Bag organization .

[Fort fireman]

I was just curious how you guys organize your bags. Just kind of looking for way to streamline things or little nuggets to help keep things easier.

Do you keep separate pouches for things, related items in a certain place or just cram everything in the bag? Stuff like that.

[hayshaker]

question, ill assume that by your question that this is the first bag you,ve
owned. that said it all depends on just what you plan to do.
1,camping
2,overnite stay
3,shtf
4,survival traing
5.winter
6.spring,summer,fall camping
what do you plan to do?

there are some basics i can say
clothes,toilettries,food water.
what you plan todo no matter what will dictate what you plan to put in your bag.
all ways try to pack things youll use most on outer pouches.less used items further in.
what type of pack do you have and how did you come to choose it in perticular.
btw how someone else packs thier bag is not how you may want to do yours
packing a pack or bag is many times a individual and personal thing.
sure you can get ideas but at the end of the day you,ll have to pack it in such a way as suits you personally.

[wilderness medic]

I only have 3 bags, two are the same brand. Those two have probably 4 pockets/organizers to every 1 I need or use.

In my front pouch there are many organizers. I use one for fire stuff. A vacuum sealed pouch of PJ cotton balls, ferro rod, lighter, all inside a ziplock bag. I like plastic bags. They're lightweight and there's a lot of uses for them in situations, such as the woods where a waterproof flexible piece of material isn't available.

[kyratshooter]

One time I told my old bag to get organized...

Then the fight began !!!!

I expect you are referring to the mythological BOB ??

I would suggest an assortment of heavy duty Zip lock bags with contents organized as you would for any long term hike or backpacking expedition. There are hundreds of backpacking and hiking sites with that information and it was at one time part of every Boy Scout Handbook.

After all, bugging out is simply backpacking in panic mode.

[hunter63]

Looking for the "Perfect Load Out"

question, ill assume that by your question that this is the first bag you,ve
owned. that said it all depends on just what you plan to do.
1,camping
2,overnite stay
3,shtf
4,survival traing
5.winter
6.spring,summer,fall camping
what do you plan to do?

there are some basics i can say
clothes,toilettries,food water.
what you plan todo no matter what will dictate what you plan to put in your bag.
all ways try to pack things youll use most on outer pouches.less used items further in.
what type of pack do you have and how did you come to choose it in perticular.
btw how someone else packs thier bag is not how you may want to do yours
packing a pack or bag is many times a individual and personal thing.
sure you can get ideas but at the end of the day you,ll have to pack it in such a way as suits you personally.

This is a good start on the logic of organization of your gear.

I don't think I have ever had the same gear load out twice in a row....as I will add things, leave things behind....but mostly find and add thing I find I need....do different things at different times of the year.
(who else do you know the pack a swimming suit, for the hotel hot tub?)

And for sure thing are NOT packed the same way, after a outing be it a day hike or week long trip....comes back in what is know in my circle of friends as a "Snot ball"

Much thought and effort to have gear handy, in a logical order......most frequent used items on top, less used items at the bottom of the pack.....fall apart if you need the bottom item in a hurry....such as FAK.....
You carry it around on top, handy....don't need it, keep moving it out of the way...till it settles into the bottom of the pack.......Then you need it now.

This applies to every type bag you have or will have right up to the vehicles.
Heavy duty jack, spare tire and emergency equipment....good example...stowed away for years as not being used.....then you need it on a dark night.....but it buried.

Pick your activity, the season, lay out your gear you think you will need, pack it....try it, adjust, and try again.

We can list our personnel BOB, GHB, GOOD, FSK, EDC, item by item....and there will be no two alike....and each is perfect.

Every time we do this...the world starts picking apart everyone else's list...with stuff like ....You forgot the TP...

[finallyME]

When I go backpacking, I don't use smaller bags inside my big pack. I do pack it the same, but stuff sacks and organizers add weight. I do generally have front pockets on my belt and chest. This is where I keep items that I will use while I am hiking, and maybe snacks for rest stops. Stuff I won't use until I get to camp gets stuffed in the main compartment. I try to put heavy things about shoulder blade height, and as close to my back as I can.

[Rick]

HOW you pack makes a ton of difference in how comfortable you are and how easy it is to access items. There are a ton of sites that offer up suggestions. Here's one.

http://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advi...-backpack.html

[Tokwan]

Still can't figre out whether the OP meant a backpack or a BOB...

