Appreciate the plug for the channel; more so, appreciate the new friendship and the time we've spent (and will spend) getting out!

Stoves- Heat rises. For best gas efficiency keep the heat under the pot. Keep the flame low enough so it stays under the pot. Running the stove full throttle, blasting heat up the sides of the pot, certainly is faster, but it wastes most of the heat out and up. It only takes a few minutes longer, It follows that a broad base pot, a saucepan shaped pot, is best at collecting heat. More bottom to collect heat and you can have a bigger flame. I use a 600ml evernew thats usable as a broad mug or bowl. Some pots extend this principle and have a heat exchanger on the bottom. eg consider the Jetboil stash which is both broad and has gas flow restriction on its burner. I've done the sums and don't think that heat exchangers are worth the weight penalty. I've a windmaster with triflex and that's a very nice stove. However mostly I use my old BRS3000 because its so tiny and convenient. If its really cold then the windmaster gets used due to its fine spring 'backwards' control valve.

I've had the Soto stove for about 10 years now, it's been amazing!

Yeah, I played around with cold soaking. That lasted one trip. I hated not having hot food. I got back, weighed my entire cook kit with a full fuel bottle, and realized how light it actually is and never looked back. Hot coffee and a hot dinner is well worth a few extra ounces.

I bought Kuhl pants a couple years ago and absolutely love them! It's hard to find a pant that meets all your needs and Kuhl checked off the most boxes

Good choice on the Soto Windmaster...you'll appreciate that microregulator as you go through lower temps at different altitudes. Best stove I've ever used, and it has never failed me...regardless of the conditions, it is now the only stove I bother to pack.

See you at the Everest Base camp trek. Doing it exactly at the same time.

For those asking about a four season tent. Here's what you need to know. There are four seasons tents and...four seasons tents. And there are "three seasons tents" suitable for winter camping, IF.. What does all this means? Here it comes... There are two main conditions when it comes to winter camping: A) With LOTS of winds. Like when mountaineering, camping on a sea shore during winter time, etc... B) Without much wind. THREE SEASON TENT Condensation is major issue and even worst when winter camping. Therefore, why a three season tent *could* be better since having a much better ventilation that four seasons tents. I say *could* because the fabric and poles are weaker than a four season tent. So you can be camping with no serious winds, but still have to deal with snowfall. And snow weight a lot! The best way to winter camping with a three season tent is to set one trekking pole at each end of the tent, then add a ridgeline (use paracord) tied with a clove hitch, then tied to the ground. Then use another rope to tie a second time the trekking pole to the ground. It has to do a V shape. This is extremely efficient. Then add a tarp over it and secure it to the ground. This will not only help to set condensation between the tarp and tent instead than inside the tent, but will also deflect all the snow down the sides of the tent. And it'll make it a little more warmer as well. Pro tip: Always have a knife at hand when sleeping in a tent during winter camping. Why? Because if the tent collapse on you, it'll be like a vaccuum sealing you inside the tent because of the weight of the snow. You'll see nothing, will start suffocate and may even start panicking. The knife will allow you to cut your way out very quick. Also, a UCO lantern helps with condensation. FOUR SEASON TENT They are much more robust, but they are much heavier and are very bad at dealing with condensation. they are a must if you're in an area where wind can be very strong, and where a three seasons tent wouldn't survive even with a ridgeline/tarp system protecting it. As always with the outdoors, it's always a question of trade-off. Happy camping!

I’m excited to see your winter action. I’m getting into it too. I would like to see the scenery, gear and techniques you end up with

Ditched my MSR PocketRocket for a Soto Windmaster with 4Flex pot support and never looked back. You'll love yours, Darwin 😊

Thank you Darwin!

Love the new stuff your doing. I’m bike packing the Ct trail in Aug.

Thanks for the update

Thanks for answering my question Darwin. Looking forward to your new gear and mountaineering content.

Thanks for answering my question from IG regarding cold soaking vs. stoves / hot food. I remember you moving back to a stove at one point, however the cold soaking stuck out in my mind. Looking forward to the mystery pot and new tent options that are forthcoming!

Most awesome, great day for an update . Thanks!

I am guessing we might see an Evolved Supply Co. pot soon and maybe a new tent. Interesting. Looking forward to seeing what the future brings. I prefer the longer, story telling videos so I hope you and others keep making them. They allow us to learn new things and see places that otherwise we would never see! Thanks!

