection so bring a good wind protective layer if the conditions will be stormy. A good rain jacket is the best thing when it's cold, windy, and raining, in my view - but that umbrella is certainly is a wonder that has changed what I think in a lot of ways after seeing Miranda use it on a ton of trails in different conditions. I live in Seattle now but went to college in Bellingham, WA and grew up on the San Juan Islands. Those places get battered by wind and rain for months on end. An umbrella out there would be useless - but you can be outside all day in a good solid rain jacket and rain pants that are clean so the DWR is working well to shed the rain. You never see umbrellas out there, or in Seattle really, for this reason. Frankly I was totally averse to umbrellas period until I saw the umbrella in this video in action. I've been toasty after spending 15-16 hours outside in a storm with a solid 3 layer rain jacket, rain pants, and synthetic insulation layer underneath. We made a video years ago, that's on the REI channel, where the rain just beat down on us sideways while Miranda and hiked I on the Washington coast all day. The umbrella would have been tough to use there and maybe the wind would have broken it. I definitely agree though that if it's not windy the umbrella is awesome and maybe even safer. When we got hit by that rain and sleet storm in Colorado for our video backpacking there Miranda was happier under that umbrella than I was in my rain jacket 😂.
I think hikers were making UL evaluations on a per hike basis thousands of years before UL materials existed. It is just what one is accustomed to. You learn about equipment as items capture your imagination. UL umbrellas have cons but can save you from lots of burn and maybe from hypothermia when they work.
@@infinityhike Really well said! Totally agree. I like the idea of hikers doing UL evaluations on a per hike basis through history. A video series hiking with vintage and antique stuff would be fun to experience and highlight the changes and innovations in gear throughout history.
GGG is also really fast! Even when you live in Spain! Customer service is extremely nice as well. Very personal touch. My absolute favorite place at the moment
Haha, my friends and I love Never Have I Ever! Awesome camp game for around the fire! And for those who are curious and are looking to make the jump to a portable bidet, the Cnoc collapsible bottle works very well with the Backwoods Bidet by Pica Outdoors but does not fit the Culo Clean unfortunately. If you want to take a page from the hiker known as Jupiter, however, you can use a smaller Poland Springs bottle for your bidet bottle and the Culo Clean fits that well! As always, fantastic video, great job guys! Stay safe out there, happy trails!
As someone who started w old military gear( heavy- heavy), I have started to a donor these same lighter options. Allot of UL items … are just better! Six moons makes the best tarp / & or bug-net mix & match options. My summer deschutes plus tarp was like 200 bucks.
I used my trowel for the first time today! I've carried it for many trips and never needed to use it because there are outhouses where I backpack and hike.
It was so very nice to meet you at the PCT Days, even though I did hold up you getting yoru tent folded up and put away. Again thank you so miuch for you and the team's story on the Water Women and the work Sawyer is doing to bringing out clean water to places with out it. The thank you note I received from my donation to them, along with thank you call was absolutly unexpected. Again, thank you for your work in putting out these videos and I always look froward to your next adventure in the outside.
I've used gravity filters for years. There are many effective options. You need to branch out from swayer. It's by far the worst filter I've used. By the way. It's called a coupling. Not some crazy fancy device. A super common plumbing component.
For me, a simple trash bag works. Pack liners are a little bulkier and I like finding low cost options, makes it fun. Just bought a clearance puffy jacket at Sam's Club. $20 LL Bean 650 down. Like your content. Keep plugging away.
I connect a platypus drink tube to my Cnoc bottle and use it like a water bladder. It's great for not having to have a bladder in my bag but with the benefit of not having to take out a water bottle every time I want a drink.
Thank you for this info. We are planning our first back packing in February and i will be taking my 8 & 5 year old and will be caring most the gear …. Every once counts
I’m checking out your channel for a different reason. I want to get into Motocamping. Long distance camping with only what I carry on my motorcycle. It makes sense to me that a lot of this gear will cross over.
Congrats! I don't think you said "sleeping bad" once in this video! Also my EE quilt is my favorite piece of gear. They are just so lightweight, warm and comfy. I even used it inside the house during the 2021 "snowpocalypse" here in TX.
I've got 2 EE quilts, and I wound up ditching every other bag I have because they never get used any more. I have a 20 degree (F) Revelation for 3 season use, and a -10 (F) Convert for winter. The Convert can be zipped up fully for those TRULY bitter cold nights, but is still about half the weight of my old winter bag (no joke - but it was a VERY old bag, like 25 years old). Cannot recommend EE quilts enough. I don't use the hood. I just use my down hat or wool beanie - whichever I brought.
Best between is this, it's lighter than anything, reflects heat, prevents punctures. If you ever go winter, this goes on bottom then switch then inflatable. Wind Tour Outdoor Double-Sided Moisture-Proof Aluminum Foil Foam Pad Waterproof and Insulating Foil Mat Picnic Mat Camping Mat for Beach Tent and Camping       
I had my sleeping pad spring a leak the first night of elk season and couldnt find it until the morning... That was a cold night and the first thing i did when i got back was buy a foam pad.
They practically kinda made (suited) only for the cushy ideal ground conditions of the fluffy common camp sites along popular trails and used in tents. Many newbie and trendy hikers never go beyond this which is ok, but it's good for folks to know the difference. With rare exceptions durable and lightweight are mutually exclusive. Some gear is neither, but almost nothing meets both qualifications.
Another fun video. I haven't backpacked in years but now in to bikepacking so ultra light gear has always been kind of important. And then I've found compromises on things that are worth their weight carrying on the bike. Thanks again.
