It's Time To Stop Recommending The SAME GEAR!

[@MyLifeOutdoors]

Check out Garage Grown Gear: geni.us/m2tzeVo *New Gear:* Soto 750ml: geni.us/48pcnGz Amicus Stove: geni.us/0lPpIMp Spoon Fork Combo: geni.us/zSFiA Tark Trowel: geni.us/Vwqim ZenBivy Pillow: geni.us/8AhSV Hydroblu Filter: geni.us/e4if1 Actik Headlamp: geni.us/FBTBO *Old Gear:* Toaks 650ml: geni.us/yfCYqCh Pocket Rocket Deluxe: geni.us/3MrUHA Go Bites Duo: geni.us/56Te1VE Bogler Trowel: geni.us/evIJfd Nemo Fillo: geni.us/JGBYwtT Platypus Quickdraw: geni.us/0CABg1c NU25 Headlamp: geni.us/3ThMg

[@anthonylanders1216]

I used silicon tubing to line the handles on the Toaks. Works great and now I don’t need an extra piece of gear to use it.

[@ImGonnaMake]

2024 is the year I vow to be content with the gear I have. When I pay a premium for the best/lightest/most durable, I need to do my part to let that gear prove it deserves those accolades. You almost got me with that spoon/fork though, but my long spork is just fine.

[@Karma-qt4ji]

The reason stove manufacturers use three supports and not four, is the simple fact that three will always be on the same plane, regardless of how warped your pot / pan may be. That makes the three support actually more stable than the four, counter-intuitive as that may seem.

[@craigiedema1707]

I was thinking the same thing as he said it. That said most pots will be "fairly" flat so four may well be better.

[@MJin03]

Yes 3 support choice make sense in that theory but in practicality I highly doubt this was the design intention. I think it's 3 support to save weight as 3 is the minimum requirement to support a plane. I wholeheartedly recommend 4 supports over 3 for many practical reasons. * Using a pan with a handle on a 3 support is annoyingly difficult unless you line the handle perfectly with one of the supports. * When the ground is uneven, 3 support is also less stable because the contents of the pan will flow to one side and you have to make sure a support is under that side or things will easily tip. * 4 support makes cups/pans much less likely tip when you accidentally bump into them. * 3 support will make it less "wobbly" if the surface is uneven but even in this case, 4 will still make it less likely to fall when you bump it.

[@Karma-qt4ji]

@@MJin03with respect, I disagree completely, for the following reasons.. History shows that short of an actual solid base, tripods are incredibly stable and if the three legs of the tripods are kept at regular intervals, provide the best support with the least amount of fettering. We see this in camera equipment, cooking pots, etc and it will apply to anything expected to make good contact with an uneven surface. Add a fourth leg can help *only* if you can ensure that that leg is in full contact with the surface / base and can carry as close to its share of the weight as possible. This applies both in the conventional tripod leg-down position as well as the inverted "stove support" position. Given that both stoves position their 'arms' equally around the circumference of the circle, a three armed stove will always make good contact with the pot at regular positions around the base on all three arms, relatively equidistant from the centre of the pot. A four arm stove, with the slightest of deviations from either the stove or the pot itself will result in only three legs making contact and the fourth or "lowest" one, only acting as a catching arm. With the regular angle of the arms, that means that the pot's entire weight is carried across only half of its base with a single point on the other side waiting for it to tip in that direction. In other words, a four armed stove is reduced to a three armed stove with the arms not in optimal position. Bear in mind that metal expands in heat and that cooking produces that in abundance, the likelihood of all four arms making firm contact is heavily reduced. Try this... take a four armed stove, remove or don't extend one of the arms, and have a look at how and where it supports the pot. Uneven ground is going to negatively impact both and that is why we try to level the stove before using it. Put with the three armed stove already being the most stable, it will continue to be and the four arm stove is even more likely to 'fail'. Using a long handled pot will not change anything regarding the relative stability of each because it is not the number of arms you need to increase, but the length of the arms. A tripod with a long lens camera on it is unstable only if the lens extends past the base of the feet, so open the feet further. Unlike a lens, the handle of the pot is not the heavy part (or the pot will tip even on a glass top stove at home) but it will alter the centre of gravity by a small amount. Ensuring that the centre of gravity is still within the circle of the arms will fix that for you. The problem is that if you use a four armed stove, that circle is actually an elipse enclosing only the three arms that make contact. That's my experience anyway and no expectation on you to agree or accept it.

[@RandallJung]

@@Karma-qt4ji Agreeing with points that MJin03 made. Think of a stove with a pot on top (arm count irrelevant) and consider the space between two of the arms. Now, draw a line between the point farthest from the axis on each of those two arms where the pot is touching, this becomes the balance axis for the pot, and the middle of this line is the shortest distance at which the pot can become unbalanced. If weight in a pot is beyond that axis in an outward-from-stove-center direction, it will tip off. Empty titanium pans with handles certainly are prone to this, which is why MJin says put the handle over a support. Putting the handle over the support makes it less likely that the center of balance will occur outside these balance lines. Adding a fourth support (square vs triangle) moves those axes (sides of the shape) outward making it easier to keep one's objects center of mass within. Your point about uneven ground is also affected by this in a three dimensional way, as the center of mass is actually a three-dimensional point occurring above the plane of the bottom of the pot. As the assembly becomes uneven the pot center of mass will move outward towards the "downhill" side while balance axes will continue to be vertical. While it's true that wind could cause one support to heat/expand more and make a pot that's slightly wobbly, that wobble doesn't translate to increased risk of tipping because (in principle) it affects neither the balance axes nor the center of pot mass.

