Packing - Lighten up!
Repackage
Practically everything should be repackaged: the weight of most packaging is useless and difficult to pack bulk and weight for lightweight or ultralight backpacking, plus you will need to pack it out.
By selection of the container, it is possible to repackage nearly everything flat, or at least in a rectangular stuff sack like that of Granite Gear Air Compressor compression sack for the sleeping bag to stuff into the corners of the pack. This utilizes nearly all of the volume in the backpack.
This also prevents movement. It is undesireable for the load to shift at awkward moments.
If anything in a backpack is angular, or heavy and hitting against you, or water or fuel is sloshing in a container, or the contents of the cookset are constantly rattling and clanging at every step on the trail, the answer usually is to repackage it. If not, a little creative padding may help.
Because my primary pack carry is a 40-liter pack, I like the soft Granite Gear Event Sil Ultra-Dry PackLiners and the Granite Gear Pack Stuffers.
I particularly like how the Granite Gear
Block Solid Compression Sack slides over the sleeping bag so nicely, when I pack. Perhaps this is why my really "big" synthetic sleeping bag now packs to a smaller size.
I usually stuff that in the bottem of my pack. Then, I will loosely pack some high volume item, down jacket or like that. This makes a nicer, and more flat load, with all the more lumpy gear nestled inside.
The Coleman Space Savers small compressible roll-up is 14 x 20 inches.
In addition, the 13.75 x 19.5 inches Travel Space Saver Space Bag Roll Up & Go carry on size, included in the package with two different sizes may be right for your pack.
The eVent Sil Drysacks and Sea to Summit eVac Dry Sack is outstanding for packing bulky items in a small pack, because has a one-way valve built-in to allow me press out excess air trapped inside.
The Granite Gear Überlight Drysacks may be your ultralightweight drybag choice.
These size and brand guidelines may help you develop strategies for packing the higher volume items.
Continued
copyright © 2012 Connie Dodson. All Rights Reserved.
| 