Yeah, over a year ago I decided I wanted to go backpacking. I've now spent well over 500 hours researching gear and skills and I haven't spent a single night in the woods. I still barely understand how rain jackets work but I can tell you the expensive ones aren't worth it.
@@andrewa9700 @MyLifeOutdoors just released a video showing how Gore-Tex is mostly just hype because while it is true that it can be waterproof OR breathable, it cannot be both at the same time. So in the rain, you might as well wear a cheap poncho or carry an umbrella, and both will keep you drier and will definitely be more breathable.
@@andrewa9700 Well, you're right; they can either believe me for no good reason, buy an expensive jacket that will keep them dry for a few hours and think they got their money's worth, buy a cheap jacket that will keep them dry for a few hours and they think they got their money's worth, or they do what I did and spend a stupid amount of time researching when they could just have just taken the risk of buying the wrong thing and at least they'd be outside.
I`m one of those guys who overthinks every purchase. Not because I want to have the most fashionable thing ever, but because I was dirt poor for many years. Every purchase out of the ordanary had to be on point, do what I need it to do and has the best price to performance that I could get for a certain set price. A misbuy resulted in me maybe not beeing able to afford food. After years I still can't get rid of that feeling, so every purchase is super stressful for me. One good rule of thumb is to ask you one thin "does any of my gear do what the new shiny thing does", if you can answer yes -> DON'T BUY ANYTHING.
This is a thing i experience as well. Now having more "disposable" income of my own, i tend to splurge on unpractical (fun) crap now, but when i want to buy a functional tool, i have to get the best thing for as cheap as possible, so ill put in the extra effort of being a critical consumer. I just feel thats the smart thing to do, honestly.
I'm on the smaller end of plus size. It's getting easier to find gear, but I still spent more than I needed trying to find out what fits and what works. After trying sun hoodies, pfg tops, multple pairs of pants and shorts, I finally dialed in my summer camping and hiking clothing. Most expensive items were the pants and shorts. They come from a small startup. The quality and fit is amazing though.
This. Is. Exactly. My. Struggle. Oh man… I research so much.. because yes I dont have the money to make a wrong call. I most often dont even have the money for the right call..! All of my friends when need to buy any gear they come ask me if I had bought it before, because they know that if I did I know absolutely everything about the entire market on that piece.. 🫠
Same! Most of the time people are out just enjoying nature or trying not die from the uphill climb. This video reeks of "I don't actually hike, I see hiking content creators on TikTok who over consume and assume everyone lives that way."
@@toneeviera8336 All I said was that I have never experienced it myself. Another datapoint. It might also be related to the fact that i choose to avoid people that are that shallow and superficial
I was raised in Norway. We were skiing or hiking all year around. I've been cross country skiing since I was 3 years old. Now I'm 65. My dad had a Fjallraven jacket he used all the time. When he passed away in 2020 I took over this jacket from 1972. It's as good as new functionally. Looks awesome and just works. I bought a $400 Fjallravem jacket here in the US in 2022. It's already useless since stitching is failing and so is the main zipper. I'm pretty sure I will not hand that jacket off to my kids. They will have to buy their own Fjallraven, Patagonia etc stuff at ridiculously high prices. It's sad and annoying. I'm sure you can get high quality stuff these days also, but it will not be fashionable in 5 years and you'll have to get something new.
I had one of the more expensive Decathlon jackets (around 80 euro for a fairly thin waterproof jacket) and that's only lasted a few years of occasional wear with the lining of the hood coming apart. It's pathetic. I thought Decathlon's more expensive stuff would be good quality, because you're not really paying for the brand.
@@joepiekl I had a thin waterproof jacket from decathlon that was IIRC 40€ Lasted about 5 years of regular use, it still looks ok but it is no longer waterproof. My general experience of the brand is that the entry level stuff (usually marked as "beginner" is stuff that will fall apart fairly quickly. Stuff that is branded as intermediate and above tends to be pretty solid, but you can still get a lemon. Their warranty has not let me down yet though, they will exchange/return stuff without arguing.
this feels like a similar trend that cars are facing where the aesthetic of being outdoorsy is causing people to spend all this money even if they never use it to their full potential. like all these people with jeeps and huge trucks are not going to go off roading but they spent thousands on the gear for it, and like fast fashion much of the new gear on the market is not functional for what its marketed to do.
Fully agreed. I drive a Subaru because we’re a family of rock climbers and needed a roof rack for skis and our Thule. We have to off road to get to a lot of crags. I’m always amazed how many people own a Subaru or any SUV and never leave the city
think for yourself and don't participate in this nonsense, my dad taught me that as a kid. he told me this story of when he was an accountant everyone went to lunch with the boss. the boss ordered 1st. every one there then ordered what the boss ordered. my dad ordered the hamburger. a year later my dad quit and started his own business because he hated working indoors and hated corporate culture.
Literally all we have to do to reverse a significant amount of damage to the ecosystem is to stop buying so much shit. Unfortunately that would also destroy capitalism.
100% agree. Seems like a lot of the issues he is talking about in the video are caused by people believing that what other people think about their hiking gear matters. It doesn't. If I judged on people on trails, it was primarily for their poor hiking etiquette. I know that everyone is new to hiking at some point, but there are pretty basic things to hiking that most people should have good common sense to pick up fairly quickly when getting into venturing into the outdoors. Pack in and Pack out, leave no trace. Don't take a dump next to the trail, dig a hole and bury it. Sticks work in a pinch. Hey! When I am hiking on a trail, it appears that most people are sticking to the right side of the trail as they walk. Hey, there are also lots of signs on trails or at the beginning of trails that talk about staying on trail, maybe I should do that. Honestly, I think the root of the problem is that people care too much about impressing other. I started out with cheap Walmart gym pants, everyday jacket from Target, regular tennis shoes that I had and a basic backpack/water bottle. Having been hiking for years now, I have obviously upgraded my gear overtime, but I also didn't buy for status of brand or fashion. It doesn't matter what you dress me in, I'm still going to be red faced and sweaty when I get to the end point on the trail. But if I'm hiking in rain prone area, yeah...I'm gonna have a rain jacket these days. My point is, as time goes on in your passion of hiking, you begin to realize that a small investment in a good piece of gear each year isn't a bad idea or making you a product of consumerism. And if you are smart and look for gear that holds up overtime, that investment can last for years and most of the time you can get it at a bargain. In some cases, there is a minimum set of gear that you do need for certain hikes or conditions. Because if you aren't prepared for the more challenging hikes, you run the risk of being one of those people that get rescued from the mountain top. Do you absolutely need to buy high-top primo hiking boots with gore Tek lining? No...does it offer more ankle protection and the ability to keep your feet dry? Yes. But so far I haven't owned a pair and gotten by just fine on the hundreds of hikes I have done. In addition, I have never put thought into, "Hmm...will people judge on me for my tennis toes on the trail?" I will admit that I was a little embarrassed to be one of those knuckleheads hiking in flip flops one time. But to be fair, I was expecting to go to the beach that day and the weather didn't end up being ideal for time in the water and sand, so we hiked/walked out to a lighthouse on the bluff. My flip flops sufficed and oh well if others thought I was ridiculous because I didn't have a $400 puffer on and full winter getup in 60 degree overcast weather. /shrug. I'll survive. Part of the reason I got into hiking/camping to begin with is because it was an affordable activity for my free time that was more beneficial to my health as opposed to zoning out on computer games for the whole weekend. I believe it can still be affordable. The access issue now is just the lack of availability for campgrounds because it has become so popular. The trails are crowded now because more people are on them. But you can still find trails that are empty for the most part. It just means that you hike the less popular ones. They might not have the blockbuster waterfall on it or lake that other more popular trails have, but they are still beautiful. It also doesn't mean you have to avoid those popular trails, but instead try balancing it with the lesser known. In addition to people caring about what other people think of their clothes, people also care about what other people think about their Instagram photos. If they don't have the highlight thing of the area in their feed...what's the point? The point is, you got outside and saw new things. Appreciate all of nature, not just the Instagram famous things. When I look at my social media feed, the things that stand out to me are the pictures where you can tell the people are actually having fun! Make a goofy face! Strike that pose! It's far more interesting than seeing another picture of you standing in line together at another iconic spot in the world! XD Ugh, I gotta stop there. Rant over.
You don't have to miss those days...I'm just gonna roll with waxed canvass when I finally get tired of riding my bike in a swimsuit on these cold, rainy days in the Pacific Northwest.
Nowadays we can cover almost double the mileage than was standard 20 years ago because of the advances in gear. People who actually do this stuff as a sport really appreciate all the advancement. Nothing is stopping you from not getting the top echelon of gear. Most of my stuff is mid range and I go out every weekend.
Still rocking my 20 year old Columbia jacket. 0 wrong with it. Wrote to Columbia to thank them for making such great affordable durable winter jackets. I mentioned that I lost the fleece liner on one of them and they sent me a brand new jacket for free to thank me for being a customer for so long. I won't wear anything else!
IDK where (or what content creator) i've heard this: "If you are at the gym or on the trail in a bland non-branded T-shirt or hoodie, you are one of the ELITE moFOs that don't give A . You're there for the iron or the activity".
It is kind of wild that anything today's need to be a special experience or Instagramable event contribuating to your image. Some people should try to just do what they actually want to do instead.
I hiked a little 2 hour trail recently in my work pants and running shoes..EVERYONE i crossed paths with was dressed like they were going on a 10 month hike across multiple states.
I remember seeing a tweet or something where a guy in full gear with water pack and hiking sticks were on the same trail as a family with a kid in sandals carrying a barbie.
@@vgee3926 I used to laugh at those people too, but later I learned at least some of them are doing the super sensible thing of test running their gear before taking it on a massive hike. You do not want to find out you have a problem after you are in the middle of a massive hike...
Its the truth though. I tri, mountaineer, snowboard, etc. All of the people I have run with for ages who are actually GOOD at this stuff are all wearing ancient things they fell in love with, some off brands, some never even made for the sport. Like I prefer cotton for lifting, so Im wearing the premium hanes shit. My hiking gear gets replaced when its worn out, and its going to be the best thing for the job at hand for the best price. Im still running ANCIENT Osprey packs because I got them for like half wholesale when I was a guide and bought 3. One of the best boarders I know just runs layers of wool and a rain shell outside of it. Some stuff he can even pitch if he gets tired of dealing with it on the mountains.
As I've watched the outdoor and work clothing reduce their quality and up their prices I've also started to lean more on military surplus. I can at least trust their gear was made to work and get dirty in.
As someone who works in the industry, the best gear is what fits you, what you can afford, and most importantly what you already have. Its a bit sad when i outfit people for their first camping trip and theyre so nervous about what the minimum they need to camp, thinking its going to be a mountain. No my friend, a tent that can fit you, a comfortable sleeping bag that will fit most weather youll be in, and a sleeping pad because sleeping on the bare. ground sucks. Everything is extra.
I grew up about an hour away from yosemite and it was suprising how many of my school mates had not been. We were pretty poor and a family of 7 so 20 bucks plus gas for a fun outdoor trip for a family of 7 was a good deal for my parents. We went almost every weekend in the summer. PB&Js and just regular clothes. We didn't have anything fancy just vans jeans and whatever t shirt we had. Even when we went in the winter it was just put plastic bags over your feet extra socks and the put them in your shoes. Your shoes got soaked but your feet were dryish. I still love the outdoors and I always tell people comfortable shoes is all you really need to get out on a hike.
