butchcommunist:

butchcommunist:

butchcommunist:

butchcommunist:

butchcommunist:

Made a lot of progress on the backpacking pack setup tonight. Again, this is with the idea being that my girlfriend and I will split the load for smooth sailing with me taking more weight than her because of body weight and also on account of being a gentleman- this is not for a solo trip. I am thinking I have the rough outline of how it will be packed and can now sketch in details. I also solved my biggest problem of getting the tent inside the pack itself- I knew to remove the poles but foolishly was trying to pack the whole bag that holds the tent, tent tarp, and rain fly into the pack sideways. This was not going to work with the width of my pack. So I took everything out of the bigger bag, and of course the tent and tent tarp fit into a separate compartment in the bottom of the bag just fine. Then I put the rain fly in the main pack compartment at the bottom. I think once I get the rain fly in a compression bag I will save a tooooon of space and be very happy with that. Pics soon.

Okay, 1st draft of the outline of the pack layout.

First of all, here is the pack. It is a reproduction of a German combat pack- the materials all come from the company that manufactured the actual bags, which are tough to find at a decent price in good shape, and assembled in China. Stitching all looks mostly excellent from what I can see. No sternum strap but a waist strap that really does help with you not feeling much weight.

Straps adjusted so it hugs the body nicely. As you can see my tent poles are tied down VERY tightly (it is actually hard to get them out without unbuckling, which was my goal) to save space inside the pack. On my girlfriend’s pack I think we will mount an axe here.

Top to bottom. The top has massive straps on top for a sleeping bag roll or something similar- I probably won’t use it because, again, I am splitting the weight with my partner. Otherwise I might use it for just that in a water-resistant compression bag.

A pocket that spans the top of that top flap is where I am keeping three critical things. One is first aid stuff- a small and totally insufficient kit, but I’ll put something decent together before our next trip, which is months away anyway. Second is my water purification tablets. Third is my seasonings and oil for cooking, which I keep in little travel sized bottles because salt, pepper, and oil make a big difference. This stuff is all vital and this pouch is velcrod tightly shut, so it is the hardest to spill something out of on accident in the whole pack. Another small pocket up there currently has a Sharpie and pen and will also hold maps when in use.

In one of those side pockets I have cutting and tying supplies. A knife (to be replaced with a bushcraft knife soon) and folding saw, and paracord. The other will hold a water bottle.

When you open the top of the pack you get the one thing I know is stupid but want to try anyway- my full tackle box. The buckles are pulled tightly and it doesn’t wobble at all, much to my surprise. It is held in place simply with buckles pulled tightly, and plastic interlocking buckles (idk what you call those???). It is literally just sitting on top. Any trip I take is fishing-focused, so I think with two people it is worth the bulk and it is pretty light anyway. On my own I would select my favorite tackle and put it in a smaller box.

Remove that and you see this

Open that and you see my cookware set (including a tiny portable wood stove I really love, two pans, two bowls, and a scrubbing pan for cleaning), my fire kit in that orange watertight box, the rain fly taking a ton of room underneath (I am getting a compression bag for it I think), and a ton of room left over. The fire kit is big- again, I would condense it for a solo trip. That room is more than it looks like- that’s a good 6 inches of room horizontally. Space for a toliletries kit, a light, a spare GoPro mount, my little solar charger, etc. If it was just me I could fit a sleeping pad and inflatable pillow in this space as it currently exists. With compacting the fly and condensing the fire kit I bet I could fit more than enough food for a few days too.

You can’t see it well but along the back of the pack, in front of that metal bar, is a sort of pouch running the length of the bag. This would be perfect for clothes if I was doing it solo. I will probably not even use it, or maybe run my hydration pack in it.

Close that all up and look at the bottom and you will see a zipper compartment. That’s where I have the tent and tent tarp. I’m not opening it for pics lol.

Tons of stuff on my list isnt in here, but there is room for basically all of it for eventual solo advenvtures if I get maybe one compression bag for the fly, condense the fire kit, etc. I am impressed with the pack tbh. It seems sturdy and is comfortable. For a 3, maybe 5 day trip I could easily see myself getting everything I need in it.

Let me know any advice you have! I have literally only been camping twice and am stoked to be thinking about all this.

Currently searching for a thin tackle box for some solo trips but omg guess what I just realized I could do

I’ve moved some stuff around in here, filled out the first aid kit, added water filtration stuff and cooking stuff, added an STP and toothbrushing etc. All the pack needs now, aside from food, is some wet wipes and toilet paper. Also everyone not telling my dumb ass to cut the tackle box is FAKE. I went to a sporting store today and got this

which is the perfect solution.

Today the final essential items to complete my personal pack are coming in the mail. In a couple weeks I will put together my girlfriend’s pack, which will not contain all that much since this is kind of my thing and I weigh a lot more anyway. Patreon video coming as soon as that is all here.