Your videos have such a sophistication that no other TH-camr has. At least none that I have seen. You capture the wonder and splendor of backpacking in addition to the gear and the large scale scenery.
Dixie, wow! Your adventures, videography, and production just get better and better. What a joy to watch you and nature this morning. You made my day!❤️
Dixie, thanks for sharing so much "day in the life" footage in the rain. I know it's harder to shoot video in storms, especially if your equipment is not waterproof, but I feel it really adds to the reality of backpacking. Breaking and setting up camp in the rain is my last favorite, for sure.
I loved seam sealing my lanshan, waited for a sunny day, put on a podcast and within a couple of hours it was done. It made me feel that my little tent was perfect and really belonged to me because I sealed it and modified the clips on the doors etc. It’s stood up well to the English weather and would highly recommend it 😀
Rain-on-a-tent is one of my sleep meditation sounds-caught myself falling asleep. I take a tiny container with a brush (nail polish sample) of seam sealer with me in my repair kit. I have definitely had to use it and was glad to have it.
Dixie, I'm always impressed by your ability to remain upbeat in adverse circumstance. All that rain would have soured my mood for sure. Beautiful landscapes expertly shot. Those close-ups of animals... continue to set your vids apart. Very well done!
Thank you! I just have to remind myself the sun WILL shine again and having rain ensures water sources will flow and my pack won’t have to be as heavy :)
I am amazed at how cinematic, entertaining, and soothing your presentation and delivery considering the primary subject being a trial use and evaluation of a tent. Kudos!
I saw a bear in Grayson Highlands last Monday. He did just what he should: He peeked out of the bushes on the left side of the trail, looked downhill, then uphill at me, jumped out on the trail, and ran downhill away from me. I was thankful that no one was below me, hiking up!
I had a totallllly different experience. Too many people assume bears will run away. They don't always--always be prepared for the bad scenario. It happens.
Hey Dixie, I was wondering if you have a video dedicated to weather? If not would you consider doing one? How to deal with different types of weather. Like where to set up your tent in snow or wind or things to look out for in certain weather. How to pack up your tent in rain. How to deal with condensation on your gear or in a tent. Umbrellas, hats, sun gloves, best sunscreens for hiking. How to monitor weather. How to keep safe during extreme weather. How to safely hike in snow eg Sierra Nevada. Thanks!
I can definitely attest that, if you seal ALL the seams, this tent stays nice and dry with heavy heavy rain. I also made the same mistake of not seam sealing properly on my first trip, and that was a week long in the wet season haha. Definitely had a few sleepless nights of mopping up leaks! I found that experimenting with the pole height and pitch angle helped with managing water running down the netting on the inside at the ends.
I have the lanshan 1 pro and agree. 0 issues with leaks after a good seam seal, and playing with how it is pitched usually keeps the inside mesh horizontal.
I don't have one. To much money for me now. But does anyone know if carbs fiber tents need to be sealed and coated after they are sealed from the company? I realize this is an uninformed question. Thanks for anyone that answers!
@@TRIChuckles if company sealed it should be ok, but Always try out your equipment before a hike. Go out in an afternoon storm and pitch for a nap, or even backyard for a garden hose shower. Some tents don’t come with all the guy lines or tent stakes you need, plus it’s frustrating to have a fancy tent you can’t set up easily when you are just tired or it’s getting dark. Best to you !
My daughter does a dead on impression of the owls around our place. They will talk back to her and even fly in closer to get a look, it's pretty cool. Love the video, as always stay safe!
Thank you for sharing your adventure …pigs , bears and salamanders oh my!! Folks do modify their Lanshan 2 Pro’s to raise up the edge netting similar to what Zpacks eventually did on theirs … also we change those ram hooks out for the Zpacks metal ones … it’s a $10 mod but so worth it as you can just hook up one door on the entry / exit side for easy access. The wheels of progress turn slowly at 3F UL but a big time TH-camr like yourself may hasten some of these much needed simple modifications … again Thankyou for sharing your Benton Mackie hike its wonderful👍👍
Your channel is great. So many other youtube hikers focus on gear and getting as light as possible to do huge miles and miss the point entirely. You're out there to see things you wouldn't in your every day life. Slowing down to soak it all in is the best part.
I got to say, this is my favorite backpacking vid ever, You bring it home girl. I've saw many vids of yours and other hikers and this one has something different. You take the time to smell the roses and explain things, Love that about you. Happy Trails, Davetrekker
Yup. Thats why I got the X-Mid over the LanShan. Factory Seam Sealed. No leaking. No sag Silpoly, bigger vestibules, YKK aquaguard zippers, trekking poles are not in the middle of the door, fits two 25" wide pads etc. Durston is doing the next release on June 16. For those of you who are going to seam seal watch the seam sealing videos from Luke from The Outdoor Gear Review. Very comprehensive. His tents dont leak after sealing.
Love your videos, thank you. Grew up with a dust allergy and slept with everything wrapped in plastic and then sheets and pillow case over that. During day put pillow case in plastic bag when hiking and for sleep take the pillow case out, wrap pillow in plastic bag and put pillow case over that. It crinkled, but soon you don't hear it. I used to be surprised when people got a fright when my bed crinkled as I was not aware of it anymore. Anything to avoid the allergic reactions is worth the try. Happy hiking
The BMT follows the AT for a short distance near its southern end. The AT was like an interstate highway with hikers. Turned onto the BMT, and there was no one, for miles! A completely different experience.