I am 100% in love with my EE quilt!! The only thing I might've been able to cut is some length, but at the same time it's nice to have the option to snuggle it up (instead of the hood, haha, even though it looks ✨ tres chic ✨)
Note that a bit of extra length to your sleep system comes in handy (or footy) in freezing temps when you want to keep some items like batteries, socks, boots etc. in a warm spot.
I carried a Sawyer for the first 800m on my recent AT Thru hike but switched to the BeFree water bottle/filter. Dirty girls are awesome, by the time I reached Mt. Katadhin they were in pretty bad shape, even though I washed them regularly.
I don’t know about Dirty Girls, but these Ultra Gam gaiters have worked really well! Big fan. But I’ll see how they do after 1000s of miles of use! Also I hear you on the BeFree, but after having two BeFrees that barely filtered even a trickle of water after using in less-than perfect water sources, I have to swear by the Sawyer. No matter what I did, I couldn’t revive the BeFree, and when I’m often filtering water from very murky places, that’s a problem. The cleaning is so much more effective on a Sawyer!
Thoughts on quilts - there definitely are sleeping bags in the same weight/warmth range, most bags function as a quilt unzipped, and nobody seems to factor in the additional weight of a separate hood, booties, or straps when praising how light they are. I'm still on team sleeping bag
I wear booties and a hood in my sleeping bag. I don’t currently like my bag and haven’t decided what to replace it with yet. Was pondering a quilt. I wanna try it before deciding. Guess I’ll find out which team I’m on after that. 😅
That six moon designs pack liner is NOT waterproof in my experience so just be careful. I love the CNOC bag with adapter and agree more people should be using it. The trowel is awesome and doesn’t hurt my hand like the deuce. Thank you for sharing the hat. I have been actively looking for a hat to take hiking and that one looks like EXACTLY what I’ve been looking for. Thanks Miranda!!!! It’s been fun to see your hiking experience evolve.
For the hat, look for the OR half-mesh, half-fabric. I don't know the exact name but it's an incredible hat and the best in my opinion. the one she showed has not much breathable.
@@DiabloOutdoors I just had it in my hands at REI yesterday. I added to my wish list to go back and check out. Thanks for the heads up. I think I’ll go order it.
Parapack also makes a half-mesh P-CAP! I just find this standard one to be plenty breathable. But the OR hat is great too; I had a similar one, but it just lost it's brim shape from me smooshing it too much, so I prefer the Paracap.
The Monty Python reference alone is worth the like lol. I count grams more for OCD curiosity than weight cutting. That being said, when you're already carrying 80-100+lbs of gear any weight reduction that doesnt sacrifice function is a welcome swap. 😅
LOL I put my switchback on top of my inflatable pad because the 'sections' on inflatables are super annoying to me. The CNOC bags are awesome, I use the hydroblue filters instead of sawyer though, you can get a charcoal add on for them and it can help with removing chemicals and bad taste. They should make a ultralight, folding, boonie hat...
Great video. I'm not about to swap out my ziploc bags for dyneema stuff sacks, but thanks again for the informative content Miranda! Learned something as always :)
Yay a new Miranda video!! Would you ever consider coming to Oregon for a Hot Springs trip? Terwilliger hot springs east of Eugene is my favorite for it's natural beauty. Showing up when they open is vital if you want video footage; it is a clothing-optional area around the springs. (They do have nice loo's too😂💩)
Love your videos and appreciate your humor! 😂Getting ready to hike all the 4000’ mountains here in Maine and your advice-recommendations have made it possible for me to get proper gear this time! Which means, I didn’t get it right the first time! 😳🤣
As military I love watching these and I saw the little metal trowel and was like oh that’s a great idea for a cat hole out in the field….. nvm I already have to carry my E-tool/shovel that’s 20x that size 😂
I would love to see a video on backpacking/camping on your menstrual cycle. I find menstrual cups are the best option but I feel like a lot of ladies don’t know how wonderful they are for travel.
@@niesaforster9945 I have never looked into the discs!! I figured they’d hold less than the cups and be messier. I’ll have to do some research, I’m intrigued!!
I have only ever used the discs. They work well for me. I didn’t know at first that they are designed to empty out when you pee and thought they were overflowing😂 I do reuse them once or twice before tossing them. I have never explored a reusable disc. Probably should.
Question for hiking friends: I have yet to find a trowel that outperforms a walking stick. Far over half of the cat-holes I’ve tried to dig with a trowel needed the leverage and tungsten tip of a hiking pole/walk stick. So why even carry a trowel? Am I missing something?
This was wonderful I too am not a ultra light hiker, but anything to fight that dang gravity! Also, you saw Kyle in California! Watched his attempt to fill in the gaps on his thru hike We all struggling with this new reality of fires
Another stellar video. A good list. One thing I will always bring is my REI flex lite air chair. The extra weight is worth the comfort at the end of a long hike. 🥰
Sorry, that thin pad won't cut it. I'm in Arizona and the ground is hard with lots of rocks. I have occasionally broken MSR Groundhog stakes trying to get them in the ground. Once in a while it is almost pure sand and then I need longer, wider stakes. But on those few occasions the ground is pretty comfortable. So in most camp sites here, it takes a z-lite and one more pad to get close to comfortable. Similar argument in response to those who say "ditch the ground sheet". My tents wouldn't last a year. There are also lots of cactus needles lying around besides the sharp rocks of all sizes.
How much of that area (how many nights in a week of daily hiking) would accommodate a hammock? A hammock is not my primary, nor a tent, but I carry stuff for a variety of situations including a hammock. My most frequent set up is actually a cowboy/tarp hybrid usually using a poncho liner. I do like your comment for highlighting the critical importance of location as gear selection comes AFTER that for wise experienced hikers, not the other way of presuming that one set of gear choices works for all times and places.
