My Thru Hiking Gear for the GR11 [Pre Trip Gear List]

I've found that most thru hiking brands are based in the USA, so in this video I take you through my ultralight hiking gear bought in Europe, including a 400-gram tent, an ultralight backpack weighing in at 500 grams and much more. I'm on a shakedown hike in the Spanish Pyrenees, one week before I start the 500 mile GR11, also called Pyrenees Crossing or Transpirenaica.
My trip began on 23rd August 2020 - I finished in 30 days
// MY GEAR LIST [Google Sheets]:
tinyurl.com/y3pm9gdo
Backpack - bit.ly/litewaypack
Water Filter - amzn.to/3kXSEvE
T-shirt - tinyurl.com/y64d32nt
Thermal Long Sleeve - no longer in production
Icebreaker Beanie - tinyurl.com/y2cmqf3w
Poncho/Quilt - www.astucas.com/en/products/s...
Cortazu - Get 10% off the Jacket I'm using in this video with code “CHASE10’
Socks - bit.ly/silverlight-socks - get 15% off with code 'basecampfit15'
Hat - tinyurl.com/y4lqkfce
Food Bags, Newdora - amzn.to/31dTLPT
Stove, Kovea - amzn.to/2WSn9aS
Pot 650ml, Lixada - amzn.to/3l27Isc
Mosquito Head Net - tinyurl.com/y4ux5wzn
Sunglasses, Vallon Classics - glnk.io/y31nz/chase-mountains
Spoon, STS - amzn.to/2FDa0O9
Knife, Swiss Army- amzn.to/2Q8OOS7
EDC flashlight Fenix E16 - bit.ly/FenixE16
External Battery - amzn.to/34iljFY
Camera - amzn.to/3aEG2F7
Pillow - tinyurl.com/y4lqkfce
Camp Mat - bit.ly/CAMP-mat
Tent Fly - bit.ly/PryaOmmTarp
Tent Mesh - bit.ly/PryaOmmHalfMesh
Most of these are direct links, some are affiliate links
TRAIN WITH ME
►Membership: chasemountains.io/momentum/
►Mountain Proof Ankles: chasemountains.io/mountain-pr...
►Mountain Proof Knees: bit.ly/MPK-program
►All training programs: chasemountains.io/programs
SUPPORT
Buy a tee to support the channel ►chase-mountains.creator-sprin...
Info on the Gear I Use ►kit.co/ChaseMountains
Support the Channel on Patreon ► / chasemountains
CONNECT
Connect with me on Instagram ► / chase_mountains
Visit my blog & website ►www.chasemountains.io
#chasemountains #strongerforlonger #GR11

[@slwtravels]

Thanks for the European suggestions!

[@johncarter6209]

I'm really enjoying watching your adventures. Looking forward to the next instalment of the GR11. This looks a tough but stunning challenge. I've just been going through the the new tent search and have gone for the same one you have here, so should arrive in a few weeks. Your instruction video on how to erect this tarp and inner would be a great help. I look forward to it's release. Keep up the good work and thank you.

[@gensam6631]

Thank you, I found very helpful to have suggestions on where to find your gear here in Europe, and your shelter looks really great.

[@giuliafra1]

I really enjoyed watching your video.I did not get bored as usual when I watch other people video explaining and talking too much. Keep up the good job,thanks for sharing

[@tomv2359]

I've started preparing for my first trip and your channel has been a lifesaver. All the European based tips are especially helpful!

[@MinackerMovies]

An interesting different selection of kit there, thanks for sharing. I did the GR10 last year, thinking of the GR11 too after GR5

[@shaunmasters7211]

Brilliant video. New subscriber! Looking forward to watching all chapters of the trip. I only went out and purchased a pair of those New Balance trail runners! Looking forward to using them. Thanks.

[@macmurfy2jka]

Always interesting to see what other’s pack, especially folks from outside the US. So many brands to choose from. It’s enough to make one’s head spin.

[@juka409]

Nice to ses a european brand video! Looking forward to the food video!

[@ambrel9181]

Thank you so much ! It was so helping and so nice to have some european brand ! Your videos are just perfect for helping beginners like me too!

[@johnmclean5957]

Great stuff. I took notes!

[@hustentropfen]

Hi there, nice review thx. what I do use as a pillow, is a drybag, where I, while on trail, put my clothing in to have an extra defense against rain or such. when it comes to nightynight mode, i put in a softschell, hoody or what ever extra-clothing I do carry with me as middle layer. some inflating to the bag gives the cushing desired. BAM best nights ever

[@NickandRachel]

Thanks for sharing this!

[@guldisloo11]

on the groundsheet: search for clear window insulation film - it's the exact same transparent 'plastiky' material - insanely tear and puncture resistant for the weight! from one package you can make two ground-sheet for a one-person tent...

