Backpacking Gear I Regret Using
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Date: 2020-08-18
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Comments and reviews: 9
Kona
Boots are application specific. Off trail hikes in rocky terrain, I want good boots not trail shoes. Backpacking on well traveled trails? Lightweight hiking shoes for me. Make sure your boots fit and are broken in long BEFORE you go.
Same for a charger/extra battery. If you hit towns every few days, leave it home. If I'm in the backcountry for a few weeks, I bring an Anker solar charger & a storage battery. My phone is useful tool, so I can charge it and use apps, even where there's no cell service. It's nice to watch a movie or listen to music if your stuck in your shelter for a few days due to weather, or to take photo's, etc. My light uses a rechargeable battery, too. My storage battery will completely recharge my dead phone 3 times before needing a recharge. Plus, in a back country emergency, you will get cell service before you get to a town.
That is my 19 ounce luxury item (combined, charger & battery. yours may be different.
Unless I'm specifically going into snow, no gaitors. I've had my MSR MiniWorks for almost 2 decades, so I keep it and the only things I get at a gas station are gas and angry (at all the taxes on a gallon of gas, lol.
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Boots are application specific. Off trail hikes in rocky terrain, I want good boots not trail shoes. Backpacking on well traveled trails? Lightweight hiking shoes for me. Make sure your boots fit and are broken in long BEFORE you go.
Same for a charger/extra battery. If you hit towns every few days, leave it home. If I'm in the backcountry for a few weeks, I bring an Anker solar charger & a storage battery. My phone is useful tool, so I can charge it and use apps, even where there's no cell service. It's nice to watch a movie or listen to music if your stuck in your shelter for a few days due to weather, or to take photo's, etc. My light uses a rechargeable battery, too. My storage battery will completely recharge my dead phone 3 times before needing a recharge. Plus, in a back country emergency, you will get cell service before you get to a town.
That is my 19 ounce luxury item (combined, charger & battery. yours may be different.
Unless I'm specifically going into snow, no gaitors. I've had my MSR MiniWorks for almost 2 decades, so I keep it and the only things I get at a gas station are gas and angry (at all the taxes on a gallon of gas, lol.
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Greg
Great video.
hiking boots: I prefer real boots - love my Vasque hiking boots. I've found soar of the Merrel Moab are too thin and I feel the rocks too much. I prefer something thicker and stiffer. I do love my Merrels for walks, really short hikes, and as my general-use shoe. For running on the road: Under Armor Thrill 2 are much too soft and offer no support, Asics Gel Venture 4 are a little too hard, Asics GT-1000 are great.
Cell phone charging: you can't have enough extra power with you.
Sleeping pads: being able to sleep is my single biggest problem while hiking or camping. I can't sleep on the ground. This sleeping pads are useless. I need to try some inflatable pads.
Water filters: I have a MiniWorks EX, but I have not used it yet.
Gear that I think is over-rated:
hydration packs. I prefer bottles. They are much easier to drink from, to clean, and to fill. They are also less expensive.
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Great video.
hiking boots: I prefer real boots - love my Vasque hiking boots. I've found soar of the Merrel Moab are too thin and I feel the rocks too much. I prefer something thicker and stiffer. I do love my Merrels for walks, really short hikes, and as my general-use shoe. For running on the road: Under Armor Thrill 2 are much too soft and offer no support, Asics Gel Venture 4 are a little too hard, Asics GT-1000 are great.
Cell phone charging: you can't have enough extra power with you.
Sleeping pads: being able to sleep is my single biggest problem while hiking or camping. I can't sleep on the ground. This sleeping pads are useless. I need to try some inflatable pads.
Water filters: I have a MiniWorks EX, but I have not used it yet.
Gear that I think is over-rated:
hydration packs. I prefer bottles. They are much easier to drink from, to clean, and to fill. They are also less expensive.
reply
Roger
The Thermarest folks should be ashamed of themselves regarding the poor customer service that they gave you in the first place. The rest of us hikers don't have the sort of clout that is needed to get them to finally wake up and realize that what they did was not in their best interest. Glad things worked out for you in the end and I can only hope that what you brought to their attention, is something that translates into better service for us all, you tubers or not. Keep on making the great videos. See you down the trail.
