I made a Ultralight Quilt, Dyneema Fannypack, and MYOG Alpha Direct hoodie with no experience!

Ripstop By the Roll front country quilt kit I used: bit.ly/3UEV9Wp
I used 0.66 MEMBRANE 10 Taffeta Nylon and 5oz Climashield Apex
Direct Alpha Hoody Pattern: ripstopbytheroll.com/products...
Tutorial I loosely followed to build the quilt: kitchi-gami.com/2022/12/20/di...
Learn MYOG Everyday Fanny Pack pattern: learnmyog.com/edcFannyPack.html
I made a Ultralight Quilt, Dyneema Fannypack, and MYOG Direct Alpha hoodie with no experience!
Follow for live updates on Instagram @Quadzillahikes at: / quadzillahikes
See my full thru-hiking gear list and gear review at www.couchtotrail.com/blog/cal...
The best way to get ahold of me is via messages on Instagram.
Check out my website for tons more fitness, nutrition, and gaming content: www.thehealthygamer.com

[@QuadzillaHikes]

If you enjoyed these videos please consider supporting the channel with $5/month, this helps me continue to put out these videos full time: www.couchtotrail.com/digital-trail-angels 1K budget AT thru-hike gear list: www.couchtotrail.com/blog/thru-hiking-appalachian-trail-with-383-of-gear-full-gear-list

[@wooootc]

DIY UL gears for big savings, with mom! how wholesome is that?!

[@pilgrimultralight]

Awesome work! One quick note from someone who makes a living producing ultralight gear: climashield oversells the temperature rating by a little bit. They claim 30 degrees for 5.0oz but I've found 45 is about the limit. I'm guessing it should be warm enough for the AT in summer but still worth mentioning.

[@daisychain4096]

Some run hotter than others doesn't mean they are over selling it

[@pilgrimultralight]

@@daisychain4096 you’re correct, but if you go off the pretty widely accepted standard, “X number of inches of loft equals typical temp rating”, they’re still a little off. I sleep neither hot nor cold from my estimation, and always have found the climashield quilts colder than estimated. This is compared to many down quilts from reputable brands, which I find accurate down to a couple of degrees.

[@TennesseeSlim]

Your not wrong pilgrim

[@deliciousfewd]

This is the most interesting project this hobby has seen in a while. Keep up the great work.

[@amerphoto1]

Such an informative video, had no idea that there were companies that would sell DYI material and patterns. Definitely going to give this a try! Thanks for sharing.

[@QuadzillaHikes]

They really make the process easier!

[@billiebluesheepie2907]

I’ve made tons of gear over the years and it’s saved me hundreds of pounds. I get so excited when someone says that they need to replace gear because I usually get first dibs on the zips, toggles, buckles, rings, poles, etc. off the old gear - but on the down side, I’m usually the first person they call when they need a repair…! :-)

[@RipstopbytheRoll]

Nothing makes us happier than reading that!

[@jasonhildebrand1574]

This is why I stopped building computers for people. They think that I am the support helpdesk too !

[@JacobNorthrup121]

that fanny pack is freaking cool

[@Arquaizt]

OMG the hat with the ear flaps… 👍

[@QuadzillaHikes]

Hahaha

[@sabijoli]

what a creative idea, also showing that going for it and trying your best makes it doable. no need for perfection! love it!

[@QuadzillaHikes]

Exactly! No need for perfection

[@bryanpaul410]

Your first homemade gear: 5/10 Quality time with mom:10/10 🙌🏻

[@xungnham1388]

Damn dude, you just went balls deep into MYOG. I too have been working on my own MYOG journey starting from an UL sleeping bag liner to hip belt pouch to UL wind pants. Eventually, I hope to build my skills up to the point of making a Torrid puffy knockoff. But my projects have been spread much farther apart. I find myself spending many more hours researching materials, hardware, stitch types, sewing machine adjustments, etc than the actual act of sewing. I realize you have to get going and knock these out, but part of the reason for me to make the wind pants before tackling the jacket was so I learned how to do and what were the stronger stitch types and when to use the other stitches. It's important to me to learn from my projects to professionalize future ones and lessen the chance that workmanship isn't a failure point. It looks like you used straight stitches for your alpha direct projects. Straight stitches don't provide any give for stretchy fabric; it puts tension on the thread when the fabric around the seams stretch. One of the zigzag or overlock stitches is what you should use for stretch fabrics. An overlock stitch also secures the raw edge. If you leave the edge without securing it with a stitch or grosgrain, it will fray.