Shoes and jackets it's the only thing I will buy from name brands. But only on sale never full price. Everything else it's either Walmart, target, or Amazon.
So true. You just want to enjoy nature. Isn't that the point? I thought the cities were the place where I would get judged for what I'm wearing. Not in the forest. Seems as if you don't have the 'right' tools, you don't have business being outside! Make it make sense!!!
I have a channel that talks about outdoor gear almost exclusively. I’ve had similar thoughts and feelings and have wondered how I can continue to serve my audience, help them find the gear that will work for them at every price point without contributing to excessive consumerism. I’ve also experienced the massive difference in views a gear video gets over a trip video. It used to really bother me, but one of my viewers helped me see it in a different light. Trip videos, especially to beautiful exotic places, can be discouraging to people who will never get to see those places. Why do I want to see your expensive vacation photos? But gear can go anywhere. If you are only able to hike a few weekends a year close to home, you can still picture yourself there with the gear in the videos. (Assuming it’s within your budget). If you plan one big trip a year that will only last a few days but might have some unique terrain, conditions, or gear needs, you can essentially extend that trip for months through researching and shopping for the gear that will make that trip more enjoyable. It’s fantasizing about the one big trip long before it happens. Do you need that gear, maybe not but it’s not completely about that, it’s about the trip you are looking forward to. Those perspectives have helped me feel better about the popularity of gear videos. But I’m still concerned about the consumerism. I enjoy your content BTW. Thanks for making it.
I have learned so much from your gear review videos. I own a store in a small city, with a goal to contribute to the walkability of this city. It turns out that people who live active transportation lifestyles spend a lot of time outside in the weather, every single day; so outdoor lifestyle brands are very functional for us. The way you explain how outdoor gear works has helped me set my customers/community up for success. Every single day is an outdoor adventure for us, even if the forrest we are walking through is planted along the sidewalk. thank you
I've watched many of your videos, and especially liked the advice around budget gear and repair / low-cost modification/hacks (e.g. re-waterproofing your jacket, dealing with leaks or condensation in your tent). I like to watch review videos for products (all products, not just outdoorsy ones) I'm considering buying because sometimes the information on the website isn't enough to know if the product will suit my purpose. Sometimes the specific brands/models that are featured are not available in my country (or they're far too expensive), but your explanation of the reasons for choosing (e.g. the features/specifications), allow me to glean enough information to make an informed decision. Thank you
I will forever be a forest goblin, I see so many people in top of the range outdoors clothes that it reminds me of the exercise/gym world where everyone is in specific outfits by specific brands that make you feel like you're out of place. I often go out into nature, and I dont have anything specific I just dress to make sure im warm enough and make sure I got something just in case it rains. The gearification of a thing is the same with bicycletouring/bikepacking you see so many youtube videos of people with their high end gravel bike and their streamlined bags to go on the bike and their racing gear just for a weekend of camping. Meanwhile a lot of people in the commuinity tells newcomers "you got a bike right? ok put your shit on the bike and just go out and have fun" which is refreshing to see. Same with basic camping, now people think they need an entire portable glamping set up just to outside for a weekend.
As a rock climber, I do appreciate my well loved Osprey back pack that is the perfect size for my smaller torso. It’s 12 years old and I expect it will last another 12+ easily. I love my gear, but I actually use it. I’m also amazed how much Smartwool and running gear I find barely used at the thrift store!
I have an actryx, as a dad it really helps freeing my hands up when Im with kids out in the ... city streets ... And I must say their gortex rain-proof shell jackets are the most comfortable/breathable one i have ever tried. I wear them every rainy day on my school drop offs and straight to work afterwards. They are life-changing to me.
I hike in the same Dickies pants, T-shirt, hoodie, and Merrell boots that I wear to the grocery store; I can't even begin to fathom buying special hiking clothes, lol.
It depends on where you want to hike. Im going down to banff in the middle of winter where its 10-20 F at the highs so specialty clothing is kind of a must
A new Arc'teryx opened up on my street in Toronto a week ago, and there was a lineup spanning the whole block. For a second, I thought an athlete/famous person was there. But no - just a bunch of people lining up at 10AM on a Saturday morning to buy expensive outdoor gear.
I wear my wool hiking socks indoors because they’re super warm and comfy. I wear my fleece layer in the office because the air con makes me cold. I wear my merino hiking tops when a lot because they’re soft and good regulating temperature. I wear my Rab coat constantly because I live in England and it’s always raining. They’re functional, designed for comfort and I appreciate that….. outdoor clothes have become my everyday essentials.
I found the same after gearing up for a long hike. I'm probably excessively wearing down my vibram soled hiking shoes walking in the city, but they're the most comfortable footwear I have if I'm walking for more than an hour
Always feel like Future Proof brings me back to reality when I fantasize about THINGS. I hate things, I like experiences and this really hits home that I don't need perfect gear to enjoy a walk in a forest preserve.
I grew up going to thrift stores and second hands stores with my grandma and my mom (single parent). To this day we still go to those same stores and often find high quality outdoor clothing for an extremely affordable cost. Not the most consistent and guaranteed method by any stretch, but you can get lucky and find some gems.
SO much of my high end outdoor gear is from thrift stores. All my Icebreaker and Smartwool pieces. My much loved Sierra Designs and Cloudveil pants. You have to know what you're looking for, but it's worth it.
Sooooo true! When we had our first kid and wanted to continue hiking, we didn't go buy a fancy Kelty or Osprey child carrier, I found a BARGAIN at the Denver flea market. An REI branded kids carrier from probably the late 90's to early 2000's was there amongst the vendors. A carrier that has worked for us on hundreds of trails over the last 5 years, was only $20 bucks! XD It had all the things or the possibility to be the same as the $400+ carrier a friend of mine bought around the same time to carry their kid. lol Oooo! Cool! you had a cooler pouch in the carrier and a shade/rain cover that pops out of a pocket from the back for the kid? I have a shade/rain cover too (that does require assembly, oh well) and a $5 cooler pouch I use for taking my lunch to work that I put in a pocket of the carrier. 👍😁👍 Not as fancy and new, but gets the job done! lol
as a kid, I wasn't from a poor family at all, my childhood was spent half within the house playing and half going outside, one of my favourite activities was going on a morning hike to the mountain with my dad, and what I can tell you if that going to that trail might be one of the experiences with the highest mix of "social classes", everyone poor and rich went to that mountain, people from the richest neighbourhoods to people from slums. Being in that outdoors environment had no elitism and probably was one of the most clasism free environments there was in my city where social discrimination based on apparent wealth is a plague. This same development towards elitism of outdoors activities hasn't happened there due to different circumstances, but I now live in Europe, and well I am not outdoorsy anymore but can see that elitist part of the public who is competitive about fashion and tech surrounding their hobbies of going hiking, which to my eyes it defeats a big part of the appeal of experiencing that environment outside of regular city social norms, defeats the appeal of "together in nature".
i also think one of the things that cause us to overthink our purchases is that nowadays most clothing is low-quality and not durable. These companies now ask 200 euros for polyester which is ridiculous
As an European I just love decathlon. It's not the top quality stuff, but can hold without a shame in the middle of the pack. Just bought a nice 30l hiking backpack for 15$ and some running t-shirts for 5$ each. Great value with a really solid quality.
They have great budget stuff. Overall, it's a great place for clothes and basic gear if you're just getting started. I don't recommend buying: 1. Mountain bikes 2. Skateboards from there
Their quality has decreased over the years though. I got travel bags from them that are about 15 year old, and their current equivalent would not survive a couple of years.
As someone working with selling outdoor gear and cloth. I can confirm that the request for plus sized outdoor clothing is significantly higher now, yet NO ONE are selling sizes bigger than an XL, maximum XXL. we've been fustrated for years at my work!! So if anyone has knowes of a outdoor brand with bigger size range I would love to know!
REI is really trying to make bigger clothes, their store brand usually goes up to 3xl. From my fat friends they can fit like a bag tho which is uh. Common among larger sizes in general unfortunately
I wanted to express that I feel a little "fatigued" by the constantly negative angle this channel has taken. Every video is about a brand being exploitative, or a chemical being damaging, or a trend being pointless and also damaging. Of course mine is only one opinion, but perhaps I'm not the only one in the audience with some amount of climate anxiety and this doesn't quite help. I was hoping this channel would be informative on brands/materials/trends that are better choices for the planet, or at least less bad. The only one mentioned so far is Patagonia. I think at this point I know what _not_ to do, but sometimes it's really hard to find a good thing _to_ do. Like the old videos about klean kanteen, birkenstock, or even the tip of reinforcing shoes in a specific spot.. That's useful information! Getting "outraged" every week by the absurdity of the world feels less useful to me. I'm not gonna unsubscribe or anything, and will keep watching, but in case this resonates with other people, and importantly with the creative team, maybe you can consider doing more positive videos every now and then? (I know I'm simplyfing a lot with positive and negative.. I don't know, hopeful is a better word?) Or at least keep an eye on the overall ratio? It may very well just be me and how I'm experiencing the channel, but I wanted to share this in case someone else agrees... If not, cruise on and keep up the good work! Thanks!
At the end of the video he suggests that you just make due with whatever you have. Second hand works, thrift works, outlet stores work, just stop focusing on the brands.
I think the alternatives on Future Proof videos are there: they’re just not always glamorous. The solutions are often to buy less stuff, or like Levi suggested, borrow the gear you need or get something secondhand.
This is exactly what I think too. I'm considering unsubscribing. Instead of attack brands for being 'fashionable' or highly priced, discuss topics like microplastics seeping into our bodies.. There are many topics to cover than just consumerism. The channel is just obsessed with consumerism. The gear you owned back in the day doesn't matter as much as right now? His parents was dripping in expensive patagonia gear. I don't get his point.
Not quite fatigued, but getting there. My favorite video was when Levi explained why Klean Kanteen was the best choice for water containers because of their manufacturing choices and environmental certification. Maybe mix a few of those in. As mentioned, highlight the brands that are still trying to do the right thing.
Reminds me of the watch industry, I got a friend who is willing to and has several times spent thousands of dollars on top of the line dive watches with all the amazing specs you could ever want. 300 meter water resistance, tritium vials for an unlimited lume, micro adjustments in the bracelet for use with different sized wet suits. I often have to remind myself, that he can’t swim.
I do like Patagonia. I buy it 2nd hand on E-Bay. I hike part of the AT every year and other camping trips so I use it. I do also wear the polo shirts to work though.
I have discovered this after many years: 1) it makes sense to buy high quality (expensive) gear if you know you will wear it a lot. I have a few pieces from Patagonia that I wear all the time and the things just last. But so do some of my things from Decathlon. 2) keep what you have. It’s hard sometimes to resist the pressure to gear up in all new fancy shit but if you have older gear that works, keep it. I have hiking pants from Decathlon that are 8 years old and are only now showing some small holes in the fabric. They cost like 50 euros back then. A darn good deal. 3) buy used. Most of my Patagonia stuff is second hand - including a down jacket that I wear all the time, casual shorts that I wear all summer and a running cap. The stuff lasts, you don’t need the most recent season gear to go for a run :)
Back in my old very-active days I bought some workout shorts at Wal-Mart that were a size 4, and then I saw some shorts at REI I like and was shocked to find out I was an REI size 12. It was the largest size they had in stock at the time - so you're not wrong when you said that "...if you're not the right size, there literally isn't a jacket for you."
