Packing cells

[Gumba]

Do you use them? Are they a waste of space/grams or really handy? If you use them, what sizes do you find most useful?

thanks

 

[wayfarer]

I had to Google them to see what they were, but no I didn't and don't use them. I used and use various size ziplock bags to pack any items I particularly did not want to get wet like meds, phone, passport and spare socks. Everything else I just packed directly into the rucksack. I also brought a few spares for loss through wear and tear but gave most away. Being see through I did not have to open them to check contents. Weight was minimal. Hope this helps.
Buen Camino.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

For me, it does not work to simply dump clothes and equipment into my pack. I use mesh bags. They are light. They do not trap air. They do not make noise. Medium size works for me. Shirts in one. Socks in another. Underwear in another. The downside of mesh is that it is not a water barrier. It does not keep a wet towel isolated, and if your pack lets in water, it does not protect the contents.

 

[nidarosa]

I use three very light drybags - one medium sized for walking gear, another for evening gear/second set of clothes, one smaller for undies and socks. This keeps them separate and dry if my pack should get wet, and makes it easier to find stuff and pack and unpack. I also have a silnylon bag which I bring with me into the shower with washbag, towel, change of underwear and my merino dress. When I leave the shower I put all the laundry in it and take it out to wash and then hang them. There are basically eight units - three drybags, washbag, silnylon bag, first aid/meds, sleeping bag in compression bag and a small zipped bag with charger and sundries - so I have very little lying loose in the pack and know how to find stuff quickly. We all have our systems, just please don't pack in loud, rustly plastic bags!

 

[Kanga]

I used to throw everything into my pack, which has a waterproof liner built in. But after experiences with bed bugs, and having to hot air-dry everything to ensure my pack was clean, I now separate things into lightweight dry-bags, like @nidarosa. So my sleeping gear is separated from everything else, my clean clothes are kept in another bag, anything dirty or being re-worn in a third, and my shower gear/towel/meds in another. The bags do trap air, despite pushing them down before turning the top, but my pack is quite large. And finally, at night I put the whole pack in a large plastic bag.

 

[HedaP]

Like those above I find it very useful to organise the gear in my pack into various stuff sacks. Not least because my pack is not waterproof and the Zpack stuff sacks are almost waterproof. Not as good as a drybag but a bit lighter. I use a large stuff sack for sleeping bag, sheets and sleep wear. Another for walking clothes and thermals. A medium one for socks and undies. A small one for charger and other bits and pieces. Alas Zpack gear is not cheap but I weigh less than 60 kg, have osteoporsis and I walk with my pack so for me it is worth it. http://www.zpacks.com/accessories/stuff_sacks.shtm

 

[peregrina2000]

I am going to retire my plastic bag packing system and buy some of these. But I'm having trouble finding something that is not boxy or formed and not plastic. I don't care about waterproofing since I cover my pack in the rain and want something that doesn't make noise. Am I right that the zpacks make as much noise as plastic?

 

[Bradypus]

I prefer roll-top fabric dry bags in a range of sizes and colours. I find them more robust and they make it easy to compress non-fragile items of gear to make my pack more compact.

 

[hel&scott]

We equiped all our packs, and the kids, with Sea to Summit pack liners. The are kinda like nylon and don't rustle anywhere like plastic bags. We use one for the sleeping bag and another for clothes. This way you can pack up everything you are not using the night before, and blow up the empty sleeping bag one and use it as a pillow, makes early morning starts quick and quiet. They are water proof and easy to compress down manually (kinda like vacume packing your gear).

 

[Kanga]

I love these, they seem to be lighter than the Sea to Summit - ultra lightweight nylon dry bags from Exped - https://www.trekandtravel.com.au/product_detail.asp?id=252&cat=4&subcat=58

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

I use waterproof bags as shown on the picture .
I use 3 of them , a larger one for the sleepingbag , one for clothing and one for the rest .
You make them smaller by squeeze the air out of the bags. At the end I have only 3 bags in my backpack.

Wish you well,Peter.

 

[Anemone del Camino]

I don't care about waterproofing either: that is what the altus and umbrella are for after all. And I also can't justify the price of the Sea to Summit bags, so I use nylon mesh bags like these: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001DX8NZ2/?tag=casaivar02-20

One has bedtime stuff: what I wear to bed, eyeglass case, earplugs, liner, pillowcase. Anither has shower & laundry stuff (things that get wet) so I can just being the who,e thing with me to the shower: towel, conditionner, laundry soap, safety pins. Another will have tomorrow's clothes. I also have a tiny one for charging cables, charges/adapter. This one gets transfered to my "evening bag" to carry with me in the pm.

