Terms To Know When Buying Backpacking Gear

Table of Contents and Summary
00:30 BAFFLES - Walls inside down sleeping bags/quilts and puffy coats meant to keep the down from shifting
01:38 BASE WEIGHT - Weight of your pack excluding consumables, the clothes and footwear you’re wearing, and trekking poles.
02:24 Lightweight Base weight - Under 20 lbs/9kgs
02:29 Ultralight Base Weight - Under 10lbs/4.5kgs
02:32 PACK WEIGHT - Base Weight plus consumables in your pack
03:03 SKIN-OUT WEIGHT - Pack Weight plus everything you’re wearing and carrying
03:10 TOTAL WEIGHT - Skin-out Weight plus your body weight.
03:12 BIG 3 - Shelter, Backpack, and Sleeping Bag/Quilt
03:26 DENIER - Thickness of a fiber in a fabric
04:00 DROP (Footwear) - Difference in distance of the forefoot and heel from the ground, measured in mm.
04:58 DWR (Durable Water Repellant) - Treatment used on some gear to cause water to bead and prevent water logging.
05:41 FABRICS - This section briefly highlights the common fabrics used for tents and backpacks (nylon/polyester/dcf) waterproof materials (PU, PE, Sil) and trademarked materials often used for packs (Robic, XPAC, LiteSkin, etc.)
11:48 RIPSTOP
12:08 FILL POWER - Measure of the loft of a down product. Higher fill power often results in less weight for the same temperature rating.
13:37 GORE TEX - Trademarked synthetic, waterproof, breathable fabric used in some backpacking footwear and rain gear. Similar membranes include eVent, Highvent, and OmniDry
14:17 MIDS - Basically a Trail Running shoe with a high ankle support. Less rigid and more breathable than a hiking boot
14:37 R-VALUE - Ability of a sleeping pad to resist heat loss. Basically a measurement of a sleeping pad's insulation ability. R-value of at least 2 is recommended for 3-season backpacking, 5 for backpacking in winter.
15:08 RAIN FLY - Waterproof, floor-less outer layer of a double wall tent
15:50 SEAM SEALING - Treating the stitched area between waterproof fabrics to ensure the entire piece of gear remains waterproof.
17:28 STACK HEIGHT (Footwear) - The amount of material between the ground and the bottom of your foot.
18:06 Vestibule - Area outside the main body of a tent still covered by the wall or door of the tent. Basically the foyer of a tent.
18:40 WATERPROOF RATING or HYDROSTATIC HEAD RATING - Measurement of the pressure at which water will push through a fabric. Rating above 1,000mm is considered rain proof.
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[@heathercoffman6945]

The best part of the day is hearing "Hey y'all Dixie here!"

[@dgrGR61]

Bless yur heart.

[@tommygraham4727]

a trick: you can watch movies at flixzone. Been using it for watching a lot of movies recently.

[@quincyjaxon2105]

@Tommy Graham Definitely, have been using flixzone for since december myself =)

[@stephaniegoyette9941]

I'm a scientist, and I loved your "engineer's" explanations of all the fabrics and materials! Really easy to understand and informative. Thank you!

[@wayneorellana2549]

That awkward moment when you have been regularly camping for 30 plus years and you still learn from a KZbin video..

[@pengiethebird]

Learn something every day or you're doing it wrong.

[@wayneorellana2549]

True that.

[@yusonification]

Life long learning 😉

[@robertrockwell7581]

Dixie sure has learned all aspects of the hiking world since she started . and we love that she is teaching us who had no idea. thank you and stay safe.

[@clayschuetz899]

Not only is Dixie a lovely lady, she's also a real smart cookie😁 Thankyou Dixie, as always your video was very informative and as always, we love that southern accent 👍👍

[@Jc21112]

I can't beleive how well those 20 minutes were invested. Thank you so sooo much :)

[@tompava3923]

Great presentation Dixie! ✌️😎 I was bummed when I realized you were getting near the end of the alphabet!🤣

[@rjhikes6248]

A is for Alcohol Stove? You managed to pack a whole heck of a lot into 20 minutes so A is for Aaron! 🤗

[@dgrGR61]

Yes, had to watch it again. Too much information too fast.

