I remember watching your 2020 packing tutorial when it first came out. I was having lots of frustration getting everything to fit in my 55L pack as a new backpacker. I have followed your packing guide ever since and now I can easily fit my gear in a smaller pack using this method. Looks like not much has changed over the years with your packing routine but yet I still learned so much from just seeing your gear list as you pack. Thanks for being so genuine and helpful to your subscribers and fans. Happy Trails Darwin!
Nic, your 2020 "How I Pack" video was a watershed event for me, transitioning me from my old external frame days that I was taught 30 years ago in scouts into the modern era. Thank you for making me able to enjoy the modern era and get back outside.
I learned to backpack in scouts. The 'Be Prepared' motto is still ingrained in me and the size and amount of things you carry ( or don't carry at all) is significant. I am working on getting my pack size down but not having extras and not being supplied to med-evac someone ( I am not search and rescue) is hard to break.
Starting to get into solo backpacking after years of being in Boy Scouts and preparing for every possible situation. Picking up my light pack I have a little panic that I didn’t pack enough. Old habits die hard😂
Same I backpacked since the scouts, and I also feel I should have extras of certain items just in case. For me, the little bit of extra weight is worth it if I have to ever use it.
I’m a life long scout and it was similar for me. When I got back into backpacking I’d take everything and the kitchen sink. Once I got back on the trail I realized how much I don’t need and started relying on my scout skills rather than gadgets
Oh damn, you have 300k subscribers now! I had a kid and left the backpacking game for a good long while, but now I'm back in it! Just started rewatching all the hiking channels I was subscribed to way back when I would crush 20 miles a day and be out for a few weeks at a time. Sound advice as always. I'm doing my first >1 day trip in 4 years, so this is all great info to help me sort through my pile of gear to get myself a pack that will work!
Before my 2023 thru hike of the Long Trail I learned how to pack from your older video. I just added the gossamer gear 1/8 in pad as I'm getting ready to try a lighter, less structured pack this summer. Thanks for all your content!
If your pack liner fails on trail turkey oven bags are basically the same material maybe more durable. I've been putting them in all my dry bags for extra protection. Mainly protects bag itself from early delamination. Since doing so my dcf bags last much longer same with my sea to summit roll top bags. Especially handy in your electronics bag. Ive also seen Cornish hen size for smaller options.
Yeah they definitely work too, but don't seem to last as long. I used only ONE Nylofume pack liner on the entire 3,000 Mile CDT. Those things are great!
@@DarwinOnthetrail i swear by the nylofume liners definitely more durable than compactor or contractor bags. I preach this honestly. But something that is made to cook a turkey and being so light and cheap its my favorite hack. I was in Oregon bagging up pounds of weed and realized how awesome they were for waterproofing lol. Ive had the nylofume liners fail mainly because i didn't realize i was pushing air out the bottom when packing. But i always carry clear gorilla tape around my battery bank for cases as such. The clear gorilla tape also fixes dyneema and nylon better than anything I've found.
Just spotted this! Thanks for sharing this! First it’s great that see you back full of joy! But yeah..simple. Efficient .majority of items in the pack,with first things accessible first! Luv it.I’m almost 74 and sleep comfortably helps me hike more efficiently in😊 so I’ve trimmed weight in other areas… I don’t think of my pack as ultra lite, but meeting my basic needs… Appreciate the insight on why you pack as you do ❤ Happy Trails!
You taught me how to pack more efficiently for my first overnight/few days hike/camp to Havasu falls (at nearly 50 and forsaking more than a day hike in nearly 20 years! By no means ultralight or extreme by through hike standards, it really helped to get lighter and more efficient, so your tips are just good help for those who want to get outside and take a walk! Thank you!
I do a lot of similar things to you (albeit with less DCF). One thing that's different for myself is that I use an Ursack. I find it to be a nice middle ground between the weight of a bear can and avoiding the tedium of a bear hang. The ursack doesn't compress well when it's full of food though, so i actually put it at the very bottom of my pack folded flat. Then I store the food in an OPsack. When i get to camp i make sure to leave the Ursack in my pack until it's time to tie it up. That way i don't accidentally get any food particles on it that would entice critters. When it's time to tie it to a tree, i just drop the OPsack in there and find a tree to tie it on. I also use a Frogtoggs poncho instead of a train jacket. Then i can wear it over my pack, and i get a bit of air flow
Hi! It is more important than your description of where you pack what that you share your thoughts on! If you apply these thoughts to yourself, you will come up with your own optimized packing method. 😉 Basically, I have developed the same thoughts over the years, but I still pack a little differently (my backpack is very similar to yours in size and shape). Especially in wet weather (rain, snow, fog), I pack my backpack dry inside the tent. Everything that then needs to be packed can therefore only fit in the outside pockets and it doesn't matter whether it is wet or will get wet: - My tent goes first in the large mesh pocket on the outside (I will need it quick, but last) - My rain gear fits on top of that (jacket, skirt, maybe gaiters) - There is very little space left for small things that I want to have quick access to. My backpack has an outside pocket in the back for an foam mat - very handy. Since I don't need a foam mat to sleep on, I found a knee pad for gardening in a hardware store - the right size, thick hollow-chamber foam (therefore stable), light and cheap. I pack side pockets just like you. I don't have a bottom pocket, but I do have two small pockets on the hip belt that I use instead. My shorts always have a side pocket - so I always carry a mini shovel and toilet paper on me. There have been situations where this has proven to be a smart decision... 🤣 Toiletries and electronics go into my backpack. I always try to store the first aid kit outside; rummaging around in the backpack with a bleeding finger is not ideal. I separate food and cooking items; I find it easier to pack. Food in a bag like you, the rest nested as much as possible. Even if it means extra weight, it's a good idea to carry a small plastic container with you for food that shouldn't be squeezed. Original "Tupperware" is often heavy, so you have to walk around the supermarkets with your eyes open to find what you're looking for. It's important that the format is right. Here in Germany, many cheese and sausage packages are almost the same size and I found an extremely light container for it: the packaging for a Christmas tree light chain. 😂 Your idea of a warm jacket is good, but depending on the weather, it may be necessary to vary this. I have had changeable weather or hikes where shade and sun alternated every few kilometers, and it was better to pack the jacket on top, because it was always: jacket on, jacket off... And that brings us back to my first sentence: The most important thing is to think about how you will use things, then you know where to best store everything.😉
Loved the video! Packing is pretty close to what I do in my zPacks Nero. I stopped using Nylofume after some problems with holes. So I just use two of the DCF dry bags, one for my quilt and one for all my dry clothes. Otherwise, I put my food above my tent for easy access during lunch. I put my ditty bag on top of everything, because my ditty is a bit heavier and it works better closer to my center of gravity. Rain jacket and gloves are in my outer mesh pocket. After years, I stopped using the thinl-lite pad, preferring just a smaller sit-pad. The thin-lite turned out to be just too much bulk for me, and I ended up using the sit-pad anyway. I had an issue with using the thin-lite for sitting, and it picked up some thorns and then popped my air pad at night. So now I just do the sit-pad with no thin-lite. I use a zPacks FUPA for camera/electronics. Edit: Just to add - a lot of what I do is learned from your videos back in the day and then adjusting to what works for me.
