I Tried Extreme Minimalist Backpacking...

[@JustinOutdoors]

Check out Garage Grown Gear Here! geni.us/GarageGrownGear Alpha Direct Clothing: geni.us/AlphaDirect Full Gear List: www.packwizard.com/s/TSBeZwF 👇 GEAR FROM THE VIDEO 👇 Palante Pack: geni.us/PalanteV2 Xero Shoes: geni.us/XeroShoes Frogg Toggs Rain Gear: geni.us/FroggToggsUL Wind Pants: geni.us/DancePants Quickdraw Filter: geni.us/PlatyQuickDraw Ombraz Sunglasses: geni.us/OmbrazSun Alpha Direct Clothing: geni.us/AlphaDirect Zpacks Tarp: geni.us/ZpacksTarp Polycro Groundsheet: geni.us/PolyCro 1/8in Foam Mat: geni.us/thinlite EE Quilt: Enigma Quilt 20F 950fp Russbe Bag: geni.us/RussbeBags UL Spoon: geni.us/FrontierSpoon Bidet: geni.us/3g-Bidet

[@pyronymph-868]

Congratulations on your new baby girl! You'll find time passes differently after she's born.

[@Tser]

Congratulations on your daughter/future hiking buddy :>

[@Jimbo_Conn]

Don't you worry about crawling bugs at night ?

[@Lennen-N-Motion]

Justin, your openness & honestly towards cold soaking & gas, pooping system & bidet choice for functionality, personal concerns about getting a good night sleep with a pillow & tarp ping w/o bug netting seemed genuine. I appreciate a vlogger who speaks openly about every aspect of spending one or more nights outdoors, especially a video like those where the intent is to educate. This is the first video I’ve seen from you and I’m sure I’ll be watching more. I’ve also been a GGG shopper for many years now and cannot say enough about the company and products. Congrats on your first born, being a dad of 3, for over 40 years, I guess I could’ve put together a educational & training video, about raising kids, similar to this hiking video, but no one would watch it.

[@kallisto9166]

You took a spoon? Luxury! Real ultralighters scoop cold oatmeal out of a platic bag with their hands!

[@n1nj4l1nk]

Real gs only take a knife.

[@kriskirby1468]

Or their trowel 👀

[@DarkMetaOFFICIAL]

you carry food on you?! 🤣🤣

[@nalonabrato8900]

@@kriskirby1468😅😅😅

[@elizabethclark4722]

@@kriskirby1468👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@dmschaef]

Watching this video 3 days later... is this the day?! Congratulations, Justin! Enjoy yourself. Soak up every moment. Hope everyone is happy and healthy today.

[@rbreiff73]

Some tiny tweaks and that set up becomes genuinely comfortable. A cut down Uberlite takes care of sleep and a 10g head net sorts the bugs. A lighter 30f ZPacks quilt would offset this weight gain. Great video, cheers.

[@gman963]

Jupiter sounds like a psychopath 😂 I have enough trouble sleeping on a comfy air pad

[@dougmiller4567]

Try a hammock :)

[@catsleeze]

Jupiter is the GOAT.

[@RonLumbar]

Air pads are short lived

[@Gurumeierhans]

Biggest takeaway from this video is: Everybody can and should hike as he/she wants. Dont shame or praise anyone from doing it differently, as long as they have fun

[@danielsingh9415]

Praise is welcomed, shame not so much

[@RonLumbar]

Stay in the city scrub

[@DrofJustice]

For me, ultralight is a means to choose comfort items without a terribly heavy pack. I LOVE being at camp. Sleep matters to me so I hammock. Chair Zero is overkill but it makes me so happy. And I’m not hiking without hot coffee in the morning. Just need to know what matters to you and hike your own hike.

[@RC-qf3mp]

Quitting caffeine is one for the best things I’ve done for my overall health and makes hiking way better. Freedom from addiction.

