Pack Liner?

“Hello, I am doing my first backpacking trip this summer. I just bought a Gregory Deva pack and am wondering if I should buy a pack liner. What do the veterans do? I appreciate any input. Hope this subject hasn't been posted to death. I searched but could not find. Thanks!!”

“Use a trash compactor garbage bag or a big yard (not the thin ones) garbage bag”

“Hefty make a good one! Waterproof, lightweight and extremly packable.”

“What they said.”

“I only pack my things into an extra plastic bag if I suspect any rain. Trash bag for the sleeping bag. Ziplocks for the clothing. Btw, I love my Gregory Deva, I bought it in 2005; what year is yours?”

“I pack extra clothes in ziplocks as well. The gallon size are perfect.
last edited: 4/10/07 2:36:53 PM”

“I guess it would be the 2006. Just bought it at the local REI. Its rated as a weekend pack, but I'm taking it on a week- long trip. Its 3700 cu in. Thoughts?”

“not needed for most conditions, especially for a beginner. skip it. save the cash, hassle and extra weight.”

“oh and lucy was only talking to veterans so the rest of you posers shaddup!
last edited: 4/10/07 3:19:03 PM”

“and just whom was that directed at Jimmy san?”

“I've been using these 2.5 gallon Hefty bags with a zipper for larger things like clothes. You can squeeze out the air so they compress a little. It seems like they help things to stay organized better which means it's all easier to find and repack. They wear out but they're cheap so I buy new ones. They don't weigh anything.”

“Well, for a week-long trip, I think you may find it's a challenge to cram everything into 3700 ci. Even if you had ultralight gear, you'd still find it a challenge cramming a weeks worth of food in there. However, since you mention a summer trip, maybe it will work. I consider myself a pretty experienced backpacker and have a 3700 ci pack that I use for up to 4 days. Anything longer than that and I pretty much run out of room, mostly because of food taking up space and the fact that I like to bring along creature comforts on longer trips, like a journal, a book, cards, etc.

An alternative, 'cause I know Dana makes a pretty stout pack, would be to purchase a couple of exterior pockets in the 500-750 ci range and lash them to the outside of the pack. This would give you another 1,000-1,500 ci of space and may give you the versatility for a longer hike.

Definintely load that thing up with everything you may be taking on your trip and then load up with a representative pile of food and see what kind of room you have left. Do this well in advance of your hike so you can make alterations as needed.”

“Strap the food outside the pack.”

“My ULA Circuit pack is 2900 ci and I've done 5 day trips with it? This was a cool weather trip as well, where I packed extra clothing.

I like to put my sleeping bag and clothes in one plastic bag and my food in another.

I use the bags from Gossamer Gear.
last edited: 4/10/07 5:18:48 PM”

“i think my deva goes to 4000 ci”

“I only put the things i'm very sensitive about keeping dry in a plastic bag - my down sleeping bag. My clothes are in a water resistent bag - it'll be dry so long as it doesn't get dunked and held under and resists moisture from being next to a wet tent. i use a pack cover when the rain is more than a drizzle or when hiking thru wet underbrush.”

“ya, my mariposa is only 2900 (i never use the extension collar) and i can easily pack for a week in it.”

“Lovin this forum!! Thanks for all the tips. Keep'em coming.
The Deva cu.in. varies by size. Mine is a small. The salesperson said that Gregory underrates their size. I do have a small tent (MSR Hubba) and it will be August weather.”

“the msr hubba is a fine tent (i own one myself) but you must learn the ways of the force...

”

“hey, there is this great Lunar Solo for sale on another thread. Buy that and drop a few lbs from your pack...”

