Evan, how will you sleep in a shelter in the Smokies without a pad? For that matter how will you sleep anywhere without a pad. I can't imagine sleeping on the hard ground for 4-5 months without some kind of pad. Good job on getting the weight down but be careful on cutting too hard or it can come back to bite you especially that sleeping bag. That's border line through till you get north of the Smokies.
Thanks for your comment. Sometimes it's hard for me to communicate effectively in a video. I liked being a blogger better, back when I was a blogger. Anyway, I explained my methods and answered your questions (somewhat) in the other video I referenced within this video, the one about my "new UL sleep system." th-cam.com/video/PcH4YT2cFYI/w-d-xo.html There I said I'd probably mail a pad to Fontana and take it through the Smokies. Not sure, though. If I hike until late in the day, which I always do, chances are the shelters will be full and I'll be able to sleep outside. I still might need a pad for insulation though. I'm familiar with the weather in the Smokies, as I thru-hiked the Benton MacKaye Trail in April 2016. That trail starts at Springer Mountain and goes through the Smokies, albeit at a somewhat lower elevation than the AT. (On average, that is. It also gets very high in places and goes over Mt. Sterling.) The other question "how will you sleep anywhere without a pad" is also interesting. I need to do a video about how my backpacking techniques have evolved over the last few years. Once I figured out how to head off into the woods almost anywhere and find a place to sleep, which is what I do now, I found that I didn't need a pad. Site selection is key, but I can always find a comfortable place to sleep. With a tarp I don't need much room. The way I do it now, in fact, I'm more comfortable without a pad than with one, especially since most lightweight pads are too narrow for your arms when you're on your back. (Pads are a pretty recent invention, of course. The early AT hikers weren't using them, and I didn't use them back in the days when I was backpacking in high school at Philmont and in the mountains in Colorado and Wyoming.) I DO have a piece of Reflectix, as detailed in that other video, plus Tyvek, and sometimes I put leaves between the two. I also dig a space for my shoulders so my head sits on a sort of shelf. (Does this violate "leave no trace" policies? I don't think so for a variety of reasons, and I replace everything and hide my tracks in the morning.) I thought my method was something new or unusual, but I just came across a section in Ray Jardine's "Trail Life" where he spends a few pages explaining why pads aren't needed for insulation or comfort in "undisturbed areas far off the beaten track, where soft, cushioning leaves or needles, or deep and pliant layers of duff or leaf debris offer comfortable camping." That's also been my experience. At this point, I've done a lot of backpacking without a pad, including my recent 80-mile AT trip. I'm certainly not recommending it for everyone. Many of my personal techniques would seem so bizarre to people that I try not to do too many recommendations at all, instead preferring just to illustrate my methods and allow people to try them if they are interested. I also recommend Ray Jardine's "Trail Life" and books by Mike Clellan and Andrew Skurka. I've gotten many tips from their books. Sorry for the long response but I thought I should answer your good questions.
While I thoroughly enjoy watching my favorite thru-hikers' videos, seeing your sketch book makes me wish you weren't cutting back in that area. You have a very fine talent which can offer different view of life on the trail from the digital photography/videography records. I know it takes time and you will be trying to keep up the pace on the AT, but the examples you showed make me hope you invest at least some time in even simple ink sketches of your upcoming adventure.
Thanks for that, appreciate it! Believe me, I have the same feelings myself. Plus I feel guilty when I carry the drawing supplies and then don't use them. But what I've found is that I'm usually too mentally tired to take in all the information around me and select a composition that I can sketch--if that makes sense. The videos take time too but they take far less mental energy. With all this said, I'll be taking a pen. I'll probably do some sketching in my notebook, and I also like to draw in the trail registers. When I do something I like, I'll put it on Instagram. (My Instagram account is in the video description.) Plus sometimes the sketches end up in the videos . . .
I did a similar thing after my first long hike, the Long Trail. I used lighter pack web site to record all my gear and I then worked it get my weight down. I got it down to about 8 pounds but that does not include my dog’s gear which is an additional 3 pounds or so all of her food. I looked at everything I carried and worked to replace it with similar gear. For example I replaced my WM sleeping bag with a Zpacks quilt, my Patagonia puffy with a MountBell puffy. I did pivot on some of my decisions. For example I used that short pad you had that weighed 8 oz and I hated it. I use the same pad but in full length. I found having my feet hang off the pad or prop them up with gear miserable. I carry a similar small light but also a Nitecore headlamp. I lost my lamp on a trip and it changed everything. For less than an ounce it’s worth it. I still can’t rap my head around cold food and no real coffee but whatever works is fine. Every time I offer a cold soaker a coffee they act like they hit Power Ball, lol. Gearing up for the Colorado Trail in late August and I will try the umbrella, mostly for shade. I enjoyed your thru hike videos. Take care
After a long hiatus from backpacking I am trying to get myself back into shape to do it again (long road ahead). I think the key here is that you are actually getting out and hiking. Doing shakedown hikes, as we used to call it. Trying your gear, deciding what you like and don't like and what is redundant or not needed. I see too many people starting out on the AT or other long journeys saying it is their first backpacking trip. Some of them have made it, but most blow out before the GA/TN line. Like my mom used to tell me, practice makes better. Now, I am kinda like several more in the list. Take the sketch book. I wish I had memories like that of some of my adventures. You will treasure it in the future. Your grandkids will think you are awesome.
Thanks for the comment. Even if I don't sketch much, I'll be making videos. I agree about the practice. I'm amazed to hear about the many people who start on the AT without ever having backpacked at all. They're always in for a very rude awakening about what long-distance hiking is all about. Some rise to the challenge and continue -- a surprising number really. And learn as they go. I wouldn't want to do it that way, but it seems to work for some people . .
I like the umbrella as well. It's useful for sun and rain. I can't do without a good sleeping pad as the ground is cold up north even during the summer. I remember one July canoe trip having to put life jackets under the sleeping pad to stop myself from shivering (but I get cold through the night even at home as my heart rate is low). I'm going to find my weight savings in other ways.
To make the flashlight red, you could try the red tape they sell for fixing cracked brake lights. It might be easier to find a dollar store knock-off mag light that comes with a red filter you can take. Really looking forward to watching this.
Good ideas, thanks! I already bought some of the red tape but haven't tried it yet. Red cellophane isn't thick enough -- not the stuff I bought, anyway . . .
"Supposedly, I'm a lightweight backpacker" Uh, yeah, I'd say sacrificing a sleep pad, tent, and only eating cold food Might quality you. :P I'm pretty sure I'm considered light-weight, and I still like to have a decent meal and something comfortable to sleep on. I like that you still carry the weight of comfort items like your umbrella. I personally like to take a small ultralight chair. It's a lot of weight for some, but it's so nice to have a place to sit and rest my feet at the end of the day.
Excellent video Evan. I too am preparing my pack for the sheltowee this winter. Winter backpacking is a whole different ball game! Exciting stuff! You are gonna have such a great time on the Appalachian trail. I started the AT with aqua mira drops and found that using the larger Sawyer filter way more efficient. Just fill and chug. I saw lots of people taking the time to squeeze the water from their water bottle into another water bottle to drink. I would simply dip, fill, screw the filter on, chug and go on my merry way.
Yes, it's definitely different in the winter. I hear you about the Sawyer filters--I just can't understand why people take that extra step. Thanks for commenting!
When I decided to do a thru hike I gathered all my gear and my base weight was a whopping 27 pounds! UGH! I have got it down to 23 by making some changes to gear and cutting a few things from the list. It is great how tiny changes add up. Like no stuff sacs and for gear that must have a stuff sac take off those cord locks! My pack had a lot of extra buckles and straps I never use, so they came off too.
Making those decisions can get pretty tough when your pack is already pretty light. One thing to consider about not bringing a cook setup is the weight savings of bringing dehydrated food vs the water weight of the food you don't have to cook. Beautiful sketches!
You could do cold soaking. 2 oz peanut butter jar and a 0.5 oz spoon. Do some research and experiments with which foods work with this method before hitting the trail obviously.
Your AT hike is going to be an epic journey, man. Good luck! You have some great preparation videos. It is pretty amazing how much weight you can save from cutting out small items. Over the years I've also ditched a lot of stuff that I carried but never used, and could certainly do without. I chuckled a bit when I saw your binoculars...I used to carry a similar one for many miles but as I recall I might have actually used it only once LOL! Your sketches are really awesome, some very nice work.
I really like those binoculars. I like to stand on overlooks and examine the towns below. But oh well, they've got to go! Anyway, thanks for the comment and for the encouragement!
I can only improve on this by saying if you tell yourself you've cut 6lbs and now your pack weighs 5kg's the converted number sounds so much better! :)
I believe if I could sketch a s well as you I believe I would take a few pencils. That skectchbook of yours looks better than photgraphs to my untrained eye. Very nice. Have a good thru-hike!
