I hadn't been to Philmont in many years. I put my clothes and sleeping bag with light weight |compression sacks. This kept everything dry and helped me get more space in my pack. I used good quality plastic bag for necessities.
Andy, I get that. I carried extra water a few times too because i also am the SM,LA. Only came in handy twice, but in my opinion... Once is enough to justify that.
Appreciate your time with this video. Not a lot of ULish post-trek gear summaries out there. Makes me a bit more comfortable about both taking my UL kit and recommending some of the methods to our crew. Cheers!
I think you'll find if you switch to a bladder that it takes up valuable space IN your pack, is a PITA to refill on the trail, is a big risk for leakage (especially when using a waterproof pack like the Z-Packs), and makes sharing more difficult. I used 4x Smartwater bottles on my last trek, one with a simple DIY hydration tube. You can see it in my recent Philmont Gear Part 1 video. It worked out beautifully. The guys on that trek that had water bladders often chose NOT to even use them because it was too much of a hassle. Their biggest complaint was that they often had no idea how much water they had drunk or how much was left. Being able to easily SEE how much is left in your water containers without having to take off your pack and dig is a big deal. I also carry the Arc Blast and found that I can mostly see my water situation with the pack on. If any of the water bottles are obscured and I can't see them, then it takes all of about 3 seconds for the person behind me to look and tell me.
@@AndyParrishOutdoors Yeah. My son used a 1L Platy bag in the side pouch of his backpack, and used 1L Smartwater bottles to refill as necessary. I'm a fan of collapsible bags as well. I carried a 10L Domodary bag and 6L Dromlight for crew water on dry camp days or for use in camp. Platy bags in the water filter kit as well.
All Philmont trek's were canceled due to Covid-19 so we are on track for 2022. (Let's see, 2018 fire, 2020 Covid, 2022 plague of locusts or alien abduction maybe)
Our flow tests showed that the Sawyer filter is ssllooww. The Platypus Gravityworks was about twice as fast in our tests. That makes a big difference with the amount of water a crew goes through. :)
@@AndyParrishOutdoors Some of my last crew were not fans of the filters. Even the GW was slow. But I can't stand the taste of the tablet treated water. :)
Thanks for watching Gayle! I'm glad they were useful. I really wanted to share our experiences so that others may benefit... I didn't find a lot of advice out there when we were preparing... There are so many strategies out there... What was most useful? And when are you /your scout going?
@@AndyParrishOutdoors We start our trek on July 25th of 2020. My son and I are going with our troop for high adventure. I went as a very young adult about 27 years ago. But to say the least it has been awhile. I loved your review of items for what was helpful and what wasn't, your description of what you were choosing and why. I appreciated what did and didn't work. That was very helpful to know. Lots of great content information. I am sure I will be watching again!
Great Video and great info Andy! I am glad that your trek went well. We are headed out in 3 weeks and I will pass this video onto the crew just as I have the others. Looking forward to new videos!
@@AndyParrishOutdoors thanks! Not even there yet and already planning our 12 day trek in 2021... its a sickness ;) I can't wait to be on trail. thanks again for all the great videos!
This is one video of a series. You can watch my choices over time as I go through my shakedowns! Thanks so much for watching. Im glad to hear that it will be helpful. If you have any questions, please feel free to post them!
What Patagonia R1 did you wear? The R1 Air Full-Zip Hoodie, the R1 Pullover Hoodie, or R1 TechFace Hoodie? Or, since that was a few years ago, do wear/recommend something else currently? Thanks!
I brought a Canon M50, but I was not thrilled with the results and I've since changed my setup. I would now recommend bringing a GoPro 10 or later and a phone for camera and pictures. You can see my current backpacking setup here. www.lighterpack.com/r/p72o2j
@@AndyParrishOutdoors Looking to go to Philmont either in 2025 or 2026 so just trying to get some ideas. I shot with an Canon R6 but I'm not bringing it due to weight
Wonderful video! I am going this summer and I have two questions... 1) when is it most rainy? 2) everyone talks about what clothes to bring but not how many? Could you maybe elaborate?
