How to pack for an overnight in a 40L pack

Caro Ryan is the ‘unexpected outdoors chick’ - from a non-outdoorsy family, it took her until she was 21 to discover the world beyond the city. Now, she runs bushwalking tips website ‘Lotsafreshair’ and is dedicated to outdoor adventure, sharing knowledge, stories and ideas to inspire others to get outside and start exploring. In this video Caro shares her tips on packing for an overnight hike in a 40L pack (the Macpac Fiord 1.1 40L Hiking Pack)
For more outdoors and adventure inspo, check out our instagram: / macpac
Find out more about Caro here: lotsafreshair.com/
Follow her on instagram here: / lotsafreshair

[@ozlemguler4324]

I've just discovered hiking and was looking for a video on how to pack. Thanks, this is great, as are everyone's comments with other suggestions! Learning so much 😊

[@rainbowhiker]

Brilliant. Very similar to mine. Glad I'm doing things right, like your clean 'just necessary' items. Thank you.

[@SMSJSC]

Excellent video, and thanks for sharing. It's a very long time since I backpacked. Out of interest after watching this vid, I dug out the old backpack - a 65l Karrimor Jaguar GR from 1997. Completely empty, it weights a full 3kg. Sounds a lot, but that's largely down to the robust material which was designed to last. I always filled that pack, even for a weekend trip. Anyway, this clip has opened my eyes - I want to get the pack weight AND volume down considerably. Nice vid, thanks again.

[@humbertostunter1]

Great video, it toke a lot of practice to develop al this knowledge and show it in a video as it were a get the news and dairy on sunday morning😊 Many thanks

[@stevenforde5098]

Good video and great packing. You are definitely a hiker. All seems simple until its done by yourself.

[@martaballabrigabotella440]

oh thank you, the best packing video i’ve seen

[@haggisbasher48]

An excellent presentation. My only changes would be to have the first aid kit and raincoat at the top under the water bladder. Those are the two items you invariably need in a hurry. A snake bite kit in a side pocket is a wise addition as well although it is hoped you never need it. Monitor your first aid kit for lifed items out of date.

[@LotsaFreshAir]

Thanks Ewan - glad you like it. First Aid is one of my priorities and like paramedics, I don't rush around it. I've written a blurb on my 'big' first aid kit here if you're interested: lotsafreshair.com/2018/06/26/first-aid-kit-hiking/

[@gusvietnam5086]

Great video. Thank you!

[@Kiwiwanderer]

Love this woman! Such practical cheap ideas...love the recycling. I thought she was a kiwi 🥝 but alas she’s an Aussie but I won’t hold that against her. Now that kiwis can fly to Aussie again I’m desperate to do some hikes in Australia 🇦🇺.

[@MacpacLtd]

Hi Tanya, thanks for your comment. Caro is brilliant isn't she, we're very lucky to have her as an ambassador! Make sure to check out her website for more AU specific content as well 😊

[@Saint_Dismas]

I used my 65 litre pack for my four multi day trips into the wilderness last year. (One of which included my tent.) But after watching this, I might just get by with my 40 litre.

[@MacpacLtd]

Really makes you realise how much you can fit in!

[@LotsaFreshAir]

It's life changing!

[@sullivanelena]

Most helpful, thankyou very much

[@JakeRoy98]

You should check out the Frontier Water Filter. It’s small and compact just put it in a ziplock bag in the bottom of your pack and if you run out of water you have the filter for emergencies.

[@deanwinchester6666]

I would have my shelter strapped to the top. If it starts to pour down rain, you now have to open your pack and dig down and get everything soaked. Also, heavy things need to go to the top and against your body to give you a better center of gravity. Another thing, my first aid kit, along with a snake bite kit would go in the same pouch as my map, right in the front pouch of the ruck, and an emergency whistle attached to a shoulder strap for immediate access, other wise you are fumbling in a panic to get them out, and/or other hikers, ect. will have trouble gaining access to them. In survival class, thats one of the top rules, keep all first aid and emergency kit in a pouch that you can have immediate access to, for yourself amd for others in case you cant help yourself.

[@thelostlamb7560]

Nice video thanks!

[@chinmaysawarkar9511]

Great video! Thanks so much! :)

[@MacpacLtd]

Thanks for the feedback, glad it was helpful! If there's any more 'how-to' content you'd like to see, let us know in the comments.

[@mastcellG]

Those corn-starch bag self-decompose after a few days, so I would definitely recommend putting the poop-filled corn starch bag inside another plastic bag or you might get a mess inside your backpack!

