How to Pack Your Pack: Day Hikes to Multi-Day Treks
Inspired by our Spring 2018 Obsidian Collection and the sweet Gregory pack it included, the Cairn Crew has put together a quick and dirty guide to packing your pack for maximum efficiency and comfort. We've created a guide and checklist for both Day Hikes and Multi-Day Treks. No, not every scenario is covered and surely there will be items that you'll decide you can't live without that haven't made our checklist; but consider these your foundation.
Along the way, we've called out products that the Cairn Crew has field tested and included in a previous Cairn Monthly or Obsidian Collection.
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Day Hike
Packing
Nobody wants an overabundance of gear for a day hike, but efficient packing of some key essentials and a truly comfortable backpack can extend your time, and enjoyment, on the trail. Hey, and if find yourself with space to throw in a couple of extra snacks, we're pretty sure you'll be MVP amongst your trail crew. Save frustration and discomfort by following a few easy guidelines when loading up your gear.
First in: Stuff sack with extra clothing layers and gear and that you may not need during your day hike.
Last in: Items you’ll want to have easy access to, like your rain jacket.
Outer Organization: Use hipbelt and accessory pockets for quick-grab items.
Backpack: Your pack is clearly the foundation for everything here. Get the pack fit and capacity right, and you've already got this hike started on the right foot ;). Cairn curated gear: Gregory Sula 24 and Salvo 24 (Featured in the Spring 2018 Obsidian Collection)
Day Hike Packing Checklist
Cairn Crew Hack: Since day hikes require less gear, fill just three of the four segments in your Gobi Gear SegSac Compress. For maximum comfort, place the SegSac in your pack so that the empty segment is against your back.
Multi-Day Trek
Packing
Whether you’re headed out for the weekend or for an epic thru-hike, efficient packing and a truly comfortable backpack are essential. Save frustration and discomfort by following a few easy guidelines when loading up your gear.
First in: Sleeping bag – You won’t need to access it until you’ve reached camp and set up shelter.
Second in: Gear and meals – These heavier items helps create a stable center of gravity and won’t likely be needed on the trail.
Last in: Layers you’ll want to grab for varying conditions along your trek.
Outer Organization: Use lash-on points for easy access to your shelter and accessory pockets for quick-grab items.
Backpack: Selecting the right backpack based on your trip length, feature preferences, and fit is the essential foundational element of any backpacking trip. You're going to be wearing this bad boy for miles on end, so make sure it's as comfortable as possible while meeting your capacity and feature needs. Cairn curated gear: Gregory Optic 48 and Gregory Octal 45 both with integrated rainfly (Featured in the Spring 2018 Cairn Obsidian Collection).
Clothing
Shelter + Sleep
Gear + Food
What gear have you discovered through Cairn that you'd add to this list? What's your favorite packing hack? Share in the comments below!
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