[@Nitrodus]

Love it, thanks for some tips!

[@melly1322]

Better late than never. Slowly making my way through your videos. Just purchased myself some of my own silver light socks! Thanks for the code!!

[@ChaseMountains]

Welcome 🤗

[@melly1322]

@@ChaseMountains Silverlights received and absolutely LOVE them!!!! They are just the right amount of soft, but just that right amount of compression! Hiked in them all day in the rain, and no smell!!!! And dried super fast! I will be slowly replacing my everyday socks with these. Hope they offer some different colours soon 🤞🏼

[@slippery999]

Polycro groundsheet is basically just window insulation film you can get it at DIY places or Amazon alternatively although a bit heavier you can use Tyvex again Available at DIY stores.

[@SustainablyVegan]

Oooh been waiting for this thanks for sharing x

[@ChaseMountains]

its been out for ages! this was a reupload in higher quality :)

[@SustainablyVegan]

@@ChaseMountains oops! Don't know how I missed it

[@gunnarjayden6840]

I guess im asking randomly but does anyone know of a method to log back into an Instagram account? I stupidly lost my login password. I love any tricks you can offer me.

[@renealdo1018]

@Gunnar Jayden Instablaster =)

[@gunnarjayden6840]

@Rene Aldo i really appreciate your reply. I got to the site through google and I'm trying it out atm. Takes a while so I will get back to you later with my results.

[@lauritz619]

You can get "PolyCro Groundsheets" in most department stores. But there they are sold as window insulation foil ;)

[@SuperBlackDancer]

Thanks for all the European company suggestions!

[@albertmarti2718]

I feel like I watched this before, but still an amazing video. Noted a couple of things into my wishlist :)

[@ChaseMountains]

Haha yeah so the old version was really low quality, like 480p. A mistake on my behalf. This is the 1080p reupload!

[@AndreiBanciu]

Coolmax is nothing but polyester! I've used lots of polyester tshirts from Decathlon overt the past 12 years and they had lots of variations of the poly thread, some were awful, both rally smelly and rough to the skin, some are brilliant. But they're all polyester with different thread properties (thickness, coating, weave pattern). Thanks for the gear load out!

[@LetsMakeADayOfIt]

Hey :) Great video :) Thanks for sharing!

[@TikaaniOutdoor]

Thanks! Super good video and finally EU materials :D

[@MartinLichtblau]

Please make a retrospective review now that you have done the GR11. Some of the products mentioned here I couldn't find anywhere on the actual hike. Like, how did the silicone bags hold up? What's with the soft trailrunners? ...

[@mattmitchell327]

Dude, there’s a gap in the market, there are no reviews of the Liteway Pyra on the internet, like seriously, none... the dual entry and silpoly specs deserve a vid dedicated to a review of this tarp in all conditions, just a suggestion though. Loving the vids, especially the GR11, your approach is so refreshing without the mainstream label promotions. Kudos 👌

[@ChaseMountains]

To be honest gear isn't my specialty, I don't know too much about silpoly, I'd really have to research what I've got to make a decent video, but this has helped! I'll look into it!

[@mattmitchell327]

Well you'd be the first to do a review of this one at least. There isn't much out there about the benefits of silypoly over the silynylon and dcf counterparts that most ultralighters gravitate towards and for no apparant reason it seems other than a desire to save 30-40g which is crazy as this is a good looking tent with pretty decent features... No doubt you discounted mld solomid & duomid, hyperlite ultamid, locus gear khufu, zpacks duplex & altaplex etc. before arriving at this choice. Was it price, weight, durability, colour, ethics, carbon footprint, company ethos, condensation concerns without the dual door or just style that swung it for you? If it was just price, it'd be a pretty quick vid I reckon haha, but if you padded it out with your experience of using it in mixed conditions it'd be great to see and why didn't you go with the max mesh or was that so you could get the Barry white mood on? Cheers for the reply pal, Matt

[@ChaseMountains]

@@mattmitchell327 it was mostly for Barry White hahhaa. Nah man thank you for asking me all this stuff because I really am a noob when it comes to this tech stuff

[@uglydad8845]

Well I have the Decathlon hat so that’s a start. I like the tent although possibly more information than I needed about sharing it with someone

[@ChaseMountains]

ahaha true. sorry Dad.

[@zdzislawaprzyborska5653]

I would love to see a review of that backpack

[@itoffice]

My advice, if I may: Regards phone and power: De-install all not needed apps to save power ... - or carry a second (cheap) phone with only necessary apps and turn you main phone completely off for most/all of the time. .... It is amazing how long time a phone battery lasts, if almost no apps are running on it. .... and you have a spare, if you lose he first one: Communication can be vital in some situations. ... Btw: A solar panel of 10-20W gives a lot of power, and is recommended (in my eyes) depending on your hiking route length/time. Mount it on top of you backpack for charging while walking. Remember a 'long' cable reaching from the back to the front of you. ... Don't forget, mountains can be lethal.

