What's your set-up?

Hi all, I'm looking to improve my system. I am tired of lugging everything around the mountain in my backpack. It seems like a system should consist of a "go" anywhere anytime bag and another bag that sits in the truck unless I plan a longer drawn out expedition.

So the "go" bag should be light, non-cumbersome, and contain only the basics, i.e. knife, compass, license, small first aid kit, flashlight, lighter or matches, extra bullets, and other possible high need items. So I'm looking for opinions from others who have this same mentality. What do you use for your "go" bag? Is it a fanny pack, small backpack, side satchel? What do you put in it? How comfortable and user friendly is it? What then goes in your bigger bag? I kinda want to get away from a backpack for the small "go" bag, but am unsure on what would be best.

Some of my thoughts have been using a side satchel kind of like this one http://www.triadtactical.com/Courier-Bag-LE.html

or a military type vest harness and hook a few things like this on it http://www.maxpedition.com/store/pc/6-x-9-Padded-Pouch-7p1211.htm

Or use something like the maxpedition thing and hook it to a belt.

If you have something that just really works, I would love to hear about it. Also, how do you carry your water? Thanks!

I run a Horn Hunter full curl back pack and then an old kings fanny pack for my shorter excursions. I believe badlands makes a good fanny pack as well.

my pack is my saddle bags and my pack horse.


but when i get to a spot where the horses are no longer needed i use a badlands fanny pack. and days where i will be longer hikes i use a mad-dog pack. thing is over 5 years old, its been abused but man the cost for a new pack anymore is just crazy. a set of pandards for my pack horse is cheaper then a new pack

I carry a number of items in the cargo pockets of my pants like a bandana, gloves, wind powder and a folding knife. My other essentials (fire, medical, signaling, communications and navigation) are in a Hill People Kit Bag worn on my chest. When I separate myself from my pack whether it is a small Camelbak HAWG or a big Mystery Ranch Crew Cab, I always have my most important gear with me and that is huge when the stuff hits the fan.

By the way, I could regale you with many stories from 14 years of search and rescue work as to why it is a very bad idea to carry your essentials in a saddle or cantle bag that is attached to your horse or mule.

Keep your most important gear, your essentials, with you on your person at all times so you have it when you need it.

Wade
www.HardcoreOutdoor.com

I am using a wilderness pack specialtys compact frame with a 4 compartment tactical bag on it. 3liter water bag, my emergency bags with firstaid, fire starter, gear, etc all go in it. Then if i kill something and need to pack meat i can pull out the built in meat sling throw a quarter in the meat bag i also carry and go.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------support your local guzzlers. OHA life member,lapine oregon

Many backpacks these days have a detatchable fanny pack. When you are on a stalk you take it off of the big backpack and finish out your last couple hundred yards with the fanny pack. Look at Eberlestock and Badlands to name two namebrands that are "detatchable fannypack" compatable.
But I've always got my big pack on me up until the final stalk. Why? Because of safety. And if I get an animal down I already have my pack with me to pack out the meat. A couple of other items I keep in my fanny pack other than whats already been mentioned above are, my spot messenger, water bladder(which is compatible in the Badlands and Eberlestock backpack fanny's), a small fold up space blanket(which can work as a tarp when boning out meat or a shiny signal reflective sos safety item or for warmth if you get stranded over night), and headlamp for coming back in the dark or cleaning animals in the dark. In my big pack I keep my water filter in case I run out of water. Iodine pills could take the place of the filter if you want to save more weight. fatrooster.

Camelback Mayhem. It was designed for off trail ski/snowboard. It is narrow and longish, with simple waist belt and sheet for support. Carried an Elk skin with it once and it barely handled it weight wise.

Built in insulated water bladder and hose, so 2L h2o every time out. (usually fill 2/3 full) And bladders don't make noise when you start to empty them.

inside: four small nylon bags.
blue for after the kill; knife,flagging,diamond sharpener, 550 cord(24ft).
gold; mountain money,compass, zippo, mirror
red;first aid kit, incl Sam Splint.
green; snacks
camera and jobi tripod in the paded electronics pocket
game bags.
sometimes a small thermos (love the look on others faces when you stop for a breather and whip out a steaming hot cup of Joe!!)

outside: rangefinder on the belt in it's case, Binos around the neck.
if I need to take rain gear, it straps on the outside of the pack using the snowboard compression straps. if it rains too hard I go back to camp (hate hunting in the rain/ have watched a bloodtrail wash away in minuets). As mornings warm, I sometimes stick my jacket/vest in the straps too.

Once I harvest, I quarter and hang the meat away from the carcass. And then go eat a big meal before putting on the freighter frame. I end up making one extra trip this way but use it to pick an easy route out when carrying out the freighter.