Packing a Pack the Right Way

imported
#1

Over the years of hiking I have found that often my pack was a mess. The line, rope, tie outs, etc., gets tangled in the pack around items that I want to use quickly.

So the question is: Is there a recommended way to organize and pack a pack? For Instance I have a Kelty Pack. Two large pockets: Upper larger than Bottom. Then I have two smaller pockets on each side of the pack. I hang my Sleeping bag on the outside of the bottom of the bottom compartment. I have my Hammock (or if carrying a tent- that) on the top outside of the pack. I carry my pads (for sleeping) outside on the back of the pack. The outside items are fine. It is what goes inside that causes confusion.

Do people color bag inside items? Is Line separated in separate use bags? Is clothing bagged separately such as night clothes, warm weather wear, cold snap wear, Heavy jackets, sweaters, etc., and how is food organized?

What are the thoughts of those who have some experience on the Appalachian Trail?

Skylander

#2

Someone once said that a pack is a bag carrying other bags.

So, my key to organizing is several bags, both sil nylon and plastic. For example, all my food goes into the sil nylon stuff sack that I use as a food bag. I have the breakfasts all grouped together in a plastic bag, lunches grouped together in another, dinners in a third, and then a snack bag.

Everything for cooking meals and clean up fits inside my pot, which is inside it’s own bag.

Clothing is kept in a couple of bags. Clothing that stuffs into it’s own pocket is stuffed into. This includes my rain jacket, shorts, and windshirt.

My Bear bag rope is kept in a small stuff sack, and is kept in the food bag.

So on.

Peaks

#3

Ditto to Peaks. I put a trash compactor bag (plastic) inside of my top pocket and use it as a waterproof liner. My clothes go into a Graniteware compression bag. It is compressed down to about 14" by 6" which I use as a pillow. I don’t carry many clothes. Micro fleece pullover, smartwool t-shirt, poly T-shirt, balaclava, glove liners, Frogtog jacket, polyprop long johns and shirt, one pair of shorts and two pair of socks (no liners). That was my winter clothes for my '02 thru hike. If I got cold I just stopped and set up camp and got into my sleeping bag. I also lined the inside of my bag with my 3/4 thermarest pad. Clothes, food, cookset all go in the bag. I use a lot of zip lock bags. I like the ones with the zipper. They are easier to open and close in cold weather. Everything from the smallest to 1.5 gallon size ziplocks, I used them all. I put nothing loose in my bag. Even my shelter is in a stuff sack. I put the heaviest things on top and the lightest on the bottom. Then equalize it from left to right with my liquids; water and fuel. First aid is in a sandwich size ziplock. Money, cards, ID, small note book, small ballpoint pen were kept in a pint size ziplock. Hope this helps Skylander.

Papa Smurf

#4

As much as I can, I like to organize things chronologicaly by when I’ll use them.

Hike-time items, like water bottle and aqua-mira, rain gear, snack bags, and the like go in the outside pockets. Also outside the pack are fuel bottle (so it won’t leak on my stuff) and first aid kit.

Night-time items go in the bottom of the pack - sleeping clothes and bag, food and stove, hammock (unless it’s wet), and toiletries. This is good because if you need your stove, you’re likely to need your sleeping gear very soon. Assuming you don’t cook a hot lunch, there’s no need to open your entire pack until it’s time to set up camp.

Inside and on top, I put things I MIGHT need - warm jacket, repair items, etc. And things I know I’ll need that won’t fit in the pockets, like lunch, bulkier snack items, TP, and a poncho if I’m carrying one.

I have a Golite Speed that I haven’t used yet, so I’ll put my sleeping pad inside to use it as a frame, and I won’t attach anything to the top or bottom. Everything nice and tight inside or in the mesh pockets.

I also like to put everything in ziplock bags. Clothes go in the big ole ziplocks. Depending on the bulk, you can put a whole set of clean clothes inside one big ziplock (especially if you’re going commando in the summer…). First-aid kit goes in a ziplock - you can see everything inside and it stays dry. I usually carry my wallet in my pocket in case I set my pack down somewhere. Cord goes in a ziplock just to make it easy to find, and you have an extra ziplock if you need it.

Speaking of cord, daisy-chaining is a great way to keep it from tangling. It’s hard to describe but easy to do once you see someone do it. Here’s a crash course.

  • Take one end, and tie a slipknot in it.
  • Now you have a long string hanging from a slipknot. Just on the string-side of the slipknot, pull a bite through the loop, creating another loop.
  • Pull the old loop tight around the new loop.
  • Repeat.

Once you get the hang of it, you can put the two ends together and daisy-chain them as one cord. This makes your daisy-chain thicker, which means it will tangle even less, and also halves the length of rope you have to daisy-chain.

When you’re ready to use it, just pull the last slipknot and keep pulling. They’ll all come right out with no knots or tangles. Works like a charm on 550 cord.

Big novel…hope it helps!

Jeff

Jeff

#5

I find that I pack my bag exactly the same everytime. This becomes habit. I can pack up in a matter of minutes. Also since everything goes in the same way, you don’t forget things. Cuz they all have there place and when you are packing you will immediately know what comes next or if there is a “hole” something is missing.

Hammock Hanger:girl

Hammock Hanger

#6

This is some video not on the DVD of 2000 Miles to Maine of a thru hiker, finishing up. His packing is shown here: http://homepage.newschool.edu/~at2k/light.htm

Main thing: pack light and efficently. I like to put things in small stuff sacks, the sleeping bag in the bottom and therma rest on the side. Food goes nearer the top and water on the outside so you can get to it. The less stuff, the less like to have a mess. Then put it in separate stuff sacks or large zip locks.

Cameraman:cheers

Camerman

#7

Thanks, everyone, for the input about this topic.

Someone, suggested that I consult the Boy Scout Field Manual for some packing and organization ideas. Another person suggested that I take a look at Colin Fletcher’s books.

But the suggestions from people who actually hike the AT is very valuable.

Skylander

#8

Jeff, thanks for the daisy chain tip with the string, cord, or rope. Sounds like a winner!

Juzzme

#9

Best way to pack? Start off with the biggest pack (whether you can carry it or not) and put EVERYTHING and ANYTHING in it. As you start hiking, just remind yourself that you have all that extra weight that you can drop off if things get too heavy.

In other words - play a mind game with yourself.

Brutus