Stuff sacks and in pack orginazation.

[OhioHiker]

I used to be a stuff it on in the backpack kind of person until I started to buy more expensive gear. Now I am more paranoid about it getting damaged. For giggles I stuffed my quit into my flat bottom food bag. I kind of like how it made it more square of a shape as opposed to a cylinder.

Anyhow, I ask because I am currently looking for a waterproof (probably going to go dyneema) rolltop bag for both quilt and tent.

Would a "square" bag be better for packing than a round bag?

[Pringles]

“Better” is a personal choice. If it works in your system, then it’s better for you. Yay!

[Traveler]

I found stuff sacks did not pack well and left a lot of unused space in a pack, so I stopped using them by and large. For things that cannot get wet like sleeping gear and dry clothes, I will use hefty bags (doubled up) and pack them to fit the space in my pack. So far no problems with this set up, though as Pringles said, if it works for you, go with it.

[Deacon]

I found stuff sacks did not pack well and left a lot of unused space in a pack, so I stopped using them by and large. For things that cannot get wet like sleeping gear and dry clothes, I will use hefty bags (doubled up) and pack them to fit the space in my pack. So far no problems with this set up, though as Pringles said, if it works for you, go with it.

Understand fully that stuff sacks tend to leave unused room in the space between the “tangents of the diameters”.

It seems to me though that by using stuff sacks, those items in the sacks are compressed much smaller, especially the sleeping bag.

Also I have enough pint size ziplock bags of various items that fit well into those unused spaces.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[garlic08]

Ditto on not using stuff sacks, and one trash compactor bag has always worked well for the stuff that needs to keep dry.

[JNI64]

I stopped using stuff sacks to for the most part. My quilt or sleeping bag goes on the bottom of my pack in a hefty bag and my tent is typically on the outside bottom straps, that way I don't care if it's wet .

[JNI64]

I stopped using stuff sacks to for the most part. My quilt or sleeping bag goes on the bottom of my pack in a hefty bag and my tent is typically on the outside bottom straps, that way I don't care if it's wet .

I don't use stuff sacks for the most part. Of course my food is organized in ziplocks and all food goes into my hang bag. And a ziplock for medical and hygiene purposes. And im out for about a week at a time.

[OhioHiker]

when you say hefty bags, you you mean the large ziplock type bags or trash bags? I think they actually sell a bag in the ziplock area that is really big... bigger than the quart freezer bags. I might try that

[Traveler]

when you say hefty bags, you you mean the large ziplock type bags or trash bags? I think they actually sell a bag in the ziplock area that is really big... bigger than the quart freezer bags. I might try that

I typically use Hefty trash bags, doubled up. I place the first bag into the empty pack to receive the second bag of materials I do not want to get wet. It requires some care and attention and carrying a couple of spare bags, but seems to work well. I have been through amazingly soaking rains and a couple of slips into rivers and the bagged items were well protected.

I can't say I have seen the zip lock trash bags, but I have not looked for them specifically. I have used trash compactor bags when I can find the unscented bags.

[Five Tango]

I typically use Hefty trash bags, doubled up. I place the first bag into the empty pack to receive the second bag of materials I do not want to get wet. It requires some care and attention and carrying a couple of spare bags, but seems to work well. I have been through amazingly soaking rains and a couple of slips into rivers and the bagged items were well protected.



I can't say I have seen the zip lock trash bags, but I have not looked for them specifically. I have used trash compactor bags when I can find the unscented bags.

I'm curious as to how or whether you put a closure on them as I have noticed that when I don't apply a closure I can compress the feathers and night clothes Significantly more and avoid having to hang stuff off of the pack.So when the weather is good I don't use a closure;never tried not closing tightly on a rainy day though.Thots?

[Traveler]

I'm curious as to how or whether you put a closure on them as I have noticed that when I don't apply a closure I can compress the feathers and night clothes Significantly more and avoid having to hang stuff off of the pack.So when the weather is good I don't use a closure;never tried not closing tightly on a rainy day though.Thots?

I pack my "dry" gear into the double bags in the pack, compress the gear into the pack to conform with the space and reduce loft, then fold and roll up the opening of each bag separately. That provides two different closures water would have to get into the pack and work it's way through. If there are no holes in the bag(s) the double seal has worked well for me over time.

[Five Tango]

I pack my "dry" gear into the double bags in the pack, compress the gear into the pack to conform with the space and reduce loft, then fold and roll up the opening of each bag separately. That provides two different closures water would have to get into the pack and work it's way through. If there are no holes in the bag(s) the double seal has worked well for me over time.

Thanks for the tip.I sorta do the same thing only I fold and stuff the left over bag length rather than roll it.

