Those MSR groundhogs are great, I actually broke a rock over one a couple of weeks ago, pounding it into the ground.

@roberthammenrudh

11 ай бұрын

They are a very good choice for sure, brought a couple of 16 cm to try on my latest hike and replaced the longer 20 cm Tube pegs from Big Sky and they worked just fine. Same weight thoug so no weight savings unfortunataly!

Hello Robert - Jus found your channel today! Guylines are only a problem when you are tripping over them at night. I usually swap the supplied guylines with reflective paracord. No excuse for tripping over a properly guyed tent! Great video! Dave.

@roberthammenrudh

10 ай бұрын

First of all, thanks Dave 🙏🏻, and yeah, reflective guy lines are a must for sure, we all been there tripping over them when out late night peeing 😄👍🏻

@CorvusNumber6

10 ай бұрын

Lol 🤣 Totally! @@roberthammenrudh

My original mistake was buying a 120 litre Bergen and then loading up with (alleged) essential gear and a load over 22kg. Nowadays I use a 50 litre pack with a base weight of circa 7kg. In my defence, gear today is both lighter and more efficient.

I never use a pillow, not even at home! I hate using them, much rather tuck my arm under my head, surely I can't be the only one?

@shaggyterrell8460

Жыл бұрын

I'm sure you aren't the only one but you are definitely in the minority on this one 😂 I wish I didn't need a pillow, it would make things so much simpler.

@umaiar

Жыл бұрын

I use a pillow while I'm awake and on my phone or whatever. Sometimes my head is on the pillow when I fall asleep, but I almost always push it away when I'm sleeping. I take a Trekology 2.0, simply for some comfort when hanging out in my tent before sleep (during rain, having a nightcap, whatever).

@PolarRed

Жыл бұрын

@@umaiar I always knew I was not alone!

About the mat size I found best of both worlds with the new Exped Ultra LW. It's wide and tall where it needs to be so nothing falls to the ground but still ultralight and packs small. Good pillow is a blessing, I carry a Nemo Fillo even though it adds 200 grams.

Good information for cold campers. Here in Florida and the semi-tropical weather a tent is the closest thing to a sweat lodge. For myself a Jungle Hammock is 100% better. I'm not on the ground , plenty of ventilation , outstanding comfort and no need for a pillow. A self inflating sleeping pad 1/2 to 3/4 inflated work's wonders as insulation from the cold butt syndrome in a hammock. Something I did a long time ago , got a really large backpack (External frame , that was all a person could get back then ) and filled it with everything and anything. With a big pack it's human nature to overfill it with unnecessary ( unused ) items because the room is there. It's a case of wanting to take it and not actually needing it. Now I use a 25 liter Ultralight Pack. One word of warning ( I have done this a lot ) you will always be getting newer and better gear as time goes by , for me , it's been over the last 60 years.

@roberthammenrudh

Жыл бұрын

Never tried a hammock but maybe it’s about time… perfect for hikes below tree line since a flat and good spot for a tent sometimes is difficult to find. Thanks for sharing your experience 👍🏻

@Oldsparkey

Жыл бұрын

@@roberthammenrudh Do your self a favor and get a copy of Derek Hansens book "The Ultimate Hang " an illustrated guide to hammock camping. There are two different printings , the Original ( 130 Pages ) which is a typical paperback. Then the new and improved one ( # 2 ) ( 345 pages ) which is larger and jam packed with all sorts of information including a do it yourself section. I've been hammock camping since I was 13 and today I'm 79 and learned things from his books. Like in life , always improving and changing

@roberthammenrudh

Жыл бұрын

@@Oldsparkey thanks for the tip 🙏🏻👍🏻

@robingood62

10 ай бұрын

I agree, I am 61 and since a few years a convinced hammock hiker. Weigh is nearly the same but the comfort of sleeping and sitting is a different league. Just make sure, your hammock is long enough for a diagonal lay.

Letting myself get too cold before adding an extra layer, my hands were so cold I couldn’t release the fasteners on my rucksack or the zipper on my waterproof. I had to spend several minutes jogging and shaking blood into my hands before I could layer-up. Needless to say I take more care regulating my temperature now.

