As an idea, rather than new gear reviews, just occasional videos on what you use and why. I’ve found watching them helps me decide on things and as such saves me money. Ive literally just bought a sun hoodie based on your recommendation and was about to waste money on the RAB one. They dont have to be about certain things either, just why you chose gear or a specific thing, like synthetic insulation (again your logic made me go to one and feel confident in it, granted i got a toataly deferent jacket to you) I respect your decision to not make them, but keep in mind that as a KZfaqr you and an experienced hiker you have more experience than most people and it would be great to have it out their to help their. Will still watch your videos either or though!

Dude, I won’t miss the gear videos . I mostly go to your channel to learn more about about body and exercise. You are doing the right thing

“You can get out with cheap basic gear” is all that really needs to be said 👏

Out of all the hiking/ fitness videos out there I find your videos the best. You are sincere in really trying to help people and I just like your honest style of presenting an issue. No problem to skip the gear videos, your strong point is getting ones body physically fit and also teaching skills needed for backpacking, hiking or mountaineering. Just keep those videos coming- those are the ones that count!

I found your hiking poles video then went out and bought my own Fizans. Your downhil video helped me and then on the Bibbulmun track we had a big downhill section and another lady at that camp hut was worried..... I told her about how your videos helped me and showed her the downhill technique. She made it down that section and went on to finish her e2e. My knees thank you especially as Im training for Kokoda in a few weeks. PS: I did the Camino Portuguese last year and want to come back to do the Via de la Plata :)

That's a shame, your gear reviews are some of the most trustworthy as you have the experience. I'll keep on your content though. Love it all. Keep up the awesome work!

I really appreciate the effort you put into your health and fitness videos. It makes complete sense to drop the gear reviews and focus on what you enjoy and you're good at! 👍

Your videos have been my ‘go to’ when training for the Via Francigena! Your hiking poles video was so very helpful! And I love my Silverlight socks too! So many thanks Chase and enjoy the Camino! Buen Camino! 👣👏

This vid really felt like we were hiking and chatting with you and I definitely enjoyed that! Thanks for being so authentic and doing your best to navigate YT with integrity ✨ love the new plan! annnd thanks for the shoutout 😅

I live in UK and have done lots of Camino de Santiago routes over the years. My personal recommendation on the best route. Follow Camino Frances until you get to Leon, then go north on the Camino San Salvador to Oviedo, from Oviedo follow the Camino Primitivo (the original route) all the way to Santiago. It gives you the best of all worlds - honestly. Good luck and buen camino ✌🏻

I did the hrp 2 years ago because I found your channel, your overall gear video's really helped me to prepare me for my trip thru the Pyrenees. I don't need specific gear video's, but I did/do like to see what you take with you on a (thru) hike and the reasoning why you take it with you. Your video's always resonated with me. And now I hear you talk about breath work, ecstatic dance, men circles, meditation and plant med, I clearly see why. Would love to see more of that content as well.

Yes! Love the commitment to making more functional breathing videos!! Your tips have been life changing for me and inspired me to learn more about breathing and applying it in the mountains.

Looking forward to checking out what will come next! You are amazing and I will surely continue to follow what you do! Follow your heart!❤

I’m stoked for the future vids, as an out of shape injured hiker, I’m excited to try out what you have to share on my journey back.

Finding & watching your GR11 throughhike series back in '21 was hugely inspirational & a real eye opener. That summer I started the GR11 in a similair style, selfsupported fastpacking, feeling light & free. Looking back it was pivital moment in my life. Thanks.

i was just thinking about you 2 or 3 days ago. Glad to see a notification. hopefully, you can find what you are looking for. keep us updated! take care!

I did the Primitivo in September 2022 and used your videos every day to train prior to it and to stretch during it! You saved me, so thank you!! I hope you do the Camino soon, it’s life changing! In fact, I’m doing my second Camino (Portuguese from Lisbon) in September 2024, so training again with your videos! 😂

Still refer to you after a few years and used your advice to help me walk the Camino Frances in June 2023. you have a way of talking straight to people aware of their body problems and needs. So stay strong and thanks

Love it! What you have to offer is much more valuable and I’m so glad that you are refusing to sell out and be a shill and giving in to the materialism that so often takes over. Thank you!