[@DrofJustice]

@@RC-qf3mp Great for you and your health! I’m just a cup in the morning with my puzzles girl. It could be anything warm, year round. Creature of habit, seeking comfort, not caffeine.

[@bryanedwards187]

I am a relatively new dad (2 girls, 3 and 1) it's scary at first but you'll be great. Much love and respect brother.

[@bryanedwards187]

Also those dancer pants are underrated lol!

[@UGA.D]

You're going to be a great Dad! Best wishes and lots of love to baby and Mom!

[@SmokeytheJeep]

Congratulations to the proud new father! Be patient with your little one, your wife and yourself - it’ll all work itself out! Enjoy the ride!

[@TheNypenfan]

This was one of my favorite videos that you’ve done. I’ve wondered how it would go to do something like this, and I love that you were open about the pros and the cons, and your lack of experience. Very informative.

[@dougg8280]

As a father of 7, the fun is just beginning. My kids all grew up hiking. They were in backpacks carried by mommy and daddy before they could walk and hiking on their own once they could walk. I took the family on a day hike rim river rim at the Grand Canyon when the kids were 4 to 12, and the 4 year old hiked the entire way. I remember backpacking with the youngest had a backpack of diapers. That trip was 26 miles in 4 days.

[@enviousscarab2762]

We love jupiter. Good to see someone else try his setup before i try

[@Pasequale100]

Thanks for sharing your emotions around becoming a father 🤗 That is outstanding from you Justin 👌🏻

[@sharprismbrandingmarketing4977]

Awe… bro. I’m three kids deep and felt all of your lakeside story. It is amazing and it is a lot of responsibility. Your resourcefulness, natural flow, and patience will give you mad dad-skills! Be sure to pass along the skill for the trail!

[@theaknights]

Welcome to fatherhood!! There's nothing like it. I appreciate you sharing your excitement and fear about it. Those are both good things! Rock on!

[@SeaEfroni]

i loved watching this because i love seeing how open minded you are to try things out of your comfort zone and learning from others! i learned a lot from this video and i want to recommend you see some videos about "floor sleeping". it might give some more insight and yes, as you said, i find that it takes some time to get used to :) thank you

[@BobPritchard]

I've always enjoyed your channel and am happy for you becoming a dad. Being a parent is hard but so satisfying. All the best.

[@Fostering-adventure]

Congratulations on being a dad! Best part of my life so far. You’ll do great!

[@BellaVista1470]

Good luck with fatherhood Justin. You and Jupiter are two of my favourite vloggers, maybe because you are both super experienced hikers but you both remain humble and tend to suggest that everyone should adopt the gear that works for them which is the main thing.

[@thedogoftears]

First off, congrats on your baby, who I hope was born happy and healthy! I've been practicing with a minimal setup lately. I am a trail runner living in Tahoe. Some things I've learned about the sleep system-- screw that 1/8th mat, I use a 3/4 Nemo cell foam pad. 7 extra ounces or so, totally worth it. I don't put anything beyond the 3/4ths-- the polycro and footbox of my quilt is enough. I use the pack stuffed with whatever's leftover as my pillow. But the main thing is to have the discipline to try and sleep on my back as much as possible. I am a terrible back sleeper at home, so this took some learning. Part of the trick is to take advantage of the light setup by adding a lot of miles to your day. You want to show up at camp when it's already dark or almost dark and you should be dead tired. The kind of sleep you get when this system works is really bizarre, you will all of the sudden open your eyes and many hours have passed. Trying to side sleep or get any where near my stomach would wake me up, and trigger me to get back on my back. Bug net over the head plus the right layers is all you need for bug protection. I go out in good weather windows to avoid rain and don't bring a tarp or bivy of any kind. Which means no stakes either. As much as I'd like to get into cold soaking, hot coffee is a non-negotiable for me. But having a cook kit was really helpful the first time I went out, as it was extremely windy and the beginning of a cold snap, so I was freezing. I used the stove to fill my bottles with hot water which kept me warm, especially under the quilt. I'm in a Nashville Tiempo with vest straps, the whole setup uses maybe 13 or 14 liters with food. Since I'm running, I need a lot of food/carbohydrate. With 1.5 liters and 1 night/2 days of food the setup is around 13 pounds. I'm still working on ways I can get it lighter, but it's tough when you're trying to consume 50g carb/hour. In the future I'd like to add a tarp, and still have an insanely light setup for more rugged/remote adventures.