@roberthammenrudh

Жыл бұрын

Sometimes we are more stubborn than what’s best for us 😄 thanks for sharing!

I don't agree that a large pad is needed for a good sleep. I sleep well on regular or even short pads. So it's not a mistake, it's personal preference

@roberthammenrudh

Жыл бұрын

Yeah it’s absolutely correct, a personal preference but I also believe a lot of new hikers believes a regular is “regular” if you know what I mean… and find themselves uncomfortable and don’t like the activity and then quit… just like with a too heavy backpack. As a general recommendation I believe a wide pad fits most people and regular or also short pads as you mention is then a choice you make further ahead with and based on your experience.

Absolutely fantastic and useful upload bud. You have brilliant content!

@roberthammenrudh

Жыл бұрын

😀🙏🏻thanks!!

Based on my decades of camping/hiking/explorations: a) I rarely use the upper guy-lines. Only if there is serious indications the weather may change, or in high altitude. And I never had a problem. But always, ALWAYS use them if you're in altitude or may even a slight doubt that weather will change that day. It's all about using your brain... b) You have to be extremely careful when using rocks over pegs. The guy-line must not touch the rock or it may tear up. c) Sleeping pad. You forgot about the side-sleepers. A "regular" 20 inches pad will do most of the time for them. When you want the largest pad is during cold/winter camping so you get more insulation from the ground. d) R-value for pads. I've used a pad with an R-value of 3.0 for a loooong time, and this even at -40 Celsius below. It all depends on your setup, and what most people, and KZreadrs, are missing is the proper knowledge for a very good setup. So here it is: LAYER 1 You will always have condensation between your pad and the floor of the tent. To fight this, just go see a contractor and ask for some TYVEK then cut a piece of it the same size of your pad. Place it directly on the tent floor, then the pad over it. The condensation will be between the Tyvek and the floor. First, it will save you from having to dry your pad every day if you're on a thru-hike, and will also give you some surprising additional warmth. Why? Because water (condensation) conducts cold 25x faster than air.... LAYER 2: Your sleeping pad LAYER 3: A very simple emergency blanket made of mylar. LAYER 4: Your sleeping bag. OPTIONAL: I often carry with me a cheap car windshield sunshade. They are made of reflective and are a very little padded. I place it over the Tyvek and under the pad. PHYSICS 101: Your body heat will always want to warm what it is touching. So, you're loosing a lot of body heat to try to warm-up the air inside the sleeping pad. And since the pad is on the ground, it'll lose heat thru conduction. That's why insulating you from the sleeping pad with a simple thin mylar blanket helps a lot! EXPLORATOR'S Tip: Use Reflectix (bubble wrap + mylar on both sides) to cover the entire floor of your tent during winter camping. That's what it's used during Arctic exploration. It's ultra lightweight and makes an enormous difference! Note: having a TYVEX (or, worst case, a thin cheap tarp) at the bottom of your tent is very nice if you spill water inside. It'll keep you dry. Bottom line: Use a mylar emergency blanket over your pad and a TYVEK under the pad. You can also use TYVEK as a ground sheet. You'll save tons of money, will improve a lot. All this for under $5. e) Sleeping bag Instead of one sleeping bag for every conditions, have two sleeping bags and one slightly larger so you can insert one into another. Why do you think ALL military, including special forces with their big budget, are using a modular system? Now... if you're rich enough to spend $3,000+ USD on sleeping bags,then good for you! :) f) pillow Actually, it's a BIG mistake to have a pillow, ***IF*** in winter time. You remember what I just said with the pads? The same applies to an air inflated pillow. Your body is loosing 30% of its heat through the head. And your body will want to warm-up the air inside the pillow. So an air inflated pillow will just make things worst. And why adding even just a few grams if you can avoid it? Instead, make a pilow with your jacket! And you'll have a warm jacket in the morning. You can also put your boots flat on the ground, one over the other with the soles on each side. This too makes a pillow. the best istouse both: boots first, then your jacket over it. Another way is to put some clothing, or whatever else, in a stuff sack and use it as a pillow. I have one stuff sack to which I had a piece of fleece sewed on it to make a very cozy pillow using what I already have. that's perfect for winter and pretty good for summer. Now, this being said, you will have way less clothing withyou during summer time, and I doubt your smelly shoes would make a nice pillow. So, in summer, yes bring a pillow. There's nothing worst than a bad night of sleep! (Well, maybe seeing someone with the dream gear you always wanted, is worst than a bad night of sleep LOL) G) Backpack THE best is not to just take in account the main gear. But instead take all of the most common gear you'll bring with you, and place it in a garbage bag. This will give you a very good indication of what size of backpack you need. Simple, costs nothing, and does the job! H) Backpack #2 Actually, ***THE most common mistake of all*** whatever it's a one night trip or a thru-hike, is NOT to adjust your backpack properly. Most people are using their backpack in a way where most of the weight rests on their shoulders. BIG MISTAKE! Actualy, you shouldn't have any weight at all on your shoulders, or barely any. All the weight must be on your HIPS. This way, you're using your skeleton to take most of the load. To do this, you need to have someone with you and using a flexible measuring tape. A cheap one from a cheap sewing kit will do the job. You friend must measure the length from your neck to the hips. Or more exactly: a) Stand up straight anf tilt your head forward b) Your friend needs to locate bony bump where the slope of your shoulders meets your neck. This is the 7th cervical (C7) vertebra. that's the top ofyour torso lenght. c) On each side of your body, slide your hands down the ribcage to the top of your hip bones (aka the iliac crest). With index fingers pointing forward and thumbs pointing backward, draw an imaginary line between your thumbs. This spot on your lumbar is the bottom of your torso measurement. d) Have your friend measure the distance between the C7 and the imaginary line between your thumbs. That’s your torso length. Once done, check on the manufacturer's website to find out the exact setting for your torso lenght. Note, that somemanufacturers have non-adjustable backpack, but offers backpacks with different "settings". In doubt, just send an email with your torso length to ask for an advice. Also, don't forget to get your hip measurement (and be honest!) to make sure the hip belt will fit perfectly. Last, always start by making sure your hip belt is on your ....hips. then tight the belt. Onlywhen that done, tight the shoulder belts, but not too much. You should be able toslide your hand flat between your shoulder and the belt. The very last is the torso belt. I hope this will help, have fun!

