For no apparent reason (i dont hike), i've been binge watching your videos. They are awsome!!! And im starting to get intrested in hiking!

So Ya'll know... the TOAKS 550 that Darwin recommends... the opening of is is the PERFECT size to use a KFC reusable side container as a lid. The containers are the same small side containers they've been using for years (clear body, red lid) and they weigh 9 grams (0.32oz). It seals nice and tight so you could easily store stuff or potentially use it to replace your cold-soak container.

I'd like to see you cover Rain Gear, warm camp layers, and headlamps for the next video! Love this video series. Thanks, man.

I have friends who are into "prepping" and I love sharing your videos with that crowd - this is the kind of gear people can keep at home in case of an emergency: hurricane, tornado, flood. Would make life in those situations much easier until things get back to normal.

I've literally spent WEEKS looking around amazon for the best gear for the price, you are a godsend I swear!

Thank you so much Darwin ! My wife and I are just starting to do ultra light backpacking. You're imput is exactly what we are looking for. Much appreciated from Canada 🇨🇦 Stay safe !

Part 3 suggestion: budget hiking socks, shoes, clothes, and rain gear. Thanks!

I actually cheered when he named the trekking poles! Cascade Mt. Carbon QuickLock poles are a great value I've used them a ton over the past year and they are really nice.

Hey Darwin, I picked up my Aegismax and Geertop tent a year ago. I also got the Toaks 550ml UL pot a year ago. The gear is great. Awesome choices it reinforces my past decisions. I store it all in an Osprey Talon 33 which is an awesome pack you can also find on Amazon for around $80.00 and comes in around 1lb 4oz for a pack, you can also remove the top cover. Love your videos.

Just moved to Reno Nevada. Only hiking I did was when I was in the military and I liked it. Since moving here I’ve been collecting gear preparing to make a trek on the Tahoe Rim Trail. Anyways, glad I came across your videos. There’s a lot of gear out there I’m hesitant to buy and don’t know what to buy. Keep making great videos man!

I love this. It is really helping my husband and I. Thank you for your effort. We REALLY appreciate it.

Thanks so much for your gear review and suggestions videos. Hubby and I are section hiking the A.T. and trying to lighten our loads. Your videos are really helpful! Thanks to all the time you dedicate to helping others get out there and enjoy the outdoors! I also have been following Sunsets and Chica and it was really cool to see you had sent them a care package! You and your bride are a class act in my book!

So glad you reviewed the Aegismax. It's been on my Amazon wish list for several months. Now with your approval, I am ordering it!

Bro... you're the king. This is might kind of you to share. The mark of true gentleman.

Good quality budget waterproofs. Loving the budget series. Thanks and greetings from the UK.🇬🇧

**happy gasp** I'm a die hard hammock camper and my hammock is UL at 5oz ($70) my hang kit is less than an oz because Kevlar ($13), and my tarp is 11oz ($143... Ouchie). I've never used a sleeping bag/quilt/liner because of their price and weight, granted the coldest I've ever camped is 46F, but as I'm looking at longer and colder hikes I NEED a sleeping bag. The one you suggest is most certainly going to be mine within a few weeks, I've never seen something so cheap and so good!!!! Thank you Darwin!

Glad to see someone comment on the Geertop. I just recently bought it for my upcoming hike to Paria Canyon. Love the vids!

Hey Darwin you kick butt. You sure crank out a bunch of high quality informative videos.

I have been using the aegis max bag for over a year and bought that pad about 3 months ago. I can't help but giggle a little every time I use them. 28 degrees is the coldest night so far and that was in a hammock. I did have on thermals but I slept like a babby. Keep shooting us straight Darwin. Thanks for the videos.

I got my Cascade trekking poles at Costco $26 with a great warranty thanks Darwin you are an awesome vato

I have been think of switching to a quilt. The Aegismax would be a great one to start with. Sadly, I am leaving on my A.T. section hike before I would receive it. I also bought the Geertop 1 person tent a month or so ago and am happy with it. I saved one pound from my old tent system! yay! I also have the BRS stove, Toaks 550ml pot. Happy some of my gear is "Darwin approved"! Thanks for making such great videos!

Love all the info I get on this channel. Love the outdoors and just now at 50 getting into hiking and learning all I can. Self employed so hoping one day to hike the AT some way or another....may have to do sections at a time so I can keep my business going. I live in Gods country in North Alabama so I have plenty of training trails. Thank you for your down to earth videos for us newbies. I just completed my first half marathon and that would not have been possible without people sharing their knowledge. As they always say without teachers we would all starve to death...lol....Happy trails !