Hey Evan, great overview. As I watch other gear reviews, I've noticed that those who have acquired "trail experience" are better able to discern and adjust their gear choices to more of a ultra lightweight system based on what they've done in the past. I remember watching one of "Big Birds" gear reviews and hearing him say, "that we tend to pack our own fears." How true. As a totally brand new backpacker with no experience, I believe that I also fall into this category. By watching gear reviews such as yours, I hope to reduce my overall pack weight, without becoming dangerous. We shall see what I will have once I'm out on the trail. Time will tell. Thanks for up-loading. All the best to you. Lamplighter 2019 out! 😉
The "packing your fears" idea is very true. Fear of going hungry=too much food. Fear of being cold=too many clothes. And so on. It's interesting to watch the AT hikers who do gear updates in the middle of their hikes. That's when you can really learn something . . .
alot of the stuff you highlight you can pick parts of the trail you will want or need more than otehrs, and have them mailed to you. for instance, lots of the trail is a green tunnel. but you may want those binos when you hit the whites. and you can push your food dressings ahead of you from mail drop to mail drop. make sure that swiss army knife is a real one, made by wenger or victorinox, and not a cheap fake.
This is a great idea. I'm already thinking about mailing my sleeping pad to Fontana Dam, since I might be forced to sleep in the shelters in the Smokies . . . My knife is a victorinox. Very useful . . . .
Impressive! If you ever decide to add the colored pencils back in, just cut each of them in half to save some weight. :) It would be tempting for me to go stoveless in a similar situation - I'm not too find of cooking and cleaning on the trail to begin with. But too much cold, pre-packaged foods tends to make me feel like I'm not eating healthy enough. I'll be interested to see what food you end up taking and how it works out for you.
Cutting the pencils in half -- good idea! I did the Sheltowee Trace without cooking (only 325 miles, but still a good distance) and liked how that worked out. I eat cooked food in towns. I still haven't figured out how to "eat healthy" on the trail. I'm spending a lot of time researching that issue. Like many others before me, I'll probably throw in the towel and consume a lot of sugar during the day . . .
Evan, I've been a subscriber for a few month and really love your videos. Couple of things....since you're down to counting ounces it'd be worth mentioning that you can save .15 additional in the LD02 by using an Energizer Lithium Battery. It's a great flashlight! I really admire your commitment to the Tarp, however have you considered saving additional weight by going with a Solplex. By my estimation, when you add in guy-lines and all, you can save a half pound. I hesitate to mention this cause I know you love to Tarp camp. I know if you're bold enough to eat cold food for weight savings you may appreciate these types of ideas.
Yes, I definitely appreciate your ideas. Thanks for your thoughts. I didn't know that lithium batteries were lighter. As for the Solplex, it's definitely something I'll consider if the tarp isn't working for me for some reason. As you said, I love tarp camping but there are some reasons I might change. And people say a lot of good things about the Solplex . . .
Looks good Even!! I'm always looking forward to your videos! The sketches are awesome!! It will also give you something to do when your bored. Slashing the pack weight is very important for the thru-hike, but don't go too far for safety. I watched someone do a thru-hike and his clothing wasn't warm enough and had to get off the trail. Like you said a person can add or send back items. Good Luck again from us! Someday when I'm in your area I'll let you know. Maybe sometime after the thru-hike.
Bring the sketch pad. Your drawings are fantastic. I think you'll regret not having them. If I could draw like that I wouldn't leave home without. It is very difficult to cut toenails with those little scissors. Take the larger pair of clippers and use for both fingers and toes.
Thanks for the comment! I've been practicing with the scissors and they seem to be working fine -- they're just sharp, and so a little dangerous, and you have to be pretty limber to get a good angle . . .
Wow, Evan, well done! You're so confident about your hiking set up! I also have a similar small swiss army knife thing that I take on hikes, but I must admit that I still take a pair of nail clippers along as well. Those "nail scissors" on the swiss army knife just aren't beefy enough to deal with my toe nails, ha ha ha!
Thanks Ruth! I've been using the scissors for practice and they are certainly sharp enough, but it's tricky and you have to be careful not to cut something besides the nail. Amazing invention, nail clippers!
Thanks for these excellent videos, your series on the AT is very useful to me. I started going through them again with a notebook at hand so I can remember what you said. I'm a traditional backpacker working to move towards ultralight backpacking. I've been learning a lot from you. It's great that you've been doing shakedown trips before the AT. My 2019 goal is to try the Washington section of the PCT with an eye to doing the AT in 2020.
I didn't learn until I was in my 40s. My son got me into it after he went to art school. Just get a book from the bookstore or library, or maybe watch TH-cam videos. Drawing/sketching is definitely a skill anyone can learn. I practiced daily for a few years (maybe 15-30 minutes a day) but anyone can do it.
Always interesting to see what people carry on a long trail. I walked the AT in 2015 and every thur-hiker is still trying to get rid of another oz or gram all the way to the end. At lest once a week you will be able to mail things home or just put them in a hiker box for someone else. Looking forward in seeing your hike, happy trails.
Aqua tabs rock! I switched to them when I spilled the liquid stuff and had to boil water or just risk it. The cuben food bags are pretty tough and do help keep mice from chewing into your food. Hate that you are ditching the sketch stuff, but I expect you will be either hiking, eating or sleeping and may not have a lot of time to do your sketches justice.
Thanks for the enouragement. "Hiking, eating or sleeping" -- you left out editing video, which takes a lot of time. I'll probably do some sketching all the same . . . I'm glad to hear that about the food bag . . . And thanks for the feedback about Aqua tabs. I also spilled my Aqua Mira once . . .
Great job cutting the weight! I guess the only thing I would hesitate on would be not having the ability to have a hot drink or a hot meal on the trail... I've watched several thru-hikers over the past four years start out trying to go all cold food and it didn't take them long to say I'm making me a Fancy Feast cat food can stove and I'm getting some hot food in my belly!
I'll keep that in mind, thanks! I did the Sheltowee Trace thru-hike without cooking and liked how that worked out -- although it was only 325 miles or so . . .
I enjoyed your Sheltowee video blog and linked to this one. Like you I'm continually trying to reduce weight carried, but haven't been willing to trade the comfort of a cushy sleeping pad and hot dinner for the less than 1 lb. weight reduction (perhaps a net average increase on a 5-day food carry). I have my base weight down to under 18 pounds and could reduce it further, but I trek solo on deserted trails in remote areas, so a GPS and SPOT are essential and add up to 1.5 pounds (Looking at replacing both with my iPhone App and an InReach for a net 12oz reduction). Hiking in the desert (PCT, CDT, AZT, GET) require heavy water carries (as much as 7L added to 4 or 5 days of food) so a backpack with a good suspension is critical and good suspensions add weight. Of course some of these aren't an issue on the AT since it's relatively crowded and one is never far from a road crossing (100-mile wilderness excepted). I like idea of smartphone for mirror, but that doesn't get around hygiene issues with daily removal/insertion of contacts. Years ago I switched to extended wear contacts (brand name Night 'n Day from Alcon)----now I wear a bifocal version. I can wear them continuously for a month and use rewetting drops morning and evening. I remove them when in town for a nero or zero where proper hygiene and a mirror are easy. Plus, it's really nice to see the night sky in focus when you roll over at 2am. I think your sleep system is problematic. Consider whether on your final day on the Sheltowee you had needed to make camp instead of drive home. There would be no dry leaves to add on top of the reflectix to supplement its R-value. On the AT some spring seasons serve up multiple days of all-day-rain. I had snow at the N Sheltowee Trace terminus on April 15, and 18" of wet snow in Central PA on April 22, and a blizzard on the AT in GA on March 26. There was snow at Mt. Rogers in mid-May, 2006. You might want to consider some type of pad as others point out----perhaps a Z-lite Sol short (R-value 2.6, 10oz.) in lieu of the reflectix (R-value 1.1)? Finally, you should expect to have night temperatures as low as 20F in the southern Appalachians in late March/early April so a sleeping bag or quilt rated for a lower temperature might be in order at the start and end of your hike. Many AT hikers switch to lighter gear from Damascus to NH border to adjust to the changing climate. Finally, I strongly recommend you retain the trekking poles. Poles have helped me avoid countless falls and probably a couple fractures and sprains, and one holds up my shelter, a Hexamid Plus. They've saved my joints and enabled me to backpack nearly 15,000 miles since I turned 60 (trailjournals.com/handlebar). Besides, how will you do selfie videos?
Rick Ostheimer Rick, thanks for the very informative comment. I use a Spot-do you know the weight difference offhand between the InReach and a Spot Gen 3? I’ll take all your advice into account. I’m leaving the AT nobo on the approach trail on April 20. I thru-hiked the Benton MacKaye Trail in April 2016. If you’re unfamiliar with it, the BMT starts at Springer and goes all the way through the Smokies. It parallels the AT but is about 90 miles longer to the same point at Davenport Gap. If it turns out the weather patterns are far different in 2018, I might change up my gear a little to reflect that. Wet leaves are a hole in my method, I admit, but I only use the leaves if it’s very cold. If I can’t use leaves, I might be a little uncomfortable. Temp-wise, that is. You wouldn’t believe how comfortable it can be without a pad if you conform your body to the ground. I also don’t really like pads because you’re always near a ledge and it’s hard for me to keep my body in the right spot.
