Gear I Thought Was Hype... Until I Tried It
Every year a few pieces of gear go viral — and most of the time I roll my eyes.
Overpriced. Overhyped. Trying too hard. But every so often I buy something expecting to hate it and end up completely wrong. This is that list: the gear I was ready to write off, plus a few pieces I love so much I just had to share them with you. There's a good chance something here ends up in your kit too.
Big thanks to Arms of Andes for sponsoring this one. Their 100% alpaca hoodie is the layer that made me rethink everything about base and mid layers — temperature-regulating in a way synthetics can't touch, doesn't hold odor after days in the field, and one of the lightest-impact natural fibers on the planet. If you only upgrade one layer this year, make it your mid layer.
👉 Arms of Andes: https://armsofandes.com/
SOME GEAR IN THIS VIDEO (some links are affiliate — they help support the channel at no extra cost to you)
Rocky Talkie radios — https://amzn.to/4vxYXd5
Outdoor Element Fiber Light fire tinder — https://outdoorelement.com/?ref=grimgranite&srsltid=AfmBOoo5nk_eklCgaos91vQynvMmdm51kMbQFLaGwr75pxJbmadZOMEB
FlipFuel fuel transfer device — www.flipfuel.co
Thermacell MR300 — https://amzn.to/3Sv2k68
Camp saw (Japanese, replaceable blade) — https://amzn.to/4vt3L3u
HoverAir follow drones (original + 8K) —https://amzn.to/4vAaRU7
Backcountry Exposure bags (support a small US maker — Devon) — https://backcountryexposure.com/products/mesa-xl-food-bag
Wicked Edge knife sharpener — https://amzn.to/4w4C3do
Ombraz strap sunglasses — https://ombraz.com/
Fire Maple Petrel heat-exchange pot — https://firemaplegear.com/?ref=to02y0Nm&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=goaff
Migo water bottle (Miranda) — https://www.garagegrowngear.com/search?q=mazama+migo&_pos=1&_psq=migo&_ss=e&_v=1.0
BearVault BV1 adjustable bear canister — https://bearvault.com/
Outdoor Vitals Vantage Alpine jacket — https://alnk.to/883ukoz
WATCH NEXT
That black bear island trip with the BearVault → https://youtu.be/PvxEEFa4TeA
Gordon Crum is my second channel — eco-noir conservation documentaries. If you like the storytelling side of what I do, that's where it lives.