I absolutely love how you do the comparison's between the products. Thank you.

Watched all three of these - very helpful. I especially appreciated the tips on the pillow, sleeping pad, and sleeping bag.

This video series is the most useful series for the budget backpacker that i have ever seen. been ultralight backpacking for a few years and I am blown away by the value of the items he lists. thanks for bringing adventure to the common man darwin!

You are the plug! This is ridiculous. You gunna save me so much work. Thanks for all these videos! Glad to have a reliable source.

I'm planning my thru hike of the AT after my son finishes high school and I had no idea where to start, then I found your channel thank you so much for all the info you've been so helpful & informative for my planning. I appreciate all the work you put into these videos.

Thank you for sharing some great ideas in this series. My kids are getting older and they already have some great brand name items (sleeping bags and pads), but they will still need some items for when they decide to strike out on their own. So many great items in these videos that will fill those gaps!

This was a great episode! I have been looking at some of this exact gear wondering how much I should spend, love the input and research Darwin - super helpful!

Darwin, I've been in Georgia (the country) for twelve days now and yu don't how many times I've thanked you. I added the Z seat as a bit of an afterthought and I am sooooooo glad I watched your video. Awesome piece of kit.

Totally crushed it in this 3 part series. I encourage you to do a 4th and so on as you find more material to cover. Looking forward to it!

Ooo thanks for the tips - I especially like the pillow option. I'll look into that one! Thanks Darwin

I got these little OT LED cap lights. They clip on to the brim of a cap and are one dollar a pc including the battery. I keep a few in all of our packs and emergency kits. Ty for all the great tips!

Love your videos Darwin! Going to start getting in ultralight gear now, especially because the prices are so great! Thank you for all of your great videos on and off the trail.

Another great video! Thanks for the enthusiasm and positive attitude that you bring to all your vids! Keep ‘em coming and happy trails...

Another great video. Thanks for doing all the leg work as far as the research goes.

Getting into UL after years of non-UL and killing my hips at 15+ kilos and limiting the comfort/fun factor...eyed all the best UL stuff ....OMG! $$$$$ This series is excellent. You've opened my eyes to all the ways of cutting weight and retaining the fun factor. Thank you so much.

Great video as usual. I have the Trekology pillow and it's great. Has held up not to heavy and I can pack it down pretty tight. Plus the price tag can't be beat.

Gallon freezer bag with a hole punch will make a terrific bear bag. Great video Darwin love the budget ideas.

Love these videos. I picked up the Trekology and loved it. One point where we disagree is pit zips. To me, they are absolutely key. I'm happy to carry a little more weight for my Mammut. I carry it 4-seasons in New Hampshire. Yeah, it's probably overkill for summer, but even in fall and spring, I think it's better to have a real shell, especially for above treeline adventures. I've hiked in winter conditions in October.

Darwin, thanks for taking my advice on the budget pillow!

I am getting more and more into backpacking as my son is about to venture from cub to Boy scouts. I really like all the videos I have seen. You are very informative, interesting to listen to, and I really like how you have links to everything you review, and when you recommend something why you recommend it. Thank you!

Eddie Bauer Cloud Cap rain jacket, nearly the same as Helium HD but 1 oz heavier and I picked up a second one last week for $60. Pit zips and all. I've had a yellow one for a few years and it's been great.

Please make more of these!!!!! These videos are so helpful!! Some suggestions for next video: Bear bag/dry sacks/stuff sacks, packs, camp shoes, knife. Also nice face at 2:13

I also found a great alternative for the ultralight pillow, using a rolled up piece of clothing

I am an experienced hiker/backpacker and you consistently produce videos that enlighten me to new equipment and ideas! Also, great $ saving ideas for dreamers that think they can't afford a hike! Thanks Darwin

Only 2 years late, but just found you. Not a hiker but looking to tour on a M/C and found these three Vids an excellent start for light weight gear. Looking forward to working thru more of your vids.

I use that same trekology pillow. I like it. I ended up useing the stuff sack that came with the pillow as my rock sack for my bear line.

I got a 40€ headlamp from Petzl, the Actic. I'm completely in love with it! 300 Lumens, 3 light settings and two red light settings for reading and the other for visibility.

Love your budget gear videos! Not everyone have an unlimited budget and these alternatives are great. Thanks man. Walk on!

Awesome series Darwin! keep it up! These are alot of help and I'm from the other side of the world (Philippines). As most of the items are not available locally. If they do prices are jacked up. Budget options are always welcome.

good budget gear. Have tried a couple of those already. Thanks

Thank you! Rain jacket suggestion saved me MUCHO

Picked up one of these CREE headlamps after this video and I have had people (outdoorsman and backpackers alike) envious of my headlamp. It's got several settings including 2 white light brightness settings and a red light. Thanks Darwin!

