For I liter water bottles a Sharpie, marking middle of the bottle, then middle of top and bottom halves, and so on can give you a pretty good system of measurement in 8 or even 4oz increments. No sticker needed. Mark all your bottles before a trip.
@@wobblysauce not sure why more dont understand this... his 500ml mark is at the line where "magnesium" is basically. just remember thats for 500ml and no need for a sharpie or reusing same bottle every time. the labels on all those bottles should be in same spot so no need to have anything extra to mark it. simple and requires nothing but pouring your desired amount in to see where it lines up once. and a memory that works i suppose.
@@turdferguson7686 Something I also do with the making of breakfast oats, water to mark on the outside and add oat and stir till I feel the resistance I want and done.
The main reason I hike is to go place to take photos. That hiking pole magnet solution is a godsent, that could solve the biggest inconvenience I have on trail, what to do with my hiking poles when using my camera.
Great overview - quick and to the point. Thanks. Water bottle capacity marks: I use a permanent marker to show various important water levels, then cover each mark with scotch tape to keep it form rubbing off. Can be done pretty quickly. If you make a mistake, pull off the tape, rub off the marker ink and re-mark.
I use icaridin bug spray too (mostly because of the scary negative effects of deet) and while I don't get any bug bites they still buzz all around. But having a fake dragonfly pinned on my hat or backpack will keep those away (also well below $30)
How realistic do they need to be? An outline, 3D, black , coloured, shiny plastic or mixed texture? I have allergies so anything chemical free that helps is greatly appreciated. Thanks for the heads up!👍
I've got a repair tape made from a strong adhesive and waterproof fabric, intended to repair tents and other things, and repaired a sleeping bag some years ago and it is still as functional as the first day. That tape is magic.
I live in Maine. The bugs are fierce. Picaridin actually works with blackflies, deer flies, moose flies, and gnats, as well as mosquitoes. Nothing else I’ve ever tried works with blackflies. And it won’t hurt your gear, unlike deet. I’m not crazy about using chemical repellents - they make me feel a little ill, so I think bug nets are best for above the waist, and cedar oil spray works well for ticks, too. But sometimes you need something strong and easily available. Picaridin has changed my outdoors life.
Garlic oil capsules have worked for me nationwide. Actively repels mosquitoes, ticks chiggers fleas biting flies and leaches. One or two capsules per day works for me.
Also from Maine... The trick is Permethrin on your clothes, Picaridin for exposed skin and a bug net (with a hat) to keep them out of your face. If you have been out during black fly season, you know they will literally crawl into your eyes! and no bug juice is going to stop them! Most times I can get away without the net, but other times it is essential.
@@myrddin77 yes, I love the bug net best for black flies. But the mosquitoes will go right through the little holes if it’s close to your skin. And some of the moose flies I’ve seen are terrifying.
So I know this is difficult in the US. But stick with me and I'll explain it for you. 1L divided by 2 is 500ml. If you need a 500ml measure and you only have a 1L bottle, you can divide the bottle in two and you get a 500ml measure. If you want to translate this back to imperial. Your 33.814 fl oz bottle can be transported into a 16.907 fl oz bottle by dividing it by two. No sticker needed!
I agree but I think "Smart Bottles" are actually 1.1L (because why not). At least this is how they are in Romania. So maybe that's why it's a tad difficult for them.
Awesome. I already had an amazing tiny pump, without the light. When I showed it to my buds, they laughed. Now they all have one. I bought the drop thermometer and enough Pitcairn from garage built to get free shipping. Thank you!
Thanks for turning me on to Natural Atlas, glad you got paid to do it. :D I'm a canoe / kayaker, and the natural atlas app actually performs better than the Garmin Connect App - it doesn't have any problem at all following a stream bed, whereas Garmin only understands roads and trails. I've been recommending it to all my paddler friends.
@billpetersen298 not exactly. You plan ahead, download a map area when you are connected and then it's available offline when you are in the backcountry
The harness straps on your Osprey pack has loops to thread your water tube through. My 2015 Osprey pack already had a magnetic tab to hold tube end in place when I got it.
two years ago I bought a micro pump for my inflatable pad. I have seen significant improvement in both the condition of the pad and the pad seems to keep air better by not having hot and moist air from my lungs changing temperature and losing loft. Good tip. Thanks
@@vipe650r Because you dont have to buy a sticker i thought that was incredibly obvious. Or you could always use your eyes and just fill half of the bottle if you want 500ml.. or a quarter for 250 etc.
You can hang the tiny pump from the center of your tent - a lot of tents have little loops inside to hang things - and it's a great lamp for the inside of the tent. I bought some tiny titanium caribeeners that I use the hang the tiny pump/lamp from the inside of my tent's ceiling.
