Things EVERY Backpacker Should Be Doing To Reduce Weight

Admittedly, not every backpacker wants to go Ultralight. But, there are many things that every backpacker should be doing, to reduce their baseweight on a backpacking trip.
GEAR IN THIS VIDEO
Toaks 550 amzn.to/3LMuap4
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Outdoor Vitals Nebo alnk.to/dAk1M52
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[@BackcountryPilgrim]

Good to hear more people discussing volume issues and not just base weight. Nice job!

[@MattyOutdoors]

volume and bulk always means a bigger pack, which inevitably weighs more in the end. 😀

[@zakafx]

Ah, the ol' Sunday wake and bake and watch Matty ritual.

[@MattyOutdoors]

jealous! enjoy my dude

[@missourimongoose8858]

One thing I carry because I like it is a coozie for a 24oz can, they fit perfectly on big water bottles and keeps your water cool

[@MattyOutdoors]

thats smart!

[@jmora1914]

I like using gallon freezer Ziploc bags to organize my gear and waterproof them. The gallon freezer Ziploc bag weighs 0.31oz.

[@SamwiseOutdoors]

I really like that you've emphasized making smart, flexible decisions with your gear choices. Everyone has their own hike to travel, but anyone can improve the enjoyment of their experience by just being a little smarter with their gear choices.

[@MattyOutdoors]

that's what makes all the difference

[@user-zj4nt3xg6e]

A😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅

[@user-zj4nt3xg6e]

😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅

[@ManivanAdventures]

Great tips! Thanks Matty! 🤙🏼

[@MattyOutdoors]

glad you enjoyedA

[@markwhite7881]

Love my Nebo so far!

[@MattyOutdoors]

enjoying mine as well!

[@InOurElement]

Just goty new nebo jacket. Love the feel of it. Will be testing it out in Pisgah for a week here in April.

[@MattyOutdoors]

it really is a slick little jacket

[@ronb2008]

Wonderful suggestions as always Matty. I do like the smaller pot idea, although I might keep my 1100 liter just because I can store my fuel canister, collapsible spoon and pocket rocket all inside.

[@MattyOutdoors]

my toaks 550 fits a fuel can, brs stove, bic mini, and a small hankerchief inside

[@ronb2008]

@@MattyOutdoors Wow, good to know lol

[@ironpig701]

Great video. Only thing Ill say about the cook pot is make sure your fuel can fits. I dont know about the 550 but my toaks 750 everything to cook is inside pot. Lighter, stove, little towel as pot holder. And love the smart bottles with flip cap. I went as far as cary 2 but I got a blue cap and black cap. Blue cap is just for water and black i put water with powders in there, This way I dont get that kool aid funk when cooking

[@MattyOutdoors]

550 fits a fuel can, stove, bic mini etc just fine

[@kristinegoodman7534]

Extra clothing I carry for a week long BP trip: 2 pair underwear, 2 pair socks, thin wool jammies. In a pinch the wool jammies can be an extra outfit on the trail, but really everything ends up stinking anyway and as long as I have clean socks and undies I feel decent.

[@palusma1]

I am a fan of 3x base layer (compression shorts and socks) and 2x external layers (moisture wicking shirts and zip off ripstop pants)

[@standingbear998]

the one size fits all mentality isn't always right.

[@frogturtle]

I carry a Toaks 750 that also fits a 110g fuel canister, my Soto Windmaster and a swedish dish cloth. slightly larger pot that holds the whole deal. although another setup may work with a smaller pot. I like the size of a 750 but to each their own!

[@MattyOutdoors]

Most people I hike with use the 750ml pots.

[@wolfoutdoorscanada]

Cool man !

[@MattyOutdoors]

🤟

[@cliffspicer6555]

Hey Matty, I am sure you have seen it before, but I tried the hack with a smartwater bottle, sports cap and a water bladder tube. You basically feed the tube through the cap and you can have your bottle in the back of you pack but it is really easy to get a drink and it's not like having a bladder in with your gear which always seemed crazy to me. Try it out.

[@MattyOutdoors]

I find the advantage of pulling out the bottle to drink, is I always know how much h2o I have on me

[@cliffspicer6555]

@@MattyOutdoors I can totally see that but my problem is I don’t seem to drink enough when I have to reach back there and grab the bottle and then put it back. If the tube is in my face I seem to think about it more but you make a good point .

[@ironpig701]

Seen this idea before and I agree with both you. Im the same way need the tube to drink but also wanna see bottle to drink. Maybe Im packing my fears but Im using 2 smart bottles, So when one is empty I know to start looking for water or start rationing.

[@cliffspicer6555]

@@ironpig701 that would be one way to address Matty’s concerns.