[@lisaphares2286]

@@Karma-qt4jiwhile I agree a tripod is much more stable for holding a camera or a cooking pot suspended over a fire, I don’t agree this is true of an inverted tripod. The characteristics that give a tripod its stability are removed when they no longer are the base but are at the top. Having 4 supports bears more weight than 3 all being the same. Plus, 3 or 4 prongs, they are both supported by the same base so the tripod advantage is gone.

[@Michael_Ian_Blackface]

The video answered the question of why everyone recommends the same gear by offering alternatives that were all not as good as the same gear everyone recommends.

[@dallasn16]

Completely agree, sometimes everyone recommends the same thing because that thing just works.

[@phillipp1399]

The reason for the amicus being cheaper than the pocket rocket deluxe is the absence of a regulator. Makes the stove more deficient in cold weather and high altitudes. For apples to apples, compare the stove whose design was clearly borrowed for the pocket rocket deluxe, the Soto Windmaster. It’s hands down the best, which is why msr ripped it off.

[@BenKvisler]

Is the regulator for flame control? The Soto Amicus stove with ignitor has that.

[@phillipp1399]

@@BenKvisler it’s a micro regulator that regulates pressure, allowing more efficient use of fuel, especially at higher altitudes and/or cooler temperatures. It is not the same thing as the flame control knob, which is a feature on all canister stoves.

[@benhauber1979]

Absolutely love my windmaster. It was expensive, but it's dang near hurricane proof.

[@BenKvisler]

@@phillipp1399 thank you

[@tt-of4xv]

This. Crazy that was overlooked.

[@timmo971]

Don’t be afraid to customise your purchase. Trowel doesn’t have a serrated blade? Give it one. Pot is the right size and weight but doesn’t have a wire to hang over a campfire (instead of wasting gas) give it one. Coat hanger wire is free.

[@rungavagairun]

7:55 You can move the cinch cord on your Nitecore to one side of your head. That way you always know which way is up. If you sometimes read a real book and use your headlamp for that, it has the added benefit of moving the cinch cord out from under the backside of your head if you are lying on your back.

[@punkrocker1984]

Why change if it’s good and works? Consumerism is not for me and if my toaks lasts me 50 years I’ll use till my last meal on trail. This is also environmentally more adequate and minimalistic, which leads to a more fulfilling life. Less is more.

[@RobertAnthony-p4t]

Amen brother praying for your adventures ✝️❤️

[@0errant]

I’ve been using the VersaFlow filter for years and love it. Happy you see another pot option w/o handles. I use the Toaks 750 w/o handles I put a silicone band at the top, rather than use pot grabbers.

[@TDOLLA]

those little folding bowls at 5:05 from GGG are pretty sweet. I honestly don’t use it every time and I just keep it in my pack tucked in the back pad area of my pack but occasionally I just need a bowl or an extra container for something and it’s perfect. I will also use it as a clean surface for a little food prep too and im sure its not ideal but also a quick cutting board

[@grimgranite]

I used to be a fan of spoons until watching this… now all I can think of is how subservient my lips have been my whole life. I didn’t realize how hard I’ve been making them work. Forks forever!! 🚫🥄 Definitely a lot to think about in this video! Nicely done, Steven!

[@sujiut]

I'm the opposite: forks are hard to clean compared to spoons! It's only a couple of centuries since forks became commonplace for eating. Before that we just used knives and spoons. Progress? Hah!

[@benedikthassel]

​@@sujiutpfttthhh 😂 i use both, fork and spoon! im a maniac! 😂

[@jadenm]

In the spirit of trying new gear. For your cooking system, try out the GSI Outdoors Halulite Minimalist II Cookset. I use this to boil water for my meals and to drink hot beverages. This is the only piece of gear that I have not replaced since backpacking 7 years ago.

[@SomeDudeQC]

Problem is ... once you have a cup or a headlamp you're pretty much good for a decade or more.

[@Suluk46]

Thanks for the mention! You want a serrated edge on the Tark Trowel? No problem, I'll make it happen.

[@sk-wx1cf]

I think a lot of the same gear shows up for the simple reason that it works. I don't agree about the pot choice. I like a pot with handles and they don't get that hot if they are folded out while you're heating water. And I'm definitely not interested in trying to keep track of that teeny, awkward, hard to grasp pot holder. Soto Amicus stove - yay! I've been using it for a while. 4 prongs = more stability. and it has a lip that provides a little bit of flame protection from the wind. HydroBlu filter - yay! I've used one for a while. i like that it's threaded at both ends and has caps. i have not had trouble with the caps coming off at all.

[@mukkaar]

Would get amicus, but I already have MSR deluxe, doesn't really make sense to buy new stuff for marginal improvement/difference.