[@aaronsilver1975]

Yes.. Aaron. .

[@jeniefurr]

Yay!!! He’s h0t too! Specially with the Montana beard. Aaron gets an A. 🤪

[@jordanhowell3262]

My girlfriend found your channel and you have been very inspirational for us to get into backpacking. Thank you so very much for taking all the time that you do to shoot your videos!!! We have enjoyed every one and we cannot wait for many more.

[@goodestmove8211]

Perhaps, the single most, INFORMATIVE Hiking video ever made...

[@KimberlyGreen]

*D* is also for _Dixie_ , and that's a term everyone should know!

[@billcomer6220]

Thank you so much for your videos. I was fortunate to be pastored by a southern couple who were wonderful. You are a gracious southern lady as she is. God bless you Dixie, Jesus loves you. Please pray for Revival.

[@cassiemoore6854]

Thank you my husband and are getting into the world of backpacking along with our 11 year old son.

[@sheylahernandez2941]

YOU'RE THE BEST!!!! This was very informative.

[@pmcmva]

Much more clear than "mud". Thank you very much!

[@kenjett2434]

Dixies information is the best on the net. As a trained Scout Master I highly recommend her as a great resource.

[@melaniexoxo]

I'm on my 2nd pair of Altra trail runners thanks to you. I love them so so so much!

[@HomemadeWanderlust]

Yayyy! Glad they’ve worked out well for you ♥️

[@rachaelholden327]

Love your videos Dixie! (I'm here so early so I had to comment :O)

[@justthetip96]

Thank you for all the work you put into informing us what hiking and backpacking is all about.

[@privateinvestigator8607]

Thanks for this video. Was looking for something like this. Love how you get into detail and the alphabetical order to keep it organized. Keep up the great work!

[@garyprice8330]

I love the way u brake everything down and make it more understandable ur great Dixie keep up the great work I love watching ur shows there and u r great Happy trails

[@wanttogo1958]

If you're looking for more terms for a second video of terms consider caternary cut and differential cut relative to tent flys/tarps and sleeping bags, respectively. Enjoyed the video. Thanks.

[@smileyhappyradio]

I would add to title "...backpacking gear and the materials they are made from." I think if more people knew all the info in here, they would watch. Loved the video, I bookmarked it for future reference. It' literally all the information I needed to make purchases right now.

[@haleyscloud]

im 5 seconds in and i want to say i love you, dixie

[@janefreeman4121]

Here's a historical tidbit. Cuben fiber was originally made for sails. A winning boat, America² was nicknamed America Cubed. Thus Cuben fiber.

[@DrewsThoughts]

Hope youll review the movie The Way with Martin Sheen.

[@gymnastic0fantastic0]

Such a helpful video! I wasn't expecting to learn so much :)

[@stephanie9211]

Bought a cheap rain coat last year.....had a torrential downpour this spring and unfortunately learned what seam taping is 🤣 learned my lesson!

[@indoalivio9239]

Almost all of your videos are soOo super well thought out. U pretty much cover anything that’s NEEDed to know. Mahalo

[@beltlevel]

Yay! More Dixie! Thanks for keeping up with your videos :)

[@Jsadventuring]

Awesome video Dixie!! You’re videos have always been a huge help in getting me started in backpacking and KZbin😊😊😊

[@bobmcelroy7289]

Love your instructional videos like this. No too often because I like your trail videos better, but you just dont see info videos like this.

[@xvsj-s2x]

💜 you’re Vlogs and inspiring enthusiastic way of explaining hiking adventures in your southern belle accent 💗Thank you for sharing 💜

[@sagehiker]

Five decade hiker, and I learned a few new terms for old ideas. Good and needed video for everybody. Denier is an especially important term, not just for bedsheets ( I am a domesticated male) . Years ago, a hiker would worry about the thread count (denier) on the sleeping bag fabric, the closer to vapor you could get without losing the down yet the hiker wanted the toughest and hardest, and heaviest, fro your mountain parka.

