I had the oppurtunity to use my gunslinger 2 pack for the first time. Very nice pack and well constructed, but learned that I don't know how to use it. I am sure their is a proper method to loading one of these full of goods. Please offer any experience on this. Thanks Brandon
How to pack a 3day Pack?
- Thread starter fockell
- Start date
Re: How to pack a 3day Pack?
Weight is always the issue. The less weight then the better the experience so bin that kitchen sink.
If you are trekking with a friend don't double up with things like cameras and cookers. Better pack a lot of air in an oversized pack than compress everything down so hard that its an effort to get things in and out. You should be able to split your gear into three waterproof sacks: sleeping bag, wash kit and spare dry clothes, and food and cooking; which all go into the main compartment. Only get out what you need and once finished put it back; nothing worse than everything out all over the camp site... you will lose stuff that way. Have a fourth sack as your gash bag, rubbish and wet things. Dehydration and sunburn can wreck a trip in no time.
Is it wet, cold and windy or hot and dry? Can you get to water easily? Are you in a hut or under a tent, bivi or tarp? Are you walking in or trucking and just walking the last mile?
Always have a fleece, a pair of trousers, a long sleeve shirt and a hat wether its hot or cold. Three pairs of socks but one spare pants/underwear. Have your washbag down to the essentials. Re-hydration salts stop cramp so take a sachet or two. Thermal, roll, mats save energy.
Try it all out before venturing far into the ulu. Have a compass and know how to use it. If there is water readily available then get a water purification bottle device to compliment your hydration bag/water bottle; you will get through a lot of water and wow is it heavy.
Pack as per video above.
Weight is always the issue. The less weight then the better the experience so bin that kitchen sink.
If you are trekking with a friend don't double up with things like cameras and cookers. Better pack a lot of air in an oversized pack than compress everything down so hard that its an effort to get things in and out. You should be able to split your gear into three waterproof sacks: sleeping bag, wash kit and spare dry clothes, and food and cooking; which all go into the main compartment. Only get out what you need and once finished put it back; nothing worse than everything out all over the camp site... you will lose stuff that way. Have a fourth sack as your gash bag, rubbish and wet things. Dehydration and sunburn can wreck a trip in no time.
Is it wet, cold and windy or hot and dry? Can you get to water easily? Are you in a hut or under a tent, bivi or tarp? Are you walking in or trucking and just walking the last mile?
Always have a fleece, a pair of trousers, a long sleeve shirt and a hat wether its hot or cold. Three pairs of socks but one spare pants/underwear. Have your washbag down to the essentials. Re-hydration salts stop cramp so take a sachet or two. Thermal, roll, mats save energy.
Try it all out before venturing far into the ulu. Have a compass and know how to use it. If there is water readily available then get a water purification bottle device to compliment your hydration bag/water bottle; you will get through a lot of water and wow is it heavy.
Pack as per video above.
Re: How to pack a 3day Pack?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: fockell</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I had the oppurtunity to use my gunslinger 2 pack for the first time. Very nice pack and well constructed, but learned that I don't know how to use it. I am sure their is a proper method to loading one of these full of goods. Please offer any experience on this. Thanks Brandon </div></div>
Lay everything out on the floor that you plan to pack. Identify items you will need over the day, may need over the day and those you will not or should not, grouped accordingly. Highlight items that you can leave at home. Find items that have multiple uses. No one can give advise on how these break down because we all do different things. While this may never be perfect you can refine your system with use. In the backcountry I would take notes, sounds hokey but most of my lively hood guiding, giving advice and a few articles I wrote demanded the notes. You will be surprise at how some simple things discovered in the backcountry can make it easier next time.
Group heavy bulky items together, lighter fluff and odd sized items. Sometimes heavy bulky items are needed through-out the day like a stove and food, it is not a good idea to dig to find them. My stove was near top with jacket wrapped around it or under the top lid. I carried gloves and hat inside the pockets of my jacket.
Generally, the first item inside your pack should be your sleeping bag, then pack heavy bulky items in the small of your back next to your back and then work out from there. Usually my shelter as it was heavy and dense. Try not to over stuff things pushing more than will fit into the space especially if you will use the side zips and if you need one of those maybe need item over the day when pulling it out, you may have to repack it all by pulling a single item out. The exception is sleeping bag. Use a compression sack and smash it as small as you can. I used colored stuff sacks for different uses so when I looked inside my pack I knew which to pull out but do not go overboard ending up with more weight and confusion that you need.
I do like many items lashed to the outside of my pack as they get snagged on branches, tree limbs, brush and such. The exception is white gas fuel. If you have a fuel bottle leak inside your pack, lets say you do this once and learn.
Another exception is small pouches on shoulder harness for snacks, sunscreen, etc. I usually carried light gloves and hat stuck in my waist belt.
