Fran - Member - The Prepared

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Reply to: Best bug out bag backpack Posted November 10, 2021

I have my maps in mine, even though the sack has a front pocket. Also got a couple of those soft water bottles in it.

Reply to: Best bug out bag backpack Posted November 10, 2021

Edit. I ditched the bikepacking bags in favour of racks and panniers. I have a Topeak rack front and rear, Ortlieb City panniers at the rear and Vortex panniers at the front. Still got the Kelty, which I would take as well. Might just about squeeze everything into the Kelty if I have to ditch the bike. I wrote a post about how to fit more in a given sack below.

Reply to: Best bug out bag backpack Posted November 10, 2021

Hi all. Learned a way to fit more gear in a given sack the other day, explained belo. I got the Kelty Redwing after reading about it on here. It’s the model from about 2019. It’s an ideal bug-out bag. I do have a larger sack that’s not much heavier if I ever need it (eg solo INCH), which is a Decathlon 90 lite sack that’s 200g heavier. Anyway, I was watching a video of an alpine climber’s gear list, and he made a great point. If you have all your stuff in separate drybags (as I have), it’s very organised, but it takes up more room. He advised doing what I always used to do when back packing in my youth. Just have one big pack liner (a strong bin bag or ultralight dry bag). It means you can fit more in a given sack, or use a smaller sack. I got the Osprey 70-100 litre sack liner for £21 which was a bargain. It’s taller than I need, but I’ll just fold the top over rather than try to roll it up loads of times. Also that way I’m not concerned about trapping air in. I don’t keep all my stuff packed like this for two reasons. One is that things like my little half length sleeping bag and insulated jacket shouldn’t be stored compressed. Second is that my bugout plan has several options. Eg my preferred INCH plan is to go on a bicycle. If I did that, but then had to ditch the bike, this is where I’d be trying to cram everything from my panniers into the Kelty. So I keep my INCH stuff packed in one pannier, and things like sleeping bag are in the Kelty but not squashed down.

Reply to: Best bug out bag backpack Posted September 20, 2020

I got the Kelty Redwing 50, last year’s model. But if I have to bug out far or for a long time I think I’d want to use my bike (push bike) if possible, so I got a front (handlebar) bag and seat bag to take some of the load off my back. These can carry 10 litres each. I put my INCH stuff in my seat bag and my tent, stove and food in the front bag. Packed bags roughly: Kelty 6.4kg, INCH 1.9kg, Handlebar bag 2.9kg. Plus water, bike tools and one trekking pole which acts as tent pole. Obviously if I was bugging out for a couple of days I’d leave the INCH bag at home. All bags and bike are black/grey for inconspicuousness, especially at night.

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Reply to: Best bug out bag backpack Posted November 10, 2021

I have my maps in mine, even though the sack has a front pocket. Also got a couple of those soft water bottles in it.

Reply to: Best bug out bag backpack Posted November 10, 2021

Edit. I ditched the bikepacking bags in favour of racks and panniers. I have a Topeak rack front and rear, Ortlieb City panniers at the rear and Vortex panniers at the front. Still got the Kelty, which I would take as well. Might just about squeeze everything into the Kelty if I have to ditch the bike. I wrote a post about how to fit more in a given sack below.

Reply to: Best bug out bag backpack Posted November 10, 2021

Hi all. Learned a way to fit more gear in a given sack the other day, explained belo. I got the Kelty Redwing after reading about it on here. It’s the model from about 2019. It’s an ideal bug-out bag. I do have a larger sack that’s not much heavier if I ever need it (eg solo INCH), which is a Decathlon 90 lite sack that’s 200g heavier. Anyway, I was watching a video of an alpine climber’s gear list, and he made a great point. If you have all your stuff in separate drybags (as I have), it’s very organised, but it takes up more room. He advised doing what I always used to do when back packing in my youth. Just have one big pack liner (a strong bin bag or ultralight dry bag). It means you can fit more in a given sack, or use a smaller sack. I got the Osprey 70-100 litre sack liner for £21 which was a bargain. It’s taller than I need, but I’ll just fold the top over rather than try to roll it up loads of times. Also that way I’m not concerned about trapping air in. I don’t keep all my stuff packed like this for two reasons. One is that things like my little half length sleeping bag and insulated jacket shouldn’t be stored compressed. Second is that my bugout plan has several options. Eg my preferred INCH plan is to go on a bicycle. If I did that, but then had to ditch the bike, this is where I’d be trying to cram everything from my panniers into the Kelty. So I keep my INCH stuff packed in one pannier, and things like sleeping bag are in the Kelty but not squashed down.

Reply to: Best bug out bag backpack Posted September 20, 2020

I got the Kelty Redwing 50, last year’s model. But if I have to bug out far or for a long time I think I’d want to use my bike (push bike) if possible, so I got a front (handlebar) bag and seat bag to take some of the load off my back. These can carry 10 litres each. I put my INCH stuff in my seat bag and my tent, stove and food in the front bag. Packed bags roughly: Kelty 6.4kg, INCH 1.9kg, Handlebar bag 2.9kg. Plus water, bike tools and one trekking pole which acts as tent pole. Obviously if I was bugging out for a couple of days I’d leave the INCH bag at home. All bags and bike are black/grey for inconspicuousness, especially at night.