My Favorite Backpacking Gear After 14K Miles

[@RoyADane]

One thing about the CNOC bag: The orange slider that you use to close the bag can also be used for the "Magic Leaf Trick". If you are trying to get water from a source with a weak flow that isn’t deep enough for you to dip the bag into, you can use the orange plastic to get the water to flow into your bag ( assuming that the water is flowing over rocks ).

[@DarwinOnthetrail]

NICE TIP!

[@LeifMacIver]

Awesome me too!

[@ThewBlake]

damn, this is an amazing tip

[@KenmeriCaptain]

amazing tip

[@digital.hamaki]

I lost that thing a while ago 😅

[@dbbeck90]

Man, I really love this channel. One of the few channels that scratches the itch for a lot of my interests, be it backpacking, EDC, etc. without feeling like one giant commercial. Gear looks well-loved, not fresh out of the box shoving affiliate codes down our throats. Real stuff.

[@lukefitt56]

As soon as I saw you take off the jacket and saw the green fleece I knew it was going to make the list 😂 I remember you talking about it years ago. Thanks for always sharing your knowledge, experience, and honest opinions!

[@chan4est]

Darn Tough's were a game changer for sure! I remember when I was testing out what socks to wear on trail I was using some Injini socks, then Injini w/ liners, then Darn Tough w/ liners and always having blister problems. Finally setted on wearing just Darn Toughs and I never ran into any major blister problems after that. Brought three pairs of them in my bag when I traveled around the world last year and I made damn well sure I never left one behind when doing laundry or packing. The best!

[@amyarmon1956]

My original Pocket Rocket stove has been going strong since 2008! Used while working in wilderness therapy and an AT thru-hike in 2009. It’s still my go-to stove (I’ve never tried or needed anything else!). And now I’m just emotionally attached.

[@peterfontaine4627]

Thank you for this! Yes, I liked the Mr. Rogers intro too. I still backpack with my REI 55L New Star from the late 90s. It has been through so much with me--and is covered with mountain climbing patches, so very much sentimental. I would also add my REI Traverse trekking poles, and three Ultimate Sports Hydroduct lightweight hiking t shirts that I bought I think back in 1997--and still going.

[@jeffreydaigle5917]

Ha ha! I noticed the Mr. Rogers intro also! Just had to feed the fish!

[@TomB898]

Great video. My 2nd oldest piece of equipment is a North Face sleeping bag that I bought in 1973. My oldest piece is a generic duck down sleeping bag I bought in 1969. My grandkids use them as comforters when they visit us.

[@TobysWildernessAdventures]

Im new to all this camping stuff. It's funny, I also used to make fun of people having pillows. Now I have 2 of them myself. My gear setup changes almost every time I go out camping thanks to your videos. I really enjoy them. Everytime I look back at the videos that I post on my channel, I smile and it fills me with joy knowing that my gear is getting better and lighter. Thanks for your videos. Keep it up brother.

[@jeffreydaigle5917]

Nice to have you back bro! You're previous videos helped me and my buddy aquire the necessary gear to help make our backpack trips more comfortable and lightweight and for that we appreciate you! We actually buzzed by your office in Flagstaff last year on our way out to the Durango mountains and Emerald Lake. As we were entering the city we realized that this is your home base and as we took in the sites of the city, there was your shop sign! Anyway, glad to have you back! Rock on!

[@jeffs6229]

I have a thin thermorest pillow case that I have used since I started backpacking 1985. It’s a great cozy surface for my air pillow. Weighs nothing and is entirely sentimental at this point. Thanks for sharing Darwin!

[@4potslite169]

My longest continuously used piece of gear is my Patagonia Dragonfly wind hoodie. There are plenty of great similar pieces that have come out over the yrs, but I’ve yet to replace this favorite 20yr old friend.

[@helpfulcommenter]

omg we have the same exact lightload towel /gas-can/pot strategy - i'm a fan of how it muffles the can rattling in the pot

[@chrisprysok7634]

I love that all the stuff i like from my 2006 and 08 trips are still relevant. Ula pack, western mountaineering bag, jetboil, tyvec, Hennessy hammock, darn tough socks. B4 my era everything was enormous and heavy as dark matter.