Appreciate your channel and your values. Looking forward to your Camino de Santiago experience.

Your honesty about not being knowledgeable enough to do gear reviews is admirable. Not many would drop something that they felt helped them receive more and more views. However, from reading the comments, it is obvious that your experiences with gear has helped a lot of people. I would argue that knowledge and experience are two different things, and in this case, both just as valuable. As you're doing your Mind and Body videos, mentioning the gear you have chosen and your experience with it can still be of value to your viewers.

Really respect your integrity Chase - that sells for me :) Would love to follow you along the Camino de Santiago; definitely here for that!

I found your channel when looking up how to use trekking poles when I got my first set. It's been fun to see you evolve, and I look forward to more breathing technique videos for hiking!

I found this channel while searching for “how to use trekking poles properly” videos. I really appreciate your video on that. I don’t need gear review videos, but I enjoy learning how to properly use gear to help my body, such as how to massage my leg with a trekking pole, or yoga moves I can do at camp with my ⅛” foam mat. I do use and appreciate your workout videos. As a homeschooling (so single income) family, I feel blessed to be able to follow those videos for free. I get a lot of benefit from some of your older videos, but agree that I don’t need gear reviews. I am excited to learn more about breathing. My initial bolt score was 8 and I have had breathing issues since childhood. Just want to say thanks for all I have learned from your channel!

Super stoked to see you do el camino! I'm catalan and will probably be taking a similar route so I'd love to see how it goes!

Thank you for the gift that you are, Chase. Love your passion, love your videos, they've helped me a great deal. At the age of 55 I got into and fell in love with hiking while living in Tasmania (what great place to start hiking). Lived there for four amazing years. Heading back there in November to do Frenchmans Cap. Love your work.

Dear Chase, thanks for making these Awesome video’s. I agree with your philosophy on hiking and generally on just being healthy . I am a Dutch osteopath and am looking to settle in the South of Spain. We have recently started giving breathwork seminars as well mostly bases in McKeown’s work. Maybe it would be interesting to connect on possibly organizing some of your beach sessions and hiking related sessions in the south. Look forward to hearing from you. Keep making great video’s. Cheers Maarten

Nice one! I'd love to know more about breathing and you've already helped me with that. I'm traveling South America and climbing some 5k+ peaks and your early videos on breathing for acclimatisation really helped me push my limits! Thanks man and plz keep educating us about our body

your focus on 'body and mind' is wat got me hooked to this channel. Will do the HRP this summer (Jul-Aug/2024), have done the Camino (2015, 2019) and the Via Francigena (2018). Happy to tell you more about you can expect doing those hikes :-) Buen Camino!

Good for you! I’m 60, ended up with Sciatica last summer, thought my life was over. My PT SAVED me. I’m good now and am preparing to hike a long distance trail. Would love to know more about breathing, etc. There are A LOT of us here, getting older, and want to keep doing what we love.

Thanks Chase for doing this video while walking around Mount Serratt! Stretches and breathing! Way to go! And enjoy the body, mind and soul of the Camino de Santiago!

👍 Looking forward to it. I dig exploring different ways to improve my fitness. I hate making gear videos but I absolutely love talking about gear. So I try to produce well made trip videos and talk about gear during the trip.

You are the only KZfaqr who ever influenced me into buying gear. :) It was this USB hand warmer and I did not regret it. But actually I watch your videos for your knowledge and your advice . You really helped me a lot. Totally understand that you don't want to be part of the gear YT. it feels like a bit of a vicious cycle and people just watching videos to get a feeling of needing so much more gear before they can go out and at the end staying at home watching gear videos. You are doing great. Thank you!

I started watching your videos because of plantar fasciitis, you helped me so much. I liked listening to you so I watched alot of your other videos. I can tell you like helping people so that’s why I keep watching.