It's really easy to seam-seal when the tent is fully up and dry. A mix of bathroom silicone sealant, diluted down to paint consistency with white spirit (same as mineral spirits in the U.S.) is easy to paint on with a baby brush. Sealed my Lanshan 2 perfectly and hasn't needed re-doing. There's loads of info on-line. Super video thank you...
Great rain test for a tempting tent. Seam sealing sucks and this is a great example. The stress...don't need it. I'm sticking with my Light Heart Gear Duo tent that's pre seam sealed. Lot of wildlife on that trail! Thanks for braving the insects and sharing it all. LOVED the waterfall shot at the end.
As a backpacker AND a musician (I have a degree in piano performance) I'm always loving these musical selections! These videos satisfy both my music loving and nature loving side. 🤣
I love my Lanshan 2 pro. I do not use the hook for the side of the door that opens. Unlike zpacks, this tent had a zip closure. Just zip it down and don’t bother with the hook unless it is very windy. You could also replace the hooks with metal hooks from zpacks.
Makes me so happy when you take us along when you get back on trail. This was amazing, great video Dixie. Thank you! Be safe, and enjoy every moment and critter!
I really love watching your videos. Thank you for all of the time that you put into showing us your adventures and giving us tips for our adventures. Thanks also for taking the time to care for nature, like with the salamander rescue. I did want to mention that amphibians and reptiles often have a very strong innate sense to go a certain direction. This is probably why the salamander kept coming back toward you, because he was very determined to keep going that direction to the other side of the road. They will often keep trying to go that direction, so putting them further away from their goal will just cause them to have to cover more distance and have to cross the road again. If you are moving them to safety, it is best to put them in a safe spot in the direction they are already going. I know you would have carried him across if you had known this. I didn't know this until a herpetologist told me. Maybe on your adventures you will encounter some more cute critters who could use a helping hand. :)
Thanks for posting this-I didn’t know that info but I kinda personify everything and so it makes sense to me to put them where they are trying to go! I normally do that, and if you watch that part of the video again I kinda hesitated, but I put him in the closest grass because he was about to jump out of my hands again and I was worried about both of us being hit if he fell off in the middle of the road 😅
@@HomemadeWanderlust I can definitely tell that you care about and respect nature! I try to do likewise, but I don't always know what's best. Thank you for just being such a good and genuine person.
I loved your video! Music, animals, nature, talking. When I saw how you took down your tent after the rain in this puddle - one of the moments I am so glad to be a hammock-camper!
I am setting up my lanshan pro 2 tent up this week to double check all my seams again. You pointed out a couple that I think I also missed. With that I live out west and we don't get the rain fall like the east coast does. But either way I don't want to be wet.
It’s been a hot, humid afternoon outside in Southeast Texas. This video was a welcome relief. I almost went to sleep listening to the rain on the tent. Your videos are excellent. Thanks for taking the production time in order for us to enjoy your adventures.
I love your videos, Dixie. Yours were the first resource I found on TH-cam when I wanted to get started. I love your friendly demeanor, that you show us gear without advertising it. And I love watching a woman in this very male dominated space. Thank you for continuing to make entertaining, beautiful and informative videos.
Your videos have always been really good, but you can really tell how much better they get as well as how much you have learned and helped others learn and love hiking and the outdoors !
Missing a seam or two happens to everybody. I have used chapstick a couple of times in a pinch, not as good but it works in an emergency. I love camping in the rain. The sound knocks me out in moments!
You are an inspiration, a treat, and I feel like you are doing a public service - so much so,that I think @PBS should purchase your back catalog to play on their channel. 🥰👍👊🇺🇸🤘
After researching for months, I bought the lanshan 2 regular last year. The seams are already sealed, and the weight difference was too negligible to worry about. I actually purchased it Because it was silnylon, hence, not prone to getting pinholes, per your experience on the CDT. I bought the grey with the 3 season inner, and then bought the 4th season inner from ali express. About the Ram's horns vestibule clips? Zpacks offers their version of that clip, which I also purchased, along with the attachment cord extenders, and also fish-shaped stakes. Your experience has been a valuable lesson resource for me! And omg, I saw that roach actually fly 😱 Thank you for such wonderful coverage of both the trail and the tent. Your through hikes kept me motivated through the last couple of years. Have to get both hips replaced this year, but I can't wait to get out next year! Thank you again for the wonderful videography! It makes me feel connected to the trail, even if only in spirit for now ❤️
I agree with the rams-head hooks for the vestibule. I replaced mine with the Zpacks "Ultralight Double Hook Apparatus". Much better and an inexpensive "upgrade".
Instinct was probably driving that salamander to the other side of the road. On the college campus nearby here, they had to put in little asphalt ramps at the edges of the roadways. The salamanders would die or not be able to climb the opposite curbing without them. The local ones are yellow spotted salamanders and are driven to reproduce in specific kinds of ponds on the campus nature preserve. There is a story in the campus news just today about it by coincidence.
I really enjoyed this video, especially the tiny creatures you always notice. The scenery is gorgeous, and I learned the importance of a seam sealed tent.
Looking forward to the thoughts on the Lanshan 2 to base my purchase on. Haven't watched your vids in a while, hell your production's gone up massively.
Seam sealing doesn’t have to be complicated, but doing it with the tent set up is a must, IMHO. For siloconized fabrics, mix GE 100% clear silicon sealant with enough mineral spirits to make a pancake syrup consistency, and brush the seams with a foam brush until the threads are saturated. Dry in the sun an hour or two and voila. Even if they seal it from the factory, you’ll have to redo it every few years, so you might as well get good at it. Having said that, I’ve converted to a flat tarp and bug bivvy, with a beak when needed, and unless I’m expecting hellacious weather, I don’t see myself going back. I’ve stayed drier with this setup than with an enclosed tent, much to my own surprise, and I love then openness. Flexible, too, ditch either component as indicated for a night or a whole trip. YMMV, as always.
