Backpacking Basics: Everything You Need To Know To Start Backpacking

Hey y'all, I tried to pack this video with all the information I think you need to know if you want to start backpacking. The number 1 goal of this video is to make it as easy as possible for ANYONE to out on trail, especially if you don't even know what to search for!
If you already watched my beginner backpacking playlist (kzbin.info/aero/PLXiz2lWve6AJimn6W25qQY1usDgdAyybH ), the new info is summarized below the table of contents.
00:00 Intro
00:45 10 Essentials of Hiking
05:15 SHELTERS
05:17 Tents
17:18 Stakes
18:28 Tarps
21:31 Bivy
23:14 Hammocks
27:00 SLEEP SYSTEMS
27:02 Sleeping Bags
29:31 Down vs Synthetic
36:55 Quilts
39:27 Sleeping Pads
39:42 Foam
41:25 Self Inflating
42:10 Inflatable
45:02 FOOTWEAR
45:10 Hiking Boots
50:21 Trail Runners
52:44 Sandals
55:08 How To Properly Fit
59:27 Camp Shoes
01:01:21 Socks
01:08:10 CLOTHING LAYERS
01:10:10 Underwear
01:12:09 Base Layers
01:13:32 Shirts
01:14:48 Pants/Shorts/Skirts
01:18:09 Mid Layers
01:21:10 Rain Gear
01:28:05 BUGS!
01:29:50 Ticks and General Repellants
01:33:03 Mosquitoes
01:35:33 Bees/Wasps
01:40:45 WATER TREATMENT
01:41:43 Boiling
01:43:43 Chemical Treatments
01:45:19 Filters
01:51:39 FOOD
01:56:54 Food Storage
02:01:35 Stoves
02:05:54 Cookware
02:10:33 ELECTRONICS
02:12:09 Backup Battery Packs
02:16:51 Solar Panel Chargers
02:22:39 FIRST AID
02:22:46 Take Care of Your Feet/Blisters
02:26:02 Plantar Fasciitis
02:27:32 Chafing
02:28:51 Sprains
02:30:17 Cuts and Scrapes
02:31:38 Poisonous Plants
02:32:34: Hypothermia
02:33:58 Hyperthermia
02:36:02 Snake Bites
02:38:49 First Aid Kit
02:40:50 HYGIENE
02:47:17 Going to the Bathroom
02:55:22 Menstruation
02:59:26 BAD WEATHER
03:00:14 Heavy Rain
03:08:25 Hail
03:09:12 Lightning
03:11:22 BACKPACKS
03:11:26 Picking a Pack
03:25:09 Fitting a Pack
03:30:14 Packing a Pack
03:32:13 CAMPING BASICS/LNT
03:32:20 Plan Ahead
03:32:49 Travel/Camp on Durable Surfaces
03:35:01 Respect Wildlife
03:36:53 Camp Fire Basics
03:38:18 Dispose of Waste
03:40:47 Be Considerate of Other Visitors
03:41:37 Leave What You Find
ADDED INFO NOT PRESENT IN ORIGINAL SERIES
*Permethrin is toxic to cats
*When removing a tick, make sure the tick’s head isn’t still attached to your skin
*Water filter can be damaged if frozen. To prevent filter from freezing overnight, keep the filter in a ziplock bag with you in your sleeping bag.
*Difference between Water Filter and Purifier: Water filter removes bacteria, but the pore size is too big to remove viruses. A mechanical purifier has small enough pores to filter out viruses.
*Section Added to First Aid: Hyperthermia aka heat exhaustion. Summary: avoid hiking in prime heat of day, take breaks, be mindful of the level of humidity. High humidity compromises your body’s ability to sweat and your sweat’s ability to evaporate and cool your body down. Carry an umbrella in exposed areas.
Signs of hyperthermia: rapid pulse, signs of exhaustion, losing consciousness, rapid shallow breathing, headache, nausea, dizziness, weakness.
CDT Gear List: lighterpack.com/r/fsmeqf
PCT Gear Lists: Desert - lighterpack.com/r/f84ma7
Sierra Nevada - lighterpack.com/r/b8a8ic
Cascade Range - lighterpack.com/r/40d5gd
AT Gear List: homemadewanderlust.com/whats-in-my-pack-gear-list/
Links: Bear Bagging Video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/m3S7haeXnL53fs0
Dehydrated Ground Beef Video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hqXbZ4CBr8Z1Y5o
Army Institute Study on Footwear: apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a131420.pdf
Outdoor GearLab Top Solar Panels: www.outdoorgearlab.com/topics/camping-and-hiking/best-solar-charger
Leave No Trace 7 Principles: lnt.org/learn/7-principles
Merch: shop.spreadshirt.com/homemadewanderlust
* I do NOT accept anything from gear companies. I do not do paid reviews. I do not have any sponsors. All opinions are my own, based on my experiences. I do not plan to ever incorporate sponsorships on this channel in an effort to remain 100% impartial.
*There are Amazon Affiliate links in my gear lists and possibly in product links in this video description. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Amazon Affiliate Page: www.DixieAZ.com
WAYS TO SUPPORT THIS CHANNEL & MY 2020 Adventures:
*Patreon: patreon.com/homemadewanderlust
(You can pledge as low as a $1/month to support my upcoming hikes.)
*My Book
Take A Thru-Hike: Dixie's How-To Guide for Hiking the Appalachian Trail (ebook): amzn.to/2e7GK0l
*ONE-TIME CONTRIBUTION:
-PayPal: [e-mail]
-Bitcoin (BTC) Wallet: 1PLcRstR4bamTYKpwd9Nzus75WjfjMY6gG
Contact information:
Blog: www.homemadewanderlust.com
twitter: @homemadeWL
Instagram: homemadewanderlust
facebook: www.facebook.com
PO Box 4192 Opelika, AL 36803
For business/interview inquiries only: [e-mail]