Yes. And although they go to size 3x now they’re still a bazillion dollars and I feel extremely judged. Excess has always bothered me. I am one of those people Levi describes as needing to be outside and I just wish the common focus was on actually “doing” going outside.
i used to work in a small retail store that is selling premium brands ,like Scarpa, Patagonia, Mammoth and so on. The vast majority of people who are customers there probably have never been on a hike in their life (the city is right next to the mountain). They would also buy like 10 patagonia hats and simply collect items. You just need a good pair of shoes and a comfy backpack. Everything else is paying premium for not much.
Depending on what your doing or where you are going wearing fabrics like cotton or not know how to properly layer clothing can literally be a death sentence. Not saying you need expensive name brand stuff but you do need specific things in order to enjoy the outdoors without putting yourself at risk
I just bought a helinox chair that weighs 1 pound and I can tell you that is amazing the 2 pound it saves me as I am carrying it up over 3000 ft of elevation up a mountain
I was a boy scout, I spent my youth camping in the rain, hiking mountains, building snow shelters, etc. My scoutmaster's phrase was "cotton kills", meaning don't wear cotton clothing while doing this stuff, wear layers of wool, polyester, etc. I had mostly generic non-cotton clothing and some walmart winter jacket and I got by just fine on my eagle scout journey. I have some name brand stuff now (ie. Columbia winter jacket), but I maintain the function/price over form mentality with clothing and gear. I hiked angels landing last year wearing a thermal shirt under an old polyester hoodie
The existence of expensive stuff doesn't you have to buy it, and it doesn't create some imaginary barrier to going outdoors. There's a real problem of gentrification of the outdoors, but clothing isn't part of it. I grew up hiking in grubby sneakers, T-shirt and jeans, and those things still exist today. Furthermore, our wild places are badly overcrowded, so encouraging more people to go visit them isn't a great idea until we first take the necessary step of protecting and restoring degraded land. This is the only way to increase the accessibility of outdoor recreation without simultaneously destroying the wild places we seek to experience.
it's literally only a problem if you create it for yourself. 99.999% of people I met on the trail or the slopes is very friendly and willing to spend at least a few moments to have a brief conversation with you regardless of what kind of gear you got. This is a completely manufactured drama
I remember when I moved from the country to a major city for university. I was so confused as to why everyone was decked out in full backpacking gear for a hike. When I grew up all you wore to hike was a cheap flannel, jeans, and whatever ratty sneakers you happened to have lying around.
Same thing happened with Mountain Equipment Co-Op, now known as Mountain Equipment Company... And it isn't passionate people working there anymore, it's... People who will gladly shovel whatever they can towards you, instead of what you actually need.
I'm in the train of though that you can go hiking in whatever clothes you have at home. Your experiences on trail will let you know what kind of gear you need. Get caught out in a freak rain storm, now you'll add a lightweight rain layer to your pack. Get cold when your hikes take longer than you anticipated and the sun is setting, buy a lightweight midlayer for additional warmth to carry in your pack. However I would 100% recommend high quality socks that are made from wool. People usually jump to jackets as their first piece of gear. A thick pair of socks will make your feet a lot more comfortable and less sweaty.
I tend to go with cheaper stuff wherever I can afford it, but considering that I walk everywhere and winter drops down to -50 now and again, winter wear isn't a category I skimp on.
when i decided to start camping i went to an army navy surplus store for a inenexpensive tent, jacket, pack etc "i may not look the part" but the stuff lasts
This all strikes me as something similar to the Bob Ross Effect The point of The Joy of Painting was to show novice artists a step by step way to create scenic art using wet on wet oil paint. Turned out 90-something percent just watched because they enjoyed watching Bob paint. That seems to be the same with most hobbies that have huge social media presence. Most of the people like watching other people hike or review hiking products but probably have no intention of ever doing it themselves and use the excuse of lacking designer gear as the reason Most of the time, people with a desire to do something will find a way to do it
Being very short and petite gear videos can be helpful to be able to actually see it on someone and being used before investing money in something. I can remember the difference between the first time I went out with borrowed gear and now that my stuff actually fits my size and makes me want to go out more. So much stuff was based off of mens bodies in the past that it’s nice to see more things being geared to all different body types.
As someone who has been backpacking for over a decade the gear these companies make is usually highly specialized and you really don’t need it for normal day to day activities. Ex you could get a $250 rain suit from rei that will keep you dry for 8 hours in torrential rain but there are few reasons for you to be outside in torrential rain in your daily life
Exactly and people keep saying there is no difference between the cheap and expensive rain jackets. You only feel that way if you haven't been out hiking a lot and caught in a freak rain storm 5 hours away from your car.
I bought a good Patagonia rain jacket in 1996/7 for hiking. Still going strong. I do need to replace the waterproofing strips, but I've found a few places that sell it online. But aside from getting a damp neck, it still looks new. I got good hiking socks at the same time. I don't really hike any more, but I still wear them in winter like slippers or outside if its very cold. Still wear the rain coat when its very wet (living in Ireland, it gets a good amount of use!) Still going strong over 25 years later. I'm rough on shoes, regularly needing to repair my shoes, so I don't think its the user, I think its original quality. I can't think about why I'd buy replacements when the originals I have are still perfect. I went in to the Patagonia store to get a bag last year (my previous one had completely died and I expect this one to see my days out). They were very impressed with my 25-30 year old "vintage" jacket!
Invest in a good pair of merino wool socks. I've never regretted dropping the money on a good pair of socks and it was a total game changer for hiking, let me hike longer and further without soggy socks and blisters. Best pieces of gear I own and they are usually under $20 USD
Great and necessary video. Worked for a time at an outdoor industry brand and saw every detail live from what has been explained here in this video. We are turning a simple fun walk to the forest into a catwalk where people instead of greet you look you first top hat to bottom down on what you wear before saying any word...humans... sad but true. Thanks for posting this necessary video.
This video is absolutely AMAZING. As someone who spend about a quarter of the year in a tent, I’ve definitely noticed this over gearification. Most of what people buy, they don’t need at the level they are at.
I am conflicted on this video. I 100% agree that the over gearification is a bad trend but a major point I think this video misses is some of the innovation it had created. I don’t buy heavily branded clothes which is the issue here but there are come smaller cottage companies now that offer incredibly quality. I travel full time and live out of a backpack so I have definitely benefited from this. The 4 T-Shirts I do own are incredibly and is something that would not have existed 20 years ago. This channel is literally called “Future Proof” and what I have gotten out of this trend are things that will last me a a very, very long time
i’m a lower income person who has gotten into hiking and backpacking. i have to save up my pays to buy one more good quality piece of gear, but i’ve found the mec (canada) and rei branded gears are waaay cheaper- also, i buy second hand!! a lot of people who thrift aren’t looking for technical items like that and i find quite a few. fila workout tops, patagonia fleeces etc. and just as nice quality as the expensive stuff. those subreddits you talk about are awesome to find the actual best product and not the coolest looking one.
I moved to Portland Oregon from Michigan and was SHOCKED to learn that not only was everyone, spending insane amounts of money to camp and walk in the woods, but they were f-ing PROUD at how COOL they were
In France, all of us are in Decathlon gear, except maybe experts or people who treat themselves with expensive outdoor gear. But yeah Decathlon is the fashion in our mountains, cheap and efficient.
As someone from Australia whos trying to figure out what I actually need for my winter holiday in Iceland, I feel this so much. There is to many options and opinions and everything is expensive, I’m desperately trying to find out what I actually need, I’m not going to wear most of it at home, our winter is less cold than their summer
I co- founded my university's alpine hiking club two decades ago. I just bought a cheap $35 leather hiking boots with no cushion except my socks and just went. Just wore regular fleece and whatever fashion jacket I got in the mall. Just layered up with regular clothing. Went on many alpine hikes this way. And then I went to arcteryx store to check what expensive advanced gear is available now and I don't think most people there intend to go alpine hiking.
The big issue we face is our egos. Both the elitist and the people who feel they don’t belong need to reassess their priorities and learn to be comfortable pursuing their happiness , ignoring the lens of what other people think.
I get that there's not much plus-size "tech gear" in stores (less market, fabrics aren't as flexible, etc.) but people feeling "excluded" because they don't have brand stuff ? Come on. All the comments of those people are personal interpretation of what other might think of them when they go out but it's only in their heads, it's a manifestation of their own insecurities and own look upon themselves. No one ever is going to come up to you on whatever hike trail you're on and tell you that your style is shit or whatever. You literally have to just put on shoes and a shirt on a sunny day and you can go out, there's no entry barrier at all, it's the least excluding activity ever but if you have a mental illness and you think everyone is after you specifically, no amount of gear will change that. If someone feels out of place, that's a problem on their side, most of the interactions you'll have with other people is a nod, "hello" and that half-smile lip-pinching we all make at strangers for some reason. Most people go in nature to feel more alone and "lost" in an uncrowded environment too, everyone is trying to stay in their own bubble and enjoy nature their way, not judging a catwalk. And you don't need a 2000 dollars jacket for that, you just have to make sure you stay warm and relatively dry if it's chilly or raining outside and there's a gargantuan amount of affordable clothes who do that well. Now if you're 500 pounds and you want to climb mount Everest as a weekend activity and you're complaining there's no gear your size, that's just delusional.
REI carries xxxxl with their in-house brand. I was looking through there annual sale yesterday and I was astounded that they came in that size. Until it hit me that I should probably be more surprised that other brands don’t supply that.
Agreed. I can't remember the clothing of a single person I've seen when out hiking, except one. She was an influencer who was wearing stiletto heels and trying to walk down a gravel path at the trailhead to get photos during wildflower season. That was a little absurd. But otherwise, most people who go hiking are doing so to avoid people and could care less about their clothing.
I also grew up with hiking, climbing and yearly camping trips. We didn’t have much money and we’re close or slightly below poverty line sometimes. Yet by investing only in the essentials like a good jacked that protects you from wind and rain as well as some proper hiking boots we were able to afford a camping trip to the alps (I’m from Germany) there were some popular outdoor brands like Jack Wolfskin and others I don’t remember the name. We invested in them because they were functional and good quality. And when my brother grew out of his jacket I got it handed down. That way we only bought new stuff when there was nothing to be handed down from someone else. While the globally popular brands, who lean into (fast) fashion, swept the marked in Germany as well, I think there are still brands which focus on the functionality and purpose of the clothes. Regarding climbing, we usually had options to rent the gear we needed. While I don’t go hiking as much anymore I’d still think everyone is welcome in the alps or similar regions even when on a low cost budget. Outdoor brands branching into more casual/live style fashion (what ever it’s called) is obviously driven by capitalism. Someone who is genuinely interested in hiking or other activities should not get distracted by that and look for the functional lines/ brands that are out there.
That "I have the gear, I can do Everest", we name that The Decathlon Effect around Europe. Every year there's someone in the news that bought a pair of boots, backpack and got lost in the backcountry.
I've watched you a few times before and now plan to more often. I think you're from the Vancouver area. It's great to see a Canadian have a successful TH-cam channel. You made a very good point about outdoor and athleisure wear clothing. People wear this stuff to look good and to work out in and become healthy, but then the microplastics are killing us.