Not paying attention to electrolytes! It can be the cause of fatigue, loss of appetite, coldness and make a great adventure become a miserable challenge.

@roberthammenrudh

Жыл бұрын

👍🏻

Hi Robert, A common mistake that everybody makes in the beginning is packing and therefore carrying lots of items that are surplus to requirement. Great channel and many thanks. T 🤟😉👍

@ladycake1515

Жыл бұрын

Like a tiny bottle of wine or beer ;)

@my_handle....

Жыл бұрын

@@ladycake1515 But Ladycake they are definitely necessary..... 🤟😉👍

@roberthammenrudh

Жыл бұрын

Agree… the knowledge of what’s needed comes with experience and are off course personal. What I appreciate and bring might sometimes be unnecessary for some… like a pillow 😄

Mostly good, solid advice. I had to chuckle about the stake angles. Fascinates me how many people don’t “get it” But the water one is dependent on where you’re hiking. Here in Northern California there are plenty of places where you cannot find water even in the forest (and forget about deserts). I was camping at one state park last week where I was told there might be flowing water to filter a km down in the ravine. Not my prefered option with a sunset arrival in camp. A month earlier, I was at a stunning site by the Pacific looking back at San Francisco. Surely there is water. Nope. 3km back and 200m up. None even at the trailhead where I’d expected some (thousands of tourists daily). So in both cases I ended up carrying 3+ liters of water for a shortish hike and it was only just enough.

@roberthammenrudh

11 ай бұрын

Yeah, water it tricky and one has to prepare and adapt so no general advice or rule applies other than a filter, can reduce the need to carry extra… if there is any water sources 😄🤷🏼‍♂️ and, sometimes there isn’t! Like you so well put it! Have carried 3+ litres myself at a few occasions and especially when doing coastal hikes. Salt water is no fun drinking… good for cooking though!!

