Thanks for the awesome breakdown, Bigfoot! I don't know if you've already gone on your JMT hike, but I have suggestion in response to your comment about getting a 20000 mAh Anker battery. For essentially the same weight, same capacity, same number of ports, more versatility, and some redundancy, you could just get a second Anker PowerCore 10000 mAh battery like the one you showed in the video. You can choose to take one or both. If one dies, you don't lose all of your capacity. You can even simultaneously charge in two different locations. Looking forward to hearing about more adventures and more gear!
I just picked up that Katadyn Be Free water filter a couple of months ago and it is the bomb! I can't say enough good things about it. I will not do a hike without it! Have fun on your hike man! CT Joe
Great video it appears all of your research has come together. It is interesting how you have built your gear list for your hike and your ultimate goal. Subscribers should keep that in mind when they have negative comments. I am only a section hiker and use the best out of the vloggers I watch and take in to consideration my budget. At 74 I don't want to put a lot of $$ in equipment. I look forward to your record breaking hike.
Well done. Your system looks well thought out. I like your convoluted foam as a pack frame. That pad will be better for adding some rigidity to your pack over a traditional closed cell foam pad. Your Houdini has a CFM rating of about 3.5 which might be little too warm for summer but with that, you do get better water resistance from the outside. Check out the Arcteryx Squamish (43 CFM) if you find your Houdini too warm. Your Sawyer filter looks great for where you are going. I believe your Bot lid will hold one cup for measuring or a European cup of coffee.
I ran into some folks in Yosemite back country using that filter system. The bag ripped on them and it was a big problem as they had no alternative to get water thru that filter. Probably just a fluke thing with that particular unit but worth thinking about a strategy if that happens to you. Enjoy the channel and videos. Thanks so much for putting in all the effort it takes to do that.
+Kevin Herrin If that were to happen I would probably just use my athletic tape to repair it to get through for the time being. Those bags seems to be pretty strong unless something poked it?
Back in 1978/79 i thru hiked the AT trail. In 1978 from georgia to Pa and then in 1979 i hiked from Pa to Maine. My trail name was Big Foot. Only because my shoe size was a size 18 1/2 EEEE. When i walked on the trail alot of people said,look at those big feet. Thats how i got my name. 2 years ago i tried to hike it again. But i only got to kentucky. My hiking poles snapped so i got on the train and cane back home. This time my trail name was Peg Leg,only because now i am a amputee. Good luck on the trail
Good Morning, great post. I do have a question for ya. With the poles you're using how do they work with your tent. Oh yeah, was really surprised to see your Montbell Gear. I have the Tachyon Anorak and Pants. I have them in my sleep gear for my AT Hike. I'm using a liner with my quilt, if I get really cold at night with my February 1 start, I slip them on over my base top and leggings, get into my liner, and they really hold body heat in if they are between two layers. Take care brother. Be good, be safe, be careful. Breeze
I'm from Duluth... Done every inch of the trail backward and forward. Many inches more than once. I think I'm going to try a speed run for myself at his point.
I know this is an old video and you ended up not being able to successful set the FKT but what would you have changed if you were to try it again? I’m not sure if you already did a video about this or not...would you have gone stove less? Maybe used a tarp setup or maybe a foam pad to save time in sleep setup and takedown? I watched someones FKT video for the JMT and he hardly slept any. He would get someplace and just throw his pad down real quick and sleep, he only set up his tarp if he really had too. It was to be as efficient as possible...I’m just looking back at some older videos because I’m getting ready for my PCT thru hike attempt and I’m trying to go as light weight as possible and still be functional. I’m considering a foam pad, but I’m going to be bringing my tent for sure
Hey man thanks for all the knowledge you have passed on .im getting ready to do the AT next year.i follow a lot of you tubers and I can't find anyone who videos what it's like in camp and setting up and cooking and the conversation and what it like packing up in the am.everyone is always hiking or going over gear.i feel like we're missing a big part of the journey.is it not ok to film in shelters or campsites
+justin larue Many times we are either tired or trying to be respectful of other hikers. Sometimes it's weird to pull out the camera and film and a lot don't feel comfortable doing that. I agree though, opportunity there
Have to agree with Justin. I haven't been able to find any "how to set up /pack up quickly" videos either. Every time I backpack it seems like it takes me forever to get all my stuff together. Maybe because I have all my stuff scattered all over the inside of my tent :) Maybe you can just show in your backyard or on your upcoming journey. I enjoy your videos!
I just love your reviews! I sure hope Zpacks gives u a pat on the back for your review of their products. I can’t thank you enough for your explanation and detail. I subscribed and always look forward to more videos. I just have to get one of those north face shirts u gas in the other video!!
New subscriber. Love your gear.... One question I have for you. Have you had any issues with your Katadyn Be Free? This past week my buddy and I took it out to Dolly Sods for a 4 day hike and the flow has significantly dropped. This was the second hike that both of us have used it. Our first trip about 4 weeks ago they were both great. After that hike he cleaned his real well when we got back and I did not. My first use this past week in Dolly Sods mine barely flowed at all and his seemed to work great. Eventually mine started to flow a lot better. But after a few uses both of them started to slow again. I know the iron is heavy there in Dolly Sods, but still it is very concerning.
Hi Bigfoot, love your videos, just wanted to comment that i never had a micro usb to lightning adaptor that worked properly (but to be honest I've only used cheap ones). Make sure you test it a lot and that you're confident with it.
I always replace the factory insoles with "aftermarket" insoles for all my sports shoes; thus the easy removable insoles are a bonus. Sometimes I think I could hike in a pair of KEDS with a proper pair of insoles. Do the LonePeak insoles provide more of a barefoot experience? I have a son with super high arches. Aftermarket insoles have made a big difference in his running stride and strikes- and we have had fewer injuries as a result. Best to you.
+Lora M I don't know if I would consider it more of a barefoot experience. I have never had aftermarket insoles in my shoes as I really have never had foot problems. Maybe they would help with these with the known problems
Great gear breakdown,.. excited about your trip. I would add .8 oz and bring an extra set of aaa batts. I have the same headlight and it is really good on battery life if you don't run it at 100%, but it good to have a backup if you get in a bind and need to use more light, or get unlucky and have a battery that does not give you full life (only had it happen once to me). excited to hear what you think about the Tachyon Pants after the hike.
+flashman V I actually will use my iPhone flashlight as a back up if I run out of light. I did this on the AT when I had a bad headlamp. I turn my flashlight app on and slide my phone into the mesh pocket of my shoulder pouch. Works great and gives me about the same light as about a 80-100 lumen headlamp. I will only use that if I get to that point
I have a new(ish) version of the Ion headlamp and the red LED blinks when I turn it on and there's a low battery. Great feature! My last Ion headlamp didn't do that. The new one also remembers my last brightness setting and turns on to that level. Those two features alone are worth getting the updated model. And there's a physical button instead of the swipe-on/off system. The swipe system was an interesting idea, but stupid in actual use.
some 10mg Ambien timed release sleeping tablets are priceless. when you have to perform and you aint got enough gear to be sure of being warm/dry enough.