[@HomemadeWanderlust]

Time Stamps! 00:45 10 Essentials of Hiking 05:15 SHELTERS 05:17 Tents 17:18 Stakes 18:28 Tarps 21:31 Bivy 23:14 Hammocks 27:00 SLEEP SYSTEMS 27:02 Sleeping Bags 29:31 Down vs Synthetic 36:55 Quilts 39:27 Sleeping Pads 39:42 Foam 41:25 Self Inflating 42:10 Inflatable 45:02 FOOTWEAR 45:10 Hiking Boots 50:21 Trail Runners 52:44 Sandals 55:08 How To Properly Fit 59:27 Camp Shoes 01:01:21 Socks 01:08:10 CLOTHING LAYERS 01:10:10 Underwear 01:12:09 Base Layers 01:13:32 Shirts 01:14:48 Pants/Shorts/Skirts 01:18:09 Mid Layers 01:21:10 Rain Gear 01:28:05 BUGS! 01:29:50 Ticks and General Repellants 01:33:03 Mosquitoes 01:35:33 Bees/Wasps 01:40:45 WATER TREATMENT 01:41:43 Boiling 01:43:43 Chemical Treatments 01:45:19 Filters 01:51:39 FOOD 01:56:54 Food Storage 02:01:35 Stoves 02:05:54 Cookware 02:10:33 ELECTRONICS 02:12:09 Backup Battery Packs 02:16:51 Solar Panel Chargers 02:22:39 FIRST AID 02:22:46 Take Care of Your Feet/Blisters 02:26:02 Plantar Fasciitis 02:27:32 Chafing 02:28:51 Sprains 02:30:17 Cuts and Scrapes 02:31:38 Poisonous Plants 02:32:34: Hypothermia 02:33:58 Hyperthermia 02:36:02 Snake Bites 02:38:49 First Aid Kit 02:40:50 HYGIENE 02:47:17 Going to the Bathroom 02:55:22 Menstruation 02:59:26 BAD WEATHER 03:00:14 Heavy Rain 03:08:25 Hail 03:09:12 Lightning 03:11:22 BACKPACKS 03:11:26 Picking a Pack 03:25:09 Fitting a Pack 03:30:14 Packing a Pack 03:32:13 CAMPING BASICS/LNT 03:32:20 Plan Ahead 03:32:49 Travel/Camp on Durable Surfaces 03:35:01 Respect Wildlife 03:36:53 Camp Fire Basics 03:38:18 Dispose of Waste 03:40:47 Be Considerate of Other Visitors 03:41:37 Leave What You Find

[@mechasartre3694]

The snake part has made me less keen on hiking in America XD

[@hikingthemountains7062]

Excellent vid Dixie!

[@memefeed2147]

If you aren't eating exclusively pemmican on the trail, you are missing out the ability to roam like our ancestors did with no issues, aches or pains. needing to sleep for only a single rem cycle (3-4 hours) and wake well rested is amazing. Your bodies ability to produce heat is also increased, more resilient to the weather.

[@bfg1836]

Kids and work resulted in a 25 year hiatus from backpacking. 2 years ago I stumbled on one of your videos and the bug bit me again. So, at 57 I got back into it. Things have changed a lot in 25 years, especially equipment, and your videos have helped a lot. Keep em coming. I’ve worked in Spain for months at a time and your Camino videos have the wheels turning. Thanks a bunch, Dixie.

[@gigiguzman2747]

I want to start backing but that is a big list. It all seems so intimidating to me.

[@KimberlyGreen]

The "end-to-end" view count on this video may never be high because of the length, but this is probably the most wonderful video you've ever done. What a thoughtful service, to put it all in one video.

[@xPumaFangx]

Give it time and love. Than maybe the view count will go up.

[@KimberlyGreen]

@@xPumaFangx Oh certainly. But some metrics the creator section of KZbin gives are audience retention, average view duration & average % viewed. I think that a 3+ hour video is going to be a challenge for most people to view in one sitting, so those metrics won't be high. Basic view count will, of course, grow over time.