Have you heard of the Modase backpack? I saw it on Amazon. $25. A girl took one on the Appalachian trail some years back and did 1500 miles with it. One of the hip belt pockets stripped because of over stuffing, she says, but it lasted until she got off trail. I've got two of them. They come in black, green, purple, & blue. The zippers are weak but if careful with them, they do last. It's a travel backpack but light. My long trail gear fits inside it, 40L, and weighs 24 lbs with 4L of water and 4 days of food. Picture on my channel. With a try for $25.
Your gear looks good and tested. Your have mad artistic skills, bring the friggin pencils. We want to see art!! thats done well. Looking forward to your hike.
Another great video Evan. I look forward to seeing how you work out the cellophane for the headlamp as I have been considering a similar item change. Thank you for sharing.
Great video. Depends on when you leave for your gear choices. The later in the spring the better for you I think as Im sure you know that it can get wayyyyyyy below freezing in the smokies even in April. Can't wait for your hike!
Great videos! I'm not a thru hiker but do like to camp, likely more like your sister then you but great videos! I like some of the areas you show since I live very close by them. Great resource you are an I just want to thank you for your effort an time it takes! Good luck on the AT!
At 53 years old...I got LASIK Surgery...no more Contacts (with dirty fingers on the Trail)...no more Glasses. Its made Hiking (and everything else so much easier/nicer. BTW: Your sketches in your Sketch Pad are impressive...I can't even draw a "straight line"!
Thanks for commenting! I looked into LASIK. I'm far-sighted and have perfect vision for reading--which I do a LOT. If I get my sight corrected for distance, it might mess up my near vision a little and require me to wear reading glasses. That's what I was told, anyway, so I decided against it . . .
I too do a lot of near-sighted activity (I repair Printed Circuit Boards for Pinball machines as a hobby) and I was nervous about losing that ability. The contacts I wore were Mono-Vision (one eye for Far Sight / one eye for Near Sight)...ended up get my LASIK the same way...I do not wear glasses for anything. However, I do wear them when driving at night as I "feel" safer and when my eyes are "tired" and I do some close up work in bad lighting. I hesitated for years...but finally broke down and got the surgery...not a day goes by that I'm not glad I made that decision.
Thanks for sharing your experience. Yes now I recall the discussion about LASIK mono-vision style. I didn't like that idea either. I have a set of mono-vision contacts, plus a set that is just for distance. When I'm hiking I don't use the mono-vision because looking at the ground that way was making me feels weirdly unconnected to reality -- hard to explain, but things were just a bit too blurry or something and I'd feel like I was dreaming. So I hike with the distance-only contacts, which requires me also to carry reading glasses to read. What a pain. When I'm done hiking, I can't wait to take the contacts out. All of which underscores your endorsement for LASIK surgery. I'm just not there yet though . . .
Did I miss something? No shelter? You’ll sleep with no pad on the cold hard muddy wet rain-soaked ground, in the pouring rain and snow??? No hot coffee? Nothing to warm the soul? You’re an artist, man. Bring the damned colored pencils(your color sketches are beautiful!). I believe you’ve lightened all the “joy” from your pack.
No, I have a shelter! This video was mostly about gear changes since my last gear video, which was titled "Lightweight Thru-Hiking Gear: Backpacking Tarp Set-Up with ZPacks Arc Blast." th-cam.com/video/yNo89dd18e4/w-d-xo.html Sorry if I confused you. I really appreciate your comment about the "joy" in my pack, which is a great metaphor. But I get plenty of joy just from walking all day, which is pretty much my style, lots of walking for many hours. Along the way I make videos, and try to express my joy in being on the trail in those. Then I put the videos on TH-cam, and I find it creates a whole separate community other than the one I experience on the trail. (Although historically, when I've picked long 300+ trails to thru-hike, there's been no other community at all, since they were both lightly traveled trails, the Benton MacKaye Trail and the Sheltowee Trace.) Thanks again for commenting!
If you carry a single edge razor blade it's weight isn't noticeable. It provides you with a better point and a sharper blade than the swiss army knife. If you carry the mirror, then you have a mirror, and half of a pair of scissors for moleskin etc. Place the moleskin on the mirror with the amount that you need hanging off of the edge. The take the razor blade and run it along the side the mirror and and it will cut the moleskin perfectly without dulling the blade, as you would do if you cut it flat on a board or something similar.
Interesting. First of all, I am a BIG believer of doing what you want and doing things your way. That being said, the stove-less option would be my concern. I think the weight you save may be quickly replaced by weight from non-freeze dried foods. You may also have an issue with enough protein intake. It may also increase the money you spend in town for cooked foods. Who knows...it's all up to you but I'm afraid you'll hate peanut butter/gorp by the time you hit NC. A collapsable wood stove is around 2.8 - 3.0 oz and could provide hot food/drink/warmth with local dry wood. If you break down hungry, let me know and I'll find your emaciated body and take you to Outback for a recovery steak. :)
Thanks for the comment! I do rely a lot on cooked food in town. I'm also going to be resupplying frequently to keep my food weight down, which will bring me into towns for food more often. I did the Sheltowee Trace (only 325 miles, but still pretty far) without cooking and really liked how it turned out. But as I said in the video, I might change my mind along the way. I certainly have a very light kitchen set-up that I could take (light except for the fuel . . . )
Yes, I considered a 20 degree bag but I'm going to have my down jacket too. I sleep pretty hot generally. This new bag I tested down to 38 degrees and was still very warm. Thanks for commenting!
Great, thanks! I'm not leaving until mid-to-late April though. There are already 30+ people who are planning to video their thru-hikes, many of whom are starting before me. People might have their fill of 2018 thru-hikes before I even get started!
"As long as I'm cutting the pack weight, why stop now?" Haha pretty soon you won't even need a pack! It's been interesting watching your pack evolution, looking forward to seeing what you come up with next!
Good video. I really like Aqua Mira. Is the other form you are switching to touch more expensive? I did like your overall video, thanks for the information.
Great video man. Thanks for the updates. 6lbs is insane!! Hope all the choices work out well. And like you said if they don't it's nice the AT isn't the North Pole. 😁
Thanks for watching and commenting! BTW, 6 pounds is what I cut. I'm still at about 11 pounds base weight. Maybe I'll be able to cut some more by the time I do a final gear video . . . Keep up your own great videos about your thru-hike--enjoy them!
I've read Skurka and other ultralight hikers use the scissors for clipping nails all the time. I have the exact same Swiss army knife as you, plus other larger versions. Honestly I really dislike the feeling of the scissors especially if the nail isn't long, and I'm always leery because they're so sharp. I always take the fingernail clippers with me, a lot easier. The large forceps is definitely not necessary, and the huge toenail clipper is most certainly redundant with fingernail clippers. Skurka and Werner both love that Fenix. I never bought one, but I do have a similar Massdrop titanium light coming this week. That might be a good weight shave compared to my headlamp. How much was that Fenix? Personally I would've just repackaged the Aqua Mira into smaller dropper bottles if the weight was something you wanted to cut, but it is a sunk cost so doesn't really matter. I like Aqua Mira a lot better than tabs, faster reaction times, much longer lifespan, and far cheaper for the gallons treated/cost. I have a lot of tabs I'll probably never use, do you want some?
I'm been practicing with the scissors on the knife and it definitely works -- I just have to be careful not to cut myself. . . . The light was $30. Works well . . . I've put the Aqua Mira into smaller bottles before and had problems with leaking--need better small bottles, I guess! I'm covered on the tabs but thanks!
Yup the quality of dropper bottles varies from the different companies I've bought from. I like my nails really short, kind of a freak about it. That's probably why I'm not simpatico with the scissors. It's unfortunate you don't need more tabs, I've been looking to unload these boxes for a while now lol.
Evan, as usual, interesting and thought provoking content. For now, your style is not my style, but that’s the beauty of the community of backpackers. I hike in the southeast and I think I carry too much water (2L). With our abundance of water and available information, think I could do with less. By cutting a liter, that’s over 2 pounds. How much water do you typically carry at a maximum? CatDaddy
Thanks for the comment! As for water, I always try to carry information about the water on the trail, then consider that in terms of how wet the conditions are in real life. If the conditions are wet and there's water coming up, which there usually is in the southeast where I hike, I don't carry any water at all. I just drink it at stream crossings. On my Sheltowee Trace trip, I only carried water a couple of times. I know it was a rare event because reviewing those videos, I see I noted it on the video whenever it happened . . .
I have been watching your videos today (storming outside). So many of these tips have helped me lighten my base weight. I appreciate that you shared what is working for you. Also, has anybody ever told you that you look like George w Bush. Lol. Thank you.
Hey Evan, good for you making some tough decisions to trim base weight. I too will be bringing a quilt on my thru hike and I'm trying to envision how that works out without a sleeping pad?
The quilt goes in a bivy sack, then my back is on Tyvek. I broke down the set-up in my #3 prep video th-cam.com/video/PcH4YT2cFYI/w-d-xo.html Look at around 3:54 and following. Hope that helps!