Love your UL gear alternatives!

I love this video. I found great advice in it. I have already updated my Amazon wish list.

Many thanks, brother Darwin; your videos are always informative and entertaining... cheers

Huge fan of you, Darwin! Love these "lighten your load on a budget" videos (and all your other vids, too)! YOU THE MANNN!! Congrats on 50k subs and keep up the great work!

I love this series. Wish it continued

Looove the budget goodies!! Great video 👍

These budget videos are great! Thanks Darwin!

Loved the video Darwin. Thanks for the new series of alternatives. Awesome find on the headlamp. I'll be picking one of those up. And I agree... no need to go that cheap for the butt pad. :)

Man!!!! Your videos are awesome 👏🏻! Thank you so much for sharing all this things with all of us!!!!

Thank you for the tips on affordable UL gear... in the past money has been a barrier to entry for me on some of these things... truthfully, my last backpacking trip (to Canyonlands UT which is beautiful) was distracted by low quality gear. It was too heavy!!! I've watched all three parts of UL gear on a budget. Thanks again. I will be picking up some of the items you've mentioned.

Great series, keep up the good work, you have saved me some time doing research.

Yep agree those Ziploc baggies are great ! 🙂👍🏻

Big thanks for including metric measurements!

Would love to see a part 4 including a couple of backpack options.

I just ordered a poncho from Aliexpress - 20 bucks including shipping, and it’s basically a 230 by 150 cm silnylon tarp with a head-hole and hood, weight about 200g

After being home sick for a week this vid has made me think back to my awesome Juan de fuca trail hike. Hike on

Thanks for adding the weight in grams, too. Before that I always had to stop your videos and calculate it by myself. I'm totally lost when seeing weight in ounces 😂😂🙈

Love to learn how to do things better with less weight and less money. I like to canoe camp so weight is not such a issue but the lighter I can get makes things easier to carry more luxury items. I have been on the AT but I would not say that I am a experienced hiker. Love your content.

Next you should do one about backpacking clothing and shoes, or maybe even packs. Love these videos!

Thanks for another great video. I just ordered several of these items with your link so I hope that helps support your trip a little...keep up the great videos man!!!

I'm totally checking out that pillow! I've been stubborn about not wanting to spend $40+ on an expensive one, but my stuff sack of clothes is just too lumpy for a decent night of sleep. Thanks!

Awesome vid. Love the comparisons!

Ahi just a quick addition. I've just purchased a head torch it's a petal e+lite and it's amazing. The quality is fantastic and it has virtually no weight to it. It has a pull out elastic acted headband which when on is brilliant.check it out.

I use left over reflectix from other projects for a butt pad, also have a full length sleeping pad out of the roll along with cozies.

Would love to see a review on budget shirts, down jackets, and hiking zip off pants. And also a demonstration on proper “layering”. I am doing my first “long distance” trip in June at Philmont Scout Ranch, NM and unfortunately they have a list you are required to bring most of. I am trimming the fat and loving your budget UL gear.

You kept me smiling :) A great series Darwin; very helpful, thanks

Hey Darwin. Great video. Thanks for posting. I have the Trekology pillow on the way. I picked the blue because it was a buck cheaper. Also bought the OutdoorsmansLab sleep pad you recommended in another video. 54 bucks for the two of them. Not too bad. I should be sleeping better soon.

These budget videos are awesome

This video and the two before it are for going to help me and many of my friends.

Great idea about ditching stuff sacks/dry bags and using ziplocs!! why not!!

Great series Darwin! And thx for the metric units😉

My favorite butt pad is the dutchware folding sit pad. They're a little more expensive, but essentially the same shape as the one you suggested and fold twice. It gives you more storage options.

Definitely buying that pillow great video

Dude, I love this series of videos!!!

Would love to see a video on UL clothes. This series has been great!

Dang! Wish I could have watched these videos before my 2014 thru-hike. I could have saved so much money!

Great series!

Great that you always transfer in gramms that’s super helpful!

This video was awesome! This whole series is great. I thoroughly appreciated the ziplock bag section. 😂 I bought some for real stuff sacks for things like my sleeping bag and tarp, but other than that, I use ziplock. Some other cheap things I've used instead of "actual" UL gear are things like a Wendy's Frosty spoon (or Dairy Queen or MRE or McDonalds), a plastic cottage cheese container with the 5 inside the recycle triangle instead of a Titanium cup, and a bandana and Aquamira instead of a filter system.