I love hiking in the rain, how it brings the forest to life. The smells are intoxicating. Everyone else has their rain jacket hoods cinched up around their faces looking miserable, while I'm strolling along with a big smile on my face under my umbrella. They can call me Mary Poppin's all they want. They're just jealous.
@Ryan Kirk I still haven't invested in a good hiking umbrella. I just carry one of those little 4 dollar cheaply made ones. They get destroyed in the wind, but good for calmer all day rain.
I had a Lanshan 2 as well, and it attracted more bugs than any other backpacking tent I’ve used. I finally got fed up with trying to constantly find the perfect pitch, and got a semi-free standing tent that was much faster to pitch. Looks like a great trip, Dixie. Thanks for sharing :)
Absolutely lovely! Loved the music, loved the wild life, loved your coverage of the wildlife. Loved everything about your video and videos!!! You’re awesome!!!!
Photography and editing was amazing. I have the Lanshan 2 pro and it does take one or two tries to seam sea, took me two. It's a nice big tent for one and being under 1kg/£200 I love it. I swapped the plastic rams horn clips for a small karibiner, way easier. Apparently if you put some soap on the netting at the foot ends it stops any rain/condensation running into the tent, something to do with surface tension.
I added a loop to connect a bungee to the ends of mine. I used a stick-on loop from Z-packs. So far, it has held up well. I also have learned to set the poles a bit longer to give a little bit of slop to the mesh, so the water runs through it.
Really liking the addition of trailcam footage. It's upping the YT hiker game a notch. And that waterfall drone follow at the end was really neat. Also ... Bright orange salamander in the middle of the trail: "If I'm _really_ still, I'll be invisible." 😅
This was a very refreshing video. Great footage of all the critters, etc.. If you're wondering how there are already comments under a brand new video, it's because we who support Dixie, on Patreon, get many videos released to us early! She does all kinds of cool stuff for her patrons. You are missing out if you're not supporting her there. Just sayin'
Dixie, the insect lover! (except for ants, roaches, fleas, mosquitos, yellow jackets, ticks, chiggers, black flies, house flies, horse flies, sand flies, gnats, bed bugs, midges, black midges, lice, mites, scabies... Are you sure you like insects?) Cool that you got to see a black bear like that and so close! When backing in the Smoky's a few year back, heard some rustling in the undergrowth like you did, but not as close. When I looked down the hill about fifty yards, I could have sworn I had seen a huge pig, but it couldn't have been. It must have been a black bear, but it didn't run like a bear. It was too large to be a pig. It was running parallel to my course the opposite direction I was walking and further down the mountain as it was running. Pretty cool whatever it was, but it was large enough that I was glad it was running away. When I got to the visitors center and asked a ranger, he told me, based upon where we were, it was probably a wild hog. He proceeded to tell me that they are an invasive species, had really become a nuisance and some of them had even gotten larger that some of the bears. He thanked me for the information and told me he would relay it to the team working on eliminating the nuisance. Apparently, they compete for food sources with bear, deer, and turkey, carry many diseases that are transmittable to humans, and can be quite aggressive and dangerous, more so than bears, to humans especially as they grow larger. Neat to see. Sorry to hear. I think I would have rather seen a bear running down there.
I have had the Lanshan 2 (not Pro) for a couple of years now and it's awesome. Never had to Seam Seal it, it's never leaked, it doesn't have those reinforced cups where the trekking poles go - so it's never leaked there either. I also like the fact you can swap the 3 season inner for a 4 season if you want. Best of all, I've never had condensation, ever ;) Quick tip - the side pullouts. I like to find 2 nice Y shaped sticks about 2 foot high. Stick then in the ground about halfway the length of that side pullout line with the line resting on the Y part of the stick. It will increase the interior volume of the tent a LOT and give you a tonne more space :) I was looking at getting two cheap telescoping fishing rod holders that you can pickup for a couple of bucks that might be good enough to do the job ... but, sticks are free in the Bush ;)
Love my Lan Shan 2 but I never considered it for two people. I am 6.3 330lb though. It is perfect for me. The only seam sealing I ever did was to the circular tie downs on the side. Everything else has been golden.
The lanshan 2 was seam taped so the pull outs were the only thing that needed sealing. (I sealed the bathtub floor too) the lanshan 2 pro has zero seam tape, requiring all seams to be sealed.
I have the lanshan 2 ul . If you put the groundcloth inside and roll it up on sides the rain won't splash in. Mine is a double wall tent, but it is the same basic design. You can use sticks to hold up the guy lines on the head and foot end as well so you don't touch the sides. I only hook one side of the vestibule and it comes together when you zip it up. That helps with getting in and out quickly.