[@Rixx1985]

From my experience - If you are walking on clouds during the day,and sleeping miserably at night - its' NEVER worth skipping 200 grams comfort an Air mattres can give. =)

[@Rixx1985]

@@r91976 make it 350 then, you won't notice the difference ;-)

[@nobison6185]

Congrats on becoming a dad. Instill your respect and passion of the outdoors in them and you turn backpacking into a lifelong bonding experience. I have 3 children in their 30's now and we still get at least one pack trip in every year. I turned 60 this year and hiking never gets old for me.

[@CameronVirrill]

Appreciate your courage and honest self-evaluations. From you and your experiments, I have learned so much. Thank you, and best of luck with your family.

[@aylashank]

Congratulations on becoming a Dad! It's a lot at first, but just take it a day at a time, rest as much as you can and support each other as you learn and settle into this new dynamic.

[@rodoutdoors]

This year I've been tarp and bivy camping using a Borah Gear 7x9 silpoly tarp and ultralight bivy in wide. Took 6 weeks to be made and shipped but it's a great lightweight budget system. I still use my Nemo Tensor Wide pad so it's comfy and toasty. The bivy adds 10 deg insulation so can bring a lighter quilt or bring less layers. A Litesmith cold soaking jar is great since you can pour hot water so it acts as a mug too when I bring a stove. I'll do a mix of cold soaking when I bring a stove. I don't eat big meals so leftovers is nice with the jar.

[@paulkhanna1]

I use the thinlight pad as my backup to my hammock system if there aren't trees around. I fell asleep on the thinlight pad while I was stargazing a few times. I think I could get used to it if I tried, but I'd rather not.

[@JDlovescats979]

Congratulations!!! I hope your partner is recovering well and you are both finding so much love in fulfillment in caring for your tiny human. In regards to the main topic of the video, my personal philosophy with UL and minimalist backpacking is that I like to use it's prinicpals to reduce my base weight enough that I can bring some more comfort items with me to camp. I love reading at camp and adding to my personal plant field guide on every hike/camp/backpacking trip I come on, since I am a physician with wilderness medicine training I also carry a more extensive medical/first aid kit so that I can help anyone who needs it while in the backcountry, but those things add weight that can't be reduced so by cutting out bloat in other areas I can still enjoy the outdoors without a 50lb pack.

[@NelsonSherry]

Congratulations and condolences on fatherhood! I use a torso length inflatable pad and inflatable pillow and a poncho tarp almost exvlusively for my sleep shelter and raingear giving much more comfort and similar weight. And yeah, a bug head net can help make bugs a nearly non-issue. When bugs are bad, long pants and sleeves with a bit of dope on your hands and a net on you head works well . . . Although eating with a net on is a little annoying. And, continuous rain for more than 3 or 4 nights can start to be a drag with only a poncho tarp.

[@itzv1ciou543]

Great video. Your honesty and choice to include the more personal troubles you went through like having issues with cold soaking and your review of the bathroom kit was very useful and is often left out of other peoples videos. Thanks

[@jakejohnson2428]

Great video. You make everything look easy. The 1/8th pad is the biggest hurdle for me

[@Sunshinesally8307]

I recently received a suggestion to improve side sleeping on trail. Put your backpack behind you and lean back on it. You will still be mostly on your side, but it takes some pressure off your shoulder and arm to reduce the dead arm effect.

[@cyclonasaurusrex1525]

Dadding is amazing!!! Enjoy every minute of it.