[@benedikthassel]

the pot gapper is a joke. what if i boil water and want to grap the pot and the grapper felt in? 😂 like you said, the handles doesn't get that hot and if, i use my sleeves or anything else so i dont have to touch the metal. mindless 😂

[@67L48]

One brand that I'm always amazed to NEVER see is Optimus. I've never once seen Steven, Dan Becker, Eric Hanson, and the others use or even discuss the Optimus brand. You can do some searches and find lots of older discussions about the Crux and Crux Lite stoves on KZbin ... and the Crux/Crux Lite almost always outperform the MSR and others (in terms of boiling times). At the very least, it's a very comparable, yet rarely seen, stove. The Elektra cook system comes with the Crux Lite, aluminum pot (with heat exchanger), a second "pot" that is more of a lid, a piezo, and a windscreen. In 2023, I was easily able to get this entire kit for $65. Aluminum is heavier than titanium, but not by much. Plus, I just like the thermal properties of aluminum better as a pot ... and the coated handles are great. Optimus' fit and finish of its products is second to none. The second pot and windscreen can easily be left at home for the weight-conscious folks. I don't expect everyone to use Optimus, but I'm always surprised that NOBODY seems to use it.

[@Archer21344]

And the crux is quiet compared to a lot of stoves

[@BurfieldPhoto1]

Sometimes it's a regional thing. Most of the more popular outdoor KZbinrs are based in the US, and a lot of non-US brands aren't well known or stocked in the US.

[@vincentvega5686]

probably because optimus is from sweden

[@67L48]

Optimus is found in Cabela's, Bass Pro Shops, and many other common outdoor stores. It's not JetBoil, for sure, but it's not exactly a boutique brand, either. Being Swedish isn't necessarily "off the grid" ... see: Fjallraven. Optimus is owned by Katadyn, the Swiss large brand that also makes/sells the BeFree water filter product line, which, despite its being non-US, is hardly an unknown. I think there's something else going on and it's more likely to be connected to this video's main thrust: people have settled on MSR Pocket Rocket, that's it, and that's that. Maybe they'll look at something new, but only if it's something new. Optimus/Katadyn probably hasn't done enough to market to these influencers, either.

[@AdamDrew]

Thanks! Water filter and pillow are both on my "consider replacing" list for this year.

[@josephmonti4524]

More car camping and family camping videos. Keep up the good work

[@MattVHulst]

While I support your general message, and appreciate the effort to present new pieces of gear, I feel like a few of these are just showing different things for the sake of doing so. The actik headllamp is more than double the cost of the nitecore but is a chore to charge, and the only tangible benefit is not having to worry about putting it on upside down? The new water filter is almost the same price but the caps are easy to lose?

[@sk-wx1cf]

I have the HydroBlu and have not had any trouble with the caps. I like it better than the sawyer because of the caps and it's threaded on both ends.

[@brandonwilliams2431]

When i was a kid, we were so poor we had to eat our cereal with a fork to save the milk

[@terryjones8588]

Wait! You got milk with your cereal? Unbelievable!

[@freeforester1717]

Luxury - when we were young, we slept in a hole in the ground, no tent, and were grateful for a handful of soil on top of a stone for a pillow, and a leaf for a blanket. Yet if you tell the kids today, they wouldn’t believe it!

[@michaelb41]

true story

[@mdog6726]

You had a fork? Lucky…

[@mgstrat]

Need to upgrade my sleeping system... Been looking at the zenbivy setup and would love your thoughts.

[@SummitSeeker546]

I like gear that has multiple uses. For a pillow I like the Outdoor Vitals promotional pillow combined with a neck gaiter used as a pillow case. To fluff it up I pull the sleeves of my puffy jacket between the gaiter and the pillow. Instant comfort! The pillow can also be used as a sit cushion because of the durable and flexible material it’s made of. The gaiter? You can figure that out…

[@matthewrdgo]

Another benefit of the dual rotation on the petzl headlamp is you can adjust it upwards when hiking uphill. This moves the beam more inline with your eyes which naturally look up when hiking uphill.

[@vincentvega5686]

it is the headlamp of choice for car thieves and cat burglars lol

[@itsbeertimenow]

If I have to see one more zenbivy review from 5 KZbinrs in the same week telling me how great it is imma freak out.

[@benedikthassel]

well did you get one? 😂

[@pcgaminghelp]

Better content than Outside or Backpacker. This man shows you the physical differences between product designs and their benefits versus relying on "this is good brand/this is an established brand". He doesn't allow companies to rest on their laurels.

[@meinthewild312]

What I’ve become tired of on almost every one of these so called hiking and travel channels is that ALL you do is review gear. I have all the gear I’m probably ever going to purchase until something wears out or breaks. What I want to watch is you actually hiking, camping and traveling. Due in part to limited time and money, I can’t travel out of state, overseas or even to Canada to hike and camp. Watching others do these epic trails on UTube really helps me have the tiny thrill of seeing new places without having to pay to get there myself. Please hike!

[@hoellenhund1000]

I tend to agree. Yet here are two facts: 1. Theorizing and loading our online shop carts is so quick and easy! That's why us consumers do it much more often than going outdoors. - 2. Gear vids click. You see it in the number of views, and some 'youtubers' even give us their actual monetization and link it to their type of content.

