Gear I wish I'd had during my Thru-Hike

[@SijmenMulder]

1:19 pillow 3:12 smaller stove 4:43 gravity feed system 6:43 travel guide app 8:27 camera

[@thealevkovitz8207]

What do i need to link the hose to my exisiting mini Sawyer filter?

[@challenger2ultralightadventure]

Another excellent video, and agree with all of it except for using your phone as a sole navigation tool. Every year in the Boreal forests of Canada we have to find, and lead out, back country hikers who were using only a GPS or their phone for navigation. In the 14 years I've been on team, I've had to recover only 2 bodies, but that is 2 bodies too many. In both cases they got lost, and in their equipment was a GPS with dead batteries, no paper map, notes of any kind, or even a compass. Please, if you are going to venture out off the beaten path, learn to use a non-battery operated navigation guide. A map and compass as a backup to your electronics can save your life. This may not be applicable to the well marked trails in populated areas you venture through regularly, but one day you may go off grid where the nearest town is 100 miles away, and the only phone that works is a sat phone. So I strongly recommend everyone learn and keep up your skills with a map and compass.

[@tornadokat]

I totally agree with P Toth. I'm on the PCT but I hear the AT is well marked and traveled. The phone apps are awesome but still... cut up a guide into sections, carry the section you're on with you, and mail drop the other sections to have as you come to them, and toss... or mail home the section your done with if you wrote notes all over it :)

[@gregspradlin290]

Totally agree with this.

[@brianhackit7900]

P Toth i was just about to ask about powering your phone. best case scenario is a wind uo charger. but like anything else if it breaks....well.

[@davidcollishaw2771]

one phone each - one turned off = backup.

[@davidbeeman2863]

Thanks for the reality check up. More prepaired is better then less when things go bad.

[@oldgymrat71]

In the '70's I used a compass, Svea stove and life was good!

[@cc462462]

Great video! One tip I've picked up over the years is to pack the cut-off bottom of a cheap water bottle to use as a scoop in crappy water sources. It doesn't add much weight and makes filling those water bags so much easier!

[@rowmingoat5145]

I bought a Kelty frame pack in 1979. I through hiked the A.T. in 1981. 25 years later I re-hiked the A.T. with the same damn pack. If it ain't broke don't fix it.

[@fiestacassarole]

These videos are just teasing me. 10 more years till I can do the AT. Gotta get the kids through college first. I'll be 50 but binge watching these vids till then

[@daveinstlouis7296]

I'm shooting for my 50 th 3 years or 2020 :) Saving Money and gathering Gear Now

[@denverheid4604]

I know that feeling, I have 6 years left.

[@meowstermeow2967]

Go camping with them or mini hikes

[@deborahkyllo9626]

Watch the Crawford’s...Fight for Together...family of eight that will finish the AT on or about 8/9/18

[@jessicadwomick9960]

Denver heid- 2024? Planning NOBO for then myself. Was wondering when I would come across other people planning trips that far out, had no idea it would be youtube.

[@HansZarkovPhD]

I did my thru-hike in 1988 and wish I had just about everything that hikers used today. Here is a list that I can think of off the top of my head. Keep in mind that the internet didn't exist and everything I bought had to be from a hiking store or a local sporting goods place in my home town. Also I was 18 and had to save my money for two years from summer jobs, so if it was expensive, I didn't buy it. 1. Water filtration. Ceramic filters and life straws didn't exist, or at least were not it common usage at the time. We had iodine pills. That was it. God awful tasting water. 2. Nalgene bottle. We used Vietnam era surplus canteens. Do you know how much just the damn canteen weighs? Poly carb soda bottle were just starting to be common, so when we found liter coke bottles, the canteens got 86'ed. 3. freeze dried foods. Mtn house was not available, we were eating dehydrated stuff from the grocery stores and those god awful MRE's. 4. Body glide anti-chafing. didn't have or couldn't find at home or at hiking stores along the way. 5. Trek poles. My trek pole was a wood mop handle I made a few nights before the trip. 6. light hiking back packs. Again, I used Vietnam era ALICE pack with a metal frame. AS we found better stuff along the way, we bought it and got rid the old stuff. 7. blow up mattresses. I think we had canvas rafts, but not designed to sleep on. Regular old sleeping bags that tended to get wet and heavy. 8. Cell phone. We had a large bag or quarters to use, yes, a pay phone. Always had paperguides and a compass. Alos, we used a film camera. Very heavy. 9. Light weight led flashlights. No LED s in 1988. Had a genuine Vietnam angle head flash light with gasp, D cells. Bucket list is to hike it again but with top notch equipment now that I can afford it.

