Funny topic, I’ve never carried a chair backpacking, and I can’t squat to save myself, but I’ve never had a problem sitting / lying on the ground or sitting on a rock or log? Except for the odd bull ant. To me hiking is connecting with nature and the more stuff we take, the more we move away from the beauty of nature. Enjoy your videos :)

Some practical detail on Greasing the Groove (GTG). You figure out your max reps before failure while maintaining good form. Then you do 1/2 of that number at regular intervals during the day. If you are too fatigued to complete one of these 1/2 sets in good form, you're done for the day. It's normal to focus on a couple of movements each day and allow for at least one day of rest before training these movements again. The method was developed by the well-known Russian coach Pavel Tsatsouline for people like firefighters and first responders who need to exercise without exhausting themselves, so they are ready for action at any time.

@josie8337

Жыл бұрын

That’s really helpful, thanks!

Good subject to discuss and exercise. Yes, I'm one of those who is in 70s and cannot squat. Obviously feels discomfort hiking stiff inclines. During boot camp of Korea Air Force, we were force to walk in squat position as a part of regular training routines.

I totally agree that improving a deep squat is very helpful as a hiker and backpacker, especially for sitting around camp, filtering water, and - perhaps most importantly - when you need to dig a cathole. I've been working on mine for a few years and it's proved to be invaluable.

Seriously one of your best videos to date. The pace of the video and the lesson within it, the visuals, and your actual talking was all top notch!!!!! Good on ya!

@ChaseMountains

Жыл бұрын

Thanks mate I appreciate the positive feedback

I'm Asian, I train squat, and I always bring a chair in my car for camping. It's not about mobility or strength, it's about being comfy enjoying camping especially relieving stress in the back. It's just not enough reason to make yourself uncomfortable after long hikes if you do not bother to devote proper time to strength training in my opinion.

@no22sill

Жыл бұрын

Well said

Because of your recent video on habits and consistency, I started medidating every morning for 5 minutes. I was still looking for a comfortable position. Now I got one! Two improvements in only 5 min per day! Thanks!

@ChaseMountains

Жыл бұрын

So happy to hear that!

In the Philippines, it’s normal for us to sit that way especially without a chair. When we camp, it’s normal for us to sit like that and we don’t complain at all. I guess, that’s how we are used to in my place.

@CM-pf1xc

Жыл бұрын

My Vietnamese friends too

Looking forward to starting these exercises and improving my ankle flexibility. This year all those bad habits of sitting too much have finally come back to haunt me in the form of foot injuries. Wide toe box and zero drop shoes have been a saving grace but I know that is only the beginning. I have to tackle the root problem or I will spend the rest of my life hobbling around like a disabled person and I still want to hike mountains before I die! Thank you for your great videos!

Best advice if there was ever any... New 2023 goals... starting greasing the groove today... thank you so much sharing...

Overall excellent video. Thanks for the information and highlighting the importance!

Awesome as always Chase, Keep up the great work!

Very well done. Thanks for the encouragement.

Hi Chase, another great video thanks, I’m just gutted I didn’t start your “knees” programme earlier but I’m getting there with the squats and walking in hills is so much more enjoyable already.

I have integrated squatting into my daily walk. That way I'm warmed up, and I find it more motivating to do the work in a beautiful outdoor location. (I'm lucky enough to live on the banks of Windermere in the English Lakes. I do my squats on the end of a jetty with a gorgeous view up the lake to the fells. Do I look eccentric? I guess I do, but why should I care?)

Great video! I am trail runner and somehow experimentally figured out a long time ago that squatting helps a lot on trails - I mainly do them as first thing in the morning and then try to fit some sets during the day. But the third part of getting uncomfortable and staying in a squat for a long time - never thought of that, it is great new direction and I am going to add it from now on. Thanks!

