Haha not sure I’d want to test that theory but thanks!🙂

Thanks Matti and Stina! 🙂 yeah it’s been raining for weeks, the forests are always very damp in winter. The wood was so wet you could see the water being pushed out the top by the heat. The ground tends to be damp and muddy as well. It rarely gets cold enough that the forest floors freeze. Do you mean green because of the lack of snow and ice? Our winter average temperature is 5C - 8C so even the tallest mountains only have snow during cold spells. We have our first proper cold weather coming this week, maybe get down to -5C (which will be nothing for you!) but after that the hills and mountains won’t be as green. Of course every 5-10years we will get a rare freeze that lasts for weeks. Last big one was 2010

Thanks Neill! A little birdy told me Rob went and camped somewhere else!Someone turns up camping with a banjo and I’m moving forest 😂😂 Thanks for not murdering me!

He'd replied later that morning... tells me he'd no signal 🤔 Until next time 😁

Thanks Vic! 🙂 I’m slowly gaining the confidence to make slower videos like this. For a long time I was focused on very fast edits and shorter videos because that’s what everyone said to do. But realised that it very much depends on the niche and type of video. My CTR isn’t great for these videos but hoping that changes as I focus the channel more. Thanks for all the advice BTW!

I’m glad it wasn’t the murder option! 😂

Thanks Peter. I like the LOFI for warmer weather when I just need to heat water. It’s much faster and easily to light than the Solo Stove. So I’d consider bringing it on a day hike too. And most people (in UK & Ireland at least) who go camping only go for one night so power isn’t a concern. But in winter it’s nice to have something that can stay lit for hours and provide some heat.

Wasn’t too bad, the small pile of wood I prepped was enough to keep me going for a few hours. Obviously not as easy as putting in bigger sticks but the small burn chamber and smaller fire meant it didn’t feel any more difficult to fuel than a bigger stove. Just have to do the prep. Although I think I’d definitely value a larger stove on a really cold night. Might look into the bushbox.

Thank you 🙂 Most places close here as well. Glad you enjoy the videos 🙂 and very glad to be alive! 🤣

Thanks! It’s a great spot for making a video. Mostly because it’s only 20mins from the carpark 😂 yeah stoves are a black hole, I’ve got a few now! Always something new or novel

Thanks Chad! 🙂 I admire your alertness at 5:30am. I can’t concentrate on watching anything first thing in the morning. Like a zombie!

Thanks! Used my best camera for this one. My GoPro struggles with the low light of winter so choose the camera that works best in low light.

@@StephenJReid I have an old go pro I use for chatting, I use a Canon 24mm prime (when battery permits) and a 50mm for photography, it weighs more than my kit 😁🤣

Thanks! 🙂 I hope to get out and do more too

Oh I didn’t get out of the tent to set the camera up 😂 Well not all of my anyway, just my arm. Filmmaking is all lies! 😂 Took me ages hiking in too because of all the shots I set up. Also one shot from early in the video was actually from the next day. It’s kinda obvious.

@@StephenJReid 😂 I’ve always thought it takes you 3x longer to do stuff as you have to set up, do the shot & then go back to get camera AND do it again

Still enjoy your videos! Thanks for putting smiles on faces and sharing scenery I may never experience in real life (at least not your side of the globe … maybe one day …)

@@LazyManJoe at least 3x as long! Sometimes I’ll have to do the shot 2-3 times if I’m not happy with the framing. But I see that as the difference between a vlogging and a filmmaking. A vlog is simply captured exactly as it happens, with few set up shots. A filmmaking is more deliberately constructed for the purpose of story. Sounds pretentious 😂

😂😂😂

Thanks Nigel 🙂

I’m also very glad! 😂

And thanks! 🙂

Thanks! 🙂 you seem suspiciously knowledgeable about Chicago gangsters 😂

Yeah the littering is very frustrating. I saw abandoned pillows when I was there. I’m worried at some point the whole forest area could be clear-felled as its quite mature trees and probably managed forest.

@@StephenJReid yeah that's a fear certainly

Thank you! 🙂 I think it took about maybe 10hours to edit this video.

@@StephenJReid wow, that's a lot longer than I take on mine.

@@RoadReality Depends on the video. Some simple ones I can edit quickly but for a video like this I'll do a rough cut. Then I'll go back and build up sequences with music or sound design. I'll do another pass to tighten up those sequences, layer in more sound design, adjust audio levels. Then I'll do a final pass where I colour grade all the shots and fine tune each one individually.

@@StephenJReid Yep, that sounds very similar to my workflow, except I am using Alex Audio Butler and Clarity Vx plugins to manage my audio fidelity, levels, and mixing. But I do the rest in the same order when I'm doing an off-bike video. I've done a few product reviews lately, and those are all 3-7 hour edits, doing exactly what you said. FWIW, in this video, the contrast stuck out to me, and it had an added warmth to it that was really cool. You just don't see stuff like that all the time - most YTers have a style they stick to for everything, but your color grading and such changes for the type of video - this one was warm, but your ranty runs are usually more saturated, a little less contrast, and then other videos are somewhere in the middle, it's kinda wild.

Thanks!

Thanks Brian! I’ve stuck a few things in the description as well. I might make a video in the new year about my winter camping kit.

Haha! I was just very happy not to be murdered 😂

Thanks 🙂

Thanks Dazzy! Video production is my day job so trying to take a more filmmaker style approach to some of my videos. Other times I’ll just grab my GoPro.

Haha forgot my banjo!

Thanks David! Pitching a tent on a kayak?!

Is it like Lapland?

@@StephenJReid some parts of it, yes. Lapland is a bit more barren and rocky.