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The Thermarest folks should be ashamed of themselves regarding the poor customer service that they gave you in the first place. The rest of us hikers don't have the sort of clout that is needed to get them to finally wake up and realize that what they did was not in their best interest. Glad things worked out for you in the end and I can only hope that what you brought to their attention, is something that translates into better service for us all, you tubers or not. Keep on making the great videos. See you down the trail.
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ANCHOR440
I looked this charger up and it's only a 5 watt charger. That's really weak. Perhaps a 15 watt charger or higher would have worked out better for you. I use one with that kind of power output, 15W, and it works beautifully for me; lessens my time off trail or literally while I'm hiking, don't have to stay in towns, or carry a power bank. My Anker, Power Port Solar, weighs 12. 5 ounces. It used to cost about 50-some. I only use my phone and a small flashlight on trail. My only electronics.
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I looked this charger up and it's only a 5 watt charger. That's really weak. Perhaps a 15 watt charger or higher would have worked out better for you. I use one with that kind of power output, 15W, and it works beautifully for me; lessens my time off trail or literally while I'm hiking, don't have to stay in towns, or carry a power bank. My Anker, Power Port Solar, weighs 12. 5 ounces. It used to cost about 50-some. I only use my phone and a small flashlight on trail. My only electronics.
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Rustin
Panties in a wad/bunch was an archaic expression men used to belittle women into thinking feeling strongly about something equated being hysterical. I get that a lot of people grew up hearing their parents use this expression and continue to use it without considering its meaning. I had this boss who, whenever a man was upset, he'd take the guy seriously. but whenever a woman was upset he'd roll his eyes & say, she's got her knickers in a twist.
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Panties in a wad/bunch was an archaic expression men used to belittle women into thinking feeling strongly about something equated being hysterical. I get that a lot of people grew up hearing their parents use this expression and continue to use it without considering its meaning. I had this boss who, whenever a man was upset, he'd take the guy seriously. but whenever a woman was upset he'd roll his eyes & say, she's got her knickers in a twist.
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Amira
I love my Lowa boots, so does my partner -- they're fantastic! When we go hiking/portaging on rocky and wet trails hiking runners are way too slippery. Also with regard to solar panels, there are better ones that you can leave attached to your pack with some carabiners and they charge your phone the entire time while you're hiking. We rely so much on solar when we're out and we love it!
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I love my Lowa boots, so does my partner -- they're fantastic! When we go hiking/portaging on rocky and wet trails hiking runners are way too slippery. Also with regard to solar panels, there are better ones that you can leave attached to your pack with some carabiners and they charge your phone the entire time while you're hiking. We rely so much on solar when we're out and we love it!
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Nautik
What I'm hearing here is don't ever buy a Thermarest, because the only time you'll ever get any customer service is if your complaint is on YouTube, front and center of a good sized audience. That's a massive fail on Thermarest's part, and as someone that's currently looking for four new sleep pads, there's no way I'd go with a company with that terrible of customer service.
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What I'm hearing here is don't ever buy a Thermarest, because the only time you'll ever get any customer service is if your complaint is on YouTube, front and center of a good sized audience. That's a massive fail on Thermarest's part, and as someone that's currently looking for four new sleep pads, there's no way I'd go with a company with that terrible of customer service.
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Random's
i love how some companies cant do anything to help you until they find out you blast them on the air over social media, then all of a sudden the president of the company is calling you personally to see with they can do to help you and will have a replacement flown to you via company helicopter over night if thats what it takes to make you happy.
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i love how some companies cant do anything to help you until they find out you blast them on the air over social media, then all of a sudden the president of the company is calling you personally to see with they can do to help you and will have a replacement flown to you via company helicopter over night if thats what it takes to make you happy.
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Rachael
I think its pretty lousy that the only reason Therm A Rest reached out and apologized is bc you have popular videos and a big audience. Thats pretty bad. I wont be buying their products. I am not a fan that kimd of business practice.
Shame on you Therm a rest!
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I think its pretty lousy that the only reason Therm A Rest reached out and apologized is bc you have popular videos and a big audience. Thats pretty bad. I wont be buying their products. I am not a fan that kimd of business practice.
Shame on you Therm a rest!
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