[@jaimhaas5170]

Dude you have pretty much 86 ed your whole gear list.. Cmon now...as a fellow hiker of the 80's we did just fine with what we had. The freeze dried was available but who the hell would pay that when you could take a fair amount of canned goods and use them up first. I laughed at your canteen remark. I did all through the 90's and even now laugh at people who pay money for a "water" bottle when every possible size and shape exists for free after you use the product inside. Those romantic days of hiking and camping did involve many barbaric and creative use of gear (bubble wrap always worked for me as a sleeping pad) and I wouldn't trade them for anything that is out there today. I can't fathom taking a GPS or cell phone. Might as well cut off my nads.

[@markwilliford7471]

Even when section-hiking some of the PCT in 1976, there was a lot more available. Freeze dried food was readily available but expensive. Water purification was a problem we didn’t really consider that much. Not a problem in the higher elevations, but we were probably lucky. There were reasonable AA handheld flashlights. The army ones you reference were bulletproof but heavy. Bonus - could use to drive stakes. We also had closed cell foam pads, but some folks did carry heavy air mattresses. But fast forwarding to now, wow - we have it so great! Hope you are able to get back to the trail in greater comfort!

[@The-Tech-Man]

My first hiking pack when I got into backpacking was an ALICE pack lmao. That was about 7 years ago. I had bought it off of ebay with my very first paycheck. Oh how far we've come lol

[@DavidWisehart]

I hiked the High Sierra trail with my dad in 1978. I was 12. We did have a water filter thermos. I think my dad was an MLM distributor for those. Used a blow-up raft under our sleeping bags. A heavy plastic tarp under our tents. Deadfall hiking sticks. Fire pits, matches, metal pots. Lots of freeze-dried eggs for scrambles. Some tin-canned beans and soups. Sardines in a can. But food was mostly nuts and dried fruit. Navigated by paper maps and a compass. Fun trip.

[@wendybelworthy]

I am sympathetic to you! I was hiking in the 1970s. Yep!!!

[@TwoPlusTwoEqualsFive32]

I use a phone as a supplementary to my map, I never only use my phone. Phones are great for finding your location. I turn on my phone check my coordinates and then use my map from there, every now and then I use my phone to re-affirm that I have not strayed too far of course but i never use my phone as my main navigation tool.

[@abcxyz9643]

My maps ran out of battery! lol

[@ryanbenz]

Great video, thanks for sharing. It's interesting, I just thru-hiked the AT this year. I started with that exact pillow, and sent it home when I got to Franklin because an air pillow just didn't feel comfortable for me. I went the rest of the way pillow-less, and just sort of adjusted to not using one. I also started with a gravity filtration system and began considering switching to the Sawyer in Damascus. I eventually made the switch in Waynesboro, VA because I felt the different components with the tubing and such made it such a cumbersome process that I was avoiding drinking enough water to avoid having to filter. The plus side to the gravity system I found was when you arrive at camp at the end of the day, in one shot being able to filter enough water for the evening and even to get you going in the morning. Always interesting to hear different perspectives since everyone has different preferences.

[@stevenews5910]

Darwin, I'm doing my first week long section hike ever in NE mid-sept and will def. get the gravity bag, hose and adapter. I clicked on your link below and found all 3 on Amazon for about $50. I foresee doing 2-3 section hikes per year and am really going to enjoy this apparatus. Thank you for the suggestion. - LightWalker

[@miltonlegendre2024]

Some gear that I carry with me now that is cheap and multi functional are... 3 or 4 industrial strength garbage bags (39 gallons), 5 to 10 gallon size Ziploc bags. 2 plastic 20oz water bottles lightly crushed, dozen brightly colored balloons. I can put water in the ziploc bags and carry them outside of my pack allowing the UV light to help kill certain organisms before filtering. I can carry extra water in the balloons. My fav when it comes to the balloons is that I can blow them up and hang them in a tree to find my way back to a certain point. Also when in bear country, you can blow one up and attach it nearby to mark where your food is hanging. Glow stick you can only use once. The garbage bags can be used for garbage, emergency poncho, raking leaves into and keep small sticks dry for kindling, rain guard for my backpack and at night keeps bugs out of my backpack.

[@chrisUSA]

1) Sea to Summit Air pillow. On the trail, you will sleep so much better, 2) small canister stove, 3) gravity feed system for water collection, 4) Get Hook Guide APP for phone, 5) have a great HD camera.

[@jeffborne205]

Here's a great tip for the PILLOW - use a Buff as a PILLOW CASE :) works awesome ;)

[@DarwinOnthetrail]

Great Tip Jeff! Thanks for Watching! Hike On, Darwin

[@nathandarval1]

pendelton western?

[@jasonkucinski7165]

That is something I never thought of. Great tip.

[@Roarmeister2]

Thanks for the tip. I don't like that moist non-breathable feeling of the vinyl on the back of neck or on my cheek. And I put the tiny pillow sack in with it so I don't lose it. Plus unlike those "deluxe" versions of the pillows with integral soft face, the buff can be removed and washed!

