The trouble with new equipment... is packing

[Son of a Beach]

I spent last night packing all my gear for the first time since buying a new solo tent that is about a 3rd of the weight and about a 3rd of the packed size of my large 2 man tent. I'm very unhappy with the job I did of filling my pack. Lots of gaps, a bit lopsided, and I still managed to fill it to the brim (the first brim, not the extended brim).

I've spent years perfecting the exact packing order and in-pack-location of each item, and had it working exceptionally well with all my old gear. But the new tent simply threw all that out, and now I have to start again and figure out the best way to pack everything all over again. My first attempt was terrible!

(note to self: maybe I should start folding my thermarest lengthways before rolling, like other people do. a shorter and wider shape for the bed roll might help.)

[photohiker]

Hmm.

Does this mean you should have bought a new pack as well?

Michael

[Ent]

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[Son of a Beach]

yeah, I usually pack everything in separate bags (PLUS have a full pack liner). This has advantages and disadvantages. It makes it easier to get at things at the bottom of the pack (just pull out a few bags, rather than unpack individual items). However, it makes it more difficult to avoid large gaps between the larger bags. Smaller/individual items can be crammed into gaps, but larger bags cannot. Although if the contents of the bags are 'squishy' like clothes, or some food bags, then they can be moulded into gaps reasonably well.

You're right about the tent pole length (or packed tent length). The Olympus is quite long when packed - about the same length as my thermarest (not folded lengthways before rolling), and I'd pack both standing up on opposite sides in the pack, with everything else going in between them. The Vela I is much shorter when packed and can just squeeze in sideways.

[Tony]

Hi SOB,

I spent last night packing all my gear for the first time since buying a new solo tent that is about a 3rd of the weight and about a 3rd of the packed size of my large 2 man tent. I'm very unhappy with the job I did of filling my pack. Lots of gaps, a bit lopsided, and I still managed to fill it to the brim (the first brim, not the extended brim).

I've spent years perfecting the exact packing order and in-pack-location of each item, and had it working exceptionally well with all my old gear. But the new tent simply threw all that out, and now I have to start again and figure out the best way to pack everything all over again. My first attempt was terrible!

(note to self: maybe I should start folding my thermarest lengthways before rolling, like other people do. a shorter and wider shape for the bed roll might help.)

Problem easily solved, a smaller lighter pack.

Tony

[Son of a Beach]

Problem easily solved, a smaller lighter pack.

heheh... That'd be nice, but I can't justify having two packs, when the pack I've already got is not excessively heavy, and a smaller pack would not hold enough gear for my longer trips. I can pull my large pack in/down to make it smaller, but I can't expand a small pack to make it larger, without hanging stuff all over the outside of it (which I don't like doing, as it would catch on scrub on some routes).

I may get a smaller pack one day, if finances ever allow it, but it would only ever be a second pack.

Besides, cramming the same amount of gear into a smaller space wouldn't make packing any easier, anyhow.

[loric]

I had the 'opposite' problem.

I went from an old Macpac Ascent (65L or 80L fully extended) which was jammed chockers, to a WE Lost World (about 100L).

Way, way way easier to pack - and i fill all the extra nooks and crannies with bulkier food!

My suggestions would be (for you light and fast guys) - twisties, samboys (the BIG packet coz you now can), whole loaf of bread, popcorn...

Or if you prefer, insert thermarest and then inflate it... LOL

[Darren]

G'Day Loric
" My suggestions would be (for you light and fast guys) - twisties, samboys (the BIG packet coz you now can), whole loaf of bread, popcorn..."

Get a packet of cheese Doritos, crush them and put in a snap lock. Nice..
Darren

[loric]

haha!

Watching masterchef... these guys are missing the whole idea.

"On the menu for tonight (well 5pm coz we can see during daylight yeah..) is crushed doritos served on a bed of grated melted Tasty cheese and garnished with salsa ala old elpaso..."
Now - the secret ingredient... serve it whilst on top of a big old hill in the middle of nowhere and watch the sunset...

Way better than eating fungus five ways in a packed restaurant...

[Darren]

I'm with ya mate
In the words of Les Hiddens
"it dosn't get mutch better than this"
Darren

[jerreldulay]

Hahaha, I sympathize with your turmoil. I just moved to NSW from the states and didn't have space to bring my gear with my. I was only able to bring my pack. Now that I'm rebuilding my equipment here, I'm actually having to reconfigure my whole pack!

My pack has a zippered wall that can split the bottom section of the pack as its own pocket. I've normally kept this unzipped so my back as a whole can fit a large sleeping bag and tent. Now that my equipment is smaller I've had to use that separator to balance the weight and keep the heavy stuff in the middle.

I'm still rebuilding my equipment so I will facing an uphill battle for a while. Joy.

Good luck with everything. Hope it all works out!!

Cheers!
Jerrel