I've been looking into making gear and design because my mind is always going. Right now I modify things some things I find that you're just doesn't have one feature or a couple teachers really desire and it's a lot to search through four gear and then you go into a old Walmart discount and find a really cool nylon backpack handbag with a lid it's like 28 really cool and I never hear anybody talk about those in Walmart kind of I feel gets dismissed and some of the quality sometimes it's not the best but sometimes the older stuff I find like a poncho from their outdoor brand is really good stuff maybe a little heavier than some ultralight prefer but it is really really cool for what it is. So I can relate. And just a little grain of rice can tip the scale as far as having enough versus not having enough can almost be the same as not having any versus having everything maybe a exaggeration but I enjoy finding these videos on my feed thank you!
I think Natural Atlas is really cool, but I feel that it deserves mentioning that it only works on trails in the USA. I plugged a very popular backpacking route in Banff National Park into it, and even though the trail was visible on the map, none of the other features work. I just wish I just wish i hadn't paid the $30 first
@@MyLifeOutdoors oh probably, but I like what they are doing and the cost was not overwhelming for me, so I considered it a "donation" to the cause of them expanding to Canada someday.
@@aurtisanminer2827 I mean after you are out? I do backpacking and bikepacking, I know about packing for the weather. I just check the forecast pack accordingly and adjust on the fly as I go.
@@shalakabooyaka1480 Agree. Weather forecast is more important than knowing what the actual temp is once you are in the backcountry. What you have in your pack is what you have. And even if you go back to the same location in the future, the temperature is not gonna be the same.
Thanks Steven. Some good ideas there. Have you found a good, inexpensive, basic watch suitable for cold weather? Don't need all the bells and whistles on most watches and definitely don't need the high prices. If so, maybe you could include it in one of your reviews. Thanks.
Always great videos. My ears pricked up when you mentioned that you sleep on your side. Me too and never comfortable so any content that goes more into that(if you haven't already) would be amazing. Keep up the good work
To get the label off a Smart Water bottle, fill it with HOT tap water to soften the glue, peel the label off, then rub the remaining sticky glue with vegetable oil and a paper towel or plastic scrubber. It will take A WHILE but the oil will eventually soften the glue till it can be washed off with dish soap. This works for most labels.
I've been using Stick Stashers for over 800 miles on the PCT and Camino del Norte and they're mostly wonderful. They work especially well on maintained trails that don't have a lot of brush. My only issue has been that dirt catches on the magnets really easily and are impossible to get out because it gets stuck to and eventually interferes with the magnet. This was especially an issue on the desert PCT sections.
Yep there's loads of ferrous metals/rocks in soil, they should have a little cut out that allows you to scrape the metals off. One option is to have a thin bit of plastic which can catch the metal but I doubt this would last long and would reduce the magnetism. I'd suspect a stick whittled to a little sharp scoop could help, or a very stiff brush.
When I roll up my mattress leaving camp it lets out the damp air, then at home I let it self fill at home to get dry air in there. Repeat if necessary. It also prevents the foam from separating, causing a bubble.
I do not enjoy the flavor mixes designed for 16oz bottles mixed at full strength. I normally mix them in a full 32oz hydroflask and it's just about right. Gets me drinking more water as well!
I have those Spuds holders on my Mariposa 60, they attach right above where the shoulder straps meet the belt and hold my poles perfectly. Great for road walking or when you need your hands free for check a map, snack, or drink!
@@MikeycatOutdoors Weird, because they're specifically made for BD poles (16mm). I use them on my Fizan poles, it only fits on the middle section but that's worked okay for me.
@@Andy-Mesa I saw they uploaded the info on the garage grown gear page to indicate the 16mm diameter size and which poles its known to work with. I might try the mid section of my BD alpine carbon poles. I definitely know my cnoc poles are way too large.
The modern little rechargeable air pumps are great! I used to air up my stuff the old fashioned lung-based way but they're able to pack a lot of power into a tiny package, and are definitely worth carrying. As a long-time DEET enthusiast (being highly tasty to mosquitoes for whatever reason), I have switched entirely to Picaridin/Icaridin based bug sprays. They're the only non-DEET repellent I've ever tried that actually works just as well as DEET on mosquitoes (just about any other purported bug spray that isn't DEET or Picaridin based is useless), and it doesn't melt plastics the way DEET does. Highly recommend.
@@joelface The smallest ones are extremely tiny and weigh only a few ounces; they're definitely worth considering for backpacking for the effort they save and the moisture they keep out of your inflatables.
@@dylanisley4873 Permethrin is good, but it's NOT a bug spray like deet/icaridin for your skin (breaks down when applied to your body). You can apply it to clothing to prevent ticks and such though. Make sure to keep it away from cats, which are particularly sensitive to it.
@@joelface The pump is really small and only weighs a few oz, not much heavier than a standard fabric pump-sack. I _do_ use the light as a lantern in my tent or hammock, so it is multipurpose, as all our gear should be. ;-) I do take it backpacking and bikepacking, where space and weight are at a premium. Even using the light, the pump is still good for many inflations (I've tested it to 5 inflations of a Regular/25-in/2.5-in mattress + 3 nights with 5-10 mn of illumination each night, with still power left over at the end of the trip.)
