Greetings, in eight days, my girlfriend and I will be making our first ever trip to the BWCA. I was just wondering how most go about actually packing their clothes? Do you put them in a compression bag and in with the canoe pack or do you bring a small separate bag? I've told her to bring as little as possible because less is more (only one change of clothes for me), but I was just curious how most do it. Thanks.

I use a waterproof, roll-down stuff sack from Granite Gear for my clothes. The stuff sack goes into the regular portage pack that is lined with a large plastic contractor bag.

Same with me. Clothes just get stuffed in a sil-nylon dry sack and then into my portage pack, although I use a sil-nylon pack liner instead of a contractor bag.

I have two sets of clothes.

One set I wear during the day (shorts, t-shirt, lightweight long-sleeve shirt, wool socks, quick drain hiking boots, swimsuit top + bottom, rain gear, buff/bandana, sunhat). The other set is for at the campsite in the evenings (I don't basecamp. I travel everyday).

For the evening clothes, I bring: long pants (quick-dry convertible), t-shirt, fleece jacket, lightweight long underwear (top/bottom), one pair dry wool socks, dry shoes, a lightweight wool hat, one pair underwear (quick dry). My rain gear is the only thing I potentially use during the day and the evening. This set up up allows for lots of layering options including utilizing the daytime long-sleeve bug/sun shirt.

I pack everything except the dry shoes and the rain gear in a compression dry sack (along with any personal items for eyes/hair/reading) and then pack the compression sack it into the bigger Duluth pack. The dry shoes get shoved into empty "corners" of the Duluth pack, inside the plastic liner bag. The rain gear gets stowed in the very top of the Duluth pack, so it is accessible in a sudden downpour.

Unlike many people, my Duluth packs are all packed with a mix of cook gear, personal gear, sleeping gear, and food. I do not pack a separate food pack because I think it just feels heavy and awkward, but to each their own. Some people prefer to have one "pillow" pack containing just clothes and sleeping bags/pads that a physically weaker trip member can carry safely/comfortably. Then they have a heavier food and cook gear pack.

One word of advice...when portaging, you will want very few "loose" items. It is annoying to have to carry lots of small items, especially if you can't carry them on your back. Lots of little items also increases your chance of forgetting something at the start or finish of a portage.

Have a great trip.

If it's going in my non waterproof pack, I put them in a waterproof stuff/compression sack and then in my portage pack which is lined with a plastic bag. If it's going in my large waterproof pack (SealLine Pro 115L), I just put them in a compression bag or other stuff sack. I fold and then roll all my clothes up. I find that to be a very efficient way of packing that takes up the least amount of space.

I've yet to bring the appropriate the amount of clothes- I always overpack. I usually end up wearing the same thing everyday all week in the summer time. My clothes are quick drying material, so even if I get wet, they are usually dry within an hour of being at camp.

Socks are probably the only thing I use the extra pair of typically.

They go into a couple of nylon stuff sacks, but not for waterproofness, for organization. As long as they're going to be in the bottom of the pack every time anyway, they might as well be together somewhat: socks, undershorts, spare t-shirt.

A spare set of sleep clothes goes in a Sea-to-Summit eVent compression stuff sack with the sleeping bag. The same with whatever clothes I'm not wearing. Two exceptions to that - Camp shoes go in a garbage bag. Rain suit is kept accessible. Everything goes in a pack. The packs are either waterproof or have a waterproof liner.

I usually use a compression sack for my clothing and anything else compressible. Toiletries are usually in a different stuff sack because they don't like getting squished.

unshavenman: "Same with me. Clothes just get stuffed in a sil-nylon dry sack and then into my portage pack, although I use a sil-nylon pack liner instead of a contractor bag."

+3

I use a Sea to Summit Event Compression Sack for clothes and the Sea to Summit Silnylon Pack liner.

My clothing list is similar to StraghtHairCurly’s — travel set, camp set and good layering strategy. I also have a set of dedicated sleeping clothes (long underwear in shoulder season, light shorts & t-shirt in summer) and socks.

Wear the worst clothes you own for the first two days. Burn 'em and then put on your packed clothes.

What clothes!??? :D
I bring an extra pair of underwear, quickdry techy stuff, and a second shirt. I'll also bring a long sleeve 1/4 zip pullover, a rain jacket, and maybe a down jacket.
All go in a sil-nylon rolltop sack. I might bring a pair of socks this year, IDK.