I have watched many of your gear review and tips videos, but this was the first one where I got to go on the hike with you. Well done! Thoroughly enjoyed all of it. Thank you!
wow this video was great lady ! thank to all your team too ! Amazing work ! i do have the lanshan 2 pro , same colour than the one in thsi video i looooove this tent . i seams sealed it and works perfectly . i found that the floor with your pitch was not really tight though ... maybe it didnt help for the water to get in either ...;-) i slept in this tent under heavy HEAVY rain ... i never got wet . i never used the hooks on the rope for the vestibules... i put a stake to hold just on tiny rope connected to the door that i am not opening . when i want to open the vestibule i just pull the side toward the sky and it unzipped and ''unvelcroed'' it has been work weel for me . i also leavve a tiny rope suspeded to those inside hook you pointed out on the ceiling corner, so i can swing around my light at night , its pretty nice ;-) i also normally use a piece of polycryo as a ground sheet and cut a smaller piece for my vestibule , very pratical hihih But on many occasion if i really want to be crazy about weight i dont bring anything to put underneath the tent... i havent have any problem i actually foound the floor to be pretty strong ( i do have a medium size dog who who like to '' dig to make his bed ''at night comes with me on every trips... he know this tent as much as i do lol ). only thing porblematic with this tent is the weight ... although its light ... i wiould love to get a zpacks duplex that weight less ... but hey ... for what i have paid for and the adventures i am bringing this tent on ... i am extraordinary satisfied with my purchase.and i do recommend this tent ! i think i got it at the end of 2020 ;-).
Your filming and editing are several steps above the others! So enjoyable to watch. I love the details of nature that you film too. Great video. Thanks!
Well you are giving me a lot of food for thought cuz I have the same tent that I’ve not tested out or seam sealed yet. I have a much heavier tent that came from the factory seam sealed and I’ve camped in all kinds of rain in it and it is a dream. Never had any internal condensation or leaks, but it weighs 5 lbs. but it’s an awesome overall tent. If I backpacked with another person in the rain I’d take it since it’s a three person tent. Thanks for posting this
if I'm not mistaken in all the years of watching TH-cam hiking backpacking type channels content that's the first time I've seen a live shot of someone actually packing up their tent getting their gear together in a rainstorm I think that was totally cool I just fell in love with that whole scene right there and yeah I agree about 10 seeming I will never do that again my tents all come with seam service or forget about it I just I don't want that responsibility I don't want to do it I will pay the money my time is worth it and peace of mind when I'm out on trail and if it leaks because it wasn't seem so correctly then it's someone else's issue and not mine 😂 love the critters 👍🏽 PS it seems that the tent is a good tent aside from the seam ceiling issue typical condensation I understand why they did door zippers the way they did that that makes sense if you're going head to foot instead of Head to Head sleeping I don't like that cuz it's a good way to get kicked in the middle of the night I prefer to be head-to-head in in a tent but I can understand it but it wouldn't be my preference either. all in all a really truly enjoyable video .. peace and keep on rocking the Free world 🙂
I'm looking at the Lanshan 2. There is a UK guy that has some videos of "improvements" he has made to his at home. One of them is the cord inside for the floor pan. I'm so glad you are back out. You are my favorite hiking youtube channel.
Hello 👋 Dixie, thank you for sharing another amazing outdoor adventure. You did a superb job of filming 🎥. I appreciate your outdoor adventures, they are entertaining as well as informative. Always the best of good things for you. Stay safe and healthy out there. 🤗
If you ever wonder if we appreciate the time and effort it takes to film what you do . . . YES, YES, YES!
I second this!
Third-ed. Thought the epic waterfalls-cut-to-black was especially professional.
@@Swimdeep that was a new style for her and I liked it.
I concur
I concur!!! Love the pigs and that bear was just too cute peering at you-Hee, hee, hee-before dashing off into the brush.
Your videos have such a sophistication that no other TH-camr has. At least none that I have seen. You capture the wonder and splendor of backpacking in addition to the gear and the large scale scenery.
The videography in this was beautifully done. I watched this expecting a tent review ,but I got so much more. Thanks for sharing.
Dixie, wow! Your adventures, videography, and production just get better and better. What a joy to watch you and nature this morning. You made my day!❤️
Dixie, thanks for sharing so much "day in the life" footage in the rain. I know it's harder to shoot video in storms, especially if your equipment is not waterproof, but I feel it really adds to the reality of backpacking. Breaking and setting up camp in the rain is my last favorite, for sure.
I loved seam sealing my lanshan, waited for a sunny day, put on a podcast and within a couple of hours it was done. It made me feel that my little tent was perfect and really belonged to me because I sealed it and modified the clips on the doors etc. It’s stood up well to the English weather and would highly recommend it 😀
It does seem some people find it relaxing and that’s awesome. I’d rather read a book or take a nap or pretty much do anything other than seam seal!
@@HomemadeWanderlust 😅
22:15 I love that the tiny innocent creatures matter so much to you. ❤
I love all the wildlife you managed to film on this trip. So great.
Rain-on-a-tent is one of my sleep meditation sounds-caught myself falling asleep. I take a tiny container with a brush (nail polish sample) of seam sealer with me in my repair kit. I have definitely had to use it and was glad to have it.
That's a good idea 😁
Dixie, I'm always impressed by your ability to remain upbeat in adverse circumstance. All that rain would have soured my mood for sure. Beautiful landscapes expertly shot. Those close-ups of animals... continue to set your vids apart. Very well done!
Thank you! I just have to remind myself the sun WILL shine again and having rain ensures water sources will flow and my pack won’t have to be as heavy :)
I am amazed at how cinematic, entertaining, and soothing your presentation and delivery considering the primary subject being a trial use and evaluation of a tent. Kudos!
I saw a bear in Grayson Highlands last Monday. He did just what he should: He peeked out of the bushes on the left side of the trail, looked downhill, then uphill at me, jumped out on the trail, and ran downhill away from me. I was thankful that no one was below me, hiking up!
Thanks...going this weekend.
