My Pack Loadout May 2021

As I decided that I wanted to go camping more often this year, I knew that meant single night trips instead of the usual 2-3 nighters of past years, I figured a smaller pack would be in order. Normally I would load up my Alice Pack which could weigh upwards of 80lbs. The problem I have is I have the overwhelming need to fill it just because I have the space. To combat this urge, I wanted to use one of the smaller packs I already had instead of buying one. I will do a comparison between the main packs I use in another article. For now, the focus of this writing will be on the pack I chose to use for my May 2021 camping/hiking trip and the gear I chose to take with me.

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My main pack of choice this year is the Camelbak Motherlode (old style). As it turns out, this pack has a massive 37L capacity + room for a 100oz (3.1L) hydration bladder. Organization with this pack is simple and easy with plenty of internal pockets. The exterior has a modest amount of molle webbing for attaching extra pouches or other accessories if you choose. The waist belt or kidney pad is comfortable however in my personal opinion, it could offer better support. It does have a frame of sorts, there is a thickish plastic insert that offers some back frame support, but it’s not a rigid internal frame like some other purpose built packs. Please keep in mind, my Motherlode is one of the first versions of this pack and it has since gone under a few revisions over the years. The latest generation of the Motherlode has deleted the waist belt.

The Motherlode was mildly uncomfortable during my first hiking/camping trip of 2021. I did have it loaded down with 46lbs of gear. I would, personally, consider this to be the upper limit of weight for this pack. I have since put my gear on a diet (more on that later) and lost 5-10lbs depending on the exact configuration I choose to go with. Future trips the pack will be going out with about 37lbs of gear.

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ORIGINAL GEAR LIST

• Pack/pouches
  • Camelbak Motherlode
  • Camelbak Mule
  • 5L Dry bag from Creek Stewart’s Apocabox
  • Military NBC bag
  • Jadedragon Tactical Admin pouch from Amazon
  • Condor H2O pouch from Amazon
• Shelter
  • Kepeak hammock w/bug net from Wish.com
  • Rain fly Evolution 10’x12′ Tarp from Amazon
  • MSR style Aluminum tent stakes from Wish.com
  • 275 cord for guy lines
  • 275 cord for tarp ridge line
  • 275 cord for hammock ridge line
  • Bliss Hammock suspension with daisy chain from Walmart
  • Kepeak tarp 5’x4′ from wish
  • Colman aluminum shepherd hook stakes from Walmart
  • Subito light weight Underquilt from random 3rd party site
  • Military Sleep System Patrol bag for my top quilt
• Fire kit
  • Flint and steel from Creek Stewart’s Apocabox
  • Char cloth homemade
  • Magnifying glass from home
  • Jute twine from the Dollar Tree
  • Bic Lighter
  • Fat wood from Walmart
  • Tinder scraper was gifted
  • Water proof plastic container from Walmart
  • Ferro rod from Creek Stewart’s Apocabox
• Fishing Kit
  • Small Pen fishing rod and reel from Amazon
  • Small plastic container from Walmart
  • Hooks and lore specifically for trout bought from a local tackle shop
• Cooking kit
  • 2 piece pot set from Wish
  • Colman 8oz butane fuel canister from Walmart
  • Colman Peak1 Butane Burner from Walmart
  • Bic Lighter
  • Collapsible Tripod from Creek Stewart’s Apocabox
  • Collapsible Grill from Wish
  • Gerber Compleat spork set from La Police Gear
  • GSI Tin Cup from Amazon
  • Nalgene bottle from Amazon
  • 2 prong collapsible pitch fork
• Lighting
  • Bushnell LED Headlamp
  • LED lantern
  • Handheld flashlight
  • LED wire lights from Harbor Freight
• Clothing
  • T-shirt
  • Underwear
  • Socks
  • Tarpaulin from Creek Stewart’s Apocabox
• 1st Aid
  • Tick removal kit from Creek Stewart’s Apocabox
  • General purpose 1 person first aid kit from Walmart
• Hygiene
  • Toothbrush w/toothpaste from the Dollar Tree
  • Baby wipes from the Dollar Tree
  • Toilet paper from Walmart
• Navigation
  • Map of area printed from the internet
• Communication
  • Cell phone
• Tools
  • Whiskey Corvid from Reptile Tool Work
  • Cima Cm-1 from Amazon
  • Schrade SCH104L folding knife from Amazon
  • Folding saw from Creek Stewart’s Apocabox
  • Small folding shovel from Amazon
  • Aboriginal tool set from Creek Stewart’s Apocabox
• ICE (In Case of Emergency)
  • Scent Bag
    • Cloth scent item (mask I’d been wearing all week)
    • Form of picture ID
    • Emergency contact info
    • Emergency medical info
  • Whistle from Creek Stewart’s Apocabox
  • Bright colored cloth from Creek Stewart’s Apocabox
• Food/Water
  • Mountain House freeze dried dinner
  • Mountain House freeze dried breakfast
  • Mountain House freeze dried ice cream
  • Freeze dried fruit
  • Trail mix
  • 3.1L Bladder with inline Sawyer Mini Filter
• Cordage
  • 550 cord
• Miscellaneous
  • Notebook
  • Notepad
  • Pens
  • Moccasins
  • Quadstool
• Protection
  • 9mm pistol
  • 2 magazines
  • 20 rounds ammo
  • Mini boat air horn from Walmart