[@jasonhohman7702]

Great advice! I'm on KZbin mostly for personal entertainment and longer videos fail to hold my attention. If someone is a true "KZbinr" where personal statistics mean the difference between gaining endorsements or not and front page placement, consideration of video length and statistics are critical! I love that she was considerate by listing time stamps for key points, but that helps us and not her. Breaking this video into digestible bites would help her a lot! Still, I'm with you on the showing of love for her efforts and watched the entire video...even if partially multi-tasking to do so! But honestly... I found myself to be very interested in her advice!

[@thedude0000]

@@jasonhohman7702 _Breaking this video into digestible bites would help her a lot!_ Just watch the first 10 seconds of the video. She explains this is a collection of videos she had done, but wanted to put them all into one video. I'm sure if you go to her channel, you'd find the individual videos. *Additionally,* she provides time stamps in the description section. Not exactly sure how she could make it easier.... 🙄

[@kevinbungles]

An absolute essential video - loved it

[@minzhi6995]

After watching this again and again, I finally gathered all my gears and went to my first ever backpacking trip to Joshua Tree! Met another first timer backpacker who follows this channel, too! Thank you for all the education and tips!

[@hannahstepanek1092]

She made a feature film for all of us and I am so grateful! 💕

[@svtabula-rasa7753]

This could have been a Udemy course and I would have gladly paid for it! Amazing information def a master class thank you soooo much.

[@oldschooljeremy8124]

In the olden days before inflatable sleeping pads ( or closed cell foam pads even ) there was a trick for that problem of the hip grinding into the ground when sleeping on your side. You dug a shallow little trench, maybe an inch or two deep, 3 or 4 across and 6 or so wide. Your hip went down into that trench. This left your weight more evenly spread along your whole body rather than focused at your hip and shoulder. ( Sometimes you'd do a trench for your shoulder as well. ) Even directly on the ground this was a much more comfortable lie. Add a layer of grass or leaves for padding and Bob's your uncle. And the weight of this system? Zero pounds zero ounces. : )

[@MomWentBackpacking]

Bob’s your uncle 😆 I haven’t heard that in a long time

[@hannaheller5290]

That is SO smart

[@davidbutler1825]

Ahhh! The ol' "hip hole."

[@michaeldriggers7681]

That's an ingenious solution. If I ever find myself out camping or backpacking with either no sleeping pad or a nonfunctional pad, I will remember that. Barring that situation however, I am never again intentionally going camping without a thick inflatable sleeping pad.

[@vincentalessi1307]

Hip and shoulder holes work great unless it rains, then ensolite pad is advised. And Leave No Trace principles often forbid this practice

[@KubrickFR]

I had no idea when launching this video that I would be watching it to the end. I just thought 'Who would make/watch a 3+ hour video on backpacking?'

[@robertoouellet1188]

Same here but so instructional!

[@maddi3787]

100%. I started off by thinking that I'd just watch a few minutes or skim through, but I'm an hour in and still very entertained. 😂

[@johnd7564]

Most youtubers can't get 5 minutes of content into a 10 minute video. This was amazing! All well thought out, all hard-earned knowledge shared freely, this is 3:43:40 of content in 3:43:40 of video. Either she's an amazing extemporaneous speaker, or she's taken the time to script all of this. No wasted words, no missed points. And she takes the trouble to point out where she doesn't have definitive knowledge. This is SO useful and well done. Wow.

[@lucylovitt9583]

Nice, but it would have been even nicer if the lady had a name ........she

[@johnd7564]

@@lucylovitt9583 Her name's Dixie.

[@DARKDEATHKILLER]

Wow just the sheer amount of time researching, filming and editing the content of this video is a huge undertaking, so thank you very much for putting in all that work for us!

[@PaulMaloney]

Thanks for the video Dixie. I train youngsters in the UK on outdoors backpacking and the girls in the groups sometimes have questions they don’t feel comfortable asking me. I now have a video to send them to where they have a role model who covers those things for them.

[@AmanYadavS]

This is a master course for a beginner, the best video for travelers.

[@raymondcava4669]

@seekhimwithallyourheartand3358You are a nut bar😂

[@Havoc_Unlimited]

‘Rejoice in the death of all the mosquitos in the mosquito massacre’ ahhh made me chuckle

[@28105wsking]

Make sure you count your tent stakes and in the morning when you take down, count them again before you pack them, so you don't leave any behind and get caught short the following night. It's always a good idea to have a coupla extras, just in case. Have a designated gear rock and only put your stuff on that rock. That's why its a good idea to have red and orange gear. You'll see it in the grass. Double check your camping area and clean it up before you leave, and double check your check list before you leave in the morning to make sure you don't forget anything important. Try to set up before dark. I once set up after dark and the next morning discovered I'd missed a HUMONGOUS pile of human poop by inches! Truly, angels must have guided my feet and placement in the dark. How I could have gotten that off my tent out in the boonies, I don't know! Whew! Close call! For Pete's sake, bury your poops. Thanks!

[@Fire91ful]

I cant take 6months off from work without going homeless but a week hike sounds like a real vacation. Watching the while thing. You motivated me to do my dream!