[@BeneyGesserit]

Airplane mode 👍

[@kenttheboomer721]

5:28 I thought the rain in Spain stayed mainly in the plain.

[@joanbrusales4735]

Thanks for the video. Very useful gear infortation. I was about to purchase a Gregory Zulu 40 backpack, but after watching the video I'm in doubt. What do you recommend? Is really worth a frameless backpack?

[@nafurnas7076]

Thanks for the great videos. I’m planning a GR trip, so it’s great to have these videos :) . My question is about sleeping mats... I’ve done a lot of weeklong hikes and have never brought one. Is there a function for the mat beyond sleeping comfort? Almost every source I’ve seen OL has a mat in their kit; on my shorter hikes I’ve never had any issue sleeping on rough ground.

[@ChaseMountains]

Pretty impressive that you sleep directly on the ground. Do you find you get cold? Other than comfort the main reason for a mat is to prevent the loss of your body heat which happens quickly when you're directly on the ground

[@JohnSmith-qz2wp]

Please tell me the sunglasses you were showing in the video. Lovee them, been looking for a pair like that for years (the ones you were wearing with the helmet in the winter hike)

[@jacquesmerel1]

Hey ! After that long hike, what did you think about the Faircap filter? Is it as good as you thought?

[@pacoj7643]

Perdona mi despiste,esa tienda es la Duo o de una persona?gracias por tus videos😊👏👏👏👏

[@Losangelesharvey]

love the Aussie accent, but took me awhile in the shelter segment to understand that "ina" was "inner"

[@guillaumep4864]

Ouh yea defo interested in that Elementum backpack review. Or just your overall feel of it, will most probably click that buy button in the next few days. Btw I just had a look, there are currently 3 options: DCF, X-PAC or 210D HDPE Gridstop. I take it yours was built out of the last one? And thanks for the great content!

[@ChaseMountains]

Yes mine is the 210d gridstop. They are having a sale at the moment for NYE. Jump on it. Im not sure if I'll do a video about the bag there's not much more to say. It's awesome!

[@marlourasenberg]

Great video, thanks! I am interested in the tent but find it hard to find more info on the combined inner+tarp setup. How many pegs do you need in total? And do you rackon this works as 3-season tent or would it be too cold for that? Am thinking of crossing the pyrenees as well at some point but havent found the perfect tent yet :)

[@ChaseMountains]

I've got a video on this tent coming out in the next week or two so I keep an eye out for it!

[@BrettYoakum]

Just a note on your audio, for some reason your voice was panned almost all the way to the left. It was driving me crazy, luckily my interface has an easy to access L/R balance and I was able to even it out

[@projectb3117]

I found you also have the Cortazu Jacket...what size do you have for your length? Thanks

[@bumb3274]

Anyone have an alternative idea (since his is out of production) for the long sleeve thermal with a hood?

[@bgarnicnig]

What was the temperature rating you chose for the Poncho?

[@dannynimmo3052]

I like supporting Ukraine and lightway. they mainly coppied hyperlight but I have no loyalty to them because they moved their manufacturing to mexico, so I just will not buy hyperlight anymore. Thanks for the back pack info. I'm buying one now

[@kasianfranmitja5298]

How much did you have to pay for customs service for the liteway gear?

[@jasonleavitt1289]

The sex comment cracks me up, You gotta be comfortable with spooning in that tent. I really like your channel

[@Jack-rj1dq]

Another EU backpacks recommendation from me would be Atom Packs from the U.K

[@bunterkessel]

Not really EU anymore.

[@Jack-rj1dq]

@@bunterkessel don’t remind me pls 😂😂

[@olegslapins8156]

@@bunterkessel 😁😁😁

[@Andy-Mesa]

That backpack isn't made out of DCF. It may have Dyneema in it, but Dyneema and Dyneema Composite Fabric aren't the same thing.

[@rebken00]

Unfortunately you cant buy that water filter in australia

[@watch-Dominion-2018]

Does that tent drip inside when it rains?

[@alexandreg8767]

Bonjour, Je suis français. Je voulais savoir si ta solution de couchage était adapté en cas de pluie. J'aimerais trouver une solution de couchage moins chère. Merci J'ai vu aussi que tu avais le téléphone POCOFONE F1 tu en es content ?

[@mattheishman170]

Can anyone give me a list of European backpacks... greatly appreciated if you could. Full frame to ul packs..

