👇 GEAR FROM THE VIDEO 👇 Gold Award: geni.us/X-Dome1plus Silver Award: geni.us/NeoLoft Bronze Award: geni.us/PetrelPot Best Pack 1: geni.us/Kakwa55 Best Pack 2: geni.us/Flash55 Best Sleeping Pad 1: geni.us/HelixSleepingPad Best Sleeping Pad 2: geni.us/NeoLoft Best Sleep Insulation 1: geni.us/ZenbivyULbed Best Sleep Insulation 2: geni.us/Trek900SleepingBag Best Pillow 1: geni.us/MegaPillow Best Pillow 2: geni.us/TrekologyPillow Best 1P Tent: geni.us/X-Dome1plus Best 2P Tent 1: geni.us/Dragonfly2P Best 2P tent 2: geni.us/X-Mid2 Best Pot: geni.us/PetrelPot Best Stove: geni.us/GreenPeakStove Best Water Filter: geni.us/PlatyQuickDraw Best Headlamp: geni.us/NU20Classic Best SOS Device: geni.us/MessengerPlus Best Battery Bank: geni.us/BudgetPowerBank Best Pump: geni.us/TinyPumpX Best Trowel: geni.us/BoglerTrowel Best Chair: geni.us/MoonliteElite Best Down Jacket (M): geni.us/Trek100DownJacketM Best Down Jacket (W): geni.us/Trekk100DownJacketW
I am a hammock camper due to the incredible comfort hammocks offer. If I ever have to backpack where there are no trees, I would get that thick mattress despite the weight.
The most important part of a water filter is how well it filters water. Sawyer's filters are an order of magnitude better than any other brand. I highly recommend anyone watch Gear Skeptic's video on microfiltration. Plus, I'd rather give my money to a company that donates over 90% of its profits to clean water charities. Overall though we agree more than we disagree. The Kakwa, X-Mid, Petrel, and Veektomx went on my thru hikes this year and I was very pleased.
Thanks for the kind words :) Glad you're liking the X-Dome, X-Mid and Kakwa. I'm going to have to try that NeoLoft. The weight is a bit hard to stomach for a weight weenie like me, but it sure looks comfortable and I don't sleep well on other pads. Seems like with that much thickness, you'd really have to go wide as well. Slightly annoying they had to break with the 25" standard for the "wide" though. Making it 26" means that two of them won't fit in the vast majority of 2P tents. - Dan
@@patricksparksadventures With all the money involved in outdoor gear reviews, I don't even need to go to the trail and hike anymore! I can just zip around going 100 mph in school zones. I just make sure not to film it on my DJI camera. iykyk ;)
@@JustinOutdoors wow had to look that one up. Oooof! What a dingus. Money makes people do stupid things. It’s nice us outdoors folks are generally broke and thus fairly grounded. Makes making friends out there easy. If you ever want to come out to California for some adventuring, let me know! I got spots (and drive slow)!
The Neoloft is an UNBELIEVABLE pad. We went straight to an REI to try them out as soon as we saw your video on one a few weeks ago. It's INCREDIBLE. And really not *that* much bigger or heavier than the insulated Tensor I've been using for years. It's noticeable, but not enough to deter me from using it. Will definitely be my next pad.
The Thermarest NeoLoft and the Zenbivy ultralight (large size) bed system together have to be the best backpacking sleep system for extreme comfort, though, it will be approximately 4.9lbs, but if you swap the Zenbivy pillow out for the mega pillow, it’ll bring it down to 4.75lbs. Worth every ounce in my opinion, especially if your kit is largely UL anyways to offset the weight a bit.
Oooo I'm going to have to think long and hard about that pot/stove combo. I'm currently using a "starter"-tier $25 pot/stove combo from amazon. It works just fine, has a piezo igniter which I appreciate and honestly has 0 issues...but I'm still very tempted anyway. If it weren't for my cheep one having a 4-foot pot stand I would absolutely just get the pot and keep the current stove.
Thanks Justin for the great content! The Durston X-Dome 1 Plus is an amazing tent. I can't wait for Dan to release the Pro versions... hopefully in 2025... such tent in Dyneema will be extremely hard to beat with all the features of an ultralight trekking pole tent but being freestanding (my assumption is it will be around 27 oz).
I am hoping my ordered X-dome will get here soon so I can get in on all this hype! Also just bought the Helix, partially on your recommendation, partially because it resembles my old $30 Amazon pad that was plenty comfortable, but not at all warm. Great reviews. But I found some of the links did not work on my phone, fyi.
I will be. I am just waiting for my production version to arrive and to then get it out on some trips. I'll likely have a review complete in January or February.
