lol.. my ex gf had sent me out to buy us camping chairs for a big family thing she was having. I spot these basic ones on sale for $19 each.. hell yeah right? And in a box already easy, I’ll use the discarded box to start fire later.. feel like a genius. Dude, imagine trying to look all camo smart with your gf hovering asking to sit and you pull out a child’s chair. Like not a child.. these were made for an infant. It made for a good laugh (at my expense) but it sucked sitting in leaves all day. Uhg.
5 years ago I never thought I would be the guy carrying furniture through the woods. Then I bought my first helinox. Now I'm one of those guys carrying furniture through the woods.
I can see if you're thru-hiking, but if you're just backpacking low miles on a 3-day weekend, a chair is the tits. Some of these guys will carry 3 pounds or more of camera gear LOL.
I think the camp chair debate is fun and completely fine. The larger point is to give careful consideration to what you’re putting in your pack and why. In my case, I’ve made sacrifices(and spent considerable money)else where so I can be more comfortable in a chair at camp. At 45, I’m putting more and more emphasis on comfort. Same goes for my sleeping pad. I’ll carry a little more weight for a thicker more comfortable pad. But it’s the thought process over all that I think is important.
I was the most out spoken that chair’s were a wast….I turned 45 and got a chair! Now I take it everywhere, best gear I can’t live without! Must be a age thing, I make my kids sit on tree stumps 🤣
I was 50+ when I got a ground chair. I was almost 65 when I got an off-ground chair. I worked it so that this chair saved weight when compared with my prior kit.
I hear what you are saying about backpacks with a brain being overrated. For me though I have found the brain on my osprey bag very useful as a pillow. I pull it off the backpack and put my down jacket and spare clothing inside the brain and it makes the most comfortable camp pillow I've ever used while backpacking.
I will literally always bring a camp chair no matter how many videos Kyle makes telling me not to. Less than a pound for not having to sit on a wet rock? I'll take that any day tbh.
Pack covers are useless for DCF packs that most thruhikers are using, but any of the more standard bags most beginners are using will absorb a considerable amount of water weight from the rain which in my opinion is the main point of the pack cover, to keep the actual pack itself dry. The extra 2 ounces for the cover is worth avoiding the 2 pounds of water a big pack might absorb. I'd still always use some kind of dry bag or liner inside to actually keep gear dry, especially for river crossings.
I also use the cover as a 'ground sheet' for my pack when it stays in the vestibule when sharing the tent with a friend. This summer my friend, who had not double-waterproofed her stuff and just trew her pack in the vestibule, paid the price of having whatever was left in the pack get very wet when some rain hit us at night...
Precisely on all counts Connor! Besides its primary purpose its also a visibility aid, be that at night or day, or even if you're injured and need to attract attention. Multi-use.
I do agree about the rain covers, but i do use a bright orange one during deer season makes me feel a little safer for a couple ounces. State land here is like a war zone during firearm deer season.
Nice idea, I hadn't thought of that. Most of my clothes for hiking are blue or black for whatever reason. I'd thought of buying a bright jacket, but I don't need one at the moment. A bright rain cover is a cheap fix.
I love the pack cover 💕 I use it to store garbage when walking and to put away my hat or other things I don't want after some walking. It's also a good protection for when you have to put your bag down on the ground and at night to protect it from ground moisture. As a rain protection it kind of sucks though... 😊
1. Pack covers: Anything I don't want to get wet is in an inner liner that keeps them dry. 2. My first longish distance hike I didn't even bring a watch at all. That was 1979 and watches told you the time. That was all. I don't understand the concept of "waypoints" and stuff. I just follow the marked trail. I use FarOut and an inReach Mini. 3. We used to think that the more pockets and crap your backpack had, the more usefuller it was. But not no more. I have a system: Stuff I need to reach while I'm hiking go into the side pockets (water bottle pockets.) Stuff I may need but it's no big deal to take off the pack to get to, like raingear or bug lotion or water filter goes in the mesh on the front of the pack. 4. The AT doesn't even get sun. Much. Solar chargers useless in that case. Besides, they can't be much lighter than a battery pack. 5. Most shelter sites, at least, have a picnic table. If not, they have logs and stuff to sit on. A camp chair strikes me as an unnecessary single-use item that I would rarely actually need.
I really want to watch a Dan Becker Crossover where Dan swaps out all the gear in your backpack for camp chairs and you have to cuddle up under a pile of camp chairs to stay warm and dry.
Ditch the camp chair and carry a sit pad. Keeps your butt dry at lunch and makes a rock comfortable. Super light too and you can loan it to your friend to sleep on if they only brought a z fold pad and their hips a killing them.
I still use a pack cover after 30 years of backpacking, despite having a pack liner now. This is due solely to my outside pockets, which are not waterproof. The torrential rains of the AT have taught me that one waterproof layer is never enough, so for instance my TP (on the outside of my pack) gets a ziplock AND a pack cover. My brain is mostly waterproof but it also gets a pack cover. I think if you don't carry a brain, you still will need a stuff sack inside your pack for the miscellany that goes in the brain - so why not carry it where it's easily accessible?
Pack covers: I use a compactor bag as a pack liner. I sometimes use a pack cover (1) because mine is orange (for hunting season) (2) if there's a possibility of freezing rain because it sheds ice and my pack doesn't, (3) maybe in heavy rain because a wet pack weighs more than a dry pack plus a pack cover. But there have been plenty of trips that I've left it at home, so I'll give you 'overrated'. GPS watch: Don't own one. My smartphone GPS is what I use. I carry a smartphone charger that's the approximate form factor and weight of a brick, but it'll run my phone GPS for about a week (and then needs to charge overnight). Overrated. I do wear a watch. It has a barometric altimeter. It was cheap enough that I don't bother changing the battery; the original one lasts at least a few years, and I never trust it to be waterproof after the case has been cracked. Pack with a brain: I use a bloody-great-sack now (a Granite Gear - not the best but I had an REI gift card). Sometimes I miss the 'brain' because I used to detach it and use it as a summit pack while peak-bagging. On the whole, it's not much use for general backpacking, so, sure, overrated. Solar charger: Totally overrated. Useless weight. On the other hand, I do use some cord around my pack as a solar sock dryer. And on longer stages I carry the aforementioned brick-like charger. Camp chair: I'm coming to terms with carrying a bear canister. It makes a useful sitting place. The bear canister is way too heavy, but what can you do? They're already required in some places that I hike, and likely to be required soon in a bunch of others. Might as well get used to it. I find I do like to have something to sit on - I'm in my late 60s and getting up off the ground gets harder every year. But the bear can is OK for that. Overrated gear: Those wood-chip stoves with the built-in electric blower. Seriously, WTF? NOT overrated gear: A trowel. A titanium one's a half-ounce, and God tells me to carry a trowel. (Deuteronomy 23:13)
I'll second the blaze orange pack cover. I hate wearing a vest. I actually own a hiking chair but haven't carried it in a long time, its not worth the time to set it up and take it apart. I really like these videos that get people talking
On the topic of the watch... honestly I've found it's become one of my favorite pieces of gear. I have a Garmin Fenix 6X Pro and there are two things I absolutely love about it -- one is that it has CRAZY long battery life. Like, it doesn't show remaining battery as a percentage but a number of days, and on a full charge it's rated at 21 days. In the real world with heavy GPS usage it does undercut that estimate by a bit, but even then it's still more than enough to last an entire backpacking trip of a few days (or heck, even a week) with a crap-ton of usage. The other thing I love is the fact that it maps your route on your watch, so you can literally see a live map of where you are, where you've been, and where trails and other geographic features are located. While I'm out hiking, especially using trekking poles, taking my phone out of a holster or bag is definitely a pain, to say nothing of the fact that my phone has MUCH less battery life than my watch (even less if it's the device I'm using to track my hike) and if I happen to fumble and drop it while I'm pulling it out of my pocket, that's one expensive mistake. So I really like being able to just hold up my wrist, get the info I need, and keep on trekking. Anyways, I definitely get your frustrations with the idea of a watch... the battery life issue was the biggest reason why I used to feel the same way as you about the idea of using a watch instead of just letting my phone handle all the navigation. But this Fenix has been a gamechanger for me. Granted, it's not cheap, but this thing's a total beast and I "Frigon" love it. 😂😂
I love mine, as well. I had a Fenix 5 ever since it came out, and then this year upgraded to the 7. I use it for sea kayaking as well, and just general hiking and walking. (Biking, though, I use a dedicated biking Garmin unit, on the handlebars.) I'm kind of a data nerd, lol, and I like having the detailed records of my activities, after they're over.
I also love my fenix! I am attempting a thru hike of the AT this year and am looking forward to having it. I am a HUGE data nerd as well. I’m actually participating in a study while on trail about thru hiking and nutrition. It’s going to use instinct solars as part of the data collection. I’m debating still taking and using my fenix too just for continuity of my own data as the study data will be on a different account😂
G'day Kyle, I have been hiking for a long time and really enjoy your content. The things that makes your channel interesting is when after trip you go through and explain the failures and issues you encountered. What you did to make it safe and what could be done in future. We are constantly learning with this hobby. I have been using a bum bag on overnight hikes, I have followed one of your tips, secured pouch to waist straps. My hiking partner uses a camp chair. Continue with informative content.