Wow, thanks for your honesty. I only started watching your videos about 2 weeks ago by stumbling onto one of them while searching for some info on training for long distance hiking. I felt that you are a guy who doesn't care much about high tech etc and that you can and want to work with what you have. For that reason I subscribed to your channel and have been watching quite a few of your videos. I find them easy to understand and follow with a touch of minimalism. Thanks for not venturing into pushing all kinds of high tech gear. I enjoy your "simple" videos for simple and uncomplicated hiking.

Random here, I am doing the Camino Frances in September of 2024. It'll be my third Camino, I don't live in Spain unfortunately but will make the long trip from South Australia. Your channel is one of the best. Love your work! FYI Going through Head and Neck cancer treatment - breathing was one of the most useful skills I have that got me through the brutal treatment and side effects.

As someone who finds it really annoying to constantly get shoved down your throat videos about gear, this is so refreshing to hear and why I've been a subscriber for so long. Being in the outdoors is about DOING something, not the gear you have to DO something. Thanks Chase Mountains. Love your vids.

Great to hear this and shows great insight...welcome back mate.

Really keen for the functional breathing content

It's like it's meant to be! Aussie follower of your channel for a while now - followed because of your insight into barefoot trekking. And continued to follow you about all content - in June I'm doing the Frances and have used your info to prep me! Glad to hear you're considering walking it!

Huge yes to more breathing videos, one of if not the most underrated aspects of fitness and life. When I did jiujitsu, I always told people I rolled with that were gassing out to “lead your heart rate with your breathing, don’t let your heart rate lead your breathing”. It’s a hard thing to put into practice but it works wonders for me and those I’ve told to try it.

Ironically i like your gear reviews mainly because you don't care too much. I hate this gear maze, but I just had to replace some after many many years of using it. Your mindset is the reason I was watching it. Feel free to whatever you feel like with this knowledge.

I'm not much into gear either, and I love your physical training videos. Looking forward to the breathing videos. Thank you!

You are a good human being! Thank you for that! That's why I would believe your recommendation for gear too

One thing I did always love about your gear videos was that you also featured some smaller European brands. I still have a hard time finding good information on these.

In case you need to hear it, this absolutely changes how I perceived you and this channel. I found your videos in my search for functional fitness tips to improve my hikes, and I really enjoy your videos on that topic. However, I kept seeing gear review videos pop up on your channel and I began to think, “wow, this guy takes fitness AND gear very seriously. I’m not looking to become a professional mountaineer and I hardly care about gear. Maybe his content is more advanced than what I’m looking for.” Then I pretty much stopped clicking on your videos until this one. It seems like I got the wrong idea about you, and I’m glad I saw this video title and decided to watch it. Now I’m looking forward to watching you flesh out this new direction in your future videos. Good luck, and props for being honest with yourself and your viewers.

Awesome, I watch your channel for the fitness videos and adventure videos. Keep fitness, mobility, and breathing for hiking videos. I feel the same way, I feel better about my how to videos. I always only did gear videos with stuff I researched, used, and bought myself. I have been sent 2 pieces of gear (one you noted) and did not get the same satisfaction.

Altough I obviously understand, your gear videos have been really trustworthy and gave me some awesome recommendations on brands that I wouldn't have known without you. I love my Liteway quilt, loved my Altra's and now my barefoot shoes, love my Silverlights, and my buddy loves his Liteway backpack. So, thanks for that! :)

you spoil us as always. Always so inspiring and thoughtful. You made me adopt barefoot shoes and I also progressively start breathing exercices from oxygen advantages. Be careful, you are on the verge to become a guru :)

Thanks for your past gear videos, I only wear Silverlight socks now, and the save my life in the Camino and long hikes, and Im planning my GR11 going back to your videos and won’t necessarily buy the things you did, I have most of the gear already but do love to see what you learned from the gear you took so I can dial mine. So thanks

Thanks for your time on past information sent across the tube. Much love

If you end up doing the Camino de Santiago, I'd personally appreciate a video on how you go about preparing and planning a hike like that. I'm still not too experienced in longer hikes, and the planning can become a bit intimidating, and it always helps seeing how more experienced people go about it. Looking forward to the videos on breathing

