@@sackofwetmice428 Totally! Wet wipes are a lifesaver. I dry mine out beforehand and add a few drops of water when needed-just be sure to pack them out!
Yes, wet wipes!! But one item forgot the first 2 hikes was a handkerchief. I learned quickly it works well to wet it down and it keeps me cool. And sometimes you just need to blow your nose and I don’t like to carry tissues.
@@joanncogil4672 Great tip! I usually pack two bandanas-one for personal use (like cleaning or cooling off) and the other for my gear. They’re so versatile!
Especially while buying gear for the first time, take time BEFORE purchasing anything to find out what gear you need vs want, and to take into account the weights of what you are buying. Making the decision before purchasing leaves you more money for what matters Investing first into your big three will be the most noticeable savings of all. If you have things you can use but want to upgrade before your first trip like a battery bank, clothing, outdoor gadgets, etc. Wait till you have gone out into the back country once you have filled the essentials to see what you actually love/hate/miss. If you determine you can buy a new backpack, tent, sleeping pad, as well as food hanging equipment to get outside with other stuff you own. Then just look for a trip to plan.
Thank you acknowledging people can get scared out there. Too many YTubers actively dismiss this part of the mental aspect of backpacking, especially solo.
Thank you for your comment! Fear is a natural part of backpacking, especially solo. It’s something I’ve always dealt with, and facing it is part of the journey. Building confidence out there makes the experience so much more rewarding!
I'll carry 2-3 extra pounds to have a comfortable recovery in camp. My Tevas and camp chair are must. Plan and prioritize short frequent breaks to drop the pack, eat and drink. Plan your meals and snacks per day.
I hear ya! A camp chair has definitely become a must-have on my trips as well. Taking intentional breaks is such solid advice-it’s so easy to get caught up in trying to 'power through' a hike, even when your body is screaming for a rest.
When I started it was usually heavy military surplus gear so I learned from the start to leave unneccesary things out. Nowadays there's a lot of lightweight stuff available usually at a price and the risk of overpacking. I pack a backpack that's at least 10 liters smaller than the one I'm actually gonna bring. Put all items of the smaller one into the bigger one the night before you leave and don't add anything. For the moral aspect I bring my harmonica. Being a survival instructor I pack less heavy and less items anyway. But good tips.
Thanks for sharing your approach-great strategy with the smaller pack to avoid overpacking! Love the harmonica idea too-it’s those little morale boosters that make a trip memorable. Survival instructor? That’s awesome! You must have a ton of experience to draw from.
@@StepMassive Yes. Started after military service as a bushcraft, outdoor & survival instructor back in 1986. Now I travel more myself, usually solo. Most of my work was in Europe and now discovering other continents. The harmonica is great indeed. I'm not a good player but I manage. One time in Thailand I had a whole family where I was staying singing and dancing just because I started playing. But I also play just for myself if I have the blues.
On my first trip, I was borrowing a friend's jetboil... probably I fine choice for 80% of people! However it's not the right choice for melting snow for water/heat 😂😂😂 I now have a MSR XKG, I only have backpacked below freezing. 2 years experience, just got done with my 5th trip! 🎉
Totally agree-a Jetboil is awesome for most trips, but when it comes to melting snow, it can definitely fall short. The XKG is a solid upgrade for those below-freezing conditions. Congrats on wrapping up your 5th trip!
Just what I was looking for! Thank you! Quick question. We talk so much about pack weight, but what about body weight? If I plan on losing 20-25, does that mean I have to be as concerned about my pack weight as much ?My big 3 are around 12-15. So in my mind my body will think nothing about about my pack weight since I have already started with less weight that I am already used to carrying?? Also,if u haven't done so already, can u list your daily food intake and if u eat on a schedule? Apologies in advance if u already posted this. I just found you today. Thanks!!!
These are great questions! Here's my take: It’s true that carrying less total weight (your body + your pack) makes hiking easier overall, assuming a similar level of fitness. Losing weight will definitely help, but keep in mind that it’ll happen gradually (over weeks or months), and your body will adjust as you lose weight. Even though you’ll weigh less, adding a 30-pound pack will still feel like carrying an extra 30 pounds-it’s weight that your body won't be used to carrying. That said, being lighter in general can make hiking more enjoyable and less tiring. For food, I typically eat a dedicated breakfast (food I eat in the morning, before I begin hiking) and dinner (food I eat after reaching camp). Everything else gets spread out through the day, based on when I feel hungry. Btw, I made a video showing all the food I bring on a standard backpacking trip. Here's the link if you want to check it out: th-cam.com/video/x2Z3KYKQGsY/w-d-xo.html. Thanks again for the excellent questions and for checking out my content. Welcome to the community-happy hiking!
Thanks for the feedback! Unfortunately, my shotgun mic shut off halfway through recoding this video, so I had to rely on the camera mic for audio, which added to the echo. I’m definitely looking into adding sound dampening in the studio and improving my post-production process to fix issues like this in the future. Really appreciate the tip!
You don't wish you brought the Mec Ibex? Come on bruh. It's an awesome pack. I backpacked it for a year long trip around the world... and I eventually needed to leave all my books behind. Too heavy for the airplanes.
What’s the one thing you wish you’d known before your first trip? Let’s share tips!
Wet wipes or toilet paper, leaves don't work well in the fall :(
@@sackofwetmice428 Totally! Wet wipes are a lifesaver. I dry mine out beforehand and add a few drops of water when needed-just be sure to pack them out!