@@JustinOutdoorsexcellent. Can’t wait for mine to arrive! Also, I’d like to know how many people, after watching your videos, search for an answer to why a titanium spork or water filter would be more effective in pink 😂
The Tiny Pump X (not the 2X nor the zero pump) is the best tinypump from flextail. It is the lightest weight pump they offer (even lighter than the zero pump if you included the required battery weight). It also has a higher psi rating than the zero pump. AND, it comes with a lantern! :)
Oh what! You surprised me! Like you already had anticipated, I thought for sure the pump was going to be an AlpenBlow or Pad-Pal😂... Not going to lie, this has me instantly rethinking my strategy going forward ;). Im glad Dan got the spots he did, he deserves the X-dome one in particular! I was open to the idea of wanting a free standing tent again (for trips with my boo), but never anticipated I'd get all excited and nerd out over one. Really looking forward to seeing Mr. Durstan's 2 person version!
Justin. Another great one. I am looking for gear that will drop my carry weight by 2-3 pounds. Always interested in your picks. Might have to go with a Dyneema tent like Zpacks Offset Solo. Really love my old North Face O2 but it's over 2# even with my DIY trekking pole mod. We agree that the REI Flash packs are outstanding but again, over 2 #. I just upgraded my REI Magma 30 by adding 5 ounces of 800 FP down. It's now 25 ounces but will be a LOT warmer. Bought the Fire Maple Petrel. Outstanding pot. It cuts boil time by about 20% when used with my DIY alcohol burner. Hey, it's not a Jet Boil but a 5-6 minute 2 cup boil is pretty good. That chair looks really comfy but too heavy. Love my Decathlon puffer but might look for something lighter. Thanks
Justin if you get a chance will you try the Light Tour pad and let your audience know what you think? I think its probably the best bang for your buck option I've tried... however...my first one of two ( 3 season and a 4 season) the 3 season has sprung a slow leak I cant locate it which is a bummer ( possibly a slow bubble from the valve internally. But having said that I have also had two thermarests, the xlite and xtherm and both sprung leaks too, so I guess the Light Tour is slightly ahead in the reliability stakes so far. ! Thanks Andrew
I have it coming in as well as the naturehike 5.8 and 8.8 pads. I am dedicating 2025 to testing a bunch of these newer pads to market from brands not traditionally known for sleeping pads.
Great choices! Like my FM petrel thus far. Had the x-mid 2 for close to a year now, love it and my doggo does to! Can't wait to get my hands on x-dome 1+ solid when it releases
I hope thermarest makes a neoloft extreme and follows the same design as the xtherm. That would be the ideal pad for us winter guys. If you communicate with thermarest regularly you should suggest it!
Fire Maple has the Petrel Ultralight Kit on Black Friday sale $60.99: Greenpeak, titanium canister stand, aluminum pot & Petrel Ultralight folding table. Free shipping over $64, 7% off $79 (Kit #2 with Hornet II is $70.99)
I’m surprised the Zpack Arc Haul wasn’t considered #1 for pack. I’d assume the Durston and Flash pack would come in close 2nd. For stove system, I use a similar setup except I pair my Firemaple pot with the Soto Windmaster and Triflex stove for better performance and efficiency. Also, I like the Nitecore headlamp but ended up with Petzl Bindi instead given they are the same weight.
This list balanced performance, weight, and cost and the cost factor really affects Zpacks. But stay tuned for the UL Gear Awards where cost is taken out of the equation ;)
Hi Justin, will you ever do a Winter test of the Hikenture 6.2 R-Value sleeping mat? I am thinking about buying it but I do not really trust the R-Value, even tho they have the certificate on the amazon link.
Any opinions on the kakwa 55 vs 40? Have a gossamer gear Mariposa 60 and really feeling the kakwa 40 but the 55 is negligible in weight and cost increase.
FWIW, the 55 outsells the 40 about 4:1. If you're dialed in then go with the 40L but if you sometimes have bigger loads then the 55 adds quite a bit of capacity for not much of a weight difference and you can easily roll down the unused space.
I just got an Exped Ultra 3R on sale. I would have loved the thick thermarest but I’m already tipping the scales with my pretty heavy Nemo Disco 15 I got at a steep discount. I need to save as much weight as I can to offset it. If I dial in my setup more (when I have more $$$) I’d sacrifice the extra 11 or so ounces for sure. I love being comfy
@11:08 AND!♡as an old traveler I can tell you... nearly EVERYONE forgets to bring a way to SIGNAL in an emergency. That bright orange red thermaRest pad might just save someone's LIFE!❤ that's rad.👍
Hi Justin. Really like and appreciate your content. Great reviews and user experience. Much appreciated. Have you ever tried Taiga Works clothing and equipment? Would be curious of your take on this Canadian brand. Cheers from Quebec City.
Have you ever tried the kilos gear aerocloud UL? The specs are pretty good for the price. I would love to hear you what you think about it co pared to the rei helix and the ZenBivy ul.
Thermarest Neoloft is amazing! The megamat Lite 12 has been around for years though and was just as thick and comfortable so its not really accurate to say this is the thickest, but this one packs smaller since it uses a mylar reflective layer instead of synthetic insulation. I was happy to upgrade!
@@JustinOutdoors It is a backpacking pad, just wasn't well advertised. Its only about 7oz heavier than the Neoloft so I've used it backpacking until now. Not talking about the standard megamat, the "lite" version is a pure air pad and I'm glad Thermarest and Zenbivy finally used the same strech knit top. I hope to see that become a standard material feature for all brands going forward!