I love my CNOC bag and I have two of the bottles. Being softsided, I can't get the hang of drinking out of it while I'm walking. If I hold it from the harder top, then the middle flops as soon as i take the first drink. If I hold it from the middle, I end up squeezing it too hard to grip it and it splashes all over the place. I'm helpless 😂
The foldable hat from Parapack really caught my attention....I just ordered one! Will also order the Cnoc bottle and adapter...already have two of the 2 L bags for dirty water. Made notes on other products. I am transitioning to ultralight after experiencing a super hard 2 day hike that changed my perspective on weight...I already do use a quilt that I love...currently researching ultralight packs since my current pack weighs 5 pounds empty...thinking of going with the Dan Durston Kakwa 55. Any thoughts from anyone?
Question about the quilt system: what do you have between your skin and the sleeping pad beneath you? I recently slept in warmer weather than expected and slept shirtless against my sleeping pad and it was....not my favorite thing. Do you do anything for this or do you have a recommendation for what I could try? Also, do you use sleeping pad straps with your quilt? Thank you!
Do I backpack? No. Am I an outdoors type of person? No.
Do I go camping at all? No.
Have I been binge watching your videos for the past two days subscribed and placed so many things into my Amazon wish list? YES! 😅😅 keep up the great work 🎉
Camping is fun! Even if my mom complains that she LEFT Mexico so she didn’t have to sleep on the ground and calls me crazy
A couple of tips about some of the gear on this list: if you’re using a CCF pad like the Gossamer Gear under an inflatable, draw on one side with a sharpie and always place that side on the ground. Those foam pads can get pine needles or other stickers stuck in them, which can still pose a threat to an inflatable pad if you don’t know what side is the “dirty” side.
Also for pack liners, another alternative are trash compactor bags (not contractor bags). They’re essentially just trash bags that are designed for compacting trash cans, so repeatedly being crushed while filled with stuff. I was a backpacking guide for a summer and used a single compactor bag without issue for 90 days in back country, and a roll of 30 is something like $5 for a literal lifetime supply.
Carpetglue a spaceblanket to your topside.
I'm a middle-aged dude trying to get back into backpacking.. did it a little as a teen but never since (tons of day hiking though).
Bingeing content like yours is helping me get oriented and efficiently allocate my limited funds for my initial setup.. I really appreciate it!
You can usually get away with bargain or second hand items for almost anything related to hiking with one exception: Footwear.
Now this does Not mean that spending more or spending top dollar will guarantee that you get what is right for you.
Feet are not all the same. Try to ignore all the marketing hype when you research. Simply put, you should not be getting blisters in well fitting footwear doing moderate miles, but beware excess cushioning as well.
Early on you should be able to figure out whether you are a backpacker looking for an unhurried self-reliant wilderness experience (heavier load), or a lightweight tourist hiker looking to zip through the forest at high speed. Either way is ok, but the distinction usually calls for different kinds of footwear. One is more sturdy/protective and dependable as priority and the other (more trendy) prioritizes lightweight.
There is no one best style for everyone, not even close.
Just be especially wary of anything less than $100 full price. Sale price under that is ok in many cases. Lastly, if your plan is to go 600 plus miles then it's worth factoring in that certain highly popular trail runners are only good for 200 to 300 miles while others not so lightweight cost the same or less and last about 300 miles before they even show significant wear and are good for around 800 miles give or take.
honestly so refreshing to see someone saying "I was wrong about this gear in the past", I feel like it can be so rare to find people willing to try out new things or express different views on the internet. I love hearing your gear recommendations as someone who is also not totally in the ultralight camp but loves to lighten my pack where i can!
I disagree. Lots of youtubers say they made a mistake. But only after I have purchased the gear!😃
@@cheri7828 😆 Never have I ever done that!
it was "refreshing" but smelly. reminded me of the song: Smelly Cat by Phoebe Buffay
I want to add the Sea-to-Summit head net.
You won't always need it, but when you do, you will thank us for this wisdom.
But, if you wear a baseball cap it doesn’t fit as well as the Bens net
My headnet is used as a stuff sack holding my sleeping stuff.
It took me over a year of camping in the Scottish Highlands, and maybe a bit of ego reduction, to realise that an umbrella is a top shelf piece of kit.
It keeps 90% of the rain entirely off your body
It stops the sun from baking and burning you
It acts as a wind break when starting campfires
Its a free walking stick.
Everyone laughs at the hikers with umbrellas ..... until it starts to rain.
I need something bigger than a sit pad to shield my behind when I’ve really gotta go. The umbrella is my super man’s telephone booth. 😂
I have one for my "camera"
Honest
It's for the camera
poncho is better
The adage "ounces equal pounds" is so true, if you can find a handful of things to swap out that weigh slightly less, but don't sacrifice any functionality or comfort, you can drop a not insignificant amount of weight from your overall pack.
True. this is why we make the difference between UL and SL (Stupid Light). The outdoors is always a question of trade-off.
1000%. I didn't expect these few little things to make such a difference!! It definitely adds up - in both directions - and being able to make small changes that don't sacrifice on comfort or enjoyment is fantastic. I think this approach to lightening the load is also more approachable to those of us who've been shamed or made to feel incompetent by people who swear UL is the only way.
Mirand my favorite thing about you is that you can demonstrate simultaneously the most effective and least realistic ways to use any piece of gear.
Love the video Miranda, lighter packs for everyone!
Different packing options:
- use ziplocs instead of dyneema ditty bags/food bags etc. - super cheap, reusable, I even use one as my wallet
- use trash bags as pack liner - especially construction waste bags are incredibly durable, light and cheap
Thank you!! I've ripped too many ziplocs on trail though to feel confident using them to waterproof stuff 😳 Same with the compactor bags, but I know some people LOVE them! Thanks for the suggestions 💚
Dyneema stuff sacks do last a little longer but not much and they cost 1000x more than ziplock. So, ziploc for the win.