[@ac311205]

Nostalgia gear/clothing is the best. Just something that you keep forever that is special only to you for no real reason. It’s just been with you for the ride and has been a reliable companion 😊

[@jadenm]

Love that you mention foot booties. I suspect that I suffer from poor foot circulation because my feet get cold at night even with a socks on. However, booties solved that problem and make it into my backpacking load out every time.

[@markrico1917]

I've had an orange North Face microgrid fleece hoody since 2008 and it just won't quit. Light, warm, and more durable than I ever imagined it would be. I've worn it probably 3 days a week every winter ever since then and it goes on all my trips.

[@shofarox4037]

Hmmm... Great video as always. But did you try using those Darn Tough as liner socks, and over them a pair of polyester tall football socks...? 1. It absorbs the friction between those wool socks and the shoes even soggy soak n' wet after cursing through a river without takeing off tha shoes. And so it increases the useful life of those wool socks. 2. If you fold them down you can use them as gaiters, and so you don't depend on the compatibility between the shoes and gaiters. 3. If you stretch them up till your knees and you are wearing shorts those socks can save you from dirt, bugs and friction between vegetation and your legs. 4. They dry faster than wool coz it's plastic so they are also great to use them to sleep as a linner under those sleeping booties. 5. If you carry 2 or 3 extra pairs, you can use them as pouches for small items into tha pack, or outside into the mesh pockets.

[@rkatrails]

One of my favorite pieces of gear is my Patagonia Houdini Jacket. I got it on sale and they only had one left, a size XL. I bought it even though I'm a size medium, but I thought it would be great to put on over my down jacket to cut the wind so that it can better retain the heat. Let me tell you it has worked absolutely perfectly for that purpose. It's so light weight and packable, hardly noticeable to carry it.

[@chriswillms2669]

Still glad you are back... I have most of this stuff thanks to you, Dixie, trial and error. My only suggestion is my XTherm is a bit too narrow for me. If anyone is reading this, I would buy the wider sleeping pad option if it is available.

[@juetob]

That's my number #1 tip for not small people whenever someone asks me - by the wide or large version, the added comfort is worth the weight penalty.

[@ruddyman]

Great video…love the Mr. Rogers vibe at the beginning.

[@DarwinOnthetrail]

That's what I was going for! 😅

[@HippieHikerChik]

Some of your favorites are also mine: Black Diamond poles (I have a slightly different style), Sea To Summit pillow (an absolute game changer), CNOC bag, Darn Toughs (I have at least a dozen pairs) and the ThermARest pads - Uber Lite for the summer and XTherm when the nights are below 50 because I sleep like an ice cube. 😄 My other two favorites are my ZenBivy 10 and 20 degree lite bags and my Gossamer Gear Mariposa backpack. The ZenBivy is the only piece of original gear still in my kit. I switched to the Mariposa after only 2 short trips and never looked back. I love that pack.

[@44NorthWyo]

I switched from Darn Tough to Duckworth. Just absolutely awesome socks. And they don’t continually shrink (even if never put in the dryer) the way that Darn Tough does. I always wash in cold and hang to dry. And somehow the DT socks just get smaller over the years. Speaking from experience…I’ve got probably 20+ pairs of DT and have been wearing them for many years.

[@rikpereira63]

Good to see you back. The best clear English speaking guy on you tube

[@ScottKent]

Amazed at how many of the same pieces I've settled on. Went from Darn Tough to Injinji though...same guarantee, but with toes...great for also using my favorite ultralight sandals (Teva Mush II). But, I'm in Florida so all of the wet influences my love of the toe socks and the ability to jump into a pair of sandals after some overly wet sections of hiking. I will say that I tried the Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Z-poles, but I wound up with one of the lower sections joints giving way and sliding up into the middle section so far it couldn't be fixed...Black Diamond replaced it, but before I could get it back (I was in the middle of thru-hiking the Florida Trail), I went ahead and bought a pair of the Alpine Carbon Cork poles. After getting me through Bradwell Bay and doing some stuff that I was certain would break the poles (I shouldn't have entered with the Bay being so close to flood conditions, but I mean...close isn't the same as flooded...right?) I don't think I could in good faith give up the Alpine Carbon Cork poles...pretty sure they kept me from having to push the rescue button. Oh, and swapping out the tips for the rubber tips on the Alpine Carbon series is great...the tips screw in instead of a little rubber boot. The rubber tips are my favorite now especially if there are going to be any road walk sections...oh, and opposed to the little rubber boots for the tips, the ones on the Black Diamond poles don't disappear in sucking mud. The one piece of gear I will not give up now is my Soto Windmaster stove...it has worked in some of the most severe conditions I've ever hiked in while other stoves just wouldn't work...no use in carrying something that might work if things go bad...rather have something I can count on.