[@KaneDoesOutdoors]

That 1/8” pad is killer. Tried it once, that was enough. Even 1/4” or 5mm makes all the difference in comparison. Tarps are pretty liberating!

[@Andy-Mesa]

My go to cold soaking meal is couscous with veggie mix, tuna, mayonnaise, sunflower seeds, and olive oil. I ate this all through the PCT and it worked well even in freezing temps when other foods (like rice and beans) very much did not. It was never dry and never tasted gross even when very cold.

[@malte3421]

Congratulations to you and Steph again. My wife and I were in a similar situation were the baby had to be delivered earlier than anticipated. Six weeks in fact, but he was just fine and the same will be true for your little baby girl! All the best to you!

[@anninwhack1998]

Congratulations on the healthy delivery of your baby girl! Been there for being induced. It’s powerful. It’s an amazing experience. Thank god for when modern medical procedures work for a healthy baby and healthy mom. Enjoy your new family! Dad Outdoors.

[@dustinvallier3728]

Congrats! Seeing the emotion in your eyes really brought me back. I'm sure you'll be a cool dad, even if the kids may not realize it.

[@bradcastaneda]

The good news is that after having to care for a kid you’ll be able to sleep anywhere regardless of the sleep accommodations. 😂 That’s the dad life. Ultra-minimalist camping will become a lot easier.

[@LulubirdSix]

Word. You’ll be able to sleep anywhere anytime at the drop of a hat. Congrats!

[@BradyPatterson]

I used a mat like that for about 15 years. Where you put your pad down matters more than anything else but it's almost never going to be the same as a soft pad. However, that thin pad with good ground selection I found to be more comfortable than many air filled pads. A mossy spot or raked up needles and leaves make that pad fantastic.

[@Drews_gram]

Use a shemagh as a pillow makes great sun cover too

[@ericwilson4553]

Love that you liked using the tarp, look forward go more tarp camping videos in the future.

[@weirdmusicmixmaster]

Builds like this really make you grateful for building weight tolerance.

[@bryanmclean6898]

As a fellow SUL hiker, I’ve found the 1/8” pad just isn’t quite worth it. 6 panels of a switchback or zlite isn’t much heavier. The trade off is more r value and comfort which makes site selection less finicky meaning I can also go later and just crash when I’m tired. Also it stores well externally which translates to a slightly smaller pack and makes up for that weight hit.

[@RC-qf3mp]

Yes. The foam pads are a nice in-between of the 1/8 or inflatable.

[@andreaknibbs9328]

Daddy Justin! Congratulations again, you’re going to be a great dad. Love your channel and love seeing the beauty of the Alberta mountain areas. Cheers from a fellow AB-an.

[@jimsheeran4952]

Congrats on the little one. Being a dad is an unending adventure. I'm not quite willing to go THAT ultralight, though... I like a pillow and pad. Maybe I'm just old. Tarps are really versatile and you can do a lot of different set ups based on conditions and space.

[@Jonny-hm3iz]

I have some experience with basically the same sleep system but a 20 degree quilt. In the summer when nighttime temperatures stay above 45-50 degrees i find it to be nice and warm, but i could feel some cold from underneath. I am blessed with solid sleep and so the lack of comfort didnt really impact my sleep quallity, it was only when i got sick and laid awake long times throughout the night once that i felt uncomfortable. I believe that everyone without back problems or poor sleep generally should try this kind of a setup, because for me i can add more comfort and like to do so aswell, but i find this to be very fun in its own way and it allows you to hike in a different way, i totally share the views of jupiter on that.

[@LeonidasontheTrail]

Going stupid ultralight often helps you tune your system. You learn what items you really want for optimal sleep/recovery and what items are not required.

[@ericwilson4553]

Jupiter always brings a bug net so the deet on your face is on you for sure! Hope the delivery went well and you are enjoying your baby girl!!