[@kevinj8258]

Jeff Borne what is a BUFF?

[@Scottooal]

I'm thru-running the Bruce Trail in Ontario (in segments) and where I agree with you most on your list is with the App vs map. The trail has changed about 15 miles worth, the only way to be sure you are on the updated trail sometimes is by following App instructions. Add ons to your list are battery charger, salt pills (im running, not hiking, salt is primo importo), white hat vs black hat (weather appropriate head gear), water bottle holder on my back pack straps to help in redistributing the weight more evenly, and #1 for me is a change of clothes for overnights (a hard lesson learned). Good vid. Keep it up Dar!

[@TeanTobaccoChannel]

Another pillow idea is use a 2L Sawyer squeeze bottle in a Zpacks stuff sack with the fleece liner. You can add or remove air to the bottle to make is more soft or firm. You're going to carry water storage and stuff sacks anyways.

[@kenmarapese9085]

The inflatable pillow is a must for me, with it I sleep as well on the trail as at home. Hated the spork, I'm now using a plastic table sized spoon and love it. I'm going to look for a spoon with a longer handle that has the reach for the size of the dehydrated food bags.

[@marcyfox9508]

Lady died on a well traveled trail. Her daughter went ahead of her-knew about where she should have been. Started searching quickly. She was lost in close proximity. They searched for her for days. She had gotten so cold that she got disoriented-which can happen in 55 degrees. She had a phone and knew she was lost-could not get back [she'd taken a potty break]. Not saying she was an experienced hiker, but she did have a phone and she was so close to Rangers and lots of people-that is scary.

[@jamesbadham9665]

Dumb question maybe. Do Guthook - and other similar apps - work anywhere, what about when there's no cell reception?

[@onefastcyclist]

Interesting choices! Ansel Adams once remarked that the best camera one could use was the largest one that could be carried. We just take a wide mouth "dirty bottle" to sink in stream prior to filling up the squeeze bottle, but the gravity idea is something we'd like to try. We still carry plastic maps because charging phones on overcast days has proven more of a hassle then we have patience for. My wife loves her MSN International stove - we simply carry the white gas. Our hiking/backpacking is along the PCT, the Rocky mountains and the Himalayas.

[@rorygin5919]

A buff is a cotton or polyester tube that is used for a head cover or neck cover. It is extremely versatile and can be worn in many ways. Some really skinny girls can even wear it as a top.

[@patrickhasachannel]

not a long distance hiker yet, by any means. I like day hikes and tend to stick to state/national parks. I recall one point in the summer of 2016 I went to Baraboo WI for a few short day hiking spots. I was completely unprepared for the weather. the forecast didn't call for rain and I didn't have an all-season rain jacket. the first stop was a small trail called Pewittt's Nest. it had begun to rain as I passed through the town but had let up by the time I got there. I was with an old girlfriend at the time and we were about half a mile back when the sky just OPENED and we were completely miserable because even though the canopy was shielding us fairly well, we had to cross about 100 yards of open field, UNDER POWER LINES at two spots along the trail ahead of us, and this was just as the lightning was approaching. I will never be unprepared for bad weather ever again

[@michaelpayne8770]

For Forty-Five years I've used two bandanas sewn together, leaving one corner open. My down coat goes in, a safety pin closes it up for the night and I have the perfect pillow. You can use the pin to adjust how firm you want the pillow. One downside, if I need the pillow to supplement my bag due to lower temps, or if I want to leave my coat at home..., I guess that's two downsides.

[@zimmejoc]

Back in the 90's, I used one of those bladders from a box of wine. Starting a trip hung over is no fun, but having a pillow is awesome and makes your friends jealous.

[@chadmagee1792]

A great camp stove option is the Uberleben stoker flatpack. It weights next to nothing. Breaks down and fits in a nice flat pouch, and the best thing is , there’s no lugging fuel, it just burns twigs. I’ve used mine several times now, it’s a great little stove .

[@soaringeagleoutdoors]

My sea-to-sumit Aeros pillow is my favorite piece of gear

[@chadballew2464]

I will have to check the pillow out. I have been using my clothes bag as well but I really don't rest well on it. I even went as far as making a homemade pillow case for it. That helped a little but still not enough.

[@zachy-koon]

Ditto on the pillow. I never used one until I got a free one (paid for shipping) from Outdoor Vitals. Never slept so well on the trail before.

[@aislinnmackay]

the MEC packrat stuffsack is also an awesome pillow for anyone looking for a lightweight option. Its basically just a stuffsack thats nylon on the outside and microfleece on the inside. So when you get to camp, just turn it inside out and restuff it with some clothing and you're good to go. Weighs practically nothing and its still a fully functional 9L stuff sack during the day

[@Jester123ish]

I don't have this yet but I think what I want is a tent footprint sheet that is cut to create a floor in the vestibule area of the tent. Can't believe they make you put your gear on the damp or muddy ground outside your tent.

