Grand Canyon Winter Backpacking Loadout: 5 Days 50 Miles Rim to Rim to Rim in February

[@lovemarsh8037]

A tip for water storage is having a thermos bottle with you. That way you can use the hot water to melt the snow to make water. This way you only have to carry 1L hotwater while actually carrying about 2L water (it takes about 10L snow to make 1L water. It takes roughly the same energy to melt 1kg snow as it takes to boil 1kg water). We usually have e.g a waterbottle and a thermos with us if we need to melt snow for water. We drink from the waterbottle and fills it with snow+hotwater. When at camp we use the remaining water to melt more snow and then boil it. This way we we haven't had any problems with the water freezing and we can easily warm up the body with a warm drink if necesarry without having to stop up while hiking.

[@nigelh3253]

Great to evaluate gear after the trip. Very informative.

[@DarkMetaOFFICIAL]

Aw man, 14°?! i thought it was cold, that's summer weather 😂

[@CameronVirrill]

Thanks for your recommendation of the Grand Trunk swiveling stool: light yet sturdy. Love it.

[@markheming3507]

So many folks want to comment on your pack weight. Yeah In my younger days I have carried well over 52 pounds but considering the mileage, how brutal that hike is & the weather conditions you guys did it in…. WOW JUST WOW! Totally a BAD ASS! As always love your videos / channel. Thanks for sharing all the good the bad and the ugly

[@ittotaq]

yeoooo the 4k quality is chefs kiss

[@thewanderingforester]

Flew in from UK and hiked rim to rim for my 60th birthday in the autumn (fall) of 2013 and would love to go into the canyon again but not in winter conditions. Very interesting kit review, good to hear the thinking behind it. I couldn't carry anything like 52lbs anymore but the gear we had in the 60s & 70s would easily mount up to 40-50lbs.

[@Team5TL]

When I backpacked with a front mount camera bag I attached light weight bungee to the bottom corners and those were attached to my backpack. This allowed my chest to expand (I wore my bag higher than you do) but kept it from swinging.

[@r-pupz7032]

That's a great tip, thank you!

[@jannamozdzer4100]

Did you film your way back to the south rim? Thanks for the gear load out, going to be looking into a couple things you mentioned.

[@chrismyers46]

Hope you can get out on the trail soon for another trip to get your mojo back. It can sometimes be a burden to always be the team lead. Always appreciate your honesty so that we can also learn from your mistakes and your successes.

[@BackpackingTV]

Thanks Chris! I appreciate that. I've got a shorter, more mellow trip planned for next week. Cheers!

[@erik556]

love my mystery ranch assault packs

[@oroborusrider]

Great content as always! Thanks!

[@BackpackingTV]

Much appreciated!

[@Zoomdak]

Great information, thanks for sharing the gear of this unique hike!

[@rodoutdoors]

Oh nice that pack's frame can handle 150lb loads. Very helpful video. Thanks for sharing.

[@BackpackingTV]

Mystery Ranch is great for carrying heavy loads comfortably!

[@greasemonkey4god]

Great video! Thanks! It seems difficult to find excellent lightweight winter hiking items on a budget, but I guess I’ll just keep donating plasma!

[@BackpackingTV]

haha yeah, budget + lightweight + quality is tough to find!

[@zakkmiller8242]

I spent this entire last winter slowly buying all my summer gear for my first backpacking trips. Just finally get everything after about 3 months and now im going to spend the summer months slowly buying all the winter gear for when winter rolls back around. I think its better to take the time to buy the high end stuff instead of taking a chance on budget gear. If you think youll eventually upgrade then id say go ahead and get the better product. Just takes a little longer to save up but I think it will pay off 110% once im out there in the backcountry.

[@robynroamsoutdoors]

Good break-down. Can't wait to see what's next.

[@BackpackingTV]

thank you!

[@madmaxthemotomutt6464]

Aahhhaaa someone who feels the same about their chair… I bring mine with me every trip but only used it maybe 3 times because all the other hundreds of nights there was a picnic table!!! But I still bring it! Lol

[@zakkmiller8242]

Everytime I hear about Dan and water, I think of that time when Dans friends tricked him into carrying their water for them hahahaha

[@albig27]

Very impressive you did that whole trip with a 55l bag! Struggling to decide if I should go with 55 or 65 for my new pack

[@6foot8jesuspilledpureblood82]

@@lcon1364 you can if you get creative with loops and straps

[@_sk_videos]

Would be keen to see a more detailed video of the camera pod. Especially different orientations you can carry it, if it can fit a 24-70, 70-200. Could you dual wield them, or if they're too big to have one on each side. Would it fit a drone.

[@Axe_North]

find your channel couple month ago and i have to say I LOVE IT ! thank you for all the great content that you provide !!! And i have my eye on the cotopaxi fleece now !! love from québec !

[@BackpackingTV]

Thank you so much!