Ausable: "I use a waterproof, roll-down stuff sack from Granite Gear for my clothes. The stuff sack goes into the regular portage pack that is lined with a large plastic contractor bag."

That's what I do as well.

I put them in a large plastic Opsack bag. Keeps everything dry in the event my liner bag springs a leak.

Hello

My first trip I just used ziplock freezer bags, canvas packs, and old pair of sneakers. I had a great time. I have since invested in a waterproof bag and granite gear event bags over time. For recommended clothes to bring check out some of the outfitters gear guide. Piragis has gear list of what to bring it is broken up into included with full outfitting and personal. This is a great starting point.
piragis what to bring
They forgot headlamp/flashlight
On the list note it says wool socks. Bring at least one pair even for July.
That includes a warm hat Even for July. A light weight beanie does not add much weight. Put in a pillow case with sweater to be used as pillow. Watch the whether before you go, but it can drop down at night. The weather is a little unpredictable, I have also had it dip down to the 50's in late July.
Have a great trip

First, roll clothes so they pack tighter.
Second, if you want to keep your girl friend unless she is "hard core" a bit more will keep her your girl friend.
Third, at the least make sure she (and you) have a dedicated set of sleep clothes.
Fourth, think layers.

Our clothes are organized in granite gear zip silnylon stuff sacks. Then those are placed in a lightweight compression dry bag with roll top and eVent fabric bottom. We probably carry more clothes than most people here but they get pretty small. When compressing the dry bag the zippers on the stuff sacks are slightly open to let air out.

Those dry bags go in a pack with our sleeping bags, pads, shoes, and other miscellaneous dry stuff. That pack isn’t opened until the tent is up. Food, kitchen gear and the tent are in the other pack.

Fourth, think layers."

+ 1

Thanks for the replies. She wanted to bring a big hiking backpack that I immediately vetoed. She's pretty hard-core so I don't *think* I'll have too many problems

bobbernumber3: "Wear the worst clothes you own for the first two days. Burn 'em and then put on your packed clothes."

Actually not a totally crazy idea...the funk and body oil after two days may make them decent firestarters.

I use Sea to Summit Event Compression Sacks for my clothes and Goose down sleeping bag.

I use a sealine 115L and just wedge everything from saws to clothes to sleeping bags until it all fits. Then I dump it all out when I get to camp and leave the clothes in the bag to stay dry.

x2jmorris: "I use a sealine 115L and just wedge everything from saws to clothes to sleeping bags until it all fits. Then I dump it all out when I get to camp and leave the clothes in the bag to stay dry."

Same here. Love that pack. NOTHING gets wet and it has a hip belt.

Ausable: "I use a waterproof, roll-down stuff sack from Granite Gear for my clothes. The stuff sack goes into the regular portage pack that is lined with a large plastic contractor bag."

+1

TipsyPaddler: "

bobbernumber3: "Wear the worst clothes you own for the first two days. Burn 'em and then put on your packed clothes."

Actually not a totally crazy idea...the funk and body oil after two days may make them decent firestarters."

+2

mjmkjun: "

TipsyPaddler: "

bobbernumber3: "Wear the worst clothes you own for the first two days. Burn 'em and then put on your packed clothes."

Actually not a totally crazy idea...the funk and body oil after two days may make them decent firestarters."

+2 "

Why portage out dirty socks, shorts, tees... ?

bobbernumber3: "

mjmkjun: "

TipsyPaddler: "

bobbernumber3: "Wear the worst clothes you own for the first two days. Burn 'em and then put on your packed clothes."

Actually not a totally crazy idea...the funk and body oil after two days may make them decent firestarters."

+2 "

Why portage out dirty socks, shorts, tees... ?"

There is more than one reason. Common sense might be number 1 though.

Papa09: "

bobbernumber3: "

mjmkjun: "

TipsyPaddler: "

bobbernumber3: "Wear the worst clothes you own for the first two days. Burn 'em and then put on your packed clothes."

Actually not a totally crazy idea...the funk and body oil after two days may make them decent firestarters."

+2 "

Why portage out dirty socks, shorts, tees... ?"

There is more than one reason. Common sense might be number 1 though. "

Right. You don't want to be portaging out in the buff. Plan ahead.

The only thing I will add is that when lining your packs with contractor bags - double up and use 2 bags. There's no weight and imperceptible bulk change but it's great protection from developing a tear from the contents inside rubbing the bag.