[@MrIanB]

Gear I wished I had on my thru hike would be some type of roller. I thru hiked the PCT in '14 with a buddy named seeds. We were consistently doing 35 mile days and even did a 41 in northern Cali, He'd roll out his thighs and calves every night, I tried it and my legs felt so much better the next day. The only thing was that it was weirdly shaped and he had trouble finding a good place for it in his pack. Another thing would be Zensah compression sleeves for your calves and they are said to help prevent shin splints as well. I think I was downing 4 advil every morning before I got out of my bag, so I had a lot of pain issues on my hike, anything to help me out in that way is a winner in my book.

[@HikingFeral]

I have the trekology pillow and a redcamp non inflatable padded type. I prefer the real type but enjoy the ultralight aspect of the trekology. Thing is I hate that balloon feeling so I'm experimenting with inflatable pillows that are insulated and have a removable pillow case.

[@beachbum3b]

Guthook's has been such an amazing tool for the pct this year. You don't need service for your phones gps to work. On rare occasion it had glitched out, I carried paper maps and a compass to be safe but never used it. Especially in the sierras, depending on snow levels next year you'll be using the app a good bit to navigate so make sure to have a battery pack big enough for your needs, good luck next year!

[@TreeRoot577]

but how do you charge it in the woods?

[@EspenFrafalne]

An item i dont think many hikers even know exist, is a MULTIFUNCTION WATCH WITH COMPASS (i paid only $20 for mine, and i REALLY like it). Phones are awesome, but if i slip and fall and crush the phone in my pocket when im out exploring the forests around here, then a compass can save my life. And these watches can have some pretty nice functions, and are also waterproof. The one i have got have compass (with auto-calibration that is plenty more accurate than my phone - and manual calibration which you will never use), altimeter (with 12 hour log), barometer (with 12 hour log), weather forecast (that im not sure works very well, but maybe it will if i manage to calibrate it correctly), thermometer, pedometer (with calculations for distance walked and calories burnt, as well as a timer that runs when you walk, and pauses when you take a break), stopwatch, timer, alarm, and a pacer, as well as time and date and showing which day it is... It is only $14 on ebay right now - from ONE of the sellers... That is a serious bargain for this watch, that actually looks pretty nice, and who reviewers say is good quality... I have 2 of them already, but as they will probably break at some point, im thinking of getting another one now that they are so cheap...

[@teatowel11]

I love that pillow, really comfortable when you get the right pressure. I like mine just over half inflated. I'm starting to look like a sea to summit fan boy but here in Aus they are just so much cheaper than anything of comparative quality.

[@adamramer597]

Haven’t done any thru hikes yet, but many multi day backpacking trips. The pillow was a game changer and my jet boil hasn’t seen use in years. Kind of unnecessary but I absolutely love my Helinox camp chair. Sure, it’s a pound but it’s amazing at the end of a long day. Thanks for this video, love your stuff!

[@kevinpeat3721]

I'm extremely impressed with the sound and picture on your camera.

[@christopherstockman3635]

And it was 2 years ago

[@darthvidetur218]

I'm searching for supplies for a summer trip, and the tips are great, but I gotta say, those eyes are mesmerizing. What a fantastic pair of blues!

[@timbilbro3961]

I wouldn't rely solely on the cell phone for nav. The AWOL guide has some heft, but if you plan it right, you can carry portions of it and bounce the rest of it up the trail. I wouldn't be against using a phone for nav, but the battery will die, especially using GPS, so you have to have a charging system to keep it going. I have heard that solar charging systems are mostly crap, probably just better off carrying a power brick that holds 3-4 charges worth. That thing is heavier than any map or guide book. People are too reliant on GPS these days, so having a map or guidebook and learning how to nav by it is a good skill to get. On the AT, you can probably do OK without a map due to the number of other folks, well marked trails, and all the nearby towns you can get to on most of the trail. For a more wilderness like hike, without all that, I would definitely get the proper maps.

[@VirtanenDK]

Take a GEO Cache app with you. Not only can you find caches, but often people share great information. When i went to England to "hike" in our defender, mini "RV" you can rent so many forms of holiday transportation. Narrow boats is a thing we thought about. To finish of the geo app story. The information in the app, took us to a place where British & American army pilot's is training. So you can stand on a place above them, and film, when they came blasting. It was amazing, and there was lots of people taking photos. And one of them, agreed to take some photos on our memory card. Best day ever. This was years ago. And i dont know if everything is the same way. Sorry about my bad English, and the looong "comment"👋

[@TikiTiffany]

I use the therm-a-rest pillow. Its so soft and no need for a pillow case

[@yakitoriPB]

I use that Sawyer filter you showed as a gravity bag with the squeeze bags it came with. Inside the mesh bag it came with...on a tree. Even "shower" with it

[@28105wsking]

I can really relate after years in Asia. The same thing has happened to me. I have always heard that it takes twice as long to re-acculturate as you were gone. I'd quadruple that. Your experiences made you very different from people who haven't had those experiences. Life became fulfilling and urgent in a way they can't understand. I think you have found a wonderful way to deal with it. I'm a newbie to long- term backpacking after all these years and I am grateful for your info. I will be going to TIbet in May, so your advice is really important.