Are you thinking like, "3/4 season" kinda thing where you'll be paying close attention to the weather, or more like (what I at least think of as) a _true_ 4-season? The former I think Justin's talked about using the X-Mid 2 as that before. The latter....I couldn't find one when I was looking. :/ "Budget" for that kinda thing was more like $400 with the "Tarptent Scarp 1" (although it looks like that's around $280 right now which seems really good!)
For what it’s worth, I bought 4 pads at rei a few months ago. Rei helix, Nemo tensor extreme, exped ultra 7, and thermarest neoair. To me personally the helix was the least comfortable. I was hoping based on Justin’s rec that it was going to be the most comfortable for me, because it was the cheapest of the four, but it wasnt. Exped was the most comfortable for me so I kept that one and returned the rest. Second place was the Nemo.
Hi Justin, you mentioned to go with the pink version of the platy quick draw water filter. What separates this version over the blue version? I see the quick draw is now available in other colours as well. Thanks.
The decathlon MT100 jacket has been a let down for me - turns out they’ve been slowly decreasing the down fill since 2021 by 25%. Maybe a good video idea to test old and new ‘tested gear’ to see if companies are making new versions worse.
@@nicholasvazquez5846 Yes, I cannot paste a link in youtube comment without getting deleted. You can search 'trek 100 jacket reddit down fill 2021'. In the comments people have posted internet archive page of the specs for the old vs new jackets.
@@nicholasvazquez5846 Yes. I cannot post link or how to search for it without youtube deleting my comment. Reddit has a comment thread on this with internet archive proof.
I’ve slept on my Helix two nights now and both times my shoulder/arm fell asleep. I tried to deflate the pad but it didn’t seem to help. Any tips to make my setup more comfortable?
Silva has to be the better option when I chose a headlamp. Their performance, usability and durability outclasses the Nightcore. And for 53g I’m happy to carry some extra Gramms
The decathalon sleeping bag is "no longer available". A similar bag, about same weight and price is a Kelty Cosmic ultra 800 Down Sleeping bag, 20 degree bag 800 fill down. It's on sale now for around $150.
I am in a scarily similar situation. Seems like this backpack came outta nowhere. Can see this price bumping up in the near future (unfortunately). I’ll still stick with my osprey for now, no real need to upgrade (personally)
@ i like my Osprey…. but i seem to be constantly fighting with weight. Ounces turn to pounds and pounds turn into pain mantra. I am doing a 6-7 day hike next year and being 3.5 pounds lighter at the start is a win for these old bones!
The Decathlon 100 down jacket doesn't have the same colors anymore. and also I just got a new one and it seems to me have less down than before. At least it feels that way. (I got a bigger size too).
I have a couple of questions that just don't ever get answered... I see in this video clips of you using Zenbivy's own pad as well as the bed with the Tensor pad... How does the Zenbivy pad compare in comfort and warmth as I never see the Zenbivy pad compared directly to other pads, only alongside the bed. Speaking of pads, can anyone answer why the Thermarest Neoloft is NOT list on their own website. I can find third party reviews but it's just not on their own website at all. Great to see the larger Flextail get a mention as that was my choice (I bought one) as that light is a brilliant bonus. I'd love to get the X-Dome but even the 2P is just not big enough for me as I motorcycle camp and prefer the size of a 3P and I have decided to go with the BA Copper Spur HV UL3. I was all set to buy a Zenbivy buy I am unsure about which pad to get (theirs or another) and now I am waiting for their new Trek and Overland products coming out early next year. Lastly, when it comes to camp chairs, I wish someone would include the slightly larger packed tall back chairs. Sitting in those low back chairs for more than 15 mins puts a lot of stress on your shoulders and especially the next and I just can't relax. I have a Trekology version and think it's brilliant. Thanks for the video.
Decathlon down jackets seem to have tight sleeves. I like everything else about them but the sleeves are too narrow. My wife and I both have their Trek 900 jackets and found that the torso will fit great but the sleeves all seem tight. I don't know if this is because they are attempting to make them less bulky for fashion, to save material or designed on really skinny models. I was living in Manitoba Canada were it does get to -40C and layering is a must. Found it a snug fit with regular shirt sleeves and tight (compressing the insulation making it colder tight) if you had a heavy sweater or fleece. As a stand alone warm jacket it is OK but looking for something better fitting for the arms. So far the military surplus market is providing the best options for puffy jackets.
Does anyone know if you need to fly with your water filter in your carry-on? I've been packing mine to take on board with me for years, but I assume our checked luggage gets cold but not freezing. I always have to check a bag if I'm bringing a camping stove, knife, and other camping gear.