Just a suggestion-- I pack rain gear (xtra lite Frogg Togs) and bug jacket in a nylon pouch attached to the front brace of my canoe. I can reach the rain gear while on the lake without fighting with the main pack. The pouch stays on the canoe while portaging.
A note on the Frogg Togs rain suit, very light, packs small, low cost but outer layer tears easy( fixes easy with sho goo) and no pockets. It has survived 3 bwca trips and ready for another.

Odd man out here as I like-prefer internal frame packs. I use a 60L GG Nimbus Trace and found GG pack suffers, kidney shaped zippered bags 18L 13L and 12L.
$ bags fit my pack, but these have been discontinued. They could be replaced wit squared zipper bags of similar dimension like Zipsacks , CCS I think made some similar but they do not show on the website. My clothes go into the 13L bag and some with my sleeping bag and pad in the 18L bag.

butthead

I bring a spare set of synthetic socks for wet-footing, wool socks for lounging/sleeping, an extra pair of boxers, gore-tex socks so I can use my wet shoes as camp shoes (dry wool socks inside), a thinner baselayer bottom, a fleece pullover and fleece hat/gloves - all go in a plastic kitchen garbage bag inside a water resistant (inside has never gotten wet, though it's never taken a swim) Gossamer Gear backpack.

In the cooler months I add fleece pants and a synthetic puffy jacket.

That's it, other than rain gear and what I am wearing.

bobbernumber3: "Wear the worst clothes you own for the first two days. Burn 'em and then put on your packed clothes."

Only 2 days? I wore the same set of day time clothes and night time clothes for 34 days! I used to have a "lucky" t-shirt that I always wore on canoe trips. After a 21 day trip, a 28 day trip, and a 34 day trip, it had literally fallen to pieces. I had to sew a shirt out of bandanas near the end of that last trip...lol.

sns: " ...gore-tex socks so I can use my wet shoes as camp shoes (dry wool socks inside)."

SNS, can you talk more about this. Are you putting on wool socks with gore tex socks over them so when you wear wet camp shoes your feet are dry??

This could be a serious breakthrough for me as I've taken to bringing moccasin slippers for wearing around camp if both pairs of shoes are wet.

TomT: "

sns: " ...gore-tex socks so I can use my wet shoes as camp shoes (dry wool socks inside)."

SNS, can you talk more about this. Are you putting on wool socks with gore tex socks over them so when you wear wet camp shoes your feet are dry??

This could be a serious breakthrough for me as I've taken to bringing moccasin slippers for wearing around camp if both pairs of shoes are wet. "

Tom, you are correct.

If my astral brewers are wet I put on dry wool socks, then gore-tex socks, then the wet astrals with the laces loosened. Those shoes are great - super light, and they dry in 90 minutes in the sun on a warm day, and will dry overnight under my hammock if the humidity is low enough.

butthead: "Odd man out here as I like-prefer internal frame packs. I use a 60L GG Nimbus Trace and found GG pack suffers, kidney shaped zippered bags 18L 13L and 12L.
$ bags fit my pack, but these have been discontinued. They could be replaced wit squared zipper bags of similar dimension like Zipsacks , CCS I think made some similar but they do not show on the website. My clothes go into the 13L bag and some with my sleeping bag and pad in the 18L bag.


butthead"

FYI CCS zippered bags are lumped in with the barrel bags. CCS zippered bags

We line our packs with heavy duty trash bags, then we put our clothes in a pillow case. I usually bring two pants, two swimsuit tops and bottoms, lightweight long sleeve men’s shirt to wear on portages if the bugs are bad and I tie it around my waist. I also pack a lightweight, easy to dry dress to wear around the campsite and one set of pjs that can dry easily.

We usually go July 4-18. We’ve gone the past five years straight and cold has not been an issue. I take one long sleeve cotton jersey. I also pack a sheet because some nights the tent was too warm for me. Eventually, the tent cooled down, but also on rainy days, the sleeping bag is too hot to nap in.

I also use the sheet as a robe. Once, I wore my life jacket around the campsite for warmth and it was plenty! I also take a warm stocking cap for at night. Keep a change of clothes in car for after you come out!

I also take a pair of flip flops to slide on easily for when I go to the bathroom in middle of night and to wear around campsite.

DanCooke: "FYI CCS zippered bags are lumped in with the barrel bags. CCS zippered bags "

Thanks Dan! I knew I have seen them, and they are sized just right to lay horizontally in a pack

butthead

Mine go in a compression dry sack (eVent), inside my canoe pack with a pack liner.