Did you dye your alcohol? That's smart if you did. Green wouldn't work for me though, I keep my alcohol in a small 8 oz-ish mouthwash container that includes a measuring cup lid. I'm sure if I mixed enough colors I could end up with an ugly brownish grey color. I also label the container with a Sharpie that the alcohol easily removes. I might end up labelling a piece of duct tape and covering that in clear packing tape so it stays legible longer. I like the dye idea, but it could still end up looking like Kool-Aid or mouthwash. 🤔
Wonder if there is a decent iPhone case with reflective mirror like properties. Or mirror tape (is that a thing?) you can add to your existing case. Looking forward to the reports on no cook meals.
You can definitely get mirror tape. I had a stick on mirror in an old FAK that was probably just a few grams. You've probably seen the videso where people polish the bottom of a soda bottle to a mirror finish to start fires with. You could cut a square out of the side and buff it to the same mirror polish.
Your comment gave me a new idea--an iPhone app that mimics a mirror. I found one! It's like the selfie camera but allows you to zoom in, fixing one of the major problems with my method. So thanks for that! I'm also going to look into mirror tape . . .
Thanks for sharing, I’ve been wanting to lower my base weight and it was neat to see your process. Although ultra light is not for me I enjoyed learning the thought process behind your decisions. Was that an eno Helios suspension system? I’ve been thinking about getting that and was wondering about recommendations. Thanks again
You're welcome! Yes on the helios suspension. It works great, but the hammock itself wears too easily in my opinion. The material is very thin. For the weight, though, it's a valid choice . . .
Have enjoyed nearly all your videos. How are you able to "ensure" or nearly so, that ticks (tiny little ones) don't get inside your bivy system? Thanks!
There is no insuring that, except to check. From Georgia to Maine I only saw four ticks . . . But in my backyard in Tennessee, I have four ticks on me in a second.
Depends on the knife kit. I had one that did not have a scissors attachment that was large enough to use to cut nails but it had a nail file and a toothpick. I guess it depends on what you are looking for.
Yes I'm already using them to cut my nails. The scissors are sharp so you have to be careful. It definitely works but it's a little tedious . . . Heading out mid-to-late April . . .
Evan. Always love your videos. You are going to do great on the AT. I was wondering what you are hoping for as far as pace. What time frame do you have to hike the trail? Also, keep up the sketches.
Thanks for the comment! I'll definitely keep up the sketches when I'm not on the trail (I post them to Instagram--my account is in the video description). When I'm ON the trail, I'll try to keep them up too. As for pace, I'm leaving in mid-to-late April, so I'll have to keep it up. But I don't want to state any specific mileage goals at this point. Wait to see how it proceeds . . .
It was interesting to note that Skurka likes the Fenix light. Specs indicate about half an hour of light or so at 100 lumens per bat. Is that going to be good enough if you want to do some night hiking. I'm curious since I've never done a thru-hike myself but am collecting the gear for it. I ended up getting an ArmyTek Wizard pro (1.7 oz) that goes about 15 hrs@115 lumens per 3400 MAH bat.
I don't have the Skurka book with me now, but I think he says he supplements that light with a headlamp if he's going to be doing a lot of night hiking. I don't use the 100 lumen setting to night hike. The specs say 4 hours at 25 lumens and 14 hours at 8 lumens. If it turns out I'm doing a lot of night hiking, I'd probably just carry more spare batteries than otherwise. It's something I might experiment with on the trail . . . Thanks for commenting.
Sounds like you might be going through a lot of batteries. Wouldn't it be better weight wise and and recharging wise to manage it all with one battery @1.6 oz? 18650 bats are known to give you the most charge per oz, it's what they build power banks with, you knew that, right?
Thanks, I'll take a look. I'm not a big flashlight user in general. Typically I'll set up before dark and not use the flashlight at all. As I said, I'll have to wait to see how much night hiking I end up doing . . .
does anyone think about maybe getting lean and slashing your body weight? I am in good shape with a normal bmi about 14% body fat but i could drop about 13 pounds to 9%.
If you get any lighter you could invest in wings! Good video man, stoked for the AT series. Speaking of which, what month are you heading out? Are you sobo or nobo?
Quick question......how are you going to get your hands clean enough to deal with contact lenses ?..Im sure you have this figured out..just wondering....and when are you planning to start ?. NOBO or SOBO ?...
The contact lenses -- I always use hand sanitizer before putting my fingers in my eyes. I can't think of many other options other than this. Nobo, mid-to-late April. Thanks for commenting!
Cutting weight is very simple just be willing to throw a lot of money at it. The big 3 will cost about 1000$. This looks god though. It seems most of your reduction was ditching stuff you knew you were not going to use. Your first aid kit was heavy,
Evan, I hate my life...I made the dreaded mistake of following Bigfoot’s advice and “just get a scale.” Yeah, ok, Bigfoot, Mr. Ultralight speed freak. So, my big three was awesome and I was at 7lbs...life was good. Then I added in winter clothes (admittedly heavy), and electronics, and cooking, and came to 12.73lbs. Still jazzed, until I go to my poncho...my beloved poncho, pack cover, ground sheet...1.53lbs! 1.53lbs all alone, I was despondent, wrecked by the injustice. If not for Xanax and bourbon I would have lost a nights sleep. My wife continues to console me, and now you, you, do this to me...remind me that I am foolish for holding on to my beloved poncho. The only thing getting me through this night is I know you have lost your mind giving up your inflatable sleep pad and the device which makes hot chocolate at night possible...
Hah, funny comment! As always, I appreciate your input. Keep your own great videos about your own thru-hike coming! As I said in my video, the great thing about gear on the AT is that you can change your mind about it if you need to. The gear videos that AT hikers make halfway their trip through can be very enlightening (as those same hikers get "lightened") . . And speaking of bourbon--that's what I'd REALLY like to take on the trail. That's something else I gave up a long time ago for backpacking because of the weight . . .
There’s a difference between hiking light and hiking stupid I have an 8 1/2 pound base weight and still have my Thurmer rest pad however I do not have toenail clippers and tweezers and a pound of other crap are you need is your sleeping bag a light tent and air mattress a puffy jacket a rain jacket and a headlamp that it maybe a small First aid kit for your feet but should still be under 6 to 8 ounces
Don’t remove vital items to cut weight remove the items you don’t absolutely need to survive you took your Thurmer rest air mattress out yet you left a bunch of stuff you don’t really need all you really need should fall under 10 pounds if done right
Evan, how will you sleep in a shelter in the Smokies without a pad? For that matter how will you sleep anywhere without a pad. I can't imagine sleeping on the hard ground for 4-5 months without some kind of pad. Good job on getting the weight down but be careful on cutting too hard or it can come back to bite you especially that sleeping bag. That's border line through till you get north of the Smokies.
Thanks for your comment. Sometimes it's hard for me to communicate effectively in a video. I liked being a blogger better, back when I was a blogger. Anyway, I explained my methods and answered your questions (somewhat) in the other video I referenced within this video, the one about my "new UL sleep system." th-cam.com/video/PcH4YT2cFYI/w-d-xo.html There I said I'd probably mail a pad to Fontana and take it through the Smokies. Not sure, though. If I hike until late in the day, which I always do, chances are the shelters will be full and I'll be able to sleep outside. I still might need a pad for insulation though. I'm familiar with the weather in the Smokies, as I thru-hiked the Benton MacKaye Trail in April 2016. That trail starts at Springer Mountain and goes through the Smokies, albeit at a somewhat lower elevation than the AT. (On average, that is. It also gets very high in places and goes over Mt. Sterling.) The other question "how will you sleep anywhere without a pad" is also interesting. I need to do a video about how my backpacking techniques have evolved over the last few years. Once I figured out how to head off into the woods almost anywhere and find a place to sleep, which is what I do now, I found that I didn't need a pad. Site selection is key, but I can always find a comfortable place to sleep. With a tarp I don't need much room. The way I do it now, in fact, I'm more comfortable without a pad than with one, especially since most lightweight pads are too narrow for your arms when you're on your back. (Pads are a pretty recent invention, of course. The early AT hikers weren't using them, and I didn't use them back in the days when I was backpacking in high school at Philmont and in the mountains in Colorado and Wyoming.) I DO have a piece of Reflectix, as detailed in that other video, plus Tyvek, and sometimes I put leaves between the two. I also dig a space for my shoulders so my head sits on a sort of shelf. (Does this violate "leave no trace" policies? I don't think so for a variety of reasons, and I replace everything and hide my tracks in the morning.) I thought my method was something new or unusual, but I just came across a section in Ray Jardine's "Trail Life" where he spends a few pages explaining why pads aren't needed for insulation or comfort in "undisturbed areas far off the beaten track, where soft, cushioning leaves or needles, or deep and pliant layers of duff or leaf debris offer comfortable camping." That's also been my experience. At this point, I've done a lot of backpacking without a pad, including my recent 80-mile AT trip. I'm certainly not recommending it for everyone. Many of my personal techniques would seem so bizarre to people that I try not to do too many recommendations at all, instead preferring just to illustrate my methods and allow people to try them if they are interested. I also recommend Ray Jardine's "Trail Life" and books by Mike Clellan and Andrew Skurka. I've gotten many tips from their books. Sorry for the long response but I thought I should answer your good questions.
And EVAN showed them all. I'll listen to him, Ray Jardin, Mike Clelland, John Z, and Lint; Clint Bunting.