Great video! I've been working on my squat on and off and will use this as a push for more consistency! For anyone looking for a floor sitting working arrangement: I've been using a standing desk converter for a long time now, of the "Upstaa" kind of design (though there are a few brands that offer this type, and I actually built my own). It works really well for squatting, 90/90 etc. in front of your laptop, while still allowing you to use a keyboard at a height where you don't need to raise your shoulders (which gives me atrocious tension in the trapezius), your screen at eye level (which changes considerably from squatting to bum on the floor to sitting on your heels). AND you can just pop it on your dinner table for a spot of standing work when you get sick of sitting. And when you're done working, disassemble and vanish it in a cupboard, for a clutter-free living space. Love it!

This 70-year-old mountain biker started doing full, slow squats a few years ago as it seemed to be the best way to keep up, off the seat when biking. Plus, when heading to SE Asia I can easily squat sit for the duration- in conversation, eye to eye; or over a bowl of khao soi. It also helps when composing photographs. Thank you for the constant technique tips, and inspiration!

I've been really frustrated with my desk chairs and standing while working at my desk. I don't know why I never thought to work from the floor. I always sit with my feet up on the chair but in poor posture positions. I even have recurring shoulder and back pain when I sit at my desk too much. Standing too long causes other problems and pains in my body. I moved my standing desk attachment to the floor today and I'm so happy. I finally have the space to sit in odd ways but with better posture. Thanks for bringing up this idea. You've really made my day

Dude, great video as always. Super helpful. Love that you've obviously found the Squatty Potty ad- one of my favourite of all time 😄. Also, guess the real practical use for folks out there who like to thru hike is the obvious one- helps to not have to find something to lean on or a slope when we need to go do a #2 😉

@ChaseMountains

Жыл бұрын

Very true, having a good squat certainly helps in that regard.

Since I started doing weight lifting and thus the barbell squad, my ability to squat on a daily basis and remain comfortable for a long time has significantly increased AND only half a year ago I couldn't even put my feet fully flat on the floor when doing a squat. Simply by doing the weightlifting this solved itself ^^

Awesome info!!

Great information here, I'm tempted to give that coffee table workstation a shot. Thank you!

This is excellent. Thank you

Absolutely true. I recently had ACL surgery and my PT goal is to regain my full squat depth.

Excellent video!

Great advice as usual. Quads are absolutely smashed from wall balls yesterday. One of my favorite and least favorite squat exercises....LOL

My job as a pool guy has me very active and deep squats are no issue but I bring a luxury chair as a part of my recovery at camp. My back feels better and more recovered when I have a chair but I can't say it's necessary. Also in Arizona I like to be off the ground with the kind of bugs that may snuggle up to you here.

@ChaseMountains

Жыл бұрын

I can’t argue with that. Happy trails dude.

I feel like a lot of guys like me are in this boat and should be doing this exercise daily. My polymer automotive ramps again the garage wall work fantastic for heel elevation!

Deep squat used to be my superpower. Something I'd always been able to do. It's how I gardened. Until I broke my leg and ankle (gardening is an extreme sport!) Sadly, I now have so much metal in my leg and ankle holding it together that I just don't have the range of movement I used to, and that comfortable, deep squat I so loved is a thing of the past. On the bright side though, I can walk!!🥰

After hiking in with a ton of weight on my back, sawing and chopping wood, I think a chair is fine.

Thank you for your videos. They are easy to follow and enjoyable to watch. I notice your sleeping area is set up very simply and I don’t see any electronics on your bedside table. Do you have a video about how to set up a sleeping area to promote peaceful sleep? I do keep my phone next to me and use it for my alarm but I’m thinking this is probably not the best idea.

Watching this video while squatting. Got half way through and my calf started hurting. They're super tight. It's something i have been trying to work into my daily routine, especially if i drop something. It's the way little kids get down, they don't bend over they squat! Then we get lazy as we get older.

