I ask that you critque my wood wandering pack

I.N.F.K

I.N.F.K

Joined
Jul 7, 2012
Messages
1,896
I take my Snugpak Response Pak every time I go on a hike, wander, bushcraft, etc... I'm looking to get something different, probably a over the shoulder pack by 5.11 or Maxpedition but that's later on down the road.

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This is what is contained inside the main compartment; SOL Thermal Blanket, cheapo poncho, mirror, peppermint tea, tissues, small capsule shaped lamp, a pouch containing folding utensils & spoon, PVC tube containing fire making stuff, Platypus 3L water bladder, and two pocket pamphlets of medicinal & edible plants.


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In the front pocket: two sharpening stones, 3 granola bars, beef steak, and dental floss.

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The side pockets contain medical supplies: one tourniquet, large bandage, gauss, band aids, adhesive wrap, and prep pads.

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Finally my knife of choice is a Marttiini knife

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INFK,
Also Roanoke, VA here :)

A few items I try to carry that I do not see:
Cyalume stick on outside of pack, cut down road flare, bottle of saline eye wash, chewable antihistimine tabs, compass. I also carry a Sawyer Extractor but it is of questionable value- Rattlesnakes and Copper Tops.

Of course I carry more junk but those are all comfort/convenience ;)

Bill
 
I usually have a headlamp with me whenever I go out, I'm no expert, but I find them incredibly useful.

Tim
 
Tim709 said:
I usually have a headlamp with me whenever I go out, I'm no expert, but I find them incredibly useful.

Tim
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Agreed. A headlamp/flashlight is an essential addition, imo.

Since you're asking for critique, I would say that the PVC tube seems like an unecessarily bulky and heavy way to carry something as simple as a fire kit.

I would also ditch the tissues (unless you have some specific use for them that I'm missing), and just carry a cotton bandana. Many more uses for the latter.

Are you also carrying a mug/pot? How will you make boil water/make tea?
 
Tweezers. And a mirror. Metal cup.


Oh yeah and where's your kitchen sink? I didn't see one in there.... :D
 
lmalterna said:
INFK,
Also Roanoke, VA here :)

A few items I try to carry that I do not see:
Cyalume stick on outside of pack, cut down road flare, bottle of saline eye wash, chewable antihistimine tabs, compass. I also carry a Sawyer Extractor but it is of questionable value- Rattlesnakes and Copper Tops.

Of course I carry more junk but those are all comfort/convenience ;)

Bill
Click to expand...

I have antihistamines in the pill capsule along with other tablets. The sawyer extractor looks interesting and have never personally encountered a snake here in Virginia, unlike my time in Florida (lot's of them). Right now the snakes are probably all messed up with all this weird weather we're having. A compass might not be a bad idea, but I have never used one during any point in my life. Why saline solution?

Tim709 said:
I usually have a headlamp with me whenever I go out, I'm no expert, but I find them incredibly useful.

Tim
Click to expand...

I carry a Fenix PD-32 as a daily flashlight so that's always with me.
 
crap I forgot about the canteen, standard "military" canteen I got from a surplus store a few months back. Don't like too much probably going to switch to something more cup shaped.

 
why 2 sharpeners for hiking. for day hikes i dont see any need for a sharpener, even if you got "lost" for a night your knife should hold up just fine w/out the use of 1 sharpener let alone 2. Seems like a waste. I would bring some cordage of some sort as i always have a use for it
 
Sig_Op said:
why 2 sharpeners for hiking. for day hikes i dont see any need for a sharpener, even if you got "lost" for a night your knife should hold up just fine w/out the use of 1 sharpener let alone 2. Seems like a waste. I would bring some cordage of some sort as i always have a use for it
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They both offer different coarseness for sharpening, and I don't just take this on day hikes, I bring whenever I go camping as well. I usually keep around 50ft of paracord, but I used it all yesterday.
 
Why saline solution?--------For cleaning debris from eyes or from wounds. Being it is a plastic bottle, a squeeze gives you pressure to flush a wound. Seems I get plenty of crap in my eyes when farting around outdoors.