Urgent question while REI has their 20% of coupons right now. Will the new Therm-a-Rest pad that’s 4.5in thick work with a Zenbivy sleep system?! Need to know before I buy please! Love the content
Hem-hem... how does the pink QuickDraw work better than the Blue one? ...also the MAX Pump 3 blows the Tiny Pump 2X away! literally! Boy Justin! I tell'ya! 🤔
“As [you] get older…” ! You’ll (hopefully) still be out there doing this in 30 years time and you’ll look back at this kind of comment with amusement! (; Source? Me! Who is out there at almost 30 years older than you! And who, despite arthritis and disc problems, asthma and various injuries is still doing 25-30 mile days and finding that ultralight (8- 8.5lb) on long, 3 season days is more crucial to me than it ever was for comfort and longevity on trail!
I'm don't think the Garmin messenger should be getting the satellite communicator award. Garmin price hiked their plans this year which impacts every device in the Garmin communicator ecosystem including the popular Mini inreach line. Instead, I think the Iphone should be getting that award with their messenger capabilities.
I tried the insulated kilo gear pad and had a bad experience. Reaallllllly cold felt almost like uninsulated and i was in a 22 degree quilt in 40s and im a warm sleeper. I wouldn’t recommend
For us Europeans, the Big 3 are a bit depressing. No Rei Flash or Helix available, X-Dome around 560$, Kakwa almost 300$ Zenbivy 700$ - well at least we have decathlon
The taxes in Europe are unfortunate. You do pay a lot of tax (mostly VAT) but it is the same tax you pay on local gear too - the difference is just whether the taxes are included in a higher price or charged separately upon arrival.
@@durstongear That's only kind of true. Importing something as a private person is still way more expensive than buying something from a local retailer who has imported it in bulk via existing business channels. Also local retailers have sales and added security in case of warranty claims. Obviously I'm not blaming @durstongear for this. The X-Dome looks great and I'd really like to have one. But for me at 560$ it's not a no-brainer like it would be for someone from the US or Canada. @chagas99z Brexit :)
👇 GEAR FROM THE VIDEO 👇
Gold Award: geni.us/X-Dome1plus
Silver Award: geni.us/NeoLoft
Bronze Award: geni.us/PetrelPot
Best Pack 1: geni.us/Kakwa55
Best Pack 2: geni.us/Flash55
Best Sleeping Pad 1: geni.us/HelixSleepingPad
Best Sleeping Pad 2: geni.us/NeoLoft
Best Sleep Insulation 1: geni.us/ZenbivyULbed
Best Sleep Insulation 2: geni.us/Trek900SleepingBag
Best Pillow 1: geni.us/MegaPillow
Best Pillow 2: geni.us/TrekologyPillow
Best 1P Tent: geni.us/X-Dome1plus
Best 2P Tent 1: geni.us/Dragonfly2P
Best 2P tent 2: geni.us/X-Mid2
Best Pot: geni.us/PetrelPot
Best Stove: geni.us/GreenPeakStove
Best Water Filter: geni.us/PlatyQuickDraw
Best Headlamp: geni.us/NU20Classic
Best SOS Device: geni.us/MessengerPlus
Best Battery Bank: geni.us/BudgetPowerBank
Best Pump: geni.us/TinyPumpX
Best Trowel: geni.us/BoglerTrowel
Best Chair: geni.us/MoonliteElite
Best Down Jacket (M): geni.us/Trek100DownJacketM
Best Down Jacket (W): geni.us/Trekk100DownJacketW
I am a hammock camper due to the incredible comfort hammocks offer. If I ever have to backpack where there are no trees, I would get that thick mattress despite the weight.
Thanks for always highlighting amazing gear but also affordable gear!
The most important part of a water filter is how well it filters water. Sawyer's filters are an order of magnitude better than any other brand. I highly recommend anyone watch Gear Skeptic's video on microfiltration. Plus, I'd rather give my money to a company that donates over 90% of its profits to clean water charities.
Overall though we agree more than we disagree. The Kakwa, X-Mid, Petrel, and Veektomx went on my thru hikes this year and I was very pleased.
Thanks for the kind words :) Glad you're liking the X-Dome, X-Mid and Kakwa.
I'm going to have to try that NeoLoft. The weight is a bit hard to stomach for a weight weenie like me, but it sure looks comfortable and I don't sleep well on other pads. Seems like with that much thickness, you'd really have to go wide as well. Slightly annoying they had to break with the 25" standard for the "wide" though. Making it 26" means that two of them won't fit in the vast majority of 2P tents.
- Dan
They will fit in yours though 👀 I posted me using a 26" MondoKing 3D in your group a while back.
@@Andy-Mesa Was that two of them in a 2P? Or one in a 1P?
@@durstongearI believe your 2+ tent holds 2 Neolofts. If I’m not mistaken, the floor width is 52” and 26+26=52.
The thing weighs two friggin pounds. It better be comfy. I mean, Why not pack a futon? Lean into it.
@@durstongear I’ve done both. Two in the Pro 2+ and 1 in the Pro 1. I can’t speak to the Pro 2, but the regular 2 should work.
Zenbivy is the best? I agree but I don’t think Justin from 1-2 years ago would agree
I'm obligated to say zenbivy is good now because of the Lamborghini they bought me.