[@Hunterjanssen9284]

Congrats my friend on being a father and a really good youtube channel

[@stevenlangevin1159]

nice! i did the same experience and concluded that sleep is a priority, so like you said pillow and mat, i striped the rest.. got a katabatik bivy for under the tarp, very light setup

[@ruth370]

You brought a spoon and a trowel!? How bougie!!! 😜😂 *me at camp: sitting in a chair, drinking a whole beer, sitting under my umbrella so I don't get sunburn. P.S. Congrats on the big news!!!💛

[@duncanmacdonald4569]

You're about to embark on the greatest adventure of your life! Enjoy parenthood, we love you Justin.

[@lolobeans]

İ worry about mice getting into that bottom pocket at night if it's had snacks or garbage in it. İ don't put smellies in my hip belt pockets either for this reason.

[@oliviarucker5013]

This was my first time watching one of your videos, and I loved it! Super informative and entertaining.

[@Colby168]

I’m not a thru hiker but I can imagine if you’re crushing 20-30 miles a day you could sleep anywhere on anything and you would get used to it. Are you just using a GoPro or something small on this hike?

[@josephaulicino1045]

I still don’t like cold hard ground. But the morning coffee makes up for it

[@ericmullins6794]

Jupiter always makes this look fun as well as you . This is survival camping !! This is how I started out mainly because it was cheap and then the equipment wasn’t nearly as light but the sleep was never great !! 55 now and I’m out unless I get stuck on a day hike !! 😂

[@sirsir108]

My set up is really close but with a few tweaks 1 accordian ccf pad 2 synthetic quilt 3 kuiu sun shirt and torrid for jackets 4 blinders for the ombraz 5 lite AF 30 liter with attachable hip belt 6 different shoes 7 smartwool leggings buff and glove liners to sleep 8 sawyer squeeze 9 altaplex ground sheet 10 vargo bot 11 a pillow is a must I use trekology or sea to summit It's pretty sweet when you get used to it and has worked in rain and snow quite well *if the dog comes with the pack changes to 46 liter for his food ** if there's going to be 20 mile water carries platypus bags come with That pad is wild I'm not into trying it your brave for giving it a try

[@sirsir108]

Also a bug net

[@mrnickparker]

Congrats on parenthood! Yes, it is very hard and stressful in the beginning. You will be tired. Everyone will be tired. It does get easier! My son is now 7 and it's extremely amazing to watch him grow and be his own person. I like your vids, I've considered some of your advice and appreciate your attitude toward trying out new gear/process. Thank you sir.

[@shawnr6117]

You could try adding in a bug net , the type that just drapes over you without a floor or zipper .

[@mikescheme]

Congrats on fatherhood! Love ur channel and GGG (great to be able to try a ton of cottage brands from a single store).

[@15halerobert]

Congratulations Hope Mama and Baby are both doing well.

[@PedroBaele]

Great video. Good points made. Maybe a contractor garbage bag instead of the groundsheet could be used by filling it up with soft nature materials like grasses or pineneedles to make a more padded lay. There is also a light bugnet from the friendly swede that could work but you might already have a good tool for this. Thank you for your great insights.

[@colinst.claire2198]

8:07 congrats on the little one!

[@clint3758]

In my minimal experience without a blow up sleeping pad, it is beneficial to do a little digging where you plan for your shoulders to be. Helps relieve some pressure and a less awkward neck angle

[@rungavagairun]

Best of luck Justin. We'll see you when you get back. Enjoy your well deserved break and new addition to your family.

[@johnphillips3526]

Congratulations on the baby!

[@jasonleavitt7193]

Congratulations on your new baby. What trekking pole are you using ?

