How to pack a rucksack?

[ArkAngel]

I open myself to the scorn of the forum.

Simple question- How do YOU pack your rucksack?

I tend to use a Sabre 45 with or without side pockets depending on how far i am going.

A lot of the time these days i tend to find that i feel like i have a cannonball stuck in my back or things like my billy can lid comes separated from the can and starts to rattle like a good 'un so everything within 3 miles can hear me coming.

I would be interested to read the ways my fellow forum members deal with this. Things like my billy-can, It fits a gas cylinder and my MSR pocket rocket in it, but the lid keeps coming off. Even put in a tight bag it tends to rattle.

Target placed firmly on back, take aim...fire away!

 

[Shewie]

First thing to go in my pack is the thermarest which is pushed out to the sides in a cylinder so everything else go inside it. Then it just a case of packing stuff in the order I'll need it.

So starting from the bottom up ...

Spare clothes
Sleeping bag
Stuff sack with torch, carabiners, spare cord etc
Food
Billy can with brew kit inside
Hammock

Tarp goes in the lid pocket normally depending on which pack I'm taking.

The clothes, sleeping bag and hammock will go against the back to avoid the lumps, the awkward bits like billy cans go towards the front.

Tools like knives, saws and axes usually end up in side or lid pockets so I can get to them if I need them before camp.

It's been a while since I took a trip on foot though as most of my adventures involve a canoe these days. I really need to get back out there tramping again.

 

[Nagual]

Similar idea to Shewie, but really repends on what sack I'm using. My current fav is a cheap £5 tesco value bag, 65ltr. No pockets anywhere, which is a little bit of a pain. Essentially, sleeping gear at the bottom, with water proofs, and tarp at the top. Everything else in between. I try to fill up my cook kit with things so it doesn't rattle. Not the best set up really, but the sack is nice n light, so it's a compromise.

 

[Rabbitsmacker]

keep it simple, order of items priority from most important/need first at the top, last to be used/least important at the bottom, odd shapes away from the back panel. good rubber bands for lids that come off. small bits and bobs in any available pockets. water bottles in preference in side pockets but keep the weight balanced. don't pile heavy items all into the bottom as the weight will pull you backwards, so, keep fragile stuff away from the centre and pile the heavier items on top in the middle. try to avoid strapping too much stuff to the outside, you don't want to look like charles hawtrey from carry on camping.

 

[EastSussexScout]

Well there is a basic routine i stick to. My favourite rucksack is a lichfield pathfinder 70+10 but i do have a 45 litre for when i want to travel very light or i'm just going overnight. Firstly, Black sack to keep everything (relatively) waterproof. Then into the bottom compartment, my sleeping bagin another black sack. then all of my clothes apart frm 1 full set. Then, cooking and eating gear(Tip: i wrap my mess tins and anything that's likely to rattle in my tea towel). then knives and any miscelanious gear(ropes,biners etc) then my hammock and tarp sit on top of my last spare set of clothes. I keep a full set of clothes near the top so that if i get caught in a downpour or fall in a river etc, i've got a set of dry clothes to hand without emptying my WHOLE bag.outside pockets get stuffed with firelighting gear and snacks so they are easy to get to when I decide to set up camp.

Hope this has helped you out or at least given you something to think about. Tbh i think everyone has their own way of doing things. it's just what YOU prefer.

 

[Radix lecti]

Hi Arkangel, you have trouble with a rattling billy can.Well if the contents inside rattle put them in a cloth sack or wrap them in a cloth,as regards to the lid a big thick elastic band wrapped over it will do the trick or a strap of some sort. I was always taught that anything that is metal and is liable to rattle cover it up with something then jump up and down to see if the rattle has ceased,but that was when i was in the services,however a rattling kit is annoying.As for packing the rest of your kit well that has already been covered in previous posts. Cheers.
Darren

 

[Peter_t]

stuff it all in and hope for the best:theyareon

na the best thin to do is put the stuff you will need first on the top. anything that needs to be kept dry put in a rucksack liner or bin bag. anything you mite need to get at quickly like a first aid kit or waterproofs put in an outside pockets if you have them.

not much more to it really.


pete

 

[Amon81]

So starting from the bottom up ...

Spare clothes
Sleeping bag
Stuff sack with torch, carabiners, spare cord etc
Food
Billy can with brew kit inside
Hammock

Tarp goes in the lid pocket normally depending on which pack I'm taking.

The clothes, sleeping bag and hammock will go against the back to avoid the lumps, the awkward bits like billy cans go towards the front.

Tools like knives, saws and axes usually end up in side or lid pockets so I can get to them if I need them before camp.

Pretty much what I do, but I put my poncho either in one of the side pockets or at the top of my pack as I like having my waterproofs easy to get at all year round, Plus the poncho keeps my pack dry too.