I'm trying to incorporate squats into my life as several people around me basically held the same discourse as you do. Thing is, when I go down, about halfway through, one of my knee starts cracking/creaking and continues to do so until the end of the motion. I've setup appointments to check it out but for now, all I've got is "rest and take painkillers". I have other appointments with other people coming up because I think painkillers are not a solution because the issue probably comes from not moving enough in the first place. Do you think I can continue with the squats, ever so slowly increasing reps while avoiding any pain or could that be detrimental? I really want to get rid of my stiffness and painkillers and rest are not going to help. I don't know how long it will take to find a physician that will help me out instead of giving me painkillers and I don't want to grow old with bad knees.

Where were these videos of climbing/hiking taken? Looks gorgeous.

Hi mate, I've been getting into barefoot hiking since a few months and you've been a massive source of inspiration and guidance. After watching one of your vids I bought the vivo barefoot esc boots and man these shoes are amazing. I could have never imagined trying new shoes on a 3hr hike without a single moment pain or discomfort, it's astounishing. I've been struggling with knee, leg and feet pain my entire life and going barefoot changed everything in an undescribable way. Recently picked up some toe spacers to help reverse my unnaturaly shaped small toes and now I'm keen to get rid of my old socks whom are still bunching up the lot. I was wondering what kind of socks you are currently wearing. Been going through your vids but the only thing I could find was a video about the silverlight socks. Would you still recommend these now that you've gone barefoot entirely? Of has your preference changed? Thanks so much in advance and keep rocking🙏🤙

I’m sixty, I squat, backpack, sit in the lotus position comfortably w/o training. I like to lay back on a suitable rock or on my backpack propped up. I like car camping too and pull out the chair, but most times I have to supplement the chair, no matter how expensive, with lumbar or other supports. I find it ironic that these issues do not come up while backpacking…without a chair.

@perryh.-r.4419

Жыл бұрын

I'm glad you point out the posture issue! That's what I thought this video was going to be about, from the title. I have yet to find a camping chair that doesn't make me retrovert my pelvis and round my back.

Never seen anyone use wedges, but I can attest a good squat is like having a stool anywhere. Sure you might look a bit like a gopnik from a distance, but it's worth it. If you can, i'd skip the extra accessories. Those wedges look as heavy as a chair or the superior hammock (if hiking below tree-line).

my kids still (age 7 and 9) will sit down in a deep squat when they're playing or just stopping to check something out. It's definitely a fundamental movement. I bet part of the reason they still can do it is because I homeschool them so they're not locked into a chair for 8 hours a day.

Chase.. what microphone are you using?

I suppose a good goal would be to watch this entire video in a squat position. With that said, squats used to be horrible for me until I switch my diet to WFPB and lost some weight. Started exercising more too, which the diet made more physically feasible for me. I can now squat down without my fat innards pressing up on my diaphragm and suffocating me. Adding more squatting time (no, not shitting time) to my routine seems like a good idea.

Hey, I just saw the title, and like it ;)

I better have a spare pair of shorts available before I start 😉😂 but joking aside …. I am going to start doing this as I find more and more just even getting up off of the floor is a struggle … heck I couldn’t even get out of my camp check without rolling out of it … sad 😞 Thankyou for giving some hints and tips on how to get started 👍👍

What is the best way to tell what parts are limiting your squat? I think I probably have the ankle flexibility but not mobility(strength). I also probably need to open up my hips more, but I don't know what the biggest limiting factor is. Also, would you recomend holding a dumbell in out in front of you to center your weight instead of or in addition to elevating your heels?

@ChaseMountains

Жыл бұрын

The video linked at the end of this video is a real good start.

It all sounds interesting, but what kind of caveat for those of us with torn ACL? Thanks for the great content!

@ChaseMountains

Жыл бұрын

Depends on how recent but if you can walk, you can probably start loading in this way safely. Regress by placing as much of your body weight off your legs and onto chairs or whatever supportive structure - as much as necessary in order to do the movement pain free.

Squatted while watching this video. Thanks for the reminder!