This whole phenomenon started in the 80s with travelling football hooligans goihg on shoplifting sprees in Scandi countries. They brought outdoor clothing to the terraces and, by extension, to a mass market. We were wearing expensive ski wear in the city and suburbs as kids at school. Its just reached a new level now
I hiked for more than 15 years. All seasons, from -30 to +40. And I can safely say that hiking without expensive gear is s*it. Cheap gear is heavy, uncomfortable, and breaks more often. I have shoes that cost 300-400$ and I'm using them for like 10 years :D I have to switch my NB snickers like very summer. Have an Arcteryx jacket, it's a beast. I have a few different rain jackets before but none come even close. Is it the best, not sure. But I agree that buying gear for the sake of having it is plain stupid. We had a guy like this in our group. He'd hike once a year but he spent like 15k on expensive gear that he'd never use.
Yep, I'm from the Lake District in England where there are loads of hiking gear shops. Yet the only place I've ever seen a Canada Goose shop was central London. Some of these brands are just fashion brands nowadays. I think extreme cold is different and more important to take seriously. I do most of my hiking in the jungle, and honestly, performance gear is mostly completely unnecessary. I bought all sorts of lightweight, long-sleeved tops and pants that zip into shorts. And yet every time, I gravitate towards basic Nike or Adidas sports clothes. I do wear hiking shoes, but even they are bargain bucket Karrimors. The only jungle specialist thing I have is a lightweight hat with a wide brim.
Yet you have people hiking thousands of miles on the AT, PCT and CDT with Amazon brand synthetic clothes and a tarp. The most expensive gear most of these thru hikers have on them are their cellphones.
My first Columbia jacket was bought when I was 16 and at that time (2001), It was the thing to have and apparently I also felt the need to "need". We'll that jacket was worn religiously for almost 9 years before my husband claimed it for himself and wore it for another 11 years. My most recent Columbia winter coat lasted 3 seasons before it fell apart...
I'm a plus size person, and the side eyes I got when I was shopping for a pair of hiking boots was so stressing, it depended on the last piece of sanity of mine for not running out the store screaming, like I was on fire. You're shamed for not going out if you're fat, but you get the same, if you try to, what's the logic behind all this (╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻
Screw them. Btw, it's very hard to lose weight through exercise...it takes forever. Exercise is and you should do it, for sure, but it's much more economical to change what you eat drink....i.e. added sugar, OR juice (as bad as soda, because fiber is removed). Please please watch Sugar, the bitter Truth. Dr. Robert Lustig, incredibly smart guy and can help you understand the big picture. Still, get that exercise, you'll feel better!
On 'What year is your jacket?' - my mom had a cargo skirt with a pocket very clearly designed to hold a flip phone. It was the silliest thing, later, because it was too deep and narrow for anything else you might want on a hike, except maybe a mini granola bar.
Edit:wait, wrong year 2 years ago me and my parents were hiking often, and initially I was just using a regular shirt and such. Later my dad started buying some quick dry shirts, then bought a bunch of shirts from a local outdoor gear brand, and sadly only a few of them are 100% cotton (which I find the most comfortable) and I don't have anything that's linen which I heard is a also a good alternative. Now, I've been looking into sewing my own clothes cause I also need some handycrafts to keep my hands occupied as that seems like a doable one even in a cramped dorm.
I have probaby spent a lot more on gear than I needed to, but all of it is stuff I've researched, compared and gets used. After years of trying to save I've settled on quality stuff that will last years of use Fjallraven, Swanndri and Helikon-Tex
depends on where you hike really. If you are scrambling across rocks and boulder fields then yes, you will probably have a bad time. If you're going a short hike on a well maintained trail then probably not. While I do feel a lot of people take it too far it is possible to be under prepared
There's no chance the person buying a $1,000 Arc'teryx jacket is doing it because they think they need to, they just want it much like consumerism in other areas.
I am one a bit old-schoolish hiking guy (started hiking 15 years ago when the hype was much smaller). I can tell you that you can do that without super expensive gear. Me and my friends we have had some of the best adventures with ultra cheap gear from decathlon. Buy proper shoes, good headlamp, good underwear, socks (to prevent blisters). Rest can be cheap (unless you climb then also climbing gear has to be good quality). Instead of ultra-expensive waterproof backpack buy cheap one and take two trash bags and put one into another and then into backpack. Put everything inside the trash bags within the backpack and you have 100% waterproof backpack. Instead of ultra-expensive jacket just buy decent rain coat for 20$ and when it rains just put it on yourself. They are big enough to cover you and the backpack at the same time so you have even more waterproofing. And most importantly, brace yourself for discomfort. If you learn the skill of "comfortably tolerating hiking discomforts" then you can limit your gear purchases to minimum.
I find it hard to get outdoor clothing that WORKS. In the summer it is not so important as the weather is usually quite OK, but in autumn and winter this must work and be reliable. Much gear made today is not. To thin, stretch fabric that last a trip or two than either break or change shape. So, I have found that there are clothes to buy elsewhere: For people who work outdoors; farmers, construction workers etc. Sure, it is heavier, but last longer and holds up. Also, clothes for hunters also seems to be much better priced and out of sturdier materials. And no funky "4D stretch". Side note: Oldest jacket I still have in use is from 1993. There is no equivalent made today, no matter what you pay.
I've gotta fix my favorite jacket, I've got a '70's US army dress uniform jacket that's falling apart at the seams, which I like to wear on hikes. It's very practical, it has about 5 pockets, the smallest of which is the size of one of my shirt pockets. I'm not sure if the same is true for more modern army dress uniforms, but surplus ones are the first things I'm going to look at next time I need a new jacket.
I tend to research new gear that I use and then use my old worn gear until it falls apart. At least I have a super nice backup when my old gear breaks. But it's actually pretty hard to destroy clothing so much you can't use them for climbing or things like that.
So here’s something I’ve realised about my purchasing habits- I do tons of research before buying anything! So if I’m spending hours looking at jackets, I know when I buy it, it’ll be used for years and years. Similarly I just use old clothes for working out rather than buying specific clothes for it. Majority of my wardrobe is full of clothes that are 5-10 years old, some older, some newer. Running shoes and underwear are two things I definitely run through often. But otherwise, just a small bit of care exponentially increased the number of wears per item (for me).
I travel full time in a RV to National and State Parks. You are so right! I'm an old fat guy and it cracks me up to see to see these "influencers" all dressed up in $1,000 of dollars of gear and I'm in my walmart T shirt doing the same things they are. Also, why don't I hardly ever see black people?! I guess they don't camp?
it really is astounding how much money and time you spend spend on outdoor stuff. Today i went to a outdoor store to look for a rain jacket and trousers, and their prices started at 80 euro for the trousers and 200 Euro for the jackets, and i just kept thinking who is buying these 500 Euro Rain Jackets for hiking ? As you said, being in nature is the most natural thing to do, and you get the message that you should buy these overengineered plastic sheets to do that. Luckily i found a section with some second hand clothes which were a lot cheaper, i just had to alter them to fit
I grew up in the countryside, and since my family owns some forest, we'd often go walking there to keep an eye on things, more or less. In Finland it'a a rule that you can freely walk in someone else's forest, too, and pick berries and such, but you can't make a fire or cut down trees without the landowner's permission, so owning land isn't required for rambling in the woods. However, it was why we ended up doing it semi-regularly. We'd go somewhere, dad would make a campfire, he and mom would grill some sausages and brew tea, and me and my brother would wander about, climb trees and rocks, and then come back to the fire when it got dark. My dad had an old backpack he always brought our food and such in, it was from some army surplus sale like forty years ago. As long as we had rubber boots to keep our feet dry, woolen socks for warmth, and sufficient clothing to keep warm in whatever season it happened to be, we were good to go.
Great video, lots of great points! Great gear companies being bought up like Mystery Ranch for profit motives. Thank God for companies like Durston gear, still privately owned, gear driven with some ofordable inivative outdoor products!
I am a gearhead w ebbs and flows but it was once my job as an outdoor retail buyer. Thosexwere exciting times back then. One tiny TNF distributor in PQ that only sold to select “resl” outdoor stores for real use. The TNF Mountain and Mountain Light jackets paired with a Nuptse for warmth on real winter trips. Lol. The real shift is from days when people wanted to get putside to see wonders seems more like people want to get out to these great places to be seen now. And yeah, to look good too.
This was a thing back in the 90s when I was in school. It was really important to have a Helly Hansen, Berghaus, or similarly expensive outdoor jacket. Something that was presumably expensive for good reason became a status symbol just because it was expensive. This was well before social media or any particular marketing of the brands. It was literally as simple as expensive = good.
That's why I LOVE Decathlon. Sometimes you look like a dork, sometimes it looks good but it's ALWAYS affordable
Yeah, over a year ago I decided I wanted to go backpacking. I've now spent well over 500 hours researching gear and skills and I haven't spent a single night in the woods. I still barely understand how rain jackets work but I can tell you the expensive ones aren't worth it.
Hahahhaaa!!!!!!!
Sir, you just admitted you haven't spent a night in the woods... Why should anyone trust you to say expensive rain jackets aren't worth it.
@@andrewa9700sorry I didn’t realize it only rains in the woods???
@@andrewa9700 @MyLifeOutdoors just released a video showing how Gore-Tex is mostly just hype because while it is true that it can be waterproof OR breathable, it cannot be both at the same time. So in the rain, you might as well wear a cheap poncho or carry an umbrella, and both will keep you drier and will definitely be more breathable.
@@andrewa9700 Well, you're right; they can either believe me for no good reason, buy an expensive jacket that will keep them dry for a few hours and think they got their money's worth, buy a cheap jacket that will keep them dry for a few hours and they think they got their money's worth, or they do what I did and spend a stupid amount of time researching when they could just have just taken the risk of buying the wrong thing and at least they'd be outside.
I`m one of those guys who overthinks every purchase.
Not because I want to have the most fashionable thing ever, but because I was dirt poor for many years. Every purchase out of the ordanary had to be on point, do what I need it to do and has the best price to performance that I could get for a certain set price. A misbuy resulted in me maybe not beeing able to afford food. After years I still can't get rid of that feeling, so every purchase is super stressful for me.
One good rule of thumb is to ask you one thin "does any of my gear do what the new shiny thing does", if you can answer yes -> DON'T BUY ANYTHING.
This is a thing i experience as well. Now having more "disposable" income of my own, i tend to splurge on unpractical (fun) crap now, but when i want to buy a functional tool, i have to get the best thing for as cheap as possible, so ill put in the extra effort of being a critical consumer. I just feel thats the smart thing to do, honestly.
Welcome to the Old Fart Club, All your gear has to be tarnished, and tape together and better than any of the new shit in the stores.
I'm on the smaller end of plus size. It's getting easier to find gear, but I still spent more than I needed trying to find out what fits and what works.
After trying sun hoodies, pfg tops, multple pairs of pants and shorts, I finally dialed in my summer camping and hiking clothing.
Most expensive items were the pants and shorts. They come from a small startup. The quality and fit is amazing though.
This. Is. Exactly. My. Struggle.
Oh man… I research so much.. because yes I dont have the money to make a wrong call. I most often dont even have the money for the right call..!
All of my friends when need to buy any gear they come ask me if I had bought it before, because they know that if I did I know absolutely everything about the entire market on that piece.. 🫠
i’ve never experienced a social expectation to wear a specific brand of clothing while hiking.
Same! Most of the time people are out just enjoying nature or trying not die from the uphill climb. This video reeks of "I don't actually hike, I see hiking content creators on TikTok who over consume and assume everyone lives that way."