[@wayvos]

Check out: John Zahorian, Jupiter Hikes, Dan Stenziano, Seeking Lost, Jerry Arizona and Josh Carr

[@planesandbikes7353]

well then why are you here?? This is a gear review channel with some hiking education tips mixed in. jeez. Plenty of just-hiking channels out there. I like both kinds

[@humushumus2219]

The gear focus is a KZbin problem. If I look for woodworking, hiking, computer etc. on KZbin the gear oriented channels tend to win in the algorithm. Why? Many reasons i guess, but one is the "creators" trying to make a living on this plattform (Witch we all know is a scam) need the sponsor money. Money in the system favour KZbin in the end.

[@tt-of4xv]

Gear videos gets more views + people buys the stuff using your links = even more money. Can't blame them for doing what people want. I agree with you tho.

[@Gambeli02]

The Hydroblu and Sawyer are the filters the Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado use while doing their multi-day trail maintenance stints. They fill two 5 gallon bladders multiple times a day and at the end of the day clean the filters out with the syringe. Of course, they do carry extra filters. 😉 Pillow! OMG, I've been searching for a pillow that doesn't feel like a I'm sleeping on a dang bubble. I looked at the Filo but didn't like the fill quality. I ended up making my own 2" thick feather pillow and combining it with an air pillow. And, yep, it's a three piece combo with a pillow case to hold it together.

[@lawsnewton]

Have you tried the Fire-Maple 600ml G3 Petrel Ultralight Camping Pot? I has a interesting flame spreader bottom that stabilizes your pot on your 3 prong stove.

[@GunSheppard]

Have you considered diving into any Slingfin products? Out of the X-pole with spar configuration (Big Agnes Copper Spur, MSR Hubba Hubba, etc) the Portal seems like the best of the bunch. Thanks for the video!

[@johnlockman9090]

Absolutely love that Suluk46 Miksa pot grabber, I have the larger version and it still weighs practically nothing and solves the issues I had with overheating my handles perfectly.

[@Joshwaa_s]

As someone that owns the Soto amicus myself and haven't used any other cannister stove - I'm super curious to know what you make of it! I also have an older Petzl actik headtorch and it is now the only micro-usb item I have to deal with when camping - I've pestered Petzl a LOT to make a usb-c battery but as it stands, a new headtorch to avoid the cable fuss is looking likely in my future..

[@alreadylost6587]

Highly recommend alcohol stoves the zero noise is really nice.

[@Cdrop20]

Very interested in the zen bivy pillow. I have 4 different backpacking pillows and non of them totally check the boxes for me.

[@TennesseeSlim]

The Nemo fillo elite has been my favorite pillow with the washable pillow case. If you remove the pillow case and replace it with a silk material for a very lightweight lifetime warranty pillow.

[@dangerpudge1922]

I just picked up the Flextail Zero pillow (the large version). I've been a Nemo Fillo (both Elite and Luxury) for the last couple of years. The Flextail immediately overtook them as my absolute favorite. There have been some criticisms about the valve leaking on some, but I haven't had an issue, though I will say I'd like it to be more pliable. It's just over 200g, so isn't a super lightweight, but is much lighter than the Luxury version of the Nemo and a lot more comfortable due to its shape. Oh, and it's under $30. I tested it in my normal everyday bed, and liked it so much that I've continued to use it (which sounds crazy, I know... but it works!). And to be extremely clear, while I do own a couple of Flextail products, I'm in absolutely no way affiliated with them and I've purchased every one of their products with my own money.

[@wyattroncin941]

since you're trying the versaflow, try the activated carbon attachment as well. might be nice for swampy water and such

[@ghostyfellla]

Aussie company Alton Goods has Ti spoons AND forks separately if that’s more your steez

[@BenReilly803]

titanium pot wise, i found Boundless Voyage 900ml pot. When i bought it it was half the price of the toaks and came with a long locking handle.

[@benedikthassel]

yeah i prefer cheap china titanium over any pricey toaks. guess what? toaks is made at the same place. 😂 don't trust any person who said toaks is "better quality" yeah... no 😂

[@helpfulcommenter]

I have both the Soto Amicus and the pocket rocket. The Soto is a superior stove. But don’t bother with the igniter. It is prone to failure - even after writing to the company and being sent a replacement (great customer service!) the replacement also failed. Get the cheaper stove and just carry a bic mini.

[@hikingwheather]

Same thing happened to me with the Soto Windmaster. It's still a good stove, if you don't mind a useless igniter attached to it.

[@helpfulcommenter]

@@hikingwheather you’re correct sir. It’s the same igniter - it’s like an aftermarket add-on; it’s not their tech. I threw it out.

[@kristymoore7052]

I have 7 different backpacking pillows. Some are adequate, others I’ve turned into lumbar support for office, car, home office, etc. Am prob going to try the ZenBivey and or Exped pillows.

[@Andy-Mesa]

I recently got the $18 FireMaple Petrel HX pot with ridges that my Soto Windmaster slot right into based on FlatCat Gear's videos on its very impressive performance in 8+ mph winds. I used it for my trip to the Olympics over the weekend and was pleased.

