what system do you use to pack up for a trip? Do you have a standard list you use, make up a new one each time, or just wing it?


I'm pretty much ready to go now at any given moment. Last time I packed it took 4 hours including a trip to the grocery store before the truck was loaded and I was headed out the door.

I want to make sure the chance of forgetting something is minimized.

Last June trip I made a list and worked on it until I had it just right. It worked out great unit I was on Lake Three and remembered the steaks and food in the fridge at home. I was responceable for beef sticks and cheese, butter and first night steaks. We had enough food but the steaks and butter would have been nice. Note to self, Leave a note on the car windshield to remind you of the food in the fridge.

In the early years of my trip planning I would start a list 'bout a week beforehand in categorical format, ie.cookware/bedding/clothes/ fishing tackle etc. For obvious reasons perishables shouldn't be included with all other items that go into the truck the night before you leave, my suggestion for that is a note next to the coffee pot or comode or any other place in your home that you will most certainly visit when you get up in the morning. What has worked out to the greatest advantage for me is to keep my stuff organized at home. Those big rectangle rubbermaid containers for example are great for storing the tent, sleeping bag, thermarest, tarp and anything else you can get in them that is pertinent to your camping needs. Pack another one with your cook gear, Duluth packs, rope, compass, maps and all other incidentals. Use these bins exclusively for your camping trips. The moment you start throwing in other things you will become scattered. I no longer need a list because with this system it's all right there, the most consequential item I forget now is my thermos of road coffee or my reading glasses.

a month or so before the trip i order some stuff off the web,dry egg mix and MRE meat pouches.in late winter i buy an item or two every time i shop and put it away in a plastic storage box.things like pancake mix,hard crackers,bacon bits.later in the spring when the outdoor gear shops start to stock up on the freeze dry meals i'll pick up a couple and the week before i'll get any fresh foods and "fun" items like candy bars.a few weeks before i leave i'll have the peanut butter and jam into tubes stored away in the frige.in the last few days i'll pack rice and pancake in meal size zip locks.in one evening a few days before i leave it all go's into the food pack,the butter,jam,meat stick are in the frige along with whatever fresh bread type lunch item i'll have for the first couple days.when i leave that go's in along with the cook kit and lashed in.the shelter on top and the flap over it and i'm out the door.the gear bag with the tent,sleeping bag,clothes and so on has been packed for weeks and the boat bag is fiddled with right up to the nite before..no list--oops..that was the question..nope i don't check stuff off on a list.i have been at it so long i know what i need and make sure it's packed away.

We have a list and most of the gear is stored in one area and so we can just go through it. Some stuff like maps (for planning purposes) and compasses, binocs, cameras (because they get used throughout the year and not just for camping) are in other spots. So the list makes sure they aren't forgotten.

I have my standard lists for all my trips. For every trip I save the list with the description, year or date, such as 'BWCA Fall 2009'. I make minor adjustments as I'm planning and print a copy as I'm actually packing.

I have some items in bold, red, underlined, such as 'print and pack your permit confirmation' and 'be sure you have your interagency senior discount pass', and 'don't forget your thermos'. Those are the things I double check in the morning after the packs are all in the car.

I have a list I made on a file folder. Has everything from tent to lip balm. I could probably pack without it but hope to never forget something. Each trip I put a check by the item as it gets packed in the final preparation. So far I've always had what I needed. I do like the idea of a "reminder" note for the refrigerated/last minute packable stuff.

I have a list divvying things up by per person/per party/per canoe, and which pack it goes in. I laminated it once and used to check things off on that copy - long lost now, so I reprint each trip. Needs an update as it includes diapers, which haven't been needed for some years now! It also includes things like - make sure someone has your itinerary, dry clothing/towel in car, and the like. It's served me well over many years, but as stated it's time for an update.

I'm almost an exact duplicate of Bruceye. I have a few clear plastic 55-60 gallon sized containers that I keep the bulk of my gear in. Over time, the stuff I use every time (saw, cook kit, paracord, flashlight, etc) has gravitated to one container. I just grab the stuff out of there, select the appropriate sleeping bag and pack, decide if I want to tent or hammock it, and then glance through the other containers to see if there's anything else I'd like to use on this trip. I check to make sure I have enough food and fuel and I'm ready to go pretty quickly.

Certain trips though, like solo ones, or trips to really out of the way places will force me to do a good thorough double-check. But normally as long as I have food and shelter I'm pretty good to go, and if I forget the chair, oh well.

It's a process for me, Brad, that begins long before the trip. A timeline and trip plan is established, an entry point (and alternatives) is selected, and an entry made in the lottery in January. Then there are other things to do later on like getting maps, making reservations, buying the food, checking equipment, making repairs, buying replacements. I don't like to leave things until the last minute and have a bunch of things to do at once.

Then there's a master list of equipment that gets customized for the trip. That list is used to pack things. Then there's another list of the packed things that need to be packed in the car, i.e. packs, bag w/travel clothes, etc., cooler, folder with maps, trip info and reservation confirmations, etc.

I have a checklist that I've developed over the years, based on experiences in travels. It includes check-off for gear, clothing, permits/documents, # of breakfast/lunch/dinner a specific trip will require, etc.

I put together a seperate list for the 1) food I have, 2) food I ordered (and did I receive it), 3) food left to shop for - and then I check it one last time just before I depart for the trip.

You can forget most anything and still have a good trip, but why do it, if a couple of lists keeps you straight.

One food list - meal planner.
One gear list that is checked off as items are put in packs. It doesnt get checked if its not in the pack. I can say we have not forgotten anything....yet. I always refine my list after coming home. New things to try get added to the list. Things I dont use come off. The list is always a work in progress.