I have a sea to summit pad and their stuffsacks double as the inflation bag and they are better than any information bag i ever saw. It literally only takes 2.5 fillings to inflate the pad, which means less than 30 seconds.
I have used my thermarest pad for years only with a pump bag, never inflated it by blowing into it…and still have the mold inside the pad. I think it is related to the dew point when the air cools down at night and separates water from the air. I read it can be avoided by hanging it up a tree or so, the next day with the valve facing down so that water can run out. No idea if it works though.
My husband and I inflate our air mattresses (NOT using our breath) when we get home after our backpacking trips. We let the mattress sit for a few hours that way at room temperature so that the water inside evaporates. Then, we deflate the pad, letting out the moist air.l We go through 2-3 cycles of that and we have absolutely no mold inside our thermarest neoairs!
thank you for this! just a suggestion for the trekking poles, the stow on-the-go feature of osprey is a more secured way. if your pack is not osprey, just put 2 shock cords - one on your backpack strap and one on your waist belt pocket or side compression straps if you don't have waist belt - and there you have it! you can now stow your trekking poles easily
Back when Therm-a-Rest came out with the NeoAir. Shortly thereafter I got one of the Microburst inflates from Camp-tek. It sure beats trying to blow up the mattress with the bag or heaven forbid , by mouth. Attach it and in less then 3 minutes the bag is inflated.
I have one of those Flextail air pumps. I had a hard time trying to inflate my Klymit StaticV2. Maybe it was me, but I couldn't get any of the adapters to fit well enough to inflate the pad.
I don’t carry any of the adapters. I just hold the pump up against the inflation valve. Have even used it with Static V but not the v2. Does the v2 have a different valve?
Awesome product/app list! Do the SmartWater bottles not degrade over usage? I know most plastic off-the-shelf water products (not reusable bottles) have a use-life.
A cheaper alternative to no-sow patches is a good old roll of tenacious tape. That combined with seam grip will fix anything. Not sure about the durability of the now so vs tenacious, would make an interesting video i guess
don't know how i've missed your channel! found my way here from the video Justin just posted. on my smart water bottles (and talenti jars/gsi mugs) i fill to fairly precise, mark with a sharpie..repeat for whatever graduations you want. when done cover with a piece of scotch tape or packing tape.
Hey bud…just a quick tip….you say you want Hawaiian Punch in a 1 liter bottle but it’s supposed to be mixed in 500ml? Well…500ml is exactly half a liter man….haha. 1000ml=1 liter. Soooooo just fill it half way. You can estimate other basic measurements with 1liter as well…250ml is 1/4 of a liter etc. sooo for example if you’re trying to measure a cup for a dehydrated meal it’s roughly 1/4 of a liter. I just measure into my extra bottle usually. Simple. Hope that helps! Although the measurement sticker IS pretty damn cool and smart.
COTREX app from the state of CO is run by natural atlas, it's honestly the best route planner. I even use it for planning runs. The measure tool is great.
I can't justify using a pressurized throw a way canister. I'm still using my Optimus 00 kerosene and Seva123 white gas stoves. As well as the old Sigg fuel bottles. When you consider that both stoves, I use are a flame tower plus a tank they are not much more weight that a canister plus the flame tower. When the tank is empty, I can refill it, When the canister is empty, I have to figure what to do with it and carry a spare.
I don't know about you, but I watch gear videos to either get some insight into existing gear that I'm looking into or a better look at things I've overlooked. This is a glorified ad for things you don't need. A sticker to mark your water bottle? A GPS app? No sew patches? None of those things are worth selling to people of any skill or interest level.
Well, those magnetic Trekking Pole clips, I dont know... Most times I want to stow away my poles quickly for a short while is when I need to climb, which often is in places poles tend to get caught anyway. So if the connection to the backpack isn't that stable and my poles get ripped off my pack they're gone, I'd guess. The idea is great though, but the method is not sufficient for every use case, I'd say.
Modern backpackers may try to cook outside in cold wind or risk their lives cooking inside without a chimney using their so called 4 season equipment. Usually they are at home waiting for good weather. All over the world there are people who follow their animals living in portable shelters, not one of them cooks outside in the wind. It is impossible for anyone to survive a winter cooking every day out side with so called 4 season equipment. Using a chimney makes camping in any weather a comfortable pleasure. A tarp pitch can be the best 4 season shelter. It has to go tight to the ground on all sides and have a wood stove inside if it is going to be any good in a winter blizzard. Stove and chimney 24 ounces, shelter near 2.5 lbs. The whole outfit cannot weigh more than 5 lbs. if backpackers are going to use it. A 10’x10’ tarp only needs to be pegged on the 4 corners with as many pegs as it takes to be secure in any wind. No grommets are needed. It has cramped space for 3 cooking, lots of space 4 sleeping. The chimney can serve as one of the 40” long corner poles. Sticks that have a small nail driven in both ends (head pinched off). One end stays put on the ground, the other end through a reinforced point exactly in the corner 40” from the edges of the tarp. All sides can be raised forming an umbrella to cool off because of heat from the tiny cookstove or summer sun. This is what 4 season equipment is all about.
