Internal Frame packing?

“Ok I have hit the net and found several suggestions on how to pack an internal frame.

I have started messing around with it but I am having one issue. I have an expoent Wisdom backpack, I will mainly just be doing one night trips Solo for now.

The issue is I dont have a seperate compartment to place my sleeping bag in but I do have a zipper compartment at the bottom. My sleeping bag is too big to pull out of that compartment.

I started looking at picture of people with their packs on to get ideas for packing some items outside of the pack. I dont have a sleeping pad yet but that will most likely go on the outside when i do finaly get one.

Does anyone have any methods they use that might be uncommon to the normal packing of an internal frame that I can try?

I pretty new to backpacking, mainly just been normal tent camping all my life and packing a bag a certian way was never an issue lol.

I do not have a compression sack yet just the bag it came in. I have tried using straps to make my bag smaller but I dont think my bag is going to get any smaller then what it is.

As I get more into back packing I will be buying better equipment that will elminate this problem, but for now I need suggestion please.

Thanks!”

“Put your clothing in the bottom instead of the sleeping bag since it doesn't fit or maybe your tent if it's light. You want something light down there. Clothing can be accessed through the opening so that would be good if you need to get to it during the day. Then put your sleeping bag above that where it fits. Try to avoid using compression straps with a synthetic bag unless you feel you have to. Compressing it too much will shorten its life.”

“What Rich said.

If you get a self inflating pad, I'd carry it inside the pack as a thorn or something can mess it up. The basic idea of an internal frame is to carry everything inside the pack - close to your back.”

“Yeah and if I would have known that I might have gotten the next step up because it had more space. Well Honestly I hadn't planned on getting my pack when I did my wife surprised me with it, which is totaly awesome IMO.

Thanks Rich, I will give that a try.
I might have to play around with it some because my platypus Hoser system might now allow the sleeping bag to fit in certian spots. I forgot to mention that part.”

“I used to carry my self-inflating sleeping pad on the outside of my pack, rolled and lashed to either the top or bottom. I had to be careful every time I took the pack off. Now, I carry it deflated inside. If you pick up a solid foam pad, it can be on the outside with no problem.

If I'm carrying a lot of bulky items, I do sometimes put my cooking pot on the outside. A cheap little "pepsi can" alcohol stove will save you some room, too.

If your pack has a top lid compartment, your platypus might fit there, saving still more room in the main section of the pack. I did that last weekend and was pleased with the results.

This isn't a clear view, but this is a picture of me with an overloaded internal frame pack. I have snowshoes, a sleeping pad and a tarp on the outside.

http://community.webshots.com/photo/148531354/148533124eZvAbd
last edited: 5/05/05 1:37:57 PM”

“Hmm Cool Idea T Mac, I will see if My 3 Liter Platy will fit in the top compartment aswell when i am messing around with all this.

Also thanks for the pic, that helps me with placement ideas if I ever need to overload.
last edited: 5/05/05 1:52:36 PM”

“If your sleeping bag is a higher-quality down mummy bag (750+ fill), you might be able to squeeze it into a 7x15 inch stuff sack. Otherwise, it'll fit into an 8x18 stuff sack.

This should leave for plenty of other room in the backpack for other stuff...”

“Get a new sleeping bag, that's my suggestion - a reasonably priced warm weather sleeping bag will compress to the size of a nalgene bottle or a little larger... I could probably fit mine inside of a nalgene if I wanted to, that probably wouldn't be a very good idea... lol.”

“Thanks Phantom and Simer. I am going to measure the opening at the bottom of my pack and see if 8x18 will work.

Not sure if buying a new one will be do able for me right now cause Im about to spend some money on boots.”