“nct and Jimmy san, are your packs internal or external? and do you have a problem with being cold all the time like i do? i can get 3 days of cold weather stuff, tent, bag, food/water etc into my pack, but it isn't all that easy. summer camping is easier to pack for, less clothing. then there is the trail issue here in SoCal where you can cross several climes in just one day and must pack accordingly”

“frameless with two carbon fiber stays (rods) to make the pack more stiff with a heavier load. the stays can be removed for lighter loads. Pack weight (with stays) is about 19 oz. I don't use the pads in the belt and shoulder pads... i stuff socks in there for padding.

you are cold all the time because you are a woman. women are cold all the time. it's natures way.

just joking

for me keeping warm is all about planning my layers well and not overdressing. also, i don't have expectations that i will be "warm" but rather "chilly" but comfortable, not cold. i dress everything in layers, even my hands and feet.
last edited: 4/10/07 6:04:54 PM”

“Jimmy san, yes, you are right. Women ARE cold all of the time, thus the August trip. I also plan to be chilly and welcome it as part of the experience. That is what the Nalgene full of brandy is for ;-)
As far as the tent goes, I may sacrifice some things, but I am all about the free-standing tent.”

“btw, lucy says she is a denizen of wisconsin... lucy you will be at home here... lots of wisconsin backpackers here and some even live in wisconsin! you won't have any trouble finding company here.
last edited: 4/10/07 6:09:57 PM”

“That is good to hear. I have never met another backpacker in this part of "Sconny", thus the decision to go solo.”

“where is "this part"... north, central, middle? madison, milwaukee, black river falls, etc, etc.... give us a clue and we'll recommend some great places.

better still come to the batcave buttkicker hike and meet 20+ TTers in one hike!
last edited: 4/10/07 6:18:56 PM”

“I am in the Fox River Valley. 40 minutes south of Green Bay.
My virginal trip will be a treck across Isle Royale.”

“hehe, she said "virginal"... i like her already.”

“she does seem to fit in, LOL!”

“Awe, I feel warm and fuzzy!”

“Isle Royale is a great place. I can share a recipe that prosecutor gave me called "Isle Royale Salmon" that is really good if you wish. It's a backpacking style meal but you make it at home before you leave. Really good stuff.”

“Doggone it Lucy, your myspace is private. How am I supposed to know anything about you?”

“The pack I used has a hooped semi-framed suspension, that I also use with a 4 section Z-rest, inside the pack along the back-panel for added support and as a sit pad, in camp.
I carry a WM Megalite sleeping bag and at the time, of the my last 5 day trip, a SMD Lunar Solo, tent.
Also for clothing, 100# fleece zip-tee pull-over, poly-pro top and bottom, Montbell Therma-wrap jacket, hat, gloves, and (2) extra pairs of socks
Night-time temps, were in the upper twenties to low thirties as well.
In all honesty, my pack was stuffed fairly full, but I could have gotten another 2 days worth of food in it, if I needed too.
last edited: 4/10/07 7:27:16 PM”

“Lucy, I live in Wisconsin and hiked Isle Royale last summer. Great place. Also, you can easily get what you need for a week trip in 3700 ci. Learning to separate what you want from what you need is major. welcome to TT.”

“I bought a big cheapo space bag, them big thick plastic contraptions with a ziplock at the top. If I think its gonna rain I stuff everything in it and zip it closed inside my pack....but if you have a pack cover you don't need it......or just pack everything in its own big ziplock baggie....”

“Nimblefoot, thanks for the welcome. I am lovin all the info (and silliness). Pamela, request to be my friend and you can be in on all the dirt. Jimmy San, I think it would be quite appropriate for me to eat "Isle Royal Salmon" on my trip. Hook a girl up!”

“HIGHLY recommended dish...

While backpacking Isle Royale in Lake Superior this summer, I chatted with a fishing boat captain's wife who was telling me how this was her 20th summer fishing with her husband at Isle Royale on Lake Superior. I asked her what she eats, and she said lots of fish, and that she knows more ways to cook fish than anyone. When I asked her what her favorite fish recipe was, she described "Isle Royale Salmon". My heart began to race. Everything was available at the store, inexpensive, extremely light weight, quick to prepare on the trail. In short, a perfect backpacking meal. This recipe won first place in the Titanium Chef 2002 backpacking cooking contest.