@@Andy-ku3jy Yes. I've stopped using the thin-lite altogether. For camp or a longer lunch stop, I have the litesmith qwikback chair together with the sit-pad.
Same! I use a small (4L) roll top dry bag for extra wet protection for my clothes, but I'm going to start throwing it in the footbox of my sleeping bag (and my pillow as well). Currently, I just shove my sleeping bag in the bottom of my pack loose (inside a liner of course). I've debated using a stuff sack of some sort for my sleeping bag, but my pack is large enough to just shove it in loose to fill the voids with my puffy on top of it.
One suggestion for a design improvement may be to make the front pocket made of mesh instead of fabric so that wet socks can dry and that kind of stuff.
This man is definitely a good weather hiker. All the extra weight for dry clothes is horrible and through-hiking will become the most uncomfortable experience in your life. But youtubers have their best interest in presenting best case scenarios because they have to avoid talking about rain to their audience at any cost when talking lightweight packing; it is basically is useless when there is any rain at all...
@@OutdoorsPodcast how about you post a video about how to make internet friends, since your video about outdoor friends did so great? Maybe you'll learn how professional you sound. This man has mentioned the rain literally not even once in this video, he does not pack anything against the rain. Not a poncholiner, not a rainsuit, not any mention of anything against wet gear. You would expext a so called "triple crown" whatever hiker to take rain into account, or at least mention why he does not take it into account.
@@goodgameproductions3039 so the rain jacket that he packs at 10:38 doesn’t count? He’s done 7,900 miles of backpacking over the AT, the PCT, and the continental divide trail. He also talks about drying out your tent at about 10:17 when he stops for snacks. Keep trying buddy, and at least I make videos, you just trash other people.
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Hard-earned tips 😁 Makes sense. For longer water carries I keep the (collapsible) containers close to my back. Otherwise the heavy water load pulls the center of gravity backwards, and that sux when you are scrambling up the mountain. Thanks for the vid.
I've tried your packing method and I am loving it, very simple and easy to follow. I used to take 48+ litre packs but I decided to get a 40 litre pack and using your packing method I have managed to get everything I need and have some spare capacity just in case I need anything else, cheers Darwin.
man I still remember my first video I watched from you which was those gaiters bag when Altras were still a good shoe, oh how far you've come man i'm proud
Excellent, I'm training to get back on the trail at 65. Hiking NH 4000 footers you might want to have an outer layer more handy for temp and weather changes if I remember correctly.
Took my 12 year son on 1st backpacking trip this weekend. Had a blast. I kept telling him as we were packing less stuff = more fun. J Keep up the great work.
For size, balance, convenience, and practicality -- I'm not sure you could do any better. But of course that's not gonna keep us from tryin! I'm liking a 2 bag setup -- for its modularity and to separate the shoulder straps/vest above and the hip belt below. Just got a Savotta Askare 7L hip bag for heavier and smaller items, plus water (there's webbing left, right, and back). That's paired with a SMD Flight 30 with vest harness I picked up on sale a few years ago. The side pouches are available for extra water or whatever needs easy access or doesn't fit well elsewhere. The thing that really sets this apart is that shoulder weight can easily be transferred to the "shelf" below the pack, but weight on the hips is never felt on your shoulders . . .
I have a Gossamer Gear Mariposa. Like you, I always pack things the same way every time. This backpack has an extra wide water reservoir pocket. Instead of a bladder, I fold my sleeping pad and put that in that pocket. This helps protect my back from anything poking me and just adds a little vertical support even though I have a frame. Next I add a DCF pack liner and then shove my quilt in the bottom of my pack. I don’t use a stuff sack for it, because the next item that goes in is my bear canister/food. The weight of that compresses my quilt and my quilt spreads out so there is no dead space. Then I shove my extra clothes around the canister. My pillow and puffy go on top and I twist the pack liner closed. My cooks system, diddy bag, and ⅛” foam pad go on top and I cinch down my pack. There is a thin pocket at the top of the pack that I use for my DCF first aid kit and regular aid kit (repair patches, needle and thread, etc). In all the outside Mariposa pockets I keep: my tent in the tall pocket, my water system in the top side pocket along with bug spray in a ziplock, water bottles in the lower side pocket, my rain gear, poop kit, pee kit, and snacks in the stretchy big back pocket, and a buff, thin gloves, and DCF pack cover (redundant, I know but a wet pack is heavy) in an add on top pocket I attached above my tent. In my hip belt pockets I keep: more snacks, my phone, sunscreen, and chapstick. Currently my base weight is 12lbs without a bear canister and 14lbs with a canister. I’m working to shave a little more off, not to be UL, but to protect my spine because I only weigh 110lbs. For a 3 day trip with food and water I’m at 21-22lbs which is great. But for hiking the CT this summer I’m at 26lbs with 6-7 days of food. That is over 20% of my body weight. 🥺
Excellent video. I'd like to know, if you are going for a 7 to 10 day hike what clothes are you packing? Assume evening temperatures possibly could get down to 5 degrees centigrade. 40 Fahrenheit.
Love to see another packing video! I typically go with sleeping bag and pad at the bottom, clothes inside. Then comes cook system and food, followed by the ditties at the very top with first aid, shelter and rain gear strapped outside for easy access
Solo hiker and pilot and generally carry this only for the SOS functionality. If you generally hike with others, probably not worth the subscription, but gives my family peace of mind when I’m hiking alone. I look at the Garmin Mini as an insurance policy, one I hope I never have to use.
We pack similarly with slight differences, my raincoat is in the big mesh pocket, often my puffy is there too as I am too lazy to open my pack. I like to keep my tent on the outside so one side pocket for hydration, the other for my tent. Often doing 7 - 9 day food carries so I need that room in my pack. It is comforting to know that my pack style is similar to those with many more miles than I.
After watching many of your videos, the main thing that always had my attention was your backpack I often wonder what was in it and not in it simplicity thats what I want👍
Excellent video! Getting my gear together and organized has always been a challenge. Thanks for sharing your system- simple and well thought out. Thanks and happy trails!
Pretty similar for me. I hammock camp so hammock and quilts are in the pack liner along with any extra clothes. Tarp and food bag on top. lately I've been keeping my ditty bag in my food bag for extra water proofing, but I might try your system (individual zip locks for electronics/first aid/etc and putting that on the outside or at the top of my pack) next time I head out. No matter how many of these kinds of videos I've watched it's nice to know I can still get an idea or two from them. Thanks.
Love your track wisdom, and over the years have picked all sorts of good bits. One thing (perhaps you’ve already tried it): I absolutely can’t do without polaroid glasses on the trail. Saves me carrying extra glasses, and rummaging around for sun glasses when it gets too bright.
Great video! I’ve used a lot of your packing tips from past videos, even one of the earlier ones that separate your food into separate daily bags. I have a 35L frameless pack and use a TarpTent notch. The support struts are too long to fit horizontal, so I bring both ends with the struts together and slide those vertically along the inside of the pack outside the liner, then just stuff the rest of the tent. Works great so far and minimizes the amount of space it would otherwise take up. My quilt and insulating layers are inside the pack liner under the tent, and food, ditty bag, rain jacket, cook set are on top. I still use my inflatable pad against my back and my cut down Thinlight pad folded in the outside pocket for quick access.
