What do you take in your backpack?

[JackSilb]

Hello,

We discussed what to take in our trucks, how about that backpack to take on some hikes? Short or long?

Thanks,
-JACK

[JackSilb]

During a recent trip to Utah, I had a chance to learn a couple of things with HenryJ.
Let me share what I have, and will have, in my backpack. Please share your list with us too. Lets assume that these are to be used on relatively short hikes on a car camping trip. I am sure there are many other places where people discuss the long self contained hikes.

Here is Jack's list:


Water
Snacks
Light first aid kit
Light emergency blanket
Water proof matches
Wistle
Signaling mirror
Cell phone
Hand held ham / FRS radio
Sun block
Lip care stick
Sun glasses
Bug repellent
Digital camera
Binoculars
Flashlight + extra battery
Light compact shovel and toilet paper

[HenryJ]

I call it a "Bug-out-bag" as do others. It is carried in my truck all the time. My wife has one as does my son. Mine has a bit more than theirs.

It is a 3L camel pak. Water is first and foremost. My wife carries 2L and my son 1L.

In my pack I carry in no particular order:


Binoculars
Multitool
Knife
Knife sharpener
Granola/energybars
Lip balm
Bug spray
Sunscreen
Blastmatch (steel and flint)
Vaseline soaked cotton balls (fire starter)
Parachute cord
Rite in Rain notebook
Rite in Rain pen
Earthtorch solar cell flashlight
Kite and string
Gloves
First aid kit w/ aspirin, bandages, feminine hygiene pad, Neosporin, catgut and needle
Emergency blanket
Storm whistle
Chem light stick
Bandanna
Shock cord and hooks
Netting
Mosquito net for head
Oregon Scientific UV / temp gauge
VX-7R ham radio w/spare battery and longer range antenna
BLT Magtags
SS signal mirror


That covers the stuff in the bag. Hopefully I am properly clothed , have a good hat , sunglasses and boots with me. The LED light on my keychain would also be helpful as it does SOS. The camera is along on a hike as would be a cell phone if I was in an area of coverage. Depending upon the circumstance I would also strap on my big Buck knife and a saw or camp axe. I keep that kind of stuff in the trucks toolbox, along with quite a bit more.

[Explorer 1]

Wow Henry, What that backpack weigh in at?

Fred
Explorer 1

[HenryJ]

Never weighed it. Probably not a good idea to now as I might chicken out ;)

It is not a hindrance though. Hiking or climbing the water is needed and that weight gets transferred as it is consumed.

[JackSilb]

This weekend I learned the hard way that my backpack did not have all I needed.

I used to have, but missed this time to take a hand shovel and toilet paper. My son had a nature call that could not wait. I had to improvise with what we had.

-JACK

[calamaridog]

As Henry pointed out on his list, a multitool is a must.

My first aid kit includes the stuff like lip balm and sunscreen in it. Also I have several sizes of ace bandages. Tweezers, scissors, etc. in the kit.

LED flashlight that uses cr123a batteries. These batteries are shelf stable for 10 years and won't leak and ruin your equipment.

I just got a new Maxpedition bag for Christmas. I'm still working out what all I will carry as it has more room than my last bag.

[Spike Pretorius]

I think you need to differentiate between hiking backpack and bug out bag.
You won't catch me carting excess weight on a hike if I don't have to. That's one good thing I learnt in the military- less is more.

I've got three kits:
1. Traipsing around the mountains
2. SAR backpack containing compulsory kit (doubles as kit for hikes longer than one day)
3. Bug out stuff carried in my vehicle

The three overlap each other a bit. The main hassle being the medical kit which is expensive and expires, as noted in another thread.

[calamaridog]

My bug out bag is used for dayhikes also. It's the same bag.

Planned, overnight backpacking trips use a larger internal frame backpacking pack.

So it depends on how much hiking I'm doing.