Backpack camping/Survival Pack Contents

[ditcherman]

Curious as to what you hate about the Camelbacks?
Backpacked plenty and like them with a bottle too, but using a Katadyn pump and only carry clean water.

 

[Ruger_Ronin]

Curious as to what you hate about the Camelbacks?
Backpacked plenty and like them with a bottle too, but using a Katadyn pump and only carry clean water.

I really don't care for straws either, lol. And the worst part is cleaning them. I just find them cumbersome.

 

[ditcherman]

I really don't care for straws either, lol. And the worst part is cleaning them. I just find them cumbersome.

Lots of different ways to handle water, but to me always keeping the vessels clean makes life simpler, so no real cleaning for me. Pump hooks up to a disconnect in the line, so no removing the bag, which would be bad.
But as has been discussed on here before, many others have gone other ways.
I would just say no matter what you choose others around you need to jive with your system, or have their own.

 

[Lee11b]

I kind of agree with MM, I like tents....and I don't mean the Army's old shelter half!!!!......lol

"You get a line, I get a pole, baby"....is a cute cadence, BUT the ticks are fierce already, and we haven't even started warming up. I still remember the baby cotton mouth that crawled into one NCO's poly pad down in Louisiana, during PLDC,....don't like snakes!!!! So, a screen between me and the creepy crawlies and slitherers of the world, is welcome weight to hike.

 

[Lee11b]

So far, this is my current #1 for new pack. Checks a lot of boxes.

I like the back pack, your thinking on upgrading to RR!!! Also, check out the inter web on places like REI, etc. Read some reviews. Hopefully Sportsman Warehouse has one you can put your meat cleavers on. Try the zippers, put some weight in the store, and "hike" the aisles. See if you like the shoulder straps and padding. Who cares if you look like a "hiking weirdo". The Kelty that was suggested seems nice. I have an old 2 man tent they made, and the quality was excellent.

 

[Ruger_Ronin]

I like the back pack, your thinking on upgrading to RR!!! Also, check out the inter web on places like REI, etc. Read some reviews. Hopefully Sportsman Warehouse has one you can put your meat cleavers on. Try the zippers, put some weight in the store, and "hike" the aisles. See if you like the shoulder straps and padding. Who cares if you look like a "hiking weirdo". The Kelty that was suggested seems nice. I have an old 2 man tent they made, and the quality was excellent.

After some more research and fondling a bit in stores, I did order the Teton Explorer 65L. Got the discount and free shipping @ $92 on my doorstep direct from Teton website. Cheaper than any store sale price.

 

[Ruger_Ronin]

A few things rearranged, a few additions and subtractions. New 5 & 10 liter dry bags for cookware/foodstuffs, and full clothes change respectively. I also put all the firestarter and survival kit in a waterproof box. Tent stakes were too large to allow Artcturus and cordage to fit in original bag; I'll dig out some smaller ones. Addition of headlamp in a waist pocket, and not pictured is the 64oz water bottle (the canteen belt will not work with packs built-in waist pad). I also dug out my Stanley nesting pot.

A weekends worth of sustenance includes some packages meats (pork, spam, and chicken)and street taco tortillas, as well as peanut bars for a booster. Going for the "what's around" meals as opposed to branded meals.

 

[Ruger_Ronin]

Everything packs out nicely. The dry bags make things organized. Both my 0° & 30° sleeping bags fit inside, but neither will go into segregated bag compartment at bottom. An interior zipper opens it into main compartment for more space.

The dry box, poncho, and a few easy access items occupy the exterior pouches. The mesh pocket for tools. I added more lashing and buckles for future tent or the like.

Once fitted, the weight balance is very even. I am 6'2", 190-200 and this was very comfortable. The pack is at 15-18% body weight depending on bag, and this is also w/o water.

Now to get out and test, hopefully soon!

 

[tom1025]

Everything packs out nicely. The dry bags make things organized. Both my 0° & 30° sleeping bags fit inside, but neither will go into segregated bag compartment at bottom. An interior zipper opens it into main compartment for more space.

The dry box, poncho, and a few easy access items occupy the exterior pouches. The mesh pocket for tools. I added more lashing and buckles for future tent or the like.

Once fitted, the weight balance is very even. I am 6'2", 190-200 and this was very comfortable. The pack is at 15-18% body weight depending on bag, and this is also w/o water.

Now to get out and test, hopefully soon!

View attachment 265644

Why wont your sleeping bags fit in the segregated area? Normally you just stuff them in. I try to keep everything inside my pack so my balance doesn't get thrown off. Over all it looks good. I like to add instant potato pouches to my rations.

 

[shibumiseeker]

I just got back from a week hiking in the Grand Canyon. I did 52 miles in 5 days, one 17 mile day hike rim to river. and back down and up Bright Angel. For that my base (no food/water) pack weight with no tent or sleeping bag, but a bivvy sack for emergencies was 14lbs. My base pack weight for 2 nights down with 20 degree sleeping bag and tent was 21lbs.

I’ve backpacked a lot. It’s good and fine to put together gear based on theory, but the real test of what you need comes when you’ve used it a lot. I was teaching my friend who went with how to backpack before this hike and each training trip he pared his weight down and optimized his equipment. As a wilderness survival instructor and practitioner I know exactly what I need and what I can leave home and still have a comfortable safety margin. I also know for a fact how much I can hike under what conditions and that is the real area many people fail.

 

[Ruger_Ronin]

Why wont your sleeping bags fit in the segregated area? Normally you just stuff them in. I try to keep everything inside my pack so my balance doesn't get thrown off. Over all it looks good. I like to add instant potato pouches to my rations.

They are just too bulky, not initially designed for lightweight/packing. That is with compression sack.