[finallyME]

Still can't figre out whether the OP meant a backpack or a BOB...

I don't think the OP knows either.

[hayshaker]

Fort Fireman, can you post a photo of your pack then we,ll have some more ideads too help BTW
what are your skill sets EG,
camping
hunting
trapping
fishing
E&E
knapping
what
the reason i ask is so fourm members have some sort of idea as to where youre at to better help i guess.
so please post again would like to hear from ya.

[Fort fireman]

Sorry guys, I'm a bit out of the loop. Fall turkey hunting with my dad in PA. When I get back I'll give a bit more detail on what I was checking on. Maybe break down what I have. It isn't my first bag but I was looking for things I may improve on.

I do have the bag with me now , kind of getting field tested a bit.

Rick, I'll give that link you provided a gander. Thank you.

[hayshaker]

hey fireman what ya going to do with the feathers? serious i work with turkey feathers a lot mabey we could trade?
i like the tail feathers but also use the wing and cheast feathers as well.

[Rick]

Now you're giving him credit for "bagging" one. (Get it? Bag organization? Bagging a turkey? I slay myself).

[hunter63]

hey fireman what ya going to do with the feathers? serious i work with turkey feathers a lot mabey we could trade?
i like the tail feathers but also use the wing and cheast feathers as well.

Let me check at "The Place".....might be able to hook you up with some turkey feathers, if the mice didn't eat them.......
Gonna be a week or so.

[Fort fireman]

Ok, twice I've tried to post a pic of my bag and list it's contents and respond back . Both times it said my post was denied so when I'm not on my phone I guess I'll try again with a longer description since I won't have a pic to show you guys.

[Rick]

You can't post a pic until you have 10 posts. It's one of the ways we try to keep a handle on spam.

[Fort fireman]

Ok, makes sense. Half way there.

[Fort fireman]

Ok, lets see if I can't give quick run down of my loadout while I have some down time at the station. I can't post a picture yet so i will do my best to describe what I have and hopefully it makes sense.

My Bag

Is a Condor compact assault bag. ii also have a Condor 3 day bag but I use it very rarely ecause it is frickin huge.

If you are looking at the bag it has 4 compartments. the top small compartment is right aroun 7"x4"
In there I have

a flashlight
a small vinyl pouch( the kind a BP cuff comes in) in there I have
a headlamp
spare batteries for both lights
a small red strobe( for signalling)
a paracord bracelet
gorilla tape

The next compartment down I have

a pen and pencil
sharpie
write in the rain note pad
folding knife
multitool
sharpening stone
compass
mora knife
work gloves
another vinyl pouch( like the other) with my fire kit

then there are 2 big compartments. In the first I have a steel camp cup with 50' of paracord and a 8'x7' backpackers tarp nesstled inside. Next to that i have a hammock.
On top of that I have another vinyl pouch . In thwere I have
2 clif bars
2 5 hour energies
ginseng tea bags
some water flavor packs and some salt and pepper.
next to that I have a Condor BDU wallet( i think thats what they call them)
That is my small FAK along with some odds and ends like.
an extra FARo rod
bug spray
water tabs.
tweezers
pen knife
mirror
stuff like that.

then in the sleeve in that compartment I have wet wipes, baby wipes and a couple extra diapers for my girls. Just incase of a true emergency

This load out leaves the biggest compartment totally open for extras depending on weather, task at hand or what I may need at the station.
Thats pretty much what I have. im sure i forgot something but i think i coverd most of it.

The reason i posted the original post was simply to open a discussion on some tricks of the trade some of you mught have. Somethings that you have tried that worked or maybe didn't work. Just to bounce ideas around a little bit. this load out seems to work for me but Im open to trying new things with it so fire away.

[Fort fireman]

I forgot water. I always have a nalgene bottle on me. Normally I have it attached to the bag with an S-Biner but I don't love that. It swings around a bit and gets snagged on stuff . The bag has a sleeve for a water bladder but I haven't used them much so I havent pulled the trigger on getting one of those. i also don't like putting it in the bag because it takes up a good bit of space. If anyone has a good idea for that Im all ears.

the load out weighs in right at 12 pounds without water so not to bad.

[Fort fireman]

On the side MOLLE atachemnt point I have a small pouch that i keep some hand sanitizer and my phone charger in as well. along with my ear buds. Just because I guess.

Things I would like to get to put in the bag are a sewing kit and a wind up radio-flashlight-phone charger for an I-phone.