[@brimstone33]

Palante is not a bad choice at all. I'd opt for Durston Wapta 30 which is just a little more money and is lighter, more overall space, better (if less proven) fabric and more features such as spacer mesh back and hip padding, and hip belt pockets. If you can get one when they're in stock, that is. Carefully drilling holes in the toothbrush handle rather than cutting it short will result in a similar weight. Sticking your dirty fingers in your mouth while brushing your teeth is one way to get sick. Get a thicker sleep pad and cut it to 3/4 length. You don't need much padding for your legs. Or, use the same pad, cut off the bottom third and stick it under your hips. Use the cut off part as a sit pad. Use your empty pack under your lower legs. You can indeed adapt to sleeping on hard ground. Stuff the extra clothing into a sleeve or pant leg to form a 'bolster'. That tarp alone will not be dry enough for cold night with wind-blown rain. You'll need a bivy at some point. In the end, most conclude that the lightest tents now are not much more weight than a bivy/net/tarp but are easier to deal with and give a lot better protection. I suspect the problem with using the bags rather than the much-esteemed Talenti jar is that it's rather difficult to clean the food out of the crevices of the bags, leading to bacterial growth. You can put the lid on the jar and shake it with cold water and get it somewhat clean. Be sure and disinfect either one with hot water and soap every chance you get.

[@RC-qf3mp]

No, the tarp is fine in wind and rain. They are flexible in configurations. See Papa Hiker videos on that. If anything, a tarp is way better in the wind and can withstand more severe weather.

[@Mr_H878]

Love Jupiter! The key to sleeping well on the thin pad is being exhausted from a bunch of miles.

[@stigcc]

Great video! I don't really do UL but I like cold soaking. Saves time as you can eat and prepare while walking.

[@darchgirladventures4417]

Nice to see someone else give his setup a try, can’t say I am inspired to adopt it but it does make me examine what I bring. Cowboy camped, in my 20s, a few times but there is no way I could do it with a 1/8 thin pad.

[@TieWolf]

Glad you found the joy of tarps! They are much roomier than expected. Looking at them from the outside is like, "oh... yucky. :( " but once you're inside, it's like you've just opened the door to Narnia 😂 I like tarps because they are a bit better suited for winter camping - being able to dig out the snow for an open bottom and more height. But in summer, they are of course super breezy! For bugs in with tarps, I treat things with Permethrin, I was myself with citronella soap before the trip (and have a bar of citronella soap on the trip), and if I have a dog with me, they get at least a week of Flea Free Food Supplement prior to the trip and they don't have to deal with the bugs either. I have had issues with tarps stretching a bit too much in blizzards and heavy winds though, so I am excited to try out Slingfin's new cone tent they just released and the other two tarps I have from them this upcoming season. :) Happy to see you give the minimalist setup a try; I like a good in-between.

[@mymoonny]

A good tip! If you are hiking with a friend you put your water bottle in each other's pack. That way you don't need to worry about reaching back and it's so so easily to grab. All about that team work.

[@WHDeb]

The bidet bottle -- I use a small spray bottle instead. A lightweight stuff sack with your extra clothing in it can serve adequately as a pillow. Making your sleep site more comfortable does require some prep - scooping out some depression for your butt and hips can make a huge difference, Congratulations on parenthood! The adventure begins.

[@dangerpudge1922]

I get the idea of pushing limits, and good on you for that, but honestly having an enclosed tent to keep bugs off is a really important health factor that can have BIG consequences. Adding a pad, pillow, and going with something like a SMD Serenity Net Tent and Deschutes Tarp (or Gatewood Cape to cover the rain gear as well would add maybe just 2lb... Well worth it for the safety and comfort (better sleep means less fatigue & better decision making & better recovery). Tarps are good if dry, but if it rains, there's no bathtub floor to save you from water incursion under you.

[@RC-qf3mp]

Tarps are fine in the rain.

[@dangerpudge1922]

@@RC-qf3mp no.

[@RC-qf3mp]

@@dangerpudge1922 see Ray Jardine’s book on tarps and Papa Hiker videos for handling tarps in the rain. And Evans Backpacking videos on tarps. He did the whole AT with a tarp and recorded each tarp set up.

[@dangerpudge1922]

@@RC-qf3mp I've done years and years of tarp camping. The answer is still no. It'll never match a tent, and it won't be any lighter. Plus, it will not keep vectors off of you and your gear.