A brain on the backpack is not pointless. I hardly ever use one, but a few liters extra volume and an extra compartment or two is ok in itself, but the most useful thing with a brain is that you can secure stuff like a bear canister or tent or whatever MUCH more secure than you can ever do with a strap or Y-strap. As I said, I hardly ever use a brain, since I almost always easily fit everything inside my backpack, but once I have to strap something additionally on the outside of the backpack, using a brain is easily the best way to do it. It keep the weight of whatever extra stuff close to the back, it keep it secure and tight to the pack so it doesn't wobble around and disturb you while you walk and as said, it add another piece of volume and organisation to the pack. This additional organisation is for example pretty ideal for an extra insulated layer in a zip-lock bag, easy to reach once you take the backpack off and need it, while out of the way while you walk. Good luck reachimg 50.000 subscribers, I can only be one, but you deserve more than you have!
I love my GPS watch! I have a Garmin fénix 6x. I love being able to track stats during the day. Yes, it adds an extra cord, and an extra thing to charge. However, it charges fairly quickly. And the battery savings from not tracking on my phone is well worth it. GPS tracking with the phone uses a ton of battery life. The watch is pretty much dedicated to that purpose, and my phone battery is about twice what it would be with tracking. So even though it’s an additional device, it’s actually less charging. That said, if you’re not tracking the hike, the watch wouldn’t be worth it!
Yeah, pack covers are pretty useless - the only reason my Osprey has one is because it came permanently attached - I never use it. I recently just upgraded to a Garmin fenix 7 - I love it, and it insures I always have navigation available attached to my body. It falls well into the range of my battery capacity! (It augments my phone, my inReach, AND my compass…) Brains - take ‘em or leave ‘em - if I need the room, bring it. If I don’t need the room, I leave it home. Solar - I’ve never found anything that made the weight worth the performance, but I’m open to watching the new tech. I knew you couldn’t leave the chairs alone..! I fall into the camp of Root (AT 2021 - I hiked the most of the Shenandoah NP with him and Greenhorn) - he says, “My baseweight STARTS with my chair!”
One thing that annoyed me on the Colorado Trail was unlike the AT, there was nothing to sit on! If I ever go back to the CT, I might consider a chair, but not for long... Pack covers - they can be useful during the rainy season. Most packs will absorb water, so a cover can reduce that extra water weight. Pack covers also give you something to unload the contents of your pack onto when the ground is wet.
I'm 74 and have hiked on an off since I was 7 but never with a camp chair. I have used a small piece of closed cell foam to sit on at times but since moving from a tent to a hammock it's not been needed. As far as solar charges go they are a waste of space and weight burden. Hoping for sufficient improvement in solar chargers to make them viable in the future is so unlikely there is not enough energy from the sun. You may better wish for a portable antimatter generator. I always used to use map and compass, now use gps on phone or dedicated gps. I have never got lost with a map and compass but have gotten turned around with gps in a forest. I do use a windup watch, I've had one for as long as I remember. I have on the other arm a health and fitness monitor. no gps watch. Also I always wear boots I like them, they have saved my ankles from many cuts and grazes and you are right Darn Tough socks are the best.
Of course he had to say camp chairs… I HATE YOU KYLE! Lol For real though, I love my chair zero, but I honestly don’t think I use it enough to justify the added weight if I were doing a lot of miles. I’m just a weekend warrior though, so it’s usually not the biggest deal to add a pound.
Pack Covers: I do think there is a place for them, but the majority of them you can get may not fit your back or leave too much of a gap to be reliable. However, there are some backs that do include a pack cover that does fit with the pack. You can ignore it or use it. The biggest problem I have is the fact that I have to remove my pack to put it on and if I have my tent in a water proof bag outside the pack then it won't fit. This is just something that someone needs to decide if it is worth using or not. Over rated? I don't think it is because I don't see people saying you must have one. GPS watches: I had a friend, when we just got done with basic training, spent his saved up money on a GPS watch. We did made fun on him because it is a tad bit too late for it since our field training is done. But the GPS watch does other things besides tracking where you are at. They do have a compass built in so you can know where you are going (I know Kyle doesn't really carry one even though he does suggest it). Some of them nowadays have an SOS button so that is one less device you need. Of course it tells time and you can set alarms on it which means you are using your phone less. Plus, the watch is on your wrist where your phone might be in a hard spot to get. With the cable arguement, it is just one small cable and a lot of them are not as heavy duty as you may think (heavy duty as in heavy in weight). It could be a worth wild get because with it you don't need a compass, SOS beckon, use your phone less, and of course the GPS function. Pack Brain: I think this is more in a ultralight thinking than just hiking thinking. Some packs that have them can be detached and some of those have that brain into a fanny pack. My pack has it and I don't see myself as being better than everyone else like what Kyle may suggest (not sure if it was a joke or how he feels about it). What do I keep in it? My snacks, cables, lighter with fire starters, my spork, and just small things. Is it really needed? No, not really. If you want to consider what is just needed for hiking than a trash bag is good enough. But it is more of the quality of life than it being needed. Over rated? Again, I don't see people talking down to me for having one and I don't do that towards others that do not have one. It is just up to the person and what they want. Do they want a very expensive ultralight weight pack that can fit everything inside its one pocket or do you want something comfortable that doesn't cost as much to get your foot in the door? Solar Chargers: Yes, they are over rated. I do agree and I have used one during my missions while in the military. At first you think they will save you a lot of hassle but soon enough you notice that they charge super slow, the heat from the sun could damage the battery easier, and for it to be outside to get the light if it rains and you forget about it then it is ruined. During the trail hike I feel like someone will forget to attach it on their bag and make it less worth wild. Just get a normal battery pack, you will be okay. Camp Chair: This is just another thing that is more towards ultralight than anything else. If your knees and legs are still healthy than yes, they are not needed and you can just sit on the floor while you make your meal. But if your knees and legs are not as well as they used to have been then a chair can be worth it to give your knees a proper relaxing time for the next coming day. I don't carry a chair because they can get bucky and the ones that are not so bucky are too costly to be worth it. With the gear you have always remember to ask yourself, are you comfortable with your setup and are you willing to deal with the weight or downsides of said gear? No gear is perfect for everyone for every trail. But if you are able to find a set of gear that works for you then please use it. Try not to worry about someone calling it over rated or stupid. Now if you try to bring a wood stove with you and have a wagon carrying it then you may want to rethink your plan. But almost everything here has its purpose, even the solar charger.
I have to disagree on the watch aspect- you bring up some valid points, and of course to-each-their-own, but having used a Garmin smartwatch over the past couple years I would never go back. It has an ultra-track mode, meaning with my model you can essentially go 30+ days of backpacking without charging the item. Using a phone as a GPS has worked for me in the past, but I’m never able to use my phone for more than a days time. Granted I almost always have some music playing as well, and I tend to use Bluetooth headphones so there’s a ton of battery life down the drain, but having a dedicated GPS unit on my wrist that I almost never have to think about has been a game changer! Great video, been loving these sit-down blog style videos about hiking!
That’s kinda where I am at, it’s hard to complain about any of these things when you go from 70lbs to 30-35lbs. Camp chairs I definitely don’t understand lol. Ground seemed to work fine. Hell Ive used rocks as pillows lol
Pack covers work below treeline. GPS watches - if you’re looking for your Mom, put down the watch and ask Kyle where she’s at. Top pockets (brains) were needed before we had big-ass stretchy front pockets for quick access to gear without going into the back. The stretchy pocket pretty much replaced them, save for the key clip. Stretchy pocket + Fanny pack > Brain. Kyle gets to 50k subs while sending them to the Buckeye trail.😜 Helinox Chair Zero highback chair allows me to rebound after a 20+ mile day and my back doesn’t get tweaked while making dinner without a table. Camp chairs for hikers < 50 maybe for idiots. Wait until you get older, though.
In my day we had shovel pockets, side pockets, ice axe loops, and beavertails on EVERYTHING. No one even knows why. And then there were the lids that detached and turned into lumbar packs (can't call 'em fanny packs). Granite Gear had an internal floating lid (brain) in some of their panel loaders and I actually liked that.
@@AmandaTikkanen hey Amanda - been a minute. Osprey’s bigger packs, like their Aether, still have brains, and they convert to summit packs, with their own set of shoulder straps and all. 12oz for the brain by itself. 😲
On camp chairs. It is a hiking vs camping thing. If I am going to be hiking then I don't take a "chair". I usually still have my e-tool (I use a lot of milsurp because I like using gear with history). The e-tool can be used as a chair and I usually use it for other things as well. If I am camping out of a kayak (usually at least 1 trip a year) then I take a stool or chair. I still have to worry about weight on the kayak (I'm a bigger guy), but it can take a bit more than my knees and back can. Again, the camp chair thing is camping vs hiking. Which do you enjoy more? Hiking and seeing the sights or camping and relaxing around a fire? There is really no wrong answer, just different goals.
I never thought I would be a person that carries a chair but bought one this year and it’s been amazing for me. resting my 47 years old back and my hips is a dream. so I cut the toothbrush and whatever else I can to make weight for the chair.
Everything else aside, a simple watch is a pretty important first aid tool. Taking basic vitals and recognizing the signs of shock can save lives. Its also nice to be able to turn off your phone and still be able to reference the time or set an alarm. Also, some of the lightweight single panel solar chargers are well worth it especially if you can rely on sun. Not having to squat in a town near an outlet for an hour or two when you’d rather be on trail is so worth it. Hiked the AZT just recently and could easily charge my phone in a day with a panel that weighed about the same as an anker power bank.
