The Gear You WANT vs The Gear You NEED

The Gear You WANT vs The Gear You NEED

Check out Garage Grown Gear: https://geni.us/AlGAz

*The Backpacking Gear I use:*
Zpacks Arc Haul: https://geni.us/9WSlG8y
ZenBivy Light Bed: https://geni.us/sYvMe
BA ZOOM UL Pad: https://geni.us/pWpe6
Duplex Zip Tent: https://geni.us/OOhn
Plex Solo Tent: https://geni.us/reUOLKS
Toaks 650 ML Pot: https://geni.us/UD9ebpz
Pocket Rocket Deluxe: https://geni.us/eFQukK
BearVault 450: https://geni.us/Iet0r
Hilltop Food Bag: https://geni.us/k9MNDBR
Bogler Trowl: https://geni.us/VUndA
Farpointe Alpha Hoodie: https://geni.us/fdIA
Zpacks Rain Jacket: https://geni.us/Gv15
Gossamer Gear Umbrella: https://geni.us/kI9FMH
Nitecore NU25 UL: https://geni.us/ldPZ
Nitecore NB10000: https://geni.us/ptM4Xm
Helinox Chair Zero: https://geni.us/79QH

Disclaimer: Some of these links are affiliate links where I’ll earn a small commission if you make a purchase at no additional cost to you.

Videos talking about gear I recommend:

The Gear I Choose Over EVERYTHING Else: https://youtu.be/B1GRbEBRPv8

$166 Makes All The Difference: https://youtu.be/yvIOHaPzZco

23 Pounds With Food and Water: https://youtu.be/wT-sVpGPnnQ

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Camera Equipment I use:
Camera: https://www.amazon.com/Canon-Full-Frame-Mirrorless-Processor-Mechnical/dp/B08BVT9CK2?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=mylifeoutdo0b-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=985b8dd09c8cd919205b0f1afd452b8c&camp=1789&creative=9325
Camera Lens: https://www.amazon.com/Canon-RF-15-35mm-F2-8-USM/dp/B07WFQYJYP/ref=sr_1_4?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=mylifeoutdo0b-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=a5f57d3577aa168679b56b3342451325&camp=1789&creative=9325
Audio Mic: https://www.amazon.com/Rode-VideoMicro-Compact-Camera-Microphone/dp/B015R0IQGW?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=mylifeoutdo0b-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=3d9533fad5e899a7a780cb6e62634c35&camp=1789&creative=9325
Tripod: href=”https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07KD3R47X?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=mylifeoutdo0b-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=0f75c43e7b1c91e656eb340036b64241&camp=1789&creative=9325
ND Filter: https://www.amazon.com/PolarPro-Peter-Mckinnon-Filter-82mm/dp/B08KJHCXWW?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=mylifeoutdo0b-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=761771f93fa765be5154f52027e82ac4&camp=1789&creative=9325

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50 Comments

  1. @blackdeath4962 on June 15, 2025 at 11:38 am

    Wisdom

  2. @iamgroot4080 on June 15, 2025 at 11:39 am

    You’ve got not so good system.
    You are never exposed to every (normal or emergency) situation on one or multiple hikes… So one time You will pack all the "necessary" things based on Your previous trips and will not be prepared for new situation

  3. @Eunegin23 on June 15, 2025 at 11:39 am

    Thank you! That’s advice for life, not just for hiking.

    The first 20 years I packed too much and brought stuff I never used. Took a while to get everything adjusted…
    And: there’s a cultural factor (European-American family here…).

  4. @dennisp.945 on June 15, 2025 at 11:39 am

    15 pounds. Yeah right

  5. @FreedomandBaconHomestead on June 15, 2025 at 11:41 am

    Well said – "do I really need THE BEST?" There is always something more to buy and at some point, you just gotta get out there and enjoy the outdoors with what you have at the time. If you are looking for perfect comfort, backpacking and camping isn’t for you. 😀

  6. @sednasix6608 on June 15, 2025 at 11:41 am

    3:46 – playing this back at 1.5x speed really took away all the "slickness" behind acting like you’re different than "all the others" that shill out for products on their vids.

  7. @highdesertdrew on June 15, 2025 at 11:42 am

    Having a system to eliminate unused/unneeded gear is really important. Unlike trying to remember, I just keep checklists. I try to keep a bag/bags packed, so if the opportunity to go comes up, I’m gone. Sometimes when I am getting ready for a really big trip, I have a tendency to take a bunch of garbage I don’t need and end up never using. I find that having my bag packed at least a week ahead of time, and a printout of my checklist right there gives me the peace of mind to know I’m packed, and not have to worry about the good idea fairy showing up at 10pm the night before I leave to screw up my plans.

