Reverse Bag Dump-Help Load My Exo

[Colberjs]

I've seen several bag dump threads and videos but as a rookie backpacker I'd really like some input on how to load my pack. I have the Exo 5500. I've loaded it with enough gear to last for a 3-4 day hunt but it seems like everything is disorganized and hard to access without taking everything out. Does anybody have pics, vids or any other advice on how to load up a pack in an organized manner? I'm thinking I need to get a couple silnylon/cuben fiber bags for organization. What about compression sacks for my sleeping bag etc.? It seems to take up a lot of room in an awkward shape. My inflatable pad is another awkward piece. If anybody has the same pack that would be even better but ideas using any system would help. Maybe one of the guys from Exo can chime in.

Thanks for the tips.

 

[Beastmode]

I use a dry bag for my bag and pad. Food gets organized in gallon zip lock bags per day. You can use zip locks to organize all your other gear as well. I use kifaru pullouts but zip locks are a great cheap alternative.

 

[7mag.]

I always put my bag, pad, bivy, tarp and pillow in a Kifaru medium 5 string then in a dry bag in the bottom of my pack sideways, to create a good base to load the rest of my gear on. Any extra clothing I may be bringing goes in next (not including my puffy and rain gear). Usually food and cook set is next, followed by other miscellaneous gear, depending on what pack I'm using, because some things I need often might go in exterior pockets or lid.

I use Kifaru pullouts to organize food and smaller gear. I always try to put my heaviest weight as close as possible to my back, and as centered as possible, but not in the bottom of my pack. That's why my sleep system goes in the bottom.

I didn't mention a tent or spotting scope and tripod. That's because I usually hunt with a partner, and we bring one spotter and tripod and one tent, and we split up the weight. When solo, I sleep under my tarp.

 

[InIt2Live]

I pack similar to 7mag. I refer to this article often, just to keep me in line. http://www.rokslide.com/2012-01-09-...6-a-bag-of-bags-how-to-organize-your-backpack

I don't follow it to the t, but pretty darn close. The first pack picture is a good reference. I use the kifaru pullouts to keep things neat and organized. I use a Kifaru Highcamp, so it's almost as basic as it gets, so having a system of how things go in helps me to know what's where.

 

[sr80]

lightest stuff on the bottom, heaviest items in the middle closest to your back. Extra clothing and essentials up top.

 

[Desk Jockey]

lightest stuff on the bottom, heaviest items in the middle closest to your back. Extra clothing and essentials up top.

All good tips so far. ^^^^^. This is the basic concept.

Backpacker and rei have good videos and tutorials on this as well. Troll a few lightweight backpacking sites also.

I pack the lid as a day hiker grab bag.

Keep things that you will need fast or often near the top or outside. Rain gear, snacks. It sucks to dig through a pack or undo a compression sack with a sliced finger to find a first aid kit.

A contractor trash bag is very handy for lots of things if the weather is bad. A pack liner or cover is one of them.

For multi day trips the food goes in a ziplock for each day. Think about critter control especially if left in the pack overnight or unattended. A bear can make a mess of a pack that has food in it. Rodents will chew their way in to get to food.

I like compression or stuff sacks for sleeping gear. Stuff sacks or pull outs for other stuff. Be thoughtful though. You can go overboard on organization with sacks and pouches and holders and what not. Once you refine your packing list and get it ready to load give a think to how much weight you arcarrying in zip locks, stuff sacks and compression sacks. It can add up.

 

[Colberjs]

Thank you. I'll see what I can do.

 

[BroodBuster]

The basics are pretty well described above.

I've got the Exo 3500 that use mainly for day hunting but I did have to do one overnighter when it arrived .

A couple of things that are somewhat specific for the Exo.

First off it seems that the pack is designed to carry the sleeping pad on the outside bottom. With the sleeping bag stuffed in the bottom inside the pack it sort of flattens out the pack so it doesn't tip over every time you set it on the ground. That and I don't see a great way to stuff my pad inside the pack.

