My Favorite Backpacking Gear from 2023

[@jpriddle]

Love this! I’m a backpacker and will fully embrace any of this content you want to make!

[@joshfenn]

Thanks so much for the support!

[@naxiana]

Here for the gear load out! REI flash packs sure are popular up north. Pretty jealous on what brands / cottage companies you have access to. Did an overnighter recently for a compass and map navigation course. It’s got me keen to try out a 24 hour rogain event to keep the skills up whilst still camping.

[@joshfenn]

Always good to brush up on navigation skills! I could definitely do some work in that department myself. Definitely lucky to be in the USA with so many of the popular cottage brands! I’ve seen an ultralight Canada subreddit that might be worth checking out for alts/substitutions for some of our brands!

[@kaileytometich3303]

Loved this! I’m planning my first backpacking trip and I would love your recommendations for colder weather on clothes and cooking and keeping gear safe in the rain.

[@joshfenn]

First trip! So excited for you, I’ve been obsessed the past few years and backpacking is probably my favorite thing to do these days. For cold weather layers you’d just want to add another insulating layer to what I mentioned here. Down jackets tend to be best for warmth to weight ratio, if it’s going to be really cold the nova pro jacket from outdoor vitals is great in the winter. They also make down insulated pants for camp as well depending on how cold things will be for you. Rain safety/dryness is annoying but somewhat simple, assuming your tent will keep you dry you’d want a good rain shell, rain pants if it’s really cold and snowy/rainy, and a pack liner to put inside your bag to keep everything dry inside. I use a nylofume pack liner I found for about a dollar on garage grown gear and it’s been great for me.

[@CompassCustomCreations]

Thanks for the tour of your pack! I've backpacked off and on my whole life. Last several years I've been into cycling with a little bit of touring. Hoping to get some hiking in this year. I'm with you on the ultra light. I only ultralight so that I can add food, coffee, and cooking gear.

[@joshfenn]

Bike touring has always sounded like a ton of fun! Before getting more into hiking in recent years I did a fair bit of cycling back when I lived in Michigan. UL gear is the best for this, saving weight for a bit of luxury and carry comfort.

[@GarryCollins-ec8yo]

Good video. Our load outs are similar. I lost my Copper Spur 2 when it blew away in a storm. I note have the Durstan Xmid 1P and 2P. I also upgraded my BRS to the Rocket deluxe.

[@joshfenn]

Sounds like you have great taste! Sorry to hear about the copper spur though, losing a tent in a storm sounds terrible.

[@GarryCollins-ec8yo]

@@joshfenn yeah, it was in the yard drying out when an unscheduled thunderstorm popped up. I walked for hours and no sign of it. Must have gone vertical fast to clear the trees. Lesson learned, put weight in your tent.

[@BigDawgCAM]

Definitely check out Nemo’s new OSMO fabric tents!!! Something like their Hornet 2P or Dragonfly 2P would be the perfect replacement for your Big Agnes

[@joshfenn]

I’ve heard good things about those on the backpacking YT channels I follow! If I remember correctly I think it’s a poly/nylon blend for the fabric? Sounded really interesting. Planning to move into a trekking pole tent probably for my next pick but I’ll be sure to keep the Nemo options in mind too

[@BigDawgCAM]

@@joshfenn For sure, I've used the XMid 2P before and like it quite a bit. Dan Durston is supposed to release a XMid 2P+ Pro soon, which might have me reaching for my wallet...

[@beckspace]

wow what a surprise, camping equipment review, I got nemo dagger 2p tent but planning to change into nemo hornet 2p for lightweight , or durston tent

[@joshfenn]

I’ve heard so many great things about the duration xmid, might be picking one up for next year!

[@GabeLagmay]

Highly recommend a dyneema fabric shelter for the pnw , a bit more expensive but so good in the rain compared to and other fabric from my experience! I have thousands of miles and hundreds of nights in mine and it’s never failed me!

[@joshfenn]

Glad to hear it! I’ve been a bit concerned about the potential packed bulk with dyneema but there are so many other positives I’d imagine it’s a worthwhile trade off

[@architennis]

The X-Mid Pro has a polyester floor and packs up small. It's 16 oz before stakes. @@joshfenn

[@Scarywoody]

Great video. If you are handy with a needle you can get the Dyneema fabric from places like Ripstop by the Roll. Save a ton$$.

[@joshfenn]

I don’t think I have the skills to pull it off, but I definitely get the appeal! I’ve seen some awesome custom stuff on Reddit over the years, seems like a lot of fun.

