JOHN MUIR TRAIL GEAR GUIDE | Part 1: The Gear

[@vonrollveeg]

When I was young (I'm in my 70's now) I hiked from Giant Forest in Sequoia up Mt. Whitney and then down to Whitney Portal. It was immensely enjoyable. It was also life changing. As I was struggling up the tail to Whitney I was passed by a "little old lady" (at least from my perspective of 18 or so). I thought to myself: "Right, I'll meet up with her in a few minutes - she'll be sitting down exhausted"). Remember, this was before "Women's Lib". Well, when I got up to the summit there she was cooking tea! She was very kind to me and never mentioned the smirk I likely had last we met. She shared her tea with me. This made a BIG impression upon me. I swore that I would be like her when I was a "little old man". I succeeded. I never found out who she was.

[@daydreaml7658]

Thanks!

[@BoundForNowhere]

No thank you!

[@vince4316]

OK. I'm officially jealous. Great stuff on the gear, just what it should be. Simple info on how it performs/functions. One of these companies needs to make you their official spokesperson. Look forward to the rest of the videos...you guys are great

[@BoundForNowhere]

Haha I would kinda love that!

[@vince4316]

@@BoundForNowhere You never know...🗻🏞️🏜️

[@AndrewWisler]

I’ve been using the Sawyer Squeeze for a few years now. I’ve found the best system is to use 2 one liter Smart Water or similar bottles. One is “dirty”, and the filter lives on that all the time, and one is clean. Replace the lift top on the filter with a Smart Water “sport top”. At water sources you filter into the clean bottle and just fill the dirty bottle and move on. You can backflush using your clean bottle by transferring the sport lid to it (it mates up with the nipple on the clean side of the filter), so no need to carry the syringe. The O-rings get chewed up if you crank the filter down too hard, so don’t over-tighten. Just carry an extra screw lid and O-ring, since they’re easy to lose. Many through-hikers use this system, and it’s worked for me for many hundreds of miles. Cheers, and congrats on the JMT - looking forward to doing it myself one day.

[@1121gsm]

I've been using a butt pack to supplement my inadequate hip belt pouches for several years. As you said I moved the clip all the way to one side to keep it from rubbing against the pack. (As an added bonus, you can keep the butt pack on when you take your backpack off and you have your camera, phone, etc. still with you.) This is a great/helpful bit of advice but I have NEVER seen anybody else do this on the trail. I was surprised and happy to see that you both do this. I just discovered your channel and so far--I like it. I'll be watching some more.

[@razoredge3265]

All great gear! Beautiful pics from the trail. Thx

[@AdventureTimeLoui]

YUUUS LOVE FINDING A NEW CHANNEL!! 💖

[@christopherbrinegar4122]

Thank you so much for this video! So much great info and recommendations Awesome job!

[@BoundForNowhere]

You are so welcome! We love gear so we really enjoy putting videos like this together!

[@texmexia49]

Love Andrew. Expert in his field. Suggest getting all your gear and getting pack last to make sure it fits and is comfortable with gear you have.

[@dalegray4140]

You guys are great, someday I hope to live like you, thanks for sharing and motivating!

[@BoundForNowhere]

dale gray you are too sweet! Glad to help you you motivated to get out there ❤️

[@brianpetersen3429]

Excellent reviews.

[@BoundForNowhere]

Brian Petersen we appreciate that!

[@cmcer1995]

Wow, this video went by real fast. Long-time hiker/climber and who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks. My packs have always been 35-45 lbs, but after listening to your suggestions I am willing to flex. Agree with lots of your choices and have always used just some of them i.e. trekking poles, and Sawyer and so on. My back packs have always been Osprey's but you got me thinking about your choice as well. So, over-all some new fresh ideas. Looking forward to your clothing choices as well.

[@billk.4558]

Great video! Terrific research! Great information with intelligent and well organized reviews. You should do this professionally. Looking forward to upcoming reviews. One doesn’t’t have to do a 15 day JMT adventure to find this information helpful. Thanks,

[@utubefishin]

Man I took a lot of notes 📝. Very informative. Thanks

[@JRoss707]

Really nice video. Just a few things, when this video was made, backpacks made from Cuban fiber material were in their infancy stages. At the time of publication, composite Dyneema was the fabric of choice for most cottage backpack makers, as it is super lightweight, and extremely durable as far as the amount of pounds per square inch that the fabric can withstand. It was soon determined, however, that Dyneema fabric just didn’t work well with backpacks, as it was just not as abrasion resistant as traditional rip-stop nylon. Many backpack manufacturers started to go with x-pac laminate over Dyneema, as it is thicker and much more bomb proof than Dyneema. The main problem with x-pac material is that it weighs basically the same as rip-stop and it can’t be seam sealed at the factory so you have to seam seal it. This is a dealbreaker for many ultra lighters really want the weight savings of Cuban fiber, and if they were not getting the wait savings, the added cost for going Cuban fiber was just not worth it. The newest go to Cuban fiber is now called Ultra Fabric. Ultra is a Cuban fiber fabric that is waterproof, much lighter than x-pac material, and can be seam-taped at the factory, and it is much more resistant to abrasions. It is now the go-to Cuban fiber in most new backpacks, if you are looking to go Cuban fiber over traditional Dyneema

[@gurrurnmark2]

Congratulations on finishing the trail !!!! Can’t wait to see more because this channel constantly inspires me and thank you for all the work you put in your videos :) P.S. thank you for pointing out which products brands gave you and the products you bought, love the honesty !