Whoa! Never even considered any of this but it clearly would be beneficial to incorporate into my life. I think I'll start by getting up from my couch with good form. No laughing....older overweight people have to start somewhere! :)

I found a good way to build being able to squat ATG comfortably was Zac Talenders 5 minute squat. Literally just sit in a squat for 5 minutes a day until it’s easy to sit low

@ChaseMountains

Жыл бұрын

the ido portal method is the same but 30 mins. 5 mins is definitely less savage and much more reasonable for most

@Walkerxy

Жыл бұрын

@@ChaseMountains at that point you are learning to meditate not just squat

Hi ! Have you been in the lakes in the UK recently ? I swear I saw you in patterdale !

@ChaseMountains

Жыл бұрын

Not me! I must have a Doppelganger

I was curious about any circulation issues connected with long term squatting. Or even short term such as numbness.

@ChaseMountains

Жыл бұрын

for sure if you squat for long enough you get numb. but the more you squat the less numb you get

The issue I get when squatting is a loss of circulation past my knees. This leads to slowly but consistently rising pain that becomes too much before even 10 minutes have passed. What can I do about this issue?

@ChaseMountains

Жыл бұрын

If you’re getting to 10 minutes and doing it most days you’ll find you’ll improve rapidly. No shame in standing up and shaking it out when you get numb. Realistically we just aren’t meant to sit in one position for long periods of time, numbness is just the bodies reminder that we have to move - this is something we don’t get when sitting in a chair

@Disciple612

Жыл бұрын

@@ChaseMountains Awesome, good to know. Thanks for the reply!

Generally what is the width of both feet and is the knee facing front or slightly slanted outward? These makes a big difference to me in terms of how comfortable it js

@nobodynoone2500

Жыл бұрын

Depends on the person. Experiment and find what works for you best to start. Then expand on it a bit and you will have more options to be comfy. I find I change squat position over time.

Interesting .. and I envy those with the ability to squat. Even as a child, I was never able to squat; my leg muscles and joints would just seize up .. and it got worse with age. Now at 72 🙄. Chairs for hiking? Haven't tried one yet.

I am Asian and I can squat, just not too long. I am working on getting back to hiking and backpacking shape. I will add squatting to daily to-do.

I have bad veins (an inherited condition) and squatting for more than a few minutes cuts off circulation to my legs, which results in me fainting once I stand up. Kind of frustrating.

@nobodynoone2500

Жыл бұрын

You can keep working on it, and do some cardio to help circulation. It can get quite a bit better with some effort.

I was just thinking about this the other day, wondering if I could restore my squatting ability (my heels don’t fully touch and it’s difficult to balance). I’m always watching my toddlers and their perfect squatting ability 😅

@ChaseMountains

Жыл бұрын

Wonder no more! You certainly can :)

Love the squat, the squat saved my life, I'd rather squat than sit and even squat when I $#it! No Joke...... #2 let's change the subject from #2 to, what kind of workout shorts do you wear? I ask because I like the ones you wear in this video not too short not too long, please let me know and thank you! Always great content

@ChaseMountains

Жыл бұрын

These ones I think, in most cases are Brutal Buddha shorts!

Squats are always in season. I recall the New York Times ran a article earlier this year basically saying what you’re saying - that everyone should squats, it’s the one exercise everyone should be doing every day.

@nobodynoone2500

Жыл бұрын

NYT is a terrible news rag, but it's still true!

I have never even see a Brazilian hiker bringing a chair

The radio station that I DJed at in college, would always do a deep resting squat competition. One time, at one of our Halloween parties the competition went for 2 hours between me and this one Asian dude. I won. I was definitely cutting off the circulation to my lower legs by the end of that, but truth be told, I probably could have gone for another hour. Deep squats suck in tight pants. I much prefer doing them in shorts.

When you hike a 50 km day, with a 12 kg pack at the age of 60....a chair is a godsend.

Cool

I squat in the shower. Every time. I also use that time to rehab my one ankle.

