Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 days ago
Head to squarespace.com/paulmessner to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code PAULMESSNER
I took a walk in the warm summer breeze today to reflect on a trap we all fall into: overthinking our backpacking and camping gear choices. I break down my "87% rule," explaining how most reputable tents, backpacks, and stoves will do exactly what you need for the vast majority of your adventures. Even though I fully admit to being a gearaholic myself, I want to remind us all that the mountain doesn't care what tent you pitch, as long as you're out there making memories.
Big thank you to Ultralight Outdoor Gear for supporting us in 2026 geni.us/UltralightOutdoorGear
Last chance to WIN a FULL WILD CAMPING SETUP messner.co.uk
I've started sharing my routes over on Hiiker. They've kindly given me a discount via my affiliate link
https://hiiker.app/paulmessner?via=paul and then you can download to my routes here https://hiiker.app/users/6h3F8tE4psSp4WtyBUP5MUy8Bo22/hikes and use the app to navigate you. I'll be uploading all my future hikes here.
My Gear
Trail Running Shoes geni.us/UOGLonePeak
Tent durstongear.com/products/x-mid-1-tent-ultralight-backpacking
Backpack geni.us/UOGHyperliteUnbound55
Quilt geni.us/UOGVesperQuilt
Sleeping Pad geni.us/UOGNemoEclipse
Stove geni.us/UOGJetboilFlash
Mini Inflator Pump geni.us/UOGgigapump
Sambob Hoodie geni.us/UOGSamboAlpha90
Outdoor Research Helium Waterproof Jacket geni.us/UOGORHeliumUL
Pillows geni.us/UOGNemoFillo & geni.us/UOGNemoFilloElite
Little sit pad geni.us/UOGLittleSitPad
Mug geni.us/UOGS2Smug
Powerbank geni.us/UOGNitecorepowerbank
Charging block amzn.to/4ecLzUz
Water bottle geni.us/UOGThrubottle
Rab Down Jacket geni.us/UOGRabmythicjacket
Darn Tough socksgeni.us/UOGDarntoughsocks
First aid kit geni.us/UOGLifesystemsfirstaid
Little towel geni.us/UOGTowel
Wilderness Wash geni.us/UOGWildernesswash
All my other gear messner.co.uk/gearlist
Timestamps
0:00 - Overthinking our camping gear
2:15 - Getting lost in the specifications
4:04 - The 87% rule for tents
6:00 - Thanks to Squarespace
7:04 - Backpacks and stoves
8:28 - Why we want the best gear
10:14 - Avoiding expensive mistakes
12:06 - Waiting for the newest tent models
14:00 - The reality of buying unused gear
15:18 - Embracing the gear nerd life
All my other gear messner.co.uk/gearlist
Multi-day Hikes Playlists
Cumbria Way youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbU28ZzUOa49lK5YCmgcZRT1Q3_cIjR4o
West Highland Way youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbU28ZzUOa49qFqV3d99ATSR6T6bAL92U
Peak District Multi Day Hikes youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbU28ZzUOa49WHWTNtRYD5r2nkiwdNUch
Cairngorms youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbU28ZzUOa48Wxn3MGLWl3PJyEyV89Q5_
Timestamps
patreon.com/paulmessner
Join our Patreon community for additional videos, community WhatsApp style chats and more. MASSIVE thanks to YOU. I couldn’t do this without your support.
messner.co.uk
WIN a FULL WILD CAMPING SETUP
DISCLAIMER: This video and description contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission.
Head to squarespace.com/paulmessner to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code PAULMESSNER
I took a walk in the warm summer breeze today to reflect on a trap we all fall into: overthinking our backpacking and camping gear choices. I break down my "87% rule," explaining how most reputable tents, backpacks, and stoves will do exactly what you need for the vast majority of your adventures. Even though I fully admit to being a gearaholic myself, I want to remind us all that the mountain doesn't care what tent you pitch, as long as you're out there making memories.
Big thank you to Ultralight Outdoor Gear for supporting us in 2026 geni.us/UltralightOutdoorGear
Last chance to WIN a FULL WILD CAMPING SETUP messner.co.uk
I've started sharing my routes over on Hiiker. They've kindly given me a discount via my affiliate link
https://hiiker.app/paulmessner?via=paul and then you can download to my routes here https://hiiker.app/users/6h3F8tE4psSp4WtyBUP5MUy8Bo22/hikes and use the app to navigate you. I'll be uploading all my future hikes here.
My Gear
Trail Running Shoes geni.us/UOGLonePeak
Tent durstongear.com/products/x-mid-1-tent-ultralight-backpacking
Backpack geni.us/UOGHyperliteUnbound55
Quilt geni.us/UOGVesperQuilt
Sleeping Pad geni.us/UOGNemoEclipse
Stove geni.us/UOGJetboilFlash
Mini Inflator Pump geni.us/UOGgigapump
Sambob Hoodie geni.us/UOGSamboAlpha90
Outdoor Research Helium Waterproof Jacket geni.us/UOGORHeliumUL
Pillows geni.us/UOGNemoFillo & geni.us/UOGNemoFilloElite
Little sit pad geni.us/UOGLittleSitPad
Mug geni.us/UOGS2Smug
Powerbank geni.us/UOGNitecorepowerbank
Charging block amzn.to/4ecLzUz
Water bottle geni.us/UOGThrubottle
Rab Down Jacket geni.us/UOGRabmythicjacket
Darn Tough socksgeni.us/UOGDarntoughsocks
First aid kit geni.us/UOGLifesystemsfirstaid
Little towel geni.us/UOGTowel
Wilderness Wash geni.us/UOGWildernesswash
All my other gear messner.co.uk/gearlist
Timestamps
0:00 - Overthinking our camping gear
2:15 - Getting lost in the specifications
4:04 - The 87% rule for tents
6:00 - Thanks to Squarespace
7:04 - Backpacks and stoves
8:28 - Why we want the best gear
10:14 - Avoiding expensive mistakes
12:06 - Waiting for the newest tent models
14:00 - The reality of buying unused gear
15:18 - Embracing the gear nerd life
All my other gear messner.co.uk/gearlist
Multi-day Hikes Playlists
Cumbria Way youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbU28ZzUOa49lK5YCmgcZRT1Q3_cIjR4o
West Highland Way youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbU28ZzUOa49qFqV3d99ATSR6T6bAL92U
Peak District Multi Day Hikes youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbU28ZzUOa49WHWTNtRYD5r2nkiwdNUch
Cairngorms youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbU28ZzUOa48Wxn3MGLWl3PJyEyV89Q5_
Timestamps
patreon.com/paulmessner
Join our Patreon community for additional videos, community WhatsApp style chats and more. MASSIVE thanks to YOU. I couldn’t do this without your support.
messner.co.uk
WIN a FULL WILD CAMPING SETUP
DISCLAIMER: This video and description contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission.