[@BoundForNowhere]

Thank you so so much! That means the world to us!

[@jmsuitter5]

Amazing video great straight forward knowledge and opinions. As always guys stay safe watch your six and adventure on. May you have many more through hikes in your adventures. Also side note to Luna how goes the mouse hunting lol 😂

[@BoundForNowhere]

She really needs to get her act together!

[@williamkenyon9858]

Trekking poles also increase the blood flow in your arms, ya don't get that annoying swelling in your hands while using them. Great picks on the gear. I learned a few things as always from you guys. Be safe!

[@BoundForNowhere]

I totally forgot to say that! Sausage fingers be gone!

[@Yourname3000]

Nicely done ~

[@BoundForNowhere]

Thank you!

[@phstudio100]

Sleeping pad: X-therm for the win! Z-lites are great when you're in your 20's and 30's, but for us old folk, the X-Therm is the best for warmth/weight/durability. I agree about being light headed while inflating, that's why I use the little AAA battery mini inflator that they sell. Well worth the extra 2 oz. I just checked the NPS page for permits. They no longer do the 10 per day walk in permits for the Happy Isles trailhead. Bummer! That was the way I did my 2 previous JMT hikes (2011 and 2013). I parked my car at Whitney Portal (no parking time limit) and then hitched to Lone Pine where I then took shuttles to Yosemite Valley. I camped at the backpackers camp and made sure I was in line at the ranger station by 3 AM for the next days permit. Worked every time. It does however look like you can do still this at the Tuolumne Meadows trailhead going Southbound.

[@chesterdavison3866]

John Mayer has his own trail? Wow, he is so prolific!

[@jdubsvr6]

You can opt to keep a hydration bladder inside the pack if you use a quick connect fitting from the sawyer squeeze to the bladder. You can force water into the bladder by squeezing the un-filtered water through the sawyer and into the bladder.

[@stephanievaldez6924]

Definitely going to purchase that book.

[@BoundForNowhere]

It's money!

[@kathleen3756]

I have used Dirty Girl gaiters for years and always always always superglue the velcro to my hiking shoes. The velcro absolutely does not stick with just the sticky stuff they come with on the back.

[@minik124]

I recently purchased the Hyperlite 3400 Southwest, and I noticed it didn't have the strap at the bottom. I was wondering how you added the bungee strap on the bottom of your pack. Once again, lovely video!

[@BoundForNowhere]

We added that little 550 cord and cord lock by running them through the grommets under the pack! It was the best addition to that bag!

[@huntercrosby8882]

Come do the AZT! It’s a great trail through almost every different landscape/ecosystem in Arizona.

[@BoundForNowhere]

I would love to do the AZT!

[@balazsujfalussy9698]

Super usefull, thank you!

[@minhster714]

I used to feel the same about poles until I tried them out myself, now i LOVE them but can't really decide when i "need" them and when i "dont" because I dont want to be that guy with the poles doing a trail at a regional park...

[@BoundForNowhere]

minhster I’ve already had this dilemma! Hahah you just never know when your going to need them though...right?! Right?! 😜

[@robertmontgomery9602]

What kind of shoes did u use for water crossings?

[@jmsuitter5]

You guys need to do a photo phanny pack rock style from the 90s that would be funny and cool

[@easydoesit1962]

New subscriber here! 😊 I really appreciate this video! Thank you.

[@BoundForNowhere]

We're so glad and welcome aboard!

[@pierogies_and_pie]

Congrats you two for finishing the JMT! Any future plans for thru-hiking one of the big 3 (AT, PCT, CDT)? Or maybe doing a Camino or even the Te Araroa? Thanks again for sharing :)

[@BoundForNowhere]

I'm not sure yet! We loved the 15 day range, but are looking into a bunch of trails for the future so I would never say never to one of the triple crown hikes!

[@minik124]

In one of your vlogs couple weeks ago, you said you had recently finished a hygiene product video, When's that coming out? Been waiting for that for awhile. Love your video!!

[@BoundForNowhere]

I think in the next week or two after all this JMT stuff!

[@jazzhilmer7446]

Hi Mak! Not so much a hiking gear question, but I was wondering what drawing tablet do you use? I currently use a Wacom Cintiq 16, but it's too cumbersome to take with me on the road and always has to be attached to a computer. I noticed yours might be a ipad, but wanted to make sure.