I found your channel years ago through the hiking exercises. And those exercise videos are why I’m still here. I hope you don’t stop making those, even if ideally they are more tailored to each individual. I follow some fitness channels, but always find myself doing the work of translating their approach to be more hiking specific. Like having knee pain, seeing their way of assessing weakness, then finding the right exercises to strengthen my knees for hiking, and then reconstructing what habits got me to this weakness in the first place (many are related to just hiking without balancing my movement routine). Maybe you could do response-videos to other fitness youtubers, taking their advice and reframing it to backpacking and hiking? My faves are Hybrid Calisthenics, Arthritis Adventure, and Squat University. And you. Good luck with bringing your channel back to your authentic message :)

I am happy to hear this Chase. You have been a big source of information and motivation the past year for myself personally. I appreciate the candidness in finding your niche in this market, and more importantly, sticking true to your values and unique perspective.

I don’t really search for hiking gear videos, nor I need the manual about how to use the trekking poles 🤭 but I love your videos and I’m feeling connected because I’m also an outsider (originally from Poland) who moved to Spain a few years ago, and same as you enjoying the Spanish nature 🙂 thank you for publishing. ❤

Thanks for the Update Consider me interested I‘ll keep watching XD

This is great. Thank you for doing what you do.

Love your videos and your programs! Did the beginners one a couple of years ago preparing for Picos de Europa and going uphill was a breeze! I am going to Pirineos GR11 this summer and would like to know, can you wild camp on the trail? Going just for 10 days, which part is your favourite or would you recommend? Thanks!

Mate, I found that review very useful, I haven’t seen anyone else who highlighted that you could use it to suck the air out of the mat, as you did. Your viewpoint on gear is valuable, don’t over think it!

Im happy you are following your heart & not the numbers ❤

Great vid dude. Focusing on being active and longevity is great, gear isn’t required. I like looking at good gear but I don’t own much, the basics are fine, layering is more important. Dropping the gear will make you feel happier. I know what it’s like to push something you aren’t invested in, you end up perpetuating / contributing to consumerism which you probably give zero fucks about being involved with. Good on you.

I’ve always enjoyed your content because it is focused on mind and body experience. Glad your staying true to you

Hey Chase, love your content man!! You've helped me a lot. I'll be in BCN this next Wednesday. Where can I find more details for those meet ups by the beach? Thnx!!

I’ve dabbled in a few of your vids, this is the first one that really grabbed me. I’ve often thought about how I’d like a channel that focused on nature, health in an educational and thought provoking way. This is a hit.

I've been watching your videos for a few years. Completely understand the paths you've taken! Hard not to critique gear when you're in the mountains, especially on long hikes, runs, bikes, whatever... Maybe it's better in Europe but in the US the corporate entities keep pushing the trends into the gear - which IMO makes for worse gear. They continually follow fashion trends for profit rather than improving gear better suited for functional movement. So frustrating! For example, HOKAs are like running in moon boots but now millions are wearing them, how ridiculous! Then again, after about a decade in barefoot I inadvertently bought some Altras which were the closest to barefoot at this shoe store in Montana - and even those feel like moon boots to me. Nevertheless, keep up the good work, genuine adventure enthusiasts know what they need and don't need (and that is usually, "less need") - but any/all tips and advice on new gear is still welcome. I just wish they wouldn't discontinue what was already trusted and true.

The Camino is just wonderful my friend. Great video :)

I applaud you for taking this stance. I honestly think that the outdoors community has a real problem with rampant consumerism that’s totally unneeded. People who are starting out unconsciously see the latest branded kit as a way to solve their anxiety at being able to get out without problems. Content creators, altho not to blame don’t help with endless kit vid that understandably do well cos we’re all so worried about having the best kit and then the cycle is reinforced by a undertone of of classism on the hills as people will use expensive brands as a badge to show who belongs or does not.

Good on ya Mate! Nature and movement is key.

Always appreciate your honesty mate, gear nearly never matters. And when you're at the point that gear does matter, you should already know what you need.

your fitness videos are why I started following you. Trying to fix my knees. those are your best IMO. Good luck!

