JupiterHikes has some NEW ideas for me. And I’ve tented in the wild hundreds of nights.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
My Hiking Gear 2024
I haven’t much changed my gear for overnight hiking over the past few years.
If it works, don’t fix it.
Biggest change is my photo / video equipment: phone, drone, and action camera.
I’m no ultralight hiker. 😀 For me the drone and two powerbanks are worth carrying.
My BestHike YouTube channel is high priority on these trips.
Below is a list I’d guesstimate to be 90% accurate for most trips. Of course I’d add food for the number of days needed.
| SLEEP |
| MSR Hubba NX tent |
| MSR Hubba NX fly |
| 5 stakes & MSR aluminum poles |
| FLEXTAILGEAR Portable Tiny Pump 2X. |
| Therm-a-Rest NeoAir® XLite™ NXT MAX |
| NeoAir® UberLite® short (pillow & Bup mattress) & patch kit |
| Enlightened Equipment Revelation Quilt |
| extra large waterproof garbage bag |
| SHOES |
| Sketchers Men’s Go Walk Outdoor-Athletic Slip-On Trail Hiking Shoes WIDE |
| New Balance 1260s 4E 9.5 w additional insoles |
| CLOTHING |
| Therm-a-Rest pump sack = bag for clothing |
| Plastic bag for dirty clothes |
| Medium length wool hiking socks x2 |
| Janji Transit Tech Pant |
| Columbia OutDry rain jacket |
| Lifaloft Insulator hooded Jacket with stuff sack |
| Baleef Running shorts x2 |
| red Nike quick dry t-shirt |
| wool t-shirt x2 |
| 1 x ballcap black |
| black summer weight BUFF x2 |
| PERSONAL |
| toiletries waterproof bag (green) |
| fingernal clippers |
| ASA |
| Tums |
| Vitamins (gummies) |
| first aid kit with bandaids |
| sun screen |
| tiny Swiss Army knife |
| Hand Sanitizer – 1 oz bottle |
| Prescriptions – Blood Pressure |
| bright orange flagging tape |
| toilet paper TP |
| plastic toothpicks |
| toothbrush |
| toothpaste |
| FOOD |
| Spoon |
| tiny scrubber |
| fuel (1 medium) |
| Ursack XL black |
| 2 long lighters |
| water bottles (2 x litre soft drink empty) |
| water purification tablets (Acquatabs) |
| lemon pepper, Chili flakes, soup spicey stock |
| fire starter blocks |
| JetBoil ZIP stove |
| PACKS / BAGS |
| Hyperlight 3400 Windrider |
| Matador day pack |
| documents – guidebook pages, paper map |
| ELECTRONICS |
| DJI Mini 4 Drone and accessories |
| 2 PHONES |
| 1 USB C, 1 USB A cable |
| EarPods and cable |
| red waterproof electronics bag |
| library audio books |
| Apple Watch w cable |
| Threaded to GoPro adapter for tripod |
| GoPro to threaded tripod mount adapter |
| Ace Pro Action Camera & extra battery |
| Fotopro uFO 2 tripod (.5 pound) |
| plastic phone tripod adaptor |
| Nitecore NU25 headlamp and cable |
| Anker Power Bank PowerCore Essential 20000 (342gm) |
| Ugreen 145W Power Bank (2024) |
| Hip Pack – with Quad lock attachment for phone |
| Wallet |
| Cash |
| credit card and bank card |
| 2 x Sunglass clip-on, flip-up |
| APPS |
| Maps.me app |
| Google maps offline app |
| Guthook App (I have subscription) |
| AllTrails PRO (I have a subscription) |
| Peakfinder |
| Otter (voice notes) |
| Libby (library books) |
| Merlin (bird ID) |
| ReLive (mapping) |
| Weather |
| Photos |
NEW book – “Hike It”
Hike It: An Introduction to Camping, Hiking, and Backpacking through the U.S.A. Hardcover – June 25 2024
… fully illustrated book is the perfect introduction to enjoying America’s great outdoors.