[@findingagain]

I hope that you've been able to take your hike, even if just for a day or few!

[@garnettbrown]

The first rule of hiking before any of this stuff is: Tell someone where and when your going and approximately what time you should be back.

[@ElJulioso]

Exactly! That way, people can find and shoot the bear that ate you while it's still sleepy and slow after its meal!

[@allanpatterson7653]

@@ElJulioso If you are walking with your dog who knows no fear and you come across a bear the dog will likely enrage it with it's barking. Do not try and save the dog , the little ARF is going to buy you about a minute or 2 lead time on a run out of there.

[@youtubecensorspeace1874]

That is the first rule? Lol so before you consider actually surviving you should make sure people know where you died?

[@rudolphschmidt313]

@@allanpatterson7653 Only a coward wouldn't fight with the dog

[@allanpatterson7653]

@@rudolphschmidt313 O really. Have you ever come close to an enraged Bear without a fence between you? Your little canine friend knows no fear and is going to go straight for the Bear if it's anything like a few Terriers I can think of,if you you can't scoop him up and run the Bear gonna make very short work of him. Save yourself. I never take a dog on a walk in the north woods unless I know the trail well ,I find Rattle snakes as well and they do not sound like on TV the rattle is more like the whistle grasshoppers sometime make and they are warning you stay away.Do not get in their space and you have no problem.

[@wvhikingadventures714]

Wow, what an undertaking the editing process for this project must have been! Great job, most impressive!

[@emmy1122]

You know what? Ich glaub ich bestell nichst hahaha

[@ranger569h7]

O

[@zexnynex777]

where are you in WV?

[@wvhikingadventures714]

Fayetteville WV

[@robertrendleman557]

F

[@cailin5309]

When it comes to clothes.. Im a smaller girl, I got a Columbia rain jacket in the largest child size which fit me the same as a small adult size. But was 30$ cheaper. Just a tip

[@jcoop4298]

I am from England (it’s wet here). I’ve lived outdoors, full time, for the last 8 years. Wish that I’d seen a video this good when I started! (I wouldn’t have had so many adventures if I had though 🤣) Excellent work lady. New campers take notes and listen to this woman. The only input that I feel is really important to make is this; A wet nights sleep will ruin your moral and your adventures! Buy a tent that is a minimum of 4000HH and make sure that the poles go through the flysheet on the outside of it. This way, if you get caught in a rainstorm you can put your home up very quickly and without getting your bedroom wet. This is really important. Make sure that you have a dry, windproof home to go to every day and your outdoor adventures will be everlastingly good memories. (The downside to this is that stargazing is more difficult...)

[@camilleb292]

Excelent point. I fell in love with sleeping outside in winter, so I decided to buy winter sleeping bag and also a tent suitable for all seasons. I would recommend to all of you Trimm Apolo-D - it has 10000HH and two entrances as she explained in the video. Very light tent of great quality for low price.

[@secondchance6603]

"You have to do what works for you." Best advice ever!

[@Fernwanderer]

So, if this one is "basics" I´m really looking forward for your "Advanced Backpacking: Everything You could Know and beyond" 😉 Seriously, you should name this one "Backpacking 101" - very much enjoyed watching.

[@DB-xo6xh]

101 Comprehensive Seminar.

[@theaestheticgaming3530]

L

[@rebahkascaccia8555]

Agreed 👍

[@lindasmal5051]

Hiking here in South Africa is slightly different than hiking in USA, as we don't have any bears here and most of the wildlife leave us alone. It's just baboons we need to look out for and that's mainly just scaring them away. Thanks for this complete guide to hiking beginners! I learned so much.

[@lindagrant3232]

I think a whistle should be an essential, especially for kids. If you are lost, your voice will give out quickly when trying to let searchers find you.

[@ricklundgren797]

This is what scouts teach, because if you are lost you can only yell for a short period of time.

[@gamernick1533]

Most hiking/trail packs come with one built into the chest strap, or at least all of the ones I've had do... maybe I'm subconsciously buying them on that basis :P

[@trishaspencer9956]

I had a pack for years before I realized there was a whistle in the chest strap 😅

[@lauralossie3893]

@@trishaspencer9956same here!!

[@notsoswift629]

This is literally the most comprehensive video I’ve ever watched

[@carolethorn3211]

This is so thorough and well done and comprehensive- i dont hike or climb nor do i plan to start - YET - I still watched 3/4 the way through.

[@terryowen7032]

Every time I hear, Hey Y'all, Dixie here, somehow my day gets brighter.

[@oneandonlyval]

same!

[@alicianarava6371]

This video is freakin AWESOME! You are so knowledgeable and enthusiastic and you share you knowledge in such a humble way that allows room for others and their personal opinions and experiences. Your respect and love for nature is beautiful and I learned SO much from this video. I am so excited to be planning my AT thru-hike with your guidance and expertise! Thank you so much!