@@EvansBackpackingVideos cool can you also talk about if you bring a shovel for stuff like that?
These sketches are beautiful. I started to watch all your videos. Amazing stuff! Very useful.
Thanks!
While I thoroughly enjoy watching my favorite thru-hikers' videos, seeing your sketch book makes me wish you weren't cutting back in that area. You have a very fine talent which can offer different view of life on the trail from the digital photography/videography records. I know it takes time and you will be trying to keep up the pace on the AT, but the examples you showed make me hope you invest at least some time in even simple ink sketches of your upcoming adventure.
Random Button Pusher Well said. I totally agree! Evan's sketches are excellent! Thanks for making those observations! Lamplighter 2019 out! 😉
Thanks for that, appreciate it! Believe me, I have the same feelings myself. Plus I feel guilty when I carry the drawing supplies and then don't use them. But what I've found is that I'm usually too mentally tired to take in all the information around me and select a composition that I can sketch--if that makes sense. The videos take time too but they take far less mental energy. With all this said, I'll be taking a pen. I'll probably do some sketching in my notebook, and I also like to draw in the trail registers. When I do something I like, I'll put it on Instagram. (My Instagram account is in the video description.) Plus sometimes the sketches end up in the videos . . .
I did a similar thing after my first long hike, the Long Trail. I used lighter pack web site to record all my gear and I then worked it get my weight down. I got it down to about 8 pounds but that does not include my dog’s gear which is an additional 3 pounds or so all of her food. I looked at everything I carried and worked to replace it with similar gear. For example I replaced my WM sleeping bag with a Zpacks quilt, my Patagonia puffy with a MountBell puffy. I did pivot on some of my decisions. For example I used that short pad you had that weighed 8 oz and I hated it. I use the same pad but in full length. I found having my feet hang off the pad or prop them up with gear miserable. I carry a similar small light but also a Nitecore headlamp. I lost my lamp on a trip and it changed everything. For less than an ounce it’s worth it. I still can’t rap my head around cold food and no real coffee but whatever works is fine. Every time I offer a cold soaker a coffee they act like they hit Power Ball, lol. Gearing up for the Colorado Trail in late August and I will try the umbrella, mostly for shade. I enjoyed your thru hike videos. Take care
After a long hiatus from backpacking I am trying to get myself back into shape to do it again (long road ahead). I think the key here is that you are actually getting out and hiking. Doing shakedown hikes, as we used to call it. Trying your gear, deciding what you like and don't like and what is redundant or not needed. I see too many people starting out on the AT or other long journeys saying it is their first backpacking trip. Some of them have made it, but most blow out before the GA/TN line. Like my mom used to tell me, practice makes better.
Now, I am kinda like several more in the list. Take the sketch book. I wish I had memories like that of some of my adventures. You will treasure it in the future. Your grandkids will think you are awesome.
Thanks for the comment. Even if I don't sketch much, I'll be making videos. I agree about the practice. I'm amazed to hear about the many people who start on the AT without ever having backpacked at all. They're always in for a very rude awakening about what long-distance hiking is all about. Some rise to the challenge and continue -- a surprising number really. And learn as they go. I wouldn't want to do it that way, but it seems to work for some people . .
I like the umbrella as well. It's useful for sun and rain.
I can't do without a good sleeping pad as the ground is cold up north even during the summer. I remember one July canoe trip having to put life jackets under the sleeping pad to stop myself from shivering (but I get cold through the night even at home as my heart rate is low). I'm going to find my weight savings in other ways.
To make the flashlight red, you could try the red tape they sell for fixing cracked brake lights. It might be easier to find a dollar store knock-off mag light that comes with a red filter you can take. Really looking forward to watching this.
Good ideas, thanks! I already bought some of the red tape but haven't tried it yet. Red cellophane isn't thick enough -- not the stuff I bought, anyway . . .
Looking good, Evan. As they say, "Grams are ounces, ounces are pounds, and pounds are pain". You'll be very happy you went through this exercise.
Yes, I think so! Thanks for watching and commenting -- and for the encouragement . . .
"Supposedly, I'm a lightweight backpacker" Uh, yeah, I'd say sacrificing a sleep pad, tent, and only eating cold food Might quality you. :P I'm pretty sure I'm considered light-weight, and I still like to have a decent meal and something comfortable to sleep on. I like that you still carry the weight of comfort items like your umbrella. I personally like to take a small ultralight chair. It's a lot of weight for some, but it's so nice to have a place to sit and rest my feet at the end of the day.
Excellent video Evan. I too am preparing my pack for the sheltowee this winter. Winter backpacking is a whole different ball game! Exciting stuff! You are gonna have such a great time on the Appalachian trail. I started the AT with aqua mira drops and found that using the larger Sawyer filter way more efficient. Just fill and chug. I saw lots of people taking the time to squeeze the water from their water bottle into another water bottle to drink. I would simply dip, fill, screw the filter on, chug and go on my merry way.
Yes, it's definitely different in the winter. I hear you about the Sawyer filters--I just can't understand why people take that extra step. Thanks for commenting!
When I decided to do a thru hike I gathered all my gear and my base weight was a whopping 27 pounds! UGH! I have got it down to 23 by making some changes to gear and cutting a few things from the list. It is great how tiny changes add up. Like no stuff sacs and for gear that must have a stuff sac take off those cord locks! My pack had a lot of extra buckles and straps I never use, so they came off too.
Making those decisions can get pretty tough when your pack is already pretty light. One thing to consider about not bringing a cook setup is the weight savings of bringing dehydrated food vs the water weight of the food you don't have to cook. Beautiful sketches!
Thanks Adam! Still might change my mind about cooking--thanks for weighing in!
You could do cold soaking. 2 oz peanut butter jar and a 0.5 oz spoon. Do some research and experiments with which foods work with this method before hitting the trail obviously.
Thanks, good idea . . .
Your AT hike is going to be an epic journey, man. Good luck! You have some great preparation videos. It is pretty amazing how much weight you can save from cutting out small items. Over the years I've also ditched a lot of stuff that I carried but never used, and could certainly do without. I chuckled a bit when I saw your binoculars...I used to carry a similar one for many miles but as I recall I might have actually used it only once LOL! Your sketches are really awesome, some very nice work.
I really like those binoculars. I like to stand on overlooks and examine the towns below. But oh well, they've got to go! Anyway, thanks for the comment and for the encouragement!
I can only improve on this by saying if you tell yourself you've cut 6lbs and now your pack weighs 5kg's the converted number sounds so much better! :)
Yes, an awesome idea! The metric system -- I'll learn to love it!
I believe if I could sketch a s well as you I believe I would take a few pencils. That skectchbook of yours looks better than photgraphs to my untrained eye. Very nice. Have a good thru-hike!
Hey Evan, great overview. As I watch other gear reviews, I've noticed that those who have acquired "trail experience" are better able to discern and adjust their gear choices to more of a ultra lightweight system based on what they've done in the past. I remember watching one of "Big Birds" gear reviews and hearing him say, "that we tend to pack our own fears." How true. As a totally brand new backpacker with no experience, I believe that I also fall into this category. By watching gear reviews such as yours, I hope to reduce my overall pack weight, without becoming dangerous. We shall see what I will have once I'm out on the trail. Time will tell. Thanks for up-loading. All the best to you. Lamplighter 2019 out! 😉
The "packing your fears" idea is very true. Fear of going hungry=too much food. Fear of being cold=too many clothes. And so on. It's interesting to watch the AT hikers who do gear updates in the middle of their hikes. That's when you can really learn something . . .
alot of the stuff you highlight you can pick parts of the trail you will want or need more than otehrs, and have them mailed to you. for instance, lots of the trail is a green tunnel. but you may want those binos when you hit the whites. and you can push your food dressings ahead of you from mail drop to mail drop. make sure that swiss army knife is a real one, made by wenger or victorinox, and not a cheap fake.
This is a great idea. I'm already thinking about mailing my sleeping pad to Fontana Dam, since I might be forced to sleep in the shelters in the Smokies . . . My knife is a victorinox. Very useful . . . .
Awesome info about your gear update, thank you!
You're welcome Roger, thanks for watching and commenting, appreciate it!
Impressive! If you ever decide to add the colored pencils back in, just cut each of them in half to save some weight. :) It would be tempting for me to go stoveless in a similar situation - I'm not too find of cooking and cleaning on the trail to begin with. But too much cold, pre-packaged foods tends to make me feel like I'm not eating healthy enough. I'll be interested to see what food you end up taking and how it works out for you.
Cutting the pencils in half -- good idea! I did the Sheltowee Trace without cooking (only 325 miles, but still a good distance) and liked how that worked out. I eat cooked food in towns. I still haven't figured out how to "eat healthy" on the trail. I'm spending a lot of time researching that issue. Like many others before me, I'll probably throw in the towel and consume a lot of sugar during the day . . .
Evan, I've been a subscriber for a few month and really love your videos. Couple of things....since you're down to counting ounces it'd be worth mentioning that you can save .15 additional in the LD02 by using an Energizer Lithium Battery. It's a great flashlight! I really admire your commitment to the Tarp, however have you considered saving additional weight by going with a Solplex. By my estimation, when you add in guy-lines and all, you can save a half pound. I hesitate to mention this cause I know you love to Tarp camp. I know if you're bold enough to eat cold food for weight savings you may appreciate these types of ideas.