[@Gamerhog2022]

I still use the brs & Stanley adventure cup. I like cooking not just heating up water and I don’t go out past 2 nights so that works for me.

[@Jarrych83]

The big notable downside on that Tark trowel is the cost. While not pricey, it's literally twice the price of the Bogler. Also, while it mostly serves as secondary burner for making tea and oatmeal while car camping, I love the Amicus. It's worked great in a variety of light to moderate wind and temps and my kinda wide ultralight kettle is rock stable on it. Great option for the money.

[@Outsideville]

I'm not in a gear rut and have no plans to buy more gear right now, but still enjoyed the video and suggestions for when I do have to replace something.

[@monoclehikes68]

I’ve been thinking about getting a Vargo bot pot Because of the potential possibility of cold soaking

[@jK-yj2tl]

Thanks ; checking out your suggestions.

[@sailingavemar]

I love your content and have been subscribed for years, but today, the spoon-fork combo was the best.

[@facediaper09]

I hope i can find the gear you review for sale at GGG. I love my backpack i got from them. Im looking for new prizes for myself again 👍

[@hilltigger]

I'm not into trying "new". Simple, I appreciate. Lightweight, I appreciate. I don't care if it's new. After 35 years of backpacking, I use and standby an Alcohol stove. No moving parts, super ligthweight, and basically bombproof. Down quilt, same thing. Nothing fancy. Just the lightest, warmest, most flexible thing to sleep in. I don't want the latest gimmick. I want to use what works best and lightest with least chance of gear failure in the field.

[@dyslectische]

I have stove on gas. China model do the same like yours . Cost 25 euro with pans . Brand is odoland . Pans , drink cups ,gas stove and knife , fork and spoon set. Its for backpackers .

[@scottjl]

not bad. the odoland set is currently $21USD on amazon, with an upgraded set for $35.

[@dyslectische]

@@scottjl euro sell price is always with tax . Usa sell price is always without tax .

[@johnschmalbach8243]

For a, long, fork/spoon combo ai love the Kupilka "spork." It comes in a lot cheaper than titanium stuff is still stupid light, and it's a sustainable item. All of Kulpilka's stuff is made for the wood waste from various manufacturing processes mixed with a resin.

[@simnes2277]

Can you do A review on Helsport ringstind superlight 1-2 tent?

[@kelseywinter-troutwine1928]

I have a super old (new fuel pump) whisper lite that was a hand me down. I’ll be going with the Amicus as well.

[@aaronjones356]

I bought the kit and I swear it was the same price as he quoted for the stove alone. Got 2 pots (one small one that acts like a lid) for like $40 at REI. It’s not the best pot but it saved me from buying a separate one

[@TennesseeSlim]

My favorite headlamp from over the years has been the black diamond revolt. The features are hands down the best I've used with the ability to be rechargeable and also accept AAA if needed. I wish it could swivel like that one though.

[@benedikthassel]

I don't get why nobody does it like me. ive got a Fenix headlamp with a 18650 battery. My power bamk also contains 2x18650's, my medical vape also contains 18650! so i always got enough batteries at me so i can swith them in any item that needs electricity.

[@markswishereatsstuff2500]

I don't like the metal camping spoons. Mouth feel is off and don't get me started on sporks. Best is the plastic Sea to Summit Delta long handled spoon. Light, strong and feels great.

[@NICHOLAS-h1p]

I find double-ended eating utensils to be so annoying.

[@benedikthassel]

sure they are. also those short theet brushes. whyyyy???? to save what? 1 gramm?

[@TennesseeSlim]

Hmu I could recommend all kinds of alternatives. Turkey oven bags are a huge hack for waterproof bags.

[@jasonh.8362]

Now this is something I've never thought about! Thanks

[@austingavins9181]

Mmmm, gear that's standard or most recommended, maybe it's because it's good and does the job? As for hot pot handles, try separating them when cooking and/or adding shrink wrap silicone. Also recommend the UCO knife/fork/spoon set that acts as a separate knife and fork but you can add together for a long spoon/fork combo

[@truepaulesko]

You should try malachowski sleeping bags! They have best of the best and then some reaaaaly comoetitive series. I dont understand why noone talks about it

[@camping_guru_uk]