[@danielholman7225]

Thanks again for the video. Three helpful things: I like to carry a little scrubby sponge 4”X3 1/2” . The scrubby part of the sponge is good for scrubbing off dirt from skin & uses very little water. For poison ivy the best thing is Calamine lotion. Really cuts down on itching. Reading comments a hiker said getting an early start in hot weather is the thing. Take a break mid day, then.

[@sarahoneill4930]

As someone just starting to research how to do even a day hike (that might grow into thru hiking), this was exceptional. I found the entire video to be educational and it helped me realize what I haven't considered yet and might need to do more research on. In terms of length, I appreciate how much work you did! I'm sure putting this video together was a project in itself. I was able to watch it on twice the speed so I could maximize my time best. Thank you!

[@paullessard4549]

Exceptionally well done and useful. Wish I would of found this before I fragmentated all these bits together watching tons of YT videos. I watched the whole thing since it provided a nice summary and answered nearly every remaining question I had. Thanks Dixie!

[@luacreskid]

You have worked hard to make these videos watch-able and listen-able. Perhaps you don't know how successful you are. On the other hand you have 231k subscribers which is indicative of your success. Good for you.

[@MeKnotChu6651]

As a former infantryman, and from my experiences as a landscaper. I cannot stress the benefits of Carmex when it comes to chafing. There are plenty of other uses but I have found that after cleaning and drying applying some carmex to your affected areas is an almost instant cure.

[@tinamcclure7984]

This is long, but very informative. I am not a hiker, but plan to do the PCT in 2021. I am doing walking and will work up to day and overnight hikes. But I will be 55, so it's time to do it and stop talking about it. Watch you, Darwin and second chance hiker. Thank you

[@jayceewedmak9524]

How did it go?

[@MalcolmSalmond]

This is truly an incredible video. I can't even begin to imagine how many hours this took to put together. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

[@alexanderweaver4838]

Hi Dixie! I just want to say that I admire you for all of your accomplishments. The documentation of your respective hikes have brought much entertainment to many of us during this Covid-19 crisis. My through hikes were all done on trails throughout Europe and the Middle East while stationed 16 of my 23 years in the military. I accomplished a few hikes throughout Hawaii and Australia as well. Now that I'm nearly 73 with some health issues the thought of hiking the AT, CDT, and PCT has become a pipe dream. I did a sectional on the Virginia AT and it convinced me that I should leave it to the younger and healthier crowd. Now I enjoy overland camping with short exploration hikes. Anyway, well done!

[@juanvelarde9839]

Hey Dixie! I have been watching your videos for a few years, and just got home (a few hours ago) from my FIRST backpacking trip. I thought of you for the last two quiet miles and how much you helped me to prepare. I can't thank you enough! I not only survived, but had a great time. I will be back out, Lord willing. I could go on for too long, but I just wanted to thank you and encourage you. I am sure I am not the only person you helped. We love you. Keep going.

[@jennydoe9255]

I feel like there should be a quiz at the end of this and a certificate for completing this course. thanks for the great video, ive learnt a lot!

[@anthonyw688]

Wow, such a wealth of knowledge. You definitely have been doing this a while and know your stuff. Long videos too, almost like a podcast. As a trucker I definitely can appreciate the long forum.

[@007janerussell]

The way you look up past posts to explain what you are talking about is soooo cool. Thank you Arron (Erin) and Dixie ❤️❤️

[@josephfolken9873]

Can’t believe how long and comprehensive this video is. It’s everything I need to know to about getting into backpacking. Thank you so much

[@Besalu]

Wow!! A very, VERY comprehensive introduction to Backpacking 101!!

[@stevekelly2018]

As a noob to backpacking I've watched God knows how many gear/101 YT vids over the last couple of weeks and this is streets ahead of them all, if you're like me and just starting out do yourself a favour and watch the whole thing. Great job!

[@tylerc122189]

Nice community reference

[@katkit2544]

This had absolutely everything I wanted to know to go backpacking. You thought of everything!! Best video I have seen, watched the whole thing!! Thankyou for sharing your wisdom and saying the things that most people wouldn’t want to talk about on a video. After watching this I had to subscribe.

[@katlynharrison9414]

I need to clarify that if you have a good enough (well-pressurized) actual travel bidet, you don't need a dirty hand, just a cloth similar to a pee cloth where you pat dry if preferred but my fiance just shakes dry like you! We love our travel bidet!

[@yoy58913]

It is so well organized, Jessica Mills you and the team behind have done an outstanding job.

[@MonthlyCramps]

Wow. Jessica has the endurance of stone. This episode is so thorough it could be the only one you watch the entire year and you'd know more than 90% of the rest of the other internet viewers.

[@007janerussell]

When I go packing on a 2,3 day backpacking with my son we love the extra work to cook food. We often make teas with the natural flowers and foods that are around us. Pine needle tea is sooo good.

