Ultralight backpacking kit used on the 950km Pyrenees GR10 trail

A run through of all the kit I used on a 950km backpacking and wild camping trip across the Pyrenees on the GR10 trail in France in 2019. Ultralight but not minimalist, I like to be comfortable!!
If you want to see the walk, here are links to the 4 full section videos:
1) Pyrenees Atlantic: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mJisqmOiZqehY7s
2) Pyrenees Central: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rWnZkpZmbs2pY8k
3) Pyrenees Ariege: kzbin.info/www/bejne/kHOzl6d4qtyNnKc
4) Pyrenees Mediterranean: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZnfQfoWpnMZrhKs

[@nickcouldry231]

Really interesting video - thank you! I did the GR10 over a few years in stages - started with what i thought was quite a light pack, but used my experience on the trail to whittle stuff down until i finished with about half the weight i started with and a 25l pack. Biggest weight losses were changing tent for tarp, sleeping bag for quilt, leather boots for goretex hiking shoes and less changes of base layers. Such beautiful landscapes in the pyrenees - i'll never forget that experience...

[@Archie-td6ox]

Awesome video! I'm planning on doing the GR 11 in August, and your breakdown of everything was a good reference for what I have, and what I may need. Thanks

[@MinackerMovies]

Great, I'll be there to, starting July

[@beithecalltainn5252]

Hiya! Thank you so much for this video! I am just at the stage of sorting out gear for my walk of the gr10 and this was so helpful. I didn’t realise it could be quite cold so maybe I’ll take something other than my 2 season sleeping bag… having to start from scratch with gear cause all my stuff is broken/really bulky/heavy - I’m getting stuff second hand but I’d say definitely watch out cause a rucksack I got was mouldy and I had to send it back. I don’t know where I’ll be living after the walk if I even manage to complete it but that’s part of the trip I guess and hopefully an opportunity will come my way. For me it’s a leap of faith as well as a long distance walk.

[@MinackerMovies]

Thanks, you may find it worthwhile seeing my post GR5 kit update too. Have a good trip!

[@beachboy2836]

This is so useful thank you, walking the GR10 this summer, very useful to know about the gas

[@MinackerMovies]

Excellent, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. I wrote a book of my trail and experiences, on Amazon. Search Trevarton if interested.

[@beachboy2836]

Completed the GR10 today!!! Thank you for all the the advice

[@Ge1ert]

Hi Alan. Thanks for the excellent and honest account. I'm in my late 50's and I was hiking in the Lofoten Islands, in northern Norway, for 6 weeks last August and September. I took far too much kit and a 'too large' rucksack and it affected my enjoyment to some extent. It's always good to learn from others' experiences and your kit list (some things similar to mine), and ways to make savings on weight will be really useful to me when I head back there; I also have the GR10 in mind for a future trek, so this will help for that as well. Thanks again.

[@MinackerMovies]

Lofoten looks beautiful, was it a continuous hike?

[@Ge1ert]

@@MinackerMovies Yes, s.west to n.east. I'm hoping to to go east to west next year, or as soon as though, with more in the way of mountain trail trekking than I was able to do in 2019. I carried a 2.4Kg MacPac Minaret this time, plus too many mid-weight and bulky items. Tripod, etc. Fabulous shelter, but I know the region and weather well enough now to realise I didn't need everything I took. Like you mentioned, I also sent some things home. If you haven't been there, you really should. It's like nowhere I've ever been. Really beautiful. I do fancy the GR10 someday though.

[@allycatization]

Alan! It's Alison here. Dad sent me the links to your vids. Very helpful ATM as I'm off to Patagonia in November! Look forward to watching the rest. All our love, A&S x

[@MinackerMovies]

Hi Ali, have a wonderful time in Patagonia, its quite wild I think, do you have a set plan?

[@allycatization]

@@MinackerMovies it is yeah. We are going with a tour. Not camping but lots of hikes. Then off to Iguazu Falls 💦💧

[@martingoodey5281]

Thanks for the prompt response. I'll keep looking, was planning to do the 1st stage or however much I can cover in 9 days end of July....but looking less likely now!

[@MinackerMovies]

Try your local supermarket, they sometimes have packs of cheap plastic picnic plates that are lighter than camping shops sell.

[@WyeExplorer]

A good range of gear there Alan. It's not cheap to get together but you cal always build it up over time. I'll take a look at the videos if you've edited them. All the best. Mark

[@jacobclayton123]

Thanks for the video! interesting to find out about your cooking system! we would never have thought that gas bottle fittings would have caused us a problem! I was wondering if you would consider sharing your map photocopies taken from the FFRP guides? best, Jake

[@MinackerMovies]

The best solution for maps is to get an online app like ViewRanger or similar and a digital subscription to IGN maps for about £25. The FFRP guide maps go out of date and several parts of the routes have changed, as I found out. You also get all the scales to 1:25000.

[@islandhopperstuart]

Excellent. Thanks very much for sharing.

[@MinackerMovies]

My pleasure!

[@geezer8484]

Enjoyed the video, reviews very useful. Thanks for posting

[@chrisoconnor4743]

Love seeing the kit! And it was nice to see the good old titanium windshield! Yep, it's very noisy! 😅 I would really like to know what gas types were mostly available on the GR10? Are camping Gaz CP250 types available?? This is my preferred type which I use, because I have an adaptor for it. Or is it the puncture type? (I have a big adapter for this also, but quite heavy) Or screw on types? Any help would be great appreciated. Many thanks, Kind regards, Chris.

[@MinackerMovies]

I managed to buy screw gas after a few days of spirit stove. Mostly puncture and easy clic there. I bought gas in a small supermarket in Gourette.

