10 Hiking Tips I Wish I Learned Sooner

It is also important to remember regarding the slowest member of your group. To allow them extra time to rest. While you have been there for a while longer they have been moving. And If you get up to start again when they arrive then they get no rest.

I have been using a water bladder for 4 years and it has many advantages. Osprey Hydraulics is made of quality plastic without toxic chemicals and it is inside your backpack protected against the sunlight. Plastic bottles aren't the healthiest solution with water under sunlight for longer period of time. Water stays colder inside the bag + it colds a bit of food stored in the centre of the bag (e.g. cheese, meat, chocolate, ...). Heavy water also stays the closest to your back. My experience and some others I talked to is also that you don't drink regularly from bottles because it's not so comfortable (so laziness). People also tend to drink more at once from bottles. I clean and dry my bladder quiet precisely and it is definitely worth my time :) The 3L water bladder fits into my 12, 24 and 85L Osprey backpacks so no problem at all :)

I always use a head bug net to put my shoes in whenever I take them off. It lets them dry out and keeps animals out of your shoes.

As a wilderness guide I must say that there should be at least 1 person in the group who knows how to use a map and compass. And that should be the primary way of navigation. Your phone should be reserved for emergencies. Maps and compasses are cheap and easy to use with little training. You dont want to be in a situation where you run out of battery and need to call for help. In winter it is good to keep your phone inside your jacket next to your body. That way the phone stays little warmer and the battery lasts longer.

Thank you, an enjoyable video and sound advice. Another tip - not to go to far or to fast on Day 1 - easy to do with fresh legs and enthusiasm but pay the price the following day....

Buff works as a pillow case. If you bring a chair, a foam pad adds warmth and protects your heinie from the cold wind. When travelling, a duffel bag is superior to a hardshell luggage. Get your backpack last. You’ll be surprised how much smaller pack does the job (~40-50L). Always carry more water than you think you need. If you feel thirsty, you are already 1-2% dehydrated. You’ll go to shock at 10%. Body loses water faster than it can absorb. When cameling up, you can also pre-load salt. Clothing doesn’t have to be from premium brands, focus on the materials. Don’t skimp on loading electronics to full. Stretch. No need for bushcrafty extra firestarter like ferro rod. Just bring another lighter. Covering your pot saves fuel & boil time. Mesh bags are lighter and you can see inside. They can also be used to dry/hang stuff and even for bug protection.

Regarding trekking poles, after spending much money and finding the TSA either destroying them looking for concealed drugs or forgetting the poles someplace I finally saw the light.....I bought a broomstick and screwed off the broom attachment. Works just as well as trekking poles. Of course they do not collapse but when I need that then I will just discard them. No big loss as they only cost maybe $5 in the first place.

Offline mapping! Tip 10 is exactly what I needed, love these videos. Keep it up

I had so much trouble falling asleep (because I was hyperfixating on every nighttime noise and thinking everything was a bear), that I finally tried earplugs. They do help me fall asleep somewhat faster ( although now the new fear is 'I didn't hear the bear coming until it tore my tent open' 😆)

If you use a smartphone for navigation and communication and go far into the wild than investing in a secondary cheap smartphone (without simcard) that is securely stored in your backpack would be a good safety measure. Store maps on a memory card that you can swap around. I once tripped and destroyed a compass that I was holding in my hand. A smartphone is even more susceptible to damage from falls, dropping and water.

paper (ish) map for areas you're not familiar with. I sometimes take a note of my expected route on a piece of paper ("go left onto yellow trail, then right into green", etc). maps are good when you meet someone, good to ask about state of trails, open/closed/crowded/bad weather/etc - you may need to deviate from what you planned. tech wise - phone on gps will last 4-5 hrs. maybe a little longer in airplane mode (I didn't test), decent garmin watch will last 2 full days on gps (expensive toy but I learned to love it)

I don't get why you have so few subs? You always make such an awesome content, thank you

Bring extra socks and air dry them on your bag while you’re wearing another pair. Invest in topographic maps in case something happens to your phone.

In addition to good boots what helps me is extra socks. If your socks are soaking wet just change them on the next break. It helps not only to keep your feet warm when it's cold, but also helps (not necessarily prevents) with many other things like blisters, athlete feet and other hygiene related illnesses after all warm wet and dark places are good breeding grounds for bacteria.

Love the wealth of great advice you bring without adding filler to the videos. Very appealing in a society that focuses on getting people to watch longer videos all the way thru without much true content in it.

Tips 1,7 and 10 are golden.

A stop every 30-60 min? Are you climbing the Everest? Bladders allows you to actually avoid keep putting up and down the backpack, u can drink and walk, thing that will also help you in avoiding taking a huge sip every time u stop because u will arrive super thirsty at the break, best if bottle and bladder are used together for easy refill.

Really helpful tips! Lots of love and respect from a solo mountain hiker from the Hindu Kush Mountains Lower Chitral District of Pakistan!

Great real world advice.

Love the tip about water. Yoy saved me some money. Thanks