Outdoor Life: Pack it Up, Pack it In!
Nothing ruins a trip faster than a poorly packed pack. And if you're like me, you want to be prepared for every possible situation. Think it's impossible to pack with frugality in mind? Think again.
- Pack to save space. If you're taking extra clothes (and we know you are), use a waterproof compression sack. It'll help you stuff as much in as you need with taking up valuable real estate.
- Pack for hydration. To save space, I store my extra water in a Platypus. It's a collapsible water bottle made of tough, durable plastic that rolls up when empty. Because it's not solid plastic, it can mold itself to other items when stuffed in your pack.
- Pack for hunger. I don't like being hungry when I'm hiking, and I don't know anyone who does. But I'm also not a mule and can't carry stores of cans on my back. Here's what I pack to save space and weight:
- Dried soup packets & pasta
- Pesto sauce (full on flavor but tiny in weight compared to pasta sauce)
- Dried fruit (much lighter and less bulky than fresh fruit)
- Trail mix filled with nuts, raisins and chocolate (each handful is energy-packed and so tasty)
- Tea and hot chocolate
I always used zippered plastic bags rather than hard plastic containers because they store better and they also pull double duty as garbage containers.
Read more backpacking tips:
Kim Bowerman,
Nomadik Personal Fitness Expert