As a hiker who relies on a compass I wouldn't have a magnet attached to me. I've seen the same gadgets used for Alternate Air sources in diving and they cause serious compass deviations.
*Gear from this Video:*
Bottle Genius Sticker: geni.us/OEf9AK5
Tube Magnet: geni.us/HYn7
Tiny Pump: geni.us/znLF8co
Natural Atlas: geni.us/5B8MGP
ThermoDrop: geni.us/BGs5
Stick Stashers: geni.us/f7lO6
Picariden Lotion: geni.us/37XUl
CrunchIt Tool: geni.us/Cqzg
NoSo Patches: geni.us/NuPmil0
My preferred drink tube: geni.us/x0ojc8r
Fuel transfer valve: geni.us/vpLl
What I’m wearing:
Alpha Hoodie: geni.us/EGWb9nd
Those magnets don't affect a compass?
The crunch it - isn’t it a fancy 10 penny nail?
came here to say this, just use the awl of sak to make sure
I vote for the BB gun targets in the backyard.
For I liter water bottles a Sharpie, marking middle of the bottle, then middle of top and bottom halves, and so on can give you a pretty good system of measurement in 8 or even 4oz increments. No sticker needed. Mark all your bottles before a trip.
If you are using the same bottles/types you know just by the label.
Or use a measuring cup.
@@wobblysauce not sure why more dont understand this... his 500ml mark is at the line where "magnesium" is basically. just remember thats for 500ml and no need for a sharpie or reusing same bottle every time. the labels on all those bottles should be in same spot so no need to have anything extra to mark it. simple and requires nothing but pouring your desired amount in to see where it lines up once. and a memory that works i suppose.
@@turdferguson7686 Something I also do with the making of breakfast oats, water to mark on the outside and add oat and stir till I feel the resistance I want and done.
Clever, simple
The main reason I hike is to go place to take photos. That hiking pole magnet solution is a godsent, that could solve the biggest inconvenience I have on trail, what to do with my hiking poles when using my camera.
The Flextail pump is the best thing ever - it really shines for getting all the air out of your sleeping pad when you are packing up.
Great overview - quick and to the point. Thanks.
Water bottle capacity marks: I use a permanent marker to show various important water levels, then cover each mark with scotch tape to keep it form rubbing off. Can be done pretty quickly. If you make a mistake, pull off the tape, rub off the marker ink and re-mark.
Absurd to stick another piece of disposable plastic to a disposable plastic bottle.
@@csn583 I used the same smart water bottle for a year+ they get some mileage.
I use icaridin bug spray too (mostly because of the scary negative effects of deet) and while I don't get any bug bites they still buzz all around. But having a fake dragonfly pinned on my hat or backpack will keep those away (also well below $30)
Where would I locate a fake dragonfly? Are they sold in specialty fishing shops?
@@suzannecartwright6504 I'll be honest I don't know. I get them off Amazon. I'd guess some outdoor or fishing shops might have them?
How realistic do they need to be? An outline, 3D, black , coloured, shiny plastic or mixed texture? I have allergies so anything chemical free that helps is greatly appreciated. Thanks for the heads up!👍
For securing the tube, I always use retractable key lanyards. Works excellent, especially when trail running or MTB.
I've got a repair tape made from a strong adhesive and waterproof fabric, intended to repair tents and other things, and repaired a sleeping bag some years ago and it is still as functional as the first day. That tape is magic.
Nice. I love good stuff like that. Can make the difference when you get a bad tear at the wrong time.
I live in Maine. The bugs are fierce. Picaridin actually works with blackflies, deer flies, moose flies, and gnats, as well as mosquitoes. Nothing else I’ve ever tried works with blackflies. And it won’t hurt your gear, unlike deet. I’m not crazy about using chemical repellents - they make me feel a little ill, so I think bug nets are best for above the waist, and cedar oil spray works well for ticks, too. But sometimes you need something strong and easily available. Picaridin has changed my outdoors life.
Also from Maine here and will certainly look at using this. The flies don’t usually bother me much but always looking for tips. 👍🏼
@@jeremyaldrich7847 try Mount Blue trailhead in the first week of May. They swarm the car before you even get out! Lol.
Garlic oil capsules have worked for me nationwide. Actively repels mosquitoes, ticks chiggers fleas biting flies and leaches. One or two capsules per day works for me.
Also from Maine... The trick is Permethrin on your clothes, Picaridin for exposed skin and a bug net (with a hat) to keep them out of your face. If you have been out during black fly season, you know they will literally crawl into your eyes! and no bug juice is going to stop them! Most times I can get away without the net, but other times it is essential.
@@myrddin77 yes, I love the bug net best for black flies. But the mosquitoes will go right through the little holes if it’s close to your skin. And some of the moose flies I’ve seen are terrifying.