[@rodonthetrail5092]

This was such a helpful video. Thank you!

[@swell411]

You have made an impact in the backpacking community. Your vids coming from a woman's perspective is pretty awesome. I have my wife watch them so she knows I'm not full of merda. I thank you for that.

[@Swimdeep]

Nice job on keeping up with relevant content. Well done Dixie🌿

[@benyujr.6545]

Very helpful info. Should you consider additional videos for this topic, here's a few more you can use... well not these are about gear buying though. Free Standing/Non-Free Standing Single Wall/Double Wall/Hybrid Tent 3 Season/4 Season Tent HYOH (Hike Your Own Hike) LNT (Leave No Trace) Carab or 'biner (carabiner) Bivy Bag/Sack Dry Bag/Sack GORP (Good Ol' Raisins & Peanuts) & some other combos Bladder or Water Bladder Camelback Tree Line Footprint/Ground Cloth/Ground Sheet And for letter 'A', Assault (I'm not sure you use this term but here in Philippines it means 'summiting' or 'a steep ascend'.

[@flaskehrlenmeyer4349]

dixie, so much of what's out there functions as a gate to keep out learners, or to make experienced people feel superior or something. i've given up on the idea of thru hiking (a dearly held childhood dream) but bit by bit i increase my knowledge and fitness so i can at least return to short slow backpacking. gear is a LOT different than it was back in the '70s!

[@Blackbearhuntr1]

Wow, nice job, you are super smart. Thanks for all the info.

[@Wondering_Fireball]

Great vlog for new hikers.

[@maryrainey9010]

Excellent tutorial, Dixie. Thanks!

[@melissafrederick9362]

Great video. Thanks Dixie! Definitely sharing it.

[@acm5739]

Thank you so much for adding specific ranges of these terms to look for-- that is SO helpful!!! Some other youtubers give the definition, but not the example range to look for, which just leaves complete beginners walking around thinking "oh, 300 fill power sounds like a lot," or thinking a sleeping pad r-value of 3 is going to be not enough.

[@OHMYGODDOG]

Seems crazy to buy "rain gear" and then ask them to please make it "actual rain gear" by seam sealing. Like shouldn't that already be handled? Also if you are interested I am selling blueberry muffins ... for an extra fee I will actually add the blueberries to the muffins for you.

[@HomemadeWanderlust]

😂 I can’t really argue with you on this

[@marjiecleveland]

I thought I would know most terms but I was surprised at how many I didn't know. Very helpful! Thanks for sharing.

[@michaelmcgowan9518]

Lots of information. Great reference to come back to. Thanks

[@wolf1066]

Really good covering of the essentials. Vestibule: very important feature. Sadly, my two 3-person tents don't have vestibules (which means that not only do I have to drag wet gear inside the tent with me, there's no protection for the doors or the mesh inner if you open the rain fly when it's raining) and my 1-person has such a tiny vestibule that not only do I *still* have to drag wet gear inside the tent, the cramped interior means I can't distance myself from it - but at least it stops the rain pouring into the tent. It kind of defeats the purpose of a tent and rain fly when you have to lug a tarp along with you as well.

[@randompizza14]

Another great video. Lots of useful information. Thank you. :)

[@eramosat]

To me, R is primarily for Rest day. In your terms, taking a zero but planning to actually do so on the trail, doing some exploring, maybe planning some more ambitious meals, and experiencing the beauty of the trail-side in a different way. I wish you to try some (or more) zeros days out there, doing so in urban zones are fine, and necessary, but ultimately not quite the same type of enjoyment. For example...best rest day on the West Coast Trail, you can hike/bushwack (there is no trail of any kind) inland no more than 2-3 hours and then back, sans everything except meals and emergency gear, to see the very biggest tree that exists in Canada, the Carmanah Giant. And you cannot easily see it without a planned rest day. And you can also have fresh Dungeness crab for dinner if you plan it right. :-)

[@jayjohnson2729]

Hey Dixie been a subscriber now for a while don't always have time catch every video but can't think of one video I haven't enjoyed thanks for all the hard work have a great day

[@Rose-co3cp]

So informative. I keep learning more.