  8. @hervevazeilles3790 on June 15, 2025 at 11:45 am

    Are you kidding me? Affordable, gossamer, six moon? Affordable a $300 tent a $125 tarp? You are really so far away from reality, you could be on another planet. a 6 foot by 10 foot sheet of plastic for $125 is not affordable. Try $5 and now we are talking. I know you must sell your stuff to make your money. But stop pretending your videos are anything else but ads.

  9. @dsien on June 15, 2025 at 11:46 am

    What’s the stackable container at 1:23?

  10. @monicakim9143 on June 15, 2025 at 11:46 am

    I often take notes on my trips. I log the food i ate each day, temps, and gear notes.

    I am not an ultra lighter by any means but I do normally bring many extras into the woods and that has helped me really reduce my pack weight even without purchasing ultralight gear.

    Also love GGG!

  11. @MyLifeOutdoors on June 15, 2025 at 11:47 am

    Check out Garage Grown Gear: https://geni.us/m2tzeVo

    *The Backpacking Gear I use:*
    Zpacks Arc Haul: https://geni.us/3pBiA
    ZenBivy Light Bed: https://geni.us/5319bg
    BA ZOOM UL Pad: https://geni.us/gprgMe
    Duplex Zip Tent: https://geni.us/Agxnca
    Plex Solo Tent: https://geni.us/ahG1KjD
    Toaks 650 ML Pot: https://geni.us/yfCYqCh
    Pocket Rocket Deluxe: https://geni.us/3MrUHA
    BearVault 450: https://geni.us/qJ0A
    Hilltop Food Bag: https://geni.us/nh21IP
    Bogler Trowel: https://geni.us/evIJfd
    Farpointe Alpha Hoodie: https://geni.us/EGWb9nd
    Zpacks Rain Jacket: https://geni.us/7BYPG
    Gossamer Gear Umbrella: https://geni.us/Sd687
    Nitecore NU25 UL: https://geni.us/3ThMg
    Nitecore NB10000: https://geni.us/uVqBML
    Helinox Chair Zero: https://geni.us/Zremfj

  12. @trailsandbeers on June 15, 2025 at 11:47 am

    For me the camping part of a trip is just staying dry and not dying while taking sleep breaks, I have a bivy, tarp-poncho and sleeping bag that weigh combined 2.2lb, and I use a 20 liter pack. The only comfort I need is a small light pack for easy hiking.
    The advantage is that I mostly hike in Europe and the Swiss Alps and am never more than 48 hours from passing through somewhere to buy food and I can usually get water easily in the mountains with just the Salomon soft flask filter so carry minimal food, no cooking gear and only 1/2 -1 liter water max.
    I do take poles, head torch, shit kit, first aid kit, camera gear, wallet, phone, keys, chargers but is not too heavy and fits in a small pack.

  13. @BrokenCurtain on June 15, 2025 at 11:51 am

    The dealing-in process you described could be a bit problematic.

    For example, I’m sure I’d use my portable espresso maker on every trip, but would I need it? Probably not.

    On the other hand, something like a battery pack can come in handy in an emergency situation. And items like band-aids etc. never get used until they’re needed.

  14. @ethanhaley1425 on June 15, 2025 at 11:52 am

    I think for me it comes done too choosing how much weight I’m comfortable carrying and idk why I came up with this number but 15kg is my comfortable weight and anything I can fit into that weight I’m aloud to take becuase I definitely won’t be overloading myself

  15. @cloudcitydigital on June 15, 2025 at 11:53 am

    Nitecore is my new favorite company, I have about 5 of their products, including the two you listed.

  16. @carlosleos5152 on June 15, 2025 at 11:55 am

    I thought this was going to be a list 😅

  17. @davidfuentes3594 on June 15, 2025 at 11:56 am

    Excellent channel, provides very good information. Now, it depends on what you need and where you’re going, as well as how long you’re planning to stay – that’s what you’ll need for your trip. For example, I’m from Costa Rica, and here, most of the mountains are of a very high level. There isn’t much paramo; the majority of them involve ascents of over 5 kilometers over muddy terrain with a lot of vegetation around and obstacles on the way. Additionally, it’s very likely to rain at any time of the year, so going with the lightest gear is important because what goes up must come down, and coming down can be more dangerous than the ascent. Greetings, pura vida!

  18. @ryancline1448 on June 15, 2025 at 11:58 am

    So "expensive" is a wildly subjective word….although one may find six moons to be affordable another may find a 300-400 price tag to be out of reach….backpacking in general is an expensive hobby….and the elite ultralight gear is thousands…..lanshan gossamer gear…hyke and byke and wise owl offer some decent gear in a budget range but it does bring an overall pack weight to 16-18 lbs base if coupled with a heavier "budget" pack…in my experience….but absolutely I agree that you can achieve workable long distance gear sets for around a 1000.00-1500.00 dollars for everything.