So I know this is difficult in the US. But stick with me and I'll explain it for you.
1L divided by 2 is 500ml.
If you need a 500ml measure and you only have a 1L bottle, you can divide the bottle in two and you get a 500ml measure.
If you want to translate this back to imperial. Your 33.814 fl oz bottle can be transported into a 16.907 fl oz bottle by dividing it by two.
No sticker needed!
For exact measurements there’s also just a sharpie
I agree but I think "Smart Bottles" are actually 1.1L (because why not). At least this is how they are in Romania. So maybe that's why it's a tad difficult for them.
Awesome. I already had an amazing tiny pump, without the light. When I showed it to my buds, they laughed. Now they all have one. I bought the drop thermometer and enough Pitcairn from garage built to get free shipping. Thank you!
Hooray, some backpacking gears! I prefer 3rd myself.
Thanks for turning me on to Natural Atlas, glad you got paid to do it. :D I'm a canoe / kayaker, and the natural atlas app actually performs better than the Garmin Connect App - it doesn't have any problem at all following a stream bed, whereas Garmin only understands roads and trails. I've been recommending it to all my paddler friends.
That’s awesome! I didn’t even know it could do that.
Do you need cell connection, for it?
@billpetersen298 not exactly. You plan ahead, download a map area when you are connected and then it's available offline when you are in the backcountry
The harness straps on your Osprey pack has loops to thread your water tube through. My 2015 Osprey pack already had a magnetic tab to hold tube end in place when I got it.
Modern problems require modern uh...
pro-tip: put a small zip tie around the end of the magnet clip and put it around your upper chest strap. This will keep the magnet from getting lost
Thanks
Those powerful magnets are also great for stopping a compass from dangling as you wander endlessly in circles cursing your map reading skills🧭💀
Well done - intelligent, no music or lengthy introductions - loves it!
two years ago I bought a micro pump for my inflatable pad. I have seen significant improvement in both the condition of the pad and the pad seems to keep air better by not having hot and moist air from my lungs changing temperature and losing loft. Good tip. Thanks
Sharpie on water bottle or tape marking 500 ml would be easier😂
How is that easier? Sticker is WAY faster, precise, and easy to read at multiple measurements for quick reference.
@@vipe650r Because you dont have to buy a sticker i thought that was incredibly obvious. Or you could always use your eyes and just fill half of the bottle if you want 500ml.. or a quarter for 250 etc.
@@Michael.RJ.Oil_Painting Eh, to each their own. I like the idea and the precision. Lines and numbers make my brain happy.
I love picaridin! I find it works better than deet and doesn't eat your plastic items.
You can also use the flextail pump to help get a fire going.
Very true! I’m camping with my family right now and the tiny pump works great on fires.
Interesting vid. I’ll stick with my pad fill bag, since it doubles as sleep system dry bag. 3oz is too much for a one-use item.
Permethrin > picardin.
Agreed. Plus that pump is just one more thing to charge up.
I second the tiny pump. Each night in the Sierras I inflated the tramily's pads. I called it the 'inflation station'!
I have an osprey 2 liter reservoir I use while I'm touring. It came with one of those magnetic clips and I absolutely love it!
I saw Osprey has a mag clip too. Very cool
You can hang the tiny pump from the center of your tent - a lot of tents have little loops inside to hang things - and it's a great lamp for the inside of the tent. I bought some tiny titanium caribeeners that I use the hang the tiny pump/lamp from the inside of my tent's ceiling.
Every now and then you have a Will Friedle tone to your voice.. It's pleasant.
I've been looking into making gear and design because my mind is always going. Right now I modify things some things I find that you're just doesn't have one feature or a couple teachers really desire and it's a lot to search through four gear and then you go into a old Walmart discount and find a really cool nylon backpack handbag with a lid it's like 28 really cool and I never hear anybody talk about those in Walmart kind of I feel gets dismissed and some of the quality sometimes it's not the best but sometimes the older stuff I find like a poncho from their outdoor brand is really good stuff maybe a little heavier than some ultralight prefer but it is really really cool for what it is. So I can relate. And just a little grain of rice can tip the scale as far as having enough versus not having enough can almost be the same as not having any versus having everything maybe a exaggeration but I enjoy finding these videos on my feed thank you!
Better check fitment before purchasing. Didn't fit either of my packs (Waymark and Mountain Laurel Designs) Easily works on Gregory, Etc
That stuff is great for ticks I wear it a lot.Sawyer.
It also helps if you thread your water tube through that little strap that runs horizontally on your shoulder strap.
Best way to recycle jetboil canister is to use it for target practice but make sure its not totally empty for effect.
The tiny bag inflator blower works double duty as a pocket bellows for starting or reviving your fire.
I think Natural Atlas is really cool, but I feel that it deserves mentioning that it only works on trails in the USA. I plugged a very popular backpacking route in Banff National Park into it, and even though the trail was visible on the map, none of the other features work. I just wish I just wish i hadn't paid the $30 first
Contact them at hello@naturalatlas.com I’m sure they will give you your money back.