Would you recommend quilt or sleeping bag for younger scout. What about leader. Same question about down vs synthetic. I know your quilt is "treated" does that make a big deal? I know a ton of questions. Thank you. Just want to do it right.
I typically recommend a sleeping bag for my more inexperienced campers/backpackers (including the adults) and usually synthetic over down too. But as scouts & adults become more experienced, I find quilts and down more versatile. There is a responsibility factor to these items to insure a good experience. Sleeping bags and synthetic have more room for error... But down and quilts are lighter and way more packable... As far as treated down goes... I have both. Treated helps keep it dry longer but also keeps it from fluffing out completely. The different vendors each swear that their option is the best. I think it becomes more of a personal preference... I hope that helps!
45 days until!!! Coming down the home stretch man!!! Thanks for all your great insight Any advice on if I need a water purifier vs filter? Don’t really want to chug those tablets :)
My first day it was around 30 lbs. We had 4 days of food and heading into a dry camp. I believe I had 5L of water that day (mainly to have extra in case others needed). I never carried more than 3L after that day. And often only needed 2L based on our routing.
Flip flops for camp shoes? I thought Philmont had a closed / covered toe policy? Nice set of videos. Shows that if you’re willing to put out the $$$ you can shave off a lot of weight. :) With all of the side hikes accounted for, what was your total mileage? My son and I are headed to Philmont late June 2020.
On Page 19 of the 2019 Philmont Official Guidebook to Adventure it states, "High quality hiking boots that are broken-in are required for the trails at Philmont. Your trek will cover uneven rocky surfaces and steep trails. Hiking boots that fit properly and are broken in will prevent injury. Visit your local outdoor store and the sales staff will be happy to help you. You will also need a pair of sturdy lightweight, closed toe shoes for use around camp and occasionally when hiking without your pack. These will also be used when rock climbing, biking, and potentially crossing streams. Sandals are not recommended but can be used in campsites only." The close toe option is required if you plan on using them for any staff camp activity like when we did the rock climbing. But I was able to use my trail shoes for those activities. I wanted something that was specifically for lounging around the campsite that would allow my feet to breathe & dry out after a full day on trail. Also I think there are many less expensive options if you want to build lighter weight setup that would be great for Philmont. maybe that is a good idea for a future video. Thanks! www.lighterpack.com/r/x2hdsn
I went in 2015 and let me tell you my Ranger was less than pleased with a lot of my gear! I used trail runners similar to yours and had a pack weight of about 33 lbs...… I did it and survived just fine.... I am going in 2020 again and plan on using some closed toe crocs for my "camp shoes" I love your tent but don't want to invest that much in a tent I will probably not use again so I am looking at this one..... www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07537XGKQ/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A2SRER0BC3TKLO&psc=1 Practically disposable.....
I took my own and my son used the Philmont tents. So both can be reasonable options. The Philmont tents are big, heavy, robust, durable, & included in your costs. If you value other characteristics then you may choose something else...
@@AndyParrishOutdoors Thank you for the quick reply. Which one person tent would you recommend? Do you think it’s wise to bring your own tent to cut down the weight comparing to Philmont tent?
JustinsUL on etsy sells these water bottle holders... They attach directly to your pack straps. Very comfortable & convenient to use. They go in and out of stock, but they've been great products for me for multiple years now...
You mentioned in your video about the solar charging panel and power banks. Would you mind sharing the brand name/model numbers of those if you would recommend them? Or perhaps what you'd do different to keep your phone/cameras/gps charged up throughout the trek?
Hi Dave. Thanks for watching. Take a look in the description section for my lighterpack link. www.lighterpack.com/r/8gi1rp - It is my full gear list for the trip including links to many of the manufacturer pages or amazon for more information on many of the items in my kit. The Anker solar panel is in there as well as the battery bank. I'd encourage having a 20k mAh battery for the 12 day treks (over the 10k). Let me know if you have any other questions!