At Home:
Package in a quart or half gallon ziplock bag the following:

7 ounces of foil pouched salmon, (or smoked salmon)

In your first pint zip lock bag put:
1 package of Knorr Vegetable Soup, Dip & Recipe Mix
1 ounce dried sliced potato taken from a scalloped potato box
1/2 cup dehydrated onions
1 teaspoon chicken bullion
1/4 teaspoon ground thyme
1/4 teaspoon fresh ground white pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt (omit if using smoked salmon)

In a second pint zip lock bag put:
1 cup powdered milk
2 tablespoons flour
3/4 cup dehydrated mashed potatoes

Fill a third snack sized ziplock bag with small croutons.

On the Trail:
Bring 6 cups of water to a low boil. Flake the fish and add to the boiling water with the first Ziplock bag of pototo, onion, soup and spice mixture and cook at a low boil for another 10 minutes. Turn off heat, and slowly add contents of second ziplock bag of powdered milkflour/potato mixute, stirring constantly. When the flour is mixed in without lumps, turn on stove to a low simmer, and heat for 2 minutes. Serve with small croutons.”

“Ok, where do I look for dehydrated onions? Are we talkin the kind in the spice isle? I have a dehydrator, but I can't imagine the smell that would produce!!
last edited: 4/11/07 8:56:35 AM”

“Damn. I don't know how you get a weeks worth of food into 2900 ci. Guess I just need more stuff...”

“yep... they will have them in the spice isle. The "Knorr Vegetable Soup, Dip & Recipe Mix" was in the section with the salad dressings I think... it wasn't in the same place as the soups at my local grocery.

i use smoked salmon when i make it and this is a little salty so I cut down the salt a little bit.

also, i used pasta rather than croutons. i cook the pasta and then put it in the dehydrator. then i rehydrate the pasta and toss it into the stew once it's thick and let the mixture sit for 5 minutes before eating. absolutely delicious!

NOTE: This recipe easily makes large portions for two people. I halved it and was stuffed... and I can eat like a bear! See how it wants 6 CUPS of water... :) I made it, divided it into two bags, and ate the meal twice in the week i was in the grand canyon.

this is the beauty of cooking for yourself... you make the food you like the way you like it... much better than pre-packaged stuff and almost as light. quality is MUCH higher.

the crab cakes i made on the trail in the grand canyon were hands-down the most delicious meal i have had in the backcountry. again, a prosecutor recipe. the guy is my culinary hero. if you ask nicely he'll send you a copy of his famous cookbook for free.”

“oh, and the "herb ox" bouillon (granules in foil packet) were far superior to the "cubes"... dissolved faster and tasted better.”

“But does the "herb ox" bouillon contain MSG?”

“I don't do liners, too much trouble. I do use silnylon stuff sacks (semi-waterproof) and have a built in pack cover for downpours. Never have had anything get wet in my pack, over almost twelve years.

Isle Royale is one of my favorite places. Got your itinerary picked yet? If you do a search on Isle Royale you'll find lots of trip reports Lucy.”

“herb ox is msg free and relatively low in sodium for bouillon. it dissolves almost instantly in water. the cubes take forever, even when crushed. it is more expensive but it's a massively superior product in my opinion.
last edited: 4/11/07 10:03:19 AM”

“speaking of thread hijacker... a question about "which pack liner should I use" has turned into a discussion on which bouillon cubes contain MSG... man am i good or what!”

“Good work. MSG is way more interesting than pack liners. I happen to like MSG.”

“Sassafras, Yes, my itinerary is in order.. I think.
3 mile to chicken bone E or W depending on how I handle day 1
CB EorW to Hatchet
Hatchet to Desor S
Desor to Island Mine
Island Mine to Washinton Creek
Pretty classic route as far as I can tell. I would love to explore more, but only so much vac time. Maybe I'll go back next summer.”