Honestly, I’ve seen more aggression from the horses there than from bears! 🧸
I had a totallllly different experience. Too many people assume bears will run away. They don't always--always be prepared for the bad scenario. It happens.
Hey Dixie, I was wondering if you have a video dedicated to weather? If not would you consider doing one? How to deal with different types of weather. Like where to set up your tent in snow or wind or things to look out for in certain weather. How to pack up your tent in rain. How to deal with condensation on your gear or in a tent. Umbrellas, hats, sun gloves, best sunscreens for hiking. How to monitor weather. How to keep safe during extreme weather. How to safely hike in snow eg Sierra Nevada. Thanks!
I can definitely attest that, if you seal ALL the seams, this tent stays nice and dry with heavy heavy rain. I also made the same mistake of not seam sealing properly on my first trip, and that was a week long in the wet season haha. Definitely had a few sleepless nights of mopping up leaks! I found that experimenting with the pole height and pitch angle helped with managing water running down the netting on the inside at the ends.
I have the lanshan 1 pro and agree. 0 issues with leaks after a good seam seal, and playing with how it is pitched usually keeps the inside mesh horizontal.
I don't have one. To much money for me now.
But does anyone know if carbs fiber tents need to be sealed and coated after they are sealed from the company?
I realize this is an uninformed question. Thanks for anyone that answers!
@@TRIChuckles if company sealed it should be ok, but Always try out your equipment before a hike. Go out in an afternoon storm and pitch for a nap, or even backyard for a garden hose shower. Some tents don’t come with all the guy lines or tent stakes you need, plus it’s frustrating to have a fancy tent you can’t set up easily when you are just tired or it’s getting dark.
Best to you !
@@hollyhopalong7405 Hey thanks. I will when I can. Good advice thank you!
Thank you for the input!
My daughter does a dead on impression of the owls around our place. They will talk back to her and even fly in closer to get a look, it's pretty cool. Love the video, as always stay safe!
I loved Dixie's owl call & the response 🤗 I would be cool to hear your daughter's
I also get responses from owls I’ve encountered in Virginia & central Florida .. very fun! ☺️
@@AidaJof thank you,wish I could share it with you.
@@NatureRocks.🦉 🤗
Thank you for sharing your adventure …pigs , bears and salamanders oh my!! Folks do modify their Lanshan 2 Pro’s to raise up the edge netting similar to what Zpacks eventually did on theirs … also we change those ram hooks out for the Zpacks metal ones … it’s a $10 mod but so worth it as you can just hook up one door on the entry / exit side for easy access. The wheels of progress turn slowly at 3F UL but a big time TH-camr like yourself may hasten some of these much needed simple modifications … again Thankyou for sharing your Benton Mackie hike its wonderful👍👍
Your channel is great. So many other youtube hikers focus on gear and getting as light as possible to do huge miles and miss the point entirely. You're out there to see things you wouldn't in your every day life. Slowing down to soak it all in is the best part.
Love the music selection with the waterfall bit at the end!
It’s shows like this that makes me appreciate the comfort of my own home.
I got to say, this is my favorite backpacking vid ever, You bring it home girl. I've saw many vids of yours and other hikers
and this one has something different. You take the time to smell the roses and explain things, Love that about you.
Happy Trails,
Davetrekker
This was a great way to start my day :) Thanks Dixie! I also really liked the choice of music for this video
Dixie I just appreciate the Love you show the wildlife more than I can express.
Yup. Thats why I got the X-Mid over the LanShan. Factory Seam Sealed. No leaking. No sag Silpoly, bigger vestibules, YKK aquaguard zippers, trekking poles are not in the middle of the door, fits two 25" wide pads etc. Durston is doing the next release on June 16.
For those of you who are going to seam seal watch the seam sealing videos from Luke from The Outdoor Gear Review. Very comprehensive. His tents dont leak after sealing.
Love your videos, thank you. Grew up with a dust allergy and slept with everything wrapped in plastic and then sheets and pillow case over that. During day put pillow case in plastic bag when hiking and for sleep take the pillow case out, wrap pillow in plastic bag and put pillow case over that. It crinkled, but soon you don't hear it. I used to be surprised when people got a fright when my bed crinkled as I was not aware of it anymore. Anything to avoid the allergic reactions is worth the try. Happy hiking
I think it’s cool you are still using that grease pot!
All that water coming down… absolutely unreal when you backpack and camp in AZ 🙂. Thank you Dixie 🙏🏼
I want her to send a little rain out here to the desert southwest (NM here). Fires are horrible.
Rise and shine! Always a good morning to start with Dixie
That closing waterfall sequence was OUTSTANDING!
The east coast always looks so pretty and green. Can't wait for the next video upload.
Really like the 'just missed stepping on the snal' shot, Dixie!🐌🤞
The BMT follows the AT for a short distance near its southern end. The AT was like an interstate highway with hikers. Turned onto the BMT, and there was no one, for miles! A completely different experience.
@S M not sure. I heard the BMT runs closer to McKaye's original plan for the AT route.
It's really easy to seam-seal when the tent is fully up and dry. A mix of bathroom silicone sealant, diluted down to paint consistency with white spirit (same as mineral spirits in the U.S.) is easy to paint on with a baby brush. Sealed my Lanshan 2 perfectly and hasn't needed re-doing. There's loads of info on-line. Super video thank you...
Beautiful! I love the way you hike. Nature is prime, not the race against time.