Perfecting the packing list and menu forms are some of my favorite winter projects. I have spreadsheets with formulas for grocery buying and equipment to mania. It is part of the fun. I have lists for my lists!

When the last of the kids moved out, his room became my trip and project room. I have shelves of plastic boxes with all the equipment sorted and labeled. The family calls it my toy room.

quote bradcrc: "what system do you use to pack up for a trip? Do you have a standard list you use, make up a new one each time, or just wing it?


I'm pretty much ready to go now at any given moment. Last time I packed it took 4 hours including a trip to the grocery store before the truck was loaded and I was headed out the door.

I want to make sure the chance of forgetting something is minimized."

I use an excel spreadsheet for this. If I could figure out a way to post this I would. It works very well for us.

If anyone is willing to share their list, I'd be interested in viewing it. I think I have a pretty good one, but you never know what you think you'll need and what you thought you could do without but should have brought. My email address is r_rose@hotmail.com.

Thanks!

Rob

Here's mine. The bad part is I use it more as a guide than a list, there's all kinds of stuff I take that's not on the list and other stuff on the list (like a tripod) that I'll probably never bring.


BWCA PACKING LIST

I have another for food, but that changes so much each time cause I don't have a good system and I change my meals a lot. Though, Ironically, since I cancelled my last trip and had a lot of freeze dried foods, I'm actually 90% packed for my next trip, with everything in the bear vault all ready to go. Just need meat cheese and bread. hehe.

quote bradcrc: "Here's mine. The bad part is I use it more as a guide than a list, there's all kinds of stuff I take that's not on the list and other stuff on the list (like a tripod) that I'll probably never bring.


BWCA PACKING LIST


I have another for food, but that changes so much each time cause I don't have a good system and I change my meals a lot. Though, Ironically, since I cancelled my last trip and had a lot of freeze dried foods, I'm actually 90% packed for my next trip, with everything in the bear vault all ready to go. Just need meat cheese and bread. hehe.

"

How did you do that???

quote airmorse: "How did you do that???"

make the pdf?

it's an open office (free excel) spreadsheet. Open office can save right into pdf, but I used a free PDF Printer driver to make the PDF files.


then just upload it somewhere.

If you have GMail, you can also create it right there using the docs link, and save the pdf file from there. Or you can share the spreadsheet so others can see / edit it online.

Here's a Google Docs Version. Anyone can edit this copy and put whatever they want in there.

Thats impressive Brad .

Nice list, Brad. I use OpenOffice for home PC. I also found that most of the stuff I do in Word or Excel will transfer over - PowerPoint, not so much. My daughter just got an Apple for college next year and "has to have MS Office." I'm pushing her towards OpenOffice as much as I can, ("Try for awhile, honey, until MS has a better back-to-school price") but in the end it's her money.

Back to lists. I use a Spreadheet that I've created over the year's incorporating items from other lists, and have lots of personal items on there like specific meds, specific pots and pans, and even water toys.

This personal checklist here is good and I have used it for input.
Boundary Waters Group Organizer Page at BWCA.COM

thx. I was hoping people would look at the list and say "boy, you really should bring XXXX!" or "I never bring XXX cause I do this instead."

Don't know if this is legible or not for most of you, but this is my starting list. Brad, gotta review and see if I missed anything :) I know it takes me way more than 4 hours to get ready!

Thanks Brad. I have Gmail so it should be easy.

Lets see of this works.

Gear List Link

Brad - I'm glad to see someone else brings cash! I know there's no vending machines in there, but I always figure I may need help in some way and cash could be the ticket to get it. I also bring a credit card and my driver's license. Never used any of it.

Airmorse - yep, it works.

BWPaddler - ya, I just have a fear that something would happen with my credit card not working and then I can't buy gas and get home!

great lists everyone, with all our heads together, we'll get the perfect one in no time! :)


I added a few more things to mine that I always bring, but didn't write down.

quote bradcrc: "...BWPaddler - ya, I just have a fear that something would happen with my credit card not working and then I can't buy gas and get home!"

Solved - AMEX in car, VISA in pfd. Still have yet to use it, but for the weight I'll keep taking the risk. :)

I have an Excel workbook with my lists in it. I have master lists for gear, clothes and food. My lists also have details for how to pack everything. I create variations for each trip based on its composition. Every year I make a new copy of the sheet, delete the customized sheets and start over.

I will tinker with the master gear list during the off season, especially as spring approaches, making replacements/upgrades.

I cook, dehydrate and package (or repackage)almost all my food. That can take a while so I typically start with food a few weeks before the trip.

Gear and clothes I go over a week or two out. That is pretty established and it just a matter of deciding what items to trim from my master list for a given trip and how to pack it.

I am posting our standard list for all to see. it will be on a new thread labeled pacling list.

Always a checklist. It is of course refined over time taking into account time of year, where I'm going etc. It is a living document, almost never the same. When packing, I also always lay everything out on the ground and inspect everything and do repairs, replace expired first aid items, clean etc and any other prep work I can come up with. Just because something was put away in good order does not guarantee it is still in good order. I don't want to have to unclog a stove, sharpen a knife or repair a tent screen or find something squashed or broken in the field if I can help it. Also helps to just look it over and think about better ways to pack up and ask myself "do I really need that X, Y or Z"? I try to stay away from cutting items at the last minute though...

I have a standard list that I have used for years. Each year I revise the list and try to make it smaller. When I paddle my solo, I always carry 2 packs. My larger pack is behind my seat, and then I have a smaller pack for the bow, to trim out the boat. Each pack has it's own check list.