You sound just like me 2 years ago with the mountaineering. Hopefully you can keep your stuff more balanced than me though lol. I was a backpacker that then got in to climbing to gain a new skill for mountaineering. Since then over the past 2 years I have done a total of 0 hikes, and spent every free second rock climbing because I fell in love with it so much 😂

I'm excited to follow you on your new adventures Darwin. Be safe 💙 Deb

Always great to see what you are working on ….. HAPPY THANKSGIVING….. no cold soaking dinner…🍺

So good to see you again ❤

I am stoked that you are getting into mountaineering! I am interested in seeing you apply your light weight and logical approach to gear on big, tall, icy peaks.

I have been signed up for that Tour Du Mont Blanc Trek trip for some time. I got jealous of my oldest son going to Europe so began to see what I might like and was reminded of that tour from your video and thought it sounded perfect. After looking at all the options and possibly going by myelf the trip through Vagabond sounded the best for me.

Good to see you again man. Can't wait to see your trials in winter backpacking. I found that down booties were a game changer. Also hammock! lol

you cant go wrong on the Soto that thing rocks. and glad you stepped away from cold soaking.

3:49 those outtakes are freakin hilarious!

Recognize the 750ml pot with bail handle. Started using that same pot about 4 years ago when I discovered the beauty of the Firebox Nano Ti and never went back to a regular pot. I love the bail handle. Much more usable with a variety of stoves/fuels/etc. I started taking the Nano backpacking years ago and love it. If there are dry twigs and sticks, you'll never run out of fuel. I use my alcohol stove (sometimes my Fancee Feest stove, sometimes my Trangia) in the morning for tea or oatmeal and burn debris for cooking dinner. I usually snack for lunch. Highly recommend looking into the Firebox Nano. It's awesome.

My favorite lightweight cooking option is the titanium alcohol stoves with 2 rows of jet holes, and a titanium cross stand. Using the cross stand gives really fast boil times (for an alcohol stove), and by placing the pot directly on top of the alcohol stove, the top row of jet holes gets blocked, turning it into a simmer (once it cools down a bit). Way better than the Trangia simmer ring 👍

Always cool man 🤙🏾

2024 is shaping up to be a great year! Looking forward to it. The Nepal trip sounds awesome… 🤓

I recently started moving from hiking into mountaineering too. It took many years to dial my hiking gear down into something that is pretty lightweight. Now that I am starting mountaineering, it feels like there is so much to carry and my base weight is getting heavy again. Looking forward to seeing what gear you find works well for you.

The Tri-Flex add on for the Soto is definitely worth extra money in my opinion. Not as big as the quad-flex, saves a little bit of weight and a lot of room. I just purchased the Amicus stove and waiting on it in the mail, give it a shot. But the triflex definitely worth it. Glad to see these videos randomly coming back. 🎩

I love my Kuhl pants for winter hiking. Wish I were 30 years younger. I’d sign up for the Nepal trek.

I haven't used the Windmaster myself, but I please careful using an upright canister stove in low temps! Isobutane stoves don't work very well when it gets cold. I've had a lot of problems getting them to light/stay running once you get under 20F. I would consider researching some liquid fuel stoves, which are heavier but work better in below-freezing temps.

I’ll be trying out the MLD duo mid for my winter trips. Offers a lot of room and flexibilty I believe. Nice update Darwin.

Looking forward to winter backpacking videos. When I start the AT would like to begin the first of January

Thanks for answering my question and providing a visual of your jean-clad leg 😆. Extra sturdy pants sound like a sensible option for winter! And I'm pretty sure the Kühl people say cool instead of trying to sound German - they even wrote 'you' as 'ü' in their Thanksgiving website message today. On that note, happy Thanksgiving!

Thanks to you, I cold soak almost every day for work breakfast and lunch. Simple, healthy and tastes great.

I love my Soto windmaster ❤

When it comes to dcf 4 season tents. I just used the Durston X-Mid PRO tent for my thrue hike of the pct23 and spent 6 weeks on snow (so a good period of testning it/sleeping on snow) and ive used it here in Sweden in winter konditions... and its awesome! Can highly recommend the durston Dyneema tents for winter hiking. Strongest tent out there for weather and wind omong the lightweight Dyneema tents. Of course, its not like my bombshelter of an artic expedition tent like my hilleberg black lable tent. But thats a really heavy tent. But the durston is in its own League among the lightweight 4 season winter tents. Cheers

No cold soaking since 2021! 😱 Fits with better self care, but I'm still a little shocked! 😅

Darwin first of all Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours. Question now that you’re home based how about some tips on organising your gear closet. Something I do struggle with. Looking forward to the next video.