@@AndyParrishOutdoors Thank you Andy - great list - super helpful. Our trek is slated for July 2021 and I plan on bringing my iPhoneX and Apple Watch - thinking about how I was going to keep them charged was keeping me awake at night, so I appreciate the recommendation to the 20k over the 10k. And knowing you've already used and recommend the Anker solar panel is a big relief. Thanks again!
It worked out well. The solar panel would often be laying out when we'd eat lunch or when we arrived for programing somewhere. It would keep my battery close to full and then I could recharge all my devices in the evening off that battery... We definitely had no shortage of sunny days...
Excellent! More questions to follow - first one, when did you go? We're going in July -- the first half -- and I'm wondering if that means we can carry lighter quilts/sleeping bags.
We went in the first weeks of July. I would also look at the elevations at which you will be camping. There can be big differences between lower levels & campsites over 10000 ft. We only had one camp above that elevation, I believe, and I typically was sweating in my 20 degree quilt...
Caroline, for budget options I would recommend the Hammock Gear Econ Burrow - bit.ly/3tIvrl8. I also hear that the Paria Thermodown is a good option - amzn.to/3xkmMHY. For some more premium options, I'd recommend Enlightened Equipment Enigma - amzn.to/3xkmMHY or the UQG Bandit - ugqoutdoor.com/top-quilts/bandit/?ref=4734 I took my 20-degree Enlightened Equipment quilt. you can see my full list here - www.lighterpack.com/r/3vjwoy
Jim, My base weight was just under 15 lbs. you can look at the full setup from the link in the description. www.lighterpack.com/r/8gi1rp and the final video - th-cam.com/video/SymGNmD7Z5g/w-d-xo.html
I hadn't been to Philmont in many years. I put my clothes and sleeping bag with light weight |compression sacks. This kept everything dry and helped me get more space in my pack. I used good quality plastic bag for necessities.
Andy, I get that. I carried extra water a few times too because i also am the SM,LA. Only came in handy twice, but in my opinion... Once is enough to justify that.
A little trick I have found over the years is to use a quart Gatorade bottle with marks (with a sharpie) every cup, it makes life soo much easier
I like this tip a lot! Thanks for sharing.
Appreciate your time with this video. Not a lot of ULish post-trek gear summaries out there. Makes me a bit more comfortable about both taking my UL kit and recommending some of the methods to our crew. Cheers!
I think you'll find if you switch to a bladder that it takes up valuable space IN your pack, is a PITA to refill on the trail, is a big risk for leakage (especially when using a waterproof pack like the Z-Packs), and makes sharing more difficult.
I used 4x Smartwater bottles on my last trek, one with a simple DIY hydration tube. You can see it in my recent Philmont Gear Part 1 video. It worked out beautifully.
The guys on that trek that had water bladders often chose NOT to even use them because it was too much of a hassle. Their biggest complaint was that they often had no idea how much water they had drunk or how much was left. Being able to easily SEE how much is left in your water containers without having to take off your pack and dig is a big deal. I also carry the Arc Blast and found that I can mostly see my water situation with the pack on. If any of the water bottles are obscured and I can't see them, then it takes all of about 3 seconds for the person behind me to look and tell me.
@@AndyParrishOutdoors Yeah. My son used a 1L Platy bag in the side pouch of his backpack, and used 1L Smartwater bottles to refill as necessary. I'm a fan of collapsible bags as well. I carried a 10L Domodary bag and 6L Dromlight for crew water on dry camp days or for use in camp. Platy bags in the water filter kit as well.
Excellent summary and gives me lots of good info for my trek next year...thank you sir
How was your trek?