[One Half]

I am a "bit" of an "organizational freak" in some aspects. But I gave up on stuff sacks a while ago. I do use a small ziplock for my tiny first aid kit and personal hygiene items get a bag but the rest of the stuff is kind of free floating. I am actually thinking I need to not use my food bag except when hanging it as it can be pretty bulky (but light) when loaded for 5+ days. I used to use a trash compactor bag as others have indicated but when my air mattress was replaced with an eXped mattress it came with a "pump bag" which is actually a waterproof UL stuff sack so clothes and sleeping bag get stuffed into that now. I ditched the compactor bag. Other than that, I don't carry much and my pack has a couple of zippered pockets that allow me to organize - 1 on belt, top lid, and front of pack. Also have the ability to stuff things I may need quickly or often between the "outer pocket on the front of the pack" and the main pack.

But it took me a while to get to this and be comfortable with it. Also, will slightly change next year as I need to replace my pack and will get a different model. But the pockets might determine my choice as much as most anything else!

[Odd Man Out]

I use nylobarrier / nylofume bags as a pack line. Everything that needs to stay dry goes in there. They are lighter but tougher than compactor bags. Plus they are odor barrier bags so my quilt an clothes don't come out smelling like cheese and sausage. The food bag has its own odor barrier bag.

[HooKooDooKu]

I use a few stuff sacks for organization of smaller items.
Otherwise, like others have suggested, I use a (scent free) trash compactor bag as a pack liner. My sleeping bag, sleeping pad, and clothes get stuffed inside the compactor bag. Food goes inside a waterproof sack on top of the compactor bag along with cooking gear. Everything to deal with a cat hole goes in one stuff sack that goes in the packs "brain" pocket along with another waterproof sack for my first aid kit. Misc items I rarely use (repair kits, extra twine, spare batteries) are loosely organised in one stuff sack, while toiletries and other things used on a daily basis (flashlight) are loosely organised in a second sack. The last two sacks either go in an outside-back compartment ironside the main compartment in corners above the compactor bag (location depends upon which pack I carry).

[Tipi Walter]

I found stuff sacks did not pack well and left a lot of unused space in a pack, so I stopped using them by and large.

Ditto on not using stuff sacks, and one trash compactor bag has always worked well for the stuff that needs to keep dry.

I stopped using stuff sacks to for the most part.

I find these comments remarkable as I'm trying to imagine all my food just scattered loosely in my pack without putting any of it in a stuff sack.

[Traveler]

I find these comments remarkable as I'm trying to imagine all my food just scattered loosely in my pack without putting any of it in a stuff sack.

I never said I didn't use stuff sacks at all, only that I have stopped using them "by and large", a literary expression meaning "not as much/as many as I used to". I used to keep most everything in stuff sacks before realizing I needed a larger volume pack to carry it due to wasted space. I do have a couple of small stuff sacks for hygiene supplies, food/cooking (for approximately 3-4 days of meals), and an odds n' ends sack for commonly used items like sun glasses, sun block, bandaids, etc. are used but they are small and typically are the last items to go into the pack so they can be first out.

There is a significant difference in being out for a few days versus several weeks, so it stands to reason there would be a significant difference in the type and amount of gear and provisions carried and how it is managed.

[garlic08]

I never said I didn't use stuff sacks at all, only that I have stopped using them "by and large", a literary expression meaning "not as much/as many as I used to"....

An aside: "By and large" actually means "on the whole, everything considered." What's more interesting is that it's an old British nautical term. A ship can sail "by" (toward the wind), or "large" (away from the wind). Few old navy ships could do both well and a ship that could sail "by and large" was a good versatile ship.

[HooKooDooKu]

There is a significant difference in being out for a few days versus several weeks, so it stands to reason there would be a significant difference in the type and amount of gear and provisions carried and how it is managed.

For the most part, I'd have to respectfully disagree...

I've found very little difference in being out for a three-day weekend v a multi-week trip.
Of course the one HUGE difference is planning for resupply of food, fuel, and toiletries.
But otherwise, the only other difference is going to be a minor issue of clothing. For a multi-week trip, you need to pack clothing to handle the range of climate conditions you might face during your hike, where as for a week-end trip, you can likely leave a few articles of clothing at home based on the short term forecast.
The only other difference I can recall is washing clothing while on the trail that I don't do for a weekend hike.

[Tipi Walter]

For the most part, I'd have to respectfully disagree...

I've found very little difference in being out for a three-day weekend v a multi-week trip.
Of course the one HUGE difference is planning for resupply of food, fuel, and toiletries.
But otherwise, the only other difference is going to be a minor issue of clothing. For a multi-week trip, you need to pack clothing to handle the range of climate conditions you might face during your hike, where as for a week-end trip, you can likely leave a few articles of clothing at home based on the short term forecast.
The only other difference I can recall is washing clothing while on the trail that I don't do for a weekend hike.

Your post sort of ties into whether we bring stuff sacks or not. Personally, there's a big difference with a 3 day trip versus a 21 day trip---since personally I don't do resupplies which severely interrupt a wilderness trip---so my 21 day pack will be carrying 45+ lbs of food and fuel. All this food must be arranged and organized in stuff sacks---or bearvaults.