[@SINYC02]

Or bury it.

[@Home_Rich]

Just squeeze out a log behind ANY bush + plants love that sh*t (no pun intended).

[@acornultraantiques5330]

Great video thanks :)

[@10AntsTapDancing]

Great video but I would wear the whistle around my neck and have my PLB on my body. So easy to put the pack down and walk away from it to look at a view or climb a small hill and fall etc. Speaking from a sailing point of view :)

[@GreencampRhodie]

Some great ideas & sensible gear. And yip, weight matters. Glad to see your FAK has more than 2 plasters like most people's. For me, some "10C's of survivability" missing: COVER - backup emergency shelter, waterproof trousers, gloves, 1 change of clothes (including underwear) CUTTING - multitool CLEAN WATER - filtration CANDLELIGHT - backup headtorch / torch in case primary fails COMMUNICATION - signal mirror in case EPIRB / PLB fails CURES - repair kit (tape, sewing etc) & cordage

[@eunlawon5290]

Wow ! I love the content. How tall you stand, Mis ?

[@kimbow555]

The manufacturing companies have certainly made backpacking a lot easier with many lightweight products. 😎

[@tronrule8091]

May I ask what kind of tent is that? the whole house setup?

[@PauloFerreira-wp2it]

Greetings from Brazil 🇧🇷 ❤🎉🎉🎉

[@yvonnevanleeuwen-AimCreative]

oh, and remembering gas stoves don't work well at altitude! You'll need fuel type stove with bottle to work effectively up high. Just saying this in case people take this video to apply in colder climates at altitude

[@jaquespierre6460]

oh my, one in every group. ITS JUST A GAUGE AND YOU BUILD FROM THERE!

[@LotsaFreshAir]

Absolutely! Here in Aus, we don't get over 2200m and had this gas canister stove working fine at about 2000m. The video was shot at about 800m in the amazing Blue Mountains, NSW.

[@LotsaFreshAir]

@@jaquespierre6460 Love your work.

[@learntrnsys7189]

I've used my jetboil stove at around 5800m and it works fine. Fuel stoves have their place.. but are dirty and messy so I would stick to gas when possible and wouldn't worry about altitude .

[@AL-vw6uw]

What size is the pack? S2 or S3 fiord 40l?

[@andrewgriffin926]

Great video, but you could get down below 10.5kg for an overnighter in summer without a problem I reckon. Every kg less make a big difference.

[@federicoamati8464]

Very smart

[@antonius3233]

I have an 80l pack and still struggle to fit things in. I take stuff out yet my pack gets heavier. ….I give up… 😢

[@punkfish6510]

What kinda backpack do u have

[@chetanswaroopmishra4686]

Could you please share bag name that you have used in the video and if possible then link of other stuff also like sleeping tent n oll

[@MacpacLtd]

Hi Chetan, the pack Caro is using is the Fiord 40L but it's now been replaced by the Harper and Hesper 40L Lightweight Hiking packs.

[@jp_sabo8460]

So what footwear do you get around in at night after your boots and socks are saturated from a day in the rain? I would have thought a pack liner, rain cover, spare socks & undies were all essential. Plus walking poles perhaps! - Is that really enough food for a couple of days? - Apart from that, great video though.

[@LotsaFreshAir]

For feet, here's an old Sydney Bush Walker's Club trick... lotsafreshair.com/2012/11/02/river-and-creek-crossings-dealing-with-wet-feet/ (spare socks sometimes in with thermals) and undies if 3 days or more. As a lot of my walking happens off-track in Aussie scrub (not that there's much left now!) where poles aren't that useful. I would use them for longer walks, with a heavier pack, on track... say the South Coast Track where I like them for steep ups n' downs. I don't use rain covers (I call them flappy flappies), if rain is forecast, yep - I'll use a liner, however I prefer to pack things in individual dry bags and waterproof my sleeping bag this way: lotsafreshair.com/2012/09/27/how-to-waterproof-your-backpack/. Hope that answers your questions ;-)

[@veronicabeattie2689]

What mat do you use please?

[@LotsaFreshAir]

Depends where I"m going (and what mood I'm in!), but this one is a Thermarest.

[@danangrivaldo8042]

What name your backpack?

[@amazinggrace1965able]

I found this just not detailed enough. Theres no info on what food was in that tiny food bag. And it would have been useful to show the type of tent and sleeping bag. No spare undies? No Tampax? I didn't see soap or toothbrush.?

