Gear I Never Hike Without - 5 Must Have Items

[@Nihaopaul]

Hiking poles are a game changer. Cant believe i waited so long to try them. Saved my knees

[@BackcountryKiwi]

@@Nihaopaul they make a huge difference aye! Thanks for watching

[@ervinslens]

Outstanding upload man! Helpful and so professionally executed!

[@BackcountryKiwi]

@@ervinslens Thanks for the amazing feedback! Glad you enjoyed it. Cheers!

[@northernembersoutdoors1045]

Hi Zeb, how are you doing. Great video, all based on experience, very interesting about the socks👍. I semi agree about the camera, in a way when I film it takes away from the experience, for me anyway, I focus more on the filming, on the flipside I'm out in locations that I probably wouldn't have gone to anyway! Working on less filming and more enjoyment of the moment. All the best. Chris

[@BackcountryKiwi]

Chris!!!!! How the heck are ya mate. Yeah fair enough, filming can take away some of the experience. Glad you are out there still having a great time! Cheers mate

[@2000heathcliff]

I can see why those items would be very helpful. I remember when I first started watching your videos I thought you were taking so many risks and how your mother must feel with you out there alone. When you told me you had the garmin I must say I felt a little more at ease. Thank you for sharing I will share with my son he likes to go hiking with friends.

[@BackcountryKiwi]

@2000heathcliff Glad you liked it! Haha my mum has gotten used to my adventures now, but thr Garmin does provide alot of peace of mind. Cheers!

[@drytool]

I love Darn Tough socks with Injinji liners. Durston Iceline poles are fantastic!

[@BackcountryKiwi]

@@drytool A great sock combo! I'll have to look into his poles. Cheers!

[@rachelfogarty4786]

Have you ever tried Hikers Wool? So awesome. Keeps feet blister free.

[@BackcountryKiwi]

Hey Rachel! I sold alot of it at my job. It's a great product but I have personally never used it. I just can't be bothered faffing around with placing wool in my socks every day haha. Cheers!

[@red2seata]

I got some injinjis the other day. So good!

[@BackcountryKiwi]

@@red2seata awesome!

[@jasonedwardledburynewzeala9897]

Exellent Video Zeb! 😝👊 Cheers Bro.👏👏👏🌏🌏🌏🌿🌿🌿🥝🥝🥝

[@BackcountryKiwi]

@@jasonedwardledburynewzeala9897 Thanks Jason!

[@brandonkriesejr.682]

Hey man, big fan of your channel, kind of a silly request but I'm about to hike the knobstone trail in two weeks, it's the longest trail in Indiana, about 60 miles and it's called the little AT because it's so much like the Appalachian trail in elevation change and ruggedness. Im going to do it in three days and I don't know anyone who will go with me or can do it in three days. Like I said before, crazy request, but if you're interested in coming to America it would make a good video and you could get some good views hiking with a KZbin fan. Just a suggestion, let me know what you think, great video by the way

[@BackcountryKiwi]

@@brandonkriesejr.682 hi Brandon! Thanks so much for the request man, I'd absolutely love to come to the US and hike with you. Unfortunately I can't manage it at this time. I hope you have an amazing hike! Cheers

[@UrbanKiwiana]

Good evening..at this stage of my solo backpacking I'm still trying to figure it all out..I started with a hammock but after the first night or two I decided it wasn't for me. Atm I'm just trying to figure out best ways to pack it for comfort as my Straps make my shoulders ache

[@BackcountryKiwi]

Hey bro. Cool to hear you are figuring it out! As time goes on you'll learn what works for you and what doesn't. Enjoy the journey! Is your pack fitted correctly? You want most the weight to be on your hips not your shoulders. Google a pack fitting video. Cheers!

[@UrbanKiwiana]

@BackcountryKiwi +Ello, I was using a Massive bully 80L pack for the first 200+km, It definitely wasn't fitted correctly I tried different things but it just wouldn't sit properly. Hoping my new much smaller/lighter pack helps.