Thanks for introducing us to all this ultra light gear. I’m definitely going to use some of it.
Happy Camping!
I'm in the ziplock camp. You can bring so many extra for little cost and I've literally forded rivers with dry cell phones in ziplocks (although I do double bag for the phone)
I wish you would do a video showing that going UL does not mean you are uncomfortable. I have a base weight if about eight pounds. I am just as comfortable as I was when my base weight was closer to 14 pounds. I recently was hiking on the Long Trail in Vermont and I ran into three women hiking. They were all much younger then I but they could not believe how fast and effortlessly I could hike. They were all carrying packs weighing well over thirty to forty pounds. Me less then 16 pounds . Some pack to camp and some pack to hike I get it but it really does make a difference. The quilt was the last major gear change I made and all my other gear is mostly made of DCF. Waterproof and light as can be. Take care
Awesome as always!! Really appreciate and love that Ranier participated!! I think more of this kind of interaction and dialog would be awesome.
I'd love to hear more about sleeping bags versus quilts for those who are anti mummy bag. I have a nemo forte. Would love to explore a lighter more compact option but i have to be able to be warm and move.
Using that gossamer gear pad as protection for my sleeping pad is a game changer!! I have been bringing my closed cell foam
pad on every trip literally just because I got some punctures at inopportune times and want to protect my inflatable. Using the gossamer gear pad instead of the usual closed cell foam options out there saves almost a pound, and it’s way easier to pack. Plus it has so many other uses too! If I need additional insulation it’s not the way to go, but for 3-season protection for my pad - must have!! Plus it’s just $20.
I love Cnocs! For both the product and because the company is amazing with their customer service. I got mine in 2018 before a trip to trek in Mexico. One was defected and they overnighted me a replacement and told me to send the defected one back when I returned from my trip. And they were so caring throughout the entire exchange. Its been five years since then, so I really hope they've maintained that level of customer service. Its one of the main reasons I recommend them SO MUCH to people. And yes, the bags are excellent. So happy when they made caps and closures that connect to the bag. That was a major design improvement. So happy to see them getting representation on your videos. Definitely on my list of favorite backpacking/hike gear. I also take them on day hikes to bring back spring water.
That's so wonderful!!! I can't believe I waited this long to try Cnoc - I'm in love 😍 Thanks for spreading the Cnoc love everywhere you hike!!
Great video Miranda. I use the 3L CNOC and found it to be super useful to have a little bigger dirty water bag. When it’s empty it doesn’t weigh much more than the 2L. After refilling my clean reservoir, I’ll schlep 3 liters of dirty water back to camp and have fresh squeezed for cooking, coffee, friends, bidet, or what have you.
This was exactly my thought process when I bought the 3L CNOC too. It's really great filling it up when I get to camp and then having water all evening and morning. And the weight of the 3L vs the 2L is negligible.
I wanted to add…the Sawyer Clean Coupler will fit BeFree filters with the sport top fitting as well. Gators treated with permethrin are clutch in tick season! Happy hiking!
.. Sawyer has 28mm threads ,,,,,, BeFree has 42mm threads ....... no go ..
The gravity filter with the adapter works with the more rigid bottles also .. just loosen the adapter just enough to let air in. Although i now have the cnoc collapsible, i actually still prefer my smart bottle as it doesn't crush in my grip. But i use the collapsible for expanded storage. Love my cnoc gear! (i also use a handmade adapter for a hose so i can drink wo removing the bottle - you can buy them now, but ...)
Good stuff :)
I am a huge fan of Enlightened Equipment. I always disliked my mummy bags, so I made the leap into quilts with the EE Revelation. I loved the light weight and the freedom to move around, but I would have gladly paid a bit of a weight penalty to have less tiny, less fiddly buckle clamps on the pad straps. And in general, fussing with getting the straps set on the pad and quilt every night got a bit old.
Eventually, I bought an EE Convert, which is sort of a "halfway" compromise between a traditional sleeping bag and an ultralight, minimalist quilt. It's roomy and with no hood, like a quilt, but it uses just one simple, full-length zipper and closes up completely, like a bag. (I went the custom route, and added a draft collar.) Yes, the extra fabric beneath your body is "wasted weight," I get that, but the Convert is still pretty dang light, and I don't have to fuss with it AT ALL when I'm tired and just want to crawl in and get right to sleep. (To save weight, the zipper is VERY tiny, so I do have to be a bit more slow and patient when zipping/unzipping.)
Hey Miranda and co.! As someone who lives on the east coast, ticks are a huge problem now. I'm often stuck wearing clothes that I overheat in because I'm paranoid and have every inch of me from shoulders to toes completely covered. I'd sure appreciate a video talking about the best ways to stay comfortable but still protected. :)
A sunshirt or sun jacket is the way to go for light weight bug protection on your top half. For reference we live and hike in Florida with heat, humidity and a ton of bugs.
I'd be interested in this. I live in the UK and don't worry so much about ticks but often encounter paths overgrown with stinging nettles. They're not dangerous, they just hurt. Because of that I prefer to wear trousers. I got a thin, stretchy pair of walking trousers but sadly they were too thin to protect from stinging nettles 😪 so I'm trying to find something thin and lightweight enough for summer that still offers protection.
I’m not giving up long pants here in Minnesota tick country, no matter what. Every piece of clothing I might wear while hiking is treated with peremithrin. I generally wear Outdoor Research Ferrosi pants - my next pair will probably be convertibles, just to see if it’s ok. I also treat my shoes (Lone Peaks) and gaiters, and of course socks. I generally wear a Columbia Silver Ridge long sleeve shirt, which is the coolest shirt I’ve found AND long sleeve. I’ll try a sun shirt at some point, if I can find one with a breast pocket.