[@nickabrahall1412]

What tent/shelter are you packing?

[@LotsaFreshAir]

That's my trusty Macpac Sololight - 1P tent. Because it's multi-pitch, I can go even lighter weight/less bulk, by just taking the fly outer, poles and a ground sheet.

[@Jeffthechef4u2]

Mmm great packing sis but need to pack cables or you can’t charge phone or light

[@shiwokk]

what!! I used 80L for half day hike 😢 maybe because i brought along the burner with me~~

[@ThePhiloctopus]

80L for half a day? LMAO you played yourself

[@rosalindwalker4286]

Hi Caro, what brand is your pack?

[@MacpacLtd]

Hey Rosalind. Caro's using the Macpac Fiord 1.1 40L Hiking Pack

[@Ewilds]

What kind of "house" do you have?

[@yvonnevanleeuwen-AimCreative]

How about doing the same video for NZ conditions, where you need to expect below 0 conditions. That little 400 sleeping bag is comfortable down to -1. It regularly goes well below this in NZ at least 2 out of 4 seasons. Where are the gloves, long johns, extra layers, thick warm beanies, tramping socks. I'd love to get my kit down to this weight, but can't pack like the Aussies do here in NZ.

[@jaquespierre6460]

are you jealous because Macpac currently has 713 more subscribers than you have? Really, you obviously would get the right bag and clothes to suit your climate for your hikes. i doubt your using this 'how to video' to camp in the Arctic circle... Oh my.

[@LotsaFreshAir]

Indeedy! In winter here in the Blue Mts I'll add a 2nd pair of thermals, gloves, socks, Prophet rain jacket and switch the sleeping bag out for one that goes to -15 (I sleep cold!). I'll also add a long sleeve top in merino or similar and switch the mid-layer for a downie. On snow, I'll add a closed cell mat and rain pants and extra equipment like a snow shovel and snow shoes!. :-)

[@yvonnevanleeuwen-AimCreative]

Jockpierre. This video is being marketed to New Zealand customers of macpac. Many of whom are inexperienced but have at some point bought a thermal or whatever. We have extreme conditions here that many have been caught out by - so to add a comment that brings to “new to the outdoors”viewers attention that they need to consider what’s not shown in this Australia’s video is just to help people out.

[@asku8707]

NZ Mountain Safety Council has a series of videos on tramping matters in NZ. See kzbin.info/www/bejne/o2askKlmpJytqac about packing (it's a quick treatment). As you can guess, the main difference for NZ is extra efforts to waterproof your pack contents, keep raincoat on top and no mention of a snakebite kit. Good advice about packing heavy stuff low and close to your back.

[@GreencampRhodie]

@@jaquespierre6460 I've seen a few of your replies to people in this video - rather patronising & discouraging, what's the score?

[@OpenAirOutdoors]

Congratulations I just flipped you to 1000 😆 Stop by for a visit sometime👍

[@AudiHani]

Is she using Macpac Fiord 1.1 40L Hiking Pack?

[@saxton2125]

No.

[@nachtreiter_]

Yes, she is.

[@kimbow555]

Hi Caro. I would have put a bit of loo paper handy on outside of pack just in case of emergencies. You know, like diarrhoea episodes. 🤔🙄 Lol.

[@user-bq2ms2ek4t]

Wow. Only my sleeping back is 40L.. hmm

[@itoffice]

Not bad. But. What environment (temp etc.) is packed for? - Looks like "temperate climate", spring/autumn conditions. How many kilometers/miles is that intended for? What height is intended to be climbed? - Is that the only water you will drink for 5 days? Then don't move yourself around those 5 days (aka don't sweat). Do you pick water up somewhere? How do you clean that water? Is that the only food for 5 days? What food do you use that does not need water (for cooking)? What cloth do you wear, next to the packed? What type? Fabric? (How protective is it?) How good is the weight distribution in the backpack (right/left), so you don't stress one side of your body/shoulders/spine too much. No dry socks? No knife to cut a little wood? - I don't get the impression she really makes 5 day trips as hiker.

[@insanoinsano3878]

thats nt a 40l back

[@TasmanOutdoors]

How about a spare pair of underpants. 4 or 5 days same ones? Hmmm....

[@tararuaman]

A Makpac, how about using the word TRAMPING instead of hiking, you are treading over a hundred years of Kiwi tradition. We have tramping clubs not hiking clubs. It seems to me that you are more interested in the tourist dollar then our traditions.

[@northernswedenstories1028]

I've heard people using that phrase in the UK too