@@JustinOutdoorsI bet you get to the trailhead so fast now though!
@@patricksparksadventures With all the money involved in outdoor gear reviews, I don't even need to go to the trail and hike anymore! I can just zip around going 100 mph in school zones. I just make sure not to film it on my DJI camera. iykyk ;)
@@JustinOutdoors wow had to look that one up. Oooof! What a dingus. Money makes people do stupid things. It’s nice us outdoors folks are generally broke and thus fairly grounded. Makes making friends out there easy. If you ever want to come out to California for some adventuring, let me know! I got spots (and drive slow)!
The Neoloft is an UNBELIEVABLE pad. We went straight to an REI to try them out as soon as we saw your video on one a few weeks ago. It's INCREDIBLE. And really not *that* much bigger or heavier than the insulated Tensor I've been using for years. It's noticeable, but not enough to deter me from using it. Will definitely be my next pad.
The Thermarest NeoLoft and the Zenbivy ultralight (large size) bed system together have to be the best backpacking sleep system for extreme comfort, though, it will be approximately 4.9lbs, but if you swap the Zenbivy pillow out for the mega pillow, it’ll bring it down to 4.75lbs. Worth every ounce in my opinion, especially if your kit is largely UL anyways to offset the weight a bit.
Oooo I'm going to have to think long and hard about that pot/stove combo. I'm currently using a "starter"-tier $25 pot/stove combo from amazon. It works just fine, has a piezo igniter which I appreciate and honestly has 0 issues...but I'm still very tempted anyway.
If it weren't for my cheep one having a 4-foot pot stand I would absolutely just get the pot and keep the current stove.
That Thermarest pad is insane! They basically took the MondoKing 3D, added thickness all while cutting the weight.
I have the MondoKing 3D for when I’m on car camping trips, and it sleeps better than my bed. They’re doing some incredible innovation.
Thanks Justin for the great content!
The Durston X-Dome 1 Plus is an amazing tent. I can't wait for Dan to release the Pro versions... hopefully in 2025... such tent in Dyneema will be extremely hard to beat with all the features of an ultralight trekking pole tent but being freestanding (my assumption is it will be around 27 oz).
I am hoping my ordered X-dome will get here soon so I can get in on all this hype! Also just bought the Helix, partially on your recommendation, partially because it resembles my old $30 Amazon pad that was plenty comfortable, but not at all warm. Great reviews. But I found some of the links did not work on my phone, fyi.
Thanks! Which links?
@@JustinOutdoors the filter and headlamp, but they seem to work now. Sorry.
Thermarest’s Topo line of sleeping pads is pretty comfortable too
Are you doing a full review video for the X-Dome?
I will be. I am just waiting for my production version to arrive and to then get it out on some trips. I'll likely have a review complete in January or February.
@@JustinOutdoorsexcellent. Can’t wait for mine to arrive!
Also, I’d like to know how many people, after watching your videos, search for an answer to why a titanium spork or water filter would be more effective in pink 😂
The Tiny Pump X (not the 2X nor the zero pump) is the best tinypump from flextail. It is the lightest weight pump they offer (even lighter than the zero pump if you included the required battery weight). It also has a higher psi rating than the zero pump. AND, it comes with a lantern! :)
I've never upgraded from that one, because you said this, I definitely won't now. I'm really happy with it
That zen bivy was a huge hit for me this year!!!!!
Best puffy is without a doubt the plasma 1k by Montbell
Oh what! You surprised me! Like you already had anticipated, I thought for sure the pump was going to be an AlpenBlow or Pad-Pal😂... Not going to lie, this has me instantly rethinking my strategy going forward ;).
Im glad Dan got the spots he did, he deserves the X-dome one in particular! I was open to the idea of wanting a free standing tent again (for trips with my boo), but never anticipated I'd get all excited and nerd out over one. Really looking forward to seeing Mr. Durstan's 2 person version!
I have the Petrel and it is a home run for sure. I wanna look at the Neoloft pad. As a side sleeper thickness is king.
Awesome video as always! REI is on sale right now
Justin. Another great one. I am looking for gear that will drop my carry weight by 2-3 pounds. Always interested in your picks. Might have to go with a Dyneema tent like Zpacks Offset Solo. Really love my old North Face O2 but it's over 2# even with my DIY trekking pole mod. We agree that the REI Flash packs are outstanding but again, over 2 #. I just upgraded my REI Magma 30 by adding 5 ounces of 800 FP down. It's now 25 ounces but will be a LOT warmer. Bought the Fire Maple Petrel. Outstanding pot. It cuts boil time by about 20% when used with my DIY alcohol burner. Hey, it's not a Jet Boil but a 5-6 minute 2 cup boil is pretty good. That chair looks really comfy but too heavy. Love my Decathlon puffer but might look for something lighter. Thanks
Justin if you get a chance will you try the Light Tour pad and let your audience know what you think? I think its probably the best bang for your buck option I've tried... however...my first one of two ( 3 season and a 4 season) the 3 season has sprung a slow leak I cant locate it which is a bummer ( possibly a slow bubble from the valve internally. But having said that I have also had two thermarests, the xlite and xtherm and both sprung leaks too, so I guess the Light Tour is slightly ahead in the reliability stakes so far. ! Thanks Andrew
I have it coming in as well as the naturehike 5.8 and 8.8 pads. I am dedicating 2025 to testing a bunch of these newer pads to market from brands not traditionally known for sleeping pads.