Good luck.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: fockell</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I had the oppurtunity to use my gunslinger 2 pack for the first time. Very nice pack and well constructed, but learned that I don't know how to use it. I am sure their is a proper method to loading one of these full of goods. Please offer any experience on this. Thanks Brandon </div></div>
Lay everything out on the floor that you plan to pack. Identify items you will need over the day, may need over the day and those you will not or should not, grouped accordingly. Highlight items that you can leave at home. Find items that have multiple uses. No one can give advise on how these break down because we all do different things. While this may never be perfect you can refine your system with use. In the backcountry I would take notes, sounds hokey but most of my lively hood guiding, giving advice and a few articles I wrote demanded the notes. You will be surprise at how some simple things discovered in the backcountry can make it easier next time.
Group heavy bulky items together, lighter fluff and odd sized items. Sometimes heavy bulky items are needed through-out the day like a stove and food, it is not a good idea to dig to find them. My stove was near top with jacket wrapped around it or under the top lid. I carried gloves and hat inside the pockets of my jacket.
Generally, the first item inside your pack should be your sleeping bag, then pack heavy bulky items in the small of your back next to your back and then work out from there. Usually my shelter as it was heavy and dense. Try not to over stuff things pushing more than will fit into the space especially if you will use the side zips and if you need one of those maybe need item over the day when pulling it out, you may have to repack it all by pulling a single item out. The exception is sleeping bag. Use a compression sack and smash it as small as you can. I used colored stuff sacks for different uses so when I looked inside my pack I knew which to pull out but do not go overboard ending up with more weight and confusion that you need.
I do like many items lashed to the outside of my pack as they get snagged on branches, tree limbs, brush and such. The exception is white gas fuel. If you have a fuel bottle leak inside your pack, lets say you do this once and learn.
Another exception is small pouches on shoulder harness for snacks, sunscreen, etc. I usually carried light gloves and hat stuck in my waist belt.
Good luck.
Re: How to pack a 3day Pack?
Thanks guys. Great reads. I can see where the individual bags inside will really organize things.
Thanks guys. Great reads. I can see where the individual bags inside will really organize things.
Re: How to pack a 3day Pack?
We have ordered some Gunslinger II's but don't have one yet. Unlike most bergens they open right up rather than just the top opening. This aids getting to stuff but cannot help waterproofness so inner dry bags are a must (no a rain cover just doesn't do and any bergen loaded should still float). Keep to three or four inner sacks only, colour coded if you want, and then day or night you will easily get to the stuff you want. Too many small bags and things stuffed in too many pockets and you will forget what's where and if its put back or not. Its easy to find big things, small loose items go astray. Keep your system simple. The more familiar you are with your system the easier it gets to the point were you can use it in the dark and instinctively know when something is missing. Its a discipline.
The Gunslinger II isn't big so take only what you really need. In truth they are a robust but heavy pack compared to climbing packs. So its even more important to save weight somehow. A three day trip isn't long so half a roll of bog paper and always some wet wipes (between two). Maybe you can get away with a 1/2 length roll mat? Noodles and powdered soup rather than tins? The lighter your load the more you will enjoy your walking; just have enough for the cold wet night. When working, walking, you will be hot; its when you stop and the sun goes down you will need that warm windproof fleece.
Study a map of the area before you go, even goole earth it, so you know the layout of the land if you were to get lost. Never underestimate the amount of water you will get through, (tip: fully hydrate before you leave civilization by drinking a litre of water for breakfast rather than that one coffee).
It would help if we knew where you were going.
We have ordered some Gunslinger II's but don't have one yet. Unlike most bergens they open right up rather than just the top opening. This aids getting to stuff but cannot help waterproofness so inner dry bags are a must (no a rain cover just doesn't do and any bergen loaded should still float). Keep to three or four inner sacks only, colour coded if you want, and then day or night you will easily get to the stuff you want. Too many small bags and things stuffed in too many pockets and you will forget what's where and if its put back or not. Its easy to find big things, small loose items go astray. Keep your system simple. The more familiar you are with your system the easier it gets to the point were you can use it in the dark and instinctively know when something is missing. Its a discipline.
The Gunslinger II isn't big so take only what you really need. In truth they are a robust but heavy pack compared to climbing packs. So its even more important to save weight somehow. A three day trip isn't long so half a roll of bog paper and always some wet wipes (between two). Maybe you can get away with a 1/2 length roll mat? Noodles and powdered soup rather than tins? The lighter your load the more you will enjoy your walking; just have enough for the cold wet night. When working, walking, you will be hot; its when you stop and the sun goes down you will need that warm windproof fleece.
Study a map of the area before you go, even goole earth it, so you know the layout of the land if you were to get lost. Never underestimate the amount of water you will get through, (tip: fully hydrate before you leave civilization by drinking a litre of water for breakfast rather than that one coffee).
It would help if we knew where you were going.
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