Great rain test for a tempting tent. Seam sealing sucks and this is a great example. The stress...don't need it. I'm sticking with my Light Heart Gear Duo tent that's pre seam sealed. Lot of wildlife on that trail! Thanks for braving the insects and sharing it all. LOVED the waterfall shot at the end.
At least you didn't look at the bear and smile and say "Hey Honey!!!" like you did last time Dixie!!!!
As a backpacker AND a musician (I have a degree in piano performance) I'm always loving these musical selections! These videos satisfy both my music loving and nature loving side. 🤣
Loving the cinematography in these newer videos :) Loving this channel! Learning heaps and very therapeutic watching. Nice one!
I love my Lanshan 2 pro. I do not use the hook for the side of the door that opens. Unlike zpacks, this tent had a zip closure. Just zip it down and don’t bother with the hook unless it is very windy. You could also replace the hooks with metal hooks from zpacks.
I do the same.
I broke my clips on mine on one side (not Pro version). Just use the zipper now, works fine ;)
Makes me so happy when you take us along when you get back on trail. This was amazing, great video Dixie. Thank you! Be safe, and enjoy every moment and critter!
I really love watching your videos. Thank you for all of the time that you put into showing us your adventures and giving us tips for our adventures. Thanks also for taking the time to care for nature, like with the salamander rescue. I did want to mention that amphibians and reptiles often have a very strong innate sense to go a certain direction. This is probably why the salamander kept coming back toward you, because he was very determined to keep going that direction to the other side of the road. They will often keep trying to go that direction, so putting them further away from their goal will just cause them to have to cover more distance and have to cross the road again. If you are moving them to safety, it is best to put them in a safe spot in the direction they are already going. I know you would have carried him across if you had known this. I didn't know this until a herpetologist told me. Maybe on your adventures you will encounter some more cute critters who could use a helping hand. :)
Thanks for posting this-I didn’t know that info but I kinda personify everything and so it makes sense to me to put them where they are trying to go! I normally do that, and if you watch that part of the video again I kinda hesitated, but I put him in the closest grass because he was about to jump out of my hands again and I was worried about both of us being hit if he fell off in the middle of the road 😅
@@HomemadeWanderlust I can definitely tell that you care about and respect nature! I try to do likewise, but I don't always know what's best. Thank you for just being such a good and genuine person.
I loved your video! Music, animals, nature, talking. When I saw how you took down your tent after the rain in this puddle - one of the moments I am so glad to be a hammock-camper!
How fun that you got the bear on video! This one is a great reminder of how careful you need to be with your gear, thanks!
Thanks Dixie. Great job. That looks like a nice trail. I hope you’re having a fun time. God bless you and your family. Duane
I am setting up my lanshan pro 2 tent up this week to double check all my seams again. You pointed out a couple that I think I also missed. With that I live out west and we don't get the rain fall like the east coast does. But either way I don't want to be wet.
That was so hot… the music, the images, all those creatures, and the rain! Thank you for this beautifull video. You are a real artist!
It’s been a hot, humid afternoon outside in Southeast Texas. This video was a welcome relief. I almost went to sleep listening to the rain on the tent. Your videos are excellent. Thanks for taking the production time in order for us to enjoy your adventures.
I love your videos, Dixie. Yours were the first resource I found on TH-cam when I wanted to get started. I love your friendly demeanor, that you show us gear without advertising it. And I love watching a woman in this very male dominated space. Thank you for continuing to make entertaining, beautiful and informative videos.
I return to your videos again and again, thank you Dixie! 🙏
Your videos have always been really good, but you can really tell how much better they get as well as how much you have learned and helped others learn and love hiking and the outdoors !
Missing a seam or two happens to everybody. I have used chapstick a couple of times in a pinch, not as good but it works in an emergency. I love camping in the rain. The sound knocks me out in moments!
Your videos are always so addicting to watch.
You are an inspiration, a treat, and I feel like you are doing a public service - so much so,that I think @PBS should purchase your back catalog to play on their channel. 🥰👍👊🇺🇸🤘
Good to see you back in your naturial environment!
After researching for months, I bought the lanshan 2 regular last year. The seams are already sealed, and the weight difference was too negligible to worry about. I actually purchased it Because it was silnylon, hence, not prone to getting pinholes, per your experience on the CDT. I bought the grey with the 3 season inner, and then bought the 4th season inner from ali express. About the Ram's horns vestibule clips? Zpacks offers their version of that clip, which I also purchased, along with the attachment cord extenders, and also fish-shaped stakes. Your experience has been a valuable lesson resource for me!
And omg, I saw that roach actually fly 😱
Thank you for such wonderful coverage of both the trail and the tent. Your through hikes kept me motivated through the last couple of years. Have to get both hips replaced this year, but I can't wait to get out next year! Thank you again for the wonderful videography! It makes me feel connected to the trail, even if only in spirit for now ❤️
I agree with the rams-head hooks for the vestibule. I replaced mine with the Zpacks "Ultralight Double Hook Apparatus". Much better and an inexpensive "upgrade".
Brilliant!
Yeah, I did that, there is a small company in England that’s sells them and provides video and WhatsApp support to help upgrade the tents 😀
Terrific videography, showing the beauty of a wonderful forest and the realities of trekking. Thank you!
Instinct was probably driving that salamander to the other side of the road. On the college campus nearby here, they had to put in little asphalt ramps at the edges of the roadways. The salamanders would die or not be able to climb the opposite curbing without them. The local ones are yellow spotted salamanders and are driven to reproduce in specific kinds of ponds on the campus nature preserve. There is a story in the campus news just today about it by coincidence.