The only thing I question is sleeping in rain gear, especially if you're already sweaty. They don't breathe and would seem to be very hot, sweaty and even more stinky. :-O Learning a lot from your list as usual! :-)
+M A Walker I always get cleaned up before bed. I'll use my bandana to wipe down and clean up a bit. I might not use the top depending how warm it is that night but I'll use the pants every night. Normally I would just have a spare pair of clothes for camp but that would add about a half pound more to my base and I really need that weight for food.
I understand! I'm such a hot sleeper so it sounds like when I used to wear rubber gym pants to (supposedly) lose weight when I was a silly teenager. lol So excited for your adventure. Happy Trails!
Interesting! I also use LonePeak 3.0's and I've never had issues with the inner soles moving (I'm on my second pair of the 3.0's and before that I wore out a pair of 2.0's). Perhaps it's just that I hike on different terrain? I do take out the inners and clean them and the whole rest of the shoe at least once a week... I am SO JEALOUS of that Katadyn Filter! If it works I can absolutely see it being better than the Sawyer Mini. What about repackaging the dental floss and the body glide and the insect repellent? Best of luck with the attempt!
+Roughing It With Ruth the floss is so light anyway at .17oz. to me it's just not a big deal to try and drop .05oz. I played around with other bottles on the insect repellent and they are very similar weight for the bottle compared to this one. Will let you know on the filter, it's been great so far.
+fbnc11 Water filter is changing my world. So simple why didn't I think about it. If it continues to hold up I will not be taking my sawyer back out again
+The Hiking Texan They are about 5 oz. lighter but it was really the break down. I first went with the Black Diamond Carbon Z and they were sweet..... until the damn straps broke the second day. So I am trying these out and a Leno product which I have not had before. The breakdown was a deal breaker because there are so many flats on the SHT I found myself stowing them often on my 2 pre-hikes
Big Foot, I’m trying to decide on the Artic Blast or the Nero. I’m planning on doing most day hikes and maybe an overnight trip. I like a pack that I can train with as well. ( carrying 25-30 pounds) Since I believe in the “ buy once, cry once” mentally, and since you own both pack, if push came to shove, which pack would you get? Thanks from a fellow Minnesotan. Cast Iron Kid
Arc Blast or Arc Haul. The Nero will not be comfortable carrying that much, the limit is around 20lbs. I carried just a tad over and it didn’t feel real comfortable until I got down around 15lbs. I recently just bought the Arc Zip over the Haul because I like the idea of being able to zip open the entire pack to grab something without taking everything out to get to it(if needed). Many people are going with the Haul over the blast because it’s made with a thicker dyneema which will last longer on the trail. Glad to hear from a fellow Minnesotan!
How do you feel about the toe socks after using them? I loved them at first but found they would give me painful toe wedgies when descending steep sections.
Same question on the FKT. I looked up "Superior Hiking Trail FKT" and as of September 2016 Mike Ward has/had the FKT of 8 days, 7 hours, 59 minutes. www.mikeward.cool/backpacking/superior-hiking-trail-hike/
+zhaneranger I've tested every single thing here over 100 miles except for he quilt. I've learned exactly what I need on the trail that I can be comfortable without a sacrifice to safety. If I wasn't out to break a record I would have a couple more things like a change of clothes.
You stated that the things you wear are not counted in the base weight. Why are clothing and poles not included in the base weight? It's objects that you'll always have to carry 24/7, no different from the stuff you got in your backpack. This is especially pertinent in the artic winter when the weight of skis, snow shoes, and the abundance of layers of clothing is of paramount importance.
There is no logical explanation as to why ultralight guys try to not count items other than to “lower” their base weight. I especially like how he stated he wouldn’t count his trekking poles as they would always be on him then went directly on to say he bought the breakdown ones for when he puts them in his pack. Smh 🤦♂️
I’ve been dehydrating my toothpaste :) seriously. A 2-3/globs per day, on wax paper, a few days before will do. & no container. Also: chap-stick as a chafing stick? Should work right? Maybe not apply directly, but on fingers. Makes it small & multiuse.
+Baxxter101 That's me speeding through the last part trying to get done. I think it was about 12:30am when I finally finished filming and still needed to edit it and upload it before I went to bed the night before. It was a long night
WOW, and here's me hauling my 30lbs base weight pack very well done. I fully appreciate and admire ultralight hikers and walkers. But I have to be honest I can lift my 30 lbs pack with just two fingers and when loaded on my back because it has a very good frame I don't even feel it. Very comfortable to wear and I can do 20+ miles a day with it easily. I mean, I'm just trying to understand, what is the appeal of going so light?? A stiff framed pack is designed to make heavy loads easy to carry. so why so light like heres the thing: My friend has a 10lbs pack right, I threw his on and hiked with it a couple of miles, grand, no sweat it felt good. But then switching back to my pack, although much heavier due to the good frame I honestly couldn't tell the difference. I know hike your own hike and all that good stuff but I'm just trying to understand why people obsess over how light they can get their pack. Like are they not fit enough to carry the load? do they have bad backs? is their stamina not the greatest?
Are there cheaper alternatives to the zpacks multi pack? The Katadyn looks cool but 1k liters is much less than the sawyer. I guess on a 100 days it will still give you 10 liters per day so probably fine.
+Danny Rice Yeah, you can but another filter head for about 24 bucks. Personally, I would not mind replacing it every 1000 liters for how much time and hassle I save with it. Time is money too. Some hikers do fanny packs. There are some other chest packs out there for cheaper, I don't have a lot of info on it but I would check it out.
Ok great I look forward to a post hike gear review. Living in canada these packs are just outrageously expensive for me(Im also still in high school) the arc blast costs $440 canadian. The nero is somewhat more realistic but would want to make sure it is a viable option as it is a newer pack with less reviews
Great loadout, be gentle with the katadyn filter bottle. Had a client spring a pin hole in hers the second day on the trail. Still worked, just had to be gentle.
Lol...and I thought I was doing good when my base weight came in at 22 pounds!!!! Call me old fashioned but I like a change of underwear, extra batteries for my headlamp, a small knife, duck tape and a paper map of the trail I will be hiking in case my cell phone pukes. I realize you're going for a record, but good luck!
+Pilgrim777 Thanks, yeah this hike is waaaayyyy different than what a day PCT thru hike gear list would look like for me. I am probably one of the most hygienic hikers you'll find on the trail, I mean, I carried deodorant with me my entire AT hike..... and I would again. I too enjoy having those change of clothes and some comforts but I just need to really focus on my necessities on this so I can carry a little more food (got to carry all 8 days worth) and still have my weight Hoover not too much over 20lbs.