Picked up this AegisMax bag years back because of this video and came back to say how much I've been loving it. I bought the envelope style which is a little roomier than the one in the video but has the same temp rating and is only about $10 more on average. They now advertise their bags at the proper EN/ISO rating and these $80 bags are comfort rated to 50 degrees with the limit being 40. I have tested this a few times and can attest that those are very accurate ratings. For $80 you simply cannot beat that and this bag is remarkably solid quality for the price.

Darwin, great information! Would like to see you cover budget UL backpack options on a future video. Thanks!

love these UL/budget videos Darwin! Thanks for the ideas!

Awesome video. I've been wanting to try using a quilt so I really like the idea of the quilt that you recommended for under a 100 bucks. Thanks for sharing what you have learned with all of us. Keep on truckin.

Great list of cheap but awesome gear! I also have the Cascade Mountain trekking poles and I absolutely love them. I've had them for almost 2 years now and they've been with me on every hike I've done around the world. (And still going strong!!)

zip lock bags instead of dry bags . contracter bag for pack liner

Hey Darwin, thanks for the great recommends. After watching all 3 I ordered a few pieces based on your recommendations. They arrived yesterday. I can’t wait to use them.

Great. Thanks. I love the budget options you give.

Such a fantastic video! I was really happy to hear about the sleeping quilt! I plan to buy the same brand you have, but am happy I don't have to wait until I can afford it in the meantime. This video helped me to know I can get out on the trail overnight MUCH sooner than I had thought! Thank you!

Darwin Got my Toaks 550 today, thanks to you and your video. Perfect for what I need; exactly what I need. I can even heat water in it on my stove at the house. I am just pleased as punch!!! Thank YOU

Just wanted to say thanks for all the amazing info. I just watched about 7 of your videos and I have another 7 cued up. Getting ready for a week long backpacking trip to Upper Peninsula Michigan, and your gear recommendations are SUPER helpful.

Great video. Keep them coming. Many times I have to buy 2-3 additional sets of each piece of gear for our family. Videos like this help our family be able to afford some nice functional gear.

Hi Darwin- I appreciate your videos, perspective on gear and recommendations! I’ve bought items based on your videos and I appreciate your down to earth approach to taking on your naysayers! Happy trails! Btw: the pillow and stove you recommended ROCK!!! I will try the socks on a 20-mile hike this coming Saturday! Thank you!

Hi Darwin! Thank you for answering my question on the UL Tent. I used the link below and bought the GeerTop UL1 tent. Based on your suggestions, I bought the BRS Stove and Outdoorsman Sleeping Pad as well. Truly appreciate the advice to help me keep my adventures within budget.

I watched a previous video about base weight, another reason to go ultralight is if you’re really old and not in the best of health… I did backpacking for a few years in the past but now realize I was carrying way too much weight and suffered because of it… Finally stopped going… Excited to try this again going ultralight… thanks for the videos!

Cool new bumper at the beginning! Love the videos man.

This single video has saved me more money then all the other budget gear videos I’ve watched so far so good freakin job

Those Cascade Trekking poles have been great for me so far. Half a dozen day hikes on them (got them before I saw this video) and they’ve been great.

You are awesome man! The community of backpack archery hunters really do appreciate what thru hikers bring to the table ( although some of them may not admit it) but great stuff!!

This is a great service you're doing to all of us,keep up the good work !

I just received the Ageismax quilt/bag and naturehike sleeping pad for my 7 year old son and I have to say, I'm impressed. Daddy might have to borrow them on a few solo hikes. lol Also, Walmart just upped their game and has a Ozark Trail ultralight 1 person backpacking tent that is 100 bucks. It's model W700 and comes in at 2.6 lbs. The fly is 15D nylon rip stop, tent body is 20D nylon rip stop, and tent floor is 30D nylon rip stop. I have a Big Agnes copper spur 2 but picked up the Ozark Trail for solo hikes and so far I really like it.. As always, awesome video Darwin and please keep them coming.

I bought the aegis max quilt, but the ‘large’ size coupled with a good quality silk & cotton liner which is perfect for me!

Ordered my Toaks 550 on Amazon this morning due to your most excellent video. Should be here TH 3 Aug. Thanks yet once again.

This is awesome! I'd love to see a review of the AegisMax bag

I have the Toaks 550. Pretty happy with it. Enough room in that pot to contain minimal food for 2 days. The stuff sac is also roomy, enough to put my cleaning set in it on top of the pot. Would be nice if you could take the time to make a video of a makeshift rucksack with all UL gear on a budget you've presented. With all the weignts and specs... and of course, a total weight. I like the fact that you debunk the cost of UL gear.