Notch owner here as well. I have been removing the struts and packing them separately (vertically) but I like your idea better. Less fiddling around once I reach a campsite. Thanks!
@@tomheim9516 yep, I’ve tried it that way too, but it’s definitely much easier leaving the struts in place. Especially when daylight is fading. Good luck!
I pack the same way except I don't use any stuff sacks (tent only) I stuff everything in the pack liner, sleeping stuff and clothes, close that, and then tent, and food bag. My ditti bag is just a clear gallon ziplock and goes inside the pack, then a piece of Tyvek for sitting (also ground cloth). Currently use a 55L arc haul which is a 47 L main compartment. It's overkill for my 11 lbs base weight, but not interested in stuffing everything into small stuff bags. Phone, toothbrush, PLB, on the shoulder straps. snacks in the single hip pocket. Poop kit in back pocket plus filter and misc clothing for the day's weather. Water right/left side pockets. I use the compression straps on the pack to narrow and heighten the load so it's close to the body if there is not 5 days of food in the pack. You've definitely got me thinking about a smaller pack and I think I could pack the same way I do now and make it work thanks for the video Darwin
Wow! Its like Marry Poppins bag! Your house, sleeping system, kitchen, closet, and even a crapper. Impressive...I will have to remember this system. Crazy efficient 👍
I’ve been backpacking for almost a decade and I was pretty confident in the way that I packed my pack. Took some new ideas from tells video, thanks for sharing 😊
Some great tips Darwin, thank you. I'm used to canoe trips where weight is not option but off on a big hike soon so need to pack lighter. Need to pack a lot lighter!
Thank you, very good info. No mention of extra battery pack for cellphone. I experienced completely no juice, very uncomfortable feeling, cannot connect to anyone in case something unforseen happen.
Thank You sooo much for making these videos D. Absolutely priceless. I’ve learned countless tips and tricks from you over the years. Much love to you bro ✊🏽
I didn't think this would be all that interesting given that your four-year-old video felt very recent, but of course I didn't remember all the details and damn, it's satisfying to watch everything go in its proper place! 😄
i'm going to rethink my load out after seeing this video. I have been trying to compress my gear as small as possible. I think packing your items loose and allowing them to fill the air gaps is a much more efficient use of space. I like to hammock camp and my underquilt is a bulky item (synthetic fill). It takes up a lot of space in my pack but leaves a lot of empty voids that are unusable. I am going to play around with my gear and see if I can find a more efficient way to pack it. Thanks again for the inspiration.
I only started backpacking like 4 or 5 years ago and since then I have developed my own style of packing that works best for me, but it is videos like these that made me feel like a pro on my very first trip lol Good stuff, Darwin!
Thanks, and these videos are always good to review from time to time. Especially that I’m just a few hours from leaving for a 10 day backpacking trip with my two sons and our two dogs. Don’t want to forget any of my essentials and leave out as many luxury items as desired. We’ll see we how my layers fare in the foot box of my hammock quilt and if I’m able to access all I need during the day without needing to open my pack.
Everything I do is very similar. The big exceptions I see are I have my GG 1/8 pad in the outside and I was taught to roll my sleeping pad and create a ring when putting it into the bag to create a platform. i then snuggle my cook out into the opening in the middle ( still outside the nyloflum bag.
Interestingly it's pretty much the same as yours but the food is top, tent is next, then sleeping mat. I use two rubble sacks - cheap and durable - one for the sleep system and one for the outer pack. i do that for extra security but also to store the inner tent seperately if needed - which might be slightly wet vs the fly being super wet. I don't use stuff sacks or any of that, just ziplocks on electronics or food/first aif etc. This means the sleeping bag and clothes can spread to fill any niche in the pack. Puffy can sometimes be in the pack (raining) or outside in a pocket if I have a bag for it...and the wet stuff - rain jacket, cap, neoprene gloves, rain trousers if I'm taking those - all lives in the back pocket. Where everything else lives depends on the pack - but again, yes, hydration stuff is side pockets or hip belt pockets, snacks are hip belts, I hang my selfie stick/tripod off one of those strap loops. Trowel is side pocket, as is trekking poles and sponge/swedish cloth, cos that dries there in the mesh. If I'm using my packs which have a brain, or a top pocket, I prefer to keep the penknife, first aid kit, and electronics up there, but mic, light and tripod have to be accessible so those are hipbelt or pockets. I still keep my phone in my pocket, I know it's frowned upon to have stuff in your pants, but I find that it's easy to damage stuff in the hipbelts or outside the pack by dropping it. I don't want that to happen to my phone!
Great video. Sometimes I don’t use the stuff sack for my tent and stuff it into the dead space in my pack; usually on longer hikes when I need more room for food. If the tent gets wet I stuff it into a Glad trash bag.
Hey Darwin, I am huge fan! Just wanted to pass along how much I appreciate how interesting and accessible your content is! Just fantastic stuff. Even as a long time, hiker and self proclaimed ultralight guy I get so much out of your videos. I have been an ultralight hiker for a time. I now have two kids and your content continues to inspire me to upgrade my kit and get out. The acronym in my house is WWDD (what would Darwin do). Keep up the great work!
Always interesting to see how people manage camera stuff. Like others, also curious about your plan for when it rains and the camera is out. I love using shoulder strap convenience pockets for those handy things as well and that's where I find the hip belt to be great as well. I use a smaller MFT camera, so go with a small bag as a holster, though it isn't specifically that style, then a slightly top long lens pouch for a couple of the other lenses and small accessories that didn't fit in the other bag. Both of those are highly water resistant and the holster has a built in rain cover, so I end up pretty well prepared until or if I need to get camera stuff into a dry bag.
Very good presentation and logic on how to best organize the contents in a backpack. I have a couple suggestions that you may want to try since I use that same tripod and ND Filter. That PMVND case is pretty robust and heavy. You might look at using a B+W single ND Filter plastic case. It's much lighter. On the tripod, I don't use the center column. The tripod without the column is enough for all my shots and it's one less adjustment on the tripod that I don't have to make for every shot. Also, my camera feels less stable using that center column extended. Anyway, I thought I'd share that in case it might help you. Thanks for sharing. Cheers!
I started putting my tent in the pump sack from thermarest. I like the flatness more ergonomic also less time rolling the tent after folding. Also less stress on the DCF. If someone made a similar DCF bag id get one.
@@DarwinOnthetrail sorry i sorta overwhelmed you with comments. I wish i could show you how i pack. I remember your old atmos i had the same one and loved it fondly. While you went ul i started doing winter hikes and went ul but without sacrificing durability as much as possible.
I stress about this so much ! I always pack vertical and I’ve never liked how my gear shifts . You make it look so easy like a PRO😊: going on a trip in a couple weeks soooo going to try the horizontal way of packing …. Thanks for doing this video Darwin
I do it like you except: 1. No additional dry bag for quilt. Not worth it for me except for winter. 2. I keep my rain jacket in the front pocket and 3. I don't have a ditty bag but two ziplocs and I carry those on top of my bag liner. Accessing electronics has me wondering if I should switch the later but being an ATer originally, just can't trust things won't get wet there. Oh and I carry my trash ziploc in my bottom pocket.