Follow Bigfoot A trail hygiene video would be interesting. It seems most people go for the "just deal with the stink" approach, so it'd be nice to have a practical counterpoint
Aaron - lots of good information based on actual experience! I too am a former combat medic (8404 Corpsman) and oddly enough my first aid kit consists mostly of medications. No amount of gear is going to remedy a major injury on the trail. Field surgery on yourself is not really an option, so the suture kit and field surgery kit stay at home. As for myself, I like the camping aspect of thru hiking just as much (and sometimes more) than hiking itself, so I pack a few extra conveniences. Sometimes I will find an awesome camping spot with great views and I will stay planted for a couple of days as my body recovers. This works for me and allows me to take multiple zero's without spending a ton of money on motels/hotels. When I go into town it is usually just for resupply and laundry and then I'm back on trail as quickly as I can. A few weeks ago I went on a long section hike of the NCT and my total pack weight started out at 38.5 pounds and that was with two liters of water. After a few days I was right around 32-33 pounds which is perfect for me, but then again I only average about 15 miles per day. I suppose that if my goal was to thru hike the AT or PCT and I needed to average 20-25 miles per day then I would make it my mission to have a total pack weight of under 30 pounds. Also, I try to know and carefully plan around my water sources so that I only have to carry as much water that I will need. Quite often I will run out of water a couple of miles before my next source and I figure that is about as perfect as anyone could plan for. I really hate to come up on a good water source and find that I am still carrying several pounds of water, especially if the water I am carrying is of lower quality. I've seen many hikers freak out over their fears of running out of water and they usually carry way more than they need.
+MattShafter Sure will, but I also have a GPS that I'll send a ping at the start and every hour until the end. Additionally I have a GPS watch that I will have on tracking me each step.
minibulldesign.com makes a cooking kit called the Choke Hazard Cooking Kit...it weighs 3.73 0z... it's a cooking pot, pot stand, wind screen and remote alcohol stove...you can add fuel to your stove as you cook... it's mostly for boiling water...
+William Maurer No head net. Never have brought one in any trip. If I'm not moving I will mainly be at camp in my tent. I will have the occasional break but usually don't have a problem. If needed, I'll throw my wind jacket on and put the hood up
There are calculators online that can convert freedom units to communist units if you are having trouble. Here in the free world, we learn both systems, but prefer the freedom units.
I would recommend a firearm. After I saw one I will NEVER go into the woods without a firearm. These are wild creatures and a lot of people have been killed by them.
@@FierceProtocol There isn't really any type of critter in northern Minnesota that will go after a full grown man. We have black bear and the occasional transiting mountain lion, but neither of those things should be a concern. In the last 100 years there have only been 35 or so fatal black bear attacks (in the entirety of the USA) and the _vast majority_ of those were on women and children. Statistically speaking, you are more likely to have a rifle save your life while using it as a lightning rod, than using it for self defense against an animal. Of course, then there is the issue of other people. And that is an entirely different discussion. But generally speaking, and as a Minnesotan myself, we are known for our niceness. And it seems to increase the farther north you go.
being comfortable while you are sleeping is the most important thing. Without good rest your mental, and physical condition while hikinh will suffer. I don't think its worth saving 5 oz on the pad. Just my opinion, whats works for you works for you...
+Taunya Morson-Peuplie I haven't experienced that with the Arc Blast last year and the Nero so far. That's considering you are not over packing it though
+mike franks I'm almost out😩 The time of year I am going I think the squeeters are going to be really really bad and I don't know how effective they would be in peak season in the deep woods in MN.
+mike franks Yeah, perhaps, we'll see. My main focus is getting this sucker done in under 8 days. That's kind of why I went with the UL wind pants to help defend against those blood suckers when I need it.
+George Wamser why would I want to carry an extra 8-9lbs on my back when I am trying to set a speed record on a trail? This is all I need for the 8 day hike to be comfortable.
+George Wamser remember, I have to carry about 17lbs of food for the entire 8 day hike so if I was around 15 pound base I would be at 33-34lb total weight
Nice when you have every specialized piece of gear free from the manufacturer. Hard to do for us ordinary Joes who would have to pay for all this expensive gear. Also charging for access to your sites turns me off.
+Bob Widger to kind of put things in perspective I have worked about 30 hours a week, every week since about December doing the educational videos to help other hikers. When I started to make some money I reinvested way more than I was making back into the channel with upgrading my video equipment, getting a legitimate computer etc. On top of that I have donated over a thousand dollars of my money I have earned to non-profit organizations like the ATC to "Give Back" to the community that has given me so much. Someday I would like to make a bigger impact my continuing to give back, which many other TH-camrs do not do, and do this full time. To do this, I have to generate enough income for me to pay my bills to leave my job. My Patreon site is a one layer of platform that will help me get there. If I was able to one day do this full time, I want to give back more, help more people and do what I love. Between doing my full time job and this I work 70+ hours a week...... and that's not sustainable. Sorry it turns you off but if you take a moment and look at what I do for this community with giving back and all the help, I think it perhaps would make more sense to you.
Bob Widger Bob, Bigfoot does more for this community than about 99.9% of any other Hikers out there. Take a moment and check out what he has done and what he has given back to the community. We support him and I for one have no problem being a Patreon and supporting his cause. What other hikers out there donate their TH-cam revenue monies back to the community...... ummmmm no one I think? I hope he can generate enough money to do this full time one day, he deserves it and it will make this community that much stronger!
I'm glad he's getting a little compensation for some of the high quality work he does and he gives out most of it for free, like this video, so there is no justification to complain. If you can afford it and want to support him check out some of his other stuff, otherwise just be grateful for the youtube videos :)
The educational value of Follow Bigfoot's channel is invaluable, as it will save me time, and money as I buy my own gear. In fact, his videos have already been an immense help to me, and I have gladly become a Patreon supporter.
I wish he got every specialized gear for free! Would be nice to spend money on things other than TH-cam equipment or gear. The watch (present from me) the new mic system for his TH-cam (also me) I am also proud to be a supporter. LOVE YOU HUNNY
The deuce of spades trowel is super light and surprisingly effective. I used to use tent stakes but I'm very glad I got a nice trowel. It is head and shoulders above those bulky orange monstrosities.
+Grevlain I rarely used a knife on the AT. If there is something I end up bringing for my food that would require a knife then I would, if not, I'll probably not be bringing one. I will have one for the JMT however
Cool. It's just my own personality. I'd want something with me, probably a mid-size fixed blade on the pack shoulder strap. Just for giggles. I suggest you take a look at neck knives, they may work for you.
+Grevlain I actually already have a UL knife picked out for my backpacking trips. It's made by SOG and it only weighs 1.2oz.... and is a 3 inch blade I believe. That's what I'll be bringing on the JMT
+clubreo it's actually not a trail. FKT stands for Fastest Known Time. I am trying to break the fastest known time unsupported record of the Superior Hiking Trail at the end of this month.
Sorry but right after I posted comment I googled meànt write another comment but got distracted but I didn't which trail you planned n9 making record so thanks for clarifying!
Good review. All jokes aside, I do envy ULers, and use some ultralight gear (titanium everything, except for my carbon steel knives/axe/kukri) but I am a mixture of UL and traditional backpacker. Personally I feel more secure knowing I have the gear to actually survive if a catastrophe occurs. Ever see 127 Hours? I don’t want to wind up like him.
Really surprised you don’t just use GPS on your phone to save weight. Likewise surprised you haven’t switched to alcohol stoves for same reason. Also: 1. No compass 2. No matches 3. No firesteel 4. No knife 5. No tinder 6. No whistle 7. No magnifying/fresnel lens 8. No signaling mirror 9. No sunscreen 10. No imodium/benedryl I understand the core ethos of UL, but, again, if something happens you’d be remiss not having the above (I think above list is bare minimum, personally). How remote are the trails? Bears/cougars are up that way, personally I’d carry a firearm and/or bear spray, too. But, again, I’m more of a traditional hiker/backpacker.