All Philmont trek's were canceled due to Covid-19 so we are on track for 2022. (Let's see, 2018 fire, 2020 Covid, 2022 plague of locusts or alien abduction maybe)
Our flow tests showed that the Sawyer filter is ssllooww. The Platypus Gravityworks was about twice as fast in our tests. That makes a big difference with the amount of water a crew goes through. :)
@@AndyParrishOutdoors Some of my last crew were not fans of the filters. Even the GW was slow. But I can't stand the taste of the tablet treated water. :)
Great food for thought! Very practical! Loved the review of what worked and didn't work as well as #3. Thanks for taking time to put this out there.
Thanks for watching Gayle! I'm glad they were useful. I really wanted to share our experiences so that others may benefit... I didn't find a lot of advice out there when we were preparing... There are so many strategies out there... What was most useful? And when are you /your scout going?
@@AndyParrishOutdoors We start our trek on July 25th of 2020. My son and I are going with our troop for high adventure. I went as a very young adult about 27 years ago. But to say the least it has been awhile. I loved your review of items for what was helpful and what wasn't, your description of what you were choosing and why. I appreciated what did and didn't work. That was very helpful to know. Lots of great content information. I am sure I will be watching again!
Best of luck on your trek... Really enjoy the moments... They can be so special... If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask. 👍
Great Video and great info Andy! I am glad that your trek went well. We are headed out in 3 weeks and I will pass this video onto the crew just as I have the others. Looking forward to new videos!
@@AndyParrishOutdoors thanks! Not even there yet and already planning our 12 day trek in 2021... its a sickness ;) I can't wait to be on trail. thanks again for all the great videos!
@@AndyParrishOutdoors if you need an advisor for 2022 let me know!
Thank you I am going to Philmont next year , you gave me a lot of great ideas.
Awesome, glad to hear!
What other questions do you have?
Great video! I'm going to share this with our Scouts...we are going back in 2022!!! Can't wait!
This is one video of a series. You can watch my choices over time as I go through my shakedowns! Thanks so much for watching. Im glad to hear that it will be helpful. If you have any questions, please feel free to post them!
So, what time of year were you there? We’ll be there in mid-July. Sounds like you may have been there earlier. Wish I had that Z-Packs to carry!
June 30 was our first day on trail. So a couple of weeks earlier start time...
What Patagonia R1 did you wear? The R1 Air Full-Zip Hoodie, the R1 Pullover Hoodie, or R1 TechFace Hoodie? Or, since that was a few years ago, do wear/recommend something else currently? Thanks!
I used the r1 pullover hoodie. Here was list. lighterpack.com/r/3vjwoy
Currently I wear the kuiu here's my latest gear list - lighterpack.com/r/8px1xv
@@AndyParrishOutdoors Cool, thanks!
Great information! *Got sea sick with due to your shaky camera work*. You usually are not so unsteady.
I had to change it up from that camera a while back to get better results. I only use that camera now on a tripod...
Thanks for watching...
Does the evernew bag fit the swayer squeeze?
Just curious what camera set up did you bring?
I brought a Canon M50, but I was not thrilled with the results and I've since changed my setup.
I would now recommend bringing a GoPro 10 or later and a phone for camera and pictures. You can see my current backpacking setup here. www.lighterpack.com/r/p72o2j
@@AndyParrishOutdoors Looking to go to Philmont either in 2025 or 2026 so just trying to get some ideas. I shot with an Canon R6 but I'm not bringing it due to weight
Wonderful video! I am going this summer and I have two questions...
1) when is it most rainy?
2) everyone talks about what clothes to bring but not how many? Could you maybe elaborate?
Rainy season starts typically in early July until early August.
The clothes they talk about is what they bring. One each. Except socks....bring those in two's. ;)
Would you recommend quilt or sleeping bag for younger scout. What about leader. Same question about down vs synthetic. I know your quilt is "treated" does that make a big deal? I know a ton of questions. Thank you. Just want to do it right.