It's a question of a single individual experience vs massive data set
Results may vary
@@toneeviera8336 All I said was that I have never experienced it myself. Another datapoint.
It might also be related to the fact that i choose to avoid people that are that shallow and superficial
@@coloradohikertrash9958 Not sure where in you are hiking in Colorado, but I have definitely experienced this in CO
Same. People overthink all the time.
I was raised in Norway. We were skiing or hiking all year around. I've been cross country skiing since I was 3 years old. Now I'm 65. My dad had a Fjallraven jacket he used all the time. When he passed away in 2020 I took over this jacket from 1972. It's as good as new functionally. Looks awesome and just works.
I bought a $400 Fjallravem jacket here in the US in 2022. It's already useless since stitching is failing and so is the main zipper. I'm pretty sure I will not hand that jacket off to my kids. They will have to buy their own Fjallraven, Patagonia etc stuff at ridiculously high prices. It's sad and annoying.
I'm sure you can get high quality stuff these days also, but it will not be fashionable in 5 years and you'll have to get something new.
I had one of the more expensive Decathlon jackets (around 80 euro for a fairly thin waterproof jacket) and that's only lasted a few years of occasional wear with the lining of the hood coming apart. It's pathetic. I thought Decathlon's more expensive stuff would be good quality, because you're not really paying for the brand.
Don't care about fashionable. Fashion works in cycles, what matters is if it's functional, and you like it.
Don't forget to renew the waterproofing with beeswax. They have their own official videos on how to do it.
@@joepiekl I had a thin waterproof jacket from decathlon that was IIRC 40€
Lasted about 5 years of regular use, it still looks ok but it is no longer waterproof.
My general experience of the brand is that the entry level stuff (usually marked as "beginner" is stuff that will fall apart fairly quickly.
Stuff that is branded as intermediate and above tends to be pretty solid, but you can still get a lemon.
Their warranty has not let me down yet though, they will exchange/return stuff without arguing.
Planned obsolescence and fallen overall quality of products. Heck, clothing and electronics are prime examples 😐
this feels like a similar trend that cars are facing where the aesthetic of being outdoorsy is causing people to spend all this money even if they never use it to their full potential. like all these people with jeeps and huge trucks are not going to go off roading but they spent thousands on the gear for it, and like fast fashion much of the new gear on the market is not functional for what its marketed to do.
Think Tacoma pick-up trucks... YOU HIT IT ON THE HEAD!!!!
Fully agreed. I drive a Subaru because we’re a family of rock climbers and needed a roof rack for skis and our Thule. We have to off road to get to a lot of crags. I’m always amazed how many people own a Subaru or any SUV and never leave the city
SUV-s are so dumb. And I am 100% sure they are dangerous (getting hit by those means sure death etc)
Future Proof should make a video about this.
This sounds like a capitalistic country
We really need more TH-camrs to raise awareness on overconsumption (or just plain mindless consumption) because it's causing so many kinds of harm.
think for yourself and don't participate in this nonsense, my dad taught me that as a kid. he told me this story of when he was an accountant everyone went to lunch with the boss. the boss ordered 1st. every one there then ordered what the boss ordered. my dad ordered the hamburger. a year later my dad quit and started his own business because he hated working indoors and hated corporate culture.
If you want overconsumption from a fashion point of view, try Alyssa Beltempo
Literally all we have to do to reverse a significant amount of damage to the ecosystem is to stop buying so much shit.
Unfortunately that would also destroy capitalism.
Ya as the peddle their own sponsorships every 2 seconds
People need to stop caring about what others think about them.
“How much do you have to do to satisfy people who don’t really care, anyway?” - Saul Leiter
True 😊
100% agree. Seems like a lot of the issues he is talking about in the video are caused by people believing that what other people think about their hiking gear matters. It doesn't. If I judged on people on trails, it was primarily for their poor hiking etiquette. I know that everyone is new to hiking at some point, but there are pretty basic things to hiking that most people should have good common sense to pick up fairly quickly when getting into venturing into the outdoors. Pack in and Pack out, leave no trace. Don't take a dump next to the trail, dig a hole and bury it. Sticks work in a pinch. Hey! When I am hiking on a trail, it appears that most people are sticking to the right side of the trail as they walk. Hey, there are also lots of signs on trails or at the beginning of trails that talk about staying on trail, maybe I should do that.
Honestly, I think the root of the problem is that people care too much about impressing other. I started out with cheap Walmart gym pants, everyday jacket from Target, regular tennis shoes that I had and a basic backpack/water bottle. Having been hiking for years now, I have obviously upgraded my gear overtime, but I also didn't buy for status of brand or fashion. It doesn't matter what you dress me in, I'm still going to be red faced and sweaty when I get to the end point on the trail. But if I'm hiking in rain prone area, yeah...I'm gonna have a rain jacket these days. My point is, as time goes on in your passion of hiking, you begin to realize that a small investment in a good piece of gear each year isn't a bad idea or making you a product of consumerism. And if you are smart and look for gear that holds up overtime, that investment can last for years and most of the time you can get it at a bargain. In some cases, there is a minimum set of gear that you do need for certain hikes or conditions. Because if you aren't prepared for the more challenging hikes, you run the risk of being one of those people that get rescued from the mountain top. Do you absolutely need to buy high-top primo hiking boots with gore Tek lining? No...does it offer more ankle protection and the ability to keep your feet dry? Yes. But so far I haven't owned a pair and gotten by just fine on the hundreds of hikes I have done. In addition, I have never put thought into, "Hmm...will people judge on me for my tennis toes on the trail?" I will admit that I was a little embarrassed to be one of those knuckleheads hiking in flip flops one time. But to be fair, I was expecting to go to the beach that day and the weather didn't end up being ideal for time in the water and sand, so we hiked/walked out to a lighthouse on the bluff. My flip flops sufficed and oh well if others thought I was ridiculous because I didn't have a $400 puffer on and full winter getup in 60 degree overcast weather. /shrug. I'll survive.
Part of the reason I got into hiking/camping to begin with is because it was an affordable activity for my free time that was more beneficial to my health as opposed to zoning out on computer games for the whole weekend. I believe it can still be affordable. The access issue now is just the lack of availability for campgrounds because it has become so popular. The trails are crowded now because more people are on them. But you can still find trails that are empty for the most part. It just means that you hike the less popular ones. They might not have the blockbuster waterfall on it or lake that other more popular trails have, but they are still beautiful. It also doesn't mean you have to avoid those popular trails, but instead try balancing it with the lesser known. In addition to people caring about what other people think of their clothes, people also care about what other people think about their Instagram photos. If they don't have the highlight thing of the area in their feed...what's the point? The point is, you got outside and saw new things. Appreciate all of nature, not just the Instagram famous things. When I look at my social media feed, the things that stand out to me are the pictures where you can tell the people are actually having fun! Make a goofy face! Strike that pose! It's far more interesting than seeing another picture of you standing in line together at another iconic spot in the world! XD
Ugh, I gotta stop there. Rant over.
Growing up, my outdoor wear was just a jean jacket. Oh how I miss those days.
I mean it is a jacket that you wear outside so 🤷🏻♂
Hiking in denim sounds like torture
@maillardsbearcat and yet, somehow, we coped 🤷♀️
You don't have to miss those days...I'm just gonna roll with waxed canvass when I finally get tired of riding my bike in a swimsuit on these cold, rainy days in the Pacific Northwest.
Nowadays we can cover almost double the mileage than was standard 20 years ago because of the advances in gear. People who actually do this stuff as a sport really appreciate all the advancement. Nothing is stopping you from not getting the top echelon of gear. Most of my stuff is mid range and I go out every weekend.
Still rocking my 20 year old Columbia jacket. 0 wrong with it. Wrote to Columbia to thank them for making such great affordable durable winter jackets. I mentioned that I lost the fleece liner on one of them and they sent me a brand new jacket for free to thank me for being a customer for so long. I won't wear anything else!
As a former 4 yr old I like to say that I hate outdoor clothing brands
brb going tantrum mode 👹
Wow! I too was once a 4yo what are the chances of that!
IDK where (or what content creator) i've heard this:
"If you are at the gym or on the trail in a bland non-branded T-shirt or hoodie, you are one of the ELITE moFOs that don't give A . You're there for the iron or the activity".
It is kind of wild that anything today's need to be a special experience or Instagramable event contribuating to your image. Some people should try to just do what they actually want to do instead.
I hiked a little 2 hour trail recently in my work pants and running shoes..EVERYONE i crossed paths with was dressed like they were going on a 10 month hike across multiple states.
I remember seeing a tweet or something where a guy in full gear with water pack and hiking sticks were on the same trail as a family with a kid in sandals carrying a barbie.
@@vgee3926 I used to laugh at those people too, but later I learned at least some of them are doing the super sensible thing of test running their gear before taking it on a massive hike.
You do not want to find out you have a problem after you are in the middle of a massive hike...
Its the truth though. I tri, mountaineer, snowboard, etc. All of the people I have run with for ages who are actually GOOD at this stuff are all wearing ancient things they fell in love with, some off brands, some never even made for the sport. Like I prefer cotton for lifting, so Im wearing the premium hanes shit. My hiking gear gets replaced when its worn out, and its going to be the best thing for the job at hand for the best price. Im still running ANCIENT Osprey packs because I got them for like half wholesale when I was a guide and bought 3. One of the best boarders I know just runs layers of wool and a rain shell outside of it. Some stuff he can even pitch if he gets tired of dealing with it on the mountains.
I am a person that camps yearly (not serious camping). I dont have any of his stuff. Military suplus has served me well.
As I've watched the outdoor and work clothing reduce their quality and up their prices I've also started to lean more on military surplus. I can at least trust their gear was made to work and get dirty in.
@@SoulDevoured varusteleka in finland are great for army surplus. Fast dhl delivery to canada
As someone who works in the industry, the best gear is what fits you, what you can afford, and most importantly what you already have.
Its a bit sad when i outfit people for their first camping trip and theyre so nervous about what the minimum they need to camp, thinking its going to be a mountain. No my friend, a tent that can fit you, a comfortable sleeping bag that will fit most weather youll be in, and a sleeping pad because sleeping on the bare. ground sucks. Everything is extra.
And that is why I camp in my tent that I bought at fred meyer for 40 dollars or the bigger one from costco.
I grew up about an hour away from yosemite and it was suprising how many of my school mates had not been. We were pretty poor and a family of 7 so 20 bucks plus gas for a fun outdoor trip for a family of 7 was a good deal for my parents. We went almost every weekend in the summer. PB&Js and just regular clothes. We didn't have anything fancy just vans jeans and whatever t shirt we had. Even when we went in the winter it was just put plastic bags over your feet extra socks and the put them in your shoes. Your shoes got soaked but your feet were dryish. I still love the outdoors and I always tell people comfortable shoes is all you really need to get out on a hike.
Bread bags make the best boot bags. I thought it was just my family that did this
Reminds me of the famous Soprano who said that all one needed to sing Wagner was a comfortable pair of shoes!
I would add sturdy shoes. Tourists in my country regularly go hiking in flip flops and then need to be saved with broken legs, etc.
Shoes and jackets it's the only thing I will buy from name brands. But only on sale never full price. Everything else it's either Walmart, target, or Amazon.
Hot take: outdoor brands make good names for metal bands.
"Dude, arcteryx is opening for The North Face in September!"
I liked Fjallraven before their third album.
