Forty-five litres is enough for three days in most seasons, as long as you pack with a plan. The Garrison 45L gives you three zip compartments, a quick-access top pocket and MOLLE webbing on the outside. Here is how we load ours.
Start with weight
The heaviest items, such as water, food and a stove, belong in the main compartment close to your back and between your shoulder blades. Weight carried high and tight keeps the pack from pulling you backwards and makes uneven ground easier.
Sleep system at the bottom
Anything you will not need until camp goes in first: sleeping bag, sleeping clothes and a spare base layer. Pack them in a dry bag so a wet day does not end with a wet night.
Layers in the middle
Your insulation and waterproof shell should sit in the front compartment where you can reach them in seconds. When the weather changes you want to stop, unzip and keep moving.
Small things up top
The top pocket is for what you reach for all day: map, headlamp, snacks, a knife and a small first-aid kit. Keep it light so it does not pull the pack out of shape.
Use the webbing, but not too much
MOLLE webbing is ideal for a water bottle pouch, a hip pack or a sleeping mat. Anything clipped outside can snag on branches, so keep the outside tidy and the essentials inside.
A three-day list
- Shelter, sleeping bag and mat
- Stove, fuel, pot and three days of food
- Water bottles or a reservoir, plus a filter
- Waterproof shell and an insulated layer
- Headlamp, map, compass and first-aid kit
- Repair kit: cord, tape and a multi-tool
Before you leave, put the pack on, tighten the hip belt first, then the shoulder straps, then the sternum strap. If it sits square and quiet on your back, you are ready.