  19. @ondrejlopatka on June 15, 2025 at 11:58 am

    Great video. Appreciate that you use also the normal measurement units in the video.

  20. @MikeIsCannonFodder on June 15, 2025 at 11:58 am

    If you have something you used last trip but not this trip, do you do best 2 out of 3 or do you generally treat the latest trip as most accurate?

  21. @peterfiggis8284 on June 15, 2025 at 12:00 pm

    That big knife looks suspiciously like an ax 🙂

  22. @Qibbles on June 15, 2025 at 12:01 pm

    but there are things that you hardly use but actually need – how do you determine what these are?

  23. @charlesadams2932 on June 15, 2025 at 12:04 pm

    Next thing you know you are asking yourself…do I really need this toothbrush handle?, or can I lop it off and use half a toothbrush lol

  24. @sylv_ain on June 15, 2025 at 12:05 pm

    I don’t do ultralight and don’t even have expensive gear and my base weight is already in the 10lbs. No need to break the bank when brand like naturehike and decathlon exist

  25. @kevywilliams3304 on June 15, 2025 at 12:08 pm

    Not so smart… haven’t used my hot blanket ever … not leaving without one .

  26. @TheGlovesMan on June 15, 2025 at 12:10 pm

    Till 1:50 no real things are shown.

  27. @dhandymandarren3074 on June 15, 2025 at 12:10 pm

    600 dollar 4:06 tents how is that cheap

  28. @ryimscaith1593 on June 15, 2025 at 12:12 pm

    I agree with the constant re-planning. I’ve done that myself over the years, and as a hiker/camper/survivalist/prepper, I went in stages.

    My Get Home bag weighs 1.2 lbs. It sits in my car for emergencies, and is only taken out once a year for inspection.
    My Bug Out bag weighs 10 lbs. Again, only taken out once a year for inspection.
    My Hiking Bag only weighs 3.7 lbs. I don’t need a lot for a day hike, though the kit is packed for 72 hrs worth.
    My Camping Gear weighs in a 58.3 lbs. Most of the main mass is the UP-2 Tent and tent stove, but, I admit, at 51 years old, I take a lot of comfort items. I am NOT going camping without coffee.
    My SHTF Gear weighs in at 62.9 lbs. A bit of the camping comfort gear is replaced by survival gear … okay, by a LOT of survival gear. With this pack I can survive anywhere, any season, for any length of time. It makes allowances to either travel constantly, or build and farm.

    I know I went a little off topic there, but my main point IS your topic. You have to balance between Need/Want in any of them. I’ve seen Bug Out bags that weigh more than my SHFT bag, and campers that have well over 100 lbs of gear (walking in, not with campers or ATVs). It also comes down to what you can carry, and how mobile you’re going to be. I used to carry a 60 lbs pack with another 20 lbs of gear when in the military and would cover 20 miles in a day. These days, that would kill me, lol. Though I’m betting I could still cover 15 miles with my SHFT gear if Ihad to, though 10 seems more reasonable to me. I usually only cover 5 miles when camping.

  29. @Tamara52211 on June 15, 2025 at 12:15 pm

    something you forgot you need is navigation. this is not optional, unless you are in known territory or not moving at all 😁.

    also, a stove definitely is in the „want“ category, not in the „need“ category, unless you hike in super cold weather. you can eat all backpacking food cold soaked.

    otherwise, I agree with the video, its always good to reconsider if you need something, although many times I found that I absolutely need something on one trip (e.g. headlamp) whereas on others (above the arctic circle, or when not doing long enough days to need night hiking) I can just get away with the light on my phone.

  30. @Toocurplants on June 15, 2025 at 12:16 pm

    yeah, things you need vary from person to person. So you defo need to think if YOU really need this. You might consider tools and solutions that serve you or your group

  31. @nai8498 on June 15, 2025 at 12:16 pm

    i love your pace of speech and the intonation you use it makes listening really engaging

  32. @lucavenuti5875 on June 15, 2025 at 12:17 pm

    the only thing that i recomend EVERYONE to bring is 20/30 m of paracord, can save life for almost no weight and no volume…u can attach it to the buckle of the bag

  33. @chlo1343 on June 15, 2025 at 12:18 pm

    As for the backpack weight, I don’t think all those "alpha men" with big bags and big legs realise the impact of all this weight on your back through the years…

  34. @PerryHunter on June 15, 2025 at 12:18 pm

    No dirt burritos though.