[@billiewest429]

Hey brother great video. I don't expect you to reply. Especially being that video is 3 years old lol but I will have to say I agree with you on everything except for the map. I would definitely want more than just an electronic device to rely on for my coordinates. I have never done the complete trail at once but I live at the foot of the mountains in Greenville Tennessee so from the Horse Creek area over to Hot Springs, North Carolina and Gatlinburg,TN. There has been times when I've spent 2 and 3 weeks going back-and-forth over there.As I'm sure you know Viking Mtn to Gatlinburg can be done in three days. I just absolutely love Hot Springs...lol...Not to mention the fact that we always took a couple liters of Stoli as well as at least a half oz. of the purple sticky punge

[@melvinhogberg]

In Sweden the water in the mountains is Completely clean so i just carry a cup and when im thirsty i just take a drink right out of the stream. I do carry a bottle but i Only fill it when im in my tent so i dont have to go out of the tent at night.

[@sherryb9770]

Ditto on the pillow. OMG, when I first used one like yours, the lumpy, shifty clothes bag idea went out the tent door. Ray Jardine would not approve. In answer to your question about what I would not be without: trekking poles. I find quadruped travel to be much less exhausting than biped and I use them to put up my tarp tent, when I'm not using a bivy. 😉 Ray also would not approve here. He claims they slow you down. Possibly, on the flattest most buff terrain. But hiking up and down rooty, rocky trails on the CDT...priceless.

[@aurtisanminer2827]

Last time I went backpacking I brought waaayyy too much crap due to me not knowing what I’d need. It was a ski trip and was about 15 degrees F. I do wish I had brought four season fuel canisters, tho. That, and a much lighter sleeping bag.

[@markjacobs6294]

I've been learning allot from you through hikers about light gear. I ADV ride motorcycles and other guys I meet can't believe how light I travel. Picking up a bike is bad enough, really bad if you've got a ton of gear on it. Many sports crossover...these are 2 of them.

[@zumoo1]

Hey guys. I know there was some discussion below about the cell phone for navigation; cell service, charging, etc. What are your thoughts on the Garmin InReach? Use it as the primary navigator? Download maps on the phone as a backup? I'm always concerned about discharge of the battery. I just need to be aware of the battery life. Also, I can carry a solar charger.

[@jeffsellenrick6635]

Great video. I have always prioritized camera gear. Canon G7 on the AT in 2008, Canon Rebel in 2010, 6D with 24-105L in 2015. Now I'm looking to downsize to a Micro 4/3 system or similar. For the AT I wish the current NG map booklets existed then, showing 200+ miles of trail each. I carried every damn map at 20 miles of trail each.

[@DavidStrchld]

Great list and share. From another AT thru hiker, I would disagree with some and agree with others. Which goes to show HYOH is personal and there is no one size fits all out there for thru hiking gear. Air Pillow I would take anything reasonable to improve my sleep, so yes I agree that taking something as light as this which improves sleep is a yes- agree (however personally air pillows don't work for me) Gravity water filter, disagree for the AT, perhaps agree for other trails such as the PCT (where water is rare). , The problem with the gravity system is water itself is heavy (far heavier than water purification systems) and this system works best for making a lot of water in your spare time. Since the AT has water basically everywhere, that means a system where you make just what you need is the lightest was to go. For my thru I used the lightest steripen (2.5 oz), it would last a week between recharges (usually available every 3 days on the AT), but most importantly it works best making small batches of water, so far lighter. If one is worried about electrical device failure, which I did not have, carrying some AquaMira tablets as a backup is very light weight. Jetboil, agree and disagree. I used the Jetboil Ti model (discontinued), the lightest one with fuel canister weighs 13 oz (then up to 3-4 oz of fuel on top of that), so 16 oz total full. What the Jetboil cost one in weight it saves in time, which is a critical resource. It saves time in 2 ways, first is the cook time and the short time means more cooking due to less frustration and fiddle factor, and the second way it saves time is because it is so efficient one does not have to look for fuel canisters (or other fuel) as often and one can enjoy the town stops more. As such I find the jetboil very good for thru hiking, less so for section hiking and weekend backpacking as efficiency doesn't mean much as long as you will use a single canister for the trip. But for me I have found that is only in the colder months, in summer I ditched it as I was only having perhaps one hot meal a day and morning coffee and went with Esbit. I would also add I feel the jetboil is ideal for 2 hikers sharing, but heavy on the side of a single hiker. I do agree with you about the digital guides, they are great and Guthook is among the top, however it is not ready for prime time, as the AT guidebook has much more then Guthook at this time - best to supplement with AT Thru Hikers Guide PDF. Having everything on the phone is also risky (if you lose the ability to use your phone you are SOL). Since I know the AT, I would feel comfortable without a paper guide, but for the first time I still like the method of carrying a section of the AT Guidebook and have the rest we waiting for me in mail drops.. Camera - I agree as far as it is a passion of yours, so yes for that. But for me the cell camera is great. Again you don't want to feel deprived out there of something you love, so bring that.