Great choices! Like my FM petrel thus far. Had the x-mid 2 for close to a year now, love it and my doggo does to! Can't wait to get my hands on x-dome 1+ solid when it releases
I hope thermarest makes a neoloft extreme and follows the same design as the xtherm. That would be the ideal pad for us winter guys. If you communicate with thermarest regularly you should suggest it!
Fire Maple has the Petrel Ultralight Kit on Black Friday sale $60.99: Greenpeak, titanium canister stand, aluminum pot & Petrel Ultralight folding table.
Free shipping over $64, 7% off $79
(Kit #2 with Hornet II is $70.99)
Love my new Fire Maple green peak and petrol pot! Waiting for the the xdome two-person to come out!
I’m surprised the Zpack Arc Haul wasn’t considered #1 for pack. I’d assume the Durston and Flash pack would come in close 2nd.
For stove system, I use a similar setup except I pair my Firemaple pot with the Soto Windmaster and Triflex stove for better performance and efficiency.
Also, I like the Nitecore headlamp but ended up with Petzl Bindi instead given they are the same weight.
This list balanced performance, weight, and cost and the cost factor really affects Zpacks. But stay tuned for the UL Gear Awards where cost is taken out of the equation ;)
@ got it! Can’t wait for the UL gear award as I’m always trying to lighten my load without sacrificing on comfort. Thank you! 🙏
Hi Justin, will you ever do a Winter test of the Hikenture 6.2 R-Value sleeping mat? I am thinking about buying it but I do not really trust the R-Value, even tho they have the certificate on the amazon link.
Great video - thanks!! Does the X-Dome recommendation factor in the results of the wind test that you mentioned on Reddit?
It does :)
@@JustinOutdoors Great - thanks! Was worried that it was one of the tents that had failed/broken!
Any opinions on the kakwa 55 vs 40? Have a gossamer gear Mariposa 60 and really feeling the kakwa 40 but the 55 is negligible in weight and cost increase.
FWIW, the 55 outsells the 40 about 4:1. If you're dialed in then go with the 40L but if you sometimes have bigger loads then the 55 adds quite a bit of capacity for not much of a weight difference and you can easily roll down the unused space.
@@durstongear thanks. Love my xmid 2 solid as well.
Will the Zenbivy sheet fit on the NeoLoft??
It does with no problems! This is my current set up for the last few trips and they work excellent together.
I just got an Exped Ultra 3R on sale. I would have loved the thick thermarest but I’m already tipping the scales with my pretty heavy Nemo Disco 15 I got at a steep discount. I need to save as much weight as I can to offset it.
If I dial in my setup more (when I have more $$$) I’d sacrifice the extra 11 or so ounces for sure. I love being comfy
You should try the Gregory Paragon 58L pack. Its one of my favorites at a more entry level price.
How about the best tarp? Like the one you showed in this clip over the durston xmid 2.
❤I always just pitch the ol' military Poncho😊
@11:08 AND!♡as an old traveler I can tell you... nearly EVERYONE forgets to bring a way to SIGNAL in an emergency. That bright orange red thermaRest pad might just save someone's LIFE!❤ that's rad.👍
Flash 55 on sale for $140
Looks like it was in short supply but then came back as a "new arrival" not sure if any changes were made?
The only difference is that the "new" one uses non-fluorinated DWR materials.
Hi Justin. Really like and appreciate your content. Great reviews and user experience. Much appreciated. Have you ever tried Taiga Works clothing and equipment? Would be curious of your take on this Canadian brand. Cheers from Quebec City.
Have you ever tried the kilos gear aerocloud UL? The specs are pretty good for the price. I would love to hear you what you think about it co pared to the rei helix and the ZenBivy ul.
Thermarest Neoloft is amazing! The megamat Lite 12 has been around for years though and was just as thick and comfortable so its not really accurate to say this is the thickest, but this one packs smaller since it uses a mylar reflective layer instead of synthetic insulation. I was happy to upgrade!
Thickest for backpacking
@@JustinOutdoors It is a backpacking pad, just wasn't well advertised. Its only about 7oz heavier than the Neoloft so I've used it backpacking until now. Not talking about the standard megamat, the "lite" version is a pure air pad and I'm glad Thermarest and Zenbivy finally used the same strech knit top. I hope to see that become a standard material feature for all brands going forward!
Fire Maple now has a pressure regulated version of the greenpeak.
Do you have any recommendations for a budget 4 season 1p tent?
Are you thinking like, "3/4 season" kinda thing where you'll be paying close attention to the weather, or more like (what I at least think of as) a _true_ 4-season?