[@chrisoconnor4743]

@@MinackerMovies Thank you ever so much for letting me know. The camping Gaz CP 250 seems less available in France unfortunately, certainly compared to the UK. If I can purchase the screw in type after a few days, that's great 👍

[@MinackerMovies]

Proxi was the supermarket selling screw gas.

[@chrisoconnor4743]

@@MinackerMovies Thank you ever so much for that detailed information. It's very hard to get specific information when it comes to gas types. Even more so, when it's one of the most important too. Thanks

[@chrisorchard4041]

Thanks so much for posting very helpful

[@allanzacho6916]

Loved your review, very usefull and informative. Probably abit more gear than I personally like, but that just leaves more for me to watch and get ideas from :) When i saw your "Travel Bag" and shortly after your groundsheet(Tyvek i think?) I was wondering if it wasnt possible to do a setup where one item could solve both issues perhaps? I've been trying to find the perfect solution for airtravels, ended up so far having my backpack as carryon, and using the 20L day bag(Same as urs) as a checked bag with poles, stoves etc. etc. inside it/taped onto it,(They always look abit funny at the 1,5kg checked bag :D ) Decided, it was easier, in a worst case scenario, to replace poles, stoves, knife and stakes, than the rest of the kid, incase it got lost :) But great video, thanks for sharing, considering a GR10 hike next year so will deffiently check your videos out! Merry Christmas and happy Hiking! :)

[@MinackerMovies]

Hi, thanks for that, a few more ides to consider. I picked up an idea from someone that saves the travel bag, he uses cling film, then buys another pack of cling film at the other end for the home flight. Merry Xmas!

[@martingoodey5281]

Thanks great video very helpful. Do you recall the name of the manufacturer/supplier of the plate? I called Go-Outdoors and it appears they no longer stock. Thanks

[@MinackerMovies]

There is no name on it, unfortunately, ‘‘twas just one of those temporary things they seem to get in now and then, but why plastic camping plates are normally made so thick and heavy is beyond me with a huge ultralight market out there!

[@carlos011]

Did you take out a special travel insurance for this trip. Thanks Carl

[@MinackerMovies]

Yes, can’t remember the details, but I topped up the basic travel insurance given with the bank account.

[@beachboy2836]

Thank you again for the great video, one more question are synthetic boots the way to go instead of leather ?

[@MinackerMovies]

It's a matter of choice, but I think the lighter the better as long as the footwear is supportive, grippy and robust enough. Some argue that it's better to have non waterproof for lightness and quicker drying, but I prefer my feet to be dry and only get wet in extreme weather, so prefer synthetic with goretex.

[@beachboy2836]

Thank you :)

[@Cloudwalker136]

Great info. Thank you..

[@philippkneipel3290]

Hi Alan, thx for the great video & info. What are the specs of your sleeping bag? Would be great to have a reference on comfort and limit temperature. I want to start the GR 10 in late may and i am not sure which sleeping bag to bring. As you said it can be below 0 even in Summer...

[@MinackerMovies]

Hi Philip, it is a really comfortable bag with a great hood and worked well on the GR10. I slept in leggings and light fleece top on cold nights but never had below zero. May is an early start so watch out for snow reports on high passes. Here is a link about the bag. I also have a Cumulus Xlite custom made, which is a bit lighter but less spacious. Happy hiking. backpackinglight.com/marmot_hydrogen_bag_review/

[@did61two]

thank for posting very interesting pack explosion

[@altekameraden6279]

bonjour moi aussi on marche sur le GR10 a 60 vieux old Thank´s for sharing your nice videos with good content! We´ll go this trail this summer 2021. Maybe we can inspire you as well!

[@MinackerMovies]

Enjoy your walk!

[@Foxtrottangoabc]

Good video thanks for sharing , its amazing what u can pack for that weight. To be 12-13kg all in is pretty good me thinks , and does take some effort and thought for that weight , thats pretty much what my pack weighs give or take various scenarios . 500gish for chair and spare footwear is pretty good trade off ! 🙂, can u tell us what make the footwear were as they seemed good for their weight ?🙂 cheers

[@MinackerMovies]

HI, I cannot find the shoes online now but they are EVA foam rubber (like Crocs) and I bought them from Amazon. There are still similar models with similar weight. Cheers, Alan

[@willpotter8343]

Thanks for that

[@RonnelB.]

Hey, what tent did you bring?

[@MinackerMovies]

It’s a Zpacks Plexamid.

[@RonnelB.]

@@MinackerMovies Thanks. Too rich for my blood!

[@Fff-tz5ik]

A lot of useless things..

[@MinackerMovies]

In fact I used all that stuff and found it useful. What did you think useless?

[@Fff-tz5ik]

@@MinackerMovies chargers for chargers, creams, silicon spoons.. sure everything is lightweight but still a lot of things. You can always find a use for all of that but It's way too much for me (and I only sleep outside when hiking)

[@MinackerMovies]

@@Fff-tz5ik Fair enough, but the silicon spoon actually saved more than its weight in water on dry camps as it scrapes the pot clean. I don't usually carry cream but a friend bought me this and I almost ditched it but after 20 days continuous hiking my feet skin was getting dry and I appreciated having it for the next 25 days. Can always buy some on route. Chargers for chargers? A solar charger doesn't charge phones directly, hence the battery. The battery doesn't hold enough between mains charging stops, can always carry a bigger, heavier battery, but its less flexible.

[@lewisboans3923]

What a silly comment. Kit is only useless at home, never on the trail. Its about compromise you should know this before making useless comments.

[@lewisboans3923]

Great video by the way 👏. I love seeing when other people pack for this trip. I personally packed to little kit on my HRP hike and wish I had that down jacket you have on those cold nights hahaha.