Yes, wet wipes!! But one item forgot the first 2 hikes was a handkerchief. I learned quickly it works well to wet it down and it keeps me cool. And sometimes you just need to blow your nose and I don’t like to carry tissues.
@@joanncogil4672 Great tip! I usually pack two bandanas-one for personal use (like cleaning or cooling off) and the other for my gear. They’re so versatile!
Especially while buying gear for the first time, take time BEFORE purchasing anything to find out what gear you need vs want, and to take into account the weights of what you are buying. Making the decision before purchasing leaves you more money for what matters
Investing first into your big three will be the most noticeable savings of all. If you have things you can use but want to upgrade before your first trip like a battery bank, clothing, outdoor gadgets, etc. Wait till you have gone out into the back country once you have filled the essentials to see what you actually love/hate/miss. If you determine you can buy a new backpack, tent, sleeping pad, as well as food hanging equipment to get outside with other stuff you own. Then just look for a trip to plan.
Thank you acknowledging people can get scared out there. Too many YTubers actively dismiss this part of the mental aspect of backpacking, especially solo.
Thank you for your comment! Fear is a natural part of backpacking, especially solo. It’s something I’ve always dealt with, and facing it is part of the journey. Building confidence out there makes the experience so much more rewarding!
I'll carry 2-3 extra pounds to have a comfortable recovery in camp. My Tevas and camp chair are must.
Plan and prioritize short frequent breaks to drop the pack, eat and drink.
Plan your meals and snacks per day.
I hear ya! A camp chair has definitely become a must-have on my trips as well. Taking intentional breaks is such solid advice-it’s so easy to get caught up in trying to 'power through' a hike, even when your body is screaming for a rest.
When I started it was usually heavy military surplus gear so I learned from the start to leave unneccesary things out. Nowadays there's a lot of lightweight stuff available usually at a price and the risk of overpacking. I pack a backpack that's at least 10 liters smaller than the one I'm actually gonna bring. Put all items of the smaller one into the bigger one the night before you leave and don't add anything. For the moral aspect I bring my harmonica. Being a survival instructor I pack less heavy and less items anyway. But good tips.
Thanks for sharing your approach-great strategy with the smaller pack to avoid overpacking! Love the harmonica idea too-it’s those little morale boosters that make a trip memorable. Survival instructor? That’s awesome! You must have a ton of experience to draw from.
@@StepMassive Yes. Started after military service as a bushcraft, outdoor & survival instructor back in 1986. Now I travel more myself, usually solo. Most of my work was in Europe and now discovering other continents. The harmonica is great indeed. I'm not a good player but I manage. One time in Thailand I had a whole family where I was staying singing and dancing just because I started playing. But I also play just for myself if I have the blues.
On my first trip, I was borrowing a friend's jetboil... probably I fine choice for 80% of people! However it's not the right choice for melting snow for water/heat 😂😂😂 I now have a MSR XKG, I only have backpacked below freezing.
2 years experience, just got done with my 5th trip! 🎉
Totally agree-a Jetboil is awesome for most trips, but when it comes to melting snow, it can definitely fall short. The XKG is a solid upgrade for those below-freezing conditions. Congrats on wrapping up your 5th trip!
Very helpful! Thank you!
You're very welcome!
Since we're making confessions on what comforts the mind, I'm an OG Blues Clues guy lol
Hey, no shame, the woods can be a scary place at night haha!
Just what I was looking for! Thank you! Quick question. We talk so much about pack weight, but what about body weight? If I plan on losing 20-25, does that mean I have to be as concerned about my pack weight as much ?My big 3 are around 12-15. So in my mind my body will think nothing about about my pack weight since I have already started with less weight that I am already used to carrying?? Also,if u haven't done so already, can u list your daily food intake and if u eat on a schedule? Apologies in advance if u already posted this. I just found you today. Thanks!!!
These are great questions! Here's my take: It’s true that carrying less total weight (your body + your pack) makes hiking easier overall, assuming a similar level of fitness. Losing weight will definitely help, but keep in mind that it’ll happen gradually (over weeks or months), and your body will adjust as you lose weight. Even though you’ll weigh less, adding a 30-pound pack will still feel like carrying an extra 30 pounds-it’s weight that your body won't be used to carrying. That said, being lighter in general can make hiking more enjoyable and less tiring.
For food, I typically eat a dedicated breakfast (food I eat in the morning, before I begin hiking) and dinner (food I eat after reaching camp). Everything else gets spread out through the day, based on when I feel hungry. Btw, I made a video showing all the food I bring on a standard backpacking trip. Here's the link if you want to check it out: th-cam.com/video/x2Z3KYKQGsY/w-d-xo.html.
Thanks again for the excellent questions and for checking out my content. Welcome to the community-happy hiking!
@@StepMassive thanks!! Checking it out now. Sharing your page with my friends as well
@@johnnorman4420 You're welcome, and thanks so much!
In post production please remove room echo or use dampening
Thanks for the feedback! Unfortunately, my shotgun mic shut off halfway through recoding this video, so I had to rely on the camera mic for audio, which added to the echo. I’m definitely looking into adding sound dampening in the studio and improving my post-production process to fix issues like this in the future. Really appreciate the tip!
The delivery, structured topic and b-roll were all top notch, I look forward to more. Keep up the good work.
smaller bag in the thumbnail?
It's the Gregory Optic 48. More info here: stepmassive.com/backpack
You don't wish you brought the Mec Ibex? Come on bruh. It's an awesome pack. I backpacked it for a year long trip around the world... and I eventually needed to leave all my books behind. Too heavy for the airplanes.
Haha first time hearing about this pack but MEC seems like a cool company!