Yes, I definitely appreciate your ideas. Thanks for your thoughts. I didn't know that lithium batteries were lighter. As for the Solplex, it's definitely something I'll consider if the tarp isn't working for me for some reason. As you said, I love tarp camping but there are some reasons I might change. And people say a lot of good things about the Solplex . . .
Looks good Even!! I'm always looking forward to your videos! The sketches are awesome!! It will also give you something to do when your bored. Slashing the pack weight is very important for the thru-hike, but don't go too far for safety. I watched someone do a thru-hike and his clothing wasn't warm enough and had to get off the trail. Like you said a person can add or send back items. Good Luck again from us! Someday when I'm in your area I'll let you know. Maybe sometime after the thru-hike.
Thanks for your comment, as always! Don't think I'll be bored too much on the AT between walking and editing video--but who knows!!
Bring the sketch pad. Your drawings are fantastic. I think you'll regret not having them. If I could draw like that I wouldn't leave home without.
It is very difficult to cut toenails with those little scissors. Take the larger pair of clippers and use for both fingers and toes.
Thanks for the comment! I've been practicing with the scissors and they seem to be working fine -- they're just sharp, and so a little dangerous, and you have to be pretty limber to get a good angle . . .
Why the aqua tabs over just always using the squeeze?
Wow, Evan, well done! You're so confident about your hiking set up! I also have a similar small swiss army knife thing that I take on hikes, but I must admit that I still take a pair of nail clippers along as well. Those "nail scissors" on the swiss army knife just aren't beefy enough to deal with my toe nails, ha ha ha!
Thanks Ruth! I've been using the scissors for practice and they are certainly sharp enough, but it's tricky and you have to be careful not to cut something besides the nail. Amazing invention, nail clippers!
Thanks for these excellent videos, your series on the AT is very useful to me. I started going through them again with a notebook at hand so I can remember what you said. I'm a traditional backpacker working to move towards ultralight backpacking. I've been learning a lot from you. It's great that you've been doing shakedown trips before the AT. My 2019 goal is to try the Washington section of the PCT with an eye to doing the AT in 2020.
Good luck with the future hikes!
I look forward to following your thru-hike. Great sketches BTW.
Thanks, appreciate it!
Holy molly, you have got an amazing sketching skills Evan 😍😍😍
Thanks!
Evan's Backpacking Videos is it something that i can learn if i dont start early? I am in my 30's now
Thanks! I really like to sketch.
I didn't learn until I was in my 40s. My son got me into it after he went to art school. Just get a book from the bookstore or library, or maybe watch TH-cam videos. Drawing/sketching is definitely a skill anyone can learn. I practiced daily for a few years (maybe 15-30 minutes a day) but anyone can do it.
Always interesting to see what people carry on a long trail. I walked the AT in 2015 and every thur-hiker is still trying to get rid of another oz or gram all the way to the end. At lest once a week you will be able to mail things home or just put them in a hiker box for someone else. Looking forward in seeing your hike, happy trails.
That's good information to know from a former thru-hiker, thanks. I appreciate your following along . . .
Aqua tabs rock! I switched to them when I spilled the liquid stuff and had to boil water or just risk it. The cuben food bags are pretty tough and do help keep mice from chewing into your food. Hate that you are ditching the sketch stuff, but I expect you will be either hiking, eating or sleeping and may not have a lot of time to do your sketches justice.
Thanks for the enouragement. "Hiking, eating or sleeping" -- you left out editing video, which takes a lot of time. I'll probably do some sketching all the same . . . I'm glad to hear that about the food bag . . . And thanks for the feedback about Aqua tabs. I also spilled my Aqua Mira once . . .
Great job cutting the weight! I guess the only thing I would hesitate on would be not having the ability to have a hot drink or a hot meal on the trail... I've watched several thru-hikers over the past four years start out trying to go all cold food and it didn't take them long to say I'm making me a Fancy Feast cat food can stove and I'm getting some hot food in my belly!
I'll keep that in mind, thanks! I did the Sheltowee Trace thru-hike without cooking and liked how that worked out -- although it was only 325 miles or so . . .
I enjoyed your Sheltowee video blog and linked to this one. Like you I'm continually trying to reduce weight carried, but haven't been willing to trade the comfort of a cushy sleeping pad and hot dinner for the less than 1 lb. weight reduction (perhaps a net average increase on a 5-day food carry). I have my base weight down to under 18 pounds and could reduce it further, but I trek solo on deserted trails in remote areas, so a GPS and SPOT are essential and add up to 1.5 pounds (Looking at replacing both with my iPhone App and an InReach for a net 12oz reduction). Hiking in the desert (PCT, CDT, AZT, GET) require heavy water carries (as much as 7L added to 4 or 5 days of food) so a backpack with a good suspension is critical and good suspensions add weight. Of course some of these aren't an issue on the AT since it's relatively crowded and one is never far from a road crossing (100-mile wilderness excepted).
I like idea of smartphone for mirror, but that doesn't get around hygiene issues with daily removal/insertion of contacts. Years ago I switched to extended wear contacts (brand name Night 'n Day from Alcon)----now I wear a bifocal version. I can wear them continuously for a month and use rewetting drops morning and evening. I remove them when in town for a nero or zero where proper hygiene and a mirror are easy. Plus, it's really nice to see the night sky in focus when you roll over at 2am.
I think your sleep system is problematic. Consider whether on your final day on the Sheltowee you had needed to make camp instead of drive home. There would be no dry leaves to add on top of the reflectix to supplement its R-value. On the AT some spring seasons serve up multiple days of all-day-rain. I had snow at the N Sheltowee Trace terminus on April 15, and 18" of wet snow in Central PA on April 22, and a blizzard on the AT in GA on March 26. There was snow at Mt. Rogers in mid-May, 2006. You might want to consider some type of pad as others point out----perhaps a Z-lite Sol short (R-value 2.6, 10oz.) in lieu of the reflectix (R-value 1.1)? Finally, you should expect to have night temperatures as low as 20F in the southern Appalachians in late March/early April so a sleeping bag or quilt rated for a lower temperature might be in order at the start and end of your hike. Many AT hikers switch to lighter gear from Damascus to NH border to adjust to the changing climate.
Finally, I strongly recommend you retain the trekking poles. Poles have helped me avoid countless falls and probably a couple fractures and sprains, and one holds up my shelter, a Hexamid Plus. They've saved my joints and enabled me to backpack nearly 15,000 miles since I turned 60 (trailjournals.com/handlebar). Besides, how will you do selfie videos?
Rick Ostheimer Rick, thanks for the very informative comment. I use a Spot-do you know the weight difference offhand between the InReach and a Spot Gen 3? I’ll take all your advice into account. I’m leaving the AT nobo on the approach trail on April 20. I thru-hiked the Benton MacKaye Trail in April 2016. If you’re unfamiliar with it, the BMT starts at Springer and goes all the way through the Smokies. It parallels the AT but is about 90 miles longer to the same point at Davenport Gap. If it turns out the weather patterns are far different in 2018, I might change up my gear a little to reflect that. Wet leaves are a hole in my method, I admit, but I only use the leaves if it’s very cold. If I can’t use leaves, I might be a little uncomfortable. Temp-wise, that is. You wouldn’t believe how comfortable it can be without a pad if you conform your body to the ground. I also don’t really like pads because you’re always near a ledge and it’s hard for me to keep my body in the right spot.
Have you heard of the Modase backpack? I saw it on Amazon. $25. A girl took one on the Appalachian trail some years back and did 1500 miles with it. One of the hip belt pockets stripped because of over stuffing, she says, but it lasted until she got off trail. I've got two of them. They come in black, green, purple, & blue. The zippers are weak but if careful with them, they do last. It's a travel backpack but light. My long trail gear fits inside it, 40L, and weighs 24 lbs with 4L of water and 4 days of food. Picture on my channel. With a try for $25.
There is no way I would even try to hike the A.T. without a sleep pad.Good job at trimming down the weight though.
Thanks for that, appreciate it!
Your gear looks good and tested. Your have mad artistic skills, bring the friggin pencils. We want to see art!! thats done well. Looking forward to your hike.
Another great video Evan. I look forward to seeing how you work out the cellophane for the headlamp as I have been considering a similar item change. Thank you for sharing.
The red cellophane works okay but it need to be really thick to work. I'm currently trying something with red plastic . . .
I look forward to hearing the outcome.
Great video. Depends on when you leave for your gear choices. The later in the spring the better for you I think as Im sure you know that it can get wayyyyyyy below freezing in the smokies even in April. Can't wait for your hike!
Thanks, Kevin, appreciate it! I'll be in the Smokies in early May, probably. It can definitely snow them . . .
*then.
Great videos! I'm not a thru hiker but do like to camp, likely more like your sister then you but great videos! I like some of the areas you show since I live very close by them. Great resource you are an I just want to thank you for your effort an time it takes! Good luck on the AT!
Thanks, appreciate it! Glad you are watching and thanks for commenting!