[@eagle8505]

How do you do that

[@gracemalley6821]

Growing up in California with rattlesnakes, I would recommend that long hiking pants are used in high volume snake areas like from the Mexican border to the mid / upper Sierras on the PCT. Snakes "see" using heat signatures. A non-sounding snake will strike at an uncovered leg and may not strike at a covered leg. I have personally seen a person with pants walked past a non-sounding pacific rattlesnake, and then a person wearing shorts walked past the snake at the same distance on trail and the snake struck at the heat signature of the uncovered leg. The victum was air lifted to Loma Linda Hospital and treated by the world famous, Dr. Bush (thank you Dr. Bush).

[@MyKIDROBOT369]

Great advice! Glad the victim is okay.

[@Knubinator]

Hey Dixie, I think it would be nice to see a video on how to find where to hike and camp, how to get information, some of the differences between state park/forests and the federal system (NPS vs USDA/FS, etc), organizing transportation (I know you touched on this in your AT series) on and offtrails and to and from trailheads, etc. There's lots of information on what to do on trail, and I think there's a lack of information on how to find and get to the trail in the first place.

[@elliejohnson77]

I've never even heard of tying your shoe laces differently to support your foot shape. This is a damn game changer.

[@christopherwalsh7700]

It's actually more of a quick fix than a long term solution to anything.

[@juanaluma8321]

This is BY FAR the best and most thorough camping gear video I have ever seen. You're amazing and I subscribed in a heartbeat. Great job!!

[@johnadams5489]

Dixie has had years of experience doing through hikes. The number of different products she has spoke about is amazing. Its a good thing that she does this for a living. Buying and replacing outdoor equipment gets expensive. Getting high quality products at a fair price instead of budget products that end up in the trash is always a better option. The most important item on your shopping list has to be footwear. Dixie switched to Trail runners after the Lowe boots didn't work out for her. I never used Trial runners, I prefer boots. For me the most comfortable hiking boots I ever owned are Salamon. Be sure to buy them at least a half or whole size bigger to accommodate inserts, or orthodontics, hiking socks and a sock liner if you use them. Also, your feet will get swollen on long hikes, so be sure to have enough room. Break your boots in before going on any extended hikes. Great training video. Thanks!

[@28105wsking]

Yay! Braces! Pretty new smile! So nice to see Fancy again! She looks very happy and healthy! She must have missed you while you were away.

[@loriacrcampbell2927]

I watched this end to end while on a long road trip. I am a beginner middle aged female hiker. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I learned so much! Thank you!

[@Kallepeng]

Almost four hours of joy to me🤗

[@quabot]

I’ve hiked and spent a lot of my life in wilderness as a civilian and combat photographer, but these basic reviews always teach me something new.

[@bob-ny6kn]

Four hours... I'm going to press pause now and restart on Saturday, all day. Sorry for not watching it in full, Dixie... yet, but thank you for your work!

[@gabirusama3072]

The length of this video intimidated me at first but I’ve been listening while driving to work or while cleaning and it’s amazing. One stop shop! I appreciate you for the time you put into this.

[@chemistryflavored]

Oh wow, you are amazing. I won’t be watching all this today, but next year my hubby and I are gearing up to start doing actual backpacking and not just day hikes and I will definitely be using this video a lot as a reference. Thanks for putting all this together for FREE you are amazing.

[@ddahstan6876]

I love how enthusiastic you are in sharing and creating a community for safe adventurers!! Massively appreciate all your great research and personal experiences!!

[@Decentralized_Maze]

Wanderlust: This was THE BEST (most thorough and considerate) summary of expert tips on a topic I've EVER came across!!!! From all of us around the world, thank you!!

[@kingal89]

I totally agree. I hate quick 101's that don't say much. This was extremely thorough and easy to understand!

[@Decentralized_Maze]

@@kingal89 I literally bragged about this video to others. I was mind-blown on the 'waste no time' all-in-one video (with detailed timestamps to boot). She's always produced quality, but this one I saved to my channel for others to find. Happy exploring! 🏕

[@AndyJarman]

Duct tape is the most versatile thing to have. Roll it around your trekking pole or create a mini spool of it. Apart from repairing rips, I've found it is great for protecting hot spots on your feet too. Cut out a bit of antibiotic wipe, cover the blister/hot spot and stick down with duct tape over it. The tape is smoother than your skin and will reduce friction.

[@elvicronin]

I would love to hear a piece about how you obtained your permits for camping and hiking. We live near Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado and are planning on Backpacking the PCT in Washington and I've heard you need to enter a lottery in some areas to be able to backpack certain areas. How did you plan your thru hikes from the perspective of Permits? Your videos have inspired me, my husband, and two young daughters to get out there more! Thank you!