The former I think Justin's talked about using the X-Mid 2 as that before. The latter....I couldn't find one when I was looking. :/ "Budget" for that kinda thing was more like $400 with the "Tarptent Scarp 1" (although it looks like that's around $280 right now which seems really good!)
@chrisc1140 something for winter in Canada, solid inner no fiberglass poles. Budget 2p are relatively easy to find 1p not so much
Terra nova pioneer 2 depending on your budget. Its not true 4 season though @shawnr6117
Great to see Veetomx on here!
For what it’s worth, I bought 4 pads at rei a few months ago. Rei helix, Nemo tensor extreme, exped ultra 7, and thermarest neoair. To me personally the helix was the least comfortable. I was hoping based on Justin’s rec that it was going to be the most comfortable for me, because it was the cheapest of the four, but it wasnt. Exped was the most comfortable for me so I kept that one and returned the rest. Second place was the Nemo.
Hi Justin, you mentioned to go with the pink version of the platy quick draw water filter. What separates this version over the blue version? I see the quick draw is now available in other colours as well. Thanks.
It's prettier
Thanks and yes, the gear you love will always will work much better than the stuff you don't ........no matter what.
The decathlon MT100 jacket has been a let down for me - turns out they’ve been slowly decreasing the down fill since 2021 by 25%. Maybe a good video idea to test old and new ‘tested gear’ to see if companies are making new versions worse.
Is there proof that the fill is down?
@@nicholasvazquez5846 Yes, I cannot paste a link in youtube comment without getting deleted. You can search 'trek 100 jacket reddit down fill 2021'. In the comments people have posted internet archive page of the specs for the old vs new jackets.
@@nicholasvazquez5846 Yes. I cannot post link or how to search for it without youtube deleting my comment. Reddit has a comment thread on this with internet archive proof.
@@nicholasvazquez5846 Yes, people have compared internet archive pages of the specs.
@@nicholasvazquez5846 Yes via internet archive
Where are the links to Sleep Systems?
Ah, good catch! Thanks! Both are added now
I’ve slept on my Helix two nights now and both times my shoulder/arm fell asleep. I tried to deflate the pad but it didn’t seem to help. Any tips to make my setup more comfortable?
Is your pillow tall enough or does your head kind of tilt down? Try raising your pillow up if it's on the short side.
Good point - my pillow is propped up but maybe not enough
Silva has to be the better option when I chose a headlamp. Their performance, usability and durability outclasses the Nightcore. And for 53g I’m happy to carry some extra Gramms
How come there’s no titanium pot with a heat exchanger? You’d think titanium would really benefit from the added heat efficiency.
The decathalon sleeping bag is "no longer available". A similar bag, about same weight and price is a Kelty Cosmic ultra 800 Down Sleeping bag, 20 degree bag 800 fill down. It's on sale now for around $150.
Can you really fit two 25 inch pads in the Nemo Dragonfly 2P?
I literally show it. th-cam.com/video/uLJY4XWKKF0/w-d-xo.htmlsi=XAOSEdwtR6vb7SlN&t=328
Well, today i pulled the trigger on a Durston Kakaw 55. Over 3.5 pounds lighter then my Osprey.
I am in a scarily similar situation. Seems like this backpack came outta nowhere. Can see this price bumping up in the near future (unfortunately). I’ll still stick with my osprey for now, no real need to upgrade (personally)
@ i like my Osprey…. but i seem to be constantly fighting with weight. Ounces turn to pounds and pounds turn into pain mantra. I am doing a 6-7 day hike next year and being 3.5 pounds lighter at the start is a win for these old bones!
i am thinking to sell my second flash 55 and my Xmid1 and ordering a Xdome1 i love my Xmid1 but the Xdome1 would be better suited to me .
The Decathlon 100 down jacket doesn't have the same colors anymore. and also I just got a new one and it seems to me have less down than before. At least it feels that way. (I got a bigger size too).
I have a couple of questions that just don't ever get answered... I see in this video clips of you using Zenbivy's own pad as well as the bed with the Tensor pad... How does the Zenbivy pad compare in comfort and warmth as I never see the Zenbivy pad compared directly to other pads, only alongside the bed.
Speaking of pads, can anyone answer why the Thermarest Neoloft is NOT list on their own website. I can find third party reviews but it's just not on their own website at all.
Great to see the larger Flextail get a mention as that was my choice (I bought one) as that light is a brilliant bonus.
I'd love to get the X-Dome but even the 2P is just not big enough for me as I motorcycle camp and prefer the size of a 3P and I have decided to go with the BA Copper Spur HV UL3. I was all set to buy a Zenbivy buy I am unsure about which pad to get (theirs or another) and now I am waiting for their new Trek and Overland products coming out early next year.
Lastly, when it comes to camp chairs, I wish someone would include the slightly larger packed tall back chairs. Sitting in those low back chairs for more than 15 mins puts a lot of stress on your shoulders and especially the next and I just can't relax. I have a Trekology version and think it's brilliant.
Thanks for the video.
