Where to Put the Kitchen Sink: Packing an Extended Stay Backpack for the Woods

So this will be the last blog on the pack concept. If you missed the other three about the theory of packing, the first 5 C’s, and the last 5 C’s you can find them here:

Here

Here

Here

Now that you’ve seen what is in my pack, let me show you how I plan to pack it.

Start with the food. Placed in the largest compartment and at the bottom. Won’t need access to very fast.

Next the aluminum foil in a pouch in the largest compartment. Protected from tearing against other items and reasonably accessible in a pinch.

Next are all my clothes except the sunglasses and face paint. This will cover my food and take up a lot of the room in the large compartment. These items will have quick access if need be. Finally I stash my trap, toothbrush, tape, and tent pegs here as well.

Next I will begin the smaller compartment with all these item reachable in a quick fashion. First my cords are placed around to use up as little as possible space. Then I layer in my cutting tools of the 5×5. Now in a real situation the belt knife would be on my belt, but this pack is made to store all my tools as well which is why it is in here and not seen on my hip. Finally my gloves are added. Gloves are very important and should be very easily accessed.

In one of my side pouches I have just bank line. Probably need to spool some off but for now this is it. Along with my canvas needles, balloon pump, and Neosporin. 

In my front outermost compartment I keep my SAK and Fire Kit. Plus a little hunting license with proof of identity never hurts. Plus my turkey call and fishing lure. I also store my wife’s knife and multi-tool here.

My other side pouch contains all the tool maintenance items from earlier. Along with my compass and compass binoculars and my Emergency blanket.

In my bottom compartment I have a little pouch. In it I keep my sunglasses, face cover, and face paint.

  

My cooking kit goes together like this:

Along with my other pair of binoculars that has my bottom compartment complete.

Next 2 water bottles in 2 water bottle holders.

These items below were not chosen to complete my pack either because I didn’t need their function, had others, or couldn’t fit.

A bullet mold, a lead ladle, 2 SAK like knives, a 10 Piece multi-tool, a hook knife, different sharpeners, a tobacco pipe, the other water bottle, and my knife with Ferro-rod.

I hope you have enjoyed these blog series about my pack and its contents. Remember what you take into the wilds is what you have in the wilds. With bushcraft we can learn what we need to actually take and of how much. I encourage you to try and build you own pack, if you haven’t already and go practice with your gear. Bushcraft isn’t just learning how to survive if something bad happens, it is about relaxing in the woods and being self-reliant on only your skills and what you pack has inside.

Please in the comments below tell me what is in your packs?

Is there something I should have in mine?

Would you like to know about other items in my pack in more detail?

Finally, why on earth do I still have those tent pegs?

Next week’s blog will be a little experiment and bushcraft crafting. We will be in the kitchen creating items to help out with those times, fire just alludes us. So don’t miss out. As always feel free to comment, share this blog, and check back next week for a new one. Follow me on Facebook: @BPackBushcraft and on Twitter @BPackBushCraft. Until next time, keep those fires burning and put another log on for me.