No holding back on expense. That watch alone is about $700. All the Z-pack stuff is too rich for my blood. No way I could afford that stuff. Everything here is so expensive. I must be much heavier and slower because of it's cost. I rely on Walmart and whatever best deal I can find on the net. I have been gathering the best I can afford over a long period of time. A very long time. Being destitute is extremely limiting.
+Dave I put most of the money I have left over from my channel that I pay the bills for my video and comp equipment to gear. As for the Fenix 5 I had the 3 and had some issues with the Hr monitor. When I took it back to REI to get an exchange, they didn't have anymore Fenix 3's so I just decided to pay the extra 130ish and upgrade to the Fenix 5. You can score a lot of deals out there if you're patient and don't waste money on poor quality gear you have to replace frequently. An example is a EE quilt. For $300 you can get some of the best quality quilt for the price that is very comparable to any other sleeping bag you would find at REI. There are lots of ways to cut costs in gear that doesn't have gigantic impacts to quality. I for one would shave some areas and make room to spend a little more on higher quality gear for my sleeping bag/quilt and tent. That's just me
What is the point? Seriously? 10# would hurt your enjoyment of nature. You have to meet weight for a teleporter? Why the nerdy obsession of shaving fractions of an ounce?
Well, when you walk hundreds of thousands of miles and rigorous terrain, all that weight adds up. I used to think the same damn thing until I started long distance hiking. Now, for this setup, I was going as light as I could because I was trying to challenge myself to doing this particular trail in a very short period of time. This trek was more about challenging my mind and body to see how I could do. I only brought what I felt I really needed
+George Wamser No problem, I didn't really hit on the food in this video. I did a video last week that talked about what I'm bringing each day. My video I'll drop this Thursday will have everything including all my repackaged food and what my total weight will be. I start my hike this Saturday
To not take any kind of paper map with you is so stupid. Put them in a ziplock bag and it could save your life. A lot of people have died in situations after they told themselves "I feel comfortable".
+MrKimberCrazy I'm pretty comfortable with this trail and the area as I have hiked almost the entire trail except for downtown Duluth that goes through the city. Most of the trail runs along a highway from Grand marais to Duluth so access to civilization is close. I will be having my phone on airplane mode 98% of the time and have enough backup battery to recharge my iPhone 3 times. If I was going up into the mountains then I would definitely bring paper maps. Additionally, most of the state parks I walk through on the trail have paper maps up at their kiosk which is Beth helpful. For all of these reasons I chose to bring electronic maps. Understand your concern though
+Follow Bigfoot One thing I left out in my comment is I have a GPS that will be with me at all times. At any moment I can communicate with my family if I get into trouble, or, if necessary, I can SOS and help will be to me between 30-60 min. My GPS also gives me total piece of mind as a backup if I would ever need it
Follow Bigfoot If you need to be rescued are you liable for the search and rescue recovery bill? I know in different places there is different case law covering this. just a curiosity. As a SCUBA diver I carry DAN insurance that covers stuff like that specifically. I appreciate your return to my concern and your attention to detail to comments.
+MrKimberCrazy I purchased the extra insurance that covers up to 100,000 in search and rescue costs with my plan. It was like an extra 20 or 40 bucks and was totally worth it for peace of mind.
Follow Bigfoot The top tier dive insurance is also pretty cheap at about 145 a year, but covers sea search and rescue, lost gear, medevac, etc. Definitely worth the extra money hands down. That insurance was through your GPS provider?
Suggestion: watch at 1.5 speed
Thanks for the awesome breakdown, Bigfoot! I don't know if you've already gone on your JMT hike, but I have suggestion in response to your comment about getting a 20000 mAh Anker battery. For essentially the same weight, same capacity, same number of ports, more versatility, and some redundancy, you could just get a second Anker PowerCore 10000 mAh battery like the one you showed in the video. You can choose to take one or both. If one dies, you don't lose all of your capacity. You can even simultaneously charge in two different locations. Looking forward to hearing about more adventures and more gear!
Thx so much for the quality and detailed video!! been waiting for this one for a while
Happy to see toe socks getting some love from the pros. They've been saving me from blisters for a while, now.
+Emmanuel Albert Love em'
I just picked up that Katadyn Be Free water filter a couple of months ago and it is the bomb! I can't say enough good things about it. I will not do a hike without it! Have fun on your hike man! CT Joe
+Joe Grimaldi Thanks Joe, man that thing is a game changer. The sawyer got nothing on the BeFree IMO
Looks like you're all dialed in! Good luck! Be safe.
Great video it appears all of your research has come together. It is interesting how you have built your gear list for your hike and your ultimate goal. Subscribers should keep that in mind when they have negative comments. I am only a section hiker and use the best out of the vloggers I watch and take in to consideration my budget. At 74 I don't want to put a lot of $$ in equipment. I look forward to your record breaking hike.
+Warren Davidson Thank you Warren
70+ here. I am with you on your comment
Warren Davidson didn’t quite work out for him though did it?
Super knowledgeable, super dedicated, awesome content. Love the energy keep it up!
Well done. Your system looks well thought out. I like your convoluted foam as a pack frame. That pad will be better for adding some rigidity to your pack over a traditional closed cell foam pad. Your Houdini has a CFM rating of about 3.5 which might be little too warm for summer but with that, you do get better water resistance from the outside. Check out the Arcteryx Squamish (43 CFM) if you find your Houdini too warm. Your Sawyer filter looks great for where you are going. I believe your Bot lid will hold one cup for measuring or a European cup of coffee.
I ran into some folks in Yosemite back country using that filter system. The bag ripped on them and it was a big problem as they had no alternative to get water thru that filter. Probably just a fluke thing with that particular unit but worth thinking about a strategy if that happens to you. Enjoy the channel and videos. Thanks so much for putting in all the effort it takes to do that.
+Kevin Herrin If that were to happen I would probably just use my athletic tape to repair it to get through for the time being. Those bags seems to be pretty strong unless something poked it?
Thats an incredibly light weight kit! Got some good ideas thanks for the tips!
Back in 1978/79 i thru hiked the AT trail. In 1978 from georgia to Pa and then in 1979 i hiked from Pa to Maine. My trail name was Big Foot. Only because my shoe size was a size 18 1/2 EEEE. When i walked on the trail alot of people said,look at those big feet. Thats how i got my name. 2 years ago i tried to hike it again. But i only got to kentucky. My hiking poles snapped so i got on the train and cane back home. This time my trail name was Peg Leg,only because now i am a amputee. Good luck on the trail
too light for me but awesome to see how practical you packed. 8lb is as low as i care to go at this point. good luck
thanks slippery storm i found this after research and will edit my comment to avoid bad info. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14747805
So jealous of that weight!
I find the padded socks cause more blisters than lightweight socks.
Good luck!