[@kellirustin7944]

I was dead set on a jetboil until I started looking around and seriously taking weight into consideration. They're awesome at boiling water fast but, heavy and damn expensive!

[@daveinstlouis7296]

Car Camping

[@Mamba151]

Creme brulee torch boils water fast... and is very light. And starts fires fast. Used mine to win competitions where speed mattered and the competition used jetboil or cut can and kindling.

[@30-06]

I’ve been warned Sawyer filter will break under freezing temp, but I can’t think of carrying MSR ceramics filter for its weight.. something I would have brought with me the last time I was out is a small 3.5oz? 4oz? “Emergency backup” isopropyl gas can!

[@wanderingaloudwithmark3057]

I have tried all sorts of pillows. The Aeros pillow is simply the best.

[@EmelietheBoss]

I have been using Trangia system and stove since forever and it is soooo big compared to all other stoves. I like the stability and that it is super wind-proof but outside of sweden and norway it is overkill. So after this video I bought the same super small gas burner you have!

[@me2speed316]

Darwin, I know a lot of people love gopro as they're sort of the pinnacle of the adventure camera game... But if you're in the market, look at the garmin Virb cameras... Have gps ability in them so you can track where you are on the trails and edit dashboards on videos with elevation, speed... All kinds of fun stuff...

[@marktroup2978]

The oils from a greasy hiker head are really terrible for a down jacket that's doing double-duty as a pillow. The oils kill the loft, which robs the down (even treated down) of its insulating ability. No bueno. Pillows are smart gear.

[@johnwilliams-dg6qx]

ScreenNurd your hair doesn't stop producing oils it just makes less it's still a bad idea to use a down jacket as a pillow

[@lyricderbin1169]

ScreenNurd you have no idea what you're talking about, do you?

[@baqcasanke]

Mark Troup inflatable pillows also work to sit on

[@MarkGriffith]

Nice list. A couple that are more for the PNW : Patagonia Houdini jacket : super light but effective for keeping heat in and wind break and Nano Puff for size and warmth.

[@adagioseven]

Thanks for your input and the excellent camera work. It's much more enjoyable watching a sharp, crisp video.

[@nullzwozwoeins]

I personally really enjoy using jetboils. As you said are great! (i'm not doing long distance hiking) and on my tours I love it. But yeah I would never bring it on the at or pct...

[@growingyourfaith7076]

I am so excited to watch you and share in this journey with you! I am in Ga, pretty close to the start of the trail and it is a dream of mine to also hike the AT. I have been following you on Boho Berry for quite some time and was so excited when you announced that you were going to do this! Thank so much for sharing with us! :)

[@cpt.kimintuitiondemon]

A standard jetboil is a burner + mug + gas , i'm not really seeing how a less efficient burner + mug + gas is better ?

[@Ytmetzc]

Dude thank you so much for how you lay everything out and your thoroughness. It is greatly appreciated! Cheers!

[@livelongandprospermary8796]

My bf and I went backpacking with another couple friend of ours. I was pretty exhausting but fun. We cooked pretty much out of holes we dug in the ground. We had lifestraws but didn't bring the water pouches that went with them and ended up having to use tablets and a bandana to filter the water (our dog just drank it w/o bandana filtering). We ended up hiking 15 or so miles on our first ever hike with wayyy too much weight/gear. Our poor dog slept for a week straight (she carried her own water and food). We learned the following: a cook system is worth its weight Test your system before you get to the trail Don't over do it You don't need all the gear you think you need. And condition your body a bit

[@charliekendall4288]

FYI. Checkout the MSR water filter. Hand pump with about 18 inches of tubing. Ordered from Moosejaw, 49.00. I'll give it try.

[@Barbless55]

The phone trail app doesn't work on PCT Sierra area. Unless you download it to your phone. You need your phone on airplane mode during must of your hike or battery runs out fast. Small paper one are best up over 10,000ft.

