My Essential Camping Pack

Intro: My Essential Camping Pack

Here it is,my camping bag, and i will list some of the things i always take out with me!
and would recomend to you all!

STEP 1: The Bag

First of all, the bag itself, It's a Gelert Hercules 65l, I find that 65l is the perfect size for me, its big enough to just about fit all i need in, and not too big that i over fill it and have it become to heavy.

It also came with a waterproof compression sack, and a removable bladder pack that can be worn seperatly.

STEP 2: The Main Body Contents

ok, inside the main body, i removed the bladder bag (as i dont use it) and fitted the water proof stuff sack in its place (it clips in the same clips)
The waterproof sack is then where I store my sleeping bag and a set of thermals i wear while sleeping, i do this so just incase we get caught out in bad weather i can be sure the stuff i sleep in will be dry!

I have two sleeping bags to choose between,
the first is a Eurohike Adventurer 200, its a 2 season that drops down to -10c in extreme conditions.
It's a Medium size bag that can compress down to a small-ish size and is very comfortable.

the other is a MountainLife Micro 50, its 1 season and drops to only +10c extreme.
but it packs VERY small and is great for summer camping.

I always have my thermals aswell incase the temp drops lower than expected, and if i know the weather is going to be pretty extreme i will pack both bags and put one inside the other, I have found this to be VERY warm in the harshest british weather.

The rest of the main body of the bag is for any clothes i pack and a towel.

STEP 3: The Kitchen (bottom Compartment)

The lower section of the bag lends itself to be my kitchen,
In it i keep my;
mess tin, which is a bit more pricey then some but the lid doubles as a frying pan and i like fried eggs in the morning.
and a mini gas tilly lamp that fits snug in its own sturdy box
a mini gas stove which also has its own box
And just incase the gas stove fails i keep a hexi stove aswell, this is also helpfull using the fuel if im starting a fire.
a gas bottle
Cutlery, that all slides into a bottle opener and has its own pouch
an army folding washing up bowl
a thermous
and a couple mre's

and after all that there is still plenty room for other food i will want

STEP 4: The Bathroom (side Pocket)

In the side pocket is where i keep all my toilet stuff,
this includes a toothbrush, in a case,
a small towel,
a squashed toilet roll,
a small trowel,
toothpaste,
hand cleaner gell,
and some shower gell and shampoo

STEP 5: Top Flap (outer)

I dont keep much in here, but what i do have in there i like to be able to get at short notice incase of a down poor,

a waterproof coat, thin goretex one
and a pair or water proof trousers

STEP 6: Top Flap (inner)

Inside the top flap is another pocket, which again i like to keep some things that might need to be grabbed without rumaging through too much,

although i dont have a picture, as im saving that for another instructable. but its my survival tin, with everything i might need when camping or climbing if we get stuck.

STEP 7: Front Map Pocket

in there i keep, well maps. when climbing outside it is often needed to carry maps with you so thats where i put them!

STEP 8: Side Pockets

the side pockets are where i keep my water supply, i keep a 1ltr bottle in each side, if im going to be going away for longer and know there wont be much of a water suply, i will fit a bladder in the bag aswell.

STEP 9: The Bedroom (on the Front)

as you can see in this pic, ive got a 3cm self inflating matt, now if we are going to be hiking or climbing away from a campsite i would roll this matt up in my bivvy bag (I dont have a pic of it) but its great and from alpkit.com and keeps the matt dry if it rains.

STEP 10: My Chair! Again, on the Front

yeah i take a chair with me, and what?!?!?
well actually a stool, but in some places there is little to sit on, and i like a little elevation when im cooking and its nice to take the weight off your feet on time to time,
so i park this in the loops designed for ice axes or walking poles

STEP 11:

and thats it!
If there is anything else you think i should pack, let me know!

Comments

[9RoseTyler10]

Thank you for this instructable! Im having to buy all gear in one go tomorrow and this is very helpful!

[khendar]

You don't take any first aid gear camping?

[gpm85]

Yes i do, but i keep it in my emergancy tin, which will be another 'ible, as its more of a 'just in case' tin.

[gstephens1]

if your tin is anything like other tins I have seen, there isn't much in it for an emergency. You have the space available, so you might consider keeping something a bit more than "just in case". I expected to see it in the top pocket where you keep your rain clothes. It is the same idea... you are injured and need to get to something quick, you don't need to be rummaging through to find what you need.

[xanxer82]

With a toothbrush case like that, you can cut the end of the brush handle down some and fit a travel sized tube of paste in there or some floss.

[szukowski]

how heavy it and how much did it cost?

[Tinker83]

it's unfortunate that Gelert doesn't sell so widely in the US...

[the noob]

It annoys me to no end when I see people with their matt or tent attached at the bottom of their rucksack, it creates problems when you need to get over styles, through some gates and down public footpaths that use bollards.

But that is just my opinion, overall I think this is an excellent guide.

Alex

[gpm85]

Yes I see your point, this has however never caused me any problems.
I origonaly wanted the matt on the side of the pack, but the straps were not long enough to do so, so it goes on the bottom.

but then again it doesnt always come with me, all depends on where im heading!

[gpm85]

i had a little re-sort of the bag the other day, rolled the matt up slightly differently and it now goes in the main compartment of my bag, and i can still fit everything else in there that was already in there.

[jreuss]

So no tent, no tarp either?
No water filtration (I guess you have tablets in your first aid)?
Sorry if I missed it. Those would be priority items for my backpacking.

[gpm85]

yes you missed it, i keep a bivvy bag.
and yes i do keep filtration, which is in my tin, which as i said before will be a seperate 'ible so ive left it out of this one.

[beebnick]

much thanks sir I'm going to start drifting in two weeks, and I can't stop feeling unprepared. This was incredibly informative.

[mawi]

Great information.

Thanks a lot

[gpm85]

Please rate it guys!!! many thanks!

[l8nite]

nice ible, in step 4 though the towel square overrides all the others

[gpm85]

Thanks for the heads-up, sorted it now!! :)

[Nemesis201077]

This is a good idea to keep those Items you require quick access to in very accessible places, the last thing you want in a downpour is to empty your entire pack searching for that darned waterproof. ( a rookie mistake we all learn from)
My set-up is somewhat different, simply due to the nature of the pack.
My old military bergen has detachable side day-sacks with a yoke attached to one of them. I have this as an essential survival pack, with basics in. The other daysack has some cooking equipment stored under a folded poncho and can be attached to the yoke so both can be carried. With this set-up I can dump the large pack at my main camp and strike out with one or both daysacks, should I get stuck away from the main camp I have the essentials to survive at hand. The large pack mostly contans clothing, sleeping bag, tent and rations.
Once camping season starts I might put up an 'ible showing my set-up so we can compare ideas.

[gpm85]

I will look forward to seeing your set up.
if im going rock climbing for a weekend, i do also put in my camel back, this has some good storage to take some essentials up the wall like food and obviosly drink and some first aid gear and anything else i may need, but sits nicely high on my back so doesnt get in the way of my harness and gear.

[adampudliner]

How much does it weigh total?