I use a pack cover not to keep my gear dry, I still use a pack liner for that. use a pack cover to keep my backpack cleaner from mud and saps. it's very effective for rainforests here in Java. I also wear Chinese 15$ smartwatch solely to count the steps I take away from my camp for when I take a number 2. And I also bring campchair with me because the ground is always wet here.
I wear a solar gps watch so does not take effort to keep it charged. There is always chance you may not have map on phone. Also your phone can break. I am also connected to Inreach. I can activate device and read incoming messages on watch. Solar panels work well today. Charge a power bank during day and charge phone at night.
As someone in their 50's and with a bad back and a bad knee, a camp chair is a must for me. Way too hard and painful getting up from sitting on the ground every time I want to sit and rest.
R.e. watches and charging, having a good GPS watch with maps should reduce the numbers of power banks you need to carry, since it is far more battery efficient than navigating with a phone (which you can keep off or in airplane + battery saver mode for emergencies). My Fenix 6 will last for a few days of hiking on a charge, and uses a very small proportion of a power bank to fully recharge.
Maybe you didn't notice the solar panel on my pack when we met in the Sierra this summer? For $20, I thought I'd give it a try. Worked well enough. Now if solar panels came with a built-in camp chair, that would be something! Ha. I can't imagine carrying a camp chair either, I'm 62.
As a long distance bicycle tourist/camper. I keep my cloths, in Hefty Slide Lock storage bags. Actually I keep pretty much any thing that could get damaged by moisture in said storage bags. They come in all sorts of sizes. And the Slide lock is much nicer then say a zip lock. Not sure you know this, but GPS on your cell phone, only works if there is a cell tower in range. No Cell service equals no GPS. It is not GPS fro a satellite. I know some will not believe me, so call your cell phone service provider.
Yes, solar for out West. Here's where most go wrong - Don't use a big panel. Lixada makes one smaller than a regular sheet of paper. 3oz. Velcro Nitecore battery to the back and never, ever have to charge again. Get to town with full batteries all around. Once went nine-days and batteries were full walking into town. Lixada is 2W, not 10, but only need 2W, so ignore beefing in ratings. It's lasted two seasons so far and only costs $20 anyway.
Sorry, but I don't believe you. I live in an RV, I've got a 200W solar panel on my roof. I'm very familiar with how much power you can get from the sun and how much power devices and battery banks draw. For comparison, my 200W solar panel will charge my 45Ah battery in about an hour under the most ideal conditions. There's no way you keep a 10Ah Nitecore charged up with a 2W panel.
@@Andy-Mesa - Even if one only gets 5hrs/day sun (and PCT gets more), that's 10W•hr right there. That's three full phone charges or six-days worth. 2W is way more than enough to keep up with phone, earbuds and headlamp.
I’m a thru hiker. My bag has a brain, easy access, and I carry a chair. Love it for the end of the day relaxing. But I still subscribed! Rock on and hike your hike.
If you don’t recommend solar panels to charge electronics, what do you recommend? Especially for a trip where it’s only 3-4 days and you aren’t heading into town to charge up. Thanks!
Tracking your hike with GPS on your phone drains the battery very quickly. Whilst with a Garmin watch that has UltraTrac mode it can last 7-14 days. Depending on what type of Garmin watch you have and what settings you use. My phone is almost exclusively on airplane mode while hiking.
Never used a camp chair. I got one for my wife but it's hers and she only day hikes. I will say the one piece of equipment that will always go with me is a little plug in fan. I hang it on the top of my tent and aim it at my head. I will never not carry it unless I find a better one or it breaks. Everything else I can see your point.
I eventually added a chair kit to my 2017 thru hike when weather in the winter turned south. In the winter a Helinox type chair won't work because your life is spent in the tent and you have short days and long nights, At this time, nothing beats a chair kit. You cat sit up right and listen or watch or anything in comfort. The Sea to Summit is a bit lighter than the Thermarest but they all eventually break. That said I have been using one year round for decades because it is half the weight of the of the Helinox types and getting up and down off the ground is the reason those 3rd world 85 year old women are still out picking rice.
Pack covers: Agree. Useless, waste of weight. GPS Watch: Yes, a pain to keep charged and GPS eats the battery. Brains: I mean, it depends on need. I have a removable brain bag. I use it as needed, usually winter. (Also, yes I'm part of the older demographic.) Solar chargers: I'm in CO, I have a solar battery bank to just give it extra juice when I'm on breaks, especially above treeline. Camp chairs: I have one for short trips where camping is a bigger part of my outing. I don't take it peak bagging and I won't be taking it on the CT this year. They have their time and place.
Summary: - pack covers: heavier, giant hole on your back so it doesn't work, use a nylofume pack liner - gps watch: you have to charge it, your phone is already a gps - backpacks with a brain: heavier than a UL rolltop-style backpack - solar chargers: heavy, don't work on a lot of trails with tree covers - camp chairs: heavy, Kyle doesn't spend enough time at camp
It’s worth mentioning… those foldable solar lamps are worthwhile. It just hangs and weighs like 2 ounces and I’ve seen them totally work off just basic sunlight off a pack. They also have a type-a plug that could give a phone 30 minutes of life in a pinch. Those $30 Amazon powerbanks with a solar panel on top? Yeah those are useless for solar. Like almost absolute. It would take a solid week of perfect sunlight 10 hours a day to half charge one.. not practical
The wet hole is not the problem... It's the windy hole that ruins one's day. That hole at a windy time ends with the whole - not just the hole - being carried off into the wilderness.
Solar chargers are debatable as someone from Hawaii whose traveled/hiked a lot (only camped once never went on a backpacking trip) solar chargers are good for a emergency charge and you don’t have to wonder were you are going to be able to charge your battery bank. I personally carry my solar charger anywhere no matter the tree cover/amount of sun, in Hawaii we also once had a 24 power outage and my family kept our phones/mp3 players charged.
I started taking a hammock instead of a chair for hikes. It's lighter, takes the same time to set up, and the rest it offers in a short time is unmatched. I'm not a thru-hiker though, I just go on weekend trips.
I completely agree about pack covers. I never use them. My pack cover in camp is a garbage bag. Camp chairs are nice if your base camping. Through hiking I still do not take one. And yes I am old enough to be your Dad, Kyle, and many people on here their Grandfather. Still going strong though.
I’ll be 42 in March. Tendinitis in both knees, arthritis I’m the right ankle and shoulder, sciatica, and 22 pieces of titanium in my left humerus. A comfortable seat at the end of the day is a must.
I'm 55, hiked for 45 years, never used chair, I simply don't understand it. In the camp I lay or sit on the ground, lean against the tree, if it's wet or on the snow, I have 3oz pad I can sit or lay on and I am much more comfortable then sitting in the chair, I know it, because once I gave in and bought one, never even had a second thought to take it hiking, cheers...love my Coros watch though, with gps on , last me three hiking days, no big deal to recharge it
Haha the backpack cover is very light and DOES keep it dry 😀. Why? Because I keep the pack vertical and there isn’t a hole because it’s against my back! I would always buy a backpack that has it as a hidden feature in a compartment at the bottom. They do work imo 😊 I use a GPS watch (Fenix 6X) which lasts 3 days solid providing me a route to follow. And then I can easily charge it because it only needs the small cable and a small amount of charge from a portable usb charger. It SAVES me pulling out the phone and wasting phone battery life. Plus and a big plus it proves GPS navigation when it is raining very hard and using a phone becomes impractical. I have the same routes on my phone as my garmin so I can switch. I agree about solar chargers. I got one but never used it because it’s too heavy and I have never walked in the desert. And I never carry a camp chair lol. I carry a small foldup pad to sit on. Weighs nothing
Thanks for the vid, man. On nav watches. I'm going to have a watch with me anyway, so it might as well tell me other stuff too. I use (and actually just recently got this) a Garmin Instinct 2. I do other stuff with it as well, like orienteering. It tracks where to go, it's a compass, it leaves 'breadcrumb trails' for me to follow back if I need to and talks to my app (and larger GPS if I need it to). it also monitors a whole bunch of other stuff and tells me how much time I have before sunset, etc. Is it necessary? Nah. But it often replaces my GPS which is a lot bigger; my watch weighs almost nothing. And the charging... They don't really require hardly any charge at all to be 'full' and mine will last 14 days unless I'm using it as a GPS. Anyway, they make a little, tiny adaptor that slides onto a standard USB-C so it doesn't amount to any appreciable delta in gear or weight. Oh, and it also is a great camp flashlight. Seriously. I know that's a super weird thing but when it's pretty dark, it has a flashlight mode that's a lot nicer to use than a headlamp for just bumbling around camp. It is surprisingly useful. It also alerts of impending weather, is a barometer and an altimeter along with all the other stuff you mention. It also has things like storm alerts if there's a sharp enough barometric change in a given time... Anyway, that's my take on the watch; it does many things. Some of those things are even important to me. ;)
@@KyleHatesHiking None of what I said means a hill of beans, but... You know, it got said. LOL. FWIW I don't carry a chair either even though I bought one. Now I just use it for truck camping (overlanding).
Also watches generally are a lot more accurate with GPS tracking than cell phones and they use less power. You don't have to dig out your cell phone (which might slip out of your hands, fall and break) to check lots of data points (time, distance, position, bearing, elevation, heart rate, blood Ox, temp-if you sync an external sensor, etc). Of course watches don't take photos .. yet.