[@kategiles7503]

Agree re pillow! After a few fastpacking trips where I ended up sleeping with all of my clothes on and not having anything to use as a pillow I bought. $3 Kmart one, weighs nothing and have such better sleeps!

[@BackcountryKiwi]

@kategiles7503 my pillow makes a huge difference! Especially on fastpacking trips when I'm sacrificing some comfort I still want to sleep well.Thanks for watching!

[@wadly312]

Pillow - I use a 7inch squishmallow! It weighs 140gms, squishes into my sleeping bag compression bag easily, and cost $16 Completely agree on the trekking poles, will not tramp without them again

[@BackcountryKiwi]

@@wadly312 is squish pillow a brand? It sounds like a cool piece of kit! Yeah hiking poles made a big difference for me. Thanks for watching!

[@wadly312]

@@BackcountryKiwi it’s a kids toy that works great as a pillow lol 😂

[@danielayers]

I think some sort of emergency communicator is a must-have, but I don't think any of the subscription-based satellite communicators are a smart buy nowadays because they are becoming largely obsolete now that smartphones are gaining the ability to make emergency calls/messages via satellite (newer iPhones can do this now) and especially once mobile carriers offer satellite service (as will soon happen here in NZ). When a device you already have with a plan you are already paying for can do that, why pay for a Garmin plan? Of course, a smartphone isn't as rugged so what I recommend for the truly cautious is to carry a satellite-capable smartphone and a proper GPS-enabled 406MHz PLB (the PLB being rugged and not requiring a paid plan). Then you have all the bases covered - you can communicate via cellphone (coverage permitting), satellite (for emergencies at least if your carrier doesn't offer satellite service yet) and you have a completely separate PLB for the worst cases. All with no additional paid plans.

[@BackcountryKiwi]

@@danielayers alot of excellent points! Thanks for commenting. I agree with you, I've had my Garmin for years and while I won't upgrade it, the satellite communication in smartphones is almost but not quite there so I'll keep using my Garmin for now. Once the satellite communication is all set up for phones I'll probably switch to the set up you have suggested, being a plb and phone. Cheers!

[@tleej26]

I’ve been really close to buying an Inreach to give a few more options for camping but can’t get away as often as I’d like to justify the subscription. I would prefer the Inreach but I think I’ll upgrade my IPhone.

[@BackcountryKiwi]

@@tleej26 Hey TJ! Garmin has recently updated their plans so there is no annual fee and they have reduced the most basic plan cost, could still be worth having a look, but I don't think they'll be able to compete with the likes of apple soon. Cheers!

[@tleej26]

@@BackcountryKiwi hiya, thanks for the info, I’ll go and have a look - cheers!

[@deanjonesmultimedia]

Can't disagree on any of this except maybe the Garmin and then only because I have owned a no subscription PLB for years. I use trekking poles on most trips for improved balance, always carry a pillow and some sort of camera gear. I even have and like Injinji toe socks.

[@BackcountryKiwi]

@deanjonesmultimedia thanks! The thing I like about the Garmin is I am able to send messages aswell. Cheers

[@notquiteultralight1701]

I like backpacking with my ddhammocks setup because that way if I end up at a backcountry site here in New England and there’s a bunch of wankers staying there, I can move on and stay literally anywhere, even on a slope.

[@BackcountryKiwi]

@@notquiteultralight1701 that's a very good reason haha! Cheers mate!

[@herbisond]

The Garmin is not a plb

[@BackcountryKiwi]

@@herbisond sure it's not a true, dedicated plb but it has an SOS function and I'm able to communicate reliably so it works for me!

[@GeorgeBeck100]

​@@BackcountryKiwiexactly. We are not there yet with cellphones and being able to message loved ones is a deal breaker for me over a normal PLB. Always gunna get the PLB preachers regards the better signal. And no I'm not going to get both. Haven't heard of anybody with an inReach mini not being rescued because of a bad signal.