I'm a female...

Not gonna lie, In the back country I'll wear sox & undergarments more than one day. If I'm on a week long trip I like to have 3 options of undies & sox. Sports bras I can stand a little longer.

I pack all my clothes in a dry sack which goes inside my CCS Pioneer Pack.

IMO its always nice to have a sleep outfit, and a pair of camp only sox that are only worn either in camp or only in the hammock/tent to stay extra fresh.

I also like to pack extra layers.

Hope this helps.

Ausable: "I use a waterproof, roll-down stuff sack from Granite Gear for my clothes. The stuff sack goes into the regular portage pack that is lined with a large plastic contractor bag."

Same for me just my roll top bag is a Sea to Summit brand. That goes inside my canoe pack that is lined with a contractor grade garbage bag. I’ve never had a problem this way. I bring a separate food pack that has a bear vault in it along with all my cooking gear. I’ve started to use organizing organizing pouches from Maxpedition to hold stuff like my Headlamp, fire starter and multi tool. Im looking to do that with all my small stuff.

You will hate having small stuff like paddles or fishing rods to carry on portages. Strap stuff like that to the inside of your canoe with Bungee dealee bobs. You can thank me later. Have a great trip.

I always bring a clean set of clothes that is left in the car/truck for after the trip.

SevenofNine: "

Ausable: "I use a waterproof, roll-down stuff sack from Granite Gear for my clothes. The stuff sack goes into the regular portage pack that is lined with a large plastic contractor bag."

Same for me just my roll top bag is a Sea to Summit brand. That goes inside my canoe pack that is lined with a contractor grade garbage bag. I’ve never had a problem this way. I bring a separate food pack that has a bear vault in it along with all my cooking gear. I’ve started to use organizing organizing pouches from Maxpedition to hold stuff like my Headlamp, fire starter and multi tool. Im looking to do that with all my small stuff.


You will hate having small stuff like paddles or fishing rods to carry on portages. Strap stuff like that to the inside of your canoe with Bungee dealee bobs. You can thank me later. Have a great trip."

Oh great suggestion thanks! I didn't really think of that

All of my clothing goes into a flannel, zippered pillow case. I use it as my camping pillow and it works perfectly.

Terry

I normally do what most here do and put the in a waterproof stuff sac. This year I tried a different bag; the 10L Patagonia black hole cube. Seemed to end up the same size as my regular stuff sac, but it is much easier to organize and find clothes. I was able to fit 3 socks, 2 underwear, 2 bandanas, t-shirt, Patagonia nano puff jacket, leather work gloves, pair of shorts, Smartwool shirt, merino long johns, and a windbreaker.

10 L Black Hole Cube

I put them in a extra large plastic vacuum seal bag, then put that in a compression sack. That way i put dirty clothes on the outside of the plastic bag, but still in the compression sack to keep them separate from clean clothes.

24kGold: "All of my clothing goes into a flannel, zippered pillow case. I use it as my camping pillow and it works perfectly.


Terry"

I've always used a pillow case also. Double duty. Just gotta make sure to put the "used" clothes in a plastic bag before stuffing them back into the pillow case :)

snakecharmer: "

24kGold: "All of my clothing goes into a flannel, zippered pillow case. I use it as my camping pillow and it works perfectly.



Terry"

I've always used a pillow case also. Double duty. Just gotta make sure to put the "used" clothes in a plastic bag before stuffing them back into the pillow case :)


"

Yes, very important. LOL.

x2jmorris: "I use a sealine 115L and just wedge everything from saws to clothes to sleeping bags until it all fits. Then I dump it all out when I get to camp and leave the clothes in the bag to stay dry."

I also use a Sealine 115 L dry pack. I normally put two sleeping bags, clothes and spare shoes for two people in it. I put the two sets clothes in separate plastic garbage bags, not to keep them dry (the pack does that) but to keep them separate and to be able to get things out without dumping everything out. The soft garbage bags still allow me to wedge things in to fit. My rain gear goes at the top of a Granite gear traditional canoe pack that contains camping equipment and other items that it is not so important to keep dry. While I'm at it, my food goes in a blue barrel.

TipsyPaddler: "

bobbernumber3: "Wear the worst clothes you own for the first two days. Burn 'em and then put on your packed clothes."

Actually not a totally crazy idea...the funk and body oil after two days may make them decent firestarters."

I did this the first 3 week-long trips I did. It made the pack seem much lighter and more free as the week went on.