@@beeking7971 hey what hiking trousers are so thin? I live in Hawai'i and we got nettles but they don't sting so I need something super thin to combat the humidity and heat.
I’m also from the southeast originally and I saw a great tip recently! The hiker brings a lint roller and rolls it all over their clothes and any ticks crawling around stick to it. It’s especially great for those small, tiny ticks. Happy hiking to you!
Thanks for GGG suggestion. My daughter started Scouts this year and our family has fallen in love with hiking. The wife and I are doing our first all day hike on the Florida trail soon and your suggestions have really helped us gear up. Thank you.
Hiking TH-camrs must be living in some lovely weather conditions, since I see more and more people promote the umbrella for hiking. I live on the west coast of Denmark, and I don't even use a regular, sturdy umbrella because the winds here are often strong enough to break it or at least make it more of a problem than a help. I'll definitely be sticking with more regular rain gear options.
But I agree on the CNOC and a quilt. Those are great gear choices! And my 3-season quilt has the same colour combination as yours. Though, living i Europe, I use quilts from Cumulus Equipment.
I also wouldn't consider an umbrella because of the wind. But even without, I don't want to imagine the nightmare of hiking in the mountains, aka up or downhill, on nice hiking paths that are challenging while coordinating my feet, the backpack on my back, the hiking poles in my hands, the umbrella and the ground that is more likely to be slippery because of the rain. Like do I want to fall or not? I will stick with an umbrella, the only case where it could work would be for sunshade, but not anything else
Some hikes, like the PCT include nearly every typeof climate on earth except for tundra and a couple of others. Some hot sunny stretches are typically calm and others have winds so feirce that you can hardly stay standing. In the Washington State part of the Cascade range, the heavy forests really block the winds pretty well most of the time, but not so much when closer to the Columbia River (border with Oregon)
Miranda, A+, for explaining the, “WHY”, for your decisions. Listening to your lecture was a delight. I am interested in ultralight. I too have been a traditional backpacker…changed toward ultralight. Thank you for sharing. From northern Kentucky
Awesome recomendations!
The EE Revelation quilt is amazing. For those that don't want the hood, you may be comfortable wearing a beanie, like the All-Paca Fleece Beanie, instead to sleep with the quilt on cold nights.
I also use a Nylofume Pack Liner, also available from Garage Grown Gear, instead.
I carry two of the CNOC bags. One has an orange cap and is the dirty bag. The other has a blue cap and holds filtered water for those stretches where 2L in bottles is not going to be enough. If I'm in the desert, I carry two clean bags with blue caps.
They are FANTASTIC. Super durable, but still light and totally waterproof. In demos, they actually stand on them to show how strong they are. I have three of the newer ones that are a few years old now, and I have a few of the original design that are at least 5 years old, and they are all in perfect shape.
That is my exact gravity feed system, BTW, except with the blue 2L bag to catch the water - and I've been using that for years. It works super well.
Zenbivy quilt system for the win. The head area to keep the pillow from sliding off is the best thing ever.
We switched to a gravity filter about five years ago and I’ve never looked back. It’s so much better than squatting on some rocks pumping water through a filter which I used to do. But we carry stainless water bottles because I just don’t want to drink water stored in plastic. I have that same green plastic trowel! We don’t bring it to the BWCA anymore, because we realized it’s easy to just find an empty campsite and use the pit toilet instead, but we do bring it backpacking.
Watching this cozied up in camp under my EE quilt ready for a near 0C night in the northern territories of Canada. Wishing I had that hood right about now!
I LOVE my Revelation quilt! I have a 45 degree quilt and have taken it down comfortably to about 30 degrees. It's so versatile for tempeture variations.
The main thing about ultralight for many people is the PRICE. True ultralight sleeping bags and quilts cost hundreds of dollars, like the one you link. I would argue it is WAY more cost effective these days to get an ultralight TENT and just a normal lightweight sleeping pad/quilt. There have been massive improvements in tent technology these days. It is actually reasonable to get an ultralight tent for under $200 in that 2-2.5 lb range. Get a normal lightweight sleeping bag thats 2-3 pounds for around $100 and boom, the only combo youll ever need for most weather conditions. I do like the sleeping pad suggestion, great idea there.
Great video. My other "won't hike without it" lightweight item is my home made reflectix coosey for my tokes titanium pot. It has a handle slot. It keeps the heat in my pot, weighs nothing, and is the "bag" that my kitchen lives in.
Another GREAT video! Thank you, one and all!!! Muchos kudos to your editors, Miranda! They, and Rainer (and of course, YOU, most of all) are invaluable to us!
I use the cnoc bag, swayer filter with adapter, and smart bottle gravity feed system. I just loosen the smart bottle a little to let the air escape while the bottle fills.
So. A couple of things:
1. Put me in the BeFree camp. I had 3 Sawyer Squeezes break in 1500 miles on the PCT last year.
2. The CNOC bags are great. If you ever have to carry a lot of water a long distance ( like the half mile climb from Apache Spring up to the PCT ), the 2 or 3L bags will come in real handy. The long piece of plastic that you slid off the top can be used to do the "Magic Leaf Trick" at water sources that are too shallow for scooping water.
3. The 1/8" GG pad will also help keep your air pad from sliding around your tent if your tent has a dynema floor.
Just came here to rah-rah the Enlightened Equipment gear… I've also got a puffy and a quilt from them (and gloves and pants and booties, all synthetic) and I just love them. So warm, so light, and also really breathable.
love love love my enlightened equipment quilt! won't go anywhere without it
I know it is your show gosh darn, but I would really like it to see Rainer more on screen. You guys have great chemistry!