I don't take any backpack anywhere without a pack cover, they always keep my pack and stuff dry, and it rains a lot here. Backpacks with brains can't function without the brain because they're not designed to. About portable solar panels, I have a few and camped long term in a remote coastal spot during the lockdown, and for the entire time, the panels were perfect for charging my phone, tablet, laptop, multiple power banks, headtorch, electric toothbrush
My Osprey pack has a removable brain, and I've used the pack without it (it has a permanently attached flap of fabric that is used to cover up the drawstring hole that is normally just below the brain.)
Happy New Year Kyle, thanks for the video. I agree with you about backpack covers, stuff still seems to get damp inside even when using a cover. Note I've never had a dyneema pack only nylon, or polyester, or canvas (many many many years ago) and only ever used the covers that came with the packs. I've lined my bag for years now and that works. I will keep my brain though. I am happy to add the weight and extra fabric for the organization (especially the meth). Like you the added weight of the chair isn't something I desire or need, but I do carry a sit pad. Chairs are for family car camping trips when I'm taking the 100 pound propane grill and the 30 pound patio style wood burning fire pit.
camp chair comment lol.. im not "old" and im in pretty good shape. However, my knees and back hurt more from sitting in the ground than they do from hiking with a pack. The difference in recovery is night and day. I would say depending on your body and pain the chair is on top of the list. Every time I backpack with someone new they end up buying a chair immediately when they get home. I dont pretend to be ultra light but I 'weigh' the difference between what I carry and how I feel.
My Osprey atmos 65 comes with a rain cover included, it helps to an extent as long as its not just absolutely pouring out, but a good (and cheap) alternative is to put an extra large garbage bag over your pack and just cut holes to pull your straps through
Ok.... it depends on what you are wanting out of your solar chargers. If you are like me and go out for 10-14 + days at a time, and you only carry a 10k Anker bank, then the charger is very important. Especially since I record 2+ hours a day of video, every day, in 4k 60FPS. So, that means after 4 days I've almost wiped out my power bank. Now, with that said, I've gone through 4 solar chargers in 6 years. All of them still work, but you get what you pay for in this area (like most backpacking gear...). If you want UL, just understand you are making sacrifices in other areas, like wattage or amperage. For example, two years ago I brought a 10w single panel for a 12 days Yellowstone trip. This combined with my 10k Anker worked perfectly until the sun stopped shining. I would set this in the field next to camp in the morning and when I left camp (10-11 AM) I would pick it up and put it on top of my zpacks bag with a few carabiners. When I arrived at camp I would set it up in a spot that would get full sun until sundown, and walk away. I managed to have enough power for the whole trip, but just barely. That was with 5 days of overcast too. I finished on day 10 with
I have never seen a back cover work. Almost froze to death a few years ago due to terrestrial rain fall and all my gear was wet...I was holding extra water within the first hour. Only reason I made it through was because of my sleeping bag being in a plastic bag. Get a water proof bag and place all your stuff in a pack liner or compactor bag inside your backpacking bag.
I think the idea behind the brain of backpacks is a removable daypack when you get to your main destination to do shorter excursions from a base camp. I’m all for the brain, but to each their own. Same with gps watches. Not a big deal with long term battery options with Garmin stuff.
Why on earth would they not put the hole on pack covers ON THE BOTTOM??? Seems so obvious 😭 No it’s still not 100% waterproof but it’s a heII of a lot better than having it on the top with all the rain coming through!
I chose a watch specifically for my 2017 thru hike of the AT, One of my requirements was that I could read the time in the middle of the night. I spent the winter on the AT and my phone was buried in my sleeping bag. Mine was a but ugly Casio with an ugly B&W screen and huge bezel, but it worked.
Stuff like ditching pack covers or membranes makes sense for the smart thru hiker sure, but for weekend warriors or even 5-7 day trips,it can prove more useful to have than to not
Pack liners are over rated and so are pack covers. I’ve owned 1 pack cover that has been worth a damn over the years. I stopped using a pack liner years ago. Pack liners hold water. If it’s raining and you open your pack up during the storm water gets in the liner. If you don’t get it pulled close all the way or if it gets a hole in it water gets in. You have to rearrange how you pack your entire bag when you have to pack a wet tent. It’s easier just to water proof the items that matter and not worry about everything else. Do you really care if your cook pot gets wet or your stove?
The only time I've seen a long-distance hiker with a solar charger was a guy attempting the great western loop trail. He and his friend were putting in 40 mile days, and the tops of their legs came up to my shoulders. I think the strategy was to minimize the need and time to head into a town.
Hey, I'm just getting into backpacking.... 90% will be during winter since I work spring to start of winter. So I'm 90% sure I want to carry a camp chair and don't always want to sit in snow... oh Wisconsin home state so cold winter shit. I'm a truck camper/day hiker atm. -20f is no problem in truck, gonna do some gear testing this week in backyard. Tent n sleeping bag finally come tomorrow!! Nemo kunai 2p n 0 degree bag with s2s xt pad, so basically more weight than your full setup!
I have a love/hate relationship with the brain on my pack -- it seems a bit ungainly, it's an extra thing to have to strap down correctly (to try to mitigate the ungainliness), but . . . it is definitely a super-convenient spot for stashing some small, lightweight things that I want quick/easy access to. Mine is removable, and I have sometimes gone without it. I've got a Helinox Chair Zero. I've brought it bike touring a few times, and even at campsites with picnic tables, it is really nice to sit in the chair and then put my feet up on the bench of the picnic table, get some leg elevation going. It seems a like a lot for backpacking, though, in volume as well as weight. I do always bring along a Therm-a-Rest Z Seat. It accordions up to a pretty compact profile, and weighs 2 ounces. It's especially nice when sitting on cold rocks on winter hikes.
As far as watches go personally I use a Casio pathfinder, sun charges it, has a compass, barometer and altimeter. Automatically adjusts for daylight savings time. Was my dad's for years and now I have used it for 6 years.
Imagine in old western movies if the cowboys were sitting around in camp chairs. Or Grace Kelly and Cary Grant on a picnic but instead of a blanket they have camp chairs. Really romantic. I do miss the days of doing a hundred miles in two weeks with an external frame pack. That was luxury.
I am a person that goes into the mountains to dig crystals. So whenever I fill up socks I like to be able to hook them to different areas. Have different pockets for different finds. Other than that yeah unless I was going out in the woods for like three weeks.
I LOVE my camp chair!!! I call it a hammock. Gotta love a dual purpose piece of gear...actually three. A hammock is essentially both your sleeping pad and your tent floor (since you save the weight of a floor by using a tarp).
The only time I using a solar charger makes sense is if you are doing and extended base camping trip. But obviously still dependent on location exposure. Also, I love my framed backpack with a brain, but I'm not an ultra light hiker.
My kids and I have been out for hours and hours in downpours in PA on the AT. Never using pack covers because you know, severely not needed. Waterproof bags for things that need to stay dry and pack liners do the trick. Keep on keeping on.
Camp chairs rule, and there is nothing better than boiling water for food/coffee/etc than from a camp chair. Worth the weight and leaving behind something else.
![ILLSLICK X YOUNGOHM - We're The same [Official Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/yUJNkobYR0E/mqdefault.jpg)
It would be silly to give up my camp chair as it would make my camp table look out of place.
😂
And my footrest!
😂
😂😂😂 good stuff
lol.. my ex gf had sent me out to buy us camping chairs for a big family thing she was having. I spot these basic ones on sale for $19 each.. hell yeah right? And in a box already easy, I’ll use the discarded box to start fire later.. feel like a genius.
Dude, imagine trying to look all camo smart with your gf hovering asking to sit and you pull out a child’s chair. Like not a child.. these were made for an infant. It made for a good laugh (at my expense) but it sucked sitting in leaves all day.
Uhg.
5 years ago I never thought I would be the guy carrying furniture through the woods. Then I bought my first helinox. Now I'm one of those guys carrying furniture through the woods.
😂😂
I can see if you're thru-hiking, but if you're just backpacking low miles on a 3-day weekend, a chair is the tits. Some of these guys will carry 3 pounds or more of camera gear LOL.
Same, and I’m not even thirty yet😂
Being able to chill in comfort is LUXURIOUS.
1lb... in exchange of the ultimate enjoyment being outdoors... Yeah, unless I am not camping.
If ur stealth camping, added bonus to have camp chair!
I think the camp chair debate is fun and completely fine. The larger point is to give careful consideration to what you’re putting in your pack and why. In my case, I’ve made sacrifices(and spent considerable money)else where so I can be more comfortable in a chair at camp. At 45, I’m putting more and more emphasis on comfort. Same goes for my sleeping pad. I’ll carry a little more weight for a thicker more comfortable pad. But it’s the thought process over all that I think is important.
exactly. Thanks Nathan
I was the most out spoken that chair’s were a wast….I turned 45 and got a chair! Now I take it everywhere, best gear I can’t live without!
Must be a age thing, I make my kids sit on tree stumps 🤣
I remember watching people using trekking poles back in my mid 20s, like "what lightweights". In the 80s btw!
I was 50+ when I got a ground chair. I was almost 65 when I got an off-ground chair. I worked it so that this chair saved weight when compared with my prior kit.
I hear what you are saying about backpacks with a brain being overrated. For me though I have found the brain on my osprey bag very useful as a pillow. I pull it off the backpack and put my down jacket and spare clothing inside the brain and it makes the most comfortable camp pillow I've ever used while backpacking.
Genius. Hadn't thought of that.