[@bendennis8773]

Body Glide makes a foot version similar to their anti-chaffing stick that works great for preventing blisters and since it doesn't adhere it never falls off. I don't know if it works for everyone but I like it and I hate having bad feet. Thanks

[@iceman857]

I wish there wasn't so much disagreement in the backpacking community about Nalgene bottles. For a winter trip, I ALWAYS bring Nalgene bottles over Smart water bottles. You can boil water and put it in the Nalgene bottle, then put the bottle into your sleep system to keep you warm overnight. Stick it between your legs to heat the blood vessels that are close to the skin, and you'll feel MUCH warmer.

[@BackpackingTV]

For winter I definitely think Nalgene is the way to go because of exactly this!

[@billb5732]

Do you use the Watercell for dirty water or clean? Is the shower function useful (or just a gimmick)?

[@IdRatherBeHiking]

That's a great thumbnail Eric.

[@BackpackingTV]

Thank you!

[@terryt2910]

I've hiked the Canyon, but never under the circumstances you did. I will probably never do it again at 74+, but thoroughly enjoyed the hike and the equipmemt videos. Thanks. One thing I wondered, how did you keep your ears warm? Mine get cold very easily, and that knit beanie cap didn't look it would cover mine.

[@BackpackingTV]

Thanks Terry! The wool cap plus the ability to have three hoods (on my fleece, down jacket, and hardshell) kept my head and ears plenty warm.

Wool buff does the trick without overheating

[@medicus5565]

With regard to footwear...I have found that any shoe or boot that utilizes a "cloth" or "web" loop for the laces tends to fail after some time. I have restricted my footwear choices to only those that utilize metal hooks or eyelets. Just my opinion...🙂

[@nickhikesinthewoods6150]

Wow 52 lbs though that's crazy

[@BackpackingTV]

It was a lot to carry! It'd be more like 35 if I didn't add camera equipment, tripod, and snowshoes.

[@mikesalasek3603]

Eric, I am courious why people don't use a Steripen for water purification? I have been using one for more than 10 yrs and only had an issue once on the JMT when my batteries died. Granted they are not good for turbid water but I have never encountered that issue on 4 through hikes or on weekend trips. You do need a Nalgene or some other wide mouth bottle so you can properly stir the water. Having had giardia once and a background in microbiology I take my water safety serious.

[@WagonBurner1868]

i have been using a steripen and MiOx ... i do have to use cloth to filter fine sand from my water.

[@joker2100]

Hey! Do you use the Aquaseal FD or Seam Grip WP Field Kit? You linked the the Aquaseal, but I think the Seam Grip is more appropriate for backpacking applications. Why did you choose the Aquaseal? Any particular reason?

[@gumbi8989]

Everyone says they love the Nemo Tensor, but I always hear they get holes like crazy.

[@wolfoutdoorscanada]

Nice!

[@neonsamurai1348]

That is a lot less gear then I need to do winter camping in middle Ontario Canada. Winter temperatures can go down below -31f -35c before windchill. Around 60 pounds of gear/food for a week, another 20 more if I want a hot tent + stove.

[@BackpackingTV]

Yeah you're definitely gonna need more than this if you're going out in ultra cold winter conditions.

[@Ndevil11]

Pray for global warming

[@toejamr1]

@@Ndevil11no thanks. Love Florida

[@nora0vences]

What did you store your food in? I looked over the gear list and couldn’t find that info. Overall super informative video! Thanks!

[@IlyaDubovsky]

Question about HMG Camera Pod, does the on-camera microphone fit into this? And if it does not, how do you record the sound? Or this is the task of your operator and he uses a different option to carry his camera?

[@markkelley274]

50 pounds plus, on that route, you have the right stuff!

[@jeremytron4040]

What kindof tripod do yoyu use? I'm doing the enchanments this year and not not bringing my camera setup.

[@liamendresen]

How do you store your mic with the Hyperlight camera case?

[@chase4116]

Did y'all film the rest of the hike after Dan was evacuated?

[@ondascommunitymovementcult380]

Did you need to recharge the headlamp? Or did you get 5 days from one charge?

[@chrismoore600]

52 pounds dud you're a badass.😮

[@BackpackingTV]

thanks! it was a beast of a trip!

[@therealmorganfreeman2875]

Looking to buy a Shelter and sleep system for 850$ any recommendations? Preferably 2p tent and weather proof. As long as it ticks these boxes I’m ok with it True 3 season gear Built to last Lightweight and comfortable

[@Jason-pf8qc]

How did camera guy Jake deal with his Nemo frailer?

[@brendonm.deverix8491]

50 lbs in a 55L pack with enough to bail the rest of the group out and winter gear.... absolute unit

[@Waynegoproductions]

I tried on the Bridger 65l the other day. I found the hip belt pockets kept snagging on the material midway. I had to reach over with my other hand grab behind the zipper then close it the rest of the way. Have you experienced that with this pack?

