Dan Goes Hiking's video: How Backpacking YouTubers make money and is it okay

I dive into all the ways backpacking YouTubers get compensated, from YouTube ads to gear reviews to sponsorships, and more. I also weigh in on the Backcountry.com scandal and how I feel about YouTubers being sponsored by them and others. 01:34 - YouTube Ads 03:36 - Affiliate Links 05:30 - Free Gear 10:05 - Patreon 12:18 - Brand Ambassador 14:01 - Sponsorships GEAR I USE AND RECOMMEND - Garmin InReach Mini satellite messenger: https://amzn.to/2Y9kbOz - Helinox Chair Zero: https://amzn.to/2vL3kFA - Six Moon Designs Gatewood Cape tent/poncho: https://amzn.to/2UQQ78b - Outdoor Research Helium II rain jacket: https://amzn.to/2GM5xFM - Exped AirMat HL sleeping pad: https://amzn.to/2Lb6Ovr - Nitecore NU25 headlamp: https://amzn.to/2LfvG5v - Columbia Silver Ridge Lite hiking shirt: https://amzn.to/2UPPETP - Opsak odor proof food bag: https://amzn.to/2GWnnHD - Leatherman Squirt PS4 multitool: https://amzn.to/2XX1TA4 - Deuce of Spades trowel: https://amzn.to/2DTnLo9 - Suunto A-10 compass: https://amzn.to/2VD3rS6 - Therm-a-Rest Compressible pillow: https://amzn.to/2WfBn4r - Sawyer Squeeze water filter: https://amzn.to/2Lb8sgB - CNOC Outdoors Vecto water container: https://amzn.to/2GPPBCz - Sea to Summit Mosquito Head Net (w/ Insect Shield): https://amzn.to/2YcTCaF - Anker Powercore II external battery: https://amzn.to/2vGTFzO - Saramonic SmartMic microphone: https://amzn.to/2VRpyEC - BOYA BY-M1 lavalier microphone: https://amzn.to/2VNvu19 **At no cost to you, click the links above, buy your stuff, and Amazon will contribute a small portion of the sale to my channel. Win-Win! Thanks, all!** Filmed on a Google Pixel 2 with BOYA BY-M1 external mic ---------------------------------------------------- Welcome to my random musings on all things backpacking. If you haven't already guessed, my name is Dan. I was bit by the backpacking bug in 2014 and since then haven't gone one day without thinking about my next adventure. I'm from Chicago, a great city but...not so much known for its bountiful backpacking opportunities. Nevertheless, I haven't let that stop me from enjoying the outdoors. Hope my videos leave you with one or two takeaways, or even better, inspire you to head out on the trail. Thanks for watching! Have fun out there! - Dan