[@juetob]

Really nice item list. What I never understand is the Uberlite. Either the production is Ireland has a lower standard than US or I do something wrong. I handle it like a raw egg and nevertheless I already got it replaced twice because in both cases it started to looses air without having a leak (I think the fabric is just too fragile) and both began to delaminate. However, the customer service is AWESOME you just send it in, they check it and you get a brand new one. After the second replacement I sold the Uberlite and switched to the Xlite NXT which will most likely be my pad of choice in 2024. Happy you're back Darwin - just ignore the haters...haters gona hate.

[@russellinthebush2897]

I was waiting for you to mention your buff. When I think of my favorite gear two things always come to mind. My Salomon wind jacket and my Melanzana micro-grid fleece hoody. I wore both almost daily on the PCT, CT, AZT, etc. The wind jacket has a blown-out seam, but it has a permanent place in my pack. At least I was able to replace the fleece hoody after it wore out.

[@juliefrechette7562]

Great video Nic! Thank you for sharing your favorite pieces of gear 😊

[@glenloewen7507]

I’ve swapped my gear around a lot over the past three decades, however if I had one piece of gear that has been a staple over that timeframe it would be my Original Bug Shirt. Clearly it was made with quality, because it has fielded millions of mosquitoes, absorbed hundreds of liters of sweat, and I still use my first one to this day. 🙂

[@ericb.4358]

Thanks. Good list. A few items are similar to mine, TIME TESTED and trusted is the key. ->Ground Hog stakes always go along. ->Overstuffed to 20 F. WesternMountaineering Megalite down bag is now going on 9 years. With a polyester base layer, light down jacket and down pants and poly fleece balaclava I can sleep to 0 F. in comfort on an R 5.3 insulated air mattress (inside my Notch Li solo tent). ->Katadyn chlorine dioxide tablets and sometimes a SteriPen.

[@valeriesorrells]

Darn tough socks... can't live without them

[@DarwinOnthetrail]

Truth!

[@takingawalkadventures]

darn tough socks are one of my favorite pieces of gear that I have. they have held up well on my adventures.

[@DarwinOnthetrail]

Simply The Best!

[@kirkherman8555]

My favorites are as follows: 1. Kuiu Pelton97 fleece hoodie. Super weight to warmth ratio. Started using it hiking, now I travel with it everywhere. 2. Injinji socks. With minor bunions pushing my toes over, the individual toes eliminated blisters. 3. Dirty Girl Gators. Keeps my feet way cleaner and from stopping to shake out shoes. 4. Sun hoodie. Great for temperatures around 45° and up. I wear them in the winter now for a base layer almost everyday. 5. Ex-officio boxer briefs. Started hiking in these and now wear them everyday.

[@helpfulcommenter]

gaiters

[@theoutdoordogandhikinggirl]

My Nemo tensor insulated is my go to item. Been using it for years and always share it with my dog. Never had any holes or anything. Love that thing.

[@billyblue689]

Darn Tough’s are worth their weight in gold, love those socks.

[@DarwinOnthetrail]

For Sure!

[@Erik_The_Viking]

Loved the Mr. Rogers style intro! For me it's the following: 1) JetBoil - I've had mine since 2002 (the original one!) and it's held up and only had to replace the ignitor 1-2 times 2) MSR Dragonfly - a little heavy for lightweight backpacking but it just works 3) Big Agnes Copper Spur UL-2 tent - bombproof and has held up to all sorts of weather 4) Packtowls - lightweight and great for general travel as well as backpacking

[@Karen-dq8nw]

He hangs up his jacket when he comes in the door. Not throwing it somewhere. Somewhere there's a great mom behind the man.