[@RC-qf3mp]

@@dangerpudge1922 you’ve done years of tarp camping badly. Jardine, Papa Hiker, Evan.

[@prod_byoNb]

Congratulations on the baby bro !!!

[@sarahbyington2440]

Congratulations on the baby!! it's definitely terrifying at first. I'm looking forward to future here's how I backpack with a kid videos.

[@theotheralan5511]

Mainly a Florida camper so sleeping on the ground isn't an option. You need a fully enclosed hammock. Also no ground fires are allowed if you are dispersed, so you gotta bring a stove but that's okay because it's a big help staying warm. Cold 🥶 humidity is a unique challenge and a hot nalgene bottle will help you stay warm.

[@ryankeane8072]

I always take my headnet, even on day hikes. Whereas I don’t take bug spray. It can get really buggy during the day. Headnet over cap is sufficient for me in my netless hammock. As a hammock user, I can barely sleep these days on the ground on my cushy wide Xtherm. I have the GG 1/8” thinlight and I know from experience I cannot get a wink of sleep on it even with perfectly level ground with cushy moss/leaves. You also need to factor in all the time you spent/wasted looking for the best site - minimalism for me is being able to sleep almost anywhere without needing to worry much about site selection (one big reason I hammock). I’ve tried cold soak and don’t like it. I enjoy just eating food that needs no water, hot or cold. Then I don’t need a spoon or cold soak container.

[@FlufLord]

Congrats and safe travels on your adventure into being a dad!

[@dogbark100]

CONGRATS and enjoy fatherhood!!!🎉🎉🎉

[@leigh-annpalmero7008]

Use a long handle ice cream spoon from Dairy Queen. No where close to durable but weighs nothing

[@johngiesemann5293]

Interesting experiment. There is no question I would add the sleeping pad and pillow. Being over 60, I believe it is a crime to sleep on the ground. Even adding the pad and pillow would put you right at 10.5 lbs, a very respectable weight. I would use Picaridin instead of DEET. I find the smell of DEET objectionable and its effect on gear can be quite damaging. I have tarp camped exclusively for at least 15 years. I have found I don't give up anything over a tent. The flexibility and the light weight keep me using a tarp. I use an 8x10 tarp which is larger than many use, but I can be dry with my gear in practically any situation.

[@retroffa4665]

Love the JupiterHikes shoutout, he a legend fs

[@naomilang7178]

In summer i often carry total fire ban day cold soak meals. My go to is cous cous, sultanas, dried apple, almonds and some tuna. I also add a sachet of apple cider to spice it up a little.

[@boomersoutdoors8898]

Looks absolutely like type 3 fun to me.

[@freedomforaging]

That's probably happening today, wow! Congratulations! Hope everyone is doing well! Thanks for all the videos 🙂

[@kathydomokos8837]

I have a bivy from Enlightened Equipment. There are others, too. You may be able to add something like that, still use the tarp, and have bug and a little more warmth.

[@ckb1137]

After using xero shoes for a couple hundred trail miles I gotta agree with jupiter. They're great for training your feet but they are not great for extended hiking. Wear them at home but then switch to something (slightly) more robust for trail. I always always always bring a mosquito head net when I tarp camp. it can make the difference between a good night and a brutal night when the bugs are bad. plus if you don't need it it works great as a stuff sack to fill with clothes to use as a pillow. you mentioned potentially digging a hole for your hips for sleeping. as a general rule that's not great as far as leave no trace is concerned. if you can train yourself to sleep on your back that's way better. It is possible I promise, I'm usually a stomach/side sleeper but when I'm backpacking I force myself to back sleep. You get used to it after a few days. Personally I don't go with the ultra hardcore 1/8 inch pad, I use a torso length thermarest Zlite. I think its a good compromise as far as weight versatility and reliability. But that judgment is gonna be a personal call. They're pretty cheap, I reccomend trying one, maybe get the zlite sol since it has slightly higher r value agreed the bogler spade is the best one on the market, 100% reccommend. tarp camping is super easy. its really very intuitive, you don't need many extra skills. knowing a few knots can help but i wouldn't say its necessary. The clove hitch, taughtline hitch and figure eight on a bight are super useful. some people will say you need a bolin, alpine butterfly and a prussik but honestly that's getting too fancy. But yeah if you don't know any knots just tie a couple overhands, it'll hold. they do make some pretty lightweight inflatable pillows. I've never really thoughts it was necessary but litesmith makes a crazy light one as do some other companies.