I will literally always bring a camp chair no matter how many videos Kyle makes telling me not to. Less than a pound for not having to sit on a wet rock? I'll take that any day tbh.
what if the rock is dry
UwU
@@KyleHatesHiking your very optimistic
Your chair is more useful than Kyle,.
@@KyleHatesHiking Its not. even if it is its cold. CAMP CHAIRS RULE!!!
Here’s to blowing the demographics apart. I’m a woman AND 60 and a new hiker. Love the channel. I miss seeing my boys act like a spaz-❤😂
thanks for tuning in Lee!
You're in the right place. Kyle loves moms.
@@Andy-Mesa 🤣
"Acting like a spaz". You and I are from a different era, Lee. A different era. 🤘
@@Andy-Mesa😂
Pack covers are useless for DCF packs that most thruhikers are using, but any of the more standard bags most beginners are using will absorb a considerable amount of water weight from the rain which in my opinion is the main point of the pack cover, to keep the actual pack itself dry. The extra 2 ounces for the cover is worth avoiding the 2 pounds of water a big pack might absorb. I'd still always use some kind of dry bag or liner inside to actually keep gear dry, especially for river crossings.
I also use the cover as a 'ground sheet' for my pack when it stays in the vestibule when sharing the tent with a friend. This summer my friend, who had not double-waterproofed her stuff and just trew her pack in the vestibule, paid the price of having whatever was left in the pack get very wet when some rain hit us at night...
Very true.. the materials of some packs, and padding in the shoulder straps and stuff will be heavier when saturated
Precisely on all counts Connor! Besides its primary purpose its also a visibility aid, be that at night or day, or even if you're injured and need to attract attention. Multi-use.
I do agree about the rain covers, but i do use a bright orange one during deer season makes me feel a little safer for a couple ounces. State land here is like a war zone during firearm deer season.
yeah that's a good idea!
Good pint with the blaze, I like multi cam to cover my packs to not stick out
Never considered this before, thanks for the idea!
@@Bill_tyler I have both. They Seem To stay home more often than not.
Nice idea, I hadn't thought of that. Most of my clothes for hiking are blue or black for whatever reason. I'd thought of buying a bright jacket, but I don't need one at the moment. A bright rain cover is a cheap fix.
I love the pack cover 💕
I use it to store garbage when walking and to put away my hat or other things I don't want after some walking.
It's also a good protection for when you have to put your bag down on the ground and at night to protect it from ground moisture.
As a rain protection it kind of sucks though... 😊
1. Pack covers: Anything I don't want to get wet is in an inner liner that keeps them dry.
2. My first longish distance hike I didn't even bring a watch at all. That was 1979 and watches told you the time. That was all. I don't understand the concept of "waypoints" and stuff. I just follow the marked trail. I use FarOut and an inReach Mini.
3. We used to think that the more pockets and crap your backpack had, the more usefuller it was. But not no more. I have a system: Stuff I need to reach while I'm hiking go into the side pockets (water bottle pockets.) Stuff I may need but it's no big deal to take off the pack to get to, like raingear or bug lotion or water filter goes in the mesh on the front of the pack.
4. The AT doesn't even get sun. Much. Solar chargers useless in that case. Besides, they can't be much lighter than a battery pack.
5. Most shelter sites, at least, have a picnic table. If not, they have logs and stuff to sit on. A camp chair strikes me as an unnecessary single-use item that I would rarely actually need.
to be fair, a lot of people are camping at sites without picnic tables. but yeah, ill pass on the chair. Thanks for the insight into all these points
I really want to watch a Dan Becker Crossover where Dan swaps out all the gear in your backpack for camp chairs and you have to cuddle up under a pile of camp chairs to stay warm and dry.
Ditch the camp chair and carry a sit pad. Keeps your butt dry at lunch and makes a rock comfortable. Super light too and you can loan it to your friend to sleep on if they only brought a z fold pad and their hips a killing them.
Lol the buckeye trail jab had me spitting my coffee
hahaha im glad someone noticed
Same! BPL is a great area.
pack cover is useful for when it’s fuckin pouring, having a soggy pack ain’t fun
I still use a pack cover after 30 years of backpacking, despite having a pack liner now. This is due solely to my outside pockets, which are not waterproof. The torrential rains of the AT have taught me that one waterproof layer is never enough, so for instance my TP (on the outside of my pack) gets a ziplock AND a pack cover. My brain is mostly waterproof but it also gets a pack cover. I think if you don't carry a brain, you still will need a stuff sack inside your pack for the miscellany that goes in the brain - so why not carry it where it's easily accessible?
My thoughts exactly on the brain. You’ll either have a brain or a ditty bag or a bunch of little stuff sacks to sort through. You’re choice.
Fanny pack, waist pack.
@@markcummings6856 Good call. I’m surprised young Kyle hasn’t taken that on - or a chest pack (aka, “feed bag”). LOL!
I always feel self-conscious when I'm on a day hike and I see a thru-UL-hiker coming at me. It's like they wanna laugh.
😅
@@psy-op1201 lmao
Pack covers: I use a compactor bag as a pack liner. I sometimes use a pack cover (1) because mine is orange (for hunting season) (2) if there's a possibility of freezing rain because it sheds ice and my pack doesn't, (3) maybe in heavy rain because a wet pack weighs more than a dry pack plus a pack cover. But there have been plenty of trips that I've left it at home, so I'll give you 'overrated'.
GPS watch: Don't own one. My smartphone GPS is what I use. I carry a smartphone charger that's the approximate form factor and weight of a brick, but it'll run my phone GPS for about a week (and then needs to charge overnight). Overrated. I do wear a watch. It has a barometric altimeter. It was cheap enough that I don't bother changing the battery; the original one lasts at least a few years, and I never trust it to be waterproof after the case has been cracked.
Pack with a brain: I use a bloody-great-sack now (a Granite Gear - not the best but I had an REI gift card). Sometimes I miss the 'brain' because I used to detach it and use it as a summit pack while peak-bagging. On the whole, it's not much use for general backpacking, so, sure, overrated.
Solar charger: Totally overrated. Useless weight. On the other hand, I do use some cord around my pack as a solar sock dryer. And on longer stages I carry the aforementioned brick-like charger.
Camp chair: I'm coming to terms with carrying a bear canister. It makes a useful sitting place. The bear canister is way too heavy, but what can you do? They're already required in some places that I hike, and likely to be required soon in a bunch of others. Might as well get used to it. I find I do like to have something to sit on - I'm in my late 60s and getting up off the ground gets harder every year. But the bear can is OK for that.
Overrated gear: Those wood-chip stoves with the built-in electric blower. Seriously, WTF?
NOT overrated gear: A trowel. A titanium one's a half-ounce, and God tells me to carry a trowel. (Deuteronomy 23:13)
I'll second the blaze orange pack cover. I hate wearing a vest. I actually own a hiking chair but haven't carried it in a long time, its not worth the time to set it up and take it apart. I really like these videos that get people talking
haha thanks Richard. Always love hearing people's opinions
I rather carry a one pound chair than several pounds of camera equipment.
On the topic of the watch... honestly I've found it's become one of my favorite pieces of gear. I have a Garmin Fenix 6X Pro and there are two things I absolutely love about it -- one is that it has CRAZY long battery life. Like, it doesn't show remaining battery as a percentage but a number of days, and on a full charge it's rated at 21 days. In the real world with heavy GPS usage it does undercut that estimate by a bit, but even then it's still more than enough to last an entire backpacking trip of a few days (or heck, even a week) with a crap-ton of usage. The other thing I love is the fact that it maps your route on your watch, so you can literally see a live map of where you are, where you've been, and where trails and other geographic features are located. While I'm out hiking, especially using trekking poles, taking my phone out of a holster or bag is definitely a pain, to say nothing of the fact that my phone has MUCH less battery life than my watch (even less if it's the device I'm using to track my hike) and if I happen to fumble and drop it while I'm pulling it out of my pocket, that's one expensive mistake. So I really like being able to just hold up my wrist, get the info I need, and keep on trekking.
Anyways, I definitely get your frustrations with the idea of a watch... the battery life issue was the biggest reason why I used to feel the same way as you about the idea of using a watch instead of just letting my phone handle all the navigation. But this Fenix has been a gamechanger for me. Granted, it's not cheap, but this thing's a total beast and I "Frigon" love it. 😂😂
I love mine, as well. I had a Fenix 5 ever since it came out, and then this year upgraded to the 7. I use it for sea kayaking as well, and just general hiking and walking. (Biking, though, I use a dedicated biking Garmin unit, on the handlebars.) I'm kind of a data nerd, lol, and I like having the detailed records of my activities, after they're over.
I also love my fenix! I am attempting a thru hike of the AT this year and am looking forward to having it. I am a HUGE data nerd as well. I’m actually participating in a study while on trail about thru hiking and nutrition. It’s going to use instinct solars as part of the data collection. I’m debating still taking and using my fenix too just for continuity of my own data as the study data will be on a different account😂
G'day Kyle, I have been hiking for a long time and really enjoy your content.
The things that makes your channel interesting is when after trip you go through and explain the failures and issues you encountered. What you did to make it safe and what could be done in future. We are constantly learning with this hobby.
I have been using a bum bag on overnight hikes, I have followed one of your tips, secured pouch to waist straps.
My hiking partner uses a camp chair.
Continue with informative content.
A brain on the backpack is not pointless.