I really enjoyed this video, especially the tiny creatures you always notice. The scenery is gorgeous, and I learned the importance of a seam sealed tent.
Dixie, I strongly suspect you would _really_ enjoy understanding and checking out the geology on any given hike. Your world will never be the same!
Looking forward to the thoughts on the Lanshan 2 to base my purchase on. Haven't watched your vids in a while, hell your production's gone up massively.
Seam sealing doesn’t have to be complicated, but doing it with the tent set up is a must, IMHO. For siloconized fabrics, mix GE 100% clear silicon sealant with enough mineral spirits to make a pancake syrup consistency, and brush the seams with a foam brush until the threads are saturated. Dry in the sun an hour or two and voila. Even if they seal it from the factory, you’ll have to redo it every few years, so you might as well get good at it.
Having said that, I’ve converted to a flat tarp and bug bivvy, with a beak when needed, and unless I’m expecting hellacious weather, I don’t see myself going back. I’ve stayed drier with this setup than with an enclosed tent, much to my own surprise, and I love then openness. Flexible, too, ditch either component as indicated for a night or a whole trip. YMMV, as always.
I love hiking in the rain, how it brings the forest to life. The smells are intoxicating. Everyone else has their rain jacket hoods cinched up around their faces looking miserable, while I'm strolling along with a big smile on my face under my umbrella. They can call me Mary Poppin's all they want. They're just jealous.
@Ryan Kirk I still haven't invested in a good hiking umbrella. I just carry one of those little 4 dollar cheaply made ones. They get destroyed in the wind, but good for calmer all day rain.
Quite enjoyed the music! The way you coordinate the big moments, (both visually and musically) is so dramatic and satisfying. Weill done!
I give you a lot of credit. I HATE camping and hiking in the rain. You are such an inspiration!
I had a Lanshan 2 as well, and it attracted more bugs than any other backpacking tent I’ve used. I finally got fed up with trying to constantly find the perfect pitch, and got a semi-free standing tent that was much faster to pitch. Looks like a great trip, Dixie. Thanks for sharing :)
Absolutely lovely! Loved the music, loved the wild life, loved your coverage of the wildlife. Loved everything about your video and videos!!! You’re awesome!!!!
Photography and editing was amazing. I have the Lanshan 2 pro and it does take one or two tries to seam sea, took me two. It's a nice big tent for one and being under 1kg/£200 I love it. I swapped the plastic rams horn clips for a small karibiner, way easier. Apparently if you put some soap on the netting at the foot ends it stops any rain/condensation running into the tent, something to do with surface tension.
I added a loop to connect a bungee to the ends of mine. I used a stick-on loop from Z-packs. So far, it has held up well. I also have learned to set the poles a bit longer to give a little bit of slop to the mesh, so the water runs through it.
I vividly recall playing that Bach Fugue in Highschool Band (of all things) Thanks for the little trip down memory lane.
Thanks for bringing us along!! Hope you had fun!!
Really liking the addition of trailcam footage. It's upping the YT hiker game a notch. And that waterfall drone follow at the end was really neat.
Also ... Bright orange salamander in the middle of the trail: "If I'm _really_ still, I'll be invisible." 😅
It’s a heavy addition, but a fun one!
Love the selected music and nature/ wildlife choreography.
This was a very refreshing video. Great footage of all the critters, etc..
If you're wondering how there are already comments under a brand new video, it's because we who support Dixie, on Patreon, get many videos released to us early! She does all kinds of cool stuff for her patrons. You are missing out if you're not supporting her there. Just sayin'
Ok, I do not pay attention if there are comments ahead of mine or not. Most often are because I live out west
Dixie, the insect lover! (except for ants, roaches, fleas, mosquitos, yellow jackets, ticks, chiggers, black flies, house flies, horse flies, sand flies, gnats, bed bugs, midges, black midges, lice, mites, scabies... Are you sure you like insects?)
Cool that you got to see a black bear like that and so close! When backing in the Smoky's a few year back, heard some rustling in the undergrowth like you did, but not as close. When I looked down the hill about fifty yards, I could have sworn I had seen a huge pig, but it couldn't have been. It must have been a black bear, but it didn't run like a bear. It was too large to be a pig. It was running parallel to my course the opposite direction I was walking and further down the mountain as it was running. Pretty cool whatever it was, but it was large enough that I was glad it was running away. When I got to the visitors center and asked a ranger, he told me, based upon where we were, it was probably a wild hog. He proceeded to tell me that they are an invasive species, had really become a nuisance and some of them had even gotten larger that some of the bears. He thanked me for the information and told me he would relay it to the team working on eliminating the nuisance. Apparently, they compete for food sources with bear, deer, and turkey, carry many diseases that are transmittable to humans, and can be quite aggressive and dangerous, more so than bears, to humans especially as they grow larger. Neat to see. Sorry to hear. I think I would have rather seen a bear running down there.
I love the classical background music. It works well with your beautiful photography!
I have had the Lanshan 2 (not Pro) for a couple of years now and it's awesome. Never had to Seam Seal it, it's never leaked, it doesn't have those reinforced cups where the trekking poles go - so it's never leaked there either. I also like the fact you can swap the 3 season inner for a 4 season if you want. Best of all, I've never had condensation, ever ;)
Quick tip - the side pullouts. I like to find 2 nice Y shaped sticks about 2 foot high. Stick then in the ground about halfway the length of that side pullout line with the line resting on the Y part of the stick. It will increase the interior volume of the tent a LOT and give you a tonne more space :) I was looking at getting two cheap telescoping fishing rod holders that you can pickup for a couple of bucks that might be good enough to do the job ... but, sticks are free in the Bush ;)
Your photography is just amazing!