At 53 years old...I got LASIK Surgery...no more Contacts (with dirty fingers on the Trail)...no more Glasses. Its made Hiking (and everything else so much easier/nicer. BTW: Your sketches in your Sketch Pad are impressive...I can't even draw a "straight line"!
Thanks for commenting! I looked into LASIK. I'm far-sighted and have perfect vision for reading--which I do a LOT. If I get my sight corrected for distance, it might mess up my near vision a little and require me to wear reading glasses. That's what I was told, anyway, so I decided against it . . .
I too do a lot of near-sighted activity (I repair Printed Circuit Boards for Pinball machines as a hobby) and I was nervous about losing that ability. The contacts I wore were Mono-Vision (one eye for Far Sight / one eye for Near Sight)...ended up get my LASIK the same way...I do not wear glasses for anything. However, I do wear them when driving at night as I "feel" safer and when my eyes are "tired" and I do some close up work in bad lighting. I hesitated for years...but finally broke down and got the surgery...not a day goes by that I'm not glad I made that decision.
Thanks for sharing your experience. Yes now I recall the discussion about LASIK mono-vision style. I didn't like that idea either. I have a set of mono-vision contacts, plus a set that is just for distance. When I'm hiking I don't use the mono-vision because looking at the ground that way was making me feels weirdly unconnected to reality -- hard to explain, but things were just a bit too blurry or something and I'd feel like I was dreaming. So I hike with the distance-only contacts, which requires me also to carry reading glasses to read. What a pain. When I'm done hiking, I can't wait to take the contacts out. All of which underscores your endorsement for LASIK surgery. I'm just not there yet though . . .
Do some strength training a few times a week and you won't have to debate over every ounce.
This comment was funny, thanks. I'm going to remember it.
Those are some nice sketches! You prepare well for your hikes, I’d probably end up forgetting something important lol. Great video!
Thanks, appreciate it! I'm also in danger of forgetting gear. I keep lots of lists . . .
I like what you did except the stove never know starting out when you might need it my set up just 8 oz, great video
Thanks for that! I'll have a lightweight kitchen set-up held in reserve. I'll have my wife mail it to me if I regret my decision . . .
Good vid. Awesome shaving of lbs. I’m envious. Thanks for sharing.
You're welcome--thanks for watching and commenting!
No sleeping pad and cold food only, either you are truly roughing it or you may just be a masochist Evan. Definitely ultralight now.
Not even ultralight yet, I don't think. I'll find out when I do a final gear video. Thanks for commenting!
Did I miss something? No shelter? You’ll sleep with no pad on the cold hard muddy wet rain-soaked ground, in the pouring rain and snow??? No hot coffee? Nothing to warm the soul? You’re an artist, man. Bring the damned colored pencils(your color sketches are beautiful!). I believe you’ve lightened all the “joy” from your pack.
No, I have a shelter! This video was mostly about gear changes since my last gear video, which was titled "Lightweight Thru-Hiking Gear: Backpacking Tarp Set-Up with ZPacks Arc Blast." th-cam.com/video/yNo89dd18e4/w-d-xo.html Sorry if I confused you. I really appreciate your comment about the "joy" in my pack, which is a great metaphor. But I get plenty of joy just from walking all day, which is pretty much my style, lots of walking for many hours. Along the way I make videos, and try to express my joy in being on the trail in those. Then I put the videos on TH-cam, and I find it creates a whole separate community other than the one I experience on the trail. (Although historically, when I've picked long 300+ trails to thru-hike, there's been no other community at all, since they were both lightly traveled trails, the Benton MacKaye Trail and the Sheltowee Trace.) Thanks again for commenting!
Evan's Backpacking Videos I’m glad I misinterpreted! Yes, I agree, just walking is wonderful and enough to keep the imagination flowing!
Thank you so much for sharing brother! Some of the best advice I have heard to date.
Glad you liked it!
If you carry a single edge razor blade it's weight isn't noticeable. It provides you with a better point and a sharper blade than the swiss army knife. If you carry the mirror, then you have a mirror, and half of a pair of scissors for moleskin etc. Place the moleskin on the mirror with the amount that you need hanging off of the edge. The take the razor blade and run it along the side the mirror and and it will cut the moleskin perfectly without dulling the blade, as you would do if you cut it flat on a board or something similar.
Thanks for those tips, appreciate it!
"Did you see that guy walking the AT with absolutely nothing?" ..... "Oh, that is Evan".....
Interesting. First of all, I am a BIG believer of doing what you want and doing things your way. That being said, the stove-less option would be my concern. I think the weight you save may be quickly replaced by weight from non-freeze dried foods. You may also have an issue with enough protein intake. It may also increase the money you spend in town for cooked foods. Who knows...it's all up to you but I'm afraid you'll hate peanut butter/gorp by the time you hit NC. A collapsable wood stove is around 2.8 - 3.0 oz and could provide hot food/drink/warmth with local dry wood. If you break down hungry, let me know and I'll find your emaciated body and take you to Outback for a recovery steak. :)
Thanks for the comment! I do rely a lot on cooked food in town. I'm also going to be resupplying frequently to keep my food weight down, which will bring me into towns for food more often. I did the Sheltowee Trace (only 325 miles, but still pretty far) without cooking and really liked how it turned out. But as I said in the video, I might change my mind along the way. I certainly have a very light kitchen set-up that I could take (light except for the fuel . . . )
That was cool, Evan. You took off quite a bit of weight off.. i was going to say something else, but I forgot... you know why... lol
Hmm, Scott, I've never known you to be at a loss for words . . .
DANG yet another EVAN I have not seen.
Very detailed and well thought out Evan. Did you consider a 20 degree bag? I'm a cold sleeper so 40 seems cold to me.
Yes, I considered a 20 degree bag but I'm going to have my down jacket too. I sleep pretty hot generally. This new bag I tested down to 38 degrees and was still very warm. Thanks for commenting!
Btw...just subscribed. You are officially my first 2018 AT subscription!
Great, thanks! I'm not leaving until mid-to-late April though. There are already 30+ people who are planning to video their thru-hikes, many of whom are starting before me. People might have their fill of 2018 thru-hikes before I even get started!
I never 'go out' without hand sanitiser. Hand cleanliness is essential to prevent the 'trots'.
Agreed. I keep it in a pocket on my pack straps, in fact . . .
"As long as I'm cutting the pack weight, why stop now?" Haha pretty soon you won't even need a pack! It's been interesting watching your pack evolution, looking forward to seeing what you come up with next!
Thanks for that! Appreciate it!
Cold food and coffee everyday, does it get any better than that ? I say no. Bring on the rain and snow. Hike on !
Yeah, we'll see! Thanks for commenting . . .
Good video. I really like Aqua Mira. Is the other form you are switching to touch more expensive?
I did like your overall video, thanks for the information.
Great video man. Thanks for the updates. 6lbs is insane!! Hope all the choices work out well. And like you said if they don't it's nice the AT isn't the North Pole. 😁
Thanks for watching and commenting! BTW, 6 pounds is what I cut. I'm still at about 11 pounds base weight. Maybe I'll be able to cut some more by the time I do a final gear video . . . Keep up your own great videos about your thru-hike--enjoy them!
I've read Skurka and other ultralight hikers use the scissors for clipping nails all the time. I have the exact same Swiss army knife as you, plus other larger versions. Honestly I really dislike the feeling of the scissors especially if the nail isn't long, and I'm always leery because they're so sharp. I always take the fingernail clippers with me, a lot easier. The large forceps is definitely not necessary, and the huge toenail clipper is most certainly redundant with fingernail clippers.
Skurka and Werner both love that Fenix. I never bought one, but I do have a similar Massdrop titanium light coming this week. That might be a good weight shave compared to my headlamp. How much was that Fenix?
Personally I would've just repackaged the Aqua Mira into smaller dropper bottles if the weight was something you wanted to cut, but it is a sunk cost so doesn't really matter. I like Aqua Mira a lot better than tabs, faster reaction times, much longer lifespan, and far cheaper for the gallons treated/cost. I have a lot of tabs I'll probably never use, do you want some?
I'm been practicing with the scissors on the knife and it definitely works -- I just have to be careful not to cut myself. . . . The light was $30. Works well . . . I've put the Aqua Mira into smaller bottles before and had problems with leaking--need better small bottles, I guess! I'm covered on the tabs but thanks!
Yup the quality of dropper bottles varies from the different companies I've bought from. I like my nails really short, kind of a freak about it. That's probably why I'm not simpatico with the scissors. It's unfortunate you don't need more tabs, I've been looking to unload these boxes for a while now lol.
Well you did shave a lot of weight but some of it I think is nessissary but if you can do with out it that's awesome
Yes that's what I'm thinking -- thanks a lot for stopping by, really appreciate it!
Evan, as usual, interesting and thought provoking content. For now, your style is not my style, but that’s the beauty of the community of backpackers. I hike in the southeast and I think I carry too much water (2L). With our abundance of water and available information, think I could do with less. By cutting a liter, that’s over 2 pounds. How much water do you typically carry at a maximum? CatDaddy
Thanks for the comment! As for water, I always try to carry information about the water on the trail, then consider that in terms of how wet the conditions are in real life. If the conditions are wet and there's water coming up, which there usually is in the southeast where I hike, I don't carry any water at all. I just drink it at stream crossings. On my Sheltowee Trace trip, I only carried water a couple of times. I know it was a rare event because reviewing those videos, I see I noted it on the video whenever it happened . . .