I hardly ever use one, but a few liters extra volume and an extra compartment or two is ok in itself, but the most useful thing with a brain is that you can secure stuff like a bear canister or tent or whatever MUCH more secure than you can ever do with a strap or Y-strap.
As I said, I hardly ever use a brain, since I almost always easily fit everything inside my backpack, but once I have to strap something additionally on the outside of the backpack, using a brain is easily the best way to do it.
It keep the weight of whatever extra stuff close to the back, it keep it secure and tight to the pack so it doesn't wobble around and disturb you while you walk and as said, it add another piece of volume and organisation to the pack.
This additional organisation is for example pretty ideal for an extra insulated layer in a zip-lock bag, easy to reach once you take the backpack off and need it, while out of the way while you walk.
Good luck reachimg 50.000 subscribers, I can only be one, but you deserve more than you have!
I love my GPS watch! I have a Garmin fénix 6x. I love being able to track stats during the day. Yes, it adds an extra cord, and an extra thing to charge. However, it charges fairly quickly. And the battery savings from not tracking on my phone is well worth it. GPS tracking with the phone uses a ton of battery life. The watch is pretty much dedicated to that purpose, and my phone battery is about twice what it would be with tracking. So even though it’s an additional device, it’s actually less charging.
That said, if you’re not tracking the hike, the watch wouldn’t be worth it!
Yeah, pack covers are pretty useless - the only reason my Osprey has one is because it came permanently attached - I never use it.
I recently just upgraded to a Garmin fenix 7 - I love it, and it insures I always have navigation available attached to my body. It falls well into the range of my battery capacity! (It augments my phone, my inReach, AND my compass…)
Brains - take ‘em or leave ‘em - if I need the room, bring it. If I don’t need the room, I leave it home.
Solar - I’ve never found anything that made the weight worth the performance, but I’m open to watching the new tech.
I knew you couldn’t leave the chairs alone..! I fall into the camp of Root (AT 2021 - I hiked the most of the Shenandoah NP with him and Greenhorn) - he says, “My baseweight STARTS with my chair!”
In order to appreciate a brain and a camp chair, you gotta smoke weed. Put your weed in the brain and the chair is self explanatory.
I have always found that a solar panel mounts well when tied to the pack brain and the top of a chair lashed to the side of the pack.
Yes, and over your pack cover
😂😂 darn you
It only works if you get Kyles mom to carry it all.
This. I only use mine to charge my watch, though
One thing that annoyed me on the Colorado Trail was unlike the AT, there was nothing to sit on! If I ever go back to the CT, I might consider a chair, but not for long... Pack covers - they can be useful during the rainy season. Most packs will absorb water, so a cover can reduce that extra water weight. Pack covers also give you something to unload the contents of your pack onto when the ground is wet.
I'm 74 and have hiked on an off since I was 7 but never with a camp chair. I have used a small piece of closed cell foam to sit on at times but since moving from a tent to a hammock it's not been needed. As far as solar charges go they are a waste of space and weight burden. Hoping for sufficient improvement in solar chargers to make them viable in the future is so unlikely there is not enough energy from the sun. You may better wish for a portable antimatter generator. I always used to use map and compass, now use gps on phone or dedicated gps. I have never got lost with a map and compass but have gotten turned around with gps in a forest. I do use a windup watch, I've had one for as long as I remember. I have on the other arm a health and fitness monitor. no gps watch. Also I always wear boots I like them, they have saved my ankles from many cuts and grazes and you are right Darn Tough socks are the best.
Of course he had to say camp chairs… I HATE YOU KYLE! Lol
For real though, I love my chair zero, but I honestly don’t think I use it enough to justify the added weight if I were doing a lot of miles. I’m just a weekend warrior though, so it’s usually not the biggest deal to add a pound.
this is the most fair and balanced comment i've ever gotten
I think the best charging system for hikers should be a motion charging system. Someone really needs to get on this…
Pack Covers: I do think there is a place for them, but the majority of them you can get may not fit your back or leave too much of a gap to be reliable. However, there are some backs that do include a pack cover that does fit with the pack. You can ignore it or use it. The biggest problem I have is the fact that I have to remove my pack to put it on and if I have my tent in a water proof bag outside the pack then it won't fit. This is just something that someone needs to decide if it is worth using or not. Over rated? I don't think it is because I don't see people saying you must have one.
GPS watches: I had a friend, when we just got done with basic training, spent his saved up money on a GPS watch. We did made fun on him because it is a tad bit too late for it since our field training is done. But the GPS watch does other things besides tracking where you are at. They do have a compass built in so you can know where you are going (I know Kyle doesn't really carry one even though he does suggest it). Some of them nowadays have an SOS button so that is one less device you need. Of course it tells time and you can set alarms on it which means you are using your phone less. Plus, the watch is on your wrist where your phone might be in a hard spot to get. With the cable arguement, it is just one small cable and a lot of them are not as heavy duty as you may think (heavy duty as in heavy in weight). It could be a worth wild get because with it you don't need a compass, SOS beckon, use your phone less, and of course the GPS function.
Pack Brain: I think this is more in a ultralight thinking than just hiking thinking. Some packs that have them can be detached and some of those have that brain into a fanny pack. My pack has it and I don't see myself as being better than everyone else like what Kyle may suggest (not sure if it was a joke or how he feels about it). What do I keep in it? My snacks, cables, lighter with fire starters, my spork, and just small things. Is it really needed? No, not really. If you want to consider what is just needed for hiking than a trash bag is good enough. But it is more of the quality of life than it being needed. Over rated? Again, I don't see people talking down to me for having one and I don't do that towards others that do not have one. It is just up to the person and what they want. Do they want a very expensive ultralight weight pack that can fit everything inside its one pocket or do you want something comfortable that doesn't cost as much to get your foot in the door?
Solar Chargers: Yes, they are over rated. I do agree and I have used one during my missions while in the military. At first you think they will save you a lot of hassle but soon enough you notice that they charge super slow, the heat from the sun could damage the battery easier, and for it to be outside to get the light if it rains and you forget about it then it is ruined. During the trail hike I feel like someone will forget to attach it on their bag and make it less worth wild. Just get a normal battery pack, you will be okay.
Camp Chair: This is just another thing that is more towards ultralight than anything else. If your knees and legs are still healthy than yes, they are not needed and you can just sit on the floor while you make your meal. But if your knees and legs are not as well as they used to have been then a chair can be worth it to give your knees a proper relaxing time for the next coming day. I don't carry a chair because they can get bucky and the ones that are not so bucky are too costly to be worth it.
With the gear you have always remember to ask yourself, are you comfortable with your setup and are you willing to deal with the weight or downsides of said gear? No gear is perfect for everyone for every trail. But if you are able to find a set of gear that works for you then please use it. Try not to worry about someone calling it over rated or stupid. Now if you try to bring a wood stove with you and have a wagon carrying it then you may want to rethink your plan. But almost everything here has its purpose, even the solar charger.
I have to disagree on the watch aspect- you bring up some valid points, and of course to-each-their-own, but having used a Garmin smartwatch over the past couple years I would never go back. It has an ultra-track mode, meaning with my model you can essentially go 30+ days of backpacking without charging the item. Using a phone as a GPS has worked for me in the past, but I’m never able to use my phone for more than a days time. Granted I almost always have some music playing as well, and I tend to use Bluetooth headphones so there’s a ton of battery life down the drain, but having a dedicated GPS unit on my wrist that I almost never have to think about has been a game changer!
Great video, been loving these sit-down blog style videos about hiking!
We used pack covers in the Army and they worked to save rain weight, precent dust on gear and concealed what we were carrying.
That’s kinda where I am at, it’s hard to complain about any of these things when you go from 70lbs to 30-35lbs. Camp chairs I definitely don’t understand lol. Ground seemed to work fine. Hell Ive used rocks as pillows lol
The solar charger is very useful if you're bikepacking.
Pack covers work below treeline.
GPS watches - if you’re looking for your Mom, put down the watch and ask Kyle where she’s at.
Top pockets (brains) were needed before we had big-ass stretchy front pockets for quick access to gear without going into the back. The stretchy pocket pretty much replaced them, save for the key clip. Stretchy pocket + Fanny pack > Brain.
Kyle gets to 50k subs while sending them to the Buckeye trail.😜
Helinox Chair Zero highback chair allows me to rebound after a 20+ mile day and my back doesn’t get tweaked while making dinner without a table. Camp chairs for hikers < 50 maybe for idiots. Wait until you get older, though.
In my day we had shovel pockets, side pockets, ice axe loops, and beavertails on EVERYTHING. No one even knows why.
And then there were the lids that detached and turned into lumbar packs (can't call 'em fanny packs). Granite Gear had an internal floating lid (brain) in some of their panel loaders and I actually liked that.
@@AmandaTikkanen hey Amanda - been a minute.
Osprey’s bigger packs, like their Aether, still have brains, and they convert to summit packs, with their own set of shoulder straps and all. 12oz for the brain by itself. 😲
On camp chairs. It is a hiking vs camping thing. If I am going to be hiking then I don't take a "chair". I usually still have my e-tool (I use a lot of milsurp because I like using gear with history). The e-tool can be used as a chair and I usually use it for other things as well. If I am camping out of a kayak (usually at least 1 trip a year) then I take a stool or chair. I still have to worry about weight on the kayak (I'm a bigger guy), but it can take a bit more than my knees and back can.
Again, the camp chair thing is camping vs hiking. Which do you enjoy more? Hiking and seeing the sights or camping and relaxing around a fire? There is really no wrong answer, just different goals.