That's a good decision. A well prepared body and mind doesn't need any special gear. Please do more videos that improve on this. Thanx.

I agree with everyone commenting that your very occasional gear videos are terrific because you’re so honest and authentic. But you do whatever you want to do…I’ll be here to watch them all.

Love your channel man. I’ve learned a lot from you

My whole channel satrted with my desire to walk the Camino....then Covid ruined it. :( But - it got me back into hiking big time!

Your Plantar Fasciitis video has helped me a lot 👍🏼

As someone whose getting into this KZfaq world I can see that gear videos are an issue. I don't enjoy thinking about making them. I completely understand this shift and having watched your videos for several years I've always got the vibe you're here to help people, I think people are here for you and the honesty and personality you bring to your videos, I know I am. Keep at it!

Plenty of gear videos out there for sure. That being said, I did appreciate your tips on some cheaper gear made in the EU.

Very interesting info about proper breathing technique, will you be posting some further info about that, or where to learn more... :-)

I plan to do the AT from my doorstep.

Consider cresting a video with “functional breathing” as a step-by-step hiking technique. When to breathe in, when to breathe out. How many steps per breath. How to incorporate breath work into backpacking so it becomes a training routine. As retired military, what has made it possible for me to plug into any situation I encounter is my training. It’s automatic. Thanks. 🌿

Follow your pation and to your inner truth, the core is to get people out to enjoy nature regardless of their gear quallity. I can't wait for your next video ❤

"Camino from my front door" - how cool! The original pilgrims from all over Europe left from their front doors too.

I subscribed to this channel primarily to get ideas for training plans/follow through videos from someone who has PT background and understands physiology. Secondary, I liked to see personal adventures. Watching gear reviews on this channel was never to important for me, but having a review here and there after 500km hike is not a bad idea if you really liked a piece of gear or if something didn't live up to your standards. I see how reviewer's integrity can be influenced by the freebees sent by the companies even if you don't care about what they send... I hope you continue doing training videos for broad audiences as I'm sure you will do well with a more personalized experiences you are working on.

I liked your gear videos. Please continue with your load outs and kit when you walk

Excited to see more on respiration. Thanks for being true.

This should be cool, I know that when I tried one of your breathing corrections I noticed a difference right away and had taken it as habit in just a few hikes.

Good for you!

I will miss your gear videos, even though I never bought anything upon your recomendation. I was already experienced when I started watching you videos and did have everything I need and there is no need to replace anything... means: I fully understand you: at a certain point gear becomes nearly irrelevant...

Really enjoy your videos and your authenticity, gear or otherwise! I've bordered on being 'influential' on another platform and it's really tiresome! On the one hand I want the products to succeed. On the other, half the time, they're just really irrelevant. Hope all goes well with your new venture. Sending greetings from Switzerland.

I bought a house on the Camino. I can literally step out the door and start walking on it. Nothing like it!

Can you continue to link items that you recommend in the description? 😊

Thx man. The gear vids were a bit of a turn off for me as everyone is doing it... Stick to the health and fitness please. We confess we did jump out of a few of those gear vids....

Random question but what shoes are you using in this video? They look so nice!

Is there a chance that your poor experience with the Flextail pump was due to it being a prototype? I purchased the pump after watching your video and others and am excited to be bringing it on my cycle touring this year (it’s much smaller and lighter than even their own previous versions). Hoping it will hold up. :|

Awesome & inspiring!!

No dude ! I get not making specific gear videos like the brand and product, but overall gear videos are really useful, systems based gear videos, ideas and solutions

Spend three days in the sierra de Guara in January, was a different but good experience. That flex tail pump is catastrophic, shame you’re quitting the review vids I think they are good. Except the flex tail lol a lot of you tubers are going the same way but not for the same reasons as you.

I understand your point about not needing to attract viewers anymore as you already have 200k subs, but those people subscribed because of the content you made. Switching up the content doesn’t guarantee that they will watch that as well.

I love this new direction!

😎👍