@@timovehkaoja Most of the mountains here are quite barren looking, very few trees grow on them. Nearly all the forests in these mountains are small commercial forests, so you could camp there one month and return the next to find the trees gone. We have very little natural woodland anywhere in Ireland, most deforested country in Europe. But there are some nice areas and on video it’s easy to make a forest look bigger.

Where do you live now?

@@StephenJReid about six hours from lapland. 👍🏻

Ahoy! Lovely part of the country down your way

Thanks! 🙂

Hi Mark! Thanks very much, glad you enjoyed the video 🙂

Thanks! No not a GoPro video. I used my best camera for this one, Sony A7siii. It’s my main camera for client work and is amazing in low light. GoPro would look like mush in these conditions without a lot of light.

@@StephenJReid and it showed 📷👍

Haha, probably only if there’s a fire already going in it.

Thanks! Zero condensation inside the Rab, it’s a single layer but whatever the fabric is, seems to work really well. Not my first choice for winter though due to lack of space but my other tent is being repaired

@@StephenJReid wow, I’m really surprised no condensation at all, but I know the fabric is Pertex and that has very good breathability I think. What was the ambient outside air temp on the night if you know please? Thanks for all your help!

Haha, think this was my first camp in 2023

Depends on the system, I’m going by meteorological winter. I refuse to accept that most of December isn’t actually winter 😂 On the ancient Irish calendar winter starts even earlier in November.

@@StephenJReid haha, I definitely agree with your logic. Suppose we’re both “officially” correct in different ways 👍🏻

It’s a great wee stove and more efficient than a folding box stove, doesn’t take much wood to keep it going. Still trying to decide if I prefer it or my folding box stove

Brilliant race! I’ve run it last 4 years. This year is in doubt though as I haven’t done much hill running in nearly 3 months. I might do it but not vlog it this year, just enjoy the run for once!

This one was shot on a Sony A7siii but you could get a similar look with a camera half the price

@@StephenJReid thank you for the reply, i found your channel after looking for tips and reviews on the 360 x3 and bonus is that like myself you go hiking/camping, thanks again

Haha what rabbit hole do you mean? I actually have the 3x3 superlight tarp, used it a few times but never in a video. Definitely an endless amount of kit out there though and everyone has something they swear by.

Rabit hole, Bigger fire,bigger saw bigger axe ( like your axe tho ) bigger food (stop eating boilin the bag stuff lol ( ridge monkey) bigger tarp, bigger chillllllllll out, bigger fun. Learn the knots and spend hour setting up mad tarp set ups ha ha ha. Feck the hibride stuff goo total comfort and fun and zero bs. Raider and tarp 👍👍👍.

I like to take elements from various places ultralight camping, bushcraft, fast packing and combine the ones I find interesting or useful. I rarely do the same camp twice, sometimes I’ll bring my pan and cook something proper, other times I can’t be bothered and I’ll use a pack. I do have a bigger axe, was doing more bushcraft stuff a couple of years ago but it was my worst performing content at the time so I moved away from it. Kinda coming back around to it now but trying not to buy too much more. Really I have enough. One of my first videos was a tarp and bivvi camp. But it’s tricky to keep camera equipment dry and warm the same way, which is why I’ve favoured tents more recently. Plan on attempting hammock camping again next year.

I hear ya. When I can't be botherd cooking I use the Ridge monkey to heat up pre cooked burgers, sausages rolls etc add a cheese slice sorted. Had a crips sandwich and a cup of tea camped on top of donard best one I ever tasted lol. It's great in winter to dig out the Jolly green gaint rucksack and fill it up ha ha ha. Never hammocked. Looking at doing more bike packaging and possibly a canoe trip. Joy of being a beginner.

Soooo ahhhh. Honey stove 3 pie tin foile things only one needed for the bush box. Awsome prices of kit I been using this year Henionesx Pancho . And the swagman's roll. The DD 1.5 X 3 set it up and if it's really pissing it down clip on the Pancho. Same with the 3x3. If the wind changers clip on the Pancho. Been using it for if u see a rain storm coming sit on your pack put the Pancho over u and wait 5 mins all good.

Thanks! I shot this on my camera that I use for my professional work, Sony A7siii, it’s phenomenal in low light. Btw thought I spotted your green tent in Donard Wood last Saturday.

Yeah still using it. For colder nights I add a liner and chuck in a couple of hand warmers.

@@StephenJReid great, thanks for the reply Stephen. Tested my existing bag (limit of -1°C, survival -10°C) and mat (R value 3.1) at -3°C last night and am on the fence about upgrading. Eolus could be a contender 🤔

@@GearTutorials only problem I’ve had with it so far is that you sometimes have to redistribute the down filling a bit or it can develop cold spots if it all gather in one place. But it’s a decent budget bag

The boots I was wearing in this were the Merrell MQM gore-tex boots. Very lightweight. Although probably not the best option for colder weather. I also have a pair of heavy leather boots that are pretty bombproof for long cold days but are heavy on the feet. www.gooutdoors.co.uk/16243278/merrell-mens-mqm-3-gore-tex-mid-walking-boots-16243278

What are your thoughts on the Merrell boots now that you have had them for a while? Your feedback might make my decision for me lol

Thanks Ricky! I actually did have the seat feet support thing with me, but (wrongly) assumed the forest floor was solid enough so left it in my bag!🙈 that plumbing pipe is a neat trick. I’ve a friend with the same chair and he used training golf balls

@@StephenJReid Ha ha...brilliant...love peoples creative solutions to these little problems, especially when they can make a real difference to our enjoyment of the outdoors 😃

I find being in the open more creepy, there’s a coziness about the forest. I feel more vulnerable out on a summit

@@StephenJReid you can see whats coming to some extent 😂😂