I ordered the Cascade Mt Carbon trekking poles. They were delivered lady Thursday and I took them out for a test hike Friday morning. They work awesome! No notable issues with them yet, these are the first trekking poles I've ever owned and used.

got the sleep system you suggested and looking forward to using it! Many thanks, keep it up - I love this type of info, so helpful

Great video, I have several of the items you went over and they are great pieces of budget gear. Thanks!

I was thinking about the Sierra designs quilt, now I'm thinking of this. You might be my hero.

Just wanted to say thank you for doing this video!! I am new to backpacking and have been overwhelmed by gear choices, now I feel theres hope! Lol ty again!

Just spent 10 minutes thinking I had a loose fan belt... damn cricket Found your channel couple weeks ago and absolutely love it. Please, keep' coming.

Awesome info!! Thanks for doing the homework for us budget peeps.

These are Great gear ideas Darwin, Thanks! I already have the Cascade trekking poles and have had no problems. Also, as my kids have gotten older I have transitioned from the MSR 4 pot set for family camping to Toaks for backpacking and its great. Lastly, I use the Geertop 2-person 3-season 20D lightweight tent in the summer and the 4-season 2-person for the snow in winter. These tents have the same floor size so it gives me more options depending on the weather.

keep this up! got some great ideas! I picked up the Geertop trekking pole tent a few weeks ago, it works great and even in colder weather up here in the Alberta rockies. Also that BRS stove is bad ass!!

do more of these. i really appreciate them and they help a lot

I recently found your channel. You do an excellent job ! Thank you

Awesomeness. Thanks for all your help - You know you watch a channel a lot when you notice the intro music change up.

Dam Darwin! You blew my mind with these items lol the toaks cook pot and geertop tent really got me interested. I have a snow peak 600 cook system right now and I want to upgrade to something a lil bigger so I think the toaks 750 is perfect! Thanks for all the helpful info!

Quality Videos, good sound, sharp picture, well edited! Subbed

I really appreciate all the research you put into these videos!! Thank you!

I think an even better choice for a "budget" ultralight cook system is a Stanco grease pot ($7 on Amazon, weighs 3.5 ounces, 32 fl. oz. capacity), a DIY super cat alcohol stove ($1.50 from the pet store or free if you already have a cat, weighs .2 ounces), windscreen made from tin foil (basically free, .75 ounces), and a used disposable water bottle for fuel storage (free, weighs .35 ounces). Total cost is $8.50 and total weight is 4.8 ounces. The stove uses about .7 ounces of fuel per two cup boil and you can get a gallon of denatured alcohol from Lowes for $16.50. Which means you get a total of 182 two cup boils for $16.50 or in other words, 1 two cup boil per 11 cents. And if you don't already have a hole punch to make the stove, you can pick one up at CVS for $2.50. Dollars per ounces, the stanco grease pot and cat food can stove set up is much more efficient. To upgrade to the Toaks 550 and BRS stove for 3.7 ounces at $41 you'd be paying an extra $32.50 to save only 1.1 ounces in weight base weight. Consumable weight will still be lower or comparable because the dead canister weight is considerably more heavy than the weight of a .35 ounce water bottle that can be used to store alcohol. Even though you need twice as much fuel for an alcohol stove, you burn through it twice as fast. Therefore, combined with the lower overhead weight needed to carry the fuel, your average weight will be lower over the course of the trip. Of course this is all for 3 season camping and 1-2 person meals that are usually boiled. All things considered, it still boils down to hiking your own hike. If spending an extra 32.50 is worth it for the extra ounce and convenience, then power to ya.

Appreciate the info. It can be overwhelming searching for decent, affordable gear. Thanks bro!

Thanks for creating such informative and quality videos. As a gear nerd I really appreciate your review style and it is evident you have done your research. This is something I can easily share with friends looking to get into the game. You have really been killing it on the videos lately. Keep up the great work and looking forward to your future videos.

Man, I'm really enjoying your videos! Thank you for these great reviews.

Real nice video man, particularly trekking pole tip-awesome!

I use the stove and love it! Thanks Darwin!!

man this is the best hiking gear review for someone starting out that i have seen so far.

The REI quarter dome is a bit heavier but a bit cheaper (MSRP $349 vs $279 for a 13oz difference) which is another reasonable starting tent. The Big Agnes Fly Creek is the better tent, but if this is just for weekend stuff and money is an issue, REI's tent could be a better option. The quilt is something I am really interested in checking out. I have an old REI bag that has seen better days and generally run hot, so a 30' bag means I don't get fully in the bag until 40' and will reall be a 25' or even 20' bag for me. The trekking poles also seem like a GREAT deal. I was happy to fine cheap aluminum trekking poles on amazon 5 years ago (checked for comparison) that were 20oz without cork and only one flick lock, so a better and lighter pole for a great price. Thanks for the great tips Darwin!

