Good tips from Hayley on Set to Hike.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Ugreen’s 145W, 25,000mAh Power Bank
Increasingly on the trail, I need reliable power.
My latest purchase is Ugreen’s 145W 25,000mAh portable power bank.
… 3 ports: a USB-C port for charging the unit at a maximum power of 65W — capable of being fully recharged in 2 hours using a 65W AC charger — and for outputting up to 100W, another USB-C port that supports outputs up to 45W, and a USB-A port that allows for outputs up to 18W.
… a small LED panel designed for a singular purpose — to display the battery capacity …
- Battery capacity: 25000mAh
- Total output: 145W
- Charge protocols:
USB-C1
USB-C2
USB-A - Bi-directional charging: Yes
- Dimensions: 16 x 8.08 x 2.67 cm
- Weight: 505 g (1.11 pounds) !
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
There are other better, heavier, and more expensive options.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Apple Watch for Photos / Videos 2025
My main use case is taking a photo / starting video recording remotely.
Of course I put my iPhone on a tripod.
- Camera Remote on Apple Watch is fantastic. Within about 33 feet or 10 meters it provides these options:
- photo timer delay
- switch Camera (front or rear)
- LIVE PHOTO (auto, on, or off)
- all iPhone camera modes work with the app — aside from panorama
- framing the photo / video from a distance is a plus
- I always use LIVE PHOTO to later choose the best image
- I set up the iPhone to get closer to birds / animals. And then click remotely when they are in frame.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Valentine’s Day Hike
Take your significant hiking parter on a trail today.
My Drones CRASHING Montage 😀
I can laugh now — but each was traumatizing in the moment.
My first drone was the inexpensive Mavic Mini SE.
Though careful, I crashed it a LOT.
And finally killed it completely flying into the restaurant doors … twice.
Upgrading to the DJI Mini 4 Pro, I’m unlikely to crash. Often.
It has VERY good obstacle avoidance.
This montage includes perhaps half of my crashes.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Books for Hikers and Backpackers
The world’s most accomplished hiker, Cam Honan, has updated his list of BEST BOOKS for hikers. Expanded to include more than 90 works divided into eight categories: 1. Educational; 2. Guidebooks; 3. Humour; 4. Inspirational; 5. Literature; 6. Memoirs; 7. Philosophy, and; 8. Ultralight.
It includes his own wonderful and inspirational coffee table books.
Vancouver Island Dawn Beach Photos
by BestHike editor Rick McCharles
When I’m visiting Parksville on Vancouver Island — my parent’s home — most mornings I pick up coffee and head to Rathtrevor Beach, my favourite on Vancouver Island.
Walk with coffee.
Most mornings I take some wonderful photos.
Rathtrevor Beach, Vancouver Island PHOTOS
Most mornings at dawn I walk the most scenic beach on Vancouver Island IMHO. 😀
Here is a SLIDESHOW of some of my favourite PHOTOS over the past 4-5 weeks — late summer 2024.
Outdoor Videographer Kyle Kotajarvi
If you post online photos and videos of your hikes, you’ll related to this video.
Frustration.
Kyle is terrific. But — like all of us — things go wrong. Video projects stall.
Life goes on.
Kyle points out that the unused footage in his hard drives is still valuable. We should enjoy the process, not the resulting footage.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube. Like and subscribe.
Van Neistad (and his brother Casey) both believe perfectionism is BAD for most of us on YouTube.
Create. Post online, good or bad. And LEARN from the experience.
Over time your content should 😀 … improve.
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 |
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