[@kellyjohnson3617]

My fav pieces of gear are similar items. I have a couple thermarest pads. They are both so comfy and durable. They were a game changer for me camping for sure. Also for me getting good sleep has been having my amazing hoodie. It started with a thin cotton one I found in Lassen national park at the camp store. But now I have a base layer type fabric hoodie by Mier. Yes I know some might call it apparel but it’s made such a difference with my sleep(and it’s multipurpose cuz can use during day to protect from the sun or wind and at night even before I go to bed) that to me it’s a part of my sleep system. And tho I’ve never had black diamond poles, I must say I love my CNOC poles. I’ve had others break or just not be as comfortable. These have stood up. One of the pole locks broke but I took a picture of it and emailed CNOC and they sent me for free the replacement part that took seconds to swap out. And no issues since. Also never travel w/o my portable bidet that snaps onto a plain water bottle. Hiking/camping/just traveling in general, it comes with me. Very small and helps me feel cleaner in general.

[@Klangware1985]

Really love the style of this video. Especially the intro and the retro parts are great 👍

[@stefank4959]

I own all the items and totally agree with one exception: as a side sleeper the uberlite is just terrible ^^

[@HippieHikerChik]

Agree. The 20” is awful for side sleepers. The wide version is better.

[@JamesWindland]

I've had my Uberlite since 2019 when I finished the AppalachianTrail, I've slept on it over 100 nights since and love it.

[@TXMEDRGR]

Tried and true is a great standard for great gear. Thanks for sharing.

[@DarwinOnthetrail]

Thanks for watching!

[@chrislonsberry1974]

Great video! Thanks for the reviews!

[@sha6mm]

Darn Tough Sox, Smart Wool Marino Wool under shirt, Tokes 750mm pot, Titanium Spork, Swiss Army Knife, Cassio Pro Dive Watch, Bison Belt,

[@michaelbutler1557]

I was actually admiring that green fleece top before you mentioned it.

[@GodofFallout1]

Love your vids especially gear videos. So much of what I pack I found by watching this channel

[@CookingMike]

Appalachian gear neck pipe and all allbirds wool run cap are my two favorite pieces of gear . I wear it everyday even off trail.

[@Wraith35]

Good to see that you are doing well!

[@DarwinOnthetrail]

Thanks! Hope you're well too!

[@Lv4_o2]

Nice vid, learned that Cnoc makes a 42mm water bag…I started with Kadadyn filter and like the ease of use/care.

[@jameshooper3484]

I was surprised, given the work you've done with Sawyer (and the fact that almost everyone uses e I there the Squeeze or the BeFree) that the Squeeze didn't make your list. I started in backpacking in the late 90s and then got out of it for a while, picking it back up in 2018-2019 again. The gear had changed so dramatically that I rolled over my ENTIRE kit. I don't think I carry even one item now that I used before 2018. Pack, shelter, sleep system, cook setup, even the trowel! Literally everything.

[@silvermediastudio]

Welcome back to it. Sometimes I'll mix in a piece of my old kit with the new, to try it out and keep it from rusting or rotting away. Great for the shorter trips where you don't care about weight.

[@erick6715]

Great video… I’ve been using a couple of your gear picks…and they seem to never fail

[@davidcleveland4575]

My new must have favorite piece of gear is the Evolved 750 pot, it's the heart and soul of my backpack!!! And a day use hammock for shorter trips,so worth it!

[@livinlarge1247]

My Yukon Outfitters Hammock Tarps: have three. 39.95. ....14 oz..strong, reliable.

[@matthewvelo]

I'm a big fan of the Sea to Summit inflatable pillows (and sleeping pads). No weight and a comfortable night's sleep.

[@StevenArnold74]

Love your videos. So happy you are making them more regularly again. Have you ever walked Camino De Santiago? What other trial would you recommend? I need a new adventure. 4 week max length. Would love your recommendations.

[@ChristyHikes]

Darwin, loved the intro and you tried and trued gear list. A new staple to my backpack is the ESC Mirage!

[@bewhiskeredjuarez6851]

Holy s*** Mr. Rogers lol f****** A, I love it! Thank you for continuing to make great content 👍😁

[@DarwinOnthetrail]

He's an inspiration for sure! ❤️

[@ericb40380]

If you'd have changed your shoes out when you got inside, you'd have completed the Mr. Rogers bingo card.

[@DarwinOnthetrail]

I thought about it 😂

[@frstesiste7670]

Interesting to hear the Uberlite recommended. I've seen so many negative comments that I've never bought one for myself even though it seem like a perfect match for my usage.