[@stephanemic7149]

Thank you Dixie for this vidéo, Thank you of France !!!

[@RS-pk4mp]

H is for "Hacke" (pronounced "hack") which to us Yankees translates into Hike. But it sounds so much better when Dixie says it! Hike on (when you can), Cheers, Tortoise (a section "Hacker")

[@katblackmountain6091]

Fantastic, informative, compact and very reliable video! Thank you!!

[@qwibles]

I thought the videos couldn't get better and then Boom a really great video ❤. ....q ...goes off to fit some bags to the hiking poles to lower baseweight ... 😂👍🤘❤

[@TheAudioshare]

I've done slightly more than a handful of weekend back pack trips now and I still didn't even know all of these. 😅 Great video Dixie

[@kerrywilliams8469]

I love learning new things and this was really helpful. A day of learning is a day not wasted. Thanks Dixie 👍

[@kaseyhair6779]

I wish this video had come out a year ago..it was quite comical watching me try to describe what i was looking for when talking to the people at REI. Im only 5 minutes into the video and have already learned technical terms i didnt truly know before lol..thanks Dixie! P.S. You should come hike in Alaska sometime! Although we dont have any truly long distance trails, we definitely have some absolutely stunning views!

[@pengiethebird]

Off trail is the way to go. Go your own way. It's slower, but who cares.

[@Corn_DOG]

Nice! I've been hiking for about a decade now and still learned some stuff (mainly all the shoe stuff). Thanks for doing this!

[@christineaspen6318]

Great job, Dixie! I love watching your videos.

[@robbyrussell1683]

Great Job Dixie.. Thanks alot

[@davidjohn316]

Excellent information...thank you !

[@strawberrybeaman4589]

You need your own product line! 😊 Thanks for sharing! 🍓

[@cassiemagann8014]

You friggin angel, thanks for this video!

[@thomasvo1174]

This was a fantastic and informative video for me especially the Denier section. To the internet, what would you say is a good Denier number threshold for durability but still relatively light weight for 3 season tents (Washington State rain concerns)? certain material fabric? i've been looking at Nemo website due to their return policy if i read it correctly, however I'm relatively new at all this.

[@craigcoates9153]

I used the Nemo Obi 1p on 2 thru hikes. I believe the floor is rated 20D and mine's still in great shape after at least a couple of hundred uses. The inner walls are 10D and Ive put a couple of fingernail sized holes in from sitting up in the morning and the velcro patch on my sleeping bag catching on it. The zips will probably wear out long before the floor ever will- I now keep having to fix mine with pliers- so not pitching the outer layer too tightly where the zip is and always opening and closing the doors smoothly will make your tent last longer.

[@chemistryflavored]

I have a 15d nylon tent and I just make sure to lay down a footprint, I also try to spend the time to clear my campsite of anything sharp. No holes yet! My husband has a tent with a 20d bathtub floor but 15d rainfly and his is also holding up despite the fact he laid his down on a big pointy rock one night. In general lightweight tends will always be lower denier fabric and I find that’s when a footprint is a must for longevity. Happy hiking and hello from Oregon!

[@Oldtimecarpenter]

Great information Dixie! Now I’m not so baffled about all the abbreviations. Well done and very much appreciated!

[@28105wsking]

Great video and much needed!

[@footontrail8496]

DIXIE! Great video, so much info in one video. Your a pro.

[@janefreeman4121]

All really great. I was thinking one way to describe the sewn thru baffles vs box baffles is that sewn thru baffles are exactly that sewn thru so cold air will come thru that seam that holds the down or fill in place. So for example the aegis max quilt or the Costco quilt are sewn thru baffles and won't take you much lower than say 55 degrees depending on your personal ability to adapt to temperatures. A box baffle has a strip of material connecting the inside of the quilt to the outside along what would be the sewn thru seam creating a buffer between the would be cold spots and this makes it possible for quilts to have lower temperature ratings.