[@BackpackingTV]

hmm. Actual snagging? No I don't think so. Maybe I could see it needing another hand to go a little smoother, but I feel like I have to do that on occasion with hip belt pockets from any company.

[@laxuscloud2495]

Never been this early in my life

[@BackpackingTV]

nice work!

[@staysalty5192]

Question on the camera pod r5 with what lens will it fit the 70-200 thanks again for your content

[@BackpackingTV]

the camera pod fits the R5 plus my 15-35 perfectly. I could hold a slightly longer lens attached too, but not my 70-200 (with the E-mount). I'm not sure how much shorter the RF 70-200 f/4 is, but it could maybe fit.

[@kramertime109]

Anyone else see a rock fall right behind him @4:35 in the video?

[@coolbreezeoutdoors7177]

Hey Eric, great gear selection. You have to ditch that Tensor and get a Exped ul 5r. I promise, it blows away that Tensor. Never a worry in those temps. I speak from experience and my customers experiences. It’s the only pad I now own for all year use. After using Nemo and BA pads, the Exped is a no brainer. Check out the way it’s constructed and you will see the difference.

[@barneyrubble1754]

i only used exped pads 🤙 haven been for 10+ years

[@mtadams2009]

You are obviously a very strong hiker. That all said you would do yourself and your body some good focusing on weight reduction. No offense but you certainly like to carry a lot of crap, which is fine it’s your trip but for those that are watching you they may actually think this is the way to go. I agree with your pot size but I am wondering why you did not bring a liquid fuel stove? I know since you have sponsors you need to use their gear which is nice but people should know there is really super light down gear out there. Gear by Montbell is super light and warm, and there are others. Not to give you are hard time but there are not a lot of people who can handle a fifty pound plus pack over difficult conditions but especially since there is truly no need. Your pack alone weighs almost as much as my three season base weight empty. That’s crazy. I have hiked the Grand Canyon multiple times and I think it’s one if not my favorite location. I never did it in the dead of winter and it looks like a great trip. Take care and I am happy to hear Dan is on the mend and will soon be back on the trial.

[@davef5916]

to be fair about the gas, if dan had come back with you the other 50 miles, it would've been pretty close to being correct.

[@MihaelaFroehlich]

What did you do to make sure that your water filter did not freeze?

[@bkim01]

💪💪💪

[@AnOldGuy164]

I found your gear listing informative. But 1 freeze dried meal and a small bag of snacks was a bit less than I would have expected.

[@lh3540]

I'm more of a trail runner than a camper. This kind of seems like it was getting into mountaineering effort, or at least exertion, and should have been stripped down to a summit pack. You guys might want to study the gear lists they post for tours of the Alps. Weight becomes dangerous, not just in Dan's case, but as a general rule around ice fields. I'd have replaced half that stuff with electrolytes and real mountaineering crampon systems.

[@kimb8348]

Where was the peanut butter?? 😅

[@Oslohiker]

Why not skis?

[@KristiinaKasepaluHarakas]

Pretty heavy pack. But it is winter camping

[@CharmingGecko]

When you said 52 pounds, I had to poop.

[@BackpackingTV]

appropriate response!

[@mellowmoo6747]

The most useful part of nalgene bottles is the fact that you can pour boiling water into them and the fact that they have wide mouths.

[@MihaelaFroehlich]

All the comments about 52 lbs being a lot crack me up. Backpacking with Scouts at Philmont, most of our crew had more than 50lbs with food and water we had to carry and affordable gear that these kids' parents can afford.

[@lh3540]

real mountaineers set a weight of 30lbs. You become less nimble and more fatigued hauling around junk like sporks and sunglass holders and stools. Obviously this went absolutely wrong since Dan got rhabdo. This isn't a car camping trip, this a high exertion climb with a time limit.

[@dovasd]

Very cheap pants, only $250 😀😀😀😀😀

[@TRUUTAH60559]

Great gear list, but you forgot the most important thing, common sense when planning the trip. And 52 lbs for 5 days is just nuts, especially that route. I had 55lbs when I started for 11 days in canyon. This isn’t informative or helpful at all. People need to try things for themselves and get off the damn internet. Why in the hell would I trust anything you did from that trip when it was a complete failure?

[@lh3540]

i'm concerned they had no ice tools. I don't see an approach helmet, axe, probe, beacons, or fixed crampons anywhere in there. Maybe they didn't need all of that, but the group as a whole should have had some of it. but it's concerning they were more focussed on camp-out comfort than safety for the dodgy parts of this route. You shouldn't be screwing around those huge ice falls if you don't know what you're doing.

[@WagonBurner1868]

no such thing as too much fuel or ammunition

[@lh3540]

yeah, actually there is. weight kills on summits. they need to learn from this mistake and follow the pack lists of real mountaineering guides. There also isn't a single piece of ice protection anywhere in that bag.

[@Ashley_Schaeffer]

All that gear didn't help since you almost killed your friend....