Good Morning, great post. I do have a question for ya. With the poles you're using how do they work with your tent. Oh yeah, was really surprised to see your Montbell Gear. I have the Tachyon Anorak and Pants. I have them in my sleep gear for my AT Hike. I'm using a liner with my quilt, if I get really cold at night with my February 1 start, I slip them on over my base top and leggings, get into my liner, and they really hold body heat in if they are between two layers. Take care brother. Be good, be safe, be careful. Breeze
+Trail Breeze I figured out a way, it's just a little weird. I'll probably show it in another video. Kind of hard to explain
I'm from Duluth... Done every inch of the trail backward and forward. Many inches more than once.
I think I'm going to try a speed run for myself at his point.
I know this is an old video and you ended up not being able to successful set the FKT but what would you have changed if you were to try it again? I’m not sure if you already did a video about this or not...would you have gone stove less? Maybe used a tarp setup or maybe a foam pad to save time in sleep setup and takedown? I watched someones FKT video for the JMT and he hardly slept any. He would get someplace and just throw his pad down real quick and sleep, he only set up his tarp if he really had too. It was to be as efficient as possible...I’m just looking back at some older videos because I’m getting ready for my PCT thru hike attempt and I’m trying to go as light weight as possible and still be functional. I’m considering a foam pad, but I’m going to be bringing my tent for sure
Hey man thanks for all the knowledge you have passed on .im getting ready to do the AT next year.i follow a lot of you tubers and I can't find anyone who videos what it's like in camp and setting up and cooking and the conversation and what it like packing up in the am.everyone is always hiking or going over gear.i feel like we're missing a big part of the journey.is it not ok to film in shelters or campsites
+justin larue Many times we are either tired or trying to be respectful of other hikers. Sometimes it's weird to pull out the camera and film and a lot don't feel comfortable doing that. I agree though, opportunity there
Have to agree with Justin. I haven't been able to find any "how to set up /pack up quickly" videos either. Every time I backpack it seems like it takes me forever to get all my stuff together. Maybe because I have all my stuff scattered all over the inside of my tent :) Maybe you can just show in your backyard or on your upcoming journey. I enjoy your videos!
I just love your reviews! I sure hope Zpacks gives u a pat on the back for your review of their products. I can’t thank you enough for your explanation and detail. I subscribed and always look forward to more videos.
I just have to get one of those north face shirts u gas in the other video!!
New subscriber. Love your gear.... One question I have for you. Have you had any issues with your Katadyn Be Free? This past week my buddy and I took it out to Dolly Sods for a 4 day hike and the flow has significantly dropped. This was the second hike that both of us have used it. Our first trip about 4 weeks ago they were both great. After that hike he cleaned his real well when we got back and I did not. My first use this past week in Dolly Sods mine barely flowed at all and his seemed to work great. Eventually mine started to flow a lot better. But after a few uses both of them started to slow again. I know the iron is heavy there in Dolly Sods, but still it is very concerning.
+Alex Banks I haven't yet. I will report back after my FKT attempt. I'll probably be filtering 70-80 liters of water through it during that week
Hi Bigfoot, love your videos, just wanted to comment that i never had a micro usb to lightning adaptor that worked properly (but to be honest I've only used cheap ones). Make sure you test it a lot and that you're confident with it.
+Karlo Yep, me too. I have been using this one for 2+ months and has not let me down yet
I’m so glad u mentioned something that I hv not heard a lot and that is bug proofing items - I hv considered options and u hv helped me
going to Ohio to look for Bigfoot and it seems I already found him great vid man i wish you luck
+Wyatt McComb Thanks Wyatt!
One of the most well thoughtout gear list I have ever seen. Awesome video.
I think youll get that FKT record. :)
+David S Gordon Thank you!!
Fabulous. I love that BOT.
I always replace the factory insoles with "aftermarket" insoles for all my sports shoes; thus the easy removable insoles are a bonus. Sometimes I think I could hike in a pair of KEDS with a proper pair of insoles. Do the LonePeak insoles provide more of a barefoot experience? I have a son with super high arches. Aftermarket insoles have made a big difference in his running stride and strikes- and we have had fewer injuries as a result. Best to you.
+Lora M I don't know if I would consider it more of a barefoot experience. I have never had aftermarket insoles in my shoes as I really have never had foot problems. Maybe they would help with these with the known problems
Great gear breakdown,.. excited about your trip. I would add .8 oz and bring an extra set of aaa batts. I have the same headlight and it is really good on battery life if you don't run it at 100%, but it good to have a backup if you get in a bind and need to use more light, or get unlucky and have a battery that does not give you full life (only had it happen once to me). excited to hear what you think about the Tachyon Pants after the hike.
+flashman V I actually will use my iPhone flashlight as a back up if I run out of light. I did this on the AT when I had a bad headlamp. I turn my flashlight app on and slide my phone into the mesh pocket of my shoulder pouch. Works great and gives me about the same light as about a 80-100 lumen headlamp. I will only use that if I get to that point
Great backup for your headlamp !
I have a new(ish) version of the Ion headlamp and the red LED blinks when I turn it on and there's a low battery. Great feature! My last Ion headlamp didn't do that. The new one also remembers my last brightness setting and turns on to that level. Those two features alone are worth getting the updated model. And there's a physical button instead of the swipe-on/off system. The swipe system was an interesting idea, but stupid in actual use.
Good luck 🍀!
some 10mg Ambien timed release sleeping tablets are priceless. when you have to perform and you aint got enough gear to be sure of being warm/dry enough.
The only thing I question is sleeping in rain gear, especially if you're already sweaty. They don't breathe and would seem to be very hot, sweaty and even more stinky. :-O Learning a lot from your list as usual! :-)
+M A Walker I always get cleaned up before bed. I'll use my bandana to wipe down and clean up a bit. I might not use the top depending how warm it is that night but I'll use the pants every night. Normally I would just have a spare pair of clothes for camp but that would add about a half pound more to my base and I really need that weight for food.
I understand! I'm such a hot sleeper so it sounds like when I used to wear rubber gym pants to (supposedly) lose weight when I was a silly teenager. lol So excited for your adventure. Happy Trails!
+M A Walker Thanks MA!
Nice gear. I personally go semi light. I think it all depends on the individual, but this is a very nice setup.
Thanks for the awesome vid. What is the handheld weighing scale you used?
Interesting! I also use LonePeak 3.0's and I've never had issues with the inner soles moving (I'm on my second pair of the 3.0's and before that I wore out a pair of 2.0's). Perhaps it's just that I hike on different terrain? I do take out the inners and clean them and the whole rest of the shoe at least once a week... I am SO JEALOUS of that Katadyn Filter! If it works I can absolutely see it being better than the Sawyer Mini. What about repackaging the dental floss and the body glide and the insect repellent? Best of luck with the attempt!
+Roughing It With Ruth the floss is so light anyway at .17oz. to me it's just not a big deal to try and drop .05oz. I played around with other bottles on the insect repellent and they are very similar weight for the bottle compared to this one. Will let you know on the filter, it's been great so far.
Awesome, thanks :)
Great video, that water filter looks awesome! Good luck
+fbnc11 Water filter is changing my world. So simple why didn't I think about it. If it continues to hold up I will not be taking my sawyer back out again
I thought you swore by the Black Diamond Trail Pro Shock Trekking Poles? Besides the breakdown what sold you on the new ones?