@@MyLifeOutdoors oh probably, but I like what they are doing and the cost was not overwhelming for me, so I considered it a "donation" to the cause of them expanding to Canada someday.
I’m glad someone’s making more options for thermometers. Knowing the temps is pretty important.
Not really
For what reason do you need the temp while camping?
@@shalakabooyaka1480 to know what gear will keep you warm in the cold or what will be too warm in warm temps.
@@aurtisanminer2827 I mean after you are out? I do backpacking and bikepacking, I know about packing for the weather. I just check the forecast pack accordingly and adjust on the fly as I go.
@@shalakabooyaka1480 Agree. Weather forecast is more important than knowing what the actual temp is once you are in the backcountry. What you have in your pack is what you have. And even if you go back to the same location in the future, the temperature is not gonna be the same.
Thanks Steven. Some good ideas there. Have you found a good, inexpensive, basic watch suitable for cold weather? Don't need all the bells and whistles on most watches and definitely don't need the high prices. If so, maybe you could include it in one of your reviews. Thanks.
I don't have that exact Flextail pump, but I brought mine on the PCT and only ever charged it in town. And I have the wide Nemo tensor pad!
Yabadaba doo
Nice video
A Pump sac doesn’t make any noise 🤙
Always great videos. My ears pricked up when you mentioned that you sleep on your side. Me too and never comfortable so any content that goes more into that(if you haven't already) would be amazing. Keep up the good work
To get the label off a Smart Water bottle, fill it with HOT tap water to soften the glue, peel the label off, then rub the remaining sticky glue with vegetable oil and a paper towel or plastic scrubber. It will take A WHILE but the oil will eventually soften the glue till it can be washed off with dish soap. This works for most labels.
Love my Thermarest air pump for my NeoAir XLite! Worth the added 2 ounces!
I LOVE Picardin lotion. I feel invincible to bugs while using it. Spray is useless compared to the lotion
I was going to make the same comment about lotion vs. spray.
I've been using Stick Stashers for over 800 miles on the PCT and Camino del Norte and they're mostly wonderful. They work especially well on maintained trails that don't have a lot of brush. My only issue has been that dirt catches on the magnets really easily and are impossible to get out because it gets stuck to and eventually interferes with the magnet. This was especially an issue on the desert PCT sections.
I’ve started to notice this too. Seems like small pieces of iron in the dirt
Yep there's loads of ferrous metals/rocks in soil, they should have a little cut out that allows you to scrape the metals off. One option is to have a thin bit of plastic which can catch the metal but I doubt this would last long and would reduce the magnetism. I'd suspect a stick whittled to a little sharp scoop could help, or a very stiff brush.
@@brendandor I recommended they add a little mesh to prevent the dirt from getting in.
@@brendandorToothbrush works. Be sure to rinse the toothbrush afterwards 😊
I do not like the idea of crunching cans, why not just date them and re use them.
WOW! just more rehashing of the same stuff I've seen before!
WHOA! That was a mistake! Awesome new stuff!
THANKS!
When I roll up my mattress leaving camp it lets out the damp air, then at home I let it self fill at home to get dry air in there. Repeat if necessary.
It also prevents the foam from separating, causing a bubble.
What is the adapter tube for the smart water bottle you use
This is the one I use: amzn.to/3HEjhQq
Stick stash looks cool, hate having to throw my poles around going up and down rocks.
Flex tail pump is great been using one for about 6 months saves so much time
I can attest to NoSo. Underrated company by far
Got me through Himachal, Syria, Iraq, and....Alabama.
I do not enjoy the flavor mixes designed for 16oz bottles mixed at full strength. I normally mix them in a full 32oz hydroflask and it's just about right. Gets me drinking more water as well!
Thanks for the tips! I always enjoy your honest and balanced reviews!
I have those Spuds holders on my Mariposa 60, they attach right above where the shoulder straps meet the belt and hold my poles perfectly. Great for road walking or when you need your hands free for check a map, snack, or drink!
What pole brand did you install your spuds on? They were too small for my black diamond poles.
@@MikeycatOutdoors Weird, because they're specifically made for BD poles (16mm). I use them on my Fizan poles, it only fits on the middle section but that's worked okay for me.
@@Andy-Mesa I saw they uploaded the info on the garage grown gear page to indicate the 16mm diameter size and which poles its known to work with. I might try the mid section of my BD alpine carbon poles. I definitely know my cnoc poles are way too large.
The modern little rechargeable air pumps are great! I used to air up my stuff the old fashioned lung-based way but they're able to pack a lot of power into a tiny package, and are definitely worth carrying.
As a long-time DEET enthusiast (being highly tasty to mosquitoes for whatever reason), I have switched entirely to Picaridin/Icaridin based bug sprays. They're the only non-DEET repellent I've ever tried that actually works just as well as DEET on mosquitoes (just about any other purported bug spray that isn't DEET or Picaridin based is useless), and it doesn't melt plastics the way DEET does. Highly recommend.