When you brought out that sleeping pad, I was worried you were going to say everyone should use it as their only sleeping pad 😂 My back and hips would say hell no
Oh my gosh my body would rebel against me if this was all I used 😅
the people who sleep on close foam nemo type z pads and only that are backpacking beasts i will never aspire to be lol. i'm a side sleeper with severe scoliosis, i dont think i would be able to walk if i didnt have an inflatable pad AND a closed foam z pad
Miranda, a cold downpour is exactly when the UL umbrella is most effective and may protect your health. It sheds the water/sleet/snow that would otherwise hit your rain gear, cooling the material, thereby sucking heat out of the underlying Torrid Jacket.
Very true and it showed her lack of experience on trails..
Great point, but I think it's important people know that when the rain turns sideways the umbrella isn't enough protection on its own and can become a liability if it turns inside out. Plus it isn't wind protection so bring a good wind protective layer if the conditions will be stormy. A good rain jacket is the best thing when it's cold, windy, and raining, in my view - but that umbrella is certainly is a wonder that has changed what I think in a lot of ways after seeing Miranda use it on a ton of trails in different conditions. I live in Seattle now but went to college in Bellingham, WA and grew up on the San Juan Islands. Those places get battered by wind and rain for months on end. An umbrella out there would be useless - but you can be outside all day in a good solid rain jacket and rain pants that are clean so the DWR is working well to shed the rain. You never see umbrellas out there, or in Seattle really, for this reason. Frankly I was totally averse to umbrellas period until I saw the umbrella in this video in action. I've been toasty after spending 15-16 hours outside in a storm with a solid 3 layer rain jacket, rain pants, and synthetic insulation layer underneath. We made a video years ago, that's on the REI channel, where the rain just beat down on us sideways while Miranda and hiked I on the Washington coast all day. The umbrella would have been tough to use there and maybe the wind would have broken it. I definitely agree though that if it's not windy the umbrella is awesome and maybe even safer. When we got hit by that rain and sleet storm in Colorado for our video backpacking there Miranda was happier under that umbrella than I was in my rain jacket 😂.
I think hikers were making UL evaluations on a per hike basis thousands of years before UL materials existed. It is just what one is accustomed to. You learn about equipment as items capture your imagination. UL umbrellas have cons but can save you from lots of burn and maybe from hypothermia when they work.
@@infinityhike Really well said! Totally agree. I like the idea of hikers doing UL evaluations on a per hike basis through history. A video series hiking with vintage and antique stuff would be fun to experience and highlight the changes and innovations in gear throughout history.
Love the umbrella. I love using it with a poncho, get better airflow vs a rain jacket.
"We have turned on the gravity filter. We are now filtering gravity." 🤣 😂
GGG is also really fast! Even when you live in Spain! Customer service is extremely nice as well. Very personal touch. My absolute favorite place at the moment
I totally agree!! Love the GGG team. They’re such great folks - and I love knowing that they are fast, even internationally!
@@MirandaGoesOutside I know right? I got a personal note in my first delivery and a tiny toothbrush. It’s just so wholesome. Good gear too!!
That female to female connector for the sawyer is a must. Love the CNOC bags too.
I also have the gossamer gear pad, I use it for so many things. A pillow stabilizer, a sit pad, a yoga mat.
I have been on a miranda binge. Omg. She is my absolute favorite but she's opened my eyes to other good guys too!
Love love love this video! Thanks for all you do, Miranda and all!
To be fair, those sit pads would look fantastic in a basket for "sit upons" for a Girl Scout troop. 😊
"Two, Four, Six, Eight -- who do we appreciate? Girl Scouts! Girl Scouts!" 🎵(there's more; ask me)🎶
Haha, my friends and I love Never Have I Ever! Awesome camp game for around the fire! And for those who are curious and are looking to make the jump to a portable bidet, the Cnoc collapsible bottle works very well with the Backwoods Bidet by Pica Outdoors but does not fit the Culo Clean unfortunately. If you want to take a page from the hiker known as Jupiter, however, you can use a smaller Poland Springs bottle for your bidet bottle and the Culo Clean fits that well! As always, fantastic video, great job guys! Stay safe out there, happy trails!
As someone who started w old military gear( heavy- heavy), I have started to a donor these same lighter options. Allot of UL items … are just better! Six moons makes the best tarp / & or bug-net mix & match options. My summer deschutes plus tarp was like 200 bucks.
I used my trowel for the first time today! I've carried it for many trips and never needed to use it because there are outhouses where I backpack and hike.
I've been meaning to order a Torrid for a couple years... you inspired me to finally do it. Thanks.
It was so very nice to meet you at the PCT Days, even though I did hold up you getting yoru tent folded up and put away. Again thank you so miuch for you and the team's story on the Water Women and the work Sawyer is doing to bringing out clean water to places with out it. The thank you note I received from my donation to them, along with thank you call was absolutly unexpected. Again, thank you for your work in putting out these videos and I always look froward to your next adventure in the outside.
I've used gravity filters for years. There are many effective options. You need to branch out from swayer. It's by far the worst filter I've used. By the way. It's called a coupling. Not some crazy fancy device. A super common plumbing component.
For me, a simple trash bag works. Pack liners are a little bulkier and I like finding low cost options, makes it fun. Just bought a clearance puffy jacket at Sam's Club. $20 LL Bean 650 down. Like your content. Keep plugging away.
I connect a platypus drink tube to my Cnoc bottle and use it like a water bladder. It's great for not having to have a bladder in my bag but with the benefit of not having to take out a water bottle every time I want a drink.