The outside stretchy pocket is perfect for a puffy, beanie, gloves and a butt pad. Really nice to have that handy when posting up or glassing.

The hip pouches are perfect for a range finder on one side and camera/phone/GPS in the other.

Of course the tripod and scope go in the side pockets. On one side my game bags go in with the spotter above. Adds a little protection and keeps the weight up.

The rest of my kill kit and what I call my stalk kit go in the lid. My stalk kit is things I want for when I drop my pack for a stalk. Face paint, wind puffer, flagging tape, bandana etc. Snacks also go in the lid.

Everything else is for camping and can be stuffed in the main bag.

 

[Kevin_t]

I'm super simple. I put my bag in the bottom , sometimes in a garbage back sometimes not , air pad if I am using one or pillow if used next . Tent on top of that followed by most of my food in a bag, most of my clothes in a bag. I put other gear like headlamp , gloves , fire either in a little bag , Talon or convenient pocket. That also has water tabs / purifier / stove etc . Then I put my clothes I may need soon somewhere handy (top of pack bag , Talon or similar) with a little food. Water bottle in a pocket , if I carry a tripod other side pocket , if I I use a closed cell pad I strap it outside somewhere and then I go. I rarely spend more than 30 minutes getting ready except for food and that is super simple as well. For food , I have a big bag mixture I use that has walnuts , dried apples , dried cherries , cinammon , and a bamboo spoon. I eat this all the time on day hikes , as a snack or as breakfast sometimes. I throw is some other stuff like jerky , cheese or sausage , maybe some snack bars but rarely can I eat many of those , some packages like instant mashed potatoes and go. Sometimes I take some hard boiled eggs or rehydrated eggs . Also take roasted sunflower seeds often . On ocassion a dehydrate some stuff , or slightly dehydrate sausage

 

[Colberjs]

The basics are pretty well described above.

I've got the Exo 3500 that use mainly for day hunting but I did have to do one overnighter when it arrived .

A couple of things that are somewhat specific for the Exo.

First off it seems that the pack is designed to carry the sleeping pad on the outside bottom. With the sleeping bag stuffed in the bottom inside the pack it sort of flattens out the pack so it doesn't tip over every time you set it on the ground. That and I don't see a great way to stuff my pad inside the pack.

The outside stretchy pocket is perfect for a puffy, beanie, gloves and a butt pad. Really nice to have that handy when posting up or glassing.

The hip pouches are perfect for a range finder on one side and camera/phone/GPS in the other.

Of course the tripod and scope go in the side pockets. On one side my game bags go in with the spotter above. Adds a little protection and keeps the weight up.

The rest of my kill kit and what I call my stalk kit go in the lid. My stalk kit is things I want for when I drop my pack for a stalk. Face paint, wind puffer, flagging tape, bandana etc. Snacks also go in the lid.

Everything else is for camping and can be stuffed in the main bag.

I use an inflatable pad so it'd be hard to strap on the outside but everything else helps. Thanks. Maybe I should pick up a folding pad too.

 

[mtnkid85]

Think about how your day is going to go and what you will need first to last as the day progresses.
Load all your sleeping/camping and emergency/extra gear at the bottom, cooking and food in the middle, daily on and off clothes (puffy or rain jacket) on top. In the lid put all of your stuff that your constantly getting out, water filter, snacks, headlamp, ect.

 

[snowcamoman]

Whatever you do, practice loading and unloading it like you'd plan to use it in the field. When the weather turns nasty, the last thing you want to be doing is spending more time with your pack opened up and a garage sale of "stuff" laying out getting soaked. Plus, the more often things get taken out of your pack when you stop, the higher the chance of accidentally losing something.

 

[larryschwartz]

I pack similar to 7mag. I refer to this article often, just to keep me in line. http://www.rokslide.com/2012-01-09-...6-a-bag-of-bags-how-to-organize-your-backpack

InIt2Live,

Glad you liked the article. Any tips for the rest of us that I didn't include?

