Going through the Shenandoah this past April, I linked up for a time with 2 through hikers - both carried chairs. One stated he couldn’t imagine not having his chair. The other commented, “My base weight STARTS with my chair!”

I try to give new comers as many tips as I can. Your list is very good, well done. One thing I would add would be: When planning meals at home before the trip- put each days lunch and snacks in a separate ziplock. In the morning before you put your food into your pack, take the lunch out and carry it in the mesh pocket out of the pack, snacks can go in hipbelt pockets or shoulder pockets. I will also keep anything I might need throughout the day in the mesh outer pocket. Rain jacket, lunch, snacks, CNOC bag/Sawyer Squeeze, trowel/tp are all things that go in the mesh on my Ohm2.0. I never need to open my pack throughout the day. Which is more efficient, and when backpacking-efficient is good. Something else I try to tell new people, try not to get caught up in "every ounce" counts at first. Take whatever you want if it ensures you'll be comfortable and happy. Over time you can fine tune your loadout to what you really need. That's one of the best part of backpacking. The evolution process. I've been backpacking for half of my life (2+decades) so what works for me, might not work for a newer backpacker. If they were to copy my loadout they might not be very comfortable, and that could affect how much they are enjoying it. Some people require very little, some people require much more, but most of us fall somewhere in the middle. Everyone is different, and that's ok. We all need to find what works for us and our own personal needs on trail. Not really any "short cuts" in that department. Embrace the process. Learn as you go. It is extremely individualized, there is no "right way" or "wrong way." Also take a few minutes each night and each morning to stretch out, at 42 my body definitely doesn't feel as good as it did at 30, but a few minutes of stretching really does make a difference, it just takes a little bit of discipline. Happy trails y'all

@cmhd1997

2 жыл бұрын

whoa, how big is the mesh pocket? The one on my Gregory Amber is the biggest I've had so far, but I don't think I could get all my daily essentials in there

I don't take a chair and I don't sit on the ground. I don't sleep on the ground but elevated above it. Here in Florida with the heat & humidity I call the tent a Sweat Lodge. That's why most of my camping is with a good Jungle Hammock. The hammock doubles as a chair , longer and bed. Water bottle holders are also great items for carrying a large canister of Bear Spray. On canoe trips I take a regular , normal , camp chair. It's folded and laid in the canoe and my backpack is laid on it to keep it up/off the bottom of the canoe.

Thanks for tips from S.Korea.

Man your Bonus Tip was what its all about for me. Through our little KZread channel we did encourage some family members to get some gear and come out with us on their first backpacking trip! It was a great experience and they'll have these silly videos to look back on and remember. I started out just doing them for me and kids but everyone has a sphere of influence to engage with. Great video brother!

You’re right about the chair man. My base weight is 8lbs but one of those pounds is a chair. I can’t and won’t give it up. An interesting chair you might want to look into to review is the Litesmith Quikback. Not a full feature chair, but I’m heavily considering getting one as they’re under 3oz and will give my back the same rest as my helinox.

@TheIamyourmother

2 жыл бұрын

Now you've got me considering that chair! Qwikback plus a Z Seat or similar makes for a padded sitting area with back support for about 5oz... That's hard to beat.

I have been hiking 30 years, I would go with uninsulated raincoat and layers of Merino wool underneath. Same bulk more versatile. Merino wool has highest comfort temperature range available.

@john_kelley

2 жыл бұрын

I did that with a rain coat and alpaca hoodie this weekend.

@paulmphoto

2 жыл бұрын

@@john_kelley alpaca is great too!

Thanks John

@john_kelley

Жыл бұрын

You're welcome

The first tip is so important. I decided to walk across America on a whim. Got all my gear first and backpack last. Couldn't fit everything in the pack and ended up having to ditch my inflatable sleeping pad. 🤣

Agreed on the chair! Friends laughed at first, then got some themselves. Im not looking at a tiny table for when sitting under my hammock tarp in my chair in the rain

Spot on John !! The water part is great . I have switched to the chicken tramper because of you and love it . Working on getting the chair next. Older and hard to get out of 🤣

Looking good brother. Keep it up

I would have loved a down jacket but living in Wisconsin it's normally humid but more importantly I sweat alot when going up hill so synthetic is easier to dry and still works damp.

Great tips! My #1 is of course, water, water, water, especially with the dog.

I use a platypus bladder. The problem is, you never know for sure how much is left, so I have a reserve bottle. When the bladder runs dry, I have the reserve to go through while I look for a new water supply.

Great video Mr Kelley, sage advice, every point was spot on

Crazy accurate, sir John!! Wisdom just flowing out ya mouth on all points!! Excellent vid, bro!!

