Packing question

[Tryinhard]

I know this is off subject but how do most of you guys pack your stuff for a hike in? Where do you attach your hammock and tarp? Cook kit, sleeping pad, uq, tq, etc locations?

Thanks,
Brian

[pgibson]

It is a bit subjective and depends most on your pack and how it's setup. But for me my quilts go in first followed by tarp(if it's dry) and hammock layered together. Then cooking and odd ball gear with food on top close to the back. Then if there is space first aid kit and fishing gear.

[Teegs]

I've tried many different configurations with my old pack. At first I had everything in a neat little place, but after a trip or two, I found it to be horribly inefficient. So I experimented with a few different methods of packing, and determined what is most convenient.

There's also something to be said about concentrating heavier loads in certain parts of your pack, but since my gear is pretty UL, I don't have to worry as much.

Now I've got a ZPacks Exo, and I usually keep my rainfly, towel, and knife in the large mesh on the back. Then, the hip belts get my utility gear like medpack, survival pack, sharpener, headlamp, non-battery flashlight, firesteel, sunglasses pouch, hadnwarmers etc. The detachable hip belt functions as a brain on the top of the pack when I'm not day hiking, and it gets my sawyer water filtration stuff. The side upper mesh gets misc items that get pulled out of the main pack that I am too lazy to put back, or that I know I'll be needing again soon. The strap pouch gets phone,keys,wallet. And the side pockets get trekking poles, and waterbottle. In the main compartment, softshell, puffy, TQ, clothing bag, hammock, cookset, and food. Camera is usually in my pants pocket.

Edit I guess I should clarify my main compartment. I usually won't need the puffy while hiking so it goes in the bottom, followed by the hammock, then clothing bag and cookset, then softshell and food.

The girl carry's the saw, and trowel.

[720fly]

Starting from the bottom
Sleeping bag in sea to summit dry bag
Cooking/ food
Pillow
Hammock
UQand polar flease
Sleep sweets

Top pouch
--------------
Lots of little important things
Water filter
Head lamp
Deck off cards
Paracord hanks
Sewing kit

Sides
--------

4 tent poles
Fly rod/ reel
Fly box and tools(clippers and hem's
Stakes

Hip
------
Survival knife, which is really all I would carry but what ever

Out side back of pack
-----------------

Nalgene and army canteen w/ Billy can and purification tablets
Oh yeah knife has the firestteele, ect.... On it

[FireInMyBones]

Here is a video I did of what all is in my pack and where it goes. It's long, but I hope it helps.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SB1XBYLyogs&feature=plcp

[MAD777]

Starting on the bottom:

Quilts
Hammock
Spare clothes
Food
Miscellaneous (headlamp, etc.)
First aid

In the outside pocket:

Tarp
Poncho
Potty trowel
Water filter
Water bottle

Attached:

Knife
GPS
Snack

[Acer]

Starting on the bottom:

Quilts
Hammock
Spare clothes
Food
Miscellaneous (headlamp, etc.)
First aid

In the outside pocket:

Tarp
Poncho
Potty trowel
Water filter
Water bottle

Attached:

Knife
GPS
Snack

Mine is about exactly the same as this. works great for me. But,,hang your own hang, and pack your own hike for what works for you,,experiment till you get it right for the pack you are using. this works for either of my 2 ULA packs. If I am out west,,and using my GG Nimbus Ozone with bear cannister,,the cannister goes in the middle of the load for me.

[unm1136]

I am nowhere near UL, but I have needs. I am a hunter, so my pack has to take everything for a 3 day hunt, including water, and be able to pack out an animal. Durability and the ability to go heavy trump light weight. I have had my pack loaded with up to about 80 pounds of gear, and that was really pushing the limits of this particular pack.

Kifaru Marauder, almost 4.5 pounds in and of itself, with cargo chair.

Inside pack: Spotting scope on top, camp clothing underneath, butchering kit, game bags.

Outside left side of pack is a 2 liter hydration bladder.

Outside Pack right side: Sleeve for trash bag.

Outside pack bottom: Large KU Pod with hammock, tyvek tarp, underquilt, 20 degree slumberjack bag.

Outside Pack Back face: KU Medium Pod containing food, a 2-4L water bladder, and 2mm line for securing in trees, and securing tripod

Outside Pack Top: KU Small pod with Fleece Jacket, knit cap, and toiletries/small med kit.

I use home made lifter straps to add a Soldiers Optimized Buttpack with pot, stove, fuel, and 2 one quart canteens, mini survival kit. This kit is attached to the shoulder straps, and hangs down in front of my chest.

A SAW pouch on my pack belt holds map, compass, binos, 5 rounds of ammo, radio, batteries, headlamp, hand held light.

I am trying to keep the weight to about 35-40 pounds, not including water and rifle. Water sucks, for 3 days I need about 1.5-2.5 gallons.

These Kifaru Pods are something else! Now that they are available Ultra Light, they are really cool. Think of stuff sacks that mount to the webbing on your pack. They compress really well, are light weight, and are fantastic for bulky items that I really don't want in my pack. This fall I will be testing them as a food back, similar to the one on one of the hammocker's sites (Just Jeff? Sgt. Rock?). 2mm cord through the webbing daisy chain, hoist it up, open end is tied off facing downward. Instant bear bag!

pat

[barnes3126]

Down here in the "rain belt" it is a good idea to keep your tarp on top so it can be put up first. I am making snake skin type sleeves out of mosquito netting for my tarp. The snake skins work well but the netting will allow moisture to escape. My WBBB is in water proof snakeskins, quilts, etc. are in silnylon water proof stuff sacks.

[fly-chucker]

720 has his priorities straight...making sure the fly gear is packed