Overpacking is easy when it comes to packing for bushcraft. Your essential needs can take up most of the space in your bushcraft backpack leaving just one thing behind, a sleeping bag, though it doesn’t happen most of the time. The solution is easy; all you have to do is attach your sleeping bag to the pack’s exterior. Make use of the pack loops and the carrying bag straps. However, not all backpacks have these features.
Methods used in Attaching a Sleeping bag to a Backpack
There are two main ways to attach a sleeping bag to a bushcraft backpack. The first way is to pack it in your backpack. The second is to strap it outside your backpack (this looks so much cooler, by the way). Most bushcraft backpacks have external loops hanging down the back part of the pack that can allow you to attach your sleeping gear to it on the outside. And in a situation where the pack lacks these strap loops, the use of a rope or bungee cords is advisable.
Compression straps are a system used so that when the sleeping bag has been attached, it helps the distribution of the weight load. You can find the compression straps on the sides of the back panel.
Connecting loops are also a great method, and the process isn’t challenging. You slide the backpack’s straps through the loops and tighten them. You can skip this method if your backpack doesn’t have the straps.
There are times your sleeping gear is missing the essential straps; you make a support system. All you need is a few elastic ropes and some buckles. Using two pieces of your rope, wrap them around your sleeping bag and make sure they are nice and tight. The next step requires another set of ropes that will attach from the loops on the pack to the sleeping bag. Ensure everything is tight enough before setting out to avoid the sleeping bag breaking away. And now your packing gear is ready to go.
If you use an internal frame bushcraft backpack, attaching your sleeping gear at the bottom of your pack is a good and more reliable method. This keeps your sleeping bag compressed.
Should I Place My Sleeping Bag On Top or Below My Bushcraft Backpack?
Storing your sleeping bag below your pack makes it more likely to get wet, which you do not want. However, if you follow the method of connecting it to the top of your backpack, it is a much safer alternative and is much more comfortable to walk around in, as it eases back fatigue.
Storing the sleeping bag to the top of a backpack is highly recommended, especially with compression straps. It also distributes weight evenly, though sticking it to the bottom of your pack also helps. The only disadvantage is it damages your sleeping bag.
Should I Store My Sleeping Bag Inside or Outside My backpack?
Sometimes we think about how more of an advantage it will be if we store our sleeping gear inside or outside our backpacks. To store it in your backpack, the first thing you have to note is to pack your gear carefully. This means taking the kinds of stuff you need and nothing else. Those things that have more of a priority over the others would be packed. You can also teach the method of packing days before your trip or practice occasionally to help improve your packing style. And packing your sleeping gear outside your backpack has been relayed above.
The best advice about attaching your sleeping gear to your backpack is to consider how long you will be gone, and think about possible issues on your trip. Once you’ve packed, secure the weight and balance of your backpack and have an enjoyable trip.
Martin Smith is not just your average outdoorsman; he is a dedicated explorer with a deep passion for survival and bushcraft. The natural world has always been his favorite playground, which led him to develop a profound understanding and love for bushcraft skills. His curiosity is insatiable, constantly driving him to uncover the secrets of the great outdoors and unravel the mystery behind survival in nature.
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