Good advice 👍

I’m one of those hikers that scoffed at backpacking chairs but have to admit the new Helinox High Back looks very tempting for shorter trips.

Great tips!

Hey buddy how's it going. Man that was good advice. As a beginner those are things that you would never think about. It's always good to remember and pass those advice. Thanks to you it help me get back on the trail a little more with my kids. I hope you and your family is doing well buddy. Thank you for sharing this a video.

I do long miles(15-20) and carry a camp chair and make a fire every day

John I purchased a chair 0 and really wanted to like it, but after using it in the house for 2 weeks I took it back to REI because it just did not feel stable. Take Care

Good video - informative, high energy, and good visuals. As a point of agreement, although I have 9 foot arms, unless I had two elbows on each arm, I can’t get to the water bottles either. This is a critical flaw of most backpack designs that must be remedied. Water bottle holders either need to move to the shoulder straps, or further up on the hip belt, and hip belt pockets need to be move forward and not simply start immediately where the belt leaves the pack.

Great video! Was wondering what you find to be the most comfortable sleeping pad for a bigger guy (275lbs) thanks for all the great content

@jadoncampbell2740

2 жыл бұрын

One of the closed foam pads might work. Also if you lose a little bit of weight it will make it so you can get more miles per day.

Disagree with the backpack buying a smaller bag helps keep the weight of crap down, you pack less you know 😉 great video as always John!!😁✌️💚

Came for the content. Stayed for the jazz hands.🥾

What do you identify as? A Hiker or a Camper? Agreed on the backpacking chair. It is a must for me regardless of the miles.

@john_kelley

2 жыл бұрын

I’m more of a hiker on longer trips and a camper on overnight and weekend trips.

@MetroOnTheMove

2 жыл бұрын

​@@john_kelley I am primarily a hiker but camping is a lot more fun when you are out there in comfort. Hope you are doing well my friend!

I have a 110 Liter backpag ... Vor max loading ... But If i only need 40 Liter ... No Problem ... I load only 40 😁👌...but i have 110 Liter If i need

Great video especially the part about water resources. I was wondering what's the name of that table you had during the chair footage video I think it was a table? 6:47

Made the water supply mistake on one of my first real trips and the creek was dry. Hiked 20miles with one liter and was really in a bad spot. This is when I didn’t have light gear either.

All awesome tips. I have a ghost whisper jacket but mainly hike in tn and ark do you have some recommendations on a synthetic jacket ?

@RugMunchKing

2 жыл бұрын

The ghost shadow. It is essentially the synthetic version of the ghost whisperer

We will never go without our chair zeros no matter how many miles we do in a day! The water thing though....were you hearing about our trip last weekend??? Lolol. Everyone told us there was plenty of water...they lied.. we had to hike 20 miles on Saturday to get to water 😂😂 and we are not beginners... It happens to the best of us no matter how much we prepare sometimes 😳

What about synthetic down has does that work

A chair? I'm either on trail or in my sleeping bag. Lol

But what chair? Is there a cheap and light option?

I was a little offended how you describe hikers "making small chat" in the evening while the campers are sitting around a fire "laughing" and obviously having meaningful conversation with substance.

A treated down jacket performs pretty darn well. I know from personal experience. But if you wanna check out a informative video on that check my life outdoors video on it

It's a simple little thing but a chair is something i never even though about im more or the camper then i am the hiker but do love the walk so i can travel a lot of miles a day so wanna keep my bag light under 50 lbs what are your suggestions on a good light weight chair

@pileofplastic

2 жыл бұрын

I use the helinox chair zero (1lb) it's a little low to the ground and pricey $120 but it works for me I'm 6'3" 250lbs. The chair one is a bit larger and almost twice the weight and there are also some from treckology that weigh around 2lbs and cost around 40 bucks I've personally never used either tho.

@davidmiller4734

2 жыл бұрын

@@pileofplastic thank you i dont mind price as long as the item is worth it so thank you ill look into those within the next paycheck or two

@pileofplastic

2 жыл бұрын

@@davidmiller4734 np happy trails 👣

Shhhhhhh don’t tell Kyle about the chair.

backpacking chairs......"if you take this crack cocaine two or three straight days in a row , you may never go another day without it again." It's OK....point on the KZread John where backpacking hurt you. All that stuff that makes my gear closet look awesome ....is awesome. Just can't take it all cuz it hurts me in the all over.

If you are cold, 💩 in a bag and pee in a bottle, then sleep with it and pretend its a hot water bottle and warm towel ....no charge my guy!!!

Acts 16:30-31 King James Version 30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.