Happy Thanksgiving, Y'all!

I ping pong each year in between backpacking and mountaineering. I have a fear of hights so I don't do much above a grade three. I also got my 8 & 6 year old kids into backpacking which brings a whole new life and heaver pack into it.

I will watch your Fiji video right now

Darwin, you should talk to kuhl about changing their janky snap closure. Every pair I buy I’ll take them to an alteration shop ,and have them put a button fly on them . Makes them way better😎

Love prana pants. Also the book down is a really good climbing book

I actually never even saw Na Wai in my feed, so maybe KZfaq didn't push it out very well? I'm gonna check it out now.

Hi man, love your vids! Can you tel me which cap you are wearing? Thanks!

That new pot looks allot like my titanium coffee press cook pot!!✊️🔥✌️💚

Hey Darwin if you want a challenge, how about Colorado’s 14ers?

Any stove review is going to be a hot review.

I know that cook kit . Bet is 90% exactly like mine . And Ill never use anything else. Especially on cold walks..

I was surprised you are using a fujifilm camera this year, how are you finding it and what made you switch? Keep the videos up darwin, you are an inapiration for us

I live in WV😊 Our winters are not bad but I still have not embraced winter.

Been thinking about getting into making my own gear. If you don't mind my asking, what kind of sewing machine are you using? Also good luck with the mountaineering and future hikes.

I really enjoyed the Na Wai documentary. People should really check it out.

I clicked on this video so fast!

Any chance of a video about your Land's End to John O'Groats trip?

“Your guyes “ hahaha!

@Tarptent Scarp 1!

Who doesn't love the Soto snotmaster...? XD

I enjoyed the documentary highlighting water issues in other countries. Although you mentioned it was the lowest watched type of content, keep putting it out. This is not a jab at your audience but some things just aren't relatable or cared about. And that's ok. Not all content is going to be liked but as long as you enjoy it that's what matters.

Let’s go! 🥉

I can see the bail handle on the pot

Any more bikepacking trips planned?

Darwin, I am going on my first long distant hike. 500 miles on the Camino de Santiago. My question, is I wear glasses and contacts. How do you keep your glasses from breaking? I will be taking my contacts too. I'm not sure what to do. Thank you.

Jetboil Stash?

Read British climber H.W. Tilman's excellent mountaineering books. "Ascent of Nanda Devi" is unsurpassed exploration literature.

Na Wah just never showed up for me. The algorithm messed up usage not the length. 30 minutes is the line for me where I’ve really got to want to watch something

Anything above 4,000m means good chance of altitude sickness.

Where in the Alps have you been? Greetings from Switzerland!

Ill watch Na Wai now ive heard about it... KZfaq algorithm dodnt show it to me!

Soto Windmaster is the Gold Standard stove by which all others are measured against. TENTS - I think you're setting yourself up for a serious financial & physical downfall. Do you really think you can improve on Hilleberg tents? Designing your own 4-season tent is most likely going to result in placing yourself in a situation where you need to be rescued - my opinion. Warm Regards from Reno, Nevada

Is that a Durston xmid??

Darwin..... Darwin....Daaaaaarwin. I *really* like you. you're one of the most reliable/trustable resources online when it comes to hiking and gear. However...."winter camping"? You ain't "winter camping" unless you did it in Montana or Canada at least. Call it "cold temperature camping", but it ain't winter camping until it gets down to, at least, -20/25C (-4/13F). :P

railriders clothing they make excellent hiking clothes

Darwin, dous the mean you're going to wear pants in the winter?

1st to COMMENT.

Toaks 750

Helloooooo

huh. Don't think I saw your documentary in my feeds. But I will admit to being wary of longer content .. I do tend to be more selective with a longer time investment, less likely to watch something which is only of tangential interest. 🤷‍♂️

pathfinder pot?

EVERY video of yours gets pushed to me, except the na wai doc. i love longer format videos, but i have to go out of my way to find them, youtube keeps pushing shorts on me.

I watch longer videos on KZfaq but the documentary didn't interest me because of the content not the length.

Are you going to move to Vermont Darwin?

Grand Tetons / The Grand or Gannett Peak in the Winds are great mountaineering peaks. Don't forget to learn and have some avalanche training under your belt.