  35. @icambrian on June 15, 2025 at 12:19 pm

    1:24 Product link for these containers?

  36. @aa-tx7th on June 15, 2025 at 12:20 pm

    not a gun guy

    despise guns

    despise gun advocates

    99.999999% of people that have guns should not be allowed to have them. ever. but neither should they be allowed to drive or vote. thats why we’re in all this mess after all…

    but if i ever go out alone out in the wilderness im taking one. even if guns were locked behind several years’ worth of classes and training and extremely stringent background checks and accountability (which they should be if not banned outright which they should be obviously) there’d be no hoop i wouldnt jump through in order to have a loaded firearm powerful enough to instantly k!ll an adult male polar bear (let alone brown or black) on me the entire time im out there.

    crossing a river? rifle.

    skipping across a verdant flowered meadow? uh….. rifle.

    taking a sh!t? believe it or not. rifle.

  37. @desperadodeluxe2292 on June 15, 2025 at 12:25 pm

    Do cottonballs instead of earplugs. They can be burned. Used for first aid.

  38. @rodparker6530 on June 15, 2025 at 12:26 pm

    Ooofff, put those ear plugs back in. Once you’ve had a bug in your ear between 1am-3am and can count how many legs it has after it has crawled all over your eardrum…. Put them in before bed and sleep through till dawn.

  39. @dhandymandarren3074 on June 15, 2025 at 12:26 pm

    4:50 literally just went to website want a 20 dollar spoon or 15 dollar pee cloth wtf bunch gear not regulated or tested for just as much if not more than name brand. Get an rei membership instead. Stuff is cheaper there.

  40. @Frindleeguy on June 15, 2025 at 12:27 pm

    Dont let the gatekeepers get to you. "a real man does x" is the hallmark of a very, very insecure person. That statement is completely worthless.

    I’ve done some manly things like serving during OIF and OEF, being paid towear all black and kick doors, spending months in the bush… And when i go to the bar I order peach drinks and frozen margaritas. At 6’6" 290 lbs I get some funny looks, but a secure person, man or not, does what works for them and enjoys life as they see fit, not anyone else…. F those dorks.

  41. @user-sb9wf6zl3m on June 15, 2025 at 12:27 pm

    Dont need clothes or shelter if you grow enough hair. be a man.

  42. @dhandymandarren3074 on June 15, 2025 at 12:28 pm

    3:37 bs

  43. @canadianehbignorth7325 on June 15, 2025 at 12:29 pm

    My packs almost always 30-35lbs… but I only hike so that I can then camp. lol. I want the chair, the hammock, eggs in the mornings, the whole bit. I’ll turn a 35km hike into a 5day ordeal. I spent 13days doing a one way 162km canoe trip that people have raced "their and back" in something like 36hours. lol It’s the little pleasures. Enjoy it while you can.

  44. @jenniferbates2811 on June 15, 2025 at 12:29 pm

    Isn’t hiking and camping meant to be enjoyable? Why would people be giving him shit about anything. It’s do odd to me.

    I’ve never been hiking or camping myself, but I want anyone who does just to have a great and safe time.

  45. @Renni-kg6vf on June 15, 2025 at 12:30 pm

    Honestly I do think the hiking obsession with weight borders on insanity.

  46. @manuelmetallica on June 15, 2025 at 12:31 pm

    When does this guy actually goes backpacking? 😂

  47. @mwaynem on June 15, 2025 at 12:32 pm

    Decades ago Ray Jardine wrote an article on how to backpack light. He had just completed the Adirondack trail. One thing that stood out was all gear that he made himself for pennies on the dollar. Ray is no fool he is one of the most accomplished climbers to ever climb in Yosemite. You don’t do that with cheap gear and live. So if he cut corners to save weight he didn’t throw safety out the door. He was pointing out the hypocrisy in the backpacking industry. Alot depends on the climate and terrain as to what is necessary and what you you can get by without. I like that you always look for a balance between needs and comfort. Thanks for sharing.

  48. @That1kid0G on June 15, 2025 at 12:33 pm

    Could I possibly not use a tent, like a hammock and a cover for rain and bugs, wouldn’t something like that reduce weight and space?

  49. @Lorito78 on June 15, 2025 at 12:36 pm

    "Do I really need this?" is a question everyone should ask oneself every now and then in general 😉

  50. @YeoYolo on June 15, 2025 at 12:36 pm

    I like being a pack rat… and my 17mile hike into the woods had some sholder discomfort, but nothing a small break every hour would help. I did take to much, but i also like the freedom of having 150ft of paracord to bushcraft with or a hatchet/machete to harvest wood or carve with.

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