how big of a pack to stay safe in the backcountry?

it's a Mont-Bell ex-light- this is not a winter expedition parka obviously :) what it is, is a very light/low volume down garment that does a great job as a three season insulation layer

it's a great piece that sees a lot of use- goes w/ me backpacking and serves as an "around camp" garment and it helps me push my sleeping bag to lower temps when needed; for day hiking (and or hunting/fishing) it's small enough to fit into the smallest pack
 
Very nice. I need to look into low volume layers like your coat and wind shirt. It would be nice to get their footprint in my pack to a minimum.
 
Maxpedition Falcon Pygmy

DayPack1.jpg


A. essentials checklist
B. Silva Ranger
C. hand sanitizer
D. Victorinox 2-AA LED
E. Maratac 1-AAA LED
F. Princeton Tec Scout headlamp
G. first-aid kit
H. Koster Bushcraft
I. Victorinox Outdoorman
J. Aquamira Frontier Pro water filter & Platypus collapsible water bottle
K.550 paracord
L. Garmin 60CSx GPS
M. duct tape
N. Nalgene bottle
O. survival gear including fire starting materials, signal mirror, signal whistle, space blanket, fishing kit.
P. rain jacket (REI Elements)
Q. rain pants (Red Ledge)
R. Maxpedition Pygmy Falcon

DayPack2.jpg


DayPack3.jpg
 
Brutane said:
Where did you get that down jacket that packs into such a small bag??
Click to expand...

Mont-bell down jackets/parkas/sweaters are put on sale regularly by several internet retailers. A Google search will likely cough them up.

I have a Mont-bell UL Inner Parka and am happy with it so far. It weighs 7.95 oz(size small) and can pack down to a small size like the ex light jkt. They have a thin outer fabric, an athletic fit, and layer well.

I don't own the Patagonia Houdini mentioned up-thread but it's a well-loved wind jkt in the UL community.
 
I recommend a spare pair of warm socks. Nothing like trudging in cold, wet feet and being able to slip on a pair of warm dry socks before turning over for sleep. I always keep a change of underwear in a sea to sumit dry bag and it has been the difference between a cold uncomfortable night and a warm and toasty one.
 
^thanks

an extra pair of socks is a good idea- especially on longer hikes, wouldn't take up much room- and if a guy had been slogging around in the wet would be most welcome on a forced night out
 
How do you guys refill your camelback bladder systems in the wild? Without a filtration pump attachment, how do you force enough water into the bladder?
 
I use a platy hoser and it's just like filling up a platy "bottle"- if it isn't all the way topped off I can use my pot and often I have .5 liter bottle (for mixing in gatorade) that will work as well

the ones w/ the big openings like camelbak- not sure how exactly they do it- easy w/ a faucet :)
 
mtwarden said:
I use a platy hoser and it's just like filling up a platy "bottle"
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My partner had a hose on a regular Platypus this past week, and it was really handy.
I got ragged for carrying three "heavy" bottles, and am thinking about getting another 1L Platypus and replacing two of them.
She did pump directly into a Platypus once, but it was easier pumping into one of my wide-mouth Nalgenes with a Humangear top, and then filling them using the smaller spout.

That's a pretty sweet setup for a dayhike, btw.

Oh, have you had any luck killing the smell of those Esbit tabs? Can't believe they stink through three ziploc bags:barf:
 
Nice setups. I cant post picks of mine but I have seriously widdled it down over the years. You find out after actually using you gear that some is not neccessary.
 
You WSS guys really have some cool gear setups. My wife calls me Nutnfancy when I’m packing to leave for a day hike. I’m kind of a mixed bag in that I’m a prepper and like testing gear so I take a lot more stuff than I really need, yet I’m confident in my skills so I don’t feel like I need to take as much. Carrying a heavy pack (I’ve got a Kelty Redwing 3100 that I really like) is good exercise and gives you a chance to take a lot of stuff, but in the end it generally results in tired feet earlier than they should be.
 
Watched a documentary on the Apalachian Trail on Netflix last night and one of the points was that there was an average of 4lbs of gear shed at one of the early stops on the trail that provides shipping service to the hikers. Was an interesting point. The list of things commonly sent home including hammers for tent stakes was amusing.

I keep meaning to poke at some books by through hikers that cover what they found they actually 'needed' while on the trail.

A Walk In The Woods is an awesome read that many here would like I bet, but it's not a gear oriented thing.

I've got a Maxpedition Jumbo Versipack in the mail for day hiking as I am getting tired of having things clunk around in my pants pockets all day and got very used to a courier bag as a daily bag in NYC for years. I found that style bag to be much better than a backpack if I didn't really need the capacity. Will be fun loading it up as a light B.O.B. for general use.
 
OwenM said:
My partner had a hose on a regular Platypus this past week, and it was really handy.
I got ragged for carrying three "heavy" bottles, and am thinking about getting another 1L Platypus and replacing two of them.
She did pump directly into a Platypus once, but it was easier pumping into one of my wide-mouth Nalgenes with a Humangear top, and then filling them using the smaller spout.

That's a pretty sweet setup for a dayhike, btw.

Oh, have you had any luck killing the smell of those Esbit tabs? Can't believe they stink through three ziploc bags:barf:
Click to expand...

yeah they aren't the best smelling thing that's ever come along :D
 
Excellent survival packs.

There are essentials for all of us then there are other items that are particular to each one based upon your location or preference.

I didn't see:

1) Batteries. I saw headlamps, flashlights and GPS but didn't see spare batteries.
2) A topo map.
3) Tinder. Dryer lint and vaseline or whatever you use.
4) Magnesium block (optional)
 
wiiawiwb said:
Excellent survival packs.

There are essentials for all of us then there are other items that are particular to each one based upon your location or preference.

I didn't see:

1) Batteries. I saw headlamps, flashlights and GPS but didn't see spare batteries.
2) A topo map.
3) Tinder. Dryer lint and vaseline or whatever you use.
4) Magnesium block (optional)
Click to expand...

it's there :)
spare batteries are in my repair kit
topo map sitting under the compass
tinder is in the little sack w/ the mini Bic- I use wetfire tinder as my failsafe tinder, I also have tinder tabs in both my knife kit and matchsafe
 
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