[@grtzzz1970]

Hi Chase, I am very interested in the Liteway PYRAOMM with mesh and am therefore very curious about your findings. For example, wants to go hiking the West Highland Way and wonder if this tent is suitable for that. I currently own the Fjallraven Abisko Lite 2 which is a very strong and good tent, but relatively heavy. I hike from spring to autumn and not in winter. It remains Europe so take into account the necessary rainfall ;-)

[@ChaseMountains]

Yeah man this is a great choice for that. It handles the rain well, although they recommend you add a treatment I found it was fine without it. The guy who makes them uses them all through Ukrainian winter so they are useable in winter for sure. Got a video coming soon but for sure, it's a good choice. The only tent that I think would beat it is a zpacks but they so expensive to get to Europe

[@grtzzz1970]

@@ChaseMountains Thanks mate, i'll wait for your indepth review of this tent.

[@grtzzz1970]

Hey Chase, Can you attach the inner tent to the outer tent so that you do not have to set up the tents separately each time? This saves a lot of time when setting up and taking down the tent and also very handy when it rains ;-) Greetings Casper

[@ChaseMountains]

Hey mate, yeah you sure can. It goes up and down in a second. You'll see me putting it up and down in the next vid. And yeah it handles the rain and wind very well. You should water treat it tho, that's what the manufacturer recommends, but I haven't done mine yet.

[@grtzzz1970]

Hi Chase, Any idea when you have that indepth review of the LiteWay Pyraomm ? Greets, Casper

[@G009131337]

how do you like the sestrals poncho?

[@suzannehannahs6104]

No sleeping bag?

[@mattb6009]

Thanks for the European brands

[@OllieandShazz-thebest]

I would love to get 10%off the Cortazu jacket however the link doesnt work? Great video I love your channel!

[@ChaseMountains]

Just use the code CHASE10 that should work!

[@OllieandShazz-thebest]

@@ChaseMountains Awesome, thanks for the VERY prompt reply 🙂

[@hellopolly2691]

Whats a Tasmanian doing in Europe with all the Covid -19 raging? We currently have no cases in Tasmania and have banned travelers from Sydney and Brisbane which have UK type Covid strains from incoming international airline crews. There are plenty of challenging hikes and climbs here. Enough wilderness to never see anyone else. Safe travels. Polly from Scamander.

[@ChaseMountains]

Hey Polly, I love Tassie, but the snow but I'm chasing more snow and ice! I'll be back there one day, when I'm a lot older. But I've been here in Spain for nearly 3 years and I think I'm staying a little longer. Chase from Devonport

[@hellopolly2691]

@@ChaseMountains Spain has more snow and ice than Tasmania ?

[@ChaseMountains]

@@hellopolly2691 it sure does! Especially right now hahaha. Yeah there's a lot of high mountain ranges over 3000m

[@Tarazatfilms]

Did you mention the shorts you wear? I’m looking for light shorts

[@ChaseMountains]

Nah I glossed over that. I am using some standard running shorts from decathlon, nothing special but they were good!

[@grahameroberts8109]

What footwear do you prefer and use? Thanks for the information. 👍🏻🙏🏽😷🦘🦘

[@ChaseMountains]

Impossible to answer my friend

[@grahameroberts8109]

@@ChaseMountains You can’t tell me what you are wearing? Ok. Cheers.

[@kristianlouwerscastano8692]

Hey mate, I am looking for a new shelter. Do you still recommend it? Any cons? Greetings from a guy in Coles bay, TAS.

[@ChaseMountains]

Its a great tent, I've got the in depth review coming out soon! The main con for you will be shipping it all the way to Tassie. Could be pricey.

[@kristianlouwerscastano8692]

@@ChaseMountains Thanks mate. Looking forward to see your new video.

[@stealthbraid765]

Socks, socks, socks!

[@drdeadbeat1604]

Fuck yea

[@tullochgorum6323]

Beware the Faircap filter - a LOT of people saying it broke on the first few uses. Idealistic company, but the design seems flawed. Not good for safety-critical equipment.

[@kalboff1482]

Wonder what's the sleeping bag being used... ?

[@ChaseMountains]

Check the video that I did after the trip! kzbin.info/www/bejne/j5erYZ55l6Z5rbc

[@tiddybearkush]

In the future he did realize that the pack didn't have a frame and he also lost his hat 😂

[@shaunmasters7211]

P.s I can’t quite put my finger on the accent?

[@ChaseMountains]

Dulled down Australian. Tasmanian to be more precise hahha.

[@shaunmasters7211]

@@ChaseMountains Epic. Love that place.

[@thevelotramp1]

I’m pretty sure that pack is not DCF

[@ChaseMountains]

Yeah I'm 100 sure it's not hahaha. I corrected myself in a later video 😂 I am still an ultralight noob

[@Hamza-hm3we]

My right ear feeling left out 😢

[@Liam8000]

I'm going to ram my car through the living room window

[@ChaseMountains]

ok you do you but at least wear a helmet