Pack Sizes and 'Standard' Kit

[Onelifeoverland]

Hi all,

Recently I've been thinking about the size of my 'daysack' which isn't really a daysack as such. By that I mean, short of a bed roll and food it always has the same stuff in it whether I'm out for a few hours or a few days.

Being ex-army and a former Search and Rescue operator, even though my knees are shot and I'm not nearly as fit as i used to be I'm quite used carrying weight on my back. Though I imagine to the layman it would appear that I'm carrying far too big a pack for a few hours out in the woods.

The contents - off top of my head - is this :-

- Tarp
- Hammock
- Pot (with empty meths burner inside) - for heating water
- Fry pan - cooking and as a plate for eating
- Small bag of plastic pots - coffee, condiments, sugar etc
- Small amount of meths (for burner)
- Kuksa
- spoon and spatula
- Tinder pouch
- Hat, gloves, shemagh
- First aid kit inc. first field dressing
- 1ltr water bottle
- TBS Grizzly
- Mora Eldris
- Slingshot and ammo
- Axe
- Bahco folding saw
- Work gloves
- Notebook
- Foraging pocket book
- Dump bag
- Garmin Tempe
- Firebox
- Sitting mat
- Small leather sheet to keep tools and stuff off the ground or for working using my leg as a bench (save damaging trousers) but dog think it is also his bed!
- Harmonica
- Canon Dslr
- Gopro
- Gorillapod
- Manfrotto lightweight tripod

I've done that list from memory staring at the pack from across the room and trying to use my superpowers to see inside!

Writing down that list I'm realising it's a bit ridiculous but I'm happier knowing I have everything I might want on any journey. Note I didn't say need! Need and want are two very, very different things and I get that. My need list wouldn't be anywhere near half of the above.

The camera gear is for my You Tube channel and that probably adds quite a bit to the weight.

I've just weighed it. Without water it weighs in at 14kg exactly.

So not bent over struggling heavy but enough to know it is there. Though I am using the Brandit Modular Camel pack which I find to be very comfortable and versatile.

What do you lot use, carry as your regular kit?

OLO
www.onelifeoverland.com

 

[Le Loup]

My Equipment List. WHAT & WHY.

.62 cal/20 gauge flintlock fusil. 42 inch barrel.

Why? Large caliber smoothbore has a lot of knock down power with a round ball, very versatile using bird shot, buckshot, or round ball or a combination of any two of these, able to use other projectiles found in nature, only requires a siliceous rock for ignition which can be found in nature, the lock is easy to repair, if the lock should break & there are no spare parts I can use it as a matchlock or tinderlock & keep using it, I can use the lock to make fire without the use of gunpowder, I can make my own black powder, I can retrieve spent lead from shot game & reuse it, I can mould my own round ball & shot.

.70 caliber smoothbore flintlock pistol.

Why? Same as above fusil, light to carry, easy to use, good for a back-up & self defence.

Gun tools and spare lock parts.

Why? To keep my firearms working long term.

Shot pouch and contents.

Why? For maintaining & using my firearms.

Leather drawstring pouch of .60 caliber ball (in knapsack).

Why? Back-up supply.

Powder horn.

Why? For carrying gunpowder for immediate use with firearms.

Ball mould, swan shot mould & Lead ladle.

Why? So I can reuse spent lead by remoulding.

5 Gunpowder wallets.

Why? For carrying extra gunpowder, the leather wallet is lighter than a powder horn, once empty they are good for storing spare tinder for fire lighting.

Butcher/Hunting knife.

Why? A good basic working knife made for skinning & butchering game, good self defence knife, long blade but light to carry & use.

Legging knife.

Why? Good back-up knife for hunting & self defence, easy to access, light to use & carry.

Clasp knife.

Why? Good back-up knife, mainly used for camp chores, making kettle hooks, making trap parts, easy to carry.

Tomahawk.

Why? Lighter than a modern hatchet, the helve fits in a round or oval eye & is easy to make in a wilderness situation, the helve can easily be removed to use the head on its own for making a new helve or scraping hides for making leather or rawhide, good for trap making, good for hammering, can be thrown for hunting, defence, offence & entertainment.

Fire bag.

Why? Greased leather waterproof bag for keeping my tinderbox & contents dry.

Tinderbox.

Why? For preparing plant & fungi tinders for flint & steel fire lighting, contains prepared tinder for fire lighting, is used for fire lighting by striking sparks into the tinderbox.

Flint & Steel.

Why? For making fire. This method is sustainable long term.

Belt pouch.

Why? This pouch is carried on the waist belt at all times & contains my fire bag, my fishing tackle container, my sundial compass & my fire steel/striker which is tied to the pouch buckle.

Fishing tackle in brass container.

Why? For fishing & for trapping fowl.

Two brass snares.

Why? Small game snares for trapping .

Roll of brass snare wire.

Spare wire for making small game snares, can be used for making leaders for angling, can be used for repair work.

Knapsack.

