Uploaded December 2024 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
It's a fact: the lighter your pack, the easier the hike. You've heard it before, ounces = pounds and pounds = pain. I can testify to this fact.
As a new backpacker, its important to understand what you need to bring with you to ensure you have a comfortable experience, and what you don't need. Every trip could require slightly different gear depending on weather, and of course the length and difficulty of your trek. Until you get out there and test out your choices, you will inevitably carry way more than you need to. (food especially, for some reason, is always overpacked).
For a single, overnight trip on a relatively short trail, I'll bring cold beer, a chair, sometimes even a Duraflame log. On a long hike, or multi day trip, all the heavy luxuries are left at home in exchange for more water and food.
When it comes to gear, there are Ultra Lightweight options (UL), Lightweight options and there are Car Camping options (heavy stuff you'd never want to carry in a backpack).
My gear is primarily Ultralight, but there are plenty of ways I could shave lbs off of my loadout that I have yet to take advantage of. One of those areas is my 1 person, double wall tents, which consist of a fully enclosed mesh with a removeable rainfly along with tent poles. Single Wall, Dyneema Composite tents, usually with trekking pole set ups, have been the topic of YT hiking guru channels for a few years now, with hundreds of gear review videos covering every detail. These tents are usually at least a pound lighter than most of the UL double wall tents, and for those going UL, its the tent style of choice.
For me, it doesn't really matter. Carry whatever you want to carry, for whatever reason. There is no right way or wrong way to backpack. Gear is totally subjective, like your favorite color or food. Since the guru's cover gear so thoroughly, its never crossed my mind to discuss gear or my gear choices while filming my hiking adventures.
However, I have been asked more than once about my tents, my pack and other gear related questions. So I thought I'd piece together a short video on the topic. While talking about gear isn't my thing, if you find this info helpful in any way, let me know and I'll force myself to do a few more from time to time.
Otherwise, I'll stick to hiking and leave the gear videos to the full time YouTubers.
It's a fact: the lighter your pack, the easier the hike. You've heard it before, ounces = pounds and pounds = pain. I can testify to this fact.
As a new backpacker, its important to understand what you need to bring with you to ensure you have a comfortable experience, and what you don't need. Every trip could require slightly different gear depending on weather, and of course the length and difficulty of your trek. Until you get out there and test out your choices, you will inevitably carry way more than you need to. (food especially, for some reason, is always overpacked).
For a single, overnight trip on a relatively short trail, I'll bring cold beer, a chair, sometimes even a Duraflame log. On a long hike, or multi day trip, all the heavy luxuries are left at home in exchange for more water and food.
When it comes to gear, there are Ultra Lightweight options (UL), Lightweight options and there are Car Camping options (heavy stuff you'd never want to carry in a backpack).
My gear is primarily Ultralight, but there are plenty of ways I could shave lbs off of my loadout that I have yet to take advantage of. One of those areas is my 1 person, double wall tents, which consist of a fully enclosed mesh with a removeable rainfly along with tent poles. Single Wall, Dyneema Composite tents, usually with trekking pole set ups, have been the topic of YT hiking guru channels for a few years now, with hundreds of gear review videos covering every detail. These tents are usually at least a pound lighter than most of the UL double wall tents, and for those going UL, its the tent style of choice.
For me, it doesn't really matter. Carry whatever you want to carry, for whatever reason. There is no right way or wrong way to backpack. Gear is totally subjective, like your favorite color or food. Since the guru's cover gear so thoroughly, its never crossed my mind to discuss gear or my gear choices while filming my hiking adventures.
However, I have been asked more than once about my tents, my pack and other gear related questions. So I thought I'd piece together a short video on the topic. While talking about gear isn't my thing, if you find this info helpful in any way, let me know and I'll force myself to do a few more from time to time.
Otherwise, I'll stick to hiking and leave the gear videos to the full time YouTubers.