@TimR123

11 ай бұрын

I actually envy the idea of being able to easily hike in areas with plenty of water and soft forest floors 🙂instead of dry areas with hardpan camping sites. Then again, come December, I can still go out with "3 season" gear :-) @@roberthammenrudh

@roberthammenrudh

11 ай бұрын

@@TimR123 and I envy that so, we are even 😄👍🏻

regarding pillow and wide mat, really depends a lot on how you sleep, as a stomach sleeper, i dont really need a big pillow, so a stuffsack with buff over works much better than a big air pillow - and a wide mat, dont really need it as my arms is beneath me - but i do agree for most (as most side sleep or back) wide mat and pillow definitely add to comfort

@roberthammenrudh

Жыл бұрын

Good point 👍🏻

I agree on not buying a pack before getting your big items. It's how new hikers end up with a pack that is too big or too small. I saw a couple hiking on my recent trip who had more gear attached to the outside of their packs than inside. But I disagree on dedicated pillows as a must. I think this is one of those personal choice items. I like something under my head while I sleep. I've taken an inflatable pillow and it was uncomfortable. I like to reshape my pillow depending on whether I'm side, back or stomach sleeping, which isn't possible with an inflatable pillow. I've used a stuff sac pillow but prefer my buff with clothes in it. It's part of the "items in the pack should perform more than a single role" philosophy - so even clothes have 2 roles if they become your pillow 😊

@roberthammenrudh

Жыл бұрын

Yes the pillow is debatable, agree even I I always recommend bringing one. Stomach sleepers can do without and some prefer like you a buff or stuff sack with clothes in it and multiple use is always god! 👍🏻

I dont agree with pillow one, I did the opposite and sold my Fillo Elite Pillow etc, there is way better solution - try your neck buff(mine is nice ling merino) and put puffy jacket into it plus some other clothes. I guarntee it will be the best and comfier pillow or closest to real one also. I loved it on my last hike! Slept like a baby.

@roberthammenrudh

Жыл бұрын

I completely understand that it work for some, but not for me! I often use my puffy for additional warmth (spring/fall) and for summer I might not bring it 🤷🏼‍♂️ but I have read a lot of people do it that way 👍🏻

@gregoryoutdoors

Жыл бұрын

@@roberthammenrudh ah just stuff it with anything you got haha I always have my sleep/camp clothes so can use my other ones as pillow etc

@roberthammenrudh

Жыл бұрын

@@gregoryoutdoors 😄👍🏻

@shaggyterrell8460

Жыл бұрын

I'm with Robert on this one, need the pillow, I toss and turn when I sleep. I think a buff filled with clothes or the like is uncomfortable, I'm waking up adjusting it all the time and it gives me a killer neck ache the next day.

👍👍👍 .. good points. Water .. I carry more than I think that I will be needing .. especially during hot, dry periods and when water sources are few and far inbetween. But then, I grew up on the Southern African Continent and have been thirsty, really thirsty on more than one occasion. Filters are good, but I always have a stock of water purification tablets on hand. They take up very little space and are generally failure-proof. Thanks for sharing .. take care ..

@roberthammenrudh

Жыл бұрын

Thanks… and Yeah water is important and stretches without you need to carry extra… I make sure I have at least containers for 2-3L with me… but maybe you need more where you hike?

@thomasmusso1147

Жыл бұрын

@@roberthammenrudh 👍 .. when on Ops, 6 litres was an absolute minimum. Normal hikes, I'm comfortable with two litres, providing water can be regularly sourced on route and even then, I 'top up' whenever I pass one. Old habits 😏.

@roberthammenrudh

Жыл бұрын

@@thomasmusso1147 ah ok… well here normally your ok with 1L unless hiking along the cost…a lot of lakes and streams everywhere. The most I’ve needed to carry has been 3L.

I placed an order with Big Sky International over a month ago based on your recommendations but they never shipped my order. I’ve emailed numerous times and never received a reply. When I call (at the appropriate time according to their website) there is no answer and no outgoing message. Thankfully they never charged my credit card and it appears to me that this company is no longer in business. Anyway, I appreciate your content!