Compass would be a seldom use item- if I had to shag it to get help, at times there are roadways much closer than trailhead. Even without a map I just feel more comfortable with my silva in the pouch. :)

I guess it comes from my herping days or growing up on a farm but I spot snakes often. I never pick up hot ones and just give them a berth if possible, lift and relocate them if on a busy trail- using sticks ;)

Bill
 
INFK, lmalterna, I'm from down the road a bit, in Rural Retreat. Small world.

I carry a little CamelBak MULE pack when just heading out for a hike. I try to always cover fire, water, some food, shelter and light. Simple pack, not too heavy, but enough to cover me if, for some reason, I wind up having to spend the night in the forest. Knives and guns are a given. :)
 
I would add a loud whistle in case you get lost or trapped or a wild animal tries to get frisky against your will. Nice set up.
 
spketch said:
I would add a loud whistle in case you get lost or trapped or a wild animal tries to get frisky against your will. Nice set up.
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I have one attached to my flint at steel. The steel is covering it up though, bad pic.
 
A day hike....means different things in different places. Here in Central WA, we are in an evergreen and sage desert, mountains. As well as variations of the things everyone has mentioned, I carry:
A Crossman pump-up air pistol. Good for snakes and small game.
A LifeStraw water filter. Makes damn near anything but irradiated water safe, and weighs a couple ounces.

ACE bandages. Invaluable for sprains and splinting breaks.
Wire saw for cutting splints.
Ziploc bag of big Band-Aids. Used mostly for blisters.
A GPS with FRSM and Emergency transmission capability.
A small solar device charger.
A small 8" gold pan. Never know, the motherlode is here somewhere!
Ibuprofen, antiseptic fluid and powder.
Can't remember what the blood clotting powder is called, but some of that too.
500 ft of 550 paracord.

Also carry salt, garlic, mint, sage, dill, and a small skillet. I carry trail mix, plain granola, and 2lbs of sunflower seeds. Enough food for 5 stranded days.

I'm sure I'm leaving something out. My "day hiker" pack is a Cabelas Alaskan Guide frame pack. Weighs right at 38 lbs. This is a bit much for most of my friends, and probably for many of you, but I feel comfortably prepared for anything short of a massed grizzly attack, and for that, the pack has my Mossberg Cruiser in a scabbard, ready to go with slugs.
My "day pack" keeps me comfortably in shape.
Remember, this is for hiking in desert/evergreen mountains. Your mileage may vary in "civilized" terrain.
 
Mini-tweezers like sliver-grippers are great, as well as a couple sewing needles. slivers can be really annoying and I've found that the knife tip isn't always the best. a mirror is good too, never know when you have to get something out of your eye. One other first aid thing I would add would be some re-hydration salts of some type. even a measured amount of gatorade powder to give you 3L at half strength. Could be useful to get yourself, or someone else back on their feet. +1 on bandandas, they are great for everything. But in general you are on the right track, bags like this are always a work in progress.

In general its a good idea to keep a possibles bag like that where you always know whats in it, and keeping things fresh. You can always compliment that bag with other gear, like a dedicated first aid kit, and the like. Mine is my every-day bag-o-doom which covers pretty much everything. I do plan and pack other bags depending on what I'm doing, but in general its a grab and go for nearly any activity.

sawyer is a bad idea, pretty well debunked by independent research, as well as actual usage stats.

SC: That is a day-pack and a half! I'd think you were headed for the interior of alaska like that! But as you say, if it keeps you fit, probably more fun than free-weights at the gym.
 
gadgetgeek said:
SC: That is a day-pack and a half! I'd think you were headed for the interior of alaska like that! But as you say, if it keeps you fit, probably more fun than free-weights at the gym.
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I've been stranded several times in Washington and Idaho. It has made me paranoid, since those stranded nights were very cold and unpleasant.
I take that exact pack hunting with the same stuff in it! Might be fun to post pics and a complete list someday. A bag that heavy hiking is a good workout, I also look at it as year round prep for hunting season.

On a side note, I carry a half gallon of water in canteens, with a small pinch of hydration salt. That's emergency water! That LifeStraw is a weight saver by a bunch. Shudder when I think of all the water I carried in my hunting pack before I bought it.
 
No criticisms from me, I've been accused of over-packing more than once. Besides, if it gives you the flexibility to do what you want to do, then its doing its job. At the end of the day, thats the whole idea if possibles bags.
 
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