Dry bag for quilt is something I will never skimp on in any season. It's an essential survival item and the dry bag weighs practically nothing. I get that's it's probably going to be ok but it's a peace of mind thing like carrying full sized groundhog stakes instead of minis.
@@Shrouded_reaper My backpack is very water resistant, I use a poncho and the pack liner - it's plenty. We pack our fears but this is also personal. I never had any issue or observed any issues with my fellow thru hikers doing it this way. And again, for winter I'd bring a dry bag. This equation also depends on how far one walks. I walk far.
@wio2189 Mostly agree my man. Like I say, It's almost always going to be fine, stuffing your sleep system in the main pack liner, but like you say, we pack our fears. For the negligible weight of a dry bag I will always keep my sleep system secure against whatever might happen. Fellow thru hiker by the way.
@@Shrouded_reaper If I used an inflatable I'd bring a pump sack like the Exped Schnozel UL (dry bag) and forgo a pack liner. But I am all about that CCF life.😆
thanks darwin for this updated version. looking forward to a microspikes video, what you'd recommend, your experience with the vargo cleats and how to know when to bring'em or not for a longer trail🤙
Since the days of scouting. I never put my shelter, then tent on the inside of the pack. I use a side pocket which you have camera gear. Then i strap it on the top. Yes, first thing needed at camp, without opening my kit. But you really pack a squared off pack.😅
love the video! the only thing that does not work for me is keeping the foam pad inside the pack. I find it impossible to reinsert it after a break without unpacking the whole pack. I like to take very short (
I was using the Peak Designs capture system then I swapped over to the Falcam quick release system. Currently I'm using the same tripod as you but it has a quick release base plate so I can break down my tripod super quickly or pop my camera into it without having to fuss with thumbscrews.
I. Like to horizontal load too cuz I feel it keeps the pack stable left to right but leaning forward or back when going over a lot of blowdowns or canyon wrk. Hands n knee's sort of work it just, 2 me, rides better and I don't feel as if I am trying to land a moving truck 🙃 😅. But whatever works 4 u. I do lean if possible to packs that can b opened from the side as well as the top. For those odd moments. But NOT IF IT COMPROMISES THE the pack itself. 😊
If you happen to see this. I have the same tripod for backpacking. Is that the ulanzi capture clip and how do you secure your camera to both the capture clip and your tripod? Its always good to see other peoples methods and reasoning. Its super helpful in making adjustments to my own methodology and making trips more enjoyable.
Hi @DarwinOnthetrail. Very informative and well organized video. Have you thought about making a video with more details about what camera equipment you prefer? I didnt see one on your channel. Wondering which tripod, microphone and ND filters you are using. Thanks.
What if you need more than just TWO liters of water? (I usually need 3-4 L!) Bear bag/line or canister? Can you really pull out your 1/8” foam pad easily to sit on? How do you inflate your sleeping pad? What is the empty weight of your 35-L pack?
I use a gossamer gear bumster fanny pack for my snacks, chapstick, sun screen, and small pocket knife (Victorinox Classic SD). It works really well for me.
1. Do you have rain protection for the camera, or is it water proof? 2. I pack similar, but a vertical bear can on top of the sleep system provides structure and support to the frame. Tarp goes on back mesh pocket. Water on shoulder strap. Love the idea of not rolling the sleep pad!
I have a camera setup similar to Darwin's. I use the Peak Designs clip to hold the camera on the shoulder strap - works great. When I expect significant rain, I will sometimes put the camera inside my pack. However, if I do want to keep the camera out, I have a clear plastic sleeve (available on Amazon) that has an adjustable opening on one end that goes around the lens body - just behind the lens. The cameras fits inside the sleeve with a small hole for the clip for the Peak Designs which attaches to the camera using the 1/4-20 tripod mount. This does require some assembly if you don't keep it on the camera permanently I don't - I do carry a very small hex wrench (cut down to about 1/2 long) to aid with assembly. The sleeve is long enough that when I have it on my shoulder strap, I can twist it closed on the back side of the camera and fold it around the body and under the lens. This worked very well when I had to hike for two day in the remnants of hurricane Hillary on the JMT last year.
Way to go Darwin, this is so helpful to have from a practical, experienced person. New to this whole thing so just trying to gain a bit of knowledge- thanks! 🚴🏼♂️🌱🧘🏼🌿🙏
I remember watching your 2020 packing tutorial when it first came out. I was having lots of frustration getting everything to fit in my 55L pack as a new backpacker. I have followed your packing guide ever since and now I can easily fit my gear in a smaller pack using this method. Looks like not much has changed over the years with your packing routine but yet I still learned so much from just seeing your gear list as you pack. Thanks for being so genuine and helpful to your subscribers and fans. Happy Trails Darwin!
Glad it helped! Hope you were able to pick up a couple NEW updated tips in this one! 🤙
Nic, your 2020 "How I Pack" video was a watershed event for me, transitioning me from my old external frame days that I was taught 30 years ago in scouts into the modern era. Thank you for making me able to enjoy the modern era and get back outside.
Love that! Glad it helped! Hopefully you can get a nugget or two out of this one too! 😉
@@DarwinOnthetrail I may have to buy a foam pad now.
i really appreciate the nice and relaxing music. literally ever other youtube hiker uses annoying music.
I like to be jazzy 🕺
Right?? It makes me feel like I’m chillin at a coffee shop with Darwin.
@@DarwinOnthetrail Also kudos for the low level. Far too many have a sound level that interfears with the speech.
I learned to backpack in scouts. The 'Be Prepared' motto is still ingrained in me and the size and amount of things you carry ( or don't carry at all) is significant. I am working on getting my pack size down but not having extras and not being supplied to med-evac someone ( I am not search and rescue) is hard to break.
Starting to get into solo backpacking after years of being in Boy Scouts and preparing for every possible situation. Picking up my light pack I have a little panic that I didn’t pack enough. Old habits die hard😂
Same I backpacked since the scouts, and I also feel I should have extras of certain items just in case. For me, the little bit of extra weight is worth it if I have to ever use it.
What do you need other than trauma supplies, sam splint, signaling/nav devices and a hatchet?
I’m a life long scout and it was similar for me. When I got back into backpacking I’d take everything and the kitchen sink. Once I got back on the trail I realized how much I don’t need and started relying on my scout skills rather than gadgets
Oh damn, you have 300k subscribers now! I had a kid and left the backpacking game for a good long while, but now I'm back in it! Just started rewatching all the hiking channels I was subscribed to way back when I would crush 20 miles a day and be out for a few weeks at a time.
Sound advice as always. I'm doing my first >1 day trip in 4 years, so this is all great info to help me sort through my pile of gear to get myself a pack that will work!
Hope you’ve been well! Welcome back & Thanks for watching!
Before my 2023 thru hike of the Long Trail I learned how to pack from your older video. I just added the gossamer gear 1/8 in pad as I'm getting ready to try a lighter, less structured pack this summer. Thanks for all your content!