This way I am much less likely to forget items as there are so few of them per mesh bag that I easily notice if one is missing, and the bag feels not wuite right if an item is not in it. It also makes for very fast packing in the morning, less of a mess on my bed and less temptation for others to "accidently" take one of my items.

 

[Kitsambler]

I do use the packing cubes: the ultra-lightweight Specter series from Eagle Creek (https://www.ebags.com/product/eagle...ech-starter-set-smm/351115?productid=10601239) and (https://www.ebags.com/product/eagle-creek/pack-it-specter-stuffer-set-mini/288200?productid=10345124) in the medium, small, and "quarter-cube" sizes. I abhor the loud rustling of the plastic bags of all sorts, whether liners of ziplocks. And I dislike the weight of the dry-bags, finding them unnecessary. I have one larger bag for clothes, one for laundry kit (clothespins, towels, clothesline), one for electronics cords and plugs, one for first aid kit, one for hygiene kit (including a hanging loop for shower hooks), one for food/kitchen kit. The rain jacket and sleeping bag come in their own bags. They are all in separate colors or shapes, so it's easy to tell them apart. And I maintain the same system from year to year, so I don't need to re-train myself.

Organizing the pack in small bags is essential in France, where you are generally required to leave the pack by the front door and carry your needed items for the night up to your room.

 

[jerbear]

I use them. Seperate bags for food. Kitchen. Bath. Clothes. Bedroom. Works for me. I also have a possible bag, mesh. Anything i could possibile need is in there. Eg first aid repair kit pen and paper.etc.... Good way.

 

[jo webber]

I use 3 small Sea to Summit stuff sacks. 1, clothes, 1 socks, 1 medications. They are different colors so easy organization. Bedding items are in a dry sack. Shower & laundry things in a Sea to Summit shower tote. Evening sandals are in zip lock bags to keep any dirt away from other items. Hat, gloves, buff, jacket are in an outside zipped part of my pack. Phone, bag for evenings in another (water proof) part of the pack. I am an over organizer.

 

[cher99840]

I am going to retire my plastic bag packing system and buy some of these. But I'm having trouble finding something that is not boxy or formed and not plastic. I don't care about waterproofing since I cover my pack in the rain and want something that doesn't make noise. Am I right that the zpacks make as much noise as plastic?

Yes, you are correct. I think they are more noisy than plastic bags. That said, I use them because they are incredibly light....and I seldom stay in communal accommodations.

 

[Theatregal]

Like @Kitsambler I use the Eagle Creek Spectre packing cubes. They are pricey initially but a good investment for me - I've used the same ones for every camino and many travels in-between. They come in different sizes and colours, weigh next to nothing and are very malleable and durable - no wear and tear at all after 6 years of frequent use. They are also very quiet

 

[C clearly]

My various lightweight dry bags are not silent, but I don't arise early and even if I did, I would just lift the whole pack (in its large dry bag) and carry it out of the sleeping room.

For bedbug management and for the satisfaction of being organized, I use fold-over top dry bags (you can sit on them while you roll the top, to get most of the air out) for:

1. Sleeping bag
2. Clothes I've worn the evening/night before
3. Spare clothes (presumably bedbug-free)

Then I have 3 small (5"x7") zip Eagle Creek bags (flat style, not cubes) for:

1. Daily grooming in the albergue (e.g. soap, toothbrush, nail clippers, daily meds, ear plugs,)
2. Daily needs while walking (e.g. small first aid items, sunscreen, ibuprofen, phone charger, spork, knife, tissues)
3. Extra/spare stuff that I will need rarely (e.g. just-in-case meds, spare pole tip, extra tissues)

When I pack up in the morning I can count the bags 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, and add three more items to the pack pouches:

1. Plastic sandals
2. Large drybag for backpack
3. Water

Then I walk out the door so self-satisfied and forget my poles or hat!

 

[natefaith]

I love the Eagle Creek bags as well, bought from Amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F9T83QU/?tag=casaivar02-20.

Stuffable, squishable (not rigid in form), soft, almost noiseless, and machine washable. They are a larger investment up front but they have been great for years.

 

[Kitsambler]

So I have a question for those thread participants who report using a large dry-bag as their entire inside-the-pack waterproof liner. Does that work well for you? Are you using the liner in lieu of a rain cover? Are you using supplemental small sacks as organizers, or how exactly do you manage that end of the problem?