Whatever makes you happy and works for you - go for it. Personally I’m am using a very small tent and my Helinox Zero is by far my best friend when on trail and looking at the view, eating, relaxing, cooking etc. I am so over sitting on the wet ground, on a rock, on a tree stump etc.

@dju-dju

Жыл бұрын

This is not what this video is about

@Valaran1

Жыл бұрын

tell me you didn't even watch the video without telling me

@dustyoldhat

Жыл бұрын

@@Valaran1 lol.

I do squats, and still like my camp chairs lol. To each their own

I'm 43 and never have I ever been able to do a "deep squat".

If you have high heel shoes you can skip the little heel ramps!

I work a 12 hour day on my feet with 30 mins lunch in a chair. Give me a recliner, give me a bar stool give me a couch on Sunday please.

@ChaseMountains

Жыл бұрын

Honestly, a job on your feet it a blessing in disguise

I never sit in chairs period. In fact, I haven’t sat down since 1997.

@ChaseMountains

Жыл бұрын

Your squat must be epic

@lukepaulson3428

Жыл бұрын

@@ChaseMountains Butt below heels! Squat supremecy. 🤣

@dustyoldhat

Жыл бұрын

I don’t even touch furniture of any kind, I sleep on the floor and squat on the ceiling

I find I can get down OK. But then I have to use my arms to get up again .

Resting in a squat is a great way to keep from ruining your pants, instead of sitting

Sitting on the ground isn't of any importance. It's way overrated. Sitting in a chair is no worse. I do totally agree on the need for squat mobility.

Right on time! need to get quicker if i want to housebreak another puppy...

Yes. Squat like a true slav. Who needs chairs when you can use your own skeletal structure as a chair.

*sees title - feels annoyed - watches first 5 mins* ok cool, 44yr old, can comfortably deep squat no issues, regular yoga, climbing, weights, hiking, off to buy camping chair have been eyeing off for luxury ;)

Wait, how old are you?

I was like hmmm I might need train to do this, then I tired to squat and it was just fine no issue cause I am asian (Middile East) :]

This video had nothing to do with camping chairs. What you're talking about is excessive, passive sitting in the daily life. Having a chair after a full day of hiking for few hours really isn't that big of an issue.

My boobs literally get in the way of squatting. It's irritating having to work around this dumb body part.

This video is overreaching and a bit dogmatic. Take a chair if it makes your hiking experience more enjoyable. Be happy :) I agree that most people could benefit from more hip mobility and sending less time sitting, but really the effect of the little bit of time you spend sitting in a chair after a hard day's hiking is basically zero. If you can't sit on the ground comfortably, take that as a signal that you might need to work on your flexibility, but don't worry about fixing the problem while hiking. Fix it at home when you have spare energy, not out on the trail. All upright resting positions (incl squatting, sitting cross-legged, etc) have some drawbacks, sitting in a chair is possibly one of the least harmful ways to sit. I have vein damage in my lower legs from the way my feet pushed into my legs when sitting cross-legged. Other positions can cause strain on your wrists if you lean on your hand for support. In essense, I wish the title of this video had not included that last "[and neither should you]" bit, it would have made the whole premise more palatable.

@ChaseMountains

Жыл бұрын

I actually agree with you but the fact is that is that without a polarising title, people are unlikely to see the video at all. Sad but true.

@interwebslinger

Жыл бұрын

@@ChaseMountains I appreciate the response. Perhaps just changing it to "[and neither should you?]" would garner the same amount of views but be kinder to the viewers by allowing them more space to think for themselves and draw their own conclusions.

Just wait till you get past 60 😀

Stop buying "stuff" and adding more weight to carry.

Очень круто! спасибо! 🙏🏻

Weight. Period.

The only reason why I don't deep squat much is purely because my taint stank fucking fills my nostrils No I don't have an infection Yes I put a shitton of deodorizing body powder on that area Yes I have debated lathering deodorant on my underwear more than once or spraying some goddamn perfume or something I'm sorry, I just have bussy stank and I don't wanna have a whiff of that