Sorry by big deal I mean water proofing or helping the down to be more water resistant.
I typically recommend a sleeping bag for my more inexperienced campers/backpackers (including the adults) and usually synthetic over down too. But as scouts & adults become more experienced, I find quilts and down more versatile. There is a responsibility factor to these items to insure a good experience. Sleeping bags and synthetic have more room for error... But down and quilts are lighter and way more packable...
As far as treated down goes... I have both. Treated helps keep it dry longer but also keeps it from fluffing out completely. The different vendors each swear that their option is the best. I think it becomes more of a personal preference...
I hope that helps!
I’m a troupe 94 scout and going to phillmount next year . Great video vary helpful
Thanks. I hope you have a great trek! It's an awesome place.
appreciate this channel.
Thanks for watching!
45 days until!!!
Coming down the home stretch man!!!
Thanks for all your great insight
Any advice on if I need a water purifier vs filter?
Don’t really want to chug those tablets :)
Filters are enough... Viruses aren't a concern at Philmont...
@@AndyParrishOutdoors thanks man!
Happy to help. Have a great time!
How did you fly your gear to Philmont?
We took the train & didn't fly any gear.
What did you use for battery banks and the solar charger?
I used them to charge my Samsung Galaxy S10 (GPS unit) and the Nitecore headlamp. I also had multiple camera batteries as well...
What did your pack weigh before arriving at philmont, with water too. Mine weighs around 28 with water and I have been panicking about it
My first day it was around 30 lbs. We had 4 days of food and heading into a dry camp. I believe I had 5L of water that day (mainly to have extra in case others needed). I never carried more than 3L after that day. And often only needed 2L based on our routing.
@@AndyParrishOutdoors did you get any extra gear? Like crew gear and philmont gear?
I had some. But the boys were expected to split up the lion's share of it.
Flip flops for camp shoes? I thought Philmont had a closed / covered toe policy? Nice set of videos. Shows that if you’re willing to put out the $$$ you can shave off a lot of weight. :) With all of the side hikes accounted for, what was your total mileage? My son and I are headed to Philmont late June 2020.
On Page 19 of the 2019 Philmont Official Guidebook to Adventure it states, "High quality hiking boots that are broken-in are required for the trails at Philmont. Your trek will cover uneven rocky surfaces and steep trails. Hiking boots that fit properly and are broken in will prevent injury. Visit your local outdoor store and the sales staff will be happy to help you. You will also need a pair of sturdy lightweight, closed toe shoes for use around camp and occasionally when hiking without your pack. These will also be used when rock climbing, biking, and potentially crossing streams. Sandals are not recommended but can be used in campsites only."
The close toe option is required if you plan on using them for any staff camp activity like when we did the rock climbing. But I was able to use my trail shoes for those activities. I wanted something that was specifically for lounging around the campsite that would allow my feet to breathe & dry out after a full day on trail.
Also I think there are many less expensive options if you want to build lighter weight setup that would be great for Philmont. maybe that is a good idea for a future video. Thanks! www.lighterpack.com/r/x2hdsn
We did just over 78 miles, point to point. The itinerary estimated 68. I think with the side hikes we were at close to 83 miles.
Same I’m actually going with my dad late June or at least late summer 2020
I went in 2015 and let me tell you my Ranger was less than pleased with a lot of my gear! I used trail runners similar to yours and had a pack weight of about 33 lbs...… I did it and survived just fine.... I am going in 2020 again and plan on using some closed toe crocs for my "camp shoes" I love your tent but don't want to invest that much in a tent I will probably not use again so I am looking at this one..... www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07537XGKQ/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A2SRER0BC3TKLO&psc=1 Practically disposable.....
Key is to get the Pack, Tent System, and Sleep system as light as possible then do not over pack the rest of your gear to keep things light.....