If your pack liner fails on trail turkey oven bags are basically the same material maybe more durable. I've been putting them in all my dry bags for extra protection. Mainly protects bag itself from early delamination. Since doing so my dcf bags last much longer same with my sea to summit roll top bags. Especially handy in your electronics bag. Ive also seen Cornish hen size for smaller options.
Yeah they definitely work too, but don't seem to last as long. I used only ONE Nylofume pack liner on the entire 3,000 Mile CDT. Those things are great!
@@DarwinOnthetrail i swear by the nylofume liners definitely more durable than compactor or contractor bags. I preach this honestly. But something that is made to cook a turkey and being so light and cheap its my favorite hack. I was in Oregon bagging up pounds of weed and realized how awesome they were for waterproofing lol. Ive had the nylofume liners fail mainly because i didn't realize i was pushing air out the bottom when packing. But i always carry clear gorilla tape around my battery bank for cases as such. The clear gorilla tape also fixes dyneema and nylon better than anything I've found.
Just spotted this!
Thanks for sharing this! First it’s great that see you back full of joy!
But yeah..simple. Efficient .majority of items in the pack,with first things accessible first!
Luv it.I’m almost 74 and sleep comfortably helps me hike more efficiently in😊 so I’ve trimmed weight in other areas… I don’t think of my pack as ultra lite, but meeting my basic needs…
Appreciate the insight on why you pack as you do ❤
Happy Trails!
You taught me how to pack more efficiently for my first overnight/few days hike/camp to Havasu falls (at nearly 50 and forsaking more than a day hike in nearly 20 years! By no means ultralight or extreme by through hike standards, it really helped to get lighter and more efficient, so your tips are just good help for those who want to get outside and take a walk! Thank you!
OMG I can't tell you how happy to your face back on here. Congrats on all your new projects and your gear company! 🤙👍
I do a lot of similar things to you (albeit with less DCF). One thing that's different for myself is that I use an Ursack. I find it to be a nice middle ground between the weight of a bear can and avoiding the tedium of a bear hang. The ursack doesn't compress well when it's full of food though, so i actually put it at the very bottom of my pack folded flat. Then I store the food in an OPsack. When i get to camp i make sure to leave the Ursack in my pack until it's time to tie it up. That way i don't accidentally get any food particles on it that would entice critters. When it's time to tie it to a tree, i just drop the OPsack in there and find a tree to tie it on. I also use a Frogtoggs poncho instead of a train jacket. Then i can wear it over my pack, and i get a bit of air flow
That’s a great idea, because packing food in it during the hike doesn’t work because it’s so stiff!
Hi! It is more important than your description of where you pack what that you share your thoughts on!
If you apply these thoughts to yourself, you will come up with your own optimized packing method. 😉
Basically, I have developed the same thoughts over the years, but I still pack a little differently (my backpack is very similar to yours in size and shape).
Especially in wet weather (rain, snow, fog), I pack my backpack dry inside the tent. Everything that then needs to be packed can therefore only fit in the outside pockets and it doesn't matter whether it is wet or will get wet:
- My tent goes first in the large mesh pocket on the outside (I will need it quick, but last)
- My rain gear fits on top of that (jacket, skirt, maybe gaiters)
- There is very little space left for small things that I want to have quick access to.
My backpack has an outside pocket in the back for an foam mat - very handy. Since I don't need a foam mat to sleep on, I found a knee pad for gardening in a hardware store - the right size, thick hollow-chamber foam (therefore stable), light and cheap.
I pack side pockets just like you. I don't have a bottom pocket, but I do have two small pockets on the hip belt that I use instead.
My shorts always have a side pocket - so I always carry a mini shovel and toilet paper on me. There have been situations where this has proven to be a smart decision... 🤣
Toiletries and electronics go into my backpack.
I always try to store the first aid kit outside; rummaging around in the backpack with a bleeding finger is not ideal.
I separate food and cooking items; I find it easier to pack. Food in a bag like you, the rest nested as much as possible.
Even if it means extra weight, it's a good idea to carry a small plastic container with you for food that shouldn't be squeezed. Original "Tupperware" is often heavy, so you have to walk around the supermarkets with your eyes open to find what you're looking for. It's important that the format is right. Here in Germany, many cheese and sausage packages are almost the same size and I found an extremely light container for it: the packaging for a Christmas tree light chain. 😂
Your idea of a warm jacket is good, but depending on the weather, it may be necessary to vary this. I have had changeable weather or hikes where shade and sun alternated every few kilometers, and it was better to pack the jacket on top, because it was always: jacket on, jacket off...
And that brings us back to my first sentence: The most important thing is to think about how you will use things, then you know where to best store everything.😉
Loved the video! Packing is pretty close to what I do in my zPacks Nero. I stopped using Nylofume after some problems with holes. So I just use two of the DCF dry bags, one for my quilt and one for all my dry clothes. Otherwise, I put my food above my tent for easy access during lunch. I put my ditty bag on top of everything, because my ditty is a bit heavier and it works better closer to my center of gravity. Rain jacket and gloves are in my outer mesh pocket. After years, I stopped using the thinl-lite pad, preferring just a smaller sit-pad. The thin-lite turned out to be just too much bulk for me, and I ended up using the sit-pad anyway. I had an issue with using the thin-lite for sitting, and it picked up some thorns and then popped my air pad at night. So now I just do the sit-pad with no thin-lite. I use a zPacks FUPA for camera/electronics.
Edit: Just to add - a lot of what I do is learned from your videos back in the day and then adjusting to what works for me.
Cool - if long thru hike would you just use a sit pad as well ?
@@Andy-ku3jy Yes. I've stopped using the thin-lite altogether. For camp or a longer lunch stop, I have the litesmith qwikback chair together with the sit-pad.
I never thought to put my clothes inside my quilt! Genius!!! Love your videos and this channel! 🎉
Thanks, Darwin...very logical method. I do have a Ranger backpack and its nice to see loading system that makes sense and fits the needs.
Hope you’re loving it! 🤙
Thanks for this. I especially appreciate the organization and simplicity. Nothing extra, just what you need.
LOVE the idea of putting the sleep clothes in the footbox! Definitely trying that on my next trip!
It's great! I'll never understand the need for an extra clothes bag...
Same! I use a small (4L) roll top dry bag for extra wet protection for my clothes, but I'm going to start throwing it in the footbox of my sleeping bag (and my pillow as well). Currently, I just shove my sleeping bag in the bottom of my pack loose (inside a liner of course). I've debated using a stuff sack of some sort for my sleeping bag, but my pack is large enough to just shove it in loose to fill the voids with my puffy on top of it.
One suggestion for a design improvement may be to make the front pocket made of mesh instead of fabric so that wet socks can dry and that kind of stuff.
What do you do with your camera and camera equipment when it starts dumping rain?
Such a good question
This man is definitely a good weather hiker. All the extra weight for dry clothes is horrible and through-hiking will become the most uncomfortable experience in your life. But youtubers have their best interest in presenting best case scenarios because they have to avoid talking about rain to their audience at any cost when talking lightweight packing; it is basically is useless when there is any rain at all...