Arcteryx written with this black metal fond would look cool
Norrona Norwegian black metal.
So true. You just want to enjoy nature. Isn't that the point? I thought the cities were the place where I would get judged for what I'm wearing. Not in the forest. Seems as if you don't have the 'right' tools, you don't have business being outside! Make it make sense!!!
I have a channel that talks about outdoor gear almost exclusively. I’ve had similar thoughts and feelings and have wondered how I can continue to serve my audience, help them find the gear that will work for them at every price point without contributing to excessive consumerism.
I’ve also experienced the massive difference in views a gear video gets over a trip video. It used to really bother me, but one of my viewers helped me see it in a different light.
Trip videos, especially to beautiful exotic places, can be discouraging to people who will never get to see those places. Why do I want to see your expensive vacation photos? But gear can go anywhere. If you are only able to hike a few weekends a year close to home, you can still picture yourself there with the gear in the videos. (Assuming it’s within your budget). If you plan one big trip a year that will only last a few days but might have some unique terrain, conditions, or gear needs, you can essentially extend that trip for months through researching and shopping for the gear that will make that trip more enjoyable. It’s fantasizing about the one big trip long before it happens. Do you need that gear, maybe not but it’s not completely about that, it’s about the trip you are looking forward to.
Those perspectives have helped me feel better about the popularity of gear videos. But I’m still concerned about the consumerism.
I enjoy your content BTW. Thanks for making it.
I have learned so much from your gear review videos. I own a store in a small city, with a goal to contribute to the walkability of this city. It turns out that people who live active transportation lifestyles spend a lot of time outside in the weather, every single day; so outdoor lifestyle brands are very functional for us. The way you explain how outdoor gear works has helped me set my customers/community up for success. Every single day is an outdoor adventure for us, even if the forrest we are walking through is planted along the sidewalk. thank you
I've watched many of your videos, and especially liked the advice around budget gear and repair / low-cost modification/hacks (e.g. re-waterproofing your jacket, dealing with leaks or condensation in your tent). I like to watch review videos for products (all products, not just outdoorsy ones) I'm considering buying because sometimes the information on the website isn't enough to know if the product will suit my purpose. Sometimes the specific brands/models that are featured are not available in my country (or they're far too expensive), but your explanation of the reasons for choosing (e.g. the features/specifications), allow me to glean enough information to make an informed decision. Thank you
I will forever be a forest goblin, I see so many people in top of the range outdoors clothes that it reminds me of the exercise/gym world where everyone is in specific outfits by specific brands that make you feel like you're out of place. I often go out into nature, and I dont have anything specific I just dress to make sure im warm enough and make sure I got something just in case it rains. The gearification of a thing is the same with bicycletouring/bikepacking you see so many youtube videos of people with their high end gravel bike and their streamlined bags to go on the bike and their racing gear just for a weekend of camping. Meanwhile a lot of people in the commuinity tells newcomers "you got a bike right? ok put your shit on the bike and just go out and have fun" which is refreshing to see. Same with basic camping, now people think they need an entire portable glamping set up just to outside for a weekend.
As a rock climber, I do appreciate my well loved Osprey back pack that is the perfect size for my smaller torso. It’s 12 years old and I expect it will last another 12+ easily. I love my gear, but I actually use it. I’m also amazed how much Smartwool and running gear I find barely used at the thrift store!
I have an actryx, as a dad it really helps freeing my hands up when Im with kids out in the ... city streets ... And I must say their gortex rain-proof shell jackets are the most comfortable/breathable one i have ever tried. I wear them every rainy day on my school drop offs and straight to work afterwards. They are life-changing to me.
Actryx? Is that a Chinese knockoff brand?
@@Desertbiker617haha, apologies for my poor spelling
I hike in the same Dickies pants, T-shirt, hoodie, and Merrell boots that I wear to the grocery store; I can't even begin to fathom buying special hiking clothes, lol.
I wear my running shorts to go hiking and instead of hiking backpack I wear my running hydration vest.
Sounds like perfect gear to me
It depends on where you want to hike. Im going down to banff in the middle of winter where its 10-20 F at the highs so specialty clothing is kind of a must
A new Arc'teryx opened up on my street in Toronto a week ago, and there was a lineup spanning the whole block. For a second, I thought an athlete/famous person was there. But no - just a bunch of people lining up at 10AM on a Saturday morning to buy expensive outdoor gear.
Lots of beautiful mountains in toronto!😍🇮🇳
It'll be the tech bro yuppie cnuts getting a gilet to wear over their gingham.
I wear my wool hiking socks indoors because they’re super warm and comfy. I wear my fleece layer in the office because the air con makes me cold. I wear my merino hiking tops when a lot because they’re soft and good regulating temperature. I wear my Rab coat constantly because I live in England and it’s always raining. They’re functional, designed for comfort and I appreciate that….. outdoor clothes have become my everyday essentials.
I found the same after gearing up for a long hike. I'm probably excessively wearing down my vibram soled hiking shoes walking in the city, but they're the most comfortable footwear I have if I'm walking for more than an hour
Always feel like Future Proof brings me back to reality when I fantasize about THINGS. I hate things, I like experiences and this really hits home that I don't need perfect gear to enjoy a walk in a forest preserve.
I think you really got the point: we mistake things for experiences
I grew up going to thrift stores and second hands stores with my grandma and my mom (single parent). To this day we still go to those same stores and often find high quality outdoor clothing for an extremely affordable cost. Not the most consistent and guaranteed method by any stretch, but you can get lucky and find some gems.
SO much of my high end outdoor gear is from thrift stores. All my Icebreaker and Smartwool pieces. My much loved Sierra Designs and Cloudveil pants. You have to know what you're looking for, but it's worth it.
Same here but buying second hand online. I'm not mad to pay $$$ for w piece of fabric "made in China".
Sooooo true! When we had our first kid and wanted to continue hiking, we didn't go buy a fancy Kelty or Osprey child carrier, I found a BARGAIN at the Denver flea market. An REI branded kids carrier from probably the late 90's to early 2000's was there amongst the vendors. A carrier that has worked for us on hundreds of trails over the last 5 years, was only $20 bucks! XD It had all the things or the possibility to be the same as the $400+ carrier a friend of mine bought around the same time to carry their kid. lol Oooo! Cool! you had a cooler pouch in the carrier and a shade/rain cover that pops out of a pocket from the back for the kid? I have a shade/rain cover too (that does require assembly, oh well) and a $5 cooler pouch I use for taking my lunch to work that I put in a pocket of the carrier. 👍😁👍 Not as fancy and new, but gets the job done! lol
as a kid, I wasn't from a poor family at all, my childhood was spent half within the house playing and half going outside, one of my favourite activities was going on a morning hike to the mountain with my dad, and what I can tell you if that going to that trail might be one of the experiences with the highest mix of "social classes", everyone poor and rich went to that mountain, people from the richest neighbourhoods to people from slums. Being in that outdoors environment had no elitism and probably was one of the most clasism free environments there was in my city where social discrimination based on apparent wealth is a plague.
This same development towards elitism of outdoors activities hasn't happened there due to different circumstances, but I now live in Europe, and well I am not outdoorsy anymore but can see that elitist part of the public who is competitive about fashion and tech surrounding their hobbies of going hiking, which to my eyes it defeats a big part of the appeal of experiencing that environment outside of regular city social norms, defeats the appeal of "together in nature".
i also think one of the things that cause us to overthink our purchases is that nowadays most clothing is low-quality and not durable. These companies now ask 200 euros for polyester which is ridiculous
As an European I just love decathlon. It's not the top quality stuff, but can hold without a shame in the middle of the pack. Just bought a nice 30l hiking backpack for 15$ and some running t-shirts for 5$ each. Great value with a really solid quality.
They have great budget stuff. Overall, it's a great place for clothes and basic gear if you're just getting started. I don't recommend buying: 1. Mountain bikes 2. Skateboards from there
Their quality has decreased over the years though. I got travel bags from them that are about 15 year old, and their current equivalent would not survive a couple of years.
I'm offended. How will people know I have a net worth above $300 without my Arc'teryx shell jacket?! 😮😮
XD love it
I go hiking regularly and I wear my high school PE shoes and some older clothes that I wouldn't mind if they get dirty.
As someone working with selling outdoor gear and cloth. I can confirm that the request for plus sized outdoor clothing is significantly higher now, yet NO ONE are selling sizes bigger than an XL, maximum XXL. we've been fustrated for years at my work!! So if anyone has knowes of a outdoor brand with bigger size range I would love to know!
Columbia Sportswear has plus sized clothing
REI is really trying to make bigger clothes, their store brand usually goes up to 3xl. From my fat friends they can fit like a bag tho which is uh. Common among larger sizes in general unfortunately
Decathlon goes up to 3XL
Outdoor Research have a Plus size lineup
Berghaus does! and Maier for pants :))
I wanted to express that I feel a little "fatigued" by the constantly negative angle this channel has taken. Every video is about a brand being exploitative, or a chemical being damaging, or a trend being pointless and also damaging. Of course mine is only one opinion, but perhaps I'm not the only one in the audience with some amount of climate anxiety and this doesn't quite help. I was hoping this channel would be informative on brands/materials/trends that are better choices for the planet, or at least less bad. The only one mentioned so far is Patagonia. I think at this point I know what _not_ to do, but sometimes it's really hard to find a good thing _to_ do. Like the old videos about klean kanteen, birkenstock, or even the tip of reinforcing shoes in a specific spot.. That's useful information! Getting "outraged" every week by the absurdity of the world feels less useful to me. I'm not gonna unsubscribe or anything, and will keep watching, but in case this resonates with other people, and importantly with the creative team, maybe you can consider doing more positive videos every now and then? (I know I'm simplyfing a lot with positive and negative.. I don't know, hopeful is a better word?) Or at least keep an eye on the overall ratio? It may very well just be me and how I'm experiencing the channel, but I wanted to share this in case someone else agrees... If not, cruise on and keep up the good work! Thanks!
At the end of the video he suggests that you just make due with whatever you have. Second hand works, thrift works, outlet stores work, just stop focusing on the brands.
I think the alternatives on Future Proof videos are there: they’re just not always glamorous. The solutions are often to buy less stuff, or like Levi suggested, borrow the gear you need or get something secondhand.
This is exactly what I think too. I'm considering unsubscribing.
Instead of attack brands for being 'fashionable' or highly priced, discuss topics like microplastics seeping into our bodies.. There are many topics to cover than just consumerism. The channel is just obsessed with consumerism.
The gear you owned back in the day doesn't matter as much as right now? His parents was dripping in expensive patagonia gear. I don't get his point.
Subplot you may have missed, capitalism isn’t good for the world
Not quite fatigued, but getting there. My favorite video was when Levi explained why Klean Kanteen was the best choice for water containers because of their manufacturing choices and environmental certification.
Maybe mix a few of those in. As mentioned, highlight the brands that are still trying to do the right thing.
Reminds me of the watch industry, I got a friend who is willing to and has several times spent thousands of dollars on top of the line dive watches with all the amazing specs you could ever want. 300 meter water resistance, tritium vials for an unlimited lume, micro adjustments in the bracelet for use with different sized wet suits.
I often have to remind myself, that he can’t swim.
I miss lightweight windbreakers and athletic wear without corporate logos!
I do like Patagonia. I buy it 2nd hand on E-Bay. I hike part of the AT every year and other camping trips so I use it. I do also wear the polo shirts to work though.
