Registered: 09/23/02
Posts: 294
Loc: The State of Jefferson
I don't use any stuff sacks. I see them as excess weight with out much utility. I do have 2 small bags made out of mosquito netting that I use to keep the small stuff from getting lost in the bottom of my pack.
Every thing that is in my pack is in a stuff sack and a water proof one at that. That way, I do not have to worry about protecting my pack from the rain at all. .sabre11004...
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The first step that you take will be one of those that get you there 1!!!!!
Registered: 10/27/03
Posts: 820
Loc: north carolina
I am perfectly happy to admit my fondness for stuff sacks.
1. roll-top dry bag stuff sack with my sleeping bag and clothing. This is a fairly light silnylon model from O.R.
2. Ursack with my food and kitchen gear.
3. Tarp, Tarptent, or hammock in a silnylon stuff sack.
4. Small sil sack for miscellaneous personal junk -- a "ditty bag."
5. Additional clothing stuff sack if needed for trip.
All the sacks except #1 are homemade. If I wanted to spend a lot of cash for a few ounces saved, I would purchase some Cuben fiber stuff sacks, but I value my cash at the moment.
Pole bag for tent poles. Organizer pouch for first aid kit and small items. Food bag. Sometimes, one for clothing (longer trip, where I'm carrying spare socks, shorts, and T-shirt.)
Generally 1 for the sleeping bag, 1 for food that is used as a bear bag, one for clothing and odds and ends, plus first aid in a ziplock, tp in a ziplock, and matches in a ziplock.
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If I wouldn't eat it at home, why would I want to eat it on the trail?
one for tent stakes, grip clips and extra line One for tarp double ended sack for the hammock one for food but only if not taking the bear can clothes go in the packliner around the quilts; they hang from the hammock suspension in my pack cover when in camp quilts go in their compression sacks first aid and everything else small and likely to be lost go in two ziplocks.
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"In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities. In the expert's mind there are few." Shunryu Suzuki
My tent is generally in a stuff sack. I have a net bag nside the top pocket of my BP for my "first aid kit" to keep small items from being lost. Other than that - I stopped using any stuff sacks a long time ago to save weight. If you added up the weight of all your stuff sacks, you just might be able to get a larger pack and not need the stuff sacks. Jim YMMV
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These are my own opinions based on wisdom earned through many wrong decisions. Your mileage may vary.
Don't use stuff sacks per se. I use small bags for small items but I really don't call them stuff sacks.
My sleeping bag or quilt gets left in my shelter when I pack up so I don't need a sleeping bag stuff sack. Then both of them go in the pack which is in effect the stuff sack for both. My stove, windscreen, spoon (foldable) lighter etc. are stored in my pot/lid so that in effect is another sack. My jacket and what little spare clothing I have go into a homemade silnylon bag. Finally, my light, first aid kit and other small items go into a bag my wife made from leftover noseeum mesh. Other small items go directly into my pack's exterior pockets.
This is my fair weather setup. I do make adjustments for rain. If I know I'm going to be setting up in the rain I pack differently.
_________________________ If you only travel on sunny days you will never reach your destination.*
* May not apply at certain latitudes in Canada and elsewhere.
I'm a bit of a bag freak. I carry a homemade silnylon stuff sack for my sleeping bag or quilt, another for clothes. I also have a silnylon stow sack for my tarptent, stakes and lines and one for my Thermarest. The Thermarest rides under the compression straps of my pack so I want to protect it a bit.
I also have a number of small stow bags that I use to organize smaller items; I do this to save having to sort through a single, larger, crowded, ditty bag to find my Photon flash or my packet of Ibuprofen. I have one for emergency/repair, one for small cooking items, one for TP and accessories, one for my toothbrush and such and one for my bug dope and sunscreen.
I also have a bag I call my day bag. In it resides the things I might need during the day including Micropur, Tums and compass.
The organizing bags are all different colors of silnylon and ripstop. I made them up from remnants left from other projects. They are much more durable than Ziploc bags and lighter as well. Altogether they weigh about an ounce; I am willing to carry this burden to reduce the frustration of looking for one small item at the bottom of a crowded single bag. The collective weight of all my bags is a bit over 4 oz.
Same for me. Small silnylon or kite fabric sacks, different colors and touch, my fingers know them all at the bottom of the (often messy) pack or at night in the tent (can be equally messy)
Nice to know that I am not the only bag freak in the world. But, I am shocked to hear that your pack and tent can be messy! I certainly would never let mine get that way.
I just got a Z-packs "Zero" Stuff-Sack-Pack that I keep my expensive-to-me sleeping bag in while in my pack. This protects the bag from anything else in the pack and serves as a nice day pack after I arrive at my destination. I also have some smaller items in stuff sacks (ie tent stakes, first aid and such).
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When I Grow Up I Wanna Be An Old Man
Nice to know that I am not the only bag freak in the world. But, I am shocked to hear that your pack and tent can be messy! I certainly would never let mine get that way.
Actually, my flat is much worse. When camping/hiking, I'm very organised, compared to.....
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