Larry

 

[jwatts]

I have the Exo 3500. I usually put the sleeping bag in the bottom, and work my way up from there. My clothes are in a compression bag on top of the sleeping bag. I am also able to fit my inflatable pad and water filter next to that. I keep all of my food separated by days in gallon ziploc bags. My food and cooking/eating stuff is in a small duffle on top of the clothes. I keep my puffy and rain gear in the lid. The tent gets strapped to the outside bottom of the bag. Spotter and tripod go in the long pockets on the side of the bag. Smaller stuff (range finder, release, tags, lighter, GPS, etc.) goes in the hip belt pockets. Everything else ends up in the bag anywhere it will fit. Once camp is set up it is much easier to arrange the bag for day hunting.

I am trying to get you a picture, but photobucket hate me today.

 

[jwatts]

I have the Exo 3500. I usually put the sleeping bag in the bottom, and work my way up from there. My clothes are in a compression bag on top of the sleeping bag. I am also able to fit my inflatable pad and water filter next to that. I keep all of my food separated by days in gallon ziploc bags. My food and cooking/eating stuff is in a small duffle on top of the clothes. I keep my puffy and rain gear in the lid. The tent gets strapped to the outside bottom of the bag. Spotter and tripod go in the long pockets on the side of the bag. Smaller stuff (range finder, release, tags, lighter, GPS, etc.) goes in the hip belt pockets. Everything else ends up in the bag anywhere it will fit. Once camp is set up it is much easier to arrange the bag for day hunting.

I am trying to get you a picture, but photobucket hate me today.

Edit: Here is a list of what is in the pack. This was enough to cover 7 days away from the truck.

Food (in dry sack)
Rangefinder with spare battery
GPS- Full batteries and land ownership chip
Spare AA rechargeable and AAA batteries
Compass
Fire starter
Lighter x2
Tag
1 Knife
Paracord
Hydration bladder
Wind checker
Cork
1 small LED flashlight in pack pouch
Headlamp
Pen
Calls
Chapstick
Light Jacket
Spare socks
First aid kit
Drink mix
Scent free wipes
Toilet paper
Gloves
Face mask
Hat
Rain suit

Compression bag with the following clothes:
2 underwear
1 pr socks
1 undershirt (longsleeve underarmor)
1 pr long johns
1 camo pants
1 camo shirt (First Lite)

Puffy Jacket- In pack lid
Camp shoes- Stretchy pocket
Scent free deodorant
Toothbrush/toothpaste
Tent
Sleeping bag
Sleeping pad
Camp pillow
Stove and fuel- In food bag
Cozy- In stretchy pocket
Cup/mug- In food bag
Water purifier pump
Cookpot- In food bag
Trotline string- In pack
Game bags- Long pocket
Tripod/Spotter- Long pockets

 

[mauidiver]

I have the Exo 3500. I usually put the sleeping bag in the bottom, and work my way up from there. My clothes are in a compression bag on top of the sleeping bag. I am also able to fit my inflatable pad and water filter next to that. I keep all of my food separated by days in gallon ziploc bags. My food and cooking/eating stuff is in a small duffle on top of the clothes. I keep my puffy and rain gear in the lid. The tent gets strapped to the outside bottom of the bag. Spotter and tripod go in the long pockets on the side of the bag. Smaller stuff (range finder, release, tags, lighter, GPS, etc.) goes in the hip belt pockets. Everything else ends up in the bag anywhere it will fit. Once camp is set up it is much easier to arrange the bag for day hunting.

I am trying to get you a picture, but photobucket hate me today.

Good stuff here

 

[Runar]

I have the 3500 and I put my bag, tent, and clothes in a waterproof compression sack, in the cargo area (between the bag and the frame). My bag then had room for miscellaneous like cook kit, food, etc. I was able to haul what I needed for 10 nights (splitting the hauling of common gear with my partner).