Starting to build my pack...

wolffbite

wolffbite

Joined
May 7, 2010
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Well I'm going on my first major hiking trip at the end of August... so I have started to set up my pack! It will be a 4-5 day trek, covering just over 60km (not super long, but we will be taking lots of time to enjoy the scenery)

My pack is a 65L (+10L top pack) Canyon made by OutBound. It's a decent starter pack that I've used on day hikes. Although it is a bit big for that purpose, it's fairly light and very comfortable on the back and shoulders.

It is far from complete, but soon I will add pictures with my very nice new tent attached to the back (it's at my house)

I ordered a sheath from Martin Swinkels about 2 weeks ago, and when I received it I was surprised to find two sheaths in the package. Apparently he wasn't satisfied with the opening of the first one he made so he made me a second one!

Honestly I couldn't find any problems with either... so lucky me! He was a great guy to deal with and I highly recommend him to anyone wanting a kydex sheath made :thumbup:

Anyways... on to my pack. Basically right now I've just been working on lashing my knives to the pack for the trip. I'll have a compass around my neck so I decided to put my IZULA on the left should strap.

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Here is a picture of both sheaths. Hmmm... now I guess I need another IZULA to fill that spare sheath :rolleyes:

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Here is my RC-4 lashed across the back of my pack. I tried it with the molle clips at first but there was a bit too much play for my liking.

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That's all so far... but in the coming month before my trip I will update this thread with lots of pictures! And there will definitely be plenty of blade use pictures to come once I've gone on the trip :cool:
 
Yeah the lack of any side pockets/pouches is rather troublesome... but I'm shopping around for a maxpedition pouch for each side so that I can have a removable first aid kit on one side and a grab and go pouch with an RC-3 (hehehe...) on the other side.

If only the ESEE pouches were coming out sooner :(
 
I keep one side pocket full of necessary trail stuff-hat, gloves, spare socks, headlamp etc. So I know where it is, easy and accessible without taking the pack off.
 
Here's a pack I used on a recent trip. It was fun lashing all kinds of stuff to it, but once I really thought about it...this setup was all I needed. A Becker Patrol pack with two Eagle canteen pouches (with the extremely tight elastics cut) on the sides. Water in one side, food in the other. My FAK was inside the pack on top of everything else and easy to reach. The black pouch is where I kept my camera, and it was easy to take on and off.

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Another cool thing about side pockets is they make great places to hide machetes and tomahawks behind. I stick a machete behind one side pocket and a tomahawk behind the other, both are easy to draw and they're hidden from obvious view of sheeple.
 
PayetteRucker said:
Another cool thing about side pockets is they make great places to hide machetes and tomahawks behind. I stick a machete behind one side pocket and a tomahawk behind the other, both are easy to draw and they're hidden from obvious view of sheeple.
Click to expand...

I kept an RC6 with the metal belt clip on the inside of a side slot of that above pack, and although I noticed the weight, it was totally out of sight on the trails. I would like to find a way to put a machete back there, but I'm having trouble rigging up a system to hold it in place.
 
I suppose I use the "fairly light" term generously. It is just under 5 pounds empty... which isn't SUPER heavy, but isn't that light either.

I may regret it after a long hike, because I know every pound will count. But that's the only way I'll learn =)

YES I cannot wait to get a machete to lash onto this baby for when I head up north. Good idea to tuck it between the back and sidepack...
 
Every pound counts. But I've lighten my packs..I would ather carry an extra 5 lbs if it means more toys :) But I 'm in good shape.
 
wolffbite said:
I suppose I use the "fairly light" term generously. It is just under 5 pounds empty... which isn't SUPER heavy, but isn't that light either.

I may regret it after a long hike, because I know every pound will count. But that's the only way I'll learn =)

YES I cannot wait to get a machete to lash onto this baby for when I head up north. Good idea to tuck it between the back and sidepack...
Click to expand...

Yeah machetes sure are sweet, I got a Hibben IV last night and the thing is half an inch thick... it's like a machete/axe all in one. And to be honest, how the pack carries and how the weight is balanced is 10x more important than saving ounces. Your pack may be slightly heavier but if it keeps the weight balanced well on your hips and your shoulders and centered on your body, instead of pushing and pulling in all the wrong places and shifting your center of balance back and forth as you walk, it will be worth the extra pound or two you carry in the end.
 
I am a pansy for carrying stuff hiking. About 35# total is my limit so pack weight empty is important to me. But it is also a trade off I think. Some of the lighter packs tear up a little easier than the 5-6# ones. First time I went to Sout America I had an old kelty that weighed 7# empty. I added another 45# and thought I would die before I got done with the trip:) I have a LOT of respect for the conditioning the soldiers have to carry 90# in the field.
 
wolffbite said:
Here is my RC-4 lashed across the back of my pack. I tried it with the molle clips at first but there was a bit too much play for my liking.
Click to expand...

Not to be critical, but I would not keep the knife lashed to the rear of the pack. I have a couple of reasons.
1: You'd have to drop your pack to get to the knife
2: Your knife is out of your sight. Scraping through the back country could dislodge it from it's sheath and you'd never know it. Same with fast moving... if it comes out and you don't see it, it's gone.

Other than that I like the pack. Good luck with the build! :D
 
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