+The Hiking Texan They are about 5 oz. lighter but it was really the break down. I first went with the Black Diamond Carbon Z and they were sweet..... until the damn straps broke the second day. So I am trying these out and a Leno product which I have not had before. The breakdown was a deal breaker because there are so many flats on the SHT I found myself stowing them often on my 2 pre-hikes
Cool deal.. Quit changing gear on me.. My gear pretty much mirrors yours. You're breaking me. LOL
+The Hiking Texan ☺️
Big Foot, I’m trying to decide on the Artic Blast or the Nero. I’m planning on doing most day hikes and maybe an overnight trip. I like a pack that I can train with as well. ( carrying 25-30 pounds) Since I believe in the “ buy once, cry once” mentally, and since you own both pack, if push came to shove, which pack would you get? Thanks from a fellow Minnesotan. Cast Iron Kid
Arc Blast or Arc Haul. The Nero will not be comfortable carrying that much, the limit is around 20lbs. I carried just a tad over and it didn’t feel real comfortable until I got down around 15lbs. I recently just bought the Arc Zip over the Haul because I like the idea of being able to zip open the entire pack to grab something without taking everything out to get to it(if needed). Many people are going with the Haul over the blast because it’s made with a thicker dyneema which will last longer on the trail. Glad to hear from a fellow Minnesotan!
How do you feel about the toe socks after using them? I loved them at first but found they would give me painful toe wedgies when descending steep sections.
I love the choice of gear that you use. Shalom Bubba
Does the multi pack add to the weight limit of the main pack or is it extra? Always wondered about the physics of that.
Great vid and good luck!
I'm going to copy the cable adapter idea, thanks!
I may have missed it in a previous video, but, how long is the SHT and what is the current FKT that you are going to beat? 🍀👍
Same question on the FKT. I looked up "Superior Hiking Trail FKT" and as of September 2016 Mike Ward has/had the FKT of 8 days, 7 hours, 59 minutes. www.mikeward.cool/backpacking/superior-hiking-trail-hike/
+Tami Gami it is about 310 miles and record is 8 days, 7 hours and 59 min
+Slippery Storm ☺️
Very impressed with the weight, but Wow this is so bare bones. It'll be interesting to see who comfortable this works out.
+zhaneranger I've tested every single thing here over 100 miles except for he quilt. I've learned exactly what I need on the trail that I can be comfortable without a sacrifice to safety. If I wasn't out to break a record I would have a couple more things like a change of clothes.
You stated that the things you wear are not counted in the base weight. Why are clothing and poles not included in the base weight? It's objects that you'll always have to carry 24/7, no different from the stuff you got in your backpack. This is especially pertinent in the artic winter when the weight of skis, snow shoes, and the abundance of layers of clothing is of paramount importance.
There is no logical explanation as to why ultralight guys try to not count items other than to “lower” their base weight. I especially like how he stated he wouldn’t count his trekking poles as they would always be on him then went directly on to say he bought the breakdown ones for when he puts them in his pack. Smh 🤦♂️
What would you say the total cost for all your gear is? I would love to see a TH-cam channel that they take that in consideration.
I’ve been dehydrating my toothpaste :) seriously. A 2-3/globs per day, on wax paper, a few days before will do. & no container.
Also: chap-stick as a chafing stick? Should work right? Maybe not apply directly, but on fingers. Makes it small & multiuse.
damn, thats almost nothing! Nice setup. What's with the camera white balance on the last part though?
+Baxxter101 That's me speeding through the last part trying to get done. I think it was about 12:30am when I finally finished filming and still needed to edit it and upload it before I went to bed the night before. It was a long night
WOW, and here's me hauling my 30lbs base weight pack very well done. I fully appreciate and admire ultralight hikers and walkers. But I have to be honest I can lift my 30 lbs pack with just two fingers and when loaded on my back because it has a very good frame I don't even feel it. Very comfortable to wear and I can do 20+ miles a day with it easily. I mean, I'm just trying to understand, what is the appeal of going so light?? A stiff framed pack is designed to make heavy loads easy to carry. so why so light like heres the thing: My friend has a 10lbs pack right, I threw his on and hiked with it a couple of miles, grand, no sweat it felt good. But then switching back to my pack, although much heavier due to the good frame I honestly couldn't tell the difference. I know hike your own hike and all that good stuff but I'm just trying to understand why people obsess over how light they can get their pack. Like are they not fit enough to carry the load? do they have bad backs? is their stamina not the greatest?
Can I suggest silicone RTV instead of supperglue to fasten the insoles in, still waterproof but will peal off later
You have some really nice gear but I don't see any Permetherin, Deet and overhead bug net on your list.
That befree thing seems so much better
Are there cheaper alternatives to the zpacks multi pack? The Katadyn looks cool but 1k liters is much less than the sawyer. I guess on a 100 days it will still give you 10 liters per day so probably fine.
+Danny Rice Yeah, you can but another filter head for about 24 bucks. Personally, I would not mind replacing it every 1000 liters for how much time and hassle I save with it. Time is money too.
Some hikers do fanny packs. There are some other chest packs out there for cheaper, I don't have a lot of info on it but I would check it out.
would you use the nero on a longer thru hike?
+Oliver Moes-Okun Don't know yet, I'll answer that once I get one under my belt here in month
Ok great I look forward to a post hike gear review. Living in canada these packs are just outrageously expensive for me(Im also still in high school) the arc blast costs $440 canadian. The nero is somewhat more realistic but would want to make sure it is a viable option as it is a newer pack with less reviews
Great loadout, be gentle with the katadyn filter bottle. Had a client spring a pin hole in hers the second day on the trail. Still worked, just had to be gentle.
+jonathan davis Thanks for the advice. Hate for that to happen on day 2
Nice setup thanks for sharing
8 pounds? My bag is 40 and I weigh 150. Most of my weight comes from water cuz...backpacking in the desert in the summer
What is your total "Trail Weight" ? The weight you will be carrying most of the time... Average in your food weight.
That watch looks heavy. Wear that on the trail?
Absolutely, the bennies from the watch far outweighs the weight.
What bag did you use for your sleeping bag
I tried the Sawyer squeeze thing. I can piss faster than that filter. I went with the Trail Shot.
Lol...and I thought I was doing good when my base weight came in at 22 pounds!!!! Call me old fashioned but I like a change of underwear, extra batteries for my headlamp, a small knife, duck tape and a paper map of the trail I will be hiking in case my cell phone pukes. I realize you're going for a record, but good luck!
+Pilgrim777 Thanks, yeah this hike is waaaayyyy different than what a day PCT thru hike gear list would look like for me. I am probably one of the most hygienic hikers you'll find on the trail, I mean, I carried deodorant with me my entire AT hike..... and I would again. I too enjoy having those change of clothes and some comforts but I just need to really focus on my necessities on this so I can carry a little more food (got to carry all 8 days worth) and still have my weight Hoover not too much over 20lbs.
Follow Bigfoot A trail hygiene video would be interesting. It seems most people go for the "just deal with the stink" approach, so it'd be nice to have a practical counterpoint
Aaron - lots of good information based on actual experience!
I too am a former combat medic (8404 Corpsman) and oddly enough my first aid kit consists mostly of medications. No amount of gear is going to remedy a major injury on the trail. Field surgery on yourself is not really an option, so the suture kit and field surgery kit stay at home.