I have discovered this after many years:
1) it makes sense to buy high quality (expensive) gear if you know you will wear it a lot. I have a few pieces from Patagonia that I wear all the time and the things just last. But so do some of my things from Decathlon.
2) keep what you have. It’s hard sometimes to resist the pressure to gear up in all new fancy shit but if you have older gear that works, keep it. I have hiking pants from Decathlon that are 8 years old and are only now showing some small holes in the fabric. They cost like 50 euros back then. A darn good deal.
3) buy used. Most of my Patagonia stuff is second hand - including a down jacket that I wear all the time, casual shorts that I wear all summer and a running cap. The stuff lasts, you don’t need the most recent season gear to go for a run :)
Back in my old very-active days I bought some workout shorts at Wal-Mart that were a size 4, and then I saw some shorts at REI I like and was shocked to find out I was an REI size 12. It was the largest size they had in stock at the time - so you're not wrong when you said that "...if you're not the right size, there literally isn't a jacket for you."
REI goes up to a 3X (size 26) nowadays btw
Yes. And although they go to size 3x now they’re still a bazillion dollars and I feel extremely judged. Excess has always bothered me. I am one of those people Levi describes as needing to be outside and I just wish the common focus was on actually “doing” going outside.
i used to work in a small retail store that is selling premium brands ,like Scarpa, Patagonia, Mammoth and so on. The vast majority of people who are customers there probably have never been on a hike in their life (the city is right next to the mountain). They would also buy like 10 patagonia hats and simply collect items. You just need a good pair of shoes and a comfy backpack. Everything else is paying premium for not much.
Depending on what your doing or where you are going wearing fabrics like cotton or not know how to properly layer clothing can literally be a death sentence.
Not saying you need expensive name brand stuff but you do need specific things in order to enjoy the outdoors without putting yourself at risk
I just bought a helinox chair that weighs 1 pound and I can tell you that is amazing the 2 pound it saves me as I am carrying it up over 3000 ft of elevation up a mountain
I was a boy scout, I spent my youth camping in the rain, hiking mountains, building snow shelters, etc. My scoutmaster's phrase was "cotton kills", meaning don't wear cotton clothing while doing this stuff, wear layers of wool, polyester, etc. I had mostly generic non-cotton clothing and some walmart winter jacket and I got by just fine on my eagle scout journey. I have some name brand stuff now (ie. Columbia winter jacket), but I maintain the function/price over form mentality with clothing and gear. I hiked angels landing last year wearing a thermal shirt under an old polyester hoodie
The existence of expensive stuff doesn't you have to buy it, and it doesn't create some imaginary barrier to going outdoors. There's a real problem of gentrification of the outdoors, but clothing isn't part of it. I grew up hiking in grubby sneakers, T-shirt and jeans, and those things still exist today.
Furthermore, our wild places are badly overcrowded, so encouraging more people to go visit them isn't a great idea until we first take the necessary step of protecting and restoring degraded land. This is the only way to increase the accessibility of outdoor recreation without simultaneously destroying the wild places we seek to experience.
Yes! It’s not as simple as saying, “clothing is making it harder for people to go outdoors.”
it's literally only a problem if you create it for yourself. 99.999% of people I met on the trail or the slopes is very friendly and willing to spend at least a few moments to have a brief conversation with you regardless of what kind of gear you got.
This is a completely manufactured drama
I remember when I moved from the country to a major city for university. I was so confused as to why everyone was decked out in full backpacking gear for a hike. When I grew up all you wore to hike was a cheap flannel, jeans, and whatever ratty sneakers you happened to have lying around.
Same thing happened with Mountain Equipment Co-Op, now known as Mountain Equipment Company... And it isn't passionate people working there anymore, it's... People who will gladly shovel whatever they can towards you, instead of what you actually need.
As a co-op member holding tight to my 5-digit membership number, I too miss the good ol' days of MEC. 😢
I'm in the train of though that you can go hiking in whatever clothes you have at home. Your experiences on trail will let you know what kind of gear you need. Get caught out in a freak rain storm, now you'll add a lightweight rain layer to your pack. Get cold when your hikes take longer than you anticipated and the sun is setting, buy a lightweight midlayer for additional warmth to carry in your pack. However I would 100% recommend high quality socks that are made from wool. People usually jump to jackets as their first piece of gear. A thick pair of socks will make your feet a lot more comfortable and less sweaty.
I tend to go with cheaper stuff wherever I can afford it, but considering that I walk everywhere and winter drops down to -50 now and again, winter wear isn't a category I skimp on.
when i decided to start camping i went to an army navy surplus store for a inenexpensive tent, jacket, pack etc "i may not look the part" but the stuff lasts
This all strikes me as something similar to the Bob Ross Effect
The point of The Joy of Painting was to show novice artists a step by step way to create scenic art using wet on wet oil paint. Turned out 90-something percent just watched because they enjoyed watching Bob paint. That seems to be the same with most hobbies that have huge social media presence. Most of the people like watching other people hike or review hiking products but probably have no intention of ever doing it themselves and use the excuse of lacking designer gear as the reason
Most of the time, people with a desire to do something will find a way to do it
Being very short and petite gear videos can be helpful to be able to actually see it on someone and being used before investing money in something. I can remember the difference between the first time I went out with borrowed gear and now that my stuff actually fits my size and makes me want to go out more. So much stuff was based off of mens bodies in the past that it’s nice to see more things being geared to all different body types.
As someone who has been backpacking for over a decade the gear these companies make is usually highly specialized and you really don’t need it for normal day to day activities. Ex you could get a $250 rain suit from rei that will keep you dry for 8 hours in torrential rain but there are few reasons for you to be outside in torrential rain in your daily life
Exactly and people keep saying there is no difference between the cheap and expensive rain jackets. You only feel that way if you haven't been out hiking a lot and caught in a freak rain storm 5 hours away from your car.
I bought a good Patagonia rain jacket in 1996/7 for hiking. Still going strong. I do need to replace the waterproofing strips, but I've found a few places that sell it online. But aside from getting a damp neck, it still looks new. I got good hiking socks at the same time. I don't really hike any more, but I still wear them in winter like slippers or outside if its very cold. Still wear the rain coat when its very wet (living in Ireland, it gets a good amount of use!) Still going strong over 25 years later. I'm rough on shoes, regularly needing to repair my shoes, so I don't think its the user, I think its original quality. I can't think about why I'd buy replacements when the originals I have are still perfect. I went in to the Patagonia store to get a bag last year (my previous one had completely died and I expect this one to see my days out). They were very impressed with my 25-30 year old "vintage" jacket!
Invest in a good pair of merino wool socks. I've never regretted dropping the money on a good pair of socks and it was a total game changer for hiking, let me hike longer and further without soggy socks and blisters. Best pieces of gear I own and they are usually under $20 USD
I've replaced all my normal socks with darn tough socks. Should never have to buy socks again with their warranty.
Great and necessary video. Worked for a time at an outdoor industry brand and saw every detail live from what has been explained here in this video. We are turning a simple fun walk to the forest into a catwalk where people instead of greet you look you first top hat to bottom down on what you wear before saying any word...humans... sad but true. Thanks for posting this necessary video.
Shout out to Columbia for being cheap………now i watch them become The North Face
This video is absolutely AMAZING. As someone who spend about a quarter of the year in a tent, I’ve definitely noticed this over gearification. Most of what people buy, they don’t need at the level they are at.
I am conflicted on this video.
I 100% agree that the over gearification is a bad trend but a major point I think this video misses is some of the innovation it had created. I don’t buy heavily branded clothes which is the issue here but there are come smaller cottage companies now that offer incredibly quality.
I travel full time and live out of a backpack so I have definitely benefited from this. The 4 T-Shirts I do own are incredibly and is something that would not have existed 20 years ago. This channel is literally called “Future Proof” and what I have gotten out of this trend are things that will last me a a very, very long time
i’m a lower income person who has gotten into hiking and backpacking. i have to save up my pays to buy one more good quality piece of gear, but i’ve found the mec (canada) and rei branded gears are waaay cheaper- also, i buy second hand!! a lot of people who thrift aren’t looking for technical items like that and i find quite a few. fila workout tops, patagonia fleeces etc. and just as nice quality as the expensive stuff. those subreddits you talk about are awesome to find the actual best product and not the coolest looking one.
I moved to Portland Oregon from Michigan and was SHOCKED to learn that not only was everyone, spending insane amounts of money to camp and walk in the woods, but they were f-ing PROUD at how COOL they were
In France, all of us are in Decathlon gear, except maybe experts or people who treat themselves with expensive outdoor gear. But yeah Decathlon is the fashion in our mountains, cheap and efficient.
Save money, buy your gear second hand. Or get last year's items when they hit clearance if you *need* new. YMMV
As someone from Australia whos trying to figure out what I actually need for my winter holiday in Iceland, I feel this so much. There is to many options and opinions and everything is expensive, I’m desperately trying to find out what I actually need, I’m not going to wear most of it at home, our winter is less cold than their summer
I love how this is a video about outdoor clothing brands and in the intro @0:08, you slipped in a clip of an indoor ski facility. 😉
I co- founded my university's alpine hiking club two decades ago. I just bought a cheap $35 leather hiking boots with no cushion except my socks and just went. Just wore regular fleece and whatever fashion jacket I got in the mall. Just layered up with regular clothing. Went on many alpine hikes this way. And then I went to arcteryx store to check what expensive advanced gear is available now and I don't think most people there intend to go alpine hiking.
The big issue we face is our egos. Both the elitist and the people who feel they don’t belong need to reassess their priorities and learn to be comfortable pursuing their happiness , ignoring the lens of what other people think.
As a mountaineer this is really bad, we need that “high tech” stuff but the prices have gone through the roof
I get that there's not much plus-size "tech gear" in stores (less market, fabrics aren't as flexible, etc.) but people feeling "excluded" because they don't have brand stuff ? Come on.
All the comments of those people are personal interpretation of what other might think of them when they go out but it's only in their heads, it's a manifestation of their own insecurities and own look upon themselves. No one ever is going to come up to you on whatever hike trail you're on and tell you that your style is shit or whatever.
You literally have to just put on shoes and a shirt on a sunny day and you can go out, there's no entry barrier at all, it's the least excluding activity ever but if you have a mental illness and you think everyone is after you specifically, no amount of gear will change that.
If someone feels out of place, that's a problem on their side, most of the interactions you'll have with other people is a nod, "hello" and that half-smile lip-pinching we all make at strangers for some reason. Most people go in nature to feel more alone and "lost" in an uncrowded environment too, everyone is trying to stay in their own bubble and enjoy nature their way, not judging a catwalk. And you don't need a 2000 dollars jacket for that, you just have to make sure you stay warm and relatively dry if it's chilly or raining outside and there's a gargantuan amount of affordable clothes who do that well.
Now if you're 500 pounds and you want to climb mount Everest as a weekend activity and you're complaining there's no gear your size, that's just delusional.
REI carries xxxxl with their in-house brand. I was looking through there annual sale yesterday and I was astounded that they came in that size. Until it hit me that I should probably be more surprised that other brands don’t supply that.
Agreed. I can't remember the clothing of a single person I've seen when out hiking, except one. She was an influencer who was wearing stiletto heels and trying to walk down a gravel path at the trailhead to get photos during wildflower season. That was a little absurd. But otherwise, most people who go hiking are doing so to avoid people and could care less about their clothing.
