What's your packing system?

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

I have a list that is in Excel and I delete what I don't need for the current trip then print it out and start gathering and packing. I got a little smarter this year and organised the list by location (bedroom, basement, kitchen, etc).

I've read where some people have stuff already packed in totes ready to go, but not sure if that would work for me cause I would end up bringing to much stuff along.

Thoughts? What do you do?

[itchmesir]

Yeah.. I need a list.. my packing system is pack the night before.. and hope I have everything packed that i need... I'd say 10% of the time it's flawless LOL!

[ted4887]

Ditto to needing a list. Most of my stuff is kept in rubbermaid containers, but I will generally forget at least one thing when I go out. That Excel list is a good idea, but I don't see myself keeping up with it.

[woodsmanmn]

Been using the excel spreadsheet system for years. It lists everything I've ever wanted to take camping or fishing or hunting.

I copy the master to a work copy, then delete everthing not needed for the next trip, so my current list is built by process of elimination.

[reinhard1]

we keep track of our camping list too on the puter. we always take to much of everthing in the end. seems like we always add rather than delete on the list. good luck.

[upnorth]

The wife runs around like nutz for week before we go, packing this, forgetting that and then we get there and run to the store and buy what she forgot

[TooTallTom]

The wife runs around like nutz for week before we go, packing this, forgetting that and then we get there and run to the store and buy what she forgot

I understand this. My packing system includes cash for a reason.

I also put the stuff that goes on EVERY trip in a tub for ease of packing and storage. Other tubs are added as necessary.

[h8go4s]

I use the XL spreadsheet too. One tab for VNP camping (usually solo), one for Canada (someone else's boat), one for Mexico, etc. I have a tote for dry food and one for coooking gear, dishes, rope, towels, water filter, that kind of stuff. I can usually get everything packed in an evening and have everything I need. Although the last trip to Canada, the bag of apples was still here when I got home.

Ron.

[Rippinlip]

Totes for us!

We keep everything we need on a seperate shelf in the garage and when it is time, we load the camping shelf and away we go!

Of course that does not include the beverages for the weekend, but that some how never gets left behind!

Sure the wife will voice her opinion on this one......lol

Mark

[Nate McVey]

Quote:

Totes for us!

Totes here too...one tote for lanterns, stoves, pots and pans......one tote for all the other essentials such as trash bags, batteries, plates, utensils, etc. Of course this is when we car camp...when it's on my back I use the spreadsheet.

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

You guys using totes, don't you end up bringing a bunch of stuff you don't need? I use them too but pack them with only what I need for the trip at hand. Maybe it's a trade off, more stuff vs shorter pack time.

[Rippinlip]

Sure sometimes we have too much stuff, but the trade off I feel is worth it.

Like the prior poster said we have a tote with the untensils, pots, silverware, garbage bags, cups....

The other tote has extension cords, lights, laterns, Thermacell, lighters and whatever else we can jam in there......lol

Then the truck can be packed in literally minutes.

The tote thing works for us now, as soon as we get some kind of camper bought it will change again.

[TruthWalleyes]

As an active outdoorsman, i use my gear quite often, and in many different senerios. So packing stuff in totes doesn't really work for me.

What does work is making a list a week prior to a trip. I keep all my lists throughout the years and add/delete items. Makes packing a lot easier since i'm usually using some of the stuff the week prior to a trip so i have to assemble all my stuff the day of or day prior to the trip...then it's just check it off the list when it's packed in the vehicle/boat.

[chasineyes]

You guys using totes, don't you end up bringing a bunch of stuff you don't need? I use them too but pack them with only what I need for the trip at hand. Maybe it's a trade off, more stuff vs shorter pack time.

That's why you buy the biggest tow vehicle possible!!

[Dr Thunder]

You guys using totes, don't you end up bringing a bunch of stuff you don't need? I use them too but pack them with only what I need for the trip at hand. Maybe it's a trade off, more stuff vs shorter pack time.

Same here. And I use enough totes so they are not jam-packed full where you cannot find things. One layer only. I don't want to dig everything out to get an item in the bottom. All I have to do is get them there and they immediately go in the campsite. I use duct tape to mark what is in them. Easy to change. I generally use 5-6 totes and 2 coolers. One for ice and one for the rest of the food.

[TooTallTom]

I don't try to fill my needs for every trip with every tub I own. I just have the main (always used) stuff in one that always goes, and peripheral stuff gets added to others as needed.

If I'm concerned much at all about space or weight, I'm not on a trip where packing in tubs (or coolers for that matter) is going to work for me anyway. I'll have a couple of packs and a canoe, and work really hard to leave behind everything that's not easily carried in one portage. I hate double-portaging.

[Dr Thunder]

I don't try to fill my needs for every trip with every tub I own. I just have the main (always used) stuff in one that always goes, and peripheral stuff gets added to others as needed.

If I'm concerned much at all about space or weight, I'm not on a trip where packing in tubs (or coolers for that matter) is going to work for me anyway. I'll have a couple of packs and a canoe, and work really hard to leave behind everything that's not easily carried in one portage. I hate double-portaging.

I here you there. Canoe trips are a whole different thing to pack for. One system does not work for everyone. Depends on the type of trip.

[reinhard1]

how many buy their food where they live vs their ultimate location of camping? i usualy buy my meat where i live. just like to pick mine out, mainly because i watch the sales. milk, bread items and produce i bring a small supply and buy as i need from the local stores near where i camp. usualy camp for a week or more. realy helps with the cooler space. probably bring every spice in the world since i do all the cooking for our family and friends that are with us. good luck.

[Rippinlip]

Most of our camping is wheeling trips with a home base, so we pack as much as we feel comfortable with, the totes just help.

We are starting to bring less and less food, we buy alot in the towns we are camping in, saves on cooler space and time trying to figure out what is needed for food before we leave. We spend a litle time on the way to our destination making out a menu and when we get to camp we get with the others in our group and make out a final list and a few head to the store.

Part of our camping experience is laughing about what we forget....lol

We are even getting to a point with clothes for our camping is stored in totes.

All part of the fun.