I prefer to use a trash compactor bag to line my pack, so it is always all waterproof.

A couple thoughts.... 1. Don't bury emergency gear (first aid, rain) deep in the pack. For a real emergency, you will want it quickly. 2. You are better balanced if heavy items are higher, as you need to lean forward at less of an angle to adjust your center of gravity. The old advice was to carry weight high with external framed packs (used for trail hiking) and lower and close to your back with internal framed packs (used for scrambling). Nowadays, people have misconstrued that advice to apply to the type of pack rather than the style of hiking. 3. Do your best to keep your satellite communications device on your body instead of on your pack so that it is still useful if you become separated from your pack (river crossing). 4. (honest question) How much space do you save by stuffing a sleeping bag/quilt directly in the pack versus using a compression sack? It can fill in gaps at the expense of taking up more total space.

I bet Tim is a great professor! Y’all are both great at explaining without being patronizing.

No Tim u said the bandana for wiping ur nose or cleaning the pot. One or the other. Not both LOL 😂

Nylofilm or trash bag for the sleeping bag/quilt. You can stuff the sb/quilt down inside the the bag the same as you would stuff it inside the bottom of your pack, then fold or twist it shut to keep water out.

Really excellent content. I don't think I would want my first aid kit buried that deep in my pack, otherwise really good stuff.

Put your spork in the food bag. That’s when you would probably be needing it anyway, when you’re cooking. I also keep my pot in the food bag as well.

Congrats on 1 MILLION subs! 🎈🍾 🥳

I have seen the "backpack is the stuff sack" method before, and I think that's ok if you know it will be dry(no rain, unlikely in the PNW) and will have few to no river crossings since accidents happen.

A similar method to this can be done by at least using a durable garbage bag or pack liner at least around the sleeping bag, if not the full contents of the backpack main cavity.

Because my main backpackers are young Scouts who are less careful overall, I err on the side of caution for their gear. Compressible dry bag for their down sleeping bags, garbage bags for clothing, and ziplocks for anything not water resistant/proof (electronics, pumps, first aid, fire starters, etc).

It's not a lot of weight or overall cost, but it adds tons of safety to their gear.

First thing into my backpack is a large waterproof bag.

I have a slot in my golf bag for a marker. You shoukd think about sewing a small slot into/onto the side of your backpack for a spork. Shouldn't take up much room and can be fairly secure, especially if you had a velcro strap to cover it.

I don't put my snacks or any food trash inside of pack pockets.

I either use a small, detachable waist belt pack or chest pack for all "smelly" stuff I want easy access to while hiking.

That detachable pack can be put into my bear bag / can at night so that critters aren't attracted to any odor transfer onto my backpack at night.

I use a compactor bag first, then the sleeping bag to be sure it stays dry

Its fascinating how packing varies so much from person to person!!

Great burrito roll on that sleeping pad. We used to wrap our sleeping bags and pads together like that back in the days of external frame packs (1960s), also flannel-lined canvas and Kapok sleeping bags with 2" open-cell foam pads--BIG rolls, haha!). Gear is more streamlined and lighter these days, much easier on the body. Congrats on the 1 Million!

Sleeping mattress best to attach it at the rear of your backpack (vertical). It wouldn't get damaged if you have to go through scrubs. If you put your sleep mattress between grond and tent floor it doesn't matter if they get wet. It protects also the tent floor from holes.

Great video and congrats on 1M subs! Regarding keeping items dry…We use nylofume bags. We stuff our sleep clothes/base layers in the foot box of our quilt since we won’t need them until we camp, then stuff the quilt along with other light weight items we want to stay dry in the nylofume bag and twist and tuck it off, and layer other items as noted on top. In cold weather, I have a smaller dry bag I keep in the top of my bag for my warm mid/outter layers (fleece/puffy), that way they are easy access. Last in the bag on top is our polycro or Tyvek ground cloth/footprint. It gets draped over the items on top to help keep dry. If it’s going to be really wet, we have a small Tyvek piece we wrap around our closed cell foam 1/8” mat, that like you, gets strapped to the top of the bag. Love that there are so many similar but different ways we all address these needs. Oh and for stashing your spork, Hilltop packs offers a Spoon Stash (slot) that can be attached to the inside of a food bag or backpack depending on material 😉

You guys are great I kept having an issue with my weight dispersion but it was because of my stuff sacs I ditched them for just a single one for clothes and it works amazing!!

What size pack are you using? I can manage with the HMG Waypoint 35. But, a bit bigger may be better. Wait, you use the bandanna to wipe your nose and pot🤔 The difference: I use a product called Funk Sack for water proofing inside the pack and for hiding the aroma of food. Next, I stuff my clothes with the sleeping bag. I have the 20 F Enlightened Apex. Difficult to stuff sack that. Tried🥵 Lastly, I start with my food on the bottom then sleeping bag. Then other necessities on top of that. Thanks for this great tutorial. Great idea for the sleep pad! Much appreciated and helpful. May your hikes be filled with smooth trails and fair weather. Happy Trails!

Thanks mom and dad <3