I also grew up with hiking, climbing and yearly camping trips. We didn’t have much money and we’re close or slightly below poverty line sometimes. Yet by investing only in the essentials like a good jacked that protects you from wind and rain as well as some proper hiking boots we were able to afford a camping trip to the alps (I’m from Germany) there were some popular outdoor brands like Jack Wolfskin and others I don’t remember the name. We invested in them because they were functional and good quality. And when my brother grew out of his jacket I got it handed down. That way we only bought new stuff when there was nothing to be handed down from someone else. While the globally popular brands, who lean into (fast) fashion, swept the marked in Germany as well, I think there are still brands which focus on the functionality and purpose of the clothes. Regarding climbing, we usually had options to rent the gear we needed. While I don’t go hiking as much anymore I’d still think everyone is welcome in the alps or similar regions even when on a low cost budget.
Outdoor brands branching into more casual/live style fashion (what ever it’s called) is obviously driven by capitalism. Someone who is genuinely interested in hiking or other activities should not get distracted by that and look for the functional lines/ brands that are out there.
hiking* not hicking
@@muttsmuttt whoops.. corrected it
That "I have the gear, I can do Everest", we name that The Decathlon Effect around Europe.
Every year there's someone in the news that bought a pair of boots, backpack and got lost in the backcountry.
I've watched you a few times before and now plan to more often. I think you're from the Vancouver area. It's great to see a Canadian have a successful TH-cam channel. You made a very good point about outdoor and athleisure wear clothing. People wear this stuff to look good and to work out in and become healthy, but then the microplastics are killing us.
Everything is so overpriced these days
This whole phenomenon started in the 80s with travelling football hooligans goihg on shoplifting sprees in Scandi countries. They brought outdoor clothing to the terraces and, by extension, to a mass market.
We were wearing expensive ski wear in the city and suburbs as kids at school. Its just reached a new level now
I hiked for more than 15 years. All seasons, from -30 to +40.
And I can safely say that hiking without expensive gear is s*it.
Cheap gear is heavy, uncomfortable, and breaks more often. I have shoes that cost 300-400$ and I'm using them for like 10 years :D I have to switch my NB snickers like very summer.
Have an Arcteryx jacket, it's a beast. I have a few different rain jackets before but none come even close. Is it the best, not sure.
But I agree that buying gear for the sake of having it is plain stupid. We had a guy like this in our group. He'd hike once a year but he spent like 15k on expensive gear that he'd never use.
Yep, I'm from the Lake District in England where there are loads of hiking gear shops. Yet the only place I've ever seen a Canada Goose shop was central London. Some of these brands are just fashion brands nowadays. I think extreme cold is different and more important to take seriously. I do most of my hiking in the jungle, and honestly, performance gear is mostly completely unnecessary. I bought all sorts of lightweight, long-sleeved tops and pants that zip into shorts. And yet every time, I gravitate towards basic Nike or Adidas sports clothes. I do wear hiking shoes, but even they are bargain bucket Karrimors. The only jungle specialist thing I have is a lightweight hat with a wide brim.
Yet you have people hiking thousands of miles on the AT, PCT and CDT with Amazon brand synthetic clothes and a tarp. The most expensive gear most of these thru hikers have on them are their cellphones.
My first Columbia jacket was bought when I was 16 and at that time (2001), It was the thing to have and apparently I also felt the need to "need". We'll that jacket was worn religiously for almost 9 years before my husband claimed it for himself and wore it for another 11 years.
My most recent Columbia winter coat lasted 3 seasons before it fell apart...
I'm a plus size person, and the side eyes I got when I was shopping for a pair of hiking boots was so stressing, it depended on the last piece of sanity of mine for not running out the store screaming, like I was on fire.
You're shamed for not going out if you're fat, but you get the same, if you try to, what's the logic behind all this (╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻
I am curious what store you went to? Is it one that cares more about virtual signaling then selling good products?
Screw them. Btw, it's very hard to lose weight through exercise...it takes forever. Exercise is and you should do it, for sure, but it's much more economical to change what you eat drink....i.e. added sugar, OR juice (as bad as soda, because fiber is removed). Please please watch Sugar, the bitter Truth. Dr. Robert Lustig, incredibly smart guy and can help you understand the big picture. Still, get that exercise, you'll feel better!
On 'What year is your jacket?' - my mom had a cargo skirt with a pocket very clearly designed to hold a flip phone. It was the silliest thing, later, because it was too deep and narrow for anything else you might want on a hike, except maybe a mini granola bar.
Edit:wait, wrong year
2 years ago me and my parents were hiking often, and initially I was just using a regular shirt and such. Later my dad started buying some quick dry shirts, then bought a bunch of shirts from a local outdoor gear brand, and sadly only a few of them are 100% cotton (which I find the most comfortable) and I don't have anything that's linen which I heard is a also a good alternative.
Now, I've been looking into sewing my own clothes cause I also need some handycrafts to keep my hands occupied as that seems like a doable one even in a cramped dorm.
I have probaby spent a lot more on gear than I needed to, but all of it is stuff I've researched, compared and gets used. After years of trying to save I've settled on quality stuff that will last years of use Fjallraven, Swanndri and Helikon-Tex
I have definitely felt like I am underprepared when hiking in regular clothing with a pair of sneakers. Good reminder its just marketing in most cases
depends on where you hike really. If you are scrambling across rocks and boulder fields then yes, you will probably have a bad time. If you're going a short hike on a well maintained trail then probably not. While I do feel a lot of people take it too far it is possible to be under prepared
I bought a Filson coat, and do not plan to buy another coat in my life.
Minnesota winters are no joke.
13:35 "just run another way" and for running you need to buy those fashionable...
You're right. This video made me think about stuff I hadn't considered before regarding gear for outdoors.
There's no chance the person buying a $1,000 Arc'teryx jacket is doing it because they think they need to, they just want it much like consumerism in other areas.
The editing in this is just so hilarious I love it
The cheat code is Decathlon! Not sure if it's available in the US. But it's huge in Europe and Asia
I hike in my Walmart shorts army boots and old ass ball cap. It’s crazy the looks I get and the flashy gear I see on trail
I am one a bit old-schoolish hiking guy (started hiking 15 years ago when the hype was much smaller). I can tell you that you can do that without super expensive gear. Me and my friends we have had some of the best adventures with ultra cheap gear from decathlon.
Buy proper shoes, good headlamp, good underwear, socks (to prevent blisters). Rest can be cheap (unless you climb then also climbing gear has to be good quality).
Instead of ultra-expensive waterproof backpack buy cheap one and take two trash bags and put one into another and then into backpack. Put everything inside the trash bags within the backpack and you have 100% waterproof backpack.
Instead of ultra-expensive jacket just buy decent rain coat for 20$ and when it rains just put it on yourself. They are big enough to cover you and the backpack at the same time so you have even more waterproofing.
And most importantly, brace yourself for discomfort. If you learn the skill of "comfortably tolerating hiking discomforts" then you can limit your gear purchases to minimum.
I just heard this recently in context of climbing: "Never trust a guy with a shiny gear".
I find it hard to get outdoor clothing that WORKS. In the summer it is not so important as the weather is usually quite OK, but in autumn and winter this must work and be reliable. Much gear made today is not. To thin, stretch fabric that last a trip or two than either break or change shape.
So, I have found that there are clothes to buy elsewhere: For people who work outdoors; farmers, construction workers etc. Sure, it is heavier, but last longer and holds up. Also, clothes for hunters also seems to be much better priced and out of sturdier materials. And no funky "4D stretch".
Side note: Oldest jacket I still have in use is from 1993. There is no equivalent made today, no matter what you pay.
I've gotta fix my favorite jacket, I've got a '70's US army dress uniform jacket that's falling apart at the seams, which I like to wear on hikes. It's very practical, it has about 5 pockets, the smallest of which is the size of one of my shirt pockets. I'm not sure if the same is true for more modern army dress uniforms, but surplus ones are the first things I'm going to look at next time I need a new jacket.
was not expecting the middle child slander at 2:52 lol
Sometimes I go to MEC, the REI in Canada to check out the sale rack. Then I picked up a shell jacket that cost $650 at 25% off. Soon after I left.
I tend to research new gear that I use and then use my old worn gear until it falls apart. At least I have a super nice backup when my old gear breaks. But it's actually pretty hard to destroy clothing so much you can't use them for climbing or things like that.
So here’s something I’ve realised about my purchasing habits- I do tons of research before buying anything! So if I’m spending hours looking at jackets, I know when I buy it, it’ll be used for years and years. Similarly I just use old clothes for working out rather than buying specific clothes for it. Majority of my wardrobe is full of clothes that are 5-10 years old, some older, some newer. Running shoes and underwear are two things I definitely run through often. But otherwise, just a small bit of care exponentially increased the number of wears per item (for me).
It would have been nice to include a link to the prequel you mentioned at 3:21 in the description, the comments or even in the video...
I travel full time in a RV to National and State Parks. You are so right! I'm an old fat guy and it cracks me up to see to see these "influencers" all dressed up in $1,000 of dollars of gear and I'm in my walmart T shirt doing the same things they are. Also, why don't I hardly ever see black people?! I guess they don't camp?
Holy crap this hit me hard. I think just the other day I was thinking about what gear I should buy to go glamping....
it really is astounding how much money and time you spend spend on outdoor stuff. Today i went to a outdoor store to look for a rain jacket and trousers, and their prices started at 80 euro for the trousers and 200 Euro for the jackets, and i just kept thinking who is buying these 500 Euro Rain Jackets for hiking ? As you said, being in nature is the most natural thing to do, and you get the message that you should buy these overengineered plastic sheets to do that. Luckily i found a section with some second hand clothes which were a lot cheaper, i just had to alter them to fit
I grew up in the countryside, and since my family owns some forest, we'd often go walking there to keep an eye on things, more or less. In Finland it'a a rule that you can freely walk in someone else's forest, too, and pick berries and such, but you can't make a fire or cut down trees without the landowner's permission, so owning land isn't required for rambling in the woods. However, it was why we ended up doing it semi-regularly.
We'd go somewhere, dad would make a campfire, he and mom would grill some sausages and brew tea, and me and my brother would wander about, climb trees and rocks, and then come back to the fire when it got dark. My dad had an old backpack he always brought our food and such in, it was from some army surplus sale like forty years ago. As long as we had rubber boots to keep our feet dry, woolen socks for warmth, and sufficient clothing to keep warm in whatever season it happened to be, we were good to go.
Great video, lots of great points! Great gear companies being bought up like Mystery Ranch for profit motives. Thank God for companies like Durston gear, still privately owned, gear driven with some ofordable inivative outdoor products!
I am a gearhead w ebbs and flows but it was once my job as an outdoor retail buyer. Thosexwere exciting times back then. One tiny TNF distributor in PQ that only sold to select “resl” outdoor stores for real use. The TNF Mountain and Mountain Light jackets paired with a Nuptse for warmth on real winter trips. Lol. The real shift is from days when people wanted to get putside to see wonders seems more like people want to get out to these great places to be seen now. And yeah, to look good too.
This was a thing back in the 90s when I was in school. It was really important to have a Helly Hansen, Berghaus, or similarly expensive outdoor jacket. Something that was presumably expensive for good reason became a status symbol just because it was expensive. This was well before social media or any particular marketing of the brands. It was literally as simple as expensive = good.