Just ordered the Toaks 750, best price I have seen and I have been looking for a bit. It will replace my Stanley cookpot which has been great but is heavy! Been using an Aegismax bag now for a short bit, I have the regular square one, packs up so small and light but is really pretty darn warm for me. Thanks for the great video!

Awesome always nice to see low cost options!

I love these types of videos.

Great video Darwin, I like your no nonsense way of presentation and the honesty of how you present. Thanks. A suggestion on future gear to review, alcohol stoves, headlamps, tent stakes (usually the ones that come with tents are crap and heavy), battery packs for electronics and maybe even solar charge systems. Thanks for all you do, you have a fan here. Keep on hiking

When I saw the second video of this series, auto-subscribed. You rock!

Awesome video Darwin. Love the channel, they scratch me right where I itch.

Impressive finds on the quilt and tent, Darwin...and great video as always. I looked at those trekking poles, but decided to go with Black Diamonds for their warranty. I have friends wanting to get started in backpacking and I'm going to recommend this video and, of course, your channel. I've picked up several great deals on Massdrop (recommended by Bigfoot) and got an EE-built 35-degree quilt on there for $190. I also picked up a Big Agnus Copper Spur1 on clearance as they were changing over to a new model. That's always a good way to get a deal.

A lot of knowledge and savings to be had here! Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Thanks for the video, this is such a different philosophy that the way I backpack and camp. I come from the bushcraft/military surplus gear world, but I am more than willing to steal from any philosophy that works and might lighten up the load a bit. Regardless of if you Ultralight or Bushcraft, glad to see people getting out there. Its also nice to see some less expensive options for ultralight gear.

Excellent video, just the type of information I am looking for. Thanks a lot

This is my favorite budget backpacking video ever! BTW, I'm liking the new music choice. Nothing wrong with the other one. Just something different for a change.

I ordered the aegismax bag and i cant wait to get it!

Great video Darwin! We appreciate you doing this kind of research! I make enough money that I can drop some coin on gear, but this will help me but backup gear so my brother can hike with me. Thanks a ton!

I haven’t seen your third video, but I have a feeling the #1 source of savings might be in a tent. Those Zpacks tents are costing over $1 per gram. A project for me to do the math on before I commit. Thank you for being you!

Sweet video! My brother and I are always looking for inexpensive, light weight gear. Pretty sure I am going to have to pick up that bag/quilt.

Excellent video man. Thanks for your efforts.

Great advice and super finds. Thanks for sharing.

Thank you so much for this video. I literally bought the tent, pot, sleeping bag and trekking poles! I cut my weight in half!

Darwin... you are awesome!!!! I love your videos, thx therefore! Take best care!

Great video Darwin! That sleeping bag is going to be a great addition my set up!

I enjoyed watching these.Thanks for the tips.

thanks for the less expensive alternatives. Have been looking for starter trekking poles and those Cascade carbonlock poles are reasonably priced for my needs

Thanks for all the info Darwin! I was on a hike in the 100 Mile Wilderness last year with a brand new SMD Gatewood poncho tarp. Unfortunately it fell out of my bag somewhere on the trail never to be found again. Since I had just paid $135 plus shipping for the poncho tarp I wanted a cheaper alternative. I ran into the Geertop tent and ordered it. Since I still had the SMD Serenity Net and bathtub floor and the Geertop had similar dimensions and shape I thought I would give it a try and ordered the fly with our the netting. I think I paid $54 on sale with free shipping for the fly! The tent fits perfectly on the SMD Serenity Net but the vestibules are much bigger. I just needed to sow in a piece of webbing for the trekking pole. My whole setup with polypro ground sheet, aluminum stakes and plastic carrying case comes out to 31.5 ounces or 890 grams. So just under two pounds for a full two wall tent. I haven't tested it out in the wilderness so far but it does seem pretty sturdy. I also ran the garden hose on full spray and it really sheds the water. I'll try to give you a comment on it once I really test it in the field.

I'll throw out my first hand experience with the Cascade poles as well. Picked them up from Costco and they have been great. Bought myself and my son a set. My son isnt too into using poles so hey, I got a spare set. And for less than half the cost of the Black Diamonds.

Thanks Darwin! Great stuff!

the Cascade hiking poles are great, used them this weekend!

The hammock gear Burrow Econ 20 is also a great "true" 20 degree quilt at 150 bucks and comes in 23 oz. I will definitely check out those poles. Thanks

Thank you so much from Chile! your videos are great!

a great alternative to the expensive Big Agnes tents are actually the Naturehike Cloudup tents (Chinese copy) with very similar quality and design, but at a 1/4 price of the Copperspurs.

Dropping this one in my favorites, definitely gunna buy the sleeping bag and treking poles