I'm tempted by the rechargeable air pumps, but are they really worth taking on a backpacking trip, or mostly just for car-camping situations?
@@joelface The smallest ones are extremely tiny and weigh only a few ounces; they're definitely worth considering for backpacking for the effort they save and the moisture they keep out of your inflatables.
Is permethrin worth a damn
@@dylanisley4873 Permethrin is good, but it's NOT a bug spray like deet/icaridin for your skin (breaks down when applied to your body). You can apply it to clothing to prevent ticks and such though. Make sure to keep it away from cats, which are particularly sensitive to it.
@@joelface The pump is really small and only weighs a few oz, not much heavier than a standard fabric pump-sack. I _do_ use the light as a lantern in my tent or hammock, so it is multipurpose, as all our gear should be. ;-) I do take it backpacking and bikepacking, where space and weight are at a premium. Even using the light, the pump is still good for many inflations (I've tested it to 5 inflations of a Regular/25-in/2.5-in mattress + 3 nights with 5-10 mn of illumination each night, with still power left over at the end of the trip.)
I have a sea to summit pad and their stuffsacks double as the inflation bag and they are better than any information bag i ever saw. It literally only takes 2.5 fillings to inflate the pad, which means less than 30 seconds.
I've never used that rubber nozzle on the flextail. Ive always just put the normal nozzle in the outlet to fill. I'll have to try this out next time
I have used my thermarest pad for years only with a pump bag, never inflated it by blowing into it…and still have the mold inside the pad. I think it is related to the dew point when the air cools down at night and separates water from the air. I read it can be avoided by hanging it up a tree or so, the next day with the valve facing down so that water can run out. No idea if it works though.
Interesting. I used my breath almost exclusively on that pad I showed…I assumed that was the problem
My husband and I inflate our air mattresses (NOT using our breath) when we get home after our backpacking trips. We let the mattress sit for a few hours that way at room temperature so that the water inside evaporates. Then, we deflate the pad, letting out the moist air.l We go through 2-3 cycles of that and we have absolutely no mold inside our thermarest neoairs!
My trekking pole is a 1.5m stainless steel hollow curtain pole that I've fitted with a ferrule on each end. I store my paracord in it.
Cool little gadgets and doo-dads to round out one's backpacking kit.
Re: ticks, I recommend just treating all your clothes with permethrin, and wearing long sleeves / long pants all the time.
With the hydration reservoir I use a large Caribbeana cause my bag hasn't got a spot for it
I need to go and buy half this stuff right now! Thx!
thank you for this! just a suggestion for the trekking poles, the stow on-the-go feature of osprey is a more secured way. if your pack is not osprey, just put 2 shock cords - one on your backpack strap and one on your waist belt pocket or side compression straps if you don't have waist belt - and there you have it! you can now stow your trekking poles easily
Back when Therm-a-Rest came out with the NeoAir. Shortly thereafter I got one of the Microburst inflates from Camp-tek. It sure beats trying to blow up the mattress with the bag or heaven forbid , by mouth. Attach it and in less then 3 minutes the bag is inflated.
Thanks for the info. I couldn't tell from your video, but which Smart water bottle adapter were you using?
I have one of those Flextail air pumps. I had a hard time trying to inflate my Klymit StaticV2. Maybe it was me, but I couldn't get any of the adapters to fit well enough to inflate the pad.
I don’t carry any of the adapters. I just hold the pump up against the inflation valve. Have even used it with Static V but not the v2. Does the v2 have a different valve?
@@MyLifeOutdoors yes the 2 has a valve body that sticks up from the pad. The pictures I've seen of the 1 show a more flat valve.
Is there a less noisy option instead of Flextail? It's so incredibly loud.
You could use a Sharpie to mark the bottle at home?
Awesome product/app list! Do the SmartWater bottles not degrade over usage? I know most plastic off-the-shelf water products (not reusable bottles) have a use-life.
Solid info - recently grabbed some picaridin from Ranger Ready - as a trail life leader I love learning about new gear - thanks for the info
A cheaper alternative to no-sow patches is a good old roll of tenacious tape. That combined with seam grip will fix anything. Not sure about the durability of the now so vs tenacious, would make an interesting video i guess
I sew all the time, but I'd still use No So. Every stitch with a needle and thread makes a hole, and that means more potential leaks.
don't know how i've missed your channel! found my way here from the video Justin just posted.
on my smart water bottles (and talenti jars/gsi mugs) i fill to fairly precise, mark with a sharpie..repeat for whatever graduations you want. when done cover with a piece of scotch tape or packing tape.
Glad you are here! Justin is a good friend.
FlexTailGear TinyPump X is under 30 dollars, smaller and can still inflate a wide, tall sleeping pad for 10 nights in a row.