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The Gear Diet Program

So in looking at my original gear, I had to decide on where and how I could cut weight. One of the first areas I cut almost a pound out was in my fire kit. I eliminated everything I didn’t use consistently and found a smaller container to house it in. Next up on the chopping block was the tin cup and Nalgene bottle as I’ll be using a 3L bladder with a Sawyer Mini Filter to gravity filter water. In place of the Nalgene bottle I’ll be using a 32oz plastic bottle or 2. Then I looked at what I used for lighting, now that I have to wire lights attached to my hammock, I only really need a headlamp, so the lantern and flashlight got cut. As trivial as it may seem, I cut out 2 of the 8 MSR style tent stakes to only carry 6. On the hammock I swapped out the bulky and heavier nylon rope and steel carbineers in favor of 8in Amsteel loops with aluminum carbineers. Now depending on what I’ve got planned, I may or may not take the Camelbak Mule, more than likely it won’t go. I’ll just take the bladder with the Sawyer mini filter. This of course is not the end, I’m sure there will be more cuts to what gear I take or swapping out to an equivalent, lighter option as budgeting allows.

REVISED GEAR LIST

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Optional Gear

Depending on location the following gear may be added into the “Revised” loadout list.

• Pack
  • Camelbak Mule
• Fishing Kit
  • Small Pen fishing rod and reel from Amazon
  • Small plastic container from Walmart
  • Hooks and lore specifically for trout bought from a local tackle shop
• Protection
  • 9mm pistol
  • 2 magazines
  • 20 rounds ammo
  • Mini boat air horn from Walmart

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Final Thoughts

The Camelbak Motherlode is a great versatile pack. When not pushed to it’s weight capacity limits, it is a comfortable pack to wear for longer durations. If it wasn’t gifted to me, I, personally, might not have spent the money to buy one to see if I liked it or not. However, after owning it and using it, I do find it to be worth the cost and absolutely would buy one. I do need to get another lensatic compass to add to my navigation gear. I have several lighter weight gear options saved to an Amazon Wishlist to replace some of my base gear with. All my gear while functional, certainly has a light weight counterpart that as time goes on, I will be seeking out and purchasing when the budget allows me to, to further push the weight of my pack down. My goal is to get as light as possible with a base weight as close to 20Lbs as possible. It will be an interesting journey to see how close I can meet my goal.

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Till next time, Happy Trails. And remember, if I can do it, you can do it.