As for myself, I like the camping aspect of thru hiking just as much (and sometimes more) than hiking itself, so I pack a few extra conveniences. Sometimes I will find an awesome camping spot with great views and I will stay planted for a couple of days as my body recovers. This works for me and allows me to take multiple zero's without spending a ton of money on motels/hotels. When I go into town it is usually just for resupply and laundry and then I'm back on trail as quickly as I can.
A few weeks ago I went on a long section hike of the NCT and my total pack weight started out at 38.5 pounds and that was with two liters of water. After a few days I was right around 32-33 pounds which is perfect for me, but then again I only average about 15 miles per day.
I suppose that if my goal was to thru hike the AT or PCT and I needed to average 20-25 miles per day then I would make it my mission to have a total pack weight of under 30 pounds.
Also, I try to know and carefully plan around my water sources so that I only have to carry as much water that I will need. Quite often I will run out of water a couple of miles before my next source and I figure that is about as perfect as anyone could plan for. I really hate to come up on a good water source and find that I am still carrying several pounds of water, especially if the water I am carrying is of lower quality. I've seen many hikers freak out over their fears of running out of water and they usually carry way more than they need.
That dosent weigh 17 pounds 😐
I know your comment is now 8 months old but it'd be awesome if you shared a video of your DIY tent.
Make sure you video tape your phone time stamp at the trail head.
+MattShafter Sure will, but I also have a GPS that I'll send a ping at the start and every hour until the end. Additionally I have a GPS watch that I will have on tracking me each step.
minibulldesign.com
makes a cooking kit called the Choke Hazard Cooking Kit...it weighs 3.73 0z... it's a cooking pot, pot stand, wind screen and remote alcohol stove...you can add fuel to your stove as you cook... it's mostly for boiling water...
Never heard of it, thanks for brining it up!
Love your channel.
Good luck!
Head net?
+William Maurer No head net. Never have brought one in any trip. If I'm not moving I will mainly be at camp in my tent. I will have the occasional break but usually don't have a problem. If needed, I'll throw my wind jacket on and put the hood up
William Maurer r
Bugs don't exist on the JMT in August-September.
Check out the IRIDIUM stove.....best pack stove ever made......multi fuel apps and never fails....no moving parts.....6 ounces
Great video but a lightning rod port is new to me
if your plus size it adds more Waite but do these gear company's make larger size options ?
+Taunya Morson-Peuplie depends on the company and product. Usually they will make up to XL. Some will go up to XXXL.
super feet insoles are worth every penny. Good luck buddy
Good stuff. As relevant to bikepackers as thru-hikers.
carbon fiber gets a "divot" just like graphite fishing rods ..BOOM ...
aluminum ski poles all the way
Please include METRIC UNITS!
There are calculators online that can convert freedom units to communist units if you are having trouble. Here in the free world, we learn both systems, but prefer the freedom units.
@@herranton Freedom units are so much easier for me. My forearm is a foot, my index fingertip is an inch. It's really convenient.
The amount of hand sanitizer he used in three weeks on the AT, my paranoid ass would probably go through in a couple of days. :O
What weapons are bringing with you for protection?
Just that 2.5 inch blade knife, and my two fists of course. I suppose I could always throw a rock 🤔
I would recommend a firearm. After I saw one I will NEVER go into the woods without a firearm. These are wild creatures and a lot of people have been killed by them.
@@FierceProtocol There isn't really any type of critter in northern Minnesota that will go after a full grown man. We have black bear and the occasional transiting mountain lion, but neither of those things should be a concern. In the last 100 years there have only been 35 or so fatal black bear attacks (in the entirety of the USA) and the _vast majority_ of those were on women and children.
Statistically speaking, you are more likely to have a rifle save your life while using it as a lightning rod, than using it for self defense against an animal.
Of course, then there is the issue of other people. And that is an entirely different discussion. But generally speaking, and as a Minnesotan myself, we are known for our niceness. And it seems to increase the farther north you go.
Im sorry to ask but FKT?
Fastest Known Time
Thankyou :}
being comfortable while you are sleeping is the most important thing. Without good rest your mental, and physical condition while hikinh will suffer. I don't think its worth saving 5 oz on the pad. Just my opinion, whats works for you works for you...
Hi. What's the total cost? Just an estimate's fine.
Rough estimate is around $2500
I dont get why they made the trail go through Duluth. Nobody wants to urban hike. It should have ended at Lester river.
Yeah, it actually wasn’t that bad. You hike about 15 miles through that area but the last 35-40 miles are back in the wild
Follow Bigfoot wild? Like near St. Louis river?
I do wonder if lighter packs are less balancing ?
+Taunya Morson-Peuplie I haven't experienced that with the Arc Blast last year and the Nero so far. That's considering you are not over packing it though
Wow. Both my babies weighed less than your pack.
No pocket knife?
I ended up bringing one
For toilet paper, look up compressed toilet paper tablets.
Wow.. impressive. 👀
No citronella patches????
+mike franks I'm almost out😩
The time of year I am going I think the squeeters are going to be really really bad and I don't know how effective they would be in peak season in the deep woods in MN.
You could place like four or five of them on you and see how well they work in peak season of the female blood drainers
+mike franks Yeah, perhaps, we'll see. My main focus is getting this sucker done in under 8 days. That's kind of why I went with the UL wind pants to help defend against those blood suckers when I need it.
kinda cheating on base weight brother. You have to count the multipack with contents as well.
wow makes mine look like i carrying a m1 tank on my back
Got nothing against going light...but that is too light. Anybody can carry #15 easy!
+George Wamser why would I want to carry an extra 8-9lbs on my back when I am trying to set a speed record on a trail? This is all I need for the 8 day hike to be comfortable.
+George Wamser remember, I have to carry about 17lbs of food for the entire 8 day hike so if I was around 15 pound base I would be at 33-34lb total weight
Nice when you have every specialized piece of gear free from the manufacturer. Hard to do for us ordinary Joes who would have to pay for all this expensive gear. Also charging for access to your sites turns me off.
+Bob Widger to kind of put things in perspective I have worked about 30 hours a week, every week since about December doing the educational videos to help other hikers. When I started to make some money I reinvested way more than I was making back into the channel with upgrading my video equipment, getting a legitimate computer etc. On top of that I have donated over a thousand dollars of my money I have earned to non-profit organizations like the ATC to "Give Back" to the community that has given me so much. Someday I would like to make a bigger impact my continuing to give back, which many other TH-camrs do not do, and do this full time.
To do this, I have to generate enough income for me to pay my bills to leave my job. My Patreon site is a one layer of platform that will help me get there. If I was able to one day do this full time, I want to give back more, help more people and do what I love.
Between doing my full time job and this I work 70+ hours a week...... and that's not sustainable. Sorry it turns you off but if you take a moment and look at what I do for this community with giving back and all the help, I think it perhaps would make more sense to you.
Bob Widger Bob, Bigfoot does more for this community than about 99.9% of any other Hikers out there. Take a moment and check out what he has done and what he has given back to the community. We support him and I for one have no problem being a Patreon and supporting his cause. What other hikers out there donate their TH-cam revenue monies back to the community...... ummmmm no one I think? I hope he can generate enough money to do this full time one day, he deserves it and it will make this community that much stronger!