Stick Stashers don't work. Great concept however they fall off anytime anything bumps them. They are very difficult to use while your pack is on.
Just pass the water tube through the loop on the outside/top side of your pack strap. Been doing it for years.
Thanks for the tip about the hose adapter and magnetic clips to use with the Smart water bottles! I will use both of those for sure.
See Gaiagps more maps overlays nat geo maps same price and Outside Mag...
Several cool things here that I'll pick up for an upcoming trip. Thanks!
I want to know more about your smart water bottle reservoir conversion system.
Super up to date... that Pika Fire in Yosemite just started within the last week! Great info as always, Steve
The hose clip is cool. I tuck mine under my chest strap, or band it to the molle on my shoulder strap
Can you tell me about your jumper ( sweater, top layer of clothing ).
It looks good and lightweight.
Farpoint Aloha hoodie. I think I put a link in the description
Hey bud…just a quick tip….you say you want Hawaiian Punch in a 1 liter bottle but it’s supposed to be mixed in 500ml? Well…500ml is exactly half a liter man….haha. 1000ml=1 liter. Soooooo just fill it half way. You can estimate other basic measurements with 1liter as well…250ml is 1/4 of a liter etc. sooo for example if you’re trying to measure a cup for a dehydrated meal it’s roughly 1/4 of a liter. I just measure into my extra bottle usually. Simple. Hope that helps! Although the measurement sticker IS pretty damn cool and smart.
NoSo patches are a great solution and work really, really well. I've been glad to see them getting shelf space at REI.
COTREX app from the state of CO is run by natural atlas, it's honestly the best route planner. I even use it for planning runs. The measure tool is great.
Excellent advice as always
Hello from the uk
Great video, I like the smart water outfit. Magnets make me nervous because I carry a compass and the magnetic fields can mess it up.
Love the pump. I got the first gen one when you recommended it. always glad to see a notification from your channel.
I can't justify using a pressurized throw a way canister. I'm still using my Optimus 00 kerosene and Seva123 white gas stoves. As well as the old Sigg fuel bottles. When you consider that both stoves, I use are a flame tower plus a tank they are not much more weight that a canister plus the flame tower. When the tank is empty, I can refill it, When the canister is empty, I have to figure what to do with it and carry a spare.
Amazed at the number of people who watch a gear video just to comment complaining about gear videos.
I don't know about you, but I watch gear videos to either get some insight into existing gear that I'm looking into or a better look at things I've overlooked. This is a glorified ad for things you don't need. A sticker to mark your water bottle? A GPS app? No sew patches? None of those things are worth selling to people of any skill or interest level.
Great tips, thanks!
Well, those magnetic Trekking Pole clips, I dont know...
Most times I want to stow away my poles quickly for a short while is when I need to climb, which often is in places poles tend to get caught anyway. So if the connection to the backpack isn't that stable and my poles get ripped off my pack they're gone, I'd guess. The idea is great though, but the method is not sufficient for every use case, I'd say.
Modern backpackers may try to cook outside in cold wind or risk their lives cooking inside without a chimney using their so called 4 season equipment. Usually they are at home waiting for good weather.
All over the world there are people who follow their animals living in portable shelters, not one of them cooks outside in the wind.
It is impossible for anyone to survive a winter cooking every day out side with so called 4 season equipment.
Using a chimney makes camping in any weather a comfortable pleasure.
A tarp pitch can be the best 4 season shelter.
It has to go tight to the ground on all sides and have a wood stove inside if it is going to be any good in a winter blizzard. Stove and chimney 24 ounces, shelter near 2.5 lbs. The whole outfit cannot weigh more than 5 lbs. if backpackers are going to use it.
A 10’x10’ tarp only needs to be pegged on the 4 corners with as many pegs as it takes to be secure in any wind. No grommets are needed. It has cramped space for 3 cooking, lots of space 4 sleeping.
The chimney can serve as one of the 40” long corner poles. Sticks that have a small nail driven in both ends (head pinched off). One end stays put on the ground, the other end through a reinforced point exactly in the corner 40” from the edges of the tarp.
All sides can be raised forming an umbrella to cool off because of heat from the tiny cookstove or summer sun. This is what 4 season equipment is all about.
Gotta ask whats the lights on the treking poles? I missed it some how. Great video with gear thats often overlooked
You can see more on them in this video: th-cam.com/video/-_8kmqC6C9g/w-d-xo.html
Fantastic channel! Simple, sensible, and brilliantly presented!
As a hiker who relies on a compass I wouldn't have a magnet attached to me. I've seen the same gadgets used for Alternate Air sources in diving and they cause serious compass deviations.
Great video. I'll be picking up a few of those items.
Which water bottle hose do you like over one hydration?
This is the one I use: amzn.to/3HEjhQq
Wow, love the magnetic trekking pole holder, and love your vids! Thanks for all the recommendations:)
About the thermometer, I have an app on my phone that does the same.
I'd love a patch that looks like band-aids.😃
Honest, quick and informative! Amazing work. Thank you