Intro to Backpacking - Miscellaneous Items

This is part of a small series on backpacking gear and method. There are a lot of different ideas and philosophies, but this is just what I have decided to go with.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• backpacking
• hiking
• trekking
• food
• drink
• camping
• appalachian trail
• pacific crest
• continental divide
• cooking
• backcountry
• how to
• miscellaneous
• spork
• map
• duct tape
• soap
• first aid

[Tedzy]

Knife?

[solvealways]

@Tedzy - yeah, not sure how I forgot about that. I used a Gerber multitool which is far too heavy for my liking. I am going to be using the swiss clipper by Wenger. It has blade, scissors and a fingernail clipper which i definitely missed on the trail.

[Slave2Reason]

DEET is like a prescription for cancer!

[solvealways]

@Slave2Reason - DEET is not a carcinogen. I carry DEET and only use it in the Northeast where there is a higher concetration of ticks carrying Lyme Disease - which is literally more crippling then low doses of DEET over short periods of time. But I understand why people would not want to use it.

[solvealways]

I agree. I went over the top with my first aid kit (both of my parents are nurses). I did a month on the AT and reduced my first aid kit to ibuprofen, gauze, neosporin, bandaids.

[mcps132002]

How much does it all weigh?

[solvealways]

My base weight is about 20 lbs.

total pack weight: 32 lbs.

[1985usa]

Nice vid. Only criticism is that suturing yourself in the field is almost never indicated. Frankly even when sutures are placed in the ER under sterile conditions it is for aesthetics not hemostasis. Use steri strips or butterflies instead and use pressure and elevation for hemostasis. Irrigate the wound and cover to keep it clean. Don't put iodine or h2o2 in the wound either. Just wanted to dispel some common myths.

[Tedzy]

@solvealways Thanks for the reply. That is an interesting choice that I have not seen before. At 1.3oz it is quite lightweight. Have you considered the Leatherman Micra or Squirt? They are listed at 1.6oz and have a bit different tools (i.e. larger scissors (nail clipping) and bottle openers). Thanks for making these videos.

[danusmcgator]

you dont carry a knife or multitool? so many uses and pretty light.

[stallebrass]

Liked your vid mate. I'd go with ranger bands over rubber bands. I especially liked your 'Oops' and 'Uh-oh' concept. I have a similar philosophy but I'm defo gonna steal your gangsta terminology. Vet wrap and or EMT gel is useful and a tourniquet if desperate. KISS has always served me well... (Keep It Simple Stupid).

[Emanc441]

awsome vid man! very very well put together series!