@@goodgameproductions3039 uhhhhhh Darwin is a triple crown through hiker buddy. Learn your facts before you talk trash.
@@OutdoorsPodcast how about you post a video about how to make internet friends, since your video about outdoor friends did so great? Maybe you'll learn how professional you sound.
This man has mentioned the rain literally not even once in this video, he does not pack anything against the rain. Not a poncholiner, not a rainsuit, not any mention of anything against wet gear. You would expext a so called "triple crown" whatever hiker to take rain into account, or at least mention why he does not take it into account.
@@goodgameproductions3039 so the rain jacket that he packs at 10:38 doesn’t count? He’s done 7,900 miles of backpacking over the AT, the PCT, and the continental divide trail. He also talks about drying out your tent at about 10:17 when he stops for snacks.
Keep trying buddy, and at least I make videos, you just trash other people.
Hard-earned tips 😁 Makes sense. For longer water carries I keep the (collapsible) containers close to my back. Otherwise the heavy water load pulls the center of gravity backwards, and that sux when you are scrambling up the mountain. Thanks for the vid.
Is good to have extra room in your backpack for big interesting stones, human spines or what ever interest you.
And the occasional anvil.
Very helpful video for packing the size pack I would like to carry. You sacrificed nothing, and your pack organization plan makes huge sense! Thanks!
I've tried your packing method and I am loving it, very simple and easy to follow. I used to take 48+ litre packs but I decided to get a 40 litre pack and using your packing method I have managed to get everything I need and have some spare capacity just in case I need anything else, cheers Darwin.
I carry a hard shell case for my sunglasses id be interested in a ul hard shell case. Maybe has a webbing loop to attach to pack.
Woah... I modeled my packing method after the 2020 video, and felt simple and efficient. Haha, guess I'm gonna do it again! Great use of the 1/" pad!
man I still remember my first video I watched from you which was those gaiters bag when Altras were still a good shoe, oh how far you've come man i'm proud
Nice to see you back on our screens! Great video.
Excellent, I'm training to get back on the trail at 65. Hiking NH 4000 footers you might want to have an outer layer more handy for temp and weather changes if I remember correctly.
Absolutely true!
Took my 12 year son on 1st backpacking trip this weekend. Had a blast. I kept telling him as we were packing
less stuff = more fun.
J
Keep up the great work.
Your energy is back. So great
For size, balance, convenience, and practicality -- I'm not sure you could do any better. But of course that's not gonna keep us from tryin!
I'm liking a 2 bag setup -- for its modularity and to separate the shoulder straps/vest above and the hip belt below. Just got a Savotta Askare 7L hip bag for heavier and smaller items, plus water (there's webbing left, right, and back). That's paired with a SMD Flight 30 with vest harness I picked up on sale a few years ago. The side pouches are available for extra water or whatever needs easy access or doesn't fit well elsewhere. The thing that really sets this apart is that shoulder weight can easily be transferred to the "shelf" below the pack, but weight on the hips is never felt on your shoulders . . .
I have a Gossamer Gear Mariposa. Like you, I always pack things the same way every time.
This backpack has an extra wide water reservoir pocket. Instead of a bladder, I fold my sleeping pad and put that in that pocket. This helps protect my back from anything poking me and just adds a little vertical support even though I have a frame.
Next I add a DCF pack liner and then shove my quilt in the bottom of my pack. I don’t use a stuff sack for it, because the next item that goes in is my bear canister/food. The weight of that compresses my quilt and my quilt spreads out so there is no dead space. Then I shove my extra clothes around the canister. My pillow and puffy go on top and I twist the pack liner closed.
My cooks system, diddy bag, and ⅛” foam pad go on top and I cinch down my pack. There is a thin pocket at the top of the pack that I use for my DCF first aid kit and regular aid kit (repair patches, needle and thread, etc).
In all the outside Mariposa pockets I keep: my tent in the tall pocket, my water system in the top side pocket along with bug spray in a ziplock, water bottles in the lower side pocket, my rain gear, poop kit, pee kit, and snacks in the stretchy big back pocket, and a buff, thin gloves, and DCF pack cover (redundant, I know but a wet pack is heavy) in an add on top pocket I attached above my tent.
In my hip belt pockets I keep: more snacks, my phone, sunscreen, and chapstick.
Currently my base weight is 12lbs without a bear canister and 14lbs with a canister. I’m working to shave a little more off, not to be UL, but to protect my spine because I only weigh 110lbs. For a 3 day trip with food and water I’m at 21-22lbs which is great. But for hiking the CT this summer I’m at 26lbs with 6-7 days of food. That is over 20% of my body weight. 🥺
Excellent video. I'd like to know, if you are going for a 7 to 10 day hike what clothes are you packing? Assume evening temperatures possibly could get down to 5 degrees centigrade. 40 Fahrenheit.
I've seen about a million of these videos but it's been a while since one Made excellent logical sense like this
Eric Hanson has challenging knapsack vid., as well, I can miss those expensive suppers for maybe 3 evenings which should save pounds.
Love to see another packing video!
I typically go with sleeping bag and pad at the bottom, clothes inside. Then comes cook system and food, followed by the ditties at the very top with first aid, shelter and rain gear strapped outside for easy access
This is one of the most helpful packing vids on the web! Thks a lot
Solo hiker and pilot and generally carry this only for the SOS functionality. If you generally hike with others, probably not worth the subscription, but gives my family peace of mind when I’m hiking alone. I look at the Garmin Mini as an insurance policy, one I hope I never have to use.
We pack similarly with slight differences, my raincoat is in the big mesh pocket, often my puffy is there too as I am too lazy to open my pack. I like to keep my tent on the outside so one side pocket for hydration, the other for my tent. Often doing 7 - 9 day food carries so I need that room in my pack. It is comforting to know that my pack style is similar to those with many more miles than I.
After watching many of your videos, the main thing that always had my attention was your backpack
I often wonder what was in it and not in it
simplicity thats what I want👍
Excellent video! Getting my gear together and organized has always been a challenge. Thanks for sharing your system- simple and well thought out. Thanks and happy trails!
This is so detailed, ty for sharing the efficiency of your packing process.
Really smart ideas. Thanks for making this video Darwin.
Solid information! Thanks for being so thorough.Really appreciative!
Pretty similar for me. I hammock camp so hammock and quilts are in the pack liner along with any extra clothes. Tarp and food bag on top. lately I've been keeping my ditty bag in my food bag for extra water proofing, but I might try your system (individual zip locks for electronics/first aid/etc and putting that on the outside or at the top of my pack) next time I head out. No matter how many of these kinds of videos I've watched it's nice to know I can still get an idea or two from them. Thanks.
Love your track wisdom, and over the years have picked all sorts of good bits. One thing (perhaps you’ve already tried it): I absolutely can’t do without polaroid glasses on the trail. Saves me carrying extra glasses, and rummaging around for sun glasses when it gets too bright.
Editing magic. Love it!
🪄
Thanks for this Nic! I always struggle with packing light, so this really helps me a lot - and my knees as well!