If I take a wool blanket I'll put that in the back of my pack so its a great bit of padding on my back. If I can I like only taking a 25L backpack so it's normally got stuff strapped to the out side too (SFA, water bottles etc), seems ok for a one nighter as less cloths are needed only really boxers, socks and maybe spare shirt. My #1 sleeping bag of choice is a snugpac sleeper+ and has a great stuff scak so sometimes I'll just strap that to the bottom of my pack and it gives me alot more room for food or clothes inside.

 

[drago]

i used bike inner tube around my mess tins.... not only does it keep the noise down it acts as a handy fire starter if i need a brew in the wet ( i mean tropical downpour wet.... or if my tinder took a dive in the river with me...... still yet to master river crossings :Thinkingo)

 

[MikeE]

Get your Sherpa to pack (&carry) it for you!

 

[shep]

Not much more to add here. My self-inflating mat is folded and kept in the pouch meant for a bladder against the back.

Things that might need packing when wet go in the side and lid pockets - tarp, bivvie bag, waterproofs

I fill my billy with all of the food I am not going to need during the day then push the lid on and use the netting sack to keep it down. Never seems to rattle that way. I might try drago's inner-tube trick though - I'm a sucker for dual-function.

 

[superc0ntra]

Heavy items on top and near the back. Rain clothes on the very top for easy access.

 

[mitch66]

hi, still trying to get mine down to 20kg, will let you know how i packed it and what order its in ;-). carl

 

[TomBartlett]

I have the as-seen-on-TV Grylis Magic Rucksack. No need to pack, I just reach in and whatever I need at that moment is there, ready and waiting.

 

[soulstar1963]

If you use a roll mat roll it up put it into your bergen/rucksack, vertically, then let it unroll as much as possible. then place all your kit inside it with the things you are going to need first at the top. This will help to provide extra padding for your back as well as help to muffle any annoying little rattles.

 

[pango]

My roll-mat is the only thing that straps outside my rucksac. If I put it inside then I'd have to get rid of some of the absolutely essential items I carry but can't remember the last time I used! Don't laugh... I can see myself up a mountain with a broken leg and a sh!t-eating grin, having taken out those spare bootlaces, survival-bag and the Tramadol that morning!

Everything else is used to its full potential. Dixies don't rattle when packed with a J-Cloth, scourer, film canisters of herbs and seasonings, and freezer-bags of rice, curry paste, etc, are protected.

Apart from agreeing with everything above, my only other advice would be to acquire a decent framed rucksac. You don't have to pay through the nose!

Happy wanderings.

 

[lab72]

I pack mine light things at the bottom and heavier items at the top ,thats way i was tought years ago .

 

[Melonfish]

I've got a 66l job and a 44l. both by highlander, if i'm on the 66 i pack my sleeping back in the bottom with perhaps a liner if its winter. then in the bottom i pop my bivvy, drybag with spare clothes. roll mat. trang set (in 58 patt kidney pouch) food and a raincoat. oh and a 3l pouch on top of it all.
in the outer front pocket goes the tarp, left pocket for wash bag and meths. right pocket for trail foods and misc.
lid carries the rain cover and some glowsticks and my ever trusty boonie hat webbed to the top.
my knives, FAK, pocket guides and firelighting kit all go in my response pak.

in the 44 i just throw in the bivvy, liner, trang, drybag, mat, food and water. tarp in the top pouch (take the rain cover out) and side pocket for meths and gubbinz. again the response pak takes essentials.

 

[Morrolan]

Same here, not much to add - I use a Snugpak RocketPak purely because they were a customer of my old company and I got a heavy discount on it!

It has a 40L main pocket and 2 side pockets of 15L each, and they hold all my day-kit such as my billie, hexi-stove, knifes, firelighting kit (usually in my billie) food, water purification tabs, and first aid pack.

My clothes go at the bottom, then my self-inflating mat (very small when packed, so I leave it in it's bag rather than rolling it out like others do), sleeping bag, bivvie bag, and tarp on top under the flap. I tend not to worry about the pack getting wet as it includes 2 built-in rain covers in a zip-pouch at the bottom so it takes seconds to proof it. However I do wrap my sleeping bag in a bin-liner inside it's stuff sack. Top lid pocket includes maps and rain-coat/over trousers.

I don't have the best solution as it's very full and heavy at 70L, but I'm hoping to pick up some tips at the Bushmoot cos I reckon I'm carrying some unnecessary weight that someone else could see but I can't!

Cheers,
Morrolan

 

[Ogri the trog]

I'm hoping to pick up some tips at the Bushmoot cos I reckon I'm carrying some unnecessary weight that someone else could see but I can't!

Cheers,
Morrolan

Well don't come trying to pick up tips from me!
My priorities have changed a lot since I used to go out wandering the mountains for days on end - I now prefer to make a base camp and, if necessary, do day excursions.

My "container" tends to be a Land Rover filled to capacity with all the necessary trappings for a family of five with loads left over for those who've forgotten things!

ATB

Ogri the trog