I do want to see you review what I believe are the best budget hiking big three (four). I mean proper budget, not entry level big brand products that are still stupid expensive. I first bought the Asta Gear Yun Chuan 2 person 3 season tent when I was planning a trip to the Lake District here in the UK. I wanted a light weight double skin tent as I feel double skin tents work best for the UK climate. I wanted to get as close to 1kg as I could but the prices for anything of any quality was way out of my budget. I then found the Yun Chuan before I even knew about the Durston X-Mid and I pulled the trigger and got one for £125 delivered. Now I know more about the X-Mid I think I'd still stick with the Asta Gear tent because I don't believe the basic X-Mid is 3 times as good as the Yun Chuan and getting the Durston tent here to the UK would cost me about £400 with delivery and import duty etc. Then I bought the Naturehike Rock 60+5 dyneema pack for £65 and I've not looked back, it's super tough, super comfy, very light and again so much better value than the big brands I feel. Next came the Naturehike R 5.8 sleep mat at £80 which I feel I could of saved myself £30 by getting the R 2.9 version as I mostly camp in 10c +. The R5.8 is warm and agian very light and packs up super small so I can't complain, it's also half the price at least of an equivalent big brand I believe. Lastly I bought the Asta Gear down quilt, the 260g (660g total weight) for £60 (there is a higher fill weight model). It looks just like a very orange big brand quilt that's out there and even this mega light, small pack cheap quilt keeps me warm at 7c, maybe lower but I've not tried it lower than 7c yet. So for £330 (possibly £300 with a lower spec sleep mat) I believe this is the best value budget mid performance hiking big three (four). What do you think and will you except the challenge and see for yourself if these products are as good as big brand products that are say twice the price to make it a fair challenge.

[@Im_With_Stupid]

These companies you're talking about are either clone companies (Naturehike) or rebranders (Asta Gear). The former has near zero invested in R&D because they just wait until a major brand brings something new to the market and then they copy it if it sells well. At best, they might change the look a little bit or create something that looks unique, but the technology behind it is all riding on someone else's dime. The latter isn't even a real outfitter. It's just some guy at a computer buying factory OEMs in bulk and having the Asta Gear name printed on it. Naturehike only has a one year warranty that they will not honor. Twice I've made warranty claims with this company. The first time I was ignored and the second I was given the runaround and lied to. Asta Gear has no warranty at all. You have 30 days to return something and it has be unused and still in the original packaging. You have only 72 hours to inspect your product for defects and file a claim. Items you bought on sale are not refundable at all. Neither company offers replacement parts or repairs, only full product replacements. This is why Naturehike doesn't honor their warranties. If something breaks like a pole or a zipper or a stake loop comes unstitched, the only thing they can do is give you a brand new one and they're not going to do it. Now contrast that with a legit western brand that has research and development costs, employees that are paid a high wage, warranties up to lifetime, strict quality control, offer parts and repairs and have phone numbers you can call and talk to an actual person who will ship out whatever part you need before the end of the workday. All that costs money and it's baked into their product prices, but the gear is reliable and made with the best available materials and if something goes wrong you're covered. Some of these companies will ship critical parts overnight to resupply points if you're on the trail. If something goes wrong with your Naturehike or Asta Gear gear, and odds are high that it will, you're screwed.

[@james6454]

You need to try the pure clear filter. We finally have a ultra light good flow filter that filters EVERYTHING. From viruses to bacteria to pharmaceutical run offs it covers it. They deserve recognition.

[@DubTDub]

Always thankful for every upload! Great insight! 👍🏻👍🏻

[@KrzysztofJarzębiński-l2k]

Stuff I would like to see but I've never seen anywhere are stainless steel one wall bike bottles that hold in cages well, have 750ml capacity and allows you to boil water while bikepacking.

[@jmash41]

The Soto Amicus does not have a fuel regulator, but the MSR pocket rocket deluxe does have a fuel regulator.

[@bigchief4044]

Somebody was given some new gear. 😂

[@movieshrink2878]

I know 😂 Teases a self-reflective video on how the outdoors has become a fashion show that only the well-off can partake in-only to serve us yet another advert 😂

[@JamesLewisTucker]

I swear this channel is just commercials at this point

[@vincentvega5686]

@@JamesLewisTucker he is showing us alternative less well known gear that are out there. as a gear head i appreciate that.

[@stanleyheath5486]

I always have a tiny folding scissors in my medical kit and I just trim the top half off my freeze dried foil pouch so I can reach the bottom with a "normal" length spork.

[@derekhand7904]

If you’re looking for a stove that’s a little more innovative and still ultra lite check out the fire maple hornet 2. Removing a handle , then have to remember to bring a separate handle doesn’t really do it for me.

[@67L48]

3:50. That's so dang close. For years, I've been looking for a long handled fork. I can find a million long handled spoons. I can find even more long handled sporks, which are an affront to eating utensils. But, a long handled fork? Never. I feel like this is a giant step in the right direction. Now, if we can just convince the backpacking world once and for all that it's OK to make a utensil that doesn't have a spoon integrated into the design, I will finally be able to sleep easy and, more importantly, eat comfortably.

[@Beelzebuds]

You should use a dremel to cut serrations into the titanium trowel. Just because they didn't do it, doesnt mean you can't. And if you dont own a dremel currently... you should definitely get a dremel, as they are very useful.

[@yfnsmn]

I tried this pocket rocket on a recent trip to North MI; in 50s degree weather and wind from a lake , it would not make water boil even after 15-20 mins. fortunately my friend had one of those systems flash or something, those boil water in 2-3 mins

[@brian2cat]

Ok, but where did you get the wide brimmed hat you're always wearing?

[@carldwyer6058]

Damn, I just bought the Soto 750, a week ago, because of the hot handles of the Toaks, and now I am just following the influencers again!

[@klarsen100]

i read where you can just add a little tubing to the handles and they work great.

[@carldwyer6058]

@@klarsen100 They work better. particularly with cannister stoves, less so with alcohol, and even less so with twig stoves.