[@BoundForNowhere]

That is a great question! So I use a small Wacom tablet, the smallest one they have so it will fit in my laptop bag. I also use an Ipad but that is just for my illustration work!

[@jazzhilmer7446]

Thanks so much, this is helpful! I was thinking of getting a small Wacom tablet that connects via Bluetooth.

[@Gangpark31]

What shorts are you wearing? They look great!

[@BoundForNowhere]

Thank you! They are board shorts from Seea!

[@BocaReikiGirl]

I need those lace up shorts! What brand are they? Loving your channel! Your living my Dream!

[@BoundForNowhere]

They are from Seea! I love them so much!

[@emilymcnicholas7577]

But where did you get those shorts you're wearing in the video?

[@BocaReikiGirl]

Emily McNicholas yes please! I need them! 👍🏼

[@BoundForNowhere]

Thank you both! They are from Seea, an amazing female surf company out of southern California!

[@perfectlylonely]

Sierra Designs Nitro Quilt 20. Would this bag have been too warm for your White Sands overnight?

[@BoundForNowhere]

No not at all! We actually wished we had it back then....wouldn't have nearly froze to death

[@darkreimer4130]

What are the specifics on the watch you are wearing please?

[@BoundForNowhere]

This is the watch: amzn.to/2VOKMTe and I talk about it more in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/m4bclot6hM6dqa8

[@redshot1015]

OOO ok another went all out review good to know... $$$$$$

[@ericwilson2186]

Good gear.im gonna do my Amelia type car in radiant foil on the floor.also thinking about taking out the bathroom.loli wanna bring my bike n put a back door in for putting it in when I go camping.i don't use it n I can do a portable shower in the camper

[@apk29]

Great video, what watch are you using?

[@BoundForNowhere]

That's in an upcoming video but it's this one: amzn.to/2Z0Kcna

[@edwardjohnson4990]

Question: you said you loved your tent, but the first time it rained, your sleeping bag got wet. I get the need to save weight but did you need a sturdier tent?

[@BoundForNowhere]

It was the humidity that condensed on the inside of the tent, not a leak. Sadly any tent would have done that.

[@colinwilson1124]

Check out the Zimmer Built pouches as a great way to add more pockets to your bag. I've used the shoulder strap pocket on all my HMG packs to add better phone storage, as well as their hip belt pocket to add that to my Summit Pack: www.zimmerbuilt.com/store/p24/Shoulder_Strap_Pocket.html .

[@E.I.C.C_Onwer]

What’s the lottery system?

[@maxmillion4216]

So how does the head lamp recharge..? AAA batteries or USB

[@roam4fun853]

Mac, how about the type of watch; functions, battery life, etc? Thanks

[@BoundForNowhere]

Francis H that’s coming in another installment of this series!

[@jmsuitter5]

@@BoundForNowhere looking forward to that one as well as I've been curious if they are worth the price tag

[@Daniel-pv8jl]

👍🏻👍🏻

[@Besalu]

How much was your base gear?

[@BoundForNowhere]

Weight? Or cost?

[@Besalu]

@@BoundForNowhere kSorry, I wanted to know the base weight of your gear (both of you).

[@peterrobles3112]

That’s what’s up

[@JimBobele]

Very nice gear video. One question: Isn't the quilt the Nitro? The only one I can find on sierra designs page is this one here sierradesigns.com/nitro-quilt-800-20-degree

[@BoundForNowhere]

That is the one!

[@user-nd9re8vr6l]

i still make fun of people with treakingpoles and i use them lol

[@BoundForNowhere]

I think we’d get along just fine then. 🤣

[@sophiahelene5478]

Gearheads: still rep their patagucci when it breaks after one trip😂

[@BoundForNowhere]

What broke?

[@sophiahelene5478]

you told us your unused fanny pack had a bunch of holes after it’s first trip

[@BoundForNowhere]

It's because my camera was rubbing on it all day. it was 100% my fault because I had nowhere to store my camera than dangling from my front. Owen's REI one did it too. Next time we will get the shoulder clips for the cameras to prevent that!

[@dennisoverholts8396]

Polarized lenses

[@MrPetrvershinin]

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@Rootcauses451]

Oh hell no on the sleeping pads. When you get older you’ll understand. Lolol

[@ericwilson2186]

I read books easier on the eyes than electronic print

[@itsnotlevel2]

👅🐪

[@johng203]

*goes on 1 backpacking trip and now feel qualified to write gear guides..*

[@MmmmmmmmmmmMm15]

This gear list is difficult to watch as someone who carries a pack below 8 lbs

[@ericwilson2186]

I'm a jerk too so disregard any of my comments.lol

[@aberdeenbelfry316]

Sorry I only watch because of Mak