Camp chairs are awesome. Dan Becker highly recommends them!
that he does...
I never thought I would be a person that carries a chair but bought one this year and it’s been amazing for me. resting my 47 years old back and my hips is a dream. so I cut the toothbrush and whatever else I can to make weight for the chair.
Everything else aside, a simple watch is a pretty important first aid tool. Taking basic vitals and recognizing the signs of shock can save lives. Its also nice to be able to turn off your phone and still be able to reference the time or set an alarm.
Also, some of the lightweight single panel solar chargers are well worth it especially if you can rely on sun. Not having to squat in a town near an outlet for an hour or two when you’d rather be on trail is so worth it. Hiked the AZT just recently and could easily charge my phone in a day with a panel that weighed about the same as an anker power bank.
I use a pack cover not to keep my gear dry, I still use a pack liner for that. use a pack cover to keep my backpack cleaner from mud and saps. it's very effective for rainforests here in Java. I also wear Chinese 15$ smartwatch solely to count the steps I take away from my camp for when I take a number 2. And I also bring campchair with me because the ground is always wet here.
I wear a solar gps watch so does not take effort to keep it charged. There is always chance you may not have map on phone. Also your phone can break. I am also connected to Inreach. I can activate device and read incoming messages on watch. Solar panels work well today. Charge a power bank during day and charge phone at night.
"Nothing wet is good. Well actually...(jump)" gave me a good laugh 😂.
The guy who cuts his toothbrush in half cries about a camping chair lmfao. I just can’t with this granola muncher anymore lol
As someone in their 50's and with a bad back and a bad knee, a camp chair is a must for me. Way too hard and painful getting up from sitting on the ground every time I want to sit and rest.
R.e. watches and charging, having a good GPS watch with maps should reduce the numbers of power banks you need to carry, since it is far more battery efficient than navigating with a phone (which you can keep off or in airplane + battery saver mode for emergencies). My Fenix 6 will last for a few days of hiking on a charge, and uses a very small proportion of a power bank to fully recharge.
I’ve never seen a wrong opinion until I seen this video
Maybe you didn't notice the solar panel on my pack when we met in the Sierra this summer? For $20, I thought I'd give it a try. Worked well enough. Now if solar panels came with a built-in camp chair, that would be something! Ha. I can't imagine carrying a camp chair either, I'm 62.
As a long distance bicycle tourist/camper. I keep my cloths, in Hefty Slide Lock storage bags. Actually I keep pretty much any thing that could get damaged by moisture in said storage bags. They come in all sorts of sizes. And the Slide lock is much nicer then say a zip lock. Not sure you know this, but GPS on your cell phone, only works if there is a cell tower in range. No Cell service equals no GPS. It is not GPS fro a satellite. I know some will not believe me, so call your cell phone service provider.
Yes, solar for out West. Here's where most go wrong - Don't use a big panel. Lixada makes one smaller than a regular sheet of paper. 3oz. Velcro Nitecore battery to the back and never, ever have to charge again. Get to town with full batteries all around. Once went nine-days and batteries were full walking into town. Lixada is 2W, not 10, but only need 2W, so ignore beefing in ratings. It's lasted two seasons so far and only costs $20 anyway.
Sorry, but I don't believe you. I live in an RV, I've got a 200W solar panel on my roof. I'm very familiar with how much power you can get from the sun and how much power devices and battery banks draw. For comparison, my 200W solar panel will charge my 45Ah battery in about an hour under the most ideal conditions. There's no way you keep a 10Ah Nitecore charged up with a 2W panel.
@@Andy-Mesa - Even if one only gets 5hrs/day sun (and PCT gets more), that's 10W•hr right there. That's three full phone charges or six-days worth. 2W is way more than enough to keep up with phone, earbuds and headlamp.
I’m a thru hiker. My bag has a brain, easy access, and I carry a chair. Love it for the end of the day relaxing. But I still subscribed! Rock on and hike your hike.
If you don’t recommend solar panels to charge electronics, what do you recommend? Especially for a trip where it’s only 3-4 days and you aren’t heading into town to charge up. Thanks!
Tracking your hike with GPS on your phone drains the battery very quickly. Whilst with a Garmin watch that has UltraTrac mode it can last 7-14 days. Depending on what type of Garmin watch you have and what settings you use. My phone is almost exclusively on airplane mode while hiking.
Never used a camp chair. I got one for my wife but it's hers and she only day hikes. I will say the one piece of equipment that will always go with me is a little plug in fan. I hang it on the top of my tent and aim it at my head. I will never not carry it unless I find a better one or it breaks. Everything else I can see your point.
I eventually added a chair kit to my 2017 thru hike when weather in the winter turned south. In the winter a Helinox type chair won't work because your life is spent in the tent and you have short days and long nights, At this time, nothing beats a chair kit. You cat sit up right and listen or watch or anything in comfort. The Sea to Summit is a bit lighter than the Thermarest but they all eventually break. That said I have been using one year round for decades because it is half the weight of the of the Helinox types and getting up and down off the ground is the reason those 3rd world 85 year old women are still out picking rice.
1:39 to finish your rhyme: "I am on my way to 50k!"
Pack covers: Agree. Useless, waste of weight. GPS Watch: Yes, a pain to keep charged and GPS eats the battery. Brains: I mean, it depends on need. I have a removable brain bag. I use it as needed, usually winter. (Also, yes I'm part of the older demographic.) Solar chargers: I'm in CO, I have a solar battery bank to just give it extra juice when I'm on breaks, especially above treeline. Camp chairs: I have one for short trips where camping is a bigger part of my outing. I don't take it peak bagging and I won't be taking it on the CT this year. They have their time and place.
This is going to give you nightmares, but I carry the Helinox Sunset Chair, it weighs 1,47kg.
😮😮
Summary:
- pack covers: heavier, giant hole on your back so it doesn't work, use a nylofume pack liner
- gps watch: you have to charge it, your phone is already a gps
- backpacks with a brain: heavier than a UL rolltop-style backpack
- solar chargers: heavy, don't work on a lot of trails with tree covers
- camp chairs: heavy, Kyle doesn't spend enough time at camp
It’s worth mentioning… those foldable solar lamps are worthwhile. It just hangs and weighs like 2 ounces and I’ve seen them totally work off just basic sunlight off a pack.
They also have a type-a plug that could give a phone 30 minutes of life in a pinch.
Those $30 Amazon powerbanks with a solar panel on top? Yeah those are useless for solar. Like almost absolute. It would take a solid week of perfect sunlight 10 hours a day to half charge one.. not practical
The wet hole is not the problem...
It's the windy hole that ruins one's day.
That hole at a windy time ends with the whole - not just the hole - being carried off into the wilderness.
Solar chargers are debatable as someone from Hawaii whose traveled/hiked a lot (only camped once never went on a backpacking trip) solar chargers are good for a emergency charge and you don’t have to wonder were you are going to be able to charge your battery bank. I personally carry my solar charger anywhere no matter the tree cover/amount of sun, in Hawaii we also once had a 24 power outage and my family kept our phones/mp3 players charged.
I started taking a hammock instead of a chair for hikes. It's lighter, takes the same time to set up, and the rest it offers in a short time is unmatched. I'm not a thru-hiker though, I just go on weekend trips.
not a bad idea!
Me as well, but still want one when going with people to hang around camp, solo is another story
This is genius. Thanks for the tip
I completely agree about pack covers. I never use them. My pack cover in camp is a garbage bag. Camp chairs are nice if your base camping. Through hiking I still do not take one. And yes I am old enough to be your Dad, Kyle, and many people on here their Grandfather. Still going strong though.
I’ll be 42 in March. Tendinitis in both knees, arthritis I’m the right ankle and shoulder, sciatica, and 22 pieces of titanium in my left humerus. A comfortable seat at the end of the day is a must.
I'm 55, hiked for 45 years, never used chair, I simply don't understand it. In the camp I lay or sit on the ground, lean against the tree, if it's wet or on the snow, I have 3oz pad I can sit or lay on and I am much more comfortable then sitting in the chair, I know it, because once I gave in and bought one, never even had a second thought to take it hiking, cheers...love my Coros watch though, with gps on , last me three hiking days, no big deal to recharge it
Haha the backpack cover is very light and DOES keep it dry 😀. Why? Because I keep the pack vertical and there isn’t a hole because it’s against my back! I would always buy a backpack that has it as a hidden feature in a compartment at the bottom. They do work imo 😊
I use a GPS watch (Fenix 6X) which lasts 3 days solid providing me a route to follow. And then I can easily charge it because it only needs the small cable and a small amount of charge from a portable usb charger. It SAVES me pulling out the phone and wasting phone battery life. Plus and a big plus it proves GPS navigation when it is raining very hard and using a phone becomes impractical. I have the same routes on my phone as my garmin so I can switch.
I agree about solar chargers. I got one but never used it because it’s too heavy and I have never walked in the desert.