[@kaisermojica4216]

Great video as always, I usually carry a 1/8 inch pad from gossamer gear during the summer months and have used their old thicker accordion style torso length pads in the fall and spring seasons as well but I can also sleep straight on the ground on a polycro sheet so to each his own😅

[@josiebones1]

This is a great exercise! pushing boundaries so you can learn your limits and what you find acceptable. I've tried sleeping with just a Z lite and never again! Also a Sea to Summit full bug net is around 3 ounces. Everything else I can get on board with.

[@josiebones1]

I also like a shaped tarp like the Z packs pocket tarp with doors. Only about .6 ounces heavier than the tarp and you can close it off completely from wind, rain and bugs.

[@Phearsum]

Sea To Summit makes a really nice mesh head cover for insects that weighs nothing. I've found that if you cinch down the collar of your sleep system with the head net bugs won't get you.

[@jeffreycarman2185]

I just made a bidet out of a standard plastic bottle cap (it works well enough that I’ll continue to use it moving forward, but it doesn’t work great). To wash hands I just hold the water bottle between my legs and squirt water by squeezing water out of the bidet with my legs. That works well as long as I have enough water in the bottle.

[@PaulKentSkates]

Ive been use the joey for the past 5 years for anything with less than 6 days between re-supllies. (In the Canadian Rockies). The best part of those waterbottle pockets being so out of reach is that after 3 weeks you get way more flexible. Haha. My favorite backpack ever made. But I use a thermarest (half mat Uber light, and a sea to summit pillow). Did Jupiter go without a bignet for his hike in canada? (The gdt) That would be bonkers. As a dad, I also bring an inreach. Congratulations!

[@evildoctorbluetooth]

I went hiking and camping with an ultra light guy who brought a hatchet! But that hatchet meant that no one had to carry stakes because we made them every evening. We also used to make a gandalf sized stick sharp and use it to plough the earth we slept on. This meant no rocks and stones, but also meant it wasn't as hard. Those of us who didn't have walking sticks were fine because we could make one quickly. This was useful support for the tarps as well. When it was rainy and windy, we also cut branches with leaves to protect the entrances of our tarp shelters. And it was useful for dense vegetation. So for one or 2 people a hatchet is not ultra light. But for 4 or more, it was great! Justin, try using a sharp stick to plough the earth beneath your bed!

[@haliphax-]

Leave no trace?

[@evildoctorbluetooth]

@@haliphax- good point.

[@smallberries]

Congrats Justin. Hope all went well with the birth. You will do well as a parent. Just try to relax and enjoy it, because before you know it, that kid will be all grown up and off to college.

[@planesandbikes7353]

Another great demonstration! But just think the added 300g would bring with an inflated pad, inflated pillow and a big net. Would not notice the weight while the comfort would increase an order of magnitude. Jupiter is right on the mark I think. This kind of lightweight should work even better for 1 or 2 night outings like I more commonly do, need less stuff than I need for a 5 nighter. But then .. i started carrying a chair and cpap so my 3 night packload was about 18-20lbs last year. Nicer being under 13 lbs to not need a hip belt on the pack.

[@Vellzi]

Haha great video! I've been following the both of you guys, it's interesting to see you run with Jupiter stuff, you have more tolerance for it than I ever could - that UL life is not for me, but it's awesome to see what people can pull off!