Love my Lan Shan 2 but I never considered it for two people. I am 6.3 330lb though. It is perfect for me. The only seam sealing I ever did was to the circular tie downs on the side. Everything else has been golden.
The lanshan 2 was seam taped so the pull outs were the only thing that needed sealing. (I sealed the bathtub floor too) the lanshan 2 pro has zero seam tape, requiring all seams to be sealed.
Lanshan 2 is a roomy 1p tent. The Durston X-Mid 2p is a true 2p tent with room for 2 25" wide sleeping pads.
I never even bothered to seam seal the pullouts lol ... no leaks in 2 years ;)
Thanks so much for the wildlife shots. They are beautiful🙂👍
I have the lanshan 2 ul . If you put the groundcloth inside and roll it up on sides the rain won't splash in. Mine is a double wall tent, but it is the same basic design. You can use sticks to hold up the guy lines on the head and foot end as well so you don't touch the sides. I only hook one side of the vestibule and it comes together when you zip it up. That helps with getting in and out quickly.
I have watched many of your gear review and tips videos, but this was the first one where I got to go on the hike with you. Well done! Thoroughly enjoyed all of it. Thank you!
Great video Dixie! They just keep getting better. Keep them coming.
wow this video was great lady ! thank to all your team too ! Amazing work !
i do have the lanshan 2 pro , same colour than the one in thsi video i looooove this tent .
i seams sealed it and works perfectly .
i found that the floor with your pitch was not really tight though ... maybe it didnt help for the water to get in either ...;-) i slept in this tent under heavy HEAVY rain ... i never got wet .
i never used the hooks on the rope for the vestibules... i put a stake to hold just on tiny rope connected to the door that i am not opening . when i want to open the vestibule i just pull the side toward the sky and it unzipped and ''unvelcroed'' it has been work weel for me .
i also leavve a tiny rope suspeded to those inside hook you pointed out on the ceiling corner, so i can swing around my light at night , its pretty nice ;-)
i also normally use a piece of polycryo as a ground sheet and cut a smaller piece for my vestibule , very pratical hihih But on many occasion if i really want to be crazy about weight i dont bring anything to put underneath the tent... i havent have any problem i actually foound the floor to be pretty strong ( i do have a medium size dog who who like to '' dig to make his bed ''at night comes with me on every trips... he know this tent as much as i do lol ).
only thing porblematic with this tent is the weight ... although its light ... i wiould love to get a zpacks duplex that weight less ... but hey ... for what i have paid for and the adventures i am bringing this tent on ... i am extraordinary satisfied with my purchase.and i do recommend this tent !
i think i got it at the end of 2020 ;-).
Your video skills are getting really good
Such a beautiful area, so many critters!
Really entertaining, informative and amusing, as always. Looking forward to the next episode.
What a great video surprise from you. Can't wait for the rest of the hike and the other tent
If two people are in a tent you’re supposed to sleep head to foot, so the Lanshan 2 pro doors are laid out correctly
Good for you young lady for what you do.Hiking alone and putting up with not only the rain,but bugsand leaks....and then to video all that too.......
Dixie you have really become an excellent filmmaker! Your footage in the rain can’t be easy and the macro shots stitched in are superb. Hats off 🙌
Your filming and editing are several steps above the others! So enjoyable to watch. I love the details of nature that you film too. Great video. Thanks!
Love the music you added to your videos, it made it that much more enjoyable!
Much better modulation with the vocals. Thank you....
Fantastic video, loved all the wildlife and the music was perfect
Well you are giving me a lot of food for thought cuz I have the same tent that I’ve not tested out or seam sealed yet. I have a much heavier tent that came from the factory seam sealed and I’ve camped in all kinds of rain in it and it is a dream. Never had any internal condensation or leaks, but it weighs 5 lbs. but it’s an awesome overall tent. If I backpacked with another person in the rain I’d take it since it’s a three person tent. Thanks for posting this
if I'm not mistaken in all the years of watching TH-cam hiking backpacking type channels content that's the first time I've seen a live shot of someone actually packing up their tent getting their gear together in a rainstorm I think that was totally cool I just fell in love with that whole scene right there and yeah I agree about 10 seeming I will never do that again my tents all come with seam service or forget about it I just I don't want that responsibility I don't want to do it I will pay the money my time is worth it and peace of mind when I'm out on trail and if it leaks because it wasn't seem so correctly then it's someone else's issue and not mine 😂
love the critters 👍🏽
PS it seems that the tent is a good tent aside from the seam ceiling issue typical condensation I understand why they did door zippers the way they did that that makes sense if you're going head to foot instead of Head to Head sleeping I don't like that cuz it's a good way to get kicked in the middle of the night I prefer to be head-to-head in in a tent but I can understand it but it wouldn't be my preference either.
all in all a really truly enjoyable video ..
peace and keep on rocking the Free world 🙂
I love to see the blush green vegetation and trees.
I'm looking at the Lanshan 2. There is a UK guy that has some videos of "improvements" he has made to his at home. One of them is the cord inside for the floor pan. I'm so glad you are back out. You are my favorite hiking youtube channel.
honestly a bonnet is just great for your hair in general
Hello 👋 Dixie, thank you for sharing another amazing outdoor adventure. You did a superb job of filming 🎥. I appreciate your outdoor adventures, they are entertaining as well as informative. Always the best of good things for you. Stay safe and healthy out there. 🤗