[@guinevereholsey2154]

In the olden days before inflatable sleeping pads ( or closed cell foam pads even ) there was a trick for that problem of the hip grinding into the ground when sleeping on your side. You dug a shallow little trench, maybe an inch or two deep, 3 or 4 across and 6 or so wide. Your hip went down into that trench. This left your weight more evenly spread along your whole body rather than focused at your hip and shoulder. ( Sometimes you'd do a trench for your shoulder as well. ) Even directly on the ground this was a much more comfortable lie. Add a layer of grass or leaves for padding and Bob's your uncle. And the weight of this system? Zero pounds zero ounces. : )

[@TieWolf]

A note about permethrin, like you had mentioned - there is conflicting reviews on the safety around cats... I have a friend who owns a farm and she had treated her dogs and followed the directions carefully. She ended up losing her cat suddenly as her cat liked to groom her dogs to be affectionate... He ended up seizing to death... awful... They didn't realize the cause until afterwards remembering the permethrin even when following the instructions and timeframes. With that, I will probably never treat my dogs with it; any gear I treat with it will be kept in a tote inaccessible to my cat and only taken out when in use. However if someone is in need of a really great flea and tick preventative for dogs they want to hike with, using Flea Free food supplements has been a game changer for us! Just be sure it is used daily while hiking/camping/backpacking and if just a weekend trip, begin using it daily on food about 2 weeks before the trip. Much safer! Apparently safe for cats too.

[@Swimdeep]

Coincidentally, I just recommended and linked your channel on Reddit to a beginner backpacker who’s planning on doing the PCT 2020. Nice compilation.

[@ezr3n]

A moment of silence for this beginner backpacker's plan to hike the PCT in 2020. RIP.

[@brianholder1627]

The "end-to-end" view count on this video may never be high because of the length, but this is probably the most wonderful video you've ever done. What a thoughtful service, to put it all in one video.

[@Swimdeep]

@@brianholder1627 I concur.

[@doingitwelldotbiz]

Perfect vid to keep me company while a braise is in the oven. Your demeanor is so comforting!

[@malibusean9312]

A veritable encyclopedia for backpacking. Thank you, for all you have done and continue to do for this community. Great job! (And thank you Aaron as well. )

[@xXxSTARLESSEYESxXx]

My boyfriend is an avid backpacker and outdoorsman. I've always been a "city girl" but I've decided to join him in a few upcoming overnight trips he's taking. This video has been immensely helpful so far in supplementing his instruction (he's been teaching me, recommending gear, and directing me to different backpacking channels, yours included). I've been watching this video and taking notes as I go and the more I watch the more excited I'm getting (as a self-identified city girl this is something I never thought I'd say). Thank you!!!! This is amazing info and I'm happy to watch and learn! Side note: I'm in the "Boiling water" section and for my notes I wrote, "Can boil water before you filter as a first line of defense. Ex: Dixie and the dead cat water."

[@Woodenarrows]

This will be a very helpful video for a lot of people. Thank you too for time stamping... As always, great videos and info...

[@ralphcantrell3214]

WOW!! I had no interest in hiking and have no idea why I landed here, but I wound up watching the entire video in one fell swoop. ( I do sometimes car or motorcycle camp, and maybe that got me here somehow.) You, Ma'am, are a treasure-trove of practical information for anyone who enjoys nature and being in the great outdoors. It doesn't hurt that you are very easy on the eyes and a pleasure to listen to. Thanks for this awesome video and all the great advice within it. I learned many things I didn't know about connecting with nature and being prepared. This makes me want to plan a beginner hike just to see how I like it. Happy trails!

[@robertrockwell7581]

wow watched the whole thing. thank you. covered everything.

[@neil2809]

Can we be related ?

[@kke]

This is the video to watch for anyone starting with the hobby.

[@karlamoreira3280]

The Pawnee Goddess troop leader I've been searching for. Thanks, Dixie!

[@johnroos5807]

Yes!:), I do agree! Semper Fidelis

[@timobrien2738]

This is an insane comprehensive amount of knowledge for backpacking. Thank you so much.

[@jamiecanham9991]

Thanks for all of the great information! I learn so much from you, I’m so grateful ♥️

[@carolynmetzler8980]

Thank you for all your good, informative videos. This one got a lot more listenable for me after the loud music cut out. For those of us who are older, and did not grow up with loud music blasting in elevators or restaurants, sometimes it’s hard to hear the human voice while trying to fight through the music. So I appreciate the second half of the video being easier to listen to when the music went away.

[@tonyr484]

Im new to hiking & thankyou so much for the best in depth explanation for a newbie, A+++++

[@mattc6147]

3 years after this was made I found this and it's an absolute wealth of knowledge. Thank you for sharing all of this. What a gem!

[@nick1635]

WOW, this is brilliant, it should be essential viewing for anyone wanting to go camping. It must have taken a huge effort to compile... well done and congratulations! :)

[@desireemorris6198]

This video single-handedly convinced me to subscribe. Normally I wouldn't have given anyone the time of day with a video this length, but the information spoke for itself. Thank you for being so knowledgeable and speaking about those girl problems no man would ever speak on. You gave more advice than the men I've watched AND have been a female voice. Thank you!!!

[@sierrarider]

Who are the jackasses that disliked your video is what I want to know! You're fantastic and well appreciated. Greetings from Tahoe.

[@lollyframes1166]

Jace Christensen There will always be haters, we just have to ignore them. Don’t give them any of our time. Love Dixie!!!!