@roberthammenrudh

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for letting me know and sorry to hear… I know the lead times can be long and that they have a poor customer service but they are still in business. I will send them a message and ask whats going on, promise!!

The iphone now has satellite emergency communication capability. You get it for free for a good while and Apple eventually will charge for the service i'm sure, but Garmin charges from the start. And if you have an iphone anyway, it means zero added cost for your next year or two of backpacking with an emergency sattelite communicator. As opposed to paying hundreds of dollars for the Garmin InReach 2 plus a cost for a service plan. I know there are other benefits to having a Garmin, but the number 1 reason was always the SOS option, which has now been supplanted by Apple.

@roberthammenrudh

11 ай бұрын

I agree it’s great IPhone on the iPhone 14 and up includes satellite SOS, but it’s also an expensive phone and not as reliable and rugged as other SOS devices. I have the 13 and it’s supposed to be waterproof, but I’m my latest hike, with a lot of rain it got a bit wet and then later then refused accept charging 🤷🏼‍♂️ took 12h after whipping it completely dry and close to my body for heat before dry enough to charge!! So, 🤷🏼‍♂️ personally I wouldn’t rely on an iPhone as an SOS in rough conditions.

@michelstronguin6974

11 ай бұрын

@@roberthammenrudh On another KZread video (that was made in recent days) I heard a rumor from a very reliable source, saying that the Apple Watch Pro 2 is coming out next month, and that it will be the first watch that has an SOS satellite communication antenna inside it, like the iPhone does. If this is the case then you are ok taking the watch and relying on it, because it has an insane level of water protection (as high or higher than the Garmin InReach 2), because it’s meant to go diving with. We will be smarter next month.

@roberthammenrudh

11 ай бұрын

@@michelstronguin6974 interesting… how the battery on those because that’s the biggest issue I have and the reason not using them for hiking and navigating! The “older” ones don’t last more than half a day on GPS mode… so if they haven’t fixed that I can’t see myself buying it just for the SOS and then have two watches on my wrists. But like you say… we will soon know a bit more about this. 🙂

@michelstronguin6974

11 ай бұрын

@@roberthammenrudh Yeah low battery is always a problem on the Apple Watch, but this year is a special year because after many consecutive years of having the same processor for the watch, this year we have a new and lower transistor size processor. Plus we aren’t talking about the regular watch, but the Ultra, which has double the battery size, and now paired with a smaller energy consumption processor, we may have a winner.

@roberthammenrudh

11 ай бұрын

@@michelstronguin6974 looking forward seeing and hopefully being able trying that one out in the near future 👍🏻

On pads your correct. I’ve backpacked since the 70’s. Back then you had no choice in pads, that is until therm a rest came out. But still no choice in width (back then) even with the therm a rest you had to buy a kind of sticky sleeve for over the pad so you wouldn’t slide off like an ice skater. As for a pillow, I’ve been watching all these vids about camping and all scream about a pillow, a what? I say. Well I broke down and bought one. Doesn’t weight anything but still wonder why??? One this you should mention on keeping warm is changing your sweaty underwear. ExOfficio give and go boxers are on sale today. $14 down from $26. I bought 2 so I wear one and rinse and quick dry the other. Cotton is death wether backpacking or ultralight packing, Cotton is death. My mistake was learning the hard way that cotton is death, oh and that tube tents suck really really bad when set up in a field on a windy night, but that one was on my Father, got my first eureka timberline when I got back. I’ve upgraded since then but served ably till I could afford better.

32 kilo on my back on the first overnight trip. And not drinking enough water.

@roberthammenrudh

Жыл бұрын

😱 32 kg would have killed me!! 😂 thanks for sharing!! Drinking water is important 👍🏻

Det är väl alla bra att ha saker man vill ha med sej som man har banta ner genom åren....//Anders

Skulle vara bra om du skriver ner alla grejer du rekommenderar. Kudden tex 😊

@roberthammenrudh

Жыл бұрын

Absolut, glömde det tyvärr. Är och reser nu men ska se om jag kan lägga till lite info ikväll, eller senare i veckan! Lovar 👍🏻