[@QuadzillaHikes]

Did straight stitch first then a zigzag over it for the direct alpha, we'll see if it holds up through this trip

[@brentperron6914]

Love that your mom helped!! I know I'd be helpless sewing a project like that without at least a few tips from my mom 😂

[@dumbcrumb879]

Nice job doing all that in a weekend! Im hiking the CT soon and made my own tarp, quilt, hammock, and camp shoes. Super rewarding and saved a ton on cost and weight.

[@Mwilke3789]

Yes! I just made my own apex quilt, a polar tec power grid Hoodie, and hopefully will make my pack by next week because it is GORGEOUS outside and I want to go hike.😁

[@RipstopbytheRoll]

We believe in you!!

[@MrsJoyism]

That was all very interesting! I didn’t know you could get custom printed alpha direct, now I’m hankering some custom MYOG of my own.

[@christopherking2999]

Your content is great and worthwhile. Thanks for the links.

[@QuadzillaHikes]

Glad you like them!

[@jkllkj12345]

100% agree with the sewing being fine even if you make mistakes. My first quilt I couldn't get the stuffing to stay even with the outer layers and I have one spot on my quilt that has a bit more stuffing because of it, but I have never noticed any issues while sleeping with it on several trips by now.

[@musingwithreba9667]

Dang....I gave away my sewing machine! I'll have to send her the link to this video 😉

[@andiwinter18]

All the stuff is amazing!!! Great job!

[@QuadzillaHikes]

Thanks so much!

[@LeonardOutdoorsNM]

Welcome to the world of thread injecting! I love making my own gear, and it's so satisfying to be out on the trail knowing my gear is custom made just for me. Like you said, "if you mess up, morning bad happens." 😎 #threadinjectorsunite

[@QuadzillaHikes]

Thread injecting 🤣

[@marlo7218]

Very cool, thanks.

[@RC-qf3mp]

Great video. MYOMMOYG. Make Your Own Mom Make Your Own Gear. Nice! 👍

[@WALKITOFFDavidSmith]

That’s so cool. I can’t wait to see the gear in action.

[@Caveman_OS_Hiking]

Love it, Just started down the MYOG rabbit hole myself. Its a very rewarding process.

[@RC-qf3mp]

I’d rather sell my body at a truck stop for 15 min than spend 4 hours to make a dyneema fanny pack. But some custom-made items make sense, esp for people with unique body dimensions or special hiking needs.

[@RendezvousTribe]

This was an awesome video. Thanks for making it.

[@mtadams2009]

Very impressive, thanks for sharing

[@bluebird443]

You are amazing. Loved this video

[@EarlyRiser71]

Man, don't know how I missed this video. Looking forward to this hike. 🤘🕓

[@grahames9228]

Well made. And, good on you Mom.

[@robopecha]

the hat is the best one! it looks great!

[@cullaholme4638]

This was a great video. Always wanted to make my own gear. Now I’ll start. Keep safe this summer.

[@jt.8144]

RANGER Talent.

[@driftwood4458]

Your video content is interesting, creative and fun. Keep it up.

[@miadifferent7306]

Love the projects and the fun fabrics. I was just wondering about the Polar Tech Hoodie, was the seam allowance included in the pattern? If not that might explain why it turned out a bit to small.

[@QuadzillaHikes]

It probably was I just sewed it too far in I thinn

[@tomkennefick7254]

Great content For some reason sewing intimidates a lot of people. I think you have opened a lot of eyes to how easy and satisfying it is. I DIY almost all of my gear. Back packs are the most rewarding and keep evolving as I go I have made 5 packs and tweak the design every time. SOBO PCT 2024.

[@ZzZ-qd1zo]

Do you put a frame in your packs? I've been using and abusing my $50 Walmart sewing machine for years, and I'd love to put it to the test with some of this gear.

[@tomkennefick7254]

I make carbon frames. I started with a copy of z pacs arc haul. The current pack has a frame made of stiff carbon arrow shafts

[@ZzZ-qd1zo]

@@tomkennefick7254 Haha amazing! What a great idea to use arrow shafts!