It’s the background music that makes this work so well
Great video! I’ve used a lot of your packing tips from past videos, even one of the earlier ones that separate your food into separate daily bags.
I have a 35L frameless pack and use a TarpTent notch. The support struts are too long to fit horizontal, so I bring both ends with the struts together and slide those vertically along the inside of the pack outside the liner, then just stuff the rest of the tent. Works great so far and minimizes the amount of space it would otherwise take up.
My quilt and insulating layers are inside the pack liner under the tent, and food, ditty bag, rain jacket, cook set are on top.
I still use my inflatable pad against my back and my cut down Thinlight pad folded in the outside pocket for quick access.
Notch owner here as well. I have been removing the struts and packing them separately (vertically) but I like your idea better. Less fiddling around once I reach a campsite. Thanks!
@@tomheim9516 yep, I’ve tried it that way too, but it’s definitely much easier leaving the struts in place. Especially when daylight is fading. Good luck!
I pack the same way except I don't use any stuff sacks (tent only) I stuff everything in the pack liner, sleeping stuff and clothes, close that, and then tent, and food bag. My ditti bag is just a clear gallon ziplock and goes inside the pack, then a piece of Tyvek for sitting (also ground cloth). Currently use a 55L arc haul which is a 47 L main compartment. It's overkill for my 11 lbs base weight, but not interested in stuffing everything into small stuff bags. Phone, toothbrush, PLB, on the shoulder straps. snacks in the single hip pocket. Poop kit in back pocket plus filter and misc clothing for the day's weather. Water right/left side pockets. I use the compression straps on the pack to narrow and heighten the load so it's close to the body if there is not 5 days of food in the pack.
You've definitely got me thinking about a smaller pack and I think I could pack the same way I do now and make it work thanks for the video Darwin
On my most recent backpacking trip I had the Ranger carry just at 30lbs comfortably without the hipbelt without any shoulder or back pain.
Hey Darwin! I'm planning to hike the Long Trail end to end next month using a 30 L pack and this was a very helpful video! Love your channel thanks!
Outstanding talk. Thank you so much!
Wow! Its like Marry Poppins bag! Your house, sleeping system, kitchen, closet, and even a crapper. Impressive...I will have to remember this system. Crazy efficient 👍
I’ve been backpacking for almost a decade and I was pretty confident in the way that I packed my pack. Took some new ideas from tells video, thanks for sharing 😊
Some great tips Darwin, thank you. I'm used to canoe trips where weight is not option but off on a big hike soon so need to pack lighter. Need to pack a lot lighter!
This was wonderfully helpful! Great presentation. I am going to give that foam pad placement and pack liner idea a go on my next trip. Take care!
Thank you, very good info. No mention of extra battery pack for cellphone. I experienced completely no juice, very uncomfortable feeling, cannot connect to anyone in case something unforseen happen.
Thank You sooo much for making these videos D. Absolutely priceless. I’ve learned countless tips and tricks from you over the years. Much love to you bro ✊🏽
No Prob! Glad they help!
I didn't think this would be all that interesting given that your four-year-old video felt very recent, but of course I didn't remember all the details and damn, it's satisfying to watch everything go in its proper place! 😄
i'm going to rethink my load out after seeing this video. I have been trying to compress my gear as small as possible. I think packing your items loose and allowing them to fill the air gaps is a much more efficient use of space. I like to hammock camp and my underquilt is a bulky item (synthetic fill). It takes up a lot of space in my pack but leaves a lot of empty voids that are unusable. I am going to play around with my gear and see if I can find a more efficient way to pack it. Thanks again for the inspiration.
Great help
Makes so much sense
Ideal for longer hikes in the UK
Thank you
Regards Jeff
I only started backpacking like 4 or 5 years ago and since then I have developed my own style of packing that works best for me, but it is videos like these that made me feel like a pro on my very first trip lol Good stuff, Darwin!
Great to see you back, refreshed and rebooted
Thanks, and these videos are always good to review from time to time. Especially that I’m just a few hours from leaving for a 10 day backpacking trip with my two sons and our two dogs. Don’t want to forget any of my essentials and leave out as many luxury items as desired.
We’ll see we how my layers fare in the foot box of my hammock quilt and if I’m able to access all I need during the day without needing to open my pack.
Everything I do is very similar. The big exceptions I see are I have my GG 1/8 pad in the outside and I was taught to roll my sleeping pad and create a ring when putting it into the bag to create a platform. i then snuggle my cook out into the opening in the middle ( still outside the nyloflum bag.
Interestingly it's pretty much the same as yours but the food is top, tent is next, then sleeping mat. I use two rubble sacks - cheap and durable - one for the sleep system and one for the outer pack. i do that for extra security but also to store the inner tent seperately if needed - which might be slightly wet vs the fly being super wet. I don't use stuff sacks or any of that, just ziplocks on electronics or food/first aif etc. This means the sleeping bag and clothes can spread to fill any niche in the pack.
Puffy can sometimes be in the pack (raining) or outside in a pocket if I have a bag for it...and the wet stuff - rain jacket, cap, neoprene gloves, rain trousers if I'm taking those - all lives in the back pocket. Where everything else lives depends on the pack - but again, yes, hydration stuff is side pockets or hip belt pockets, snacks are hip belts, I hang my selfie stick/tripod off one of those strap loops. Trowel is side pocket, as is trekking poles and sponge/swedish cloth, cos that dries there in the mesh.
If I'm using my packs which have a brain, or a top pocket, I prefer to keep the penknife, first aid kit, and electronics up there, but mic, light and tripod have to be accessible so those are hipbelt or pockets.
I still keep my phone in my pocket, I know it's frowned upon to have stuff in your pants, but I find that it's easy to damage stuff in the hipbelts or outside the pack by dropping it. I don't want that to happen to my phone!
Great video. Sometimes I don’t use the stuff sack for my tent and stuff it into the dead space in my pack; usually on longer hikes when I need more room for food. If the tent gets wet I stuff it into a Glad trash bag.
Hey Darwin, I am huge fan! Just wanted to pass along how much I appreciate how interesting and accessible your content is! Just fantastic stuff. Even as a long time, hiker and self proclaimed ultralight guy I get so much out of your videos. I have been an ultralight hiker for a time. I now have two kids and your content continues to inspire me to upgrade my kit and get out. The acronym in my house is WWDD (what would Darwin do). Keep up the great work!
Always interesting to see how people manage camera stuff. Like others, also curious about your plan for when it rains and the camera is out. I love using shoulder strap convenience pockets for those handy things as well and that's where I find the hip belt to be great as well. I use a smaller MFT camera, so go with a small bag as a holster, though it isn't specifically that style, then a slightly top long lens pouch for a couple of the other lenses and small accessories that didn't fit in the other bag. Both of those are highly water resistant and the holster has a built in rain cover, so I end up pretty well prepared until or if I need to get camera stuff into a dry bag.
Unless I missed it.. no fishing (pen fishing pole works great), I didnt' see soap, first air kit, sandals? Other than that, I picked up a few things..