[@Nordictor78]

Ever considered vacuum bags for stuf? More people have these tine airpumps and they can suck out the air from the vacuum bags

[@MattyOutdoors]

for what though?

[@Jlundeen]

Thanks to the thumbnail I thought you were going to say every backpacker needs to switch from bladders to bottles, and I was going to disagree (personal preference), but turns out I pretty much agree with everything you said in the video. I'm going to be taking a closer look at the clothes I choose to bring, because they definitely weigh too much.

[@MattyOutdoors]

Well, I actually do feel bottles are better then bladders, for a multitude of reasons. But that's best saved for another video

[@Jlundeen]

@@MattyOutdoors Fair enough. I think that's the prevailing thought nowadays if youtube is an indication. I get the reasons, but there are reasons for bladders too (and I still prefer my water bladder), which is why I'd disagree with it being put in a video called "things EVERY backpacker should be doing..." But if you have that other video I'll hear what you have to say. :)

[@shoresy6183]

Matty, Oilers look like they're on fire. McDavid is insane. Can't wait for playoffs to start. Still a bit worried about the D and tender though.

[@MattyOutdoors]

I think the D and goaltending will be fine. excited for playoffs to start

[@slickwillie3376]

I'm going to try tights.

[@MattyOutdoors]

its a game changer

[@TheNypenfan]

Maybe someone can explain the logic of taking a windbreaker. I honestly don’t get it. If it really windy, or I need another layer, I just put on the rain jacket. It’s wind proof…so isn’t taking a windbreaker and a rain jacket just taking two items when you could just take the rain jacket as multipurpose? I’m legit asking for the reasoning here because I just don’t get it.

[@MattyOutdoors]

A wind breaker is breathable, a rain jacket is not. No matter how hard companies try to market their rain jackets as breathable, they simply are not. You can toss a wind jacket on while hiking, and not end up a sweaty mess underneath.

[@memathews]

Completely agree. I just take the rain jacket, which we use all year except summer months here in the PNW, and I unzip the jacket if I get sweaty underneath or take it completely off, because getting sweaty means I'm too warm and don't need the jacket (or just slow down to avoid sweating).

[@melissaverdoni845]

do you cook IN fires alot ,,, my toaks is intact lol i only use a BRS

[@MattyOutdoors]

I put my pot right in the fire a lot yes. Why use fuel when I don't need to?

[@melissaverdoni845]

@@MattyOutdoors i agree , i dont wanna build a fire every meal , some places you are not allowed, so i tend to use fuel but yeah it's a good idea to save fuel :) guess i am lazy LOLL

[@christopherhaak9824]

@@MattyOutdoors It's like 9 grams of fuel - that's much easier and cleaner than a fire. Not that you might want a fire for ambience, but it's messy cooking on it.

[@MattyOutdoors]

@@christopherhaak9824 my cooking, is boiling water, so a fire works fine for me. i dont care if my pot has soot on it

[@Nope-wd4rw]

How about going to the gym between hikes then you won't have to worry about reducing pack weight and you will be in better physical shape to tackle the trail even.

[@MattyOutdoors]

Sounds boring

[@higler.]

that's not quite how this works...

[@nobison6185]

I put clothes(minus puffy and rain jacket) in my food bag. A gallon size ziplok contains the smelly bits. True Viking!

[@MattyOutdoors]

you dont worry about your clothes ending up smelling like your food?

[@nobison6185]

@Matty Outdoors No, it's all freeze dried, and I like the smell of Fritos .🙂

[@MattyOutdoors]

hopefully you're not sleeping in those clothes, rodents like fritos too.

[@dankle46]

Its all to the person. Idc if im hiking with someone who has 20lbs.or 50lbs. If they are doing fine and use to the weight they are carrying then hike on.

[@cindyreseck4429]

True..now that I'm 65 i really worked on getting weight to 20 and i used to carry close to 30

[@chili1593]

Canadiens! Men in tights!

[@MattyOutdoors]

are the best

[@chili1593]

@@MattyOutdoors maple Leafs?

[@MattyOutdoors]

@chili1593 the leafs are garbage. LETS GO OILERS.

[@chili1593]

@@MattyOutdoors what about my 400 cousins in Toronto? They supposed to migrate to Ottawa?

[@robertgustavsson1920]

Wow gotta love the tip to go from a dry bag to a single use plastic trash bag. Grams are more important than nature!! hahahahahaha

[@MattyOutdoors]

gotta love people who assume it gets thrown out every single use, right?

[@robertgustavsson1920]

@@MattyOutdoors you know that plastic is bad for the nature right? Do you even know how plastic products are made? Even if you use that products several times it is stil bad for the nature when they produce it. Even more lame that you defend it. Educate yourself before you defend stupidity!!