[@chriscook3120]

That piezo on the Soto stove is not a long term item and pots seem to always wobble on it.

[@Lv4_o2]

I just bought a toaks tiny fry pan, hoping to add meat to my hiking menu without dealing with dehydrating it. My hubby said the bears will like it. 🤪 Luv GGG!

[@charliemcdowell5231]

You should add meat to the menu! As my diet has new limitations I’ve needed to bring meat on my backpacking trips and deal with the increase in “camp kitchen” weight that is required. I can tell you straight up that cooking in a thin aluminum or titanium frying pan is a mess to clean. Teflon is good, ceramic if you don’t trust Teflon, and carbon steel if you can handle the weight and don’t line the previous two options. I’ve also needed to move up to a heavier stove with proper flame control. I wouldn’t worry about bears and meat specifically as long as you follow standard safe procedures (e.g. don’t cook off a pound of bacon right in your tent vestibule). Having more real food on trips means more weight, but it’s a wash where I am in Missouri bc water sources are so unreliable I end up packing more water anyway. As a result bringing heavier foods has greatly reduced my stress regarding finding good water sources.

[@iceman857]

One thing you don't mention: Maybe gear companies aren't innovating as much with these smaller items as they do with the Big 3?

[@MyLifeOutdoors]

That’s good insight. These items aren’t as expensive and so margins are lower

[@obchristo]

Margin % is not Margin $. Often Margin % is higher on Accessories than Hardgoods. (Former Hardgoods, Footwear and Accessories Buyer for a Specialty Outdoor Retailer) @@MyLifeOutdoors

[@Gottwyn]

YESSSS! Another fork preferer! No one ever understands why i dont like eating with a spoon and its exactly this!

[@nathanlockhart3876]

I always recommend my Vargo bot over the toaks

[@TrailGearJunkie]

Appreciate the video. Yes, GGG gets a weekly checkin from me.

[@greyhikes5236]

After your tent wind test on the roof of your car you can tell me anything I will believe it! 😉

[@cal5566]

Surely if you're using the gear over and over again that in itself is testament to how well drained and made the item is, if everyone ends up using the same equipment, it's not an accident, and it's most likely to be the best, I've used some terrible camping equipment and I must say for someone starting out they could save a lot of time and money buying the gear that everyone uses across the board

[@thomasthetrain19]

Alternate video title: Here are some alternatives that arent as good but i was given gear to review for free so here you go.

[@ericb.4358]

ABSOLUTELY we need to take a close look at "the usual gear suspects". EXAMPLE-> titanium pots. 1.) Aluminum is FAR better at transmitting heat, SAVING FUEL. 2.) WIDER than TALL pots are more efficient, SAVING FUEL 8Good recommendation on the Tar ti trowel. PETZL is on my "Never Buy"list. Black Diamond or Princeton Tech for me.

[@wolfeadventures]

I don’t get the Soto 750. Toaks is lighter, cheaper and you don’t have to fiddle with a pot grabber.

[@sk-wx1cf]

agree. if the handles are folded out while you're heating water, they don't get too hot. having to keep up with a teeny, awkward pot grabber does not interest me.

[@0errant]

Not true. The Soto is 2g less than my Toaks 750 w/o handles. Not enough to switch, but it is less weight.

[@wolfeadventures]

@@0errant Toaks 750 with handles is lighter than Soto 750 with its pot gripper.

[@_Chris390]

Buy the Soto Thermostack, bring the pieces you need, and leave the stuff at home that you don't. Much better value as a set than the Toaks.

[@mccarthy86]

As long as they are not tricking me then its completely fine. Plus if they are all recommending the best gear then so be it. We all come to these videos to find out about what's the best for our various needs, and to be fair most our needs are the same.

[@Jo-oc-0]

I’m starting to boil water and make my coffee in a Cezve Turkish coffee pot.

[@unightie]

I would love it if you tried the Unightie

[@andymytys]

This is not a new problem. People have been recommending the SAME gear and having a WIDE community reach since well before KZbin (think WhiteBlaze, Yahoo Groups, and articles / gear lists on the web). I remember back in 2002 when the ULA P2 was the ultralight pack of choice, and everyone was recommending the New Balance 802 All Terrain sneaker.

[@amalgam5107]

Still slowly acquiring gear for camping. Need to get me a good backpack next.

[@gregvanpaassen]

Yeah, that's difficult. For up to 10 kilograms / 25 lb a 28-litre frameless pack will be OK. That's for day hikes with water, food, emergency bivy bag, first aid kit, wet weather gear, emergency food, etc. For longer trips there are lots of packs for up to 15 kg / 40 lb, if you can keep the weight under that. Something like the Osprey Exos. If you're hunting or fishing or climbing or need extra gear for other reasons then you'll need a pack that can carry the load without falling apart or crippling you. Not too many of those in these videos. Then there are considerations like heat vs cold, and going off-track through thick undergrowth or rocks versus sticking to good trails. And everyone's body is different, so the odds are you'll be buying a few packs to get a good one, just like everyone else does. 🙂 Good luck in your search!

