Uploaded June 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've been reflecting on the wild camping gear journey we all seem to go through, from starting out with cheap army surplus kit to obsessively chasing the latest ultralight and high-tech specs. After ten years of making content across my two YouTube channels and testing countless stoves and tents, I've realized that the gear bringing me the most joy today is remarkably similar to the simple setup I started out with. Join me on the beach as I fire up my old reliable Storming Norman cone and talk about coming full circle in our outdoor adventures.
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.
Gear used in this video
Backpack geni.us/UOGFjallravenkajka
Bivi bag geni.us/UOGlifesystemsbivi
Sleeping Pad geni.us/UOGS2SUltralightXR
Quilt geni.us/UOGEEquilt20
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 amzn.to/4olrv78
Trail Running Shoes geni.us/UOGLonePeak
Stove no longer in production
Other Gear I'm currently using
Tent durstongear.com/products/x-mid-1-tent-ultralight-backpacking
Sleeping Pad geni.us/UOGNemoEclipse
Mini Inflator Pump geni.us/UOGgigapump
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
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
00:00 The wild camping gear journey
01:00 Phase 1: Cheap and heavy army surplus
03:00 Phase 2: Chasing ultralight gear
06:00 Squarespace sponsorship
07:44 Phase 3: High-tech and extreme weather gear
10:34 The epiphany: Gear obsession vs. enjoying the outdoors
11:25 Coming full circle
12:50 Re-evaluating the "why" of wild camping
15:30 The irony of returning to old reliable gear
16:26 What is your gear true love?
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've been reflecting on the wild camping gear journey we all seem to go through, from starting out with cheap army surplus kit to obsessively chasing the latest ultralight and high-tech specs. After ten years of making content across my two YouTube channels and testing countless stoves and tents, I've realized that the gear bringing me the most joy today is remarkably similar to the simple setup I started out with. Join me on the beach as I fire up my old reliable Storming Norman cone and talk about coming full circle in our outdoor adventures.
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.
Gear used in this video
Backpack geni.us/UOGFjallravenkajka
Bivi bag geni.us/UOGlifesystemsbivi
Sleeping Pad geni.us/UOGS2SUltralightXR
Quilt geni.us/UOGEEquilt20
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 amzn.to/4olrv78
Trail Running Shoes geni.us/UOGLonePeak
Stove no longer in production
Other Gear I'm currently using
Tent durstongear.com/products/x-mid-1-tent-ultralight-backpacking
Sleeping Pad geni.us/UOGNemoEclipse
Mini Inflator Pump geni.us/UOGgigapump
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
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
00:00 The wild camping gear journey
01:00 Phase 1: Cheap and heavy army surplus
03:00 Phase 2: Chasing ultralight gear
06:00 Squarespace sponsorship
07:44 Phase 3: High-tech and extreme weather gear
10:34 The epiphany: Gear obsession vs. enjoying the outdoors
11:25 Coming full circle
12:50 Re-evaluating the "why" of wild camping
15:30 The irony of returning to old reliable gear
16:26 What is your gear true love?
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.