[@TennesseeSlim]

Welcome back darwin!

[@livinlarge1247]

Yeah that grid fleece is nice. I found a "Neothermal Marmot" shirt. Nice mid layer over base or layer under something thick. Hood. Pocket.

[@EllenLangfordPaints]

You're so lovely. And of course always so helpful. Thank you!

[@paulwilson7548]

Rip stop nylon bag for my cooking stuff, that my mom made me about 35 years ago. And my REI down bag my dad got me for Xmas when i was 12.

[@StamfordBridge]

Do those trekking poles condense to stow in the pack for airline flights?

[@mobilewintercamp7515]

Ya as soon as I saw videos on the CNOC bag and bought a Sawyer, looked at those bags I made the purchase and it is without question. Tougher than most other bags too

[@karenesmonde-white2363]

I really like the intro! Reminded me of the intro to Mr. Rogers Neighborhood

[@livinlarge1247]

Been trying those Crispi socks lately. They sure are plush & feel cozy. Ok can tell the Darn Toughs are stronger though. I like the Ice Breakers in the winter too.

[@ollisuolanen3124]

My tent The North Face (TNF)Tadpole (the original) is a bit of mixed bag. I bought it over thirty years ago (around 1991) and it has failed to fail me - though at times I even would not have minded that it did so as I wouldn't mind buying a bit bigger one. One time the pole broke on our hiking trip, I somehow had managed to keep the repair kit with us - and that saved our hiking (good repari kit!). Futhermore, I thought that that was the end of this tent (was kind of hoping for it...) but no. Turned out that TNF had a lifetime warranty on this thing and they replaced the broken pole free of charge! On another hike we got hit by an insane wind/thunder. Me and my daughter were hunkered inside the tent for 10-15 mins that the storm took, rattling the tent real time. Again, TNF failed to fail on us. Since then I still haven't bought a new tent - because this thing just keeps on going and looks almost like brand new. So, it's still there and very dependable tent.... and I don't just get any real excuse to buy a new one :)

[@sallys2423]

As a person with carpal tunnel in both wrists the Trail Ergo poles work great for me.

[@heartattackhiker3527]

Still plan on finishing the PCT with my short thermorest I bought in 2016. Recently purchased a full size big Agnes pad that'll be used on the AZT.

[@Reskamo314]

I'd say i used a Buff on all of my trips. I love it

[@TennesseeSlim]

The nemo fillo is my version of the best pillow. Mainly cause the pillow case is washable. If you remove the case its very very lightweight then use a buff for the pillow case.

[@gismcieri78]

Love my Darn tough i have 7 pairs and have only had to replace on after 3 years. I go through the 6 pack socks extremely quickly.

[@TennesseeSlim]

Love my R1 paraddagonia its probably the first thing i ever bought for backpacking

[@jakubmendys1549]

You must be lucky man. Three of gears you mentioned as durable failed me after just few weeks of use: * Sea To Summit pillow - the glues seals connecting upper and lower part just peeled off. If I tried to gue them they will peel of immediately in another place. * CNOC bag - started leaking at the hardened part where the crew is attached. * Thermarest Uber - few brits close to my head peeled off creating kind of pillow. Actually it was quite comfortable as I struggled a while before I decided to replace it.

[@livinlarge1247]

Yeah the down compresses on the tips of the toes & they get cold. Bet those booties there are nice.

[@Dreoilin]

Smooth edits! "Forrrrevvvver" 😅 and the gear list a definitely 💯👍

[@DarwinOnthetrail]

😂😉

[@m34tba11]

I must be the only person who has had nothing but bad luck with Darn Tough.. They run way too narrow for my foot…Smartwool is the only sock I have found that actually fits my 5E width foot. I have been using the Black Diamond Z Carbons for more than 10K w/o issue…luv em and when I do bother with my Durston they hold well and most of my miles on them have been in Cali/Nev…or the UK Lake District (which is by far the hardest rock I have ever walked on).

[@checkerspotfarm3927]

They came out with a new line called "Wide Open" that is supposed to have more stretch. Personally I find the regular ones are one of the only brands that work for my own duck feet, but I think their women's socks must be proportionately wider since I only hear guys complain about tightness. I wear a women's 8EE which is actually a pretty close match for a men's 5E, so you might give that a try!