I'll have a video comparing the zenbivy flex air to a bunch of other comfort pads coming out next Friday.
I swear by the Anker Nano power bank
Decathlon down jackets seem to have tight sleeves.
I like everything else about them but the sleeves are too narrow. My wife and I both have their Trek 900 jackets and found that the torso will fit great but the sleeves all seem tight.
I don't know if this is because they are attempting to make them less bulky for fashion, to save material or designed on really skinny models.
I was living in Manitoba Canada were it does get to -40C and layering is a must.
Found it a snug fit with regular shirt sleeves and tight (compressing the insulation making it colder tight) if you had a heavy sweater or fleece.
As a stand alone warm jacket it is OK but looking for something better fitting for the arms. So far the military surplus market is providing the best options for puffy jackets.
Perfect timing brother! Black Friday is almost upon us 😂 and my wallet is ready 😎
Partant du principe qu'à part mes jambes, je n'ai presque rien, c'est une liste géniale! Merci ;))
Does anyone know if you need to fly with your water filter in your carry-on? I've been packing mine to take on board with me for years, but I assume our checked luggage gets cold but not freezing. I always have to check a bag if I'm bringing a camping stove, knife, and other camping gear.
airplane cargo holds are kept above freezing
@JustinOutdoors - AMOLED or MIP display watch for hiking watch for 2025?
MIPS still for me. I'm using the Fenix 8 right now. I find AMOLED is still not up to par in bright sun and I don't like having to gesture.
Urgent question while REI has their 20% of coupons right now. Will the new Therm-a-Rest pad that’s 4.5in thick work with a Zenbivy sleep system?! Need to know before I buy please! Love the content
I'm just waking up and giving baby Josie cuddles but will check ASAP! Stay tuned.
@ That would be great thanks!
@@Rogue2492 with REI’s return policy, can’t you just go ahead and buy the pad, test it out at home, and return if it doesn’t fit?
The Zenbivy 25" sheets fit really nicely on the NeoLoft :)
@@JustinOutdoors appreciate the quick response! Thanks man
There are also 3oz adjustable carbon poles you can get if you don’t use trekking poles for Durston tents….
thanks for sharing!!!!
You say the Flash can hold “way more than the advertised 30 lbs”. Could you be more specific? How much can you comfortably carry with it?
40+lbs. I run out of volume before carry ability.
Hem-hem... how does the pink QuickDraw work better than the Blue one? ...also the MAX Pump 3 blows the Tiny Pump 2X away! literally! Boy Justin! I tell'ya! 🤔
The Big Agnes Copper Spur 2 Platinum has a slightly lighter minimum trail weight than the Nemo and a little better price.
As far as I've been told, the platinum and carbon series from Big Agnes have been discontinued.
@ Oh. Didn’t realize that. It appears they’re still available though so maybe until they’re all sold out…
Any love for Hilleberg tents?
what up Justin
MOON CHEESE
“As [you] get older…” !
You’ll (hopefully) still be out there doing this in 30 years time and you’ll look back at this kind of comment with amusement! (;
Source? Me! Who is out there at almost 30 years older than you! And who, despite arthritis and disc problems, asthma and various injuries is still doing 25-30 mile days and finding that ultralight (8- 8.5lb) on long, 3 season days is more crucial to me than it ever was for comfort and longevity on trail!
I do not trust Thermarest build quality for the high prices they charge, had 3 pads off them, and they've all failed, 2 delaminations and 1 slow leak.
I'm don't think the Garmin messenger should be getting the satellite communicator award. Garmin price hiked their plans this year which impacts every device in the Garmin communicator ecosystem including the popular Mini inreach line.
Instead, I think the Iphone should be getting that award with their messenger capabilities.
no kilos gear pad or rockfront quilt? mhhmmmm
The kilos gear pads have been pretty bad for me. The rock Front quilt will be part of the UL gear awards :)
@@JustinOutdoorsI was thinking this stuff was kinda heavy… 😂
I tried the insulated kilo gear pad and had a bad experience. Reaallllllly cold felt almost like uninsulated and i was in a 22 degree quilt in 40s and im a warm sleeper. I wouldn’t recommend
Be careful with that fire maple - it's aluminum
For us Europeans, the Big 3 are a bit depressing.
No Rei Flash or Helix available, X-Dome around 560$, Kakwa almost 300$
Zenbivy 700$ - well at least we have decathlon
The taxes in Europe are unfortunate. You do pay a lot of tax (mostly VAT) but it is the same tax you pay on local gear too - the difference is just whether the taxes are included in a higher price or charged separately upon arrival.
Atom packs in the UK are excellent and highly regarded.
@@durstongear That's only kind of true. Importing something as a private person is still way more expensive than buying something from a local retailer who has imported it in bulk via existing business channels. Also local retailers have sales and added security in case of warranty claims. Obviously I'm not blaming @durstongear for this. The X-Dome looks great and I'd really like to have one. But for me at 560$ it's not a no-brainer like it would be for someone from the US or Canada.
@chagas99z Brexit :)