Walmart Frog Togs are a great option for rain jackets. The material feels funky, but they do work.

check out the red ledge rain jacket. I used it for years very good

Hola Dawwin. Just got today from Amazon that you recommend: 4uCycling Rain Jacket, the Trekology UL Pillow and TWO of the Porfiya XPE Butt Pads. One for sitting and one for my frame-less ULA CTD pack. BTW 2 piece set ONLY $8.25 for TWO. $5.85 price for one. THANKS for the great info. I am really happy with your recommendations. HOT DAMN. Thanks !! Oh and still very happy with the Toaks mugs from an earlier video.

The aloksak bags are pretty nice. Really heavy duty and water tight

I'm generally pretty skeptical, but I enjoy your videos. This series has been great! Backpacking can be expensive, but why wait? Everything doesn't have to be the creme of the crop, especially starting out, and if it means doing it now, rather than later, it is worth it!

great video i love your enthusiasm!!!!

We need more of these.

I have that pillow in my survival gear. It's awesome and cheap! Best investment and super light and small. Great value.

the PCT will be my "first time" Nice video. Thank you.

All three of these videos have been really useful. I was guilty of only looking at the big brands as these are typically the ones that get all the reviews online. I don't know if you are planning to ever do another one, but if so you would be doing us all a favour if you were to take a look at the Big One - the Rucksack.

My rain jacket is a cheap lightweight single shell nylon jacket that does a great job of keeping the wind out. Throw it on over my polyprop T-shirt (I wear a polyprop base-layer shirt as my regular hiking T-shirt as it wicks sweat and doesn't chill me when the sweat evaporates) and I'm generally fine for hiking in heavy rain. Sure it wets through, eventually, but it keeps the wind off. If I stop moving, I can throw on a polar fleece top for extra warmth. Eventually, you're going to get wet, but you don't have to get wind chill. Never underestimate the value of a decent night's sleep. Down-filled sleeping pad and inflatable pillow can mean the difference between waking up refreshed and fit to travel and waking up utterly shattered and barely able to amble around the camp site. If you're putting in long distances, you need to properly rest in between. Or your daily trip log is going to look like: 30km, 20km, 10km, 5km, 2km, 1km, barely managed to get to the trees for your morning "nature call", "ah, screw it! I ain't movin'." I always use ziploc bags for waterproofing things in my pack or to keep things in convenient clumps/sets etc. Cheap and light enough that you can double-bag things you're really worried about getting wet (put one bag sealed-end first into the second so there's a "tortuous path" rather than a direct line for the water to follow should either (or both) seal(s) fail.). You can get them in enough different sizes that it's trivial to find one large enough to accommodate a rolled or folded shirt, then you can squeeze excess air out and the internal vacuum makes the seal all the better.

Really liked the Duah ending. Thanks

Great tips! I agree about the butt pad, it's too little diffrence in money to be worth buying the cheaper (smaller and not as good) pad 😀

Got our trekology pillows...love them!! And our ass pads arrive tomorrow

Being new to hiking this is great information. My gear is more for comfort and safety so it is a little heavy. My base weight is roughly 15 Lbs. The weight comes from the big three. I am a tent camper. Any suggestions for a light tent that will not break the bank?

You should definitely do more of these budget videos

While this isn't cheap, the Fillo Elite camping pillow is what I used. It's 3 oz, and the thing that I like best is that the nozzle and plastic bag are removable from the pillow case. So you can take it out and throw the pillowcase in when you're doing laundry. Don't think either of the pillows you talked about are machine washable. They are about 40 dollars, but on a long hike having a clean pillow is pretty nice. :)

Easily one of the best backpacking channels on KZfaq

This is my favorite video ever. Yay for dismantling the idea that you have to buy name brand!

Thank you 🙏 this was extremely helpful

Great video, thanks for all your videos, very helpful! 🖖

I'm one of those cheapskates who squeezes value out of every penny--I just have to. I have one of the "Other One" butt pads--weighs nothing, is small but works fine. Love that little bit of cushion when sitting on a rock taking a break. BTW those pads are sold on Amazon under a bunch of different brands names, colors, all look the same, probably all from China, anywhere from $1.50 to $6 or so, sometimes sold in multipacks. Those wannabe travel air pillows are all over Amazon too, under different brand names, with variations in size and style. I actually prefer the smaller sized ones. Some look as big as a regular bed pillow, so pay attention to the measurements listed on Amazon. Keep these vids coming. Maybe look at some cheaper packs and tents? The 3F UL pack looks interesting. Also the 3F tents, as well as Naturehike ones.

I picked up the trekology pillow on Amazon for $13.99 with prime, it totally kicks butt, thanks for the recommendation. Take Care

your videos production are top notch

I have that same trekology pillow!

Great finds!

For custom sizes and special mods. lukesultralite.com/ I love Goosefeet Gear Pillow goosefeetgear.com/products/down-pillows/

Thanks for the gram conversion!!

Great finds Darwin...Thumbs up buddy !