[@hoser7706]

Did similar things in the 90s because nobody made cool ultralight gear but thecdiscovery of gear freedom was burgeoning. You guys are just better informed, more skilled and wiser now. Lol. With more options. Love what you are doing! Is your $1000 budget for gear before you go or is it for every cost while on the trail? Or both?

[@dangerpudge1922]

I just found your content. I'm really enjoying what you have going on! Thanks for the content (I know how hard it is to put a video together). I particularly dig this type of content!

[@QuadzillaHikes]

Welcome aboard!

[@matwinner9708]

For a Fanny pack, may I also recommend Decathlon’s Travel 100 2 litres pack; super light and cheap. Not as cool as yours though

[@andiwinter18]

Awesome series!! 👏🏻 aww did your family help you? That’s so amazing

[@ihikeporkies]

Go mom! Nice sewing machine. Hike on.

[@KylerExley]

Dude... made my sleeping bag with exactly the same material about a year ago! only thing different is I put a zipper on it.

[@QuadzillaHikes]

I probably shoulda done that, my footbox isn't great if it's really cold

[@KylerExley]

@@QuadzillaHikes I hiked Virginia last year with mine from Damascus to Waynesboro and my sleeping bag did okay. the first week or so was rather borderline cold, but I just wore my jacket. I made a seperate blanket out of the same material to augment the insulation but ended up not taking it because I didn't want to much bulk and weight. I made my own pack design, pole tent, bivy/underlayment, rain gear, several other things. Everything held up great! there were maybe 3 nights where I was really wanting that blanket. I have a few modifications I want to make on the pack. As a prototype, it passed functionality and durability tests. All of the time I spent figuring out how to design the stuff and I could have just paid more to buy them already made and just work a few more days. But, I enjoyed the process and what I made is exactly what I want.

[@redred333]

whoa, this is cool

[@richardross7219]

Good video. Restless Kiwi(PCT2019) and Chilli Bin(AT2019) did videos of making their gear. Both girls are from NZ. Sewing is a good skill to learn. I hope to learn soon so that I can sew new seat covers for my antique garden tractors. Don't worry about mistakes. In 1973, an old MSG(WWII, Korea, and NAM vet), told me that as long as you wake up alive the next day, you didn't screw up too bad. Wisdom that I have lived by for over 50 years. He also laughed at us as we were digging in. He said "you're digging your own graves". Truth to that too. This was the kind of video that will inspire others to try learning useful skills. Good job. Good Luck, Rick

[@christopherking2999]

What thread did you use?.

[@amdearth]

I had no idea there were MYO quilt kits and now I want one! How compressible is the synthetic fill?

[@QuadzillaHikes]

Compresses pretty small!

[@Truth-Seeker75]

Next level content. Cool pattern on your Alpha. So…..and we mean this respectfully, can we borrow your mom and sewing machine?

[@QuadzillaHikes]

Lolol

[@christopherch7307]

👍🐿👍

[@karalinell9736]

I'm curious about what you are and are not including in your budget. Gear, food, accommodations, travel, other consumables?

[@RC-qf3mp]

I think it’s just gear, unless he plans on raiding other people’s bear canisters and hanging food bags 😮! Would be cool if he did MYOG for shoes - there are hurache sandals that people can easily make with old rubber tires. There’s a famous Catholic monk named Pilgrim George who just roams the earth walking everywhere with what he can carry and a pair of homemade sandals from rubber tires. Look him up.

[@karalinell9736]

@@RC-qf3mp, I've actually made my own hurache sandals. I'm currently knitting wool "socks" that I plan to felt and stitch to soles to make a more 4 season pair of shoes.

[@paulgaras2606]

Well crap. I have a new hobby now

[@TennesseeSlim]

Ive lost so many titanium spoons

[@QuadzillaHikes]

I sewed a little spoon pocket into my food bag this time

[@TennesseeSlim]

​@@QuadzillaHikes Love that idea. When i was using the hyperlight the spoon fit perfectly in the loops for additional lashings where the water bottle mesh meets the pouch mesh. Now it has its own lil pouch.

[@wishdarkstalkaz4050]

I can just about sew a button on my shirt...I’d be lost just trying to turn a sewing machine on...! This could end up sending you down the path of a certain Mr.Durston with your own kit company...