[@seribas]

Had a hard time with the sea to summit pillow. I wanted it a little lower and my skull would dig into the valve. Current pillow is the hmmm... Nemo fillo elite. Super into it, valve is way off to the side and it weighs nearly the same as the sea to summit one

[@TheDvdspeler]

Ive been using OSMand+ for all my travels. Offline maps and lots of possibilities if you use GPX files. It also supports wikipedia on the map. Take a look at the free version and wait for it to be on discount 50%, it happens often!

[@ValdiValdies]

Would love to see Financial planing video. I'm from Europe and not really familiar with prices in US.

[@MarloesvandenBosch]

Same, also it is very hard to do a thru-hike like the AT if you are from Europe. It is not easy to get into the US for 6 months :( But well, there are some great hiking spots in Europe as well, a bit shorter but still fun :)

[@DarwinOnthetrail]

Coming Soon Valdis!... Next weeks video will be on How to Save $ during your Thru-Hike! Thanks for Watching! Hike On, Darwin

[@What_If_We_Tried]

Marloes, there are people who have thru-hiked the AT in as little as 100 days, and have KZbin videos about it.

[@chriskelley7024]

You can get a 6 month visa for the us

[@MarloesvandenBosch]

@daniel Berry Really? That is really fast, awesome! :o

[@nmhornd]

I love my hiking pillow!!!! So small and totally worth it!

[@EarlyMist]

just a headsup for those who are budgeting hard, there is a pillow from NatureHike I got on Ebay that is extremely similar but only $7 Aliexpress havem too but slightly higher $.

[@markcarr9249]

Victorinox Forester Swiss Army Knife - Locking blade, saw, can and bottle openers, plus a corkscrew. You never know when you're going to need to crack open a bottle of vino!

[@ziph3326]

I haven't thru-hiked yet, but I am enjoying watching your video's to educate myself before trying. Thank you.

[@craigbyerly8808]

I definitely agree that a stand alone camera would b so much easier. A cell battery is constantly needing charging. Good tip. And yeah, a pillow is a must. I have a Nemo with memory foam. Sweet.

[@jimwagner6260]

didn't thru-hike but 91 I went from the south end two Asheville North Carolina my stove was Sterno I mostly 8 out of cans and I had a tarp for a tent so I mostly used the shelter system would have preferred your gear

[@Themadoutbacker]

I always have a life straw handy to take a sip from streams on the go. I have other means of water filtration but for a quick sip, I stick with the straw.

[@adventureswithfrodo2721]

cut the bottom off a liter water bottle punch a couple holes and you have a gravity feed filter system. use a Starbucks bladder from a coffee box.

[@Ashley-qc2sc]

On most of my thru-hikes the problem has always been having too much gear/clothing, requiring me to stop in a town and mail home the stuff I don't need. Even when I've prepared carefully, and weighed stuff and made spreadsheets; it's so easy to go with too much.

[@BrettVaughnB100]

Good info.. the Platypus Gravity Bag is something I will get right away .. Thanks!

[@Calicospeaks]

I'm hiking the PCT in 2018 too!!! See ya out there! -Pocahontas

[@crcomments8509]

One of the biggest problems with people getting lost in the U.K, Snowdonia, Ben Nevis, peak & lake districts etc is people relying on their mobile phones and electronics. Whilst they are great to have and can make it much easier, if they go wrong or run out of power you are in trouble. All the advice from the the major outdoor organisations and rescue services, is to always carry a proper map and a compass (and know how to use it).

[@Mamba151]

Cr Comments not discounting what you say at all, but amazon has some great solar power banks over 25000 mAh that you can clip to your ruck to charge if it is sunny out and can charge your phone many times over if it isn’t. I use a pelican case with my phone and the charger inside to ensure water proofing, and an h2audio waterproof arm band for the hike itself

[@nigony]

I normally bring a pillow with me on short hikes like 10miles where we spend some time by lakes and relax for a couple days. ONE thing to consider is never bring a tempurpedic pillow as that will turn rock hard in the morning. So if you bring normal pillow bring a normal one haha.

[@redpillnobo-atthru-hike2012]

Wow, that was great, I already had the Guthook but I didn't know about the Life360 which is what I was looking for so my family and friends could track my progress. I wanted a pillow as well but I was holding back... now I'm getting one! Thank you!

[@MetroOnTheMove]

I've been enjoying your videos. It's been fun to see how your videos have progressed over time. Since I live close to the Appalachian Trail, I've been reviewing your suggestions and putting them to the test. Keep up the good work!

[@KonstantinShepard]

It's not about a better hiking or doing more miles but about a better experience , we only live once.

[@robertjanderson88]

I think the Sawyer bags now open fully with a zip enclosure as well. FYI.

