Hey now, I'm not laughing at what works for you! I'm just pointing out the self defeating choices of going with the super light bag, and then slapping 4 pockets on it and making it heavier than the timberline! The logic is what makes me chuckle!
Do you organize with stuff sacks and dry sacks? If so why not have ones that can attach to your pack, ku pockets, pullouts and pods sealed weigh nothing.
I'm not 100% committed to taking my E&E as my lid but it is an option, I keep my tarp and stove plus all pegs in a ku long pocket. Have a possibles pouch I may sell and a few pullouts to organize systems. Sleeping bag and bivy in dry sack and may get an xl pullout for clothes.
In the end with all the hacking you did to your T1 you paid about $125 for the side slit pockets. All the stuff I have except the xl pullout so I see no reason to pay extra for a bag I would also hack up similar to what you did and when packed full the add on pockets add no more added exterior space then the built in pockets but other then packing meat out I'll only have a small pocket on my belt and if I take the E&E I'll leave the highcamp at camp while hunting but still use the the bikini with my E&E with day hunt items organized
I don't know the options are endless and for a $205 investment for the bag why spend more for the side and back pockets
So really it is purely about modularity and price vs current crap instock at home . If I hate the highcamp I can always order up a T1 and sell all the other stuff to pay for it.
Also I can stuff a 2L hydration bladder in the bottom pocket of the E&E and that thing feels like nothing so it will make for a badass daypack with a bikini and still be able to strap a full load of meat with a grab-it and lash kit.
Heck I guess I'm a gear junkie and like messing around with options . Probably said the same thing 4 or 5 times just in this post
Last edited: