Labeling Stuff Sacks

[Grillmastertoo]

Good evening--
I am curious if anyone else has the problem of storing hammocks, tarps, underquilts and topquilts in bags or stuff sacks then forgetting what is in which bag.
For example, you arrive at your selected site and start setting up camp, i generally hang the respective stuff sack on the piece of equipment, but there are times when i dont and stuff sacks end up all in one hanging on the ridgeline until the trip is over and i pack up....
This is not really a big deal in the field....

But what I want to do is to while at home preparing for the upcoming trip not have to open each stuff sack and see which tarp, hammock, UQ, TQ, etc is in each sack..I started out using various colored bags, but i tend to forget which is in which colored sack easily....

SO...my question is has anyone developed a system that works for them...ie:
1.using paint markers to label the stuff sacks--will that hurt the sil nylon that most sacks are made of
2.stitch labels onto the sacks--will that mean they are no longer water proof due to the holes
3.label the draw strings somehow to help keep everythign identified...

Please share your thougths...

Thanks

[jrs]

I'm with you, I have several large bags, that i keep my trappings in, with many hammocks, tarps, and sundry stuff, i just used a sharpie or a marks alot, in both silver and black and marked all bags, made everything much easier in finding gear. LOL you find gear you forgot you had. Anyway its what has worked for me, jim

[Dblcorona]

This is another thing that is nice about the cuben fiber bags. See-through.

[chickenwing]

I have seen some people color code their stuff sacks. Blue = water Red = fire Brown = toiletries

[Otter1]

Use skins for your tarp, instead of a sack.

Use different color sacks everywhere else.

[RootCause]

I use colored vinyl tape on my stuff sacks. (example)

I take a 4" or 6" length, fold it around a strap and stick it to itself. I use a Sharpie, and viola! Instant tags that are removable and don't leave holes.

It didn't help that I found a stuff sack I like, so I bought four identical ones. The tape idea has saved my butt more than once. I also have used it to be able differentiate my gear from other's...

[trailryder42]

I use a black permanent magic marker.

[Shug]

I just seem to know all my stuff sacks by size and placement in the pack. Got a few colors going on with them.
Good luck on your system.
Carry Forth......
Shug

[uncle_ray_ray]

I use different colored drawstring for my bags, I keep it simple because your items only break down into a few categories anyway.
if its anything to do with cooking, it will have a yellow drawstring. Seeping items get an orange reflective drawstring, so it will glow or shine in the dark when it's needed the most. Utilitarian (hygiene, tools, maps, compass) gets a green drawstring. Some items are so obvious that I don't even bother color coding (hammock, tarp, sleeping bag, food sack etc) Items that i may need for the night will go into my ridgeline bag, its a DIY project that has pockets on the outside and has a an orange reflective drawstring...
I use a bishop bag for my hammock, and there is a letter "H" (head) on one Webbing strap and and an "F" (foot) marked on the other webbing strap, this let's me know which tree to use for orienting my hammock.
Permanent markers are not good, because I change bags often to accomodate my situation and most bags are too dark to easily read the markings anyway; and tape eventually becomes too messy for me to bother with.

[Caribou Bentspoke]

I write on my storage bags, and sometimes the stuff sacks. I intentionally ordered my zero degree set in black, for extra heat for sun drying, and also my other quilts are not black and not as puffy, so it would be hard to get mixed up.