I'm glad he's getting a little compensation for some of the high quality work he does and he gives out most of it for free, like this video, so there is no justification to complain. If you can afford it and want to support him check out some of his other stuff, otherwise just be grateful for the youtube videos :)
The educational value of Follow Bigfoot's channel is invaluable, as it will save me time, and money as I buy my own gear. In fact, his videos have already been an immense help to me, and I have gladly become a Patreon supporter.
I wish he got every specialized gear for free!
Would be nice to spend money on things other than TH-cam equipment or gear.
The watch (present from me) the new mic system for his TH-cam (also me) I am also proud to be a supporter. LOVE YOU HUNNY
Great gear list. Only missing one thing.....a trowel💩
+Cassandra Thompson I'll be using a couple of my carbon tent stakes to dig the cat hole.
M/R Gamerboy Moreno the number one thing found in hiker boxes
No one uses trowels man. A stick or rock tent stake. You Lil shed that real quick
The deuce of spades trowel is super light and surprisingly effective. I used to use tent stakes but I'm very glad I got a nice trowel. It is head and shoulders above those bulky orange monstrosities.
IceTGM , true
No knife? No even a 'bitty little pocket knife?
+Grevlain I rarely used a knife on the AT. If there is something I end up bringing for my food that would require a knife then I would, if not, I'll probably not be bringing one. I will have one for the JMT however
Cool. It's just my own personality. I'd want something with me, probably a mid-size fixed blade on the pack shoulder strap. Just for giggles. I suggest you take a look at neck knives, they may work for you.
+Grevlain I actually already have a UL knife picked out for my backpacking trips. It's made by SOG and it only weighs 1.2oz.... and is a 3 inch blade I believe. That's what I'll be bringing on the JMT
+Grevlain Yeah, not sure. I usually don't like wearing big necklaces. I feel like I would get annoyed with it, but not sure
FKT ;;; Fastest known time???
really stupid question I know I should know this but I dont what is fkt trail I have never heard of it!
+clubreo it's actually not a trail. FKT stands for Fastest Known Time. I am trying to break the fastest known time unsupported record of the Superior Hiking Trail at the end of this month.
Sorry but right after I posted comment I googled meànt write another comment but got distracted but I didn't which trail you planned n9 making record so thanks for clarifying!
That’s nothing. My base weight is up to 56lbs. You need to step up your game.
Good review. All jokes aside, I do envy ULers, and use some ultralight gear (titanium everything, except for my carbon steel knives/axe/kukri) but I am a mixture of UL and traditional backpacker. Personally I feel more secure knowing I have the gear to actually survive if a catastrophe occurs. Ever see 127 Hours? I don’t want to wind up like him.
Really surprised you don’t just use GPS on your phone to save weight. Likewise surprised you haven’t switched to alcohol stoves for same reason.
Also:
1. No compass
2. No matches
3. No firesteel
4. No knife
5. No tinder
6. No whistle
7. No magnifying/fresnel lens
8. No signaling mirror
9. No sunscreen
10. No imodium/benedryl
I understand the core ethos of UL, but, again, if something happens you’d be remiss not having the above (I think above list is bare minimum, personally).
How remote are the trails? Bears/cougars are up that way, personally I’d carry a firearm and/or bear spray, too. But, again, I’m more of a traditional hiker/backpacker.
No holding back on expense. That watch alone is about $700. All the Z-pack stuff is too rich for my blood. No way I could afford that stuff. Everything here is so expensive. I must be much heavier and slower because of it's cost. I rely on Walmart and whatever best deal I can find on the net. I have been gathering the best I can afford over a long period of time. A very long time. Being destitute is extremely limiting.
+Dave I put most of the money I have left over from my channel that I pay the bills for my video and comp equipment to gear. As for the Fenix 5 I had the 3 and had some issues with the Hr monitor. When I took it back to REI to get an exchange, they didn't have anymore Fenix 3's so I just decided to pay the extra 130ish and upgrade to the Fenix 5.
You can score a lot of deals out there if you're patient and don't waste money on poor quality gear you have to replace frequently. An example is a EE quilt. For $300 you can get some of the best quality quilt for the price that is very comparable to any other sleeping bag you would find at REI. There are lots of ways to cut costs in gear that doesn't have gigantic impacts to quality. I for one would shave some areas and make room to spend a little more on higher quality gear for my sleeping bag/quilt and tent. That's just me
Please learn to be succinct. You're droning here.
7.7 is the magic number 7.8 is too much.
+plutoplatters are you talking about 7.7lb base weight? Sorry, not following what you're saying
What is the point? Seriously? 10# would hurt your enjoyment of nature. You have to meet weight for a teleporter? Why the nerdy obsession of shaving fractions of an ounce?
Well, when you walk hundreds of thousands of miles and rigorous terrain, all that weight adds up. I used to think the same damn thing until I started long distance hiking. Now, for this setup, I was going as light as I could because I was trying to challenge myself to doing this particular trail in a very short period of time. This trek was more about challenging my mind and body to see how I could do. I only brought what I felt I really needed
I'm from more of the Colin Fletcher school, I guess. He shaved weight, but believed things like racing and schedules did detract from nature.
Ok missed the food.
+George Wamser No problem, I didn't really hit on the food in this video. I did a video last week that talked about what I'm bringing each day. My video I'll drop this Thursday will have everything including all my repackaged food and what my total weight will be. I start my hike this Saturday
Wow
To not take any kind of paper map with you is so stupid. Put them in a ziplock bag and it could save your life. A lot of people have died in situations after they told themselves "I feel comfortable".
+MrKimberCrazy I'm pretty comfortable with this trail and the area as I have hiked almost the entire trail except for downtown Duluth that goes through the city. Most of the trail runs along a highway from Grand marais to Duluth so access to civilization is close. I will be having my phone on airplane mode 98% of the time and have enough backup battery to recharge my iPhone 3 times. If I was going up into the mountains then I would definitely bring paper maps. Additionally, most of the state parks I walk through on the trail have paper maps up at their kiosk which is Beth helpful. For all of these reasons I chose to bring electronic maps. Understand your concern though
+Follow Bigfoot One thing I left out in my comment is I have a GPS that will be with me at all times. At any moment I can communicate with my family if I get into trouble, or, if necessary, I can SOS and help will be to me between 30-60 min. My GPS also gives me total piece of mind as a backup if I would ever need it
Follow Bigfoot If you need to be rescued are you liable for the search and rescue recovery bill? I know in different places there is different case law covering this. just a curiosity. As a SCUBA diver I carry DAN insurance that covers stuff like that specifically. I appreciate your return to my concern and your attention to detail to comments.
+MrKimberCrazy I purchased the extra insurance that covers up to 100,000 in search and rescue costs with my plan. It was like an extra 20 or 40 bucks and was totally worth it for peace of mind.
Follow Bigfoot The top tier dive insurance is also pretty cheap at about 145 a year, but covers sea search and rescue, lost gear, medevac, etc. Definitely worth the extra money hands down. That insurance was through your GPS provider?
oh god you're one of those im out!
+serpantseed08 👋