Main pack for carrying equipment & food supplies, carries my blanket roll & oil cloth shelter & secures my market wallet.

Scrip.

Why? This haversack is carried just for foraging purposes. I often forage along the trail when trekking.

Tin Cup.

Why? For drinking tea & eating food.

Brass Cooking Kettle.

Why? For boiling water for sterilising , making tea, & for cooking.

Water filter bags (cotton & linen bags).

Why? For filtering dirty drinking water before boiling. Light & compact & easy to carry, unbreakable.

Medical pouch.

Why? Contains medical equipment & supplies, lighter than a hard container, easy to pack & carry in my knapsack near the top.

Eyeglasses.

Why? For reading, for working on my firelocks, for sewing, for attending to any wounds/injuries, & as a backup for making fire.

Housewife.

Why? This is my sewing kit for making repairs to clothing, making moccasins; needles can be used to remove splinters & if necessary to stitch wounds.

Piece of soap and a broken ivory comb.

Why? For bathing & looking after my hair.

Dried foods in bags.

Why? Dried foods are lighter to carry, easy to pack & preserve well for long periods.

Wooden spoon.

Why? For cooking & eating, light to carry.

Compass.

Why? A compass makes it easier to tell direction on very overcast days & nights; makes it easier to maintain a straight direction & travel quicker.

Whet stone.

Why? For keeping my blades sharp, for working on gun lock parts if needed.

Small metal file.

Why? Same as whet stone above.

Oilcloth.

Why? The oil cloth is for making a quick shelter, easy to set up & versatile, enables me to use a fire for cooking & warmth close to my bed, can be used as a rain coat, can be used for water collection, can be used to make a boat, gives me more vision around me & an easy exit if needed.

One pure wool blanket (Monmouth cap, spare wool waistcoat and wool shirt rolled inside blanket).

Why? The blanket roll is easy to carry, does not restrict my movement/escape at night like a sleeping bag will, can be used as a matchcoat, can be used as a Great Coat, retains body warmth even when wet, light to carry.

Spare pair of moccasins.

Why? To wear if my other pair get wet, to wear whilst I make repairs on the other pair, to wear if the other moccasins need replacing & whilst I make a new pair.

Two water bottles.

Why? For carrying drinking water.

Bottle of rum.

Why? Only a small bottle but I like a tot of rum & it helps me relax a little.

 

[Le Loup]

Hi all,

Recently I've been thinking about the size of my 'daysack' which isn't really a daysack as such. By that I mean, short of a bed roll and food it always has the same stuff in it whether I'm out for a few hours or a few days.

Being ex-army and a former Search and Rescue operator, even though my knees are shot and I'm not nearly as fit as i used to be I'm quite used carrying weight on my back. Though I imagine to the layman it would appear that I'm carrying far too big a pack for a few hours out in the woods.

The contents - off top of my head - is this :-

- Tarp
- Hammock
- Pot (with empty meths burner inside) - for heating water
- Fry pan - cooking and as a plate for eating
- Small bag of plastic pots - coffee, condiments, sugar etc
- Small amount of meths (for burner)
- Kuksa
- spoon and spatula
- Tinder pouch
- Hat, gloves, shemagh
- First aid kit inc. first field dressing
- 1ltr water bottle
- TBS Grizzly
- Mora Eldris
- Slingshot and ammo
- Axe
- Bahco folding saw
- Work gloves
- Notebook
- Foraging pocket book
- Dump bag
- Garmin Tempe
- Firebox
- Sitting mat
- Small leather sheet to keep tools and stuff off the ground or for working using my leg as a bench (save damaging trousers) but dog think it is also his bed!
- Harmonica
- Canon Dslr
- Gopro
- Gorillapod
- Manfrotto lightweight tripod

I've done that list from memory staring at the pack from across the room and trying to use my superpowers to see inside!

Writing down that list I'm realising it's a bit ridiculous but I'm happier knowing I have everything I might want on any journey. Note I didn't say need! Need and want are two very, very different things and I get that. My need list wouldn't be anywhere near half of the above.

The camera gear is for my You Tube channel and that probably adds quite a bit to the weight.

I've just weighed it. Without water it weighs in at 14kg exactly.

So not bent over struggling heavy but enough to know it is there. Though I am using the Brandit Modular Camel pack which I find to be very comfortable and versatile.

What do you lot use, carry as your regular kit?

OLO
www.onelifeoverland.com

I checked out your site, good one I can't wait to get out into the forest more this winter. Your images brought back memories. There are times when I miss the old country, but not enough to return!
Subscribed.
Regards, Keith.

 

[Onelifeoverland]

I checked out your site, good one I can't wait to get out into the forest more this winter. Your images brought back memories. There are times when I miss the old country, but not enough to return!
Subscribed.
Regards, Keith.

Excellent kit description and list too btw. Sounds like you have far more fun than us in UK

Re the sub - Nice one. Thanks you kindly sir. Hoping to push more content to You Tube this year than the blog but I will keep them both updated.



OLO
www.onelifeoverland.com