Where to put food bag

[partinj]

Hi this is a question for everone that still use external packs do you carry your food in the top compartment or the bottom compartment. The reason i am asking is i am starting my thur of Feb 4 2009 so i have to have more clothing and the clothing is hard to fit in the bottom compartment i carry my sleeping bag on the outside tie to the bottom my tent is up top. what to you guys do

[KG4FAM]

Back when I used one I put the food in the bottom section. My dad was using one this summer when we hiked through the hundred mile wilderness and he had his food in the bottom, but at the beginning food was everywhere in his pack.

[Ranc0r]

Up top, either inside my pot or on top of it, just under my rain gear, and towards the front (that side of the pack that watches where you've been, while walking). The only time I can remember putting the food bag in the bottom was when I also had way too many clothes, and they wouldn't fit.

YMMV, HYOH
.

[Tinker]

I haven't used an external in years, but when I did, the food was up top, just under the windbreaker and/or the rain jacket and the warm up jacket for rest stops. Since the food is generally heavy and dense, loading it up high and as close to your back is wise (I still do this with my frameless packs, even though some say that the heavy stuff should be in the middle of the pack).

[Hikes in Rain]

For some reason, it never seems to be in the same place twice. All depends on the size of the food bag at the moment, coupled with when I grab it while packing. Not to mention how I feel while packing.

[OldStormcrow]

Get a compression sack and put all of your clothes in it. You'll be amazed at how much space you can save....even if the stuff comes out pretty wrinkled!

[Plodderman]

Food on top right under my rain gear.

[Tha Wookie]

Dinners on the bottom, snacks on top

[JAK]

My bag/bivy goes at the bottom, then my food bag in the middle, then my miscellaneous bag at the top.

[squirrel bait]

You'll figure out quick which way to pack your tent and sleeping bag. Some like one or the other up top or down bottom. I still use an external and pack my main food bag on top of my clothes under my rain gear in the middle compartment . And most if not all snacks go into one of the great features of an external, lots of outside pockets.

[Blissful]

Might also look into a belt pouch for snacks, camera etc. Mine was invaluable.

[partinj]

Thank for the help that i found a dry sack at walmart i can get all most my stuff in it.Still can't make up my mine on the camp jacket 200 weight fleece or my primloft jacket the primloft jake will fold up in it own pocket the fleece wolud be in a stuff bag i found at kmart i plan on puting the dry sack in a trash bag the same with the fleece if i take it. What one would you guys take

[TrippinBTM]

I just did a thru with an external frame pack. Heavy stuff goes up top: food, cookware, fuel bottle, tent; heaviest stuff closest to your back as possible. Lighter stuff in the bottom: clothes, mainly, in my case. But my raingear also went in the top, most of the time. I just crammed stuff in there, yaknow?

I assume you have side pockets for your water bottles, or else stick your bladder in the top too, I guess. I never used one, not sure how that'd work.