Oh please take a sawyer...can't wait for your trip
I use aquatabs at night but I'm also taking a sawyer mini . . . Thanks for commenting!
I have been watching your videos today (storming outside). So many of these tips have helped me lighten my base weight. I appreciate that you shared what is working for you. Also, has anybody ever told you that you look like George w Bush. Lol. Thank you.
Yes, lol . . .
Hey Evan, good for you making some tough decisions to trim base weight. I too will be bringing a quilt on my thru hike and I'm trying to envision how that works out without a sleeping pad?
The quilt goes in a bivy sack, then my back is on Tyvek. I broke down the set-up in my #3 prep video th-cam.com/video/PcH4YT2cFYI/w-d-xo.html Look at around 3:54 and following. Hope that helps!
Nice cuts. Thanks for the video update. Are you doing disposable contacts?
No, not disposable. I'll probably use only 1 or 2 pairs for the whole trip . . . Thanks for commenting!
Thanx 4 the reply. Can U make a VDO about Ur Winter Clothing Gear please, Thanx.
I did one awhile ago called "Inside My Pack: Hiking and Backpacking in Cold Weather." th-cam.com/video/QaFAoexVw1U/w-d-xo.html
Did you dye your alcohol? That's smart if you did. Green wouldn't work for me though, I keep my alcohol in a small 8 oz-ish mouthwash container that includes a measuring cup lid. I'm sure if I mixed enough colors I could end up with an ugly brownish grey color. I also label the container with a Sharpie that the alcohol easily removes. I might end up labelling a piece of duct tape and covering that in clear packing tape so it stays legible longer. I like the dye idea, but it could still end up looking like Kool-Aid or mouthwash. 🤔
Yes, green dye.
That's an impressive weight loss on you pack
Thanks! And thanks for watching!
Wonder if there is a decent iPhone case with reflective mirror like properties. Or mirror tape (is that a thing?) you can add to your existing case.
Looking forward to the reports on no cook meals.
You can definitely get mirror tape. I had a stick on mirror in an old FAK that was probably just a few grams. You've probably seen the videso where people polish the bottom of a soda bottle to a mirror finish to start fires with. You could cut a square out of the side and buff it to the same mirror polish.
Your comment gave me a new idea--an iPhone app that mimics a mirror. I found one! It's like the selfie camera but allows you to zoom in, fixing one of the major problems with my method. So thanks for that! I'm also going to look into mirror tape . . .
Thanks, great ideas. I'm going to look into this . . .
Thanks for sharing, I’ve been wanting to lower my base weight and it was neat to see your process. Although ultra light is not for me I enjoyed learning the thought process behind your decisions. Was that an eno Helios suspension system? I’ve been thinking about getting that and was wondering about recommendations. Thanks again
You're welcome! Yes on the helios suspension. It works great, but the hammock itself wears too easily in my opinion. The material is very thin. For the weight, though, it's a valid choice . . .
Have enjoyed nearly all your videos. How are you able to "ensure" or nearly so, that ticks (tiny little ones) don't get inside your bivy system? Thanks!
There is no insuring that, except to check. From Georgia to Maine I only saw four ticks . . . But in my backyard in Tennessee, I have four ticks on me in a second.
Awesome job Evan! Have you had any success cutting your nails with the scissors? That is a good idea if it works. Also when do you head out? Cheers!
Depends on the knife kit. I had one that did not have a scissors attachment that was large enough to use to cut nails but it had a nail file and a toothpick. I guess it depends on what you are looking for.
Yes I'm already using them to cut my nails. The scissors are sharp so you have to be careful. It definitely works but it's a little tedious . . . Heading out mid-to-late April . . .
Yes, right. I have the smallest of those knives (I think) and they're working ok for me, but might not for others . . .
Good insight, thank you. Might see you out there, best of luck!
Excellent, thank you!
Evan. Always love your videos. You are going to do great on the AT. I was wondering what you are hoping for as far as pace. What time frame do you have to hike the trail? Also, keep up the sketches.
Thanks for the comment! I'll definitely keep up the sketches when I'm not on the trail (I post them to Instagram--my account is in the video description). When I'm ON the trail, I'll try to keep them up too. As for pace, I'm leaving in mid-to-late April, so I'll have to keep it up. But I don't want to state any specific mileage goals at this point. Wait to see how it proceeds . . .
I mean, I'M waiting to see how it proceeds.
Yeah, I was just wondering if you had a set day you had to be finished by.
I don't really have a set day to finish but I think my family would like it if I took closer to four months than five, but we'll see!
Here's an out of the way question. What about toilet paper or other hygiene?
Nicely done!
Thanks!
It was interesting to note that Skurka likes the Fenix light. Specs indicate about half an hour of light or so at 100 lumens per bat. Is that going to be good enough if you want to do some night hiking. I'm curious since I've never done a thru-hike myself but am collecting the gear for it. I ended up getting an ArmyTek Wizard pro (1.7 oz) that goes about 15 hrs@115 lumens per 3400 MAH bat.
I don't have the Skurka book with me now, but I think he says he supplements that light with a headlamp if he's going to be doing a lot of night hiking. I don't use the 100 lumen setting to night hike. The specs say 4 hours at 25 lumens and 14 hours at 8 lumens. If it turns out I'm doing a lot of night hiking, I'd probably just carry more spare batteries than otherwise. It's something I might experiment with on the trail . . . Thanks for commenting.
Sounds like you might be going through a lot of batteries. Wouldn't it be better weight wise and and recharging wise to manage it all with one battery @1.6 oz? 18650 bats are known to give you the most charge per oz, it's what they build power banks with, you knew that, right?
Thanks, I'll take a look. I'm not a big flashlight user in general. Typically I'll set up before dark and not use the flashlight at all. As I said, I'll have to wait to see how much night hiking I end up doing . . .
does anyone think about maybe getting lean and slashing your body weight? I am in good shape with a normal bmi about 14% body fat but i could drop about 13 pounds to 9%.
If you get any lighter you could invest in wings! Good video man, stoked for the AT series.
Speaking of which, what month are you heading out? Are you sobo or nobo?
Thanks for the encouragement! Nobo, mid-to-late April . . .
What are your non- cooking food choices...I may have missed that video..
I just a video on my trail diet. (5-27-21)
is the zpacks food bag critter and bear proof?
Quick question......how are you going to get your hands clean enough to deal with contact lenses ?..Im sure you have this figured out..just wondering....and when are you planning to start ?. NOBO or SOBO ?...
The contact lenses -- I always use hand sanitizer before putting my fingers in my eyes. I can't think of many other options other than this. Nobo, mid-to-late April. Thanks for commenting!
Great video!
Thanks, appreciate it! Keep your own great AT-prep videos coming!
The roller coster which video number is that ..?
Jim Tabor 19 and 20 covers the roller coaster I think ...
Cutting weight is very simple just be willing to throw a lot of money at it. The big 3 will cost about 1000$. This looks god though. It seems most of your reduction was ditching stuff you knew you were not going to use. Your first aid kit was heavy,
You're right about money. I'm working on the first aid kit now . . .
Evan, I hate my life...I made the dreaded mistake of following Bigfoot’s advice and “just get a scale.” Yeah, ok, Bigfoot, Mr. Ultralight speed freak. So, my big three was awesome and I was at 7lbs...life was good. Then I added in winter clothes (admittedly heavy), and electronics, and cooking, and came to 12.73lbs. Still jazzed, until I go to my poncho...my beloved poncho, pack cover, ground sheet...1.53lbs! 1.53lbs all alone, I was despondent, wrecked by the injustice. If not for Xanax and bourbon I would have lost a nights sleep. My wife continues to console me, and now you, you, do this to me...remind me that I am foolish for holding on to my beloved poncho. The only thing getting me through this night is I know you have lost your mind giving up your inflatable sleep pad and the device which makes hot chocolate at night possible...
Hah, funny comment! As always, I appreciate your input. Keep your own great videos about your own thru-hike coming! As I said in my video, the great thing about gear on the AT is that you can change your mind about it if you need to. The gear videos that AT hikers make halfway their trip through can be very enlightening (as those same hikers get "lightened") . . And speaking of bourbon--that's what I'd REALLY like to take on the trail. That's something else I gave up a long time ago for backpacking because of the weight . . .
There’s a difference between hiking light and hiking stupid I have an 8 1/2 pound base weight and still have my Thurmer rest pad however I do not have toenail clippers and tweezers and a pound of other crap are you need is your sleeping bag a light tent and air mattress a puffy jacket a rain jacket and a headlamp that it maybe a small First aid kit for your feet but should still be under 6 to 8 ounces
Don’t remove vital items to cut weight remove the items you don’t absolutely need to survive you took your Thurmer rest air mattress out yet you left a bunch of stuff you don’t really need all you really need should fall under 10 pounds if done right
hey evan how are you doing today
Hey Joey thanks for stopping by!