Potatoes have been done before. I usually have a higher calorie count, but want to sample some off the shelf goods.

 

[Ruger_Ronin]

I just got back from a week hiking in the Grand Canyon. I did 52 miles in 5 days, one 17 mile day hike rim to river. and back down and up Bright Angel. For that my base (no food/water) pack weight with no tent or sleeping bag, but a bivvy sack for emergencies was 14lbs. My base pack weight for 2 nights down with 20 degree sleeping bag and tent was 21lbs.

I’ve backpacked a lot. It’s good and fine to put together gear based on theory, but the real test of what you need comes when you’ve used it a lot. I was teaching my friend who went with how to backpack before this hike and each training trip he pared his weight down and optimized his equipment. As a wilderness survival instructor and practitioner I know exactly what I need and what I can leave home and still have a comfortable safety margin. I also know for a fact how much I can hike under what conditions and that is the real area many people fail.

Most of my experience is around "base" camping as it was always family oriented. I did some trekking/pack camping 20+ years ago. I required much less as I was young and required less to live. Sometimes just a knife, a tarp, and a flask. I'm too old for that stuff anymore.

I appreciate your input. Don't plan on doing the AT anytime soon, so a lot of specialized gear isn't necessary. Maybe the local KT, but gotta get out and knock the rust off first. Looking into 3-5 day/night outings.

As previously mentioned up-post, I am reinvigorated of late and plan to get back into solo camping.

 

[ditcherman]

I just got back from a week hiking in the Grand Canyon. I did 52 miles in 5 days, one 17 mile day hike rim to river. and back down and up Bright Angel. For that my base (no food/water) pack weight with no tent or sleeping bag, but a bivvy sack for emergencies was 14lbs. My base pack weight for 2 nights down with 20 degree sleeping bag and tent was 21lbs.

I’ve backpacked a lot. It’s good and fine to put together gear based on theory, but the real test of what you need comes when you’ve used it a lot. I was teaching my friend who went with how to backpack before this hike and each training trip he pared his weight down and optimized his equipment. As a wilderness survival instructor and practitioner I know exactly what I need and what I can leave home and still have a comfortable safety margin. I also know for a fact how much I can hike under what conditions and that is the real area many people fail.

That’s an amazing hike!
We were there one time on a rim to rim event weekend, those people are nuts.

 

[Ruger_Ronin]

I just got back from a week hiking in the Grand Canyon. I did 52 miles in 5 days, one 17 mile day hike rim to river. and back down and up Bright Angel. For that my base (no food/water) pack weight with no tent or sleeping bag, but a bivvy sack for emergencies was 14lbs. My base pack weight for 2 nights down with 20 degree sleeping bag and tent was 21lbs.

I’ve backpacked a lot. It’s good and fine to put together gear based on theory, but the real test of what you need comes when you’ve used it a lot. I was teaching my friend who went with how to backpack before this hike and each training trip he pared his weight down and optimized his equipment. As a wilderness survival instructor and practitioner I know exactly what I need and what I can leave home and still have a comfortable safety margin. I also know for a fact how much I can hike under what conditions and that is the real area many people fail.

Additionally, I would appreciate any info regarding your Instruction. Upcoming classes?

 

[shibumiseeker]

That’s an amazing hike!
We were there one time on a rim to rim event weekend, those people are nuts.

In October I did rim to rim in a day, slept for 5 hours in a cabin on the North Rim, then back to the South Rim the next day. Felt pretty badass except there were several trail runners doing rtrtr in a day who passed us.

For what it’s worth to those who think they are too old: I’m 53 and I regularly meet people on the trail much older than I am who out-hike me.

 

[Ruger_Ronin]

I can remember being an early teen and packing in with a .22 and a hollowed out school bag full of wares. Spent many moons at that farm in the summer. Grandpa would come on horseback every few days and make me eat breakfast at the house. Grandma would feed something out of cast iron covered in gravy, and give me a once over to ease her worries.

Back into the woods I went. Usually a can of beans and jerky was parting gift. Just in case I didn't bag a squirrel for a day. There was water in the creeks then. Morels, wildberries, and the like. Plentiful area (200ac. mostly woods, neighboring against Jackson-Washington SF) with lots of off-grid world to roam. Delaney was almost a second home to me.

 

[Leadeye]

Living in the woods has made me lazy. I go out for a walk with phone, gun, trash bag and a canteen.

 

[ditcherman]

Living in the woods has made me lazy. I go out for a walk with phone, gun, trash bag and a canteen.

Well now that you’ve ran the neighbors off maybe you can forego the trash bag?

 

[Leadeye]

Well now that you’ve ran the neighbors off maybe you can forego the trash bag?

Actually no matter where I go, my ground or HNF I'm always bringing back trash. I fill a full sized garbage bag in a remarkably small amount of trips.

 

[ditcherman]

In October I did rim to rim in a day, slept for 5 hours in a cabin on the North Rim, then back to the South Rim the next day. Felt pretty badass except there were several trail runners doing rtrtr in a day who passed us.

For what it’s worth to those who think they are too old: I’m 53 and I regularly meet people on the trail much older than I am who out-hike me.

Same age. (I think. I don’t like keeping track)
When I first heard of rim to rim I thought no way, then talked to people doing rtrtr.
Talked to a guy for a few minutes wearing a Speedo and carrying a water bottle, it seemed obvious he didn’t even stop to pee.

We didn’t train for our trip, as we scored a surprise last minute cancellation permit for 2 nights so we did the best we could. My pack was probably 32-34 pounds, weather was great so we just took hammocks no tent on advice of the ranger.
I made it out and was proud of myself, but probably shouldn’t have been, should have been in shape.
Now that you’ve made me think about it I guess I just turned 54.

Would also be interested in wilderness survival and hiking refinement classes.