[@bobk2966]

I have been a backpacker all my life and this was an excellent production. A lot of fun to watch also, makes me want to hit the trail at Ranier.

[@mikeg2916]

I am about to go on my first camping weekend and you explained everything so well, that I don't feel anxious. Thank you so much for all the valuable information so I can make the right choices in gear that will work for me. I know this video was done 5 years ago but the content works well even now. I am so glad I found your channel!!! THANKS!!!!!😃

[@eclecticpyrat]

Listening to this accent for 3 plus hours.....😊

[@abc-wv4in]

What accent?? LOL (I'm from Georgia.)

[@GypsyGirl317]

@@abc-wv4in listening from a different country, it's an interesting and nice accent. 😊

[@WebreDesigns]

Excellent guidance. As a non-backpacker, your video has offered an invaluable, thorough preview of the backpacking experience & has peeked my interest in venturing out on a day or weekend hike. Thanks for your candor in providing an informative & useful video which is easy to share & to refer back to as needed. Well done.

[@patrickvanovermeeren4513]

Awsome video full of great tips . Nice to have it all in one video ! Thanks for sharing !

[@JDlovescats979]

I've got a 4-5night backpacking trip in may as part of a wilderness medicine class and have never been backpacking before (but have done plenty of hiking and camping). We need to provide our own gear and they don't tell us until much later everything we need so I really appreciate this video as it will let me start practicing walking/hiking with the gear much earlier so that I can be physically ready for the trip.

[@alanstordal5621]

Your So Very Well Spoken...Great information and advice. Welcome back to the USA..Home✨

[@cwguy8960]

Dixie - I'm halfway through and I feel like I'm taking a college level class on backpacking. Sharing your experience on all of these topics is a gift to us - thank you! You're an expert in your field. And - I share your exact same feelings about mosquitos!!! Well done!

[@bonitavasquez1202]

Awesome great content I’m a 53 year old lady and my husband is 57 and we are considering starting to do some hiking our children are grown and out of the house we are not very athletic so probably not going to going on any of the trails you were talking about and showing on your video probably starting out with some local 1-5 mile trails to start with so this gives us so great information about gear even just for day hiking. I have done some I called it exploring as a child when we would go camping and I loved it so I’m excited about starting up again but I’m also wanting to know what my limits are and my husband are so starting out slowly. Thank you for all your help knowledge I appreciate you sharing it with us.

[@michaelwirtz5420]

I think it was the longest and most informative video I’ve ever seen on KZbin. Thank you.

[@007janerussell]

Yet again, another awesome video 🇨🇦✌🏼

[@danieleshannonvalois3158]

AMAZING! Thank you so much! This is exactly what I have been looking for!

[@johndavidson6867]

An awesome video Dixie and it only took me about 3 3/4 hours to watch it(lol), but it allowed me to watch one of my favorite people, I really like that you don't push your personal choices as the end all, be all thank you. I do feel that a lot of your choices are probably the best option, you do after all , have a fair bit of experience. Hoping your future trails a smooth and gentle, take care and stay safe.

[@dianevillemaire8286]

Great video. Thanks for all the hard work making this video. The info is great

[@DaltonEMain]

Now there is the Opeongo for ground and hammock camping as well as supreme protection from water and snow and such, which has always been one of the major downfalls for us extreme weather camper/hikers! Get the Opeongo, a good sleeping bag and pad, and you will be MINDBLOWN... I decided hammocks were the future and with the introduction of the Opeongo, I am reaffirmed in this theology! Happy camping!

[@carolweekley9582]

I love Anker products. Great quality and customer service.

[@myjourneytosanity]

I know this is an old video, but I can't express how awesome this video is, so glad I watched it all the way through.

[@juliagodwin763]

Thanks for the video! I can't tell you how helpful this was!

[@Mocha69A]

Very True about the rain gear. Learned as soldier in miserable wet cold weather. I would often use my rain gear not just to stay dry but to retain heat in cold weather. Now it's not good if it's hot or your body heat will heat up when moving , for stationary positions I survived the cold with an extra layer rain. Rain gear can come in different types of material I'm talking about the military issued parks pants and bottoms.

[@douglass69]

If you’re looking for a lot of hammock how-to's see SHUG on KZbin.

[@brent7390]

Woo Buddy!

[@gvoigtlander]

“The Marine” also has some good videos on hammock camping “Backpacking with a Hammock”. Darwin on the Trail discusses pros and cons of tents vs hammocks.

[@barbarablackstone3144]

Outdoor Adventures also has great hammock camping info.

[@bonnevillebagger9147]

Shug is fantastic but Jason from Outdoor Adventure has a clearer and more concise “how to” series. All clear in sector 7.

[@boatrvme8478]

@@brent7390 shug and his mug:)

[@user-cy8ve7tr8y]

Gosh Dixie!!! I’ve tried watching this video several times and I end up dozing off. Not because it’s boring, but because your voice is just so soothing, and relaxing.