Thank you for this info. We are planning our first back packing in February and i will be taking my 8 & 5 year old and will be caring most the gear …. Every once counts
I love my quilt from UGQ ultralight!
Thanks Miranda's for this video 😉
Me too. I LOVE it!!!
I use western mountaineering alpinlite as a quilt and as a sleeping bag. When it's really cold night quilt is not enought warm.
Wool accessories are still king even if they are not trendy. Socks, beenie, scarf and my fav is a merino middle warming layer (thrift store score)
I’m checking out your channel for a different reason. I want to get into Motocamping. Long distance camping with only what I carry on my motorcycle. It makes sense to me that a lot of this gear will cross over.
Congrats! I don't think you said "sleeping bad" once in this video!
Also my EE quilt is my favorite piece of gear. They are just so lightweight, warm and comfy. I even used it inside the house during the 2021 "snowpocalypse" here in TX.
I've got 2 EE quilts, and I wound up ditching every other bag I have because they never get used any more. I have a 20 degree (F) Revelation for 3 season use, and a -10 (F) Convert for winter. The Convert can be zipped up fully for those TRULY bitter cold nights, but is still about half the weight of my old winter bag (no joke - but it was a VERY old bag, like 25 years old).
Cannot recommend EE quilts enough.
I don't use the hood. I just use my down hat or wool beanie - whichever I brought.
Almost at 100k! I'm throwing my hat into the quilt ring. As a chest sleeper the quilt with a toe box is aaaaaaamazing.
Woo yes!!! It’s so cozy. I hope you love it!!
Best between is this, it's lighter than anything, reflects heat, prevents punctures. If you ever go winter, this goes on bottom then switch then inflatable. Wind Tour Outdoor Double-Sided Moisture-Proof Aluminum Foil Foam Pad Waterproof and Insulating Foil Mat Picnic Mat Camping Mat for Beach Tent and Camping







I have two pairs of Dirty Girl gaiters and love them. I highly recommend them for gaiters.
I had my sleeping pad spring a leak the first night of elk season and couldnt find it until the morning... That was a cold night and the first thing i did when i got back was buy a foam pad.
They practically kinda made (suited) only for the cushy ideal ground conditions of the fluffy common camp sites along popular trails and used in tents. Many newbie and trendy hikers never go beyond this which is ok, but it's good for folks to know the difference.
With rare exceptions durable and lightweight are mutually exclusive. Some gear is neither, but almost nothing meets both qualifications.
This is a great video, gosh darn! Hope everything's well with everyone at Miranda HQ.
Yay!! MGOHQ is groovy - thank you for asking! 😘
Bonus points for the Monty Python reference. I have a quilt for UGQ that is amazing.
I love love love my EE quilt. I can't remember the model, but it's a 40° and has the little zip at the foot. It's brilliant.
Another fun video. I haven't backpacked in years but now in to bikepacking so ultra light gear has always been kind of important. And then I've found compromises on things that are worth their weight carrying on the bike. Thanks again.
I am 100% in love with my EE quilt!! The only thing I might've been able to cut is some length, but at the same time it's nice to have the option to snuggle it up (instead of the hood, haha, even though it looks ✨ tres chic ✨)
Note that a bit of extra length to your sleep system comes in handy (or footy) in freezing temps when you want to keep some items like batteries, socks, boots etc. in a warm spot.
I carried a Sawyer for the first 800m on my recent AT Thru hike but switched to the BeFree water bottle/filter. Dirty girls are awesome, by the time I reached Mt. Katadhin they were in pretty bad shape, even though I washed them regularly.
I don’t know about Dirty Girls, but these Ultra Gam gaiters have worked really well! Big fan. But I’ll see how they do after 1000s of miles of use!
Also I hear you on the BeFree, but after having two BeFrees that barely filtered even a trickle of water after using in less-than perfect water sources, I have to swear by the Sawyer. No matter what I did, I couldn’t revive the BeFree, and when I’m often filtering water from very murky places, that’s a problem. The cleaning is so much more effective on a Sawyer!
That thin sleeping pad by Gossamer Gear is awsome! When you pair is with a sleep pad it really makes a difference.
Thoughts on quilts - there definitely are sleeping bags in the same weight/warmth range, most bags function as a quilt unzipped, and nobody seems to factor in the additional weight of a separate hood, booties, or straps when praising how light they are. I'm still on team sleeping bag
I wear booties and a hood in my sleeping bag. I don’t currently like my bag and haven’t decided what to replace it with yet. Was pondering a quilt. I wanna try it before deciding. Guess I’ll find out which team I’m on after that. 😅
That six moon designs pack liner is NOT waterproof in my experience so just be careful. I love the CNOC bag with adapter and agree more people should be using it. The trowel is awesome and doesn’t hurt my hand like the deuce. Thank you for sharing the hat. I have been actively looking for a hat to take hiking and that one looks like EXACTLY what I’ve been looking for. Thanks Miranda!!!! It’s been fun to see your hiking experience evolve.
For the hat, look for the OR half-mesh, half-fabric. I don't know the exact name but it's an incredible hat and the best in my opinion. the one she showed has not much breathable.
@@DiabloOutdoors I just had it in my hands at REI yesterday. I added to my wish list to go back and check out. Thanks for the heads up. I think I’ll go order it.
Parapack also makes a half-mesh P-CAP! I just find this standard one to be plenty breathable. But the OR hat is great too; I had a similar one, but it just lost it's brim shape from me smooshing it too much, so I prefer the Paracap.
Thanks for the fun video
The Monty Python reference alone is worth the like lol.
