how to unpack your pack

“So - when you return from a trip - do you unpack everything and put it away - or do you just leave it in your backpack for the next trip ?”

“I unpack everything and hang things up to dry.”

“I unpack, clean and check everything. Store it in a plastic box and repack before the trip using a checklist.

One time of realizing there was no TP on a solo desert hike was enough.”

“I unpack things that need to be dried, aired, or just hung like sleeping bag or tent. The rest I generally like to keep together in the pack so I don't have to waste time looking around for it before my next trip.

Hell hath no fury like a Geobeet trying to find gear before a trip.”

“I take everything out of my pack, clean it and store it for the next trip. If anything is damaged or torn I will fix it.”

“i leave it all in there for several weeks, until it's time for the next trip, and we realize that the pots and pans are still dirty, the socks are unwashed, and the tent is all mildew-y and disgusting. yum!”

“i unpacked, cleaned and let it dry.
oh, and yes, I hung up the bags too.

i just noticed that my closet is getting too small for all the gear.”

“What Geobeet said. If I unpacked everything, I'd probably never find it again.”

“im with lyra, leave it in the hallway till treebeard gets very p!ssed at me and threatens to throw it out unless I put it away.
Something about putting it into the closet his depressing!!!”

“yeah, ours are strewn across the room and hallway...no need to put it all away, because we'll need it for the next trip. and you know how much WE backpack. hee hee!”

“I’ll unpack clean and put away most things. There are some smaller items that just stay in the pack. I have a daypack that is always packed and kept in the car.”

“First thing I do is take all the soiled TP from the zip-loc bags and flush them down the toilet.”

“I have a nice set-up w/ a small dresser and some rubbermaid type totes that I use to store my gear. It keeps my stuff organized and is easy to get to.

That being said... I throw my pack on my couch. Remove the dirty clothes to be laundered. And, let the rest of the crap sit there for days upon days. I HATE unpacking.”

“Tara's couch has been covered with gear every time I've seen it.”

“I unpack the bag, dry the wet stuff, wash the clothes, and wash the dishes.

Then, I take everything up to my huge Gearattic(TM) and disperse accoringly. Sometimes, I'll sleep with a piece of new gear, before putting it in the attic...... but I'm getting help for that.”

“Well, it takes me a day or two and then i unpack everything and organize everything in my gear closet with those closetmaid racks i bought at Home Depot. Works very well.”

“You sleep w/ it, BB? I just roll around on the couch on top of a HUGE pile of gear. Clean, dirty, it doesn't matter.”

“I unpack everything and dry everything and put all my gear away.

I have a gear room/office.

8)”

“let Khatru eat whatever he wants...replace all the eatin items...walk around the mess for 3-4 days then put it all away.”

“I unpack everything - clean and dry as necessary - shake the backpack upside down - you would be surprised how much sand and stuff shakes out - then I repack most of the stuff back in. I got a rubbermaid bin to keep my extra stuff in. I keep my sleeping bag layed-out under my bed.
dawn”

“i clean the dishes, dry the water bottles, do the laundry, and leave everything else lying out. gotta get that sleepin bag out of it's sack.
it usually stays on the floor by the closet where it really goes. seems like as soon as i put it away it's time to pack it again. i usually pack wed night cause i have no time on thursday.
if im not goin on a trip the next weekend i'll hang and toss and fold and roll and stuff and whatever else back where it goes.”

“Throw out the garbage bag and any food that could spoil, throw my dirty clothes in the laundry, & hang up my sleeping bag (it's down and needs to be aired out after every trip). Other than that, I just leave everything in there for the next trip.
Oh yeah, if I wrote any inspirational notes to myself while on the trip, I file those in my 'great thoughts to be published one day drawer.' (snort!)”

“I'm with biz: pitch the perishables, scrub the stuff off of stuff, air out the bag, spread the tent to dry. I have a room in the basement 85% dedicated to camping/hiking/scuba gear. The other 15% is pantry. There's gear in there for three people, and no, one of each per person is not enough! Still, all too often ya can't seem to find that particular item that ya just know has been put away, only to find it (if you're lucky) two or three trips later 'cause it wasn't put where ya thought it was. But then maybe that only happens to me....”

“It takes me about aweek to completly clean up after a trip. But when I do it is done right.”

“From experience, I think the think you are most likely going to forget is your boots!

(and they don't go in your pack anyway)”