[@fallyn2920]

Paid promotions all over the place. Suddenly everyone is using durston, suddenly everybody loves the new nemo chair over helinox, suddenly everyone was raving about jetboil stash, the x boil. Theyre just salesmen influencers. Then again this too is a salesman channel that just goes on about product, not experiences. Meanwhile people like Wildbeare are just having fun. I do love Ernies stove reviews though, the guy is just too deeply in love with things that do flamy things.

[@scotbotvideos]

If you want gear reviews but you don't like the sales pitch, then you might like @TheOutdoorGearReview. Luke gives you the low down without the feeling that it's all sales.

[@kaepsele0711]

Thx!! Awesome content with fresh new views and some more brain and strong opinions! Keep it up!

[@six3r]

Steven I've been a subscriber for about a year now. I really only know you as a walking commercial for whoever is trying to market at the given time. Do you go backpacking anymore or into other hobbies these days? I'd like to see some different stuff. Everyone is shilling zenbivy and flextail these days.

[@MyLifeOutdoors]

I’m trying to read this while giving you the most benefit of the doubt as I can. But this comment comes of very biased against KZbinrs. If you have been watching me for a year then you know I’ve never even mentioned the new flextail pump and didn’t even own it till a week ago. I’ve only mentioned the the old pump once. I was one of the first to recommend Zenbivy 2 years ago. And I’ve yet to mention their new UL bed. Only now am I mentioning their pillow. I put out a video two weeks ago trashing the new Nemo chair. Right before Christmas I put out a video trashing zpacks, outdoor vitals, and more. If I’m just a commercial I’m not doing a good job of making friends with brands.

[@six3r]

​@@MyLifeOutdoors I've been riding with you for a year. I'm into gear like you but I do have some criticisms just as an audience member. Sorry i didn't mean flextail. I meant to say flipfuel. Why are we promoting that? You've promoted its competitor with an affiliate link which you know is half the cost. its just a lil wishy washy to me. The affiliate links stays active on the old videos but we start pitching competitor products in new videos with all of their own links. On top of that, you haven't shown your audience you actually use this stuff, at least not since I've been onboard.

[@mdog6726]

When AI does it you’re gone.😂

[@tomnoyb8301]

Suluk is a great pot-grabber, just too fiddly and losable. Likewise Quickdraw, with its losable piece-parts and missing threads (for gravity-feed). Yes, HydroBlu's end-caps can be removed, but they are designed to stay-put. It requires some pulling, swiping or stretching to remove them. Platypus knows they have a thread-problem, as they just came out with a "fix," called the "Ultralight" version which, despite its name, weighs more (and costs more) than the original. It does add the missing clean-water threads, however. Yet while fixing the missing thread-end, Platypus added a second losable cap. Not sure how you can complain about HydroBlu's retained end-caps, while giving Quickdraw a pass for no cap-retainers at all?

[@dahoodgoneloveit4230]

Solid video thanks dude!

[@bananarama3624]

The reason for this is because all the gear youtubers are American. There is nothing wrong with that, but all the packs, the quilts and tents ultralight reviews are from cottage American brands, and if they aren't from American brands, they are common in the American ultralight community and you are all catering to your target audience: Americans. If you wanted to recommend different gear, try focusing on a lightweight or ultralight setup in a different part of the world - say Europe, and try to only use affordable or common brands that can be found in Europe (e.g. decathlon). Australia also has quite a few cottage brands doing ultralight and in NZ the only ultralight stuff you can find is $500+ (Durston Kakwa 55 is $600 here) - although I'm sure you could find a setup that works for people in Australia and NZ using mostly macpac gear. Once again there is nothing wrong, but as a non-American viewer this is why I think all the same brands are always being recommended by ultralight gear youtubers

[@Michael_Ian_Blackface]

You have a point. I'm Aussie, but as much as I'd like them to review something like an Aarn pack, I don't think there's much value in it for them. I'd guess their metrics would tell them that the majority of their views come from America. Part of the problem is that once a channel gets to a certain size, the freebies and sponsors kick in, so they basically become advertising and if the customer base is mostly American, then there is little point in advertising non American products. I just hiked Te Araroa, and I'd say that every American had an American pack, and non-Americans had a mix of American packs and stuff like Atom or Macpac. These channels aren't being given free stuff from Australian brands, and they're not going to buy it themselves if most of their American viewers probably wouldn't either.

[@_Chris390]

The Soto is "Hard Anodized Aluminum". They don't make a 750ml Ti pot. They do a 400ml Ti one.

[@josiwinter6836]

i was waiting for this! "There are only two things i eat with a spoon soup and P****" i was so disappointed that i didnt get to hear something nonsensical...

[@luke_mckay]

Also, for the pillow.... WHY DOWN? They should use a couple sheets of APEX or whatever. The down is going to soak up hair oils and clump up so fast I feel like. I've always preferred my synthetic jacket for a makeshift pillow over my down one. Head just falls right through.

[@cwoollard1]

Nice video. There are so many of the same products deing reviewed. There are a lot of other products that are worth a look.

[@pifle9471]

💡If they made a trowel with a longer handle, one would be finally able to kind of save weight by using it for both those ration packs and ''ground works''. They could call it the ''Soup'n'Poop Tool''.