[@jamiehikeslandsendtojohnog8829]

Hello from the UK mate. Just wanna say I found your vids very helpful and informative for planning my own hike. I'm 5 days in to hiking Lands End to John O'Groats 1200 miles. Your vids helped me learn how to pack and what to take etc. Cheers again. James

[@amenramuxikllc5658]

THANKS ILL BE ON THE TRAIL 4TH MAY...MAYBE THE PARK IN MAINE WILL BE CLOSED BY THE TIME I FINISH.

[@billyhorr7126]

Which shoes do i wear? socks? blisters? weight of your pack? thank u very informative

[@robertwilder7867]

I really really reall wished I had a proper rainshell. I took a red redige jacket that folded up in it's own pouch that was worthless at keep the torrential down pour on the outside of my jacket. I was soaked for 3 days to the bone.

[@steveruwoldt415]

Regarding the phone APP for maps. On the PCT there are many areas with no reception. Probably should take paper too.

[@MushyMags808]

As far as the gravity filter goes, Darwin, I thought you mentioned in previous videos that you screwed your Sawyer right onto your Smart Water bottles. Couldn't you theoretically just sip straight through the filter? What is the need to gather water and filter before moving on? Why could you not just fill up the dirty water bottles, screw the Sawyer right on top, and then proceed to sip/drink right from the filter? I think the Sawyer Squeeze even has a pop-up sipping style lid anyways?

[@DarwinOnthetrail]

Nope, I've said that you "could" go that route... I used the gravity feed during my AT Thru... Now I go back & forth, depending on what trail I'm hiking. Hike On, Darwin

[@MushyMags808]

Ah, thanks for the clarification and quick reply! I've just found your channel and have been binge watching all the videos! Great content! Quick question, how many liters of water do you carry with you at any given day on the trail?

[@KamenDesantis]

Stuff I would go back and smack my pre-hike self with... Geeze what wouldnt I change? A full jacket instead of just an insulated vest and a rain jacket shell. I considered a jetboil, decided to take a trangia. Not just the burner, but the full 27-8 in aluminum (man the looks I got). Ended up sending that back and going with a stove similar to yours. Looking back I probably would choose to take a folding woodstove and not have to bother with carrying fuel. I took a katadyn hiker pro filter, the handle broke, ended up going to a sawyer mini. Now like you I wish I had used a grav feed. Twice as much TP and hand sanitizer as you think you need, is about half as much as you will actually need. I went with a tarptent contrail. Looking back I think I'd have preferred a Hennessy hammock and a groundsheet.

[@GaryLiseo]

One thing I’ve always been curious about for thru hiking the AT is on phone batteries. How did you manage to keep a cell phone battery charged enough for several months?

[@renjoh]

Portable charger

[@emilydurkee8664]

Portable charger with a solar panel

[@joshwood3]

You bring a portable battery and recharge the phone and portable battery in towns along the way. There are towns every 3-6 days in most places.

[@cornpuffs9621]

I think a scraper or even another bandana is a really important tool. It makes eating feel a lot more sanitary

[@newmanifest]

Good tips, thanks. But what if your phone dies? Isn't it better to have a small paper guide also?

[@steveb1972]

Great and useful video. I don’t hike, I cycle, but I have to say I’d be nervous relying on an electronic map and not having the paper one just in case my phone dies through lack of power of fault!

[@maximusmeridius1272]

Hey Darwin, I wish you would have addressed the performance of the Sea To Summit pillow. I currently have a MEC hiking pillow that has "Silicone dots on bottom help prevent the pillow from skidding out of place", but it's heavier than the Sea To Summit. The question is, should I make the switch if the Sea To Summit pillow is going to keep skidding out all night long? I love my current pillow but need all the facts to make a switch. As always, great information. Thank you.

[@DarwinOnthetrail]

Hey Maximus! Check my "Gear Reviews", I did a full review of that pillow last year when we got off the AT. Thanks for Watching! Hike On, Darwin

[@OrangeCrusader]

You could buy a small tube of clear caulking (kitchen/bath probably best) and add a handful of dots to one side of it, won't be as durable as the MEC dots but workable.

[@cjtaylor5917]

I use a quilt and it won't hold the pillow in place. I wrap it in clothing I'm not using. I am considering gluing a couple velcro dots between the pillow and my sleeping pad. That thing walks away when I don't have something to wrap it in.

[@jrbloggins]

@@OrangeCrusader Sugru moldable glue would work the best to create anti-slip dots

[@slebla240]

1) if not using your neck buff, place it on your blowup pillow as a pillow case. quiets down the pillow noise. 2) my filter froze on my second day. after that, I only used chemical treatment.

[@shortwidgets]

I agree with the pillow instead of a jacket. I have the same pillow and it is permanently stained from my dirty head on the AT and I slept great.

[@Shadowmib]

bring some pantyhose to put over your water collection bag to keep bits of junk out of it.

[@SeaBike007]

The filters do clog easily. This is a good tip, I've been using a cheeseclothe. I also carry a backup filter in case the first gets completely clogged