– alternative title: ‘It’s All in the Bag’ – ultralight stuff sacks, ziplocks or ditty bags for hiking. This is not just about weight saving but also about spoilage and organisation. However there are significant weight savings too.
For example the ubiquitous (Glad) Ziplock bag is really quite heavy. Try weighing a standard sandwich bag and you will see what I mean (2.6 grams ea). If you just keep throwing one after another in your pack it will not be very long before you have added 100 grams in storage bags alone.
There are lighter brands if you must use them, and significant weight savings can be made by choosing smaller ones – usually not available in supermarkets, but online.
(.51oz/yd2) Cuben fibre bags with micro cord locks are much lighter (in the same sizes) and reusable many, many times. I have found cuben tends to shred relatively quickly though compared with lightweight nylon so usually I make my own ‘ditty’ bags out of eg .7 oz/yd2 nylon. Instructions here: DIY Stuff Sacks. You can get a .77 oz/yd 2 waterproof ripstop, or you can buy .49 oz/yd 2 Argon 49 if you want to make really light stuff sacks. Read this post: DIY Stuff Sacks
Some of your gear will really need to be protected with a waterproof bag. I always use a waterproof pack liner bag and another waterproof bag for my sleeping bag, and usually another one for my clothes. Definitely another one for my sat phone or sat messenger which is ‘buried’ inside three layers of waterproofing. How much is your life worth?
A liner bag is a much lighter option than a truly waterproof pack (very heavy), but useful for canoeing or pack rafting. Most normal packs are made with a ‘waterproof material (I know) but they will still leak at the stitching.
Pack covers do not really help keep your gear dry (for their weight). You are much better off with a waterproof liner bag. You can simply use the old trick of a plastic garbage bag or you can go more high-tech with for example a Sea to Summit Ultrasil bag which is probably more durable, waterproof and lighter – and what I use.
I have many times had to swim across swollen rivers/watercourses with my pack, eg in Fiordland. Let me tell you a pack cover will not cut it in this scenario. If you keep an eye on the seam sealing of your pack liner bag you should be able to swim rivers too yet keep all your important gear dry.
When it is cold and wet it is really important to be able to set up a rainproof shelter and slip into some dry clothes. If you can’t you can very quickly end up dead. I have seen this, so please be warned. You must keep your essential gear dry.
A very light cheap alternative (if you can’t sew) are these Ultralight Mesh Bags. I like that you can see your goods inside them.
The first one has the opening on the long side; the second on the short side. The third one is a slightly larger side opener. There are many others available. As you can see they are only a few cents each. They are washable and reusable so 100 for around $6 will last you a long, long time.
Some of these are very light. The 4 1/2′ x 3″ (12 x 8 cm)one on the scales weighs .63 grams. The smaller 2 1/2′ x 1 3/4″ (6 x 5cm) one weighs .22 grams!
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