We are going to Philmont next year. Do you think we should use the tent provided by Philmont or bring our own? Thank you 😊
I took my own and my son used the Philmont tents. So both can be reasonable options. The Philmont tents are big, heavy, robust, durable, & included in your costs. If you value other characteristics then you may choose something else...
@@AndyParrishOutdoors Thank you for the quick reply. Which one person tent would you recommend? Do you think it’s wise to bring your own tent to cut down the weight comparing to Philmont tent?
Do you plan to take trekking poles?
@@AndyParrishOutdoors Yes, both my son and I will have our own trekking poles.
One I definitely would consider is the lunar solo. www.sixmoondesigns.com/products/lunar-solo great design and lightweight.
More subs than JP?!?!?
emailed you a couple of days ago...
What month did you go in?
Around the fourth of July.
What do you use to hold the Smartwater bottle to your backpack?
JustinsUL on etsy sells these water bottle holders... They attach directly to your pack straps. Very comfortable & convenient to use.
They go in and out of stock, but they've been great products for me for multiple years now...
How heavy did your pack get with everything in it including the bags full of water?
Around 30 lbs at the heaviest points would be my guess
You mentioned in your video about the solar charging panel and power banks. Would you mind sharing the brand name/model numbers of those if you would recommend them? Or perhaps what you'd do different to keep your phone/cameras/gps charged up throughout the trek?
Hi Dave. Thanks for watching. Take a look in the description section for my lighterpack link. www.lighterpack.com/r/8gi1rp - It is my full gear list for the trip including links to many of the manufacturer pages or amazon for more information on many of the items in my kit. The Anker solar panel is in there as well as the battery bank. I'd encourage having a 20k mAh battery for the 12 day treks (over the 10k). Let me know if you have any other questions!
@@AndyParrishOutdoors Thank you Andy - great list - super helpful. Our trek is slated for July 2021 and I plan on bringing my iPhoneX and Apple Watch - thinking about how I was going to keep them charged was keeping me awake at night, so I appreciate the recommendation to the 20k over the 10k. And knowing you've already used and recommend the Anker solar panel is a big relief. Thanks again!
It worked out well. The solar panel would often be laying out when we'd eat lunch or when we arrived for programing somewhere. It would keep my battery close to full and then I could recharge all my devices in the evening off that battery... We definitely had no shortage of sunny days...
Excellent! More questions to follow - first one, when did you go? We're going in July -- the first half -- and I'm wondering if that means we can carry lighter quilts/sleeping bags.
We went in the first weeks of July. I would also look at the elevations at which you will be camping. There can be big differences between lower levels & campsites over 10000 ft. We only had one camp above that elevation, I believe, and I typically was sweating in my 20 degree quilt...
What brand of quilt would you recommend?
What did you use?
Caroline, for budget options I would recommend the Hammock Gear Econ Burrow - bit.ly/3tIvrl8. I also hear that the Paria Thermodown is a good option - amzn.to/3xkmMHY. For some more premium options, I'd recommend Enlightened Equipment Enigma - amzn.to/3xkmMHY or the UQG Bandit - ugqoutdoor.com/top-quilts/bandit/?ref=4734
I took my 20-degree Enlightened Equipment quilt. you can see my full list here - www.lighterpack.com/r/3vjwoy
@@AndyParrishOutdoors Thank you so much for the information! There isn't a lot of information out there, so your videos are really helpful!
What itinerary were you guys?
2019 Itinerary 22 - drive.google.com/file/d/1yIp2voNr64MS3AJ3I3sJsi-r_T8LZ-qp/view?usp=sharing
Nice, but watch the umms & awwwes. There are a lot which distracts from your advice.
What was total weight?
Jim, My base weight was just under 15 lbs. you can look at the full setup from the link in the description. www.lighterpack.com/r/8gi1rp and the final video - th-cam.com/video/SymGNmD7Z5g/w-d-xo.html
@@AndyParrishOutdoors thanks
No problem, happy to help! Thanks for watching...
the pack is fine....its the stuff thats too much
How so?