 

[natefaith]

Then I have 3 small (5"x7") zip Eagle Creek bags (flat style, not cubes) for:

1. Daily grooming in the albergue (e.g. soap, toothbrush, nail clippers, daily meds, ear plugs,)
2. Daily needs while walking (e.g. small first aid items, sunscreen, ibuprofen, phone charger, spork, knife, tissues)
3. Extra/spare stuff that I will need rarely (e.g. just-in-case meds, spare pole tip, extra tissues)

These flat Eagle Creek bags sound intriguing! Would you mind posting a link? Thanks.

 

[Deleted member 67185]

So I have a question for those thread participants who report using a large dry-bag as their entire inside-the-pack waterproof liner. Does that work well for you? Are you using the liner in lieu of a rain cover? Are you using supplemental small sacks as organizers, or how exactly do you manage that end of the problem?

The liner would replace a rain cover for the backpack. The backpack would be exposed to rain, but the contents stay dry. I use ultra lightweight, waterproof silnylon stuff sacks with different colors for different contents.

 

[Kitsambler]

These flat Eagle Creek bags sound intriguing! Would you mind posting a link?

http://shop.eaglecreek.com/packit-specter-sac-set/d/1246C895?CategoryId=213

 

[natefaith]

http://shop.eaglecreek.com/packit-specter-sac-set/d/1246C895?CategoryId=213

Great, thanks @Kitsambler!

 

[Kanga]

I find it works to have different coloured sacks. That way I know that the purple one always contains my sleeping gear, the blue my clean clothes, etc.

 

[Purple Backpack]

I do use the packing cubes: the ultra-lightweight Specter series from Eagle Creek...

I use Specters, too, and love them. Large fits shorts/pants/shirts, medium undies/socks. Bright orange for first aid in the top of the pack. Lime green for toiletries. I take an extra, empty large one for food, laundry, etc.

Specters aren't waterproof (I use a pack cover) so I add an Ultra Sil waterproof dry sack for the sleeping bag and a tiny one for the iPhone charger, which doubles as a waterproof phone bag when needed. I do carry a few clear zip locks for maps/book. Nothing worse than a soggy map in a downpour.

 

[Purple Backpack]

So I have a question for those thread participants who report using a large dry-bag as their entire inside-the-pack waterproof liner. Does that work well for you? Are you using the liner in lieu of a rain cover? Are you using supplemental small sacks as organizers, or how exactly do you manage that end of the problem?

I tried it last trip but think it was overkill. Ended up using the liner as a laundry bag or for clean clothes that hadn't dried overnight . I still used the small sacks to stay organized. The liners are ridiculously lightweight, though, so if in a rainy area, I might take it again. By the way, I use a pack cover because I hate soggy packs.

 

[markmcilroy]

I used to throw everything into my pack, which has a waterproof liner built in. But after experiences with bed bugs, and having to hot air-dry everything to ensure my pack was clean, I now separate things into lightweight dry-bags, like @nidarosa. So my sleeping gear is separated from everything else, my clean clothes are kept in another bag, anything dirty or being re-worn in a third, and my shower gear/towel/meds in another. The bags do trap air, despite pushing them down before turning the top, but my pack is quite large. And finally, at night I put the whole pack in a large plastic bag.

Hi Kanga...why do you put your whole pack inside a large plastic bag at night?..is it the bed bug thing?

 

[Kanga]

Yes, it's the bed bug thing.

 

[Gumba]

Thanks for all the great replies and recommendations - I have been busy googling away. It has been interesting to see how people group things - I have come away with many ideas. There are 4 of use and last time we went away it was impossible to keep everyone's things contained in their own bag - so it will be colour-coding per person!!

Thank you.

 

[jo webber]

Different types of items in different colored sacks makes life easy for me. I really dislike having to dig through everything to find one thing. And whatever I want is usually in the bottom. lol

 

[J F Gregory]

I use nylon stuff sacks. I for clothing, 1 for toiletries, 1 for electronics (charger, mini light, head lamp), 1 for food, 1 for down quilt and liner. total weight when loaded with out water 9 lbs.

 

[Scott Sweeney]

Do you use them? Are they a waste of space/grams or really handy? If you use them, what sizes do you find most useful?

thanks

Yes, they (for easier) are easier to organized in my back pack. But I always take a small dry bag to keep belongs in and hang it to the springs or underside of a bunk with a D clip.

 

[David Tallan]

I used extra large ziplock bags as packing cells. They are waterproof. They are transparent, so I can see what's inside. They don't rustle noisily like plastic grocery bags. Small ziplock bags I used had a relatively short life expectancy, but the really large ones lasted through several Caminos.