Very good presentation and logic on how to best organize the contents in a backpack. I have a couple suggestions that you may want to try since I use that same tripod and ND Filter. That PMVND case is pretty robust and heavy. You might look at using a B+W single ND Filter plastic case. It's much lighter. On the tripod, I don't use the center column. The tripod without the column is enough for all my shots and it's one less adjustment on the tripod that I don't have to make for every shot. Also, my camera feels less stable using that center column extended. Anyway, I thought I'd share that in case it might help you. Thanks for sharing. Cheers!
As always love your videos and I'm always learning something !
Thanks for watching!
This is practical advice for simple, and efficient pack setup. I got some really helpful tips out if this. Thank you!
I started putting my tent in the pump sack from thermarest. I like the flatness more ergonomic also less time rolling the tent after folding. Also less stress on the DCF. If someone made a similar DCF bag id get one.
NICE!
@@DarwinOnthetrail sorry i sorta overwhelmed you with comments.
I wish i could show you how i pack. I remember your old atmos i had the same one and loved it fondly. While you went ul i started doing winter hikes and went ul but without sacrificing durability as much as possible.
I stress about this so much ! I always pack vertical and I’ve never liked how my gear shifts . You make it look so easy like a PRO😊: going on a trip in a couple weeks soooo going to try the horizontal way of packing …. Thanks for doing this video Darwin
I do it like you except: 1. No additional dry bag for quilt. Not worth it for me except for winter. 2. I keep my rain jacket in the front pocket and 3. I don't have a ditty bag but two ziplocs and I carry those on top of my bag liner.
Accessing electronics has me wondering if I should switch the later but being an ATer originally, just can't trust things won't get wet there. Oh and I carry my trash ziploc in my bottom pocket.
I agree with you but I do use a dry bag although I just use a kitchen sized trash bag
Dry bag for quilt is something I will never skimp on in any season. It's an essential survival item and the dry bag weighs practically nothing. I get that's it's probably going to be ok but it's a peace of mind thing like carrying full sized groundhog stakes instead of minis.
@@Shrouded_reaper My backpack is very water resistant, I use a poncho and the pack liner - it's plenty. We pack our fears but this is also personal. I never had any issue or observed any issues with my fellow thru hikers doing it this way. And again, for winter I'd bring a dry bag.
This equation also depends on how far one walks. I walk far.
@wio2189 Mostly agree my man. Like I say, It's almost always going to be fine, stuffing your sleep system in the main pack liner, but like you say, we pack our fears. For the negligible weight of a dry bag I will always keep my sleep system secure against whatever might happen. Fellow thru hiker by the way.
@@Shrouded_reaper If I used an inflatable I'd bring a pump sack like the Exped Schnozel UL (dry bag) and forgo a pack liner. But I am all about that CCF life.😆
thanks darwin for this updated version. looking forward to a microspikes video, what you'd recommend, your experience with the vargo cleats and how to know when to bring'em or not for a longer trail🤙
Old dog learning new tricks 😊
Since the days of scouting. I never put my shelter, then tent on the inside of the pack. I use a side pocket which you have camera gear. Then i strap it on the top. Yes, first thing needed at camp, without opening my kit. But you really pack a squared off pack.😅
love the video! the only thing that does not work for me is keeping the foam pad inside the pack. I find it impossible to reinsert it after a break without unpacking the whole pack. I like to take very short (
What is the bag that you stuffed your quilt into and what size is it please?
Lot's of good tips here, even for an old dirt bag like myself! Thanks Darwin!
this is golden stuff, made a lot of notes, gonna try it soon :) thanks a lot!
I was using the Peak Designs capture system then I swapped over to the Falcam quick release system.
Currently I'm using the same tripod as you but it has a quick release base plate so I can break down my tripod super quickly or pop my camera into it without having to fuss with thumbscrews.
This is great! Thanks. Perhaps you can also share an updated video with what you take with you for clothing during spring/summer/fall? 🙏🏽
I. Like to horizontal load too cuz I feel it keeps the pack stable left to right but leaning forward or back when going over a lot of blowdowns or canyon wrk. Hands n knee's sort of work it just, 2 me, rides better and I don't feel as if I am trying to land a moving truck 🙃 😅. But whatever works 4 u. I do lean if possible to packs that can b opened from the side as well as the top. For those odd moments. But NOT IF IT COMPROMISES THE the pack itself. 😊
If you happen to see this. I have the same tripod for backpacking. Is that the ulanzi capture clip and how do you secure your camera to both the capture clip and your tripod? Its always good to see other peoples methods and reasoning. Its super helpful in making adjustments to my own methodology and making trips more enjoyable.
Hi @DarwinOnthetrail. Very informative and well organized video. Have you thought about making a video with more details about what camera equipment you prefer? I didnt see one on your channel. Wondering which tripod, microphone and ND filters you are using. Thanks.
Thank you. Never lose anything out of that bottom pocket? I'm a little nervous seeing that blind down-and-sideways slide-stuff.
And no Garmin?
What if you need more than just TWO liters of water? (I usually need 3-4 L!)
Bear bag/line or canister?
Can you really pull out your 1/8” foam pad easily to sit on?
How do you inflate your sleeping pad?
What is the empty weight of your 35-L pack?
The best snack pocket is a sternum strap pocket basically a zpacks hip belt pocket i modified a bit.
I use a gossamer gear bumster fanny pack for my snacks, chapstick, sun screen, and small pocket knife (Victorinox Classic SD). It works really well for me.
@@theaknights i don't use a fanny pack it interferes with the hip belt to much for me.
Which dry bag are you using for your quilt/clothes?
Fantastic for a long hike in the Spanish pyrinees!
1. Do you have rain protection for the camera, or is it water proof?
2. I pack similar, but a vertical bear can on top of the sleep system provides structure and support to the frame. Tarp goes on back mesh pocket. Water on shoulder strap. Love the idea of not rolling the sleep pad!
I have a camera setup similar to Darwin's. I use the Peak Designs clip to hold the camera on the shoulder strap - works great. When I expect significant rain, I will sometimes put the camera inside my pack. However, if I do want to keep the camera out, I have a clear plastic sleeve (available on Amazon) that has an adjustable opening on one end that goes around the lens body - just behind the lens. The cameras fits inside the sleeve with a small hole for the clip for the Peak Designs which attaches to the camera using the 1/4-20 tripod mount. This does require some assembly if you don't keep it on the camera permanently I don't - I do carry a very small hex wrench (cut down to about 1/2 long) to aid with assembly. The sleeve is long enough that when I have it on my shoulder strap, I can twist it closed on the back side of the camera and fold it around the body and under the lens.
This worked very well when I had to hike for two day in the remnants of hurricane Hillary on the JMT last year.
Camera is water resistant but definitely not water proof.. I’m curious about this also
@@panhandlejake6200came to the comments to look for an explanation because I was curious how one would go about this. Thanks for the explanation!
Thank you for sharing your experience! I get a lot of idea 😊
What size are your DCF roll top bags for your quilt ?
That's really helped my narrow down and fit things into my pack thank you :-)
Thanks Darwin. What size DCF waterproof roll top bags do you use?
Way to go Darwin, this is so helpful to have from a practical, experienced person. New to this whole thing so just trying to gain a bit of knowledge- thanks! 🚴🏼♂️🌱🧘🏼🌿🙏