Explore 20 National Parks with incredible trails that take you past snow-capped mountains, along stunning coastlines, and through ancient forests, and discover the majesty of nature with glorious artwork throughout. …
Young adventurers 7+ will learn about:
• Navigating, and what to do if you get lost
• Essential hiking equipment
• How to leave no trace and protect the environment
• Pooping in the woods!
• Staying safe in the heat, snow, and rain
• Fire safety and setting up camp
• Encountering wildlife and safety
• Locating the North Star and understanding the night sky
My Therm-a-Rest NeoAir® XLite™ NXT MAX
The most popular sleeping pad on the Pacific Crest Trail these days is NOT the lightest.
It’s the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir® XLite™ NXT.
I opted for the slightly heavier, rectangular Therm-a-Rest NeoAir® XLite™ NXT MAX Sleeping Pad. Not inexpensive at CAD $340.
That shape completely covers the bottom of my 1-person-tent, keeping everything cleaner. And dryer.
I hike and cycle in rainy, muddy destinations. Iceland in 2024, for example.
I’ll be carrying it a lot for BikePacking where weight matters less.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Great pad. But VERY SLOW TO FILL using the supplied inflation bag.
I decided to purchase the tiny USB powered FLEXTAILGEAR Portable Tiny Pump 2X. (CAD $46)
- 96 grams
- inflate sleeping pad
- deflate sleeping pad
- stoke outdoor fires
- flashlight
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
I Love TENT Camping
Do YOU have trouble sleeping in a tent?
OFTEN it’s simply a matter of trying out different sleep systems. And getting used to it.
Personally, I enjoy a solo evening tent camping. The best thing I ever did was buy a one-person-tent.
IF two people can stand each other living in the same tent, they could certainly get married. 😀 It’s VERY close.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
These two are just about to head off for an around the world tour.
NEW Hubba™ LT Backpacking Tent
Not widely available as yet.
It will be released first in US / US & PacRim.
I LIKE the increased amount of mesh.
But certainly I’d NEVER buy a tent this white. It would be filthy in no time.
I’ve been a Hubba guy for decades. Purchasing perhaps 6 — so far — using the old parts to put together additional Franken-tents.
The current zipper system is a bit awkward, BUT I wouldn’t want them to change. It seems durable enough, for me.
The BIG problem with Hubba tents is the pole. It will be the first thing to break and it’s difficult to repair without extra parts.
MSR started to switch to Easton Syclones (below) — but that system was no more durable. And splintered.
My newest is a European Hubba NX with the stealth camping green fly and original red poles. I trust the old poles slightly more.
Without the fly, the tent is much cheerier.
If you MIGHT be interested in the LT, Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
This was the spot, camping on the Rhine in the rain, when my Hubba tent pole snapped for no particular reason. I’d not dropped nor stepped on it.
The 4th Hubba pole to break on me in the wild.
I somehow stayed fairly dry with that broken tent pole.
How Darwin Backpacks his GEAR
BÆRSkin Tactical Hoodie 3.0
BÆRSkin sent me their latest update of their fantastic hoodie to test for hikers.
It’s an impressive piece of kit. I knew instantly as I looked first at the zippers. High quality.
Typically zippers are the first thing to fail on tents and jackets.
I wore it cycling and hiking on a cool day in the Pacific Northwest under my rain jacket.
I was plenty warm.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Bottom line ➙ this will be the BEST hoodie in your closet.
But — for me — it’s too heavy and bulky for hiking. Instead, I’ll take it car camping and wear it outdoors on windy, cool days in the off season.
Highlights:
- 12 Secure Pockets
- Reinforced SAB Zips
- Long baseball style hood peak to keep wind / rain away from your face. Love it.
Click PLAY or watch a more detailed review on YouTube.
Columbia OutDry Rain Jacket – a REVIEW
I’ve been wearing Columbia OutDry jackets since they were first released.
AND I bought one for my Dad. 😀
My OutDry makes me feel invincible in wind and rain. The water protection is on the OutSide.
Traditional Gore-Tex inner liner jackets have never worked well for me.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube. Steven’s opinion.
In another video, Steven compares ALTERNATIVES to Gore-Tex type jackets. Umbrellas. Ponchos. Etc.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Nighttime Tenting Routine
Thru hikers attempting the Pacific Crest Trail in one season must be efficient.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
besthike.com 