[@LenzGoDeep]

Great Video! Thank You!!

[@joshfenn]

Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for the support!

[@ManivanAdventures]

Man, I wish they never changed that Flash 55 pack… The newer version is still a great option, but this older version checked all of the boxes for me. Just a great pack. I personally love my X Mid 1. The ONLY real complaint I have is that the larger footprint has made it difficult to find a good spot to pitch it a couple times, but I was aware of this before buying it and I have seen other people find ways to pitch it with a smaller footprint that I have yet to try. If you camp in a lot of rain, maybe consider the solid version? From what I understand, people from the UK love it because of how much rain they get and it will do a better job handling splash back from underneath the fly. Just my two cents. Cheers! -Steve

[@joshfenn]

Yeah the changes on the new flash 55 don’t seem like much of an upgrade from what I can tell, I’d definitely miss my front mesh pocket! Great to hear from someone with the xmid, probably going to pick one up in the spring if I can swing the cash for it. The large footprint is a bummer but probably about the same as my current 2P so I’m sure I’d manage. The solid is probably overkill for me, I don’t get rain really often when I’m out but when I do it’s just really annoying, and a lot of times I’m in wet conditions but no heavy rain.

[@OneWeekGetAway]

Thanks - curious what is the shirt-jacket you are wearing in the video?

[@joshfenn]

Looks to be out of stock unfortunately, but I found it on Huckberry a while back. Quality is great if you can find one somewhere! prf.hn/l/41yRA4q

[@hoss4928]

Hiked part of the PNT-trail this year. Which part? About a half-mile where PNT crosses PCT near Canadian-border. Straight leads one onto PNT and didn't notice until PNT simply became more overgrown than PCT ever is. Nevertheless, it was an honor to have put-in those few yards on the PNT.

[@joshfenn]

Since the trail is so much less popular, I can definitely imagine it could be pretty overgrown in spots. I’ve done quite a few loops over the years that overlap and share the PCT, but I’ve never had the pleasure of being on the PNT. It’s too bad your hike got cut short but glad you make it out for a bit at least!

[@hoss4928]

@@joshfenn - Thanks. Perhaps not clear, but wasn't intending to be on the PNT at all. Took a wrong turn by accident.

[@denniskimYYZ]

What jacket are you wearing?

[@joshfenn]

Looks to be out of stock, but found it on Huckberry from Taylor stitch a while back. prf.hn/l/melkbgV

[@freedomvan2970]

I have not tried dynema but wouldn't sylnylon also be an option? I hammock sleep and that's what I use for my tarps as the cheaper option rather than the high tech fabrics.

[@joshfenn]

The copper spur is sil-nylon, I’m leaning more towards a sil-poly though to avoid some of the absorption in wet conditions. Dyneema is another option for that, but the cost and packed bulk are definitely keeping me away from it

[@freedomvan2970]

@joshfenn Gotcha. Good info. I've been out of the new gear game for a while and didn't even know poly was a good option

[@joshfenn]

Be sure to check out this week's sponsor Aura at aura.com/joshfenn to get a 14 day free trial! Any memorable backpacking trips from this year? I'd love to hear about them!

[@Riseupforhumanity1]

LOVE my Six Moon Designs lunar solo. Spacious. Lightweight. Compactable. Use Swedish cloth for condensation.

[@joshfenn]

So glad to hear it! It checks a lot of boxes for what I’m looking for, always great to hear some personal experience with it.

[@CorrineVictoria]

I would love to know what you pack in your first aid kit

[@joshfenn]

My first aid skillset is pretty minimal so I don’t have anything too exciting in there. Mainly some bandaids, ibuprofen, antibiotic ointment, allergy meds. I also have a mini bic and a little fire starter cube, and some patches for gear repair. Always good to know your skills and limits, no sense in packing a huge first aid kit if you don’t know how to use it, I’ve been wanting to take a course or something to expand my knowledge a bit more since I’m always out solo.

[@CorrineVictoria]

thank you for responding back to quickly, I love your videos!@@joshfenn

[@BradStolba]

Eugene approves!

[@jimkirkwood1488]

So it won't be 45 minutes long...hahaha....

[@joshfenn]

It easily could have! Had to restrain myself and skipped over worn clothes and packed food and such haha.

[@gcvrsa]

dudes with 1880s beards in 2023 = desperate for masculinity

[@joshfenn]

it’s not like it’s long or paired with a curly mustache lol