I count grams more for OCD curiosity than weight cutting. That being said, when you're already carrying 80-100+lbs of gear any weight reduction that doesnt sacrifice function is a welcome swap. 😅
It’s the snaps at the start with sass for me 😂❤
I own that original trowel. Its light and great!!!! It definitely looks like a garden trowel though.
LOL I put my switchback on top of my inflatable pad because the 'sections' on inflatables are super annoying to me.
The CNOC bags are awesome, I use the hydroblue filters instead of sawyer though, you can get a charcoal add on for them and it can help with removing chemicals and bad taste.
They should make a ultralight, folding, boonie hat...
Great video. I'm not about to swap out my ziploc bags for dyneema stuff sacks, but thanks again for the informative content Miranda! Learned something as always :)
Yay a new Miranda video!! Would you ever consider coming to Oregon for a Hot Springs trip? Terwilliger hot springs east of Eugene is my favorite for it's natural beauty. Showing up when they open is vital if you want video footage; it is a clothing-optional area around the springs.
(They do have nice loo's too😂💩)
Oh I’d love that!! We visited some hot springs in Idaho - I’ll definitely have to check out the ones in Oregon! Bonus nice loo, love that 😎
Love your videos and appreciate your humor! 😂Getting ready to hike all the 4000’ mountains here in Maine and your advice-recommendations have made it possible for me to get proper gear this time! Which means, I didn’t get it right the first time! 😳🤣
Darnit I had just talked myself out of getting an EE quilt and now I think I need one again.
As military I love watching these and I saw the little metal trowel and was like oh that’s a great idea for a cat hole out in the field….. nvm I already have to carry my E-tool/shovel that’s 20x that size 😂
I LOVE my EE quilt! And I got the custom colors. I love her.
You have gone to the LIGHT SIDE! Another great video Miranda.
I would love to see a video on backpacking/camping on your menstrual cycle. I find menstrual cups are the best option but I feel like a lot of ladies don’t know how wonderful they are for travel.
The discs are even better! Auto dumping means you have to mess with it less during the day, so cleaner and convenient.
@@niesaforster9945 I have never looked into the discs!! I figured they’d hold less than the cups and be messier. I’ll have to do some research, I’m intrigued!!
@JaniLaneFan1 I absolutely LOVE mine. And way more comfy than the cups too.
I have only ever used the discs. They work well for me. I didn’t know at first that they are designed to empty out when you pee and thought they were overflowing😂 I do reuse them once or twice before tossing them. I have never explored a reusable disc. Probably should.
Question for hiking friends: I have yet to find a trowel that outperforms a walking stick. Far over half of the cat-holes I’ve tried to dig with a trowel needed the leverage and tungsten tip of a hiking pole/walk stick. So why even carry a trowel? Am I missing something?
This was wonderful
I too am not a ultra light hiker, but anything to fight that dang gravity!
Also, you saw Kyle in California! Watched his attempt to fill in the gaps on his thru hike
We all struggling with this new reality of fires
Another stellar video. A good list. One thing I will always bring is my REI flex lite air chair. The extra weight is worth the comfort at the end of a long hike. 🥰
Yay…..LOVE that I’ve found your channel 😀🩷
I use one of those plastic trowels for gardening, too.
We should start a Repurposed Backpacking Gear Gardening Club 😅
Taking notes for when it's time to replace things in my standard gear set.
I got a piece of 1/8 foam underlayment for laminate floors and cut it to size. 50 cents at a thrift shop. And it’s yellow. Hard to leave behind.
Sorry, that thin pad won't cut it. I'm in Arizona and the ground is hard with lots of rocks. I have occasionally broken MSR Groundhog stakes trying to get them in the ground. Once in a while it is almost pure sand and then I need longer, wider stakes. But on those few occasions the ground is pretty comfortable. So in most camp sites here, it takes a z-lite and one more pad to get close to comfortable. Similar argument in response to those who say "ditch the ground sheet". My tents wouldn't last a year. There are also lots of cactus needles lying around besides the sharp rocks of all sizes.
You mean for padding underneath an inflatable? I can’t imagine using only the thin pad.
How much of that area (how many nights in a week of daily hiking) would accommodate a hammock?
A hammock is not my primary, nor a tent, but I carry stuff for a variety of situations including a hammock. My most frequent set up is actually a cowboy/tarp hybrid usually using a poncho liner.
I do like your comment for highlighting the critical importance of location as gear selection comes AFTER that for wise experienced hikers, not the other way of presuming that one set of gear choices works for all times and places.
I love my CNOC bag and I have two of the bottles. Being softsided, I can't get the hang of drinking out of it while I'm walking. If I hold it from the harder top, then the middle flops as soon as i take the first drink. If I hold it from the middle, I end up squeezing it too hard to grip it and it splashes all over the place. I'm helpless 😂
I love my Nemo sleeping bag, and hate traditional mummy bags, but this may have convinced me to try a quilt.
The foldable hat from Parapack really caught my attention....I just ordered one! Will also order the Cnoc bottle and adapter...already have two of the 2 L bags for dirty water. Made notes on other products. I am transitioning to ultralight after experiencing a super hard 2 day hike that changed my perspective on weight...I already do use a quilt that I love...currently researching ultralight packs since my current pack weighs 5 pounds empty...thinking of going with the Dan Durston Kakwa 55. Any thoughts from anyone?
Question about the quilt system: what do you have between your skin and the sleeping pad beneath you? I recently slept in warmer weather than expected and slept shirtless against my sleeping pad and it was....not my favorite thing. Do you do anything for this or do you have a recommendation for what I could try? Also, do you use sleeping pad straps with your quilt? Thank you!
Such a miracle idea
10:16 Dyneema schydeema… mesh bags 🫶 half the material, affordable, one can see inside, versatile from bug net to drying stuff