[@watchout694]

This was great, love all those details! It's funny, I'm not planning a through hike but when I meet peeps out on the trail, I recommend they check out your channel for thorough information. 🤗

[@stevenhscott7511]

I've been hiking for years (NH) and I still learned so much. Awesome vid, Dixie! :-)

[@genmockify]

Thank you Dixie!

[@FraserJBWalker]

D is for dry bag. Unless you want to put on wet warm kit.

[@mariamulder3189]

Dixie, thank you so much for such thorough and informative videos! I'm 'gearing' up, haha, for my first few backpacking adventures this summer and I'm happy I'm able to feel confident in the knowledge I'm gleaning in preparation. Thank you from Canada!

[@martinwelch5774]

Thorough, informative and entertaining. Like always 😊

[@hankthemtnman6683]

Great info, as usual. Thanks

[@robertalexander9931]

Good info. I always find you gear info useful and usually learn something. Thank you

[@thadrobbins4348]

Another perfectly timed video! Thank you! Roll Tide! Hehe

[@SuperQnBee]

Wonderful video, thank you.

[@Josephhikes]

Good information, I knew most of it in general terms . Now I understand them more specifically. Thanks ! Always looking forward to the next one. 👍

[@petermarshall582]

wow, my head blew up when I watch that video, I can't believe the massive detail in the content.

[@roberthammenrudh]

Good and fun to have the terms explained and shown 👍🏻 i remember a diskussion two weeks ago with some friends new to backpacking...they had a difficult time to understand ! I will send then a link to this vid 😄👍🏻

[@HomemadeWanderlust]

Thank you! I hope it’s helpful to them :)

[@montana1951]

Very good as usual.

[@queeny5613]

This is really helpful thanks

[@MaxxSeemov]

Liked this video mainly for including weight in metric/Kg.

[@jeronimoduvanced8011]

Hey dixie you are great. You transmit good spirits on your videos, good info aswell every time. Do you have experience, about opening new routs in tru hikes? Advises or sites where to plan would be great. You could make a video about other long distance hikes to develop. Just sugesting. Haha. Im wondering about doing The Geater Patagonia Trail, a section in Argentina, and try to conect it to the main trail, as most parts go along Chile. Regards!

[@kyleconboy5103]

Ok good to see you again, great vid. Thanks for all the numbers and the 41 1 that goes with the confusion. Would like to hike with you and learn more. Maybe have a hikers lotto, or maybe a hiking giveaway, or maybe I should just shut up. Anywho thanks for inspiring me and others .

[@ItsAStephanieB]

Really informative. Thanks Dixie!!

[@TNPFan]

That was freakin awesome Dixie. Thanks, as always, for the great info and sharing the benefit of your experience! 👍🏻

[@mmamallama1827]

Just about everything was new to me! Very informative. TY

[@indy6781]

Hi Dixie, I enjoy and am learning so much from your videos, thanks, the info is very helpful to us beginners. Have you done a video on cooking? Thanks

[@michaelsakowich7026]

Thank you Dixie. Let’s go hakinn!

[@ddawis]

Great info, Dixie, thanks! I'm familiar with a lot of those terms, but I've done canoe-camping where weight is not as much a concern, so most of that lightweight and ultralight stuff is new. I'm wanting to try hiking at some point. If you ever feel like a change-up in your hiking routine, you might consider canoe-camping in the BWCAW in MN or Quetico in Canada!

[@sweetblast5850]

Thanks for the video Dixie! Have you ever heard or wanted to try bike packing/touring?

[@chasingsol145]

Great video. I definitely feel victim to not knowing the difference between some terms and bought the world stuff.

[@roryschlueter]

You might do another one of these on the parts of a backpack. Load lifters was a term that mystified me for a while. Also the term "tote," a regional term meaning to carry used primarily in the land of .... (wait for it) Dixie.

[@thomasdroher3890]

Yes you do acclimated ,I went backpacking, I'm 57 years old and I watched one of your videos and all I could hear was that word acclimated ,...cuz I was hurting. All in a good way.

[@TheAndrewUy]

Very informative Dixie. This help a alot. Thanks.

[@johneason6540]

Excellent as always!!! Enjoy.