[@stevewright2241]

I’ve got Bridgedale socks that are pushing 25 years old. I wear them every week.

[@jayv.8298]

My first aid kit. Never really needed it, bit I know it’s there.

[@Blk_Raven]

Love it. Thank you for the suggestions

[@livinlarge1247]

Talking to the guy at Black Ovis & they are redesigning pants. Have a set of First Lite (long side zips, pockets, knee pads..pretty done up) & Duluth Trading with its cargo pockets are nice.

[@TennesseeSlim]

The umbrella one from helionox carries a 5 year warranty and is my top favorite piece of gear.

[@RagtimeBillyPeaches]

My original Northface Beeline 900 fill, 30 degree sleeping bag. It weighs about 20 ounces and I've not used any other since I bought it in 2003.

[@livinlarge1247]

Darwin' in the house! I bet that yellow sleep pad makes the list.

[@kristymoore7052]

I bought the cnoc bags when they first came out.I thought, “genius.” The first ones did not have a safety strap or if they did, I did not attach, so lost my top. Then it seemed like every time I’d use, I’d get very wet somehow. Something would blow out or not work somewhere. I have small hands so it made scooping by putting fingers on either side to pinch open a bit impossible. I ended up with the katadyn and compatible hydropack. Works great, except you still have a relatively small opening for water. Am now yeah, trying cnoc and sawyer all over again.

[@OliverHikes]

I took a new pair of those black diamond Z poles on the CT last summer. Made it 6 days and both lock buttons broke. I kept using them by taping the joints. Eventually the cord inside broke as well. Return them to REI when I finished the trail. No more Z poles for me

[@DarwinOnthetrail]

Hmmm.... I'll keep that in mind 🤔

[@rkatrails]

I haven't used Z poles, but I've seen a lot of mentions that they're less sturdy and more prone to break

[@johneason6540]

Interesting choices. Qhats new, top of the line recommended by you for 2024. Im always updating and this time of year. Also too pursuit on back order, probably due to your recommendations

[@livinlarge1247]

Yeah that summer, 2014 I think, right before I dropped down through Flagstaff I got some Darn Tough Socks in the Spokane REI--and those suckers are just now, here in 2024, barely getting some tiny holes & thin on the bottom.

[@jasonjudd4]

The Mr. Roger’s intro was great.

[@mjlcc55]

I asked someone at Cnoc how to pronounce. It is one syllable, and the cn sounds like the beginning of gnocchi.

[@calebmacdonald6189]

I’ve had two uberlight pads in two years. Brand new but the ribbing broke both times in the middle of the night making bulges in the pad. Sounds like a gun going off from a deep sleep when they go. Then once one rib goes the neighboring ribs follow once every hour or so.

[@MikeycatOutdoors]

If I ever went hiking with my old electromagnetics professor, I could finally use this joke: CNOC CNOC Hu's there. 🤣

[@MikeycatOutdoors]

My oldest two pair of Darn Tough socks have bad elastic and feel stretched on top so they scuttle down my legs and rumple up into my shoes. My newer ones thankfully don't do that. My wife used to steal them out of my drawer and wear them a lot so I'll blame her for wearing them out. The fabric doesn't have any holes. Think they'd accept them for a swapout?

[@carolynhelm1392]

Yes they will

[@TennesseeSlim]

Leki! Leki! leki! Me and everyone else cant get BD replacement flick locks. So i have two sets of $200 poles that are useless now. Never had that problem with leki and the outfitters normally has replacement parts on hand free of charge. Cant beat that.

[@Toben55]

How many zpacks tents do you have 😂 crazy… i cant even afford one 😂😂 but yeah Hey Darwin it’s so nice having you back on youtube again! Grate vids all the time! Take care mate stay soothe!

[@corleyoutdoors2887]

I like reviews of gear that’s proven itself.

[@hikebot]

Wind jacket and alpinlite bag never fails.

[@StumbleOutdoors]

Love the cnoc bags…. Now all my stock sawyer bags have been dedicated to alchohol haulers. Carries the perfect amount for a 5 night trip. 😂

[@_taxman_]

Nice. what's the phone holder on your pack?

[@Alex-and-Joker-Hikes]

Nice Mr Roger's intro 😆