And I never carry a camp chair lol. I carry a small foldup pad to sit on. Weighs nothing
Thanks for the vid, man. On nav watches. I'm going to have a watch with me anyway, so it might as well tell me other stuff too. I use (and actually just recently got this) a Garmin Instinct 2. I do other stuff with it as well, like orienteering. It tracks where to go, it's a compass, it leaves 'breadcrumb trails' for me to follow back if I need to and talks to my app (and larger GPS if I need it to). it also monitors a whole bunch of other stuff and tells me how much time I have before sunset, etc. Is it necessary? Nah. But it often replaces my GPS which is a lot bigger; my watch weighs almost nothing. And the charging... They don't really require hardly any charge at all to be 'full' and mine will last 14 days unless I'm using it as a GPS. Anyway, they make a little, tiny adaptor that slides onto a standard USB-C so it doesn't amount to any appreciable delta in gear or weight. Oh, and it also is a great camp flashlight. Seriously. I know that's a super weird thing but when it's pretty dark, it has a flashlight mode that's a lot nicer to use than a headlamp for just bumbling around camp. It is surprisingly useful. It also alerts of impending weather, is a barometer and an altimeter along with all the other stuff you mention. It also has things like storm alerts if there's a sharp enough barometric change in a given time...
Anyway, that's my take on the watch; it does many things. Some of those things are even important to me. ;)
fair enough! I didnt consider a lot of this
@@KyleHatesHiking None of what I said means a hill of beans, but... You know, it got said. LOL.
FWIW I don't carry a chair either even though I bought one. Now I just use it for truck camping (overlanding).
Also watches generally are a lot more accurate with GPS tracking than cell phones and they use less power. You don't have to dig out your cell phone (which might slip out of your hands, fall and break) to check lots of data points (time, distance, position, bearing, elevation, heart rate, blood Ox, temp-if you sync an external sensor, etc). Of course watches don't take photos .. yet.
I don't take any backpack anywhere without a pack cover, they always keep my pack and stuff dry, and it rains a lot here. Backpacks with brains can't function without the brain because they're not designed to. About portable solar panels, I have a few and camped long term in a remote coastal spot during the lockdown, and for the entire time, the panels were perfect for charging my phone, tablet, laptop, multiple power banks, headtorch, electric toothbrush
My Osprey pack has a removable brain, and I've used the pack without it (it has a permanently attached flap of fabric that is used to cover up the drawstring hole that is normally just below the brain.)
Happy New Year Kyle, thanks for the video. I agree with you about backpack covers, stuff still seems to get damp inside even when using a cover. Note I've never had a dyneema pack only nylon, or polyester, or canvas (many many many years ago) and only ever used the covers that came with the packs. I've lined my bag for years now and that works. I will keep my brain though. I am happy to add the weight and extra fabric for the organization (especially the meth). Like you the added weight of the chair isn't something I desire or need, but I do carry a sit pad. Chairs are for family car camping trips when I'm taking the 100 pound propane grill and the 30 pound patio style wood burning fire pit.
camp chair comment lol.. im not "old" and im in pretty good shape. However, my knees and back hurt more from sitting in the ground than they do from hiking with a pack. The difference in recovery is night and day. I would say depending on your body and pain the chair is on top of the list. Every time I backpack with someone new they end up buying a chair immediately when they get home. I dont pretend to be ultra light but I 'weigh' the difference between what I carry and how I feel.
i love my brain it turns into a daypack which is great for when i do day hikes
hey fair enough. if it works it works
My Osprey atmos 65 comes with a rain cover included, it helps to an extent as long as its not just absolutely pouring out, but a good (and cheap) alternative is to put an extra large garbage bag over your pack and just cut holes to pull your straps through
Ok.... it depends on what you are wanting out of your solar chargers. If you are like me and go out for 10-14 + days at a time, and you only carry a 10k Anker bank, then the charger is very important. Especially since I record 2+ hours a day of video, every day, in 4k 60FPS. So, that means after 4 days I've almost wiped out my power bank. Now, with that said, I've gone through 4 solar chargers in 6 years. All of them still work, but you get what you pay for in this area (like most backpacking gear...). If you want UL, just understand you are making sacrifices in other areas, like wattage or amperage. For example, two years ago I brought a 10w single panel for a 12 days Yellowstone trip. This combined with my 10k Anker worked perfectly until the sun stopped shining. I would set this in the field next to camp in the morning and when I left camp (10-11 AM) I would pick it up and put it on top of my zpacks bag with a few carabiners. When I arrived at camp I would set it up in a spot that would get full sun until sundown, and walk away. I managed to have enough power for the whole trip, but just barely. That was with 5 days of overcast too. I finished on day 10 with
I have never seen a back cover work. Almost froze to death a few years ago due to terrestrial rain fall and all my gear was wet...I was holding extra water within the first hour. Only reason I made it through was because of my sleeping bag being in a plastic bag. Get a water proof bag and place all your stuff in a pack liner or compactor bag inside your backpacking bag.
I think the idea behind the brain of backpacks is a removable daypack when you get to your main destination to do shorter excursions from a base camp. I’m all for the brain, but to each their own. Same with gps watches. Not a big deal with long term battery options with Garmin stuff.
If you cut your brush take a metal straw... For a handle... Plus it will help you get that fire started...
Why on earth would they not put the hole on pack covers ON THE BOTTOM??? Seems so obvious 😭 No it’s still not 100% waterproof but it’s a heII of a lot better than having it on the top with all the rain coming through!
I chose a watch specifically for my 2017 thru hike of the AT, One of my requirements was that I could read the time in the middle of the night. I spent the winter on the AT and my phone was buried in my sleeping bag. Mine was a but ugly Casio with an ugly B&W screen and huge bezel, but it worked.
Hey Kyle, Congratulations on 40K Subs! BTW, Camp chairs rock. Continued success!
thank you Ralph!
Stuff like ditching pack covers or membranes makes sense for the smart thru hiker sure, but for weekend warriors or even 5-7 day trips,it can prove more useful to have than to not
Pack liners are over rated and so are pack covers. I’ve owned 1 pack cover that has been worth a damn over the years. I stopped using a pack liner years ago. Pack liners hold water. If it’s raining and you open your pack up during the storm water gets in the liner. If you don’t get it pulled close all the way or if it gets a hole in it water gets in. You have to rearrange how you pack your entire bag when you have to pack a wet tent. It’s easier just to water proof the items that matter and not worry about everything else. Do you really care if your cook pot gets wet or your stove?
Pack covers are handy for camouflage, not waterproofing.
The only time I've seen a long-distance hiker with a solar charger was a guy attempting the great western loop trail. He and his friend were putting in 40 mile days, and the tops of their legs came up to my shoulders. I think the strategy was to minimize the need and time to head into a town.
Hey, I'm just getting into backpacking.... 90% will be during winter since I work spring to start of winter. So I'm 90% sure I want to carry a camp chair and don't always want to sit in snow... oh Wisconsin home state so cold winter shit. I'm a truck camper/day hiker atm. -20f is no problem in truck, gonna do some gear testing this week in backyard. Tent n sleeping bag finally come tomorrow!! Nemo kunai 2p n 0 degree bag with s2s xt pad, so basically more weight than your full setup!
I have a love/hate relationship with the brain on my pack -- it seems a bit ungainly, it's an extra thing to have to strap down correctly (to try to mitigate the ungainliness), but . . . it is definitely a super-convenient spot for stashing some small, lightweight things that I want quick/easy access to. Mine is removable, and I have sometimes gone without it.
I've got a Helinox Chair Zero. I've brought it bike touring a few times, and even at campsites with picnic tables, it is really nice to sit in the chair and then put my feet up on the bench of the picnic table, get some leg elevation going. It seems a like a lot for backpacking, though, in volume as well as weight. I do always bring along a Therm-a-Rest Z Seat. It accordions up to a pretty compact profile, and weighs 2 ounces. It's especially nice when sitting on cold rocks on winter hikes.
As far as watches go personally I use a Casio pathfinder, sun charges it, has a compass, barometer and altimeter. Automatically adjusts for daylight savings time. Was my dad's for years and now I have used it for 6 years.
Imagine in old western movies if the cowboys were sitting around in camp chairs. Or Grace Kelly and Cary Grant on a picnic but instead of a blanket they have camp chairs. Really romantic. I do miss the days of doing a hundred miles in two weeks with an external frame pack. That was luxury.
Another great video, I have carried a chair for years, and just ordered a pack with a brain.
I am a person that goes into the mountains to dig crystals. So whenever I fill up socks I like to be able to hook them to different areas. Have different pockets for different finds. Other than that yeah unless I was going out in the woods for like three weeks.
I keep everything that needs safe from water in a water safe bag
I heard flossy gifted Kyle a camp chair for his birthday and that’s the real reason why we don’t see flossy in the videos anymore.
I had a 15 buck Walmart backpack, a free bag from a church, and a plastic bag on a stick at times.
Though a waist strap would've been nice...
One thing that is definitely overrated is the chair, that's why I carry a camp stool.
I LOVE my camp chair!!!
I call it a hammock. Gotta love a dual purpose piece of gear...actually three. A hammock is essentially both your sleeping pad and your tent floor (since you save the weight of a floor by using a tarp).
Some of us backpack farther than our back yard and need GPS and unlike your backyard we don't always have cell service.
My pack with a chair is lighter than your packs without. 😂
The only time I using a solar charger makes sense is if you are doing and extended base camping trip. But obviously still dependent on location exposure. Also, I love my framed backpack with a brain, but I'm not an ultra light hiker.
i love my gps watch in the snow when you cant find the trail or are going off trail
My kids and I have been out for hours and hours in downpours in PA on the AT. Never using pack covers because you know, severely not needed. Waterproof bags for things that need to stay dry and pack liners do the trick. Keep on keeping on.
Camp chairs rule, and there is nothing better than boiling water for food/coffee/etc than from a camp chair. Worth the weight and leaving behind something else.