I'm interested to find out what gear people will be bringing, and what size your packs are... because either my hammock is freakishly large or the standard measurement of a "litre" and that of a "cubic inch" has changed. The internal space of these new packs I keep getting is... pathetic! One change of clothes and a DD Frontline hammock in a stuff sack is filling up a Karrimor SF Predator TECMAC 50 litre pack. That strikes me as insane! It says that it's the 50 litre on the pack, but honestly it feels more like a 30 litre daysack to me. So much so that I'm dusting off my old knackered 80 litre DPM Bergen because at least I know that everything fits properly with that pack (with an abundance of extra space, in fact).
It's not like I'm trying to shove the kitchen sink in here, gents. My clothes are compact, my hammock really isn't that large... the bags are just stupidly small these days (I'm betting it's something to do with the silly detachable frame thing for holding a radio... something nobody outside the military actually needs)
Anyway, if you don't mind sharing a gear list and the size of your pack (name of the pack would be helpful too so I can do my own research) that'd be great.
Simon, i had the same conversation with Stu the last few time we've been out, I was using my Berghaus Roc with side pouches and still had to tie my response pack and UQ on the outside, thats 70-90 litres, as someone used to carrying ammo and a radio in there to i cant see how it is so large. i set about with the goal "if it doesnt fit inside it doesnt come".
I've now made a concerted effort to reduce the pack, and i've now got everything inside a civvy Berghaus Voyager 60+ bergan,
kit as follows,
Inside;
army arctic doss bag in compression sack
UK hammocks UQ in an 8ltr waterproof drybag (not compressed)
Frontline hammock (with woopies, trees straps, karibiners and ridgeline in bag)
Response pack with the usual knives, washing kit torch etc
Book
sleeping hat/spare underwear/thermals/socks in small compression sack
Top pouch;
DD 3x3 tarp with pegs and bungees inside bag
chopping board
folding saw
expandable Side pouch 1
18cm billywhich contains
16cm Cooking billy
Woodgas Mk2 stove in a bag
MSR wind shield
pot lifting handle
2 in 1 coffee sachets
vaseline cotton balls and lighter
folding cup
all in a second bag;
150ml wood pellets cat litter (in case of wet wood)
food which can be anything
small trangia burner full of meths (probably get left at some point as i love the woodgas)
expandable side pouch 2
water in a 1 litre bottle
1 litre stainless thermos
US metal mug
and finally my hatchet/axe
i found the biggest space saver was changing the diy UQ for the Down UQ.
and my names Paul