View Full Version : Is a 3 day bag all you need?
I hike all over Virginia with my old military issued 3-day bag. Lately, I've been wondering if it isn't all a person needs?
Here's an example of the new ones (http://www.actiongear.com/cgi-bin/tame.exe/agcatalog/level4c.tam?xax=16094&pagenumber%2Eptx=1&M5COPY%2Ectx=28518&M5%2Ectx=3674&M2%5FDESC%2Ectx=Travel%20Gear%20%2D%20Backpacks%2C %20Luggage&level3%2Ectx=level3c%2Etam&BC3%2Ectx=Military%20Field%20Gear%2C%20Backpacking %2C%20Travel%20Bags&BC4%2Ectx=Travel%20Gear%20%2D%20Backpacks%2C%20Lug gage&backto=%2Fagcatalog%2Flevel3c%2Etam)
I can get my clothes, food and odds and ends in it. I can attach my ultralight Spitfire tent to the outside and in the summer all I carry to sleep in is a fleece liner.
Bingo. it's all a hiker needs.
SGT Rock
09-27-2007, 09:20
A bugout bag is probably a little over built - I think an assualt pack would do fine for a lot of folks.
Ok. SGT Rock volunteers to do his thru-hike with an assault pack! I can't wait to read your journal.
SGT Rock
09-27-2007, 13:10
I already got my pack - 21.7 ounces and holds up to 6500ci.
I've done an overnight with a 1700ci pack... no reason that other pack couldn't be used for longer trips.
shelterbuilder
09-27-2007, 16:05
I've done an overnight with a 1700ci pack... no reason that other pack couldn't be used for longer trips.
I've already gone out for 7-10 days using nothing more than an old Jansport Supersack, and they aren't much better than 1700ci. The only thing that's lacking is a good suspension system, so all of the weight is on your shoulders.
Yeah, that overnighter I took with that pack I brought some luxury items and still had room for a full weekend's worth of food. If I went minimal, I imagine I could pretty easily pull a week out of a 1700ci pack. Never done it though, and luxury items would be almost nil.
My pack had a hipbelt, and since I wasn't carrying much weight, I was able to get most of the weight onto my hips. My pack has a foam back sheet though, which helps a lot.
shelterbuilder
09-27-2007, 19:55
Yeah, that overnighter I took with that pack I brought some luxury items and still had room for a full weekend's worth of food. If I went minimal, I imagine I could pretty easily pull a week out of a 1700ci pack. Never done it though, and luxury items would be almost nil.
My pack had a hipbelt, and since I wasn't carrying much weight, I was able to get most of the weight onto my hips. My pack has a foam back sheet though, which helps a lot.
Luxury items?? Ha! Lots of Pop-Tart breakfasts, not much cooking (no extra gas), a tarp and a sleeping bag LINER...I think I did have an extra pair of socks, though!:D If I recall, I used the tarp as a back-pad. But on the "up-side" of that trip, my knees didn't hurt very much because I wasn't carrying much weight, and I really flew across the miles.