Larger Bishop Bag vs Anaconda/Catch-All

[78Staff]

So now that I have a zip on UQ for my Chameleon, I'm looking at packing solutions... seems like there are a couple options

The DW/Trailheadz Anaconda, the SLD Catch-all, and what I orignally was thinking was just a larger size Bishop Bag.

The Anaconda seems like a good idea, and I like that its DCF, but really do not care for compression straps - for quilted/compressible gear I prefer the "roomier sack and compress items into/around it in the pack" method. Plus it is costly for a sack, tbh.

The Catch-all gets good reviews, and seems to fit the "just stuff it in" plan but choosing the proper length seems confusing, and it may not stuff down as well as other methods?

What I originally envisioned was just a bit larger Bishop Bag, that is just a bit longer and a bit more around, to allow room for the UQ, or even UQ and TQ (Although I do prefer to keep my TP separate - it goes in the bottom, and I stuff stuff on top/around it, then have hammock in bb close to top of pack - but could change if all in one works better.) I do see a couple companies offer larger sized Bishop Bags - I found a 14" x 16" BB at AGG, but haven't seen anything large in DCF. Although that might even be too large. I suppose I could probably get someone to custom make one, I mean essentially a round bottom stuff sack of the appropriate size with sewn gromment or slit in the bottom would imitate a Bishop Bag just fine I think... Although a lesser costly Sil Nylon like the AGG version would work just fine I suppose, at under an oz.

My Dutchware DCF BB is 8x15"
AGG Sil Nylon Deluxe BB is 14x16"
SLD "Large" Bishop Back is "6x6" x 12" - so really no bigger than my DW.

Maybe I grab the AGG, and if the dimensions work I could later get a custom DCF one, unless someone knows anyone offering them currently?

[JollyRoger70]

So I haven’t tried the Anaconda (price point is a bit high for me for just testing a new thing), but I’ve had an SLD catch-all for years.

So for winter hanging, where the various quilts are pretty bulky and where I’m apt to be setting up in the dark, I really like the catch-all. It’s not waterproof, so I need a plan there, but only having to manage my hammock suspension and then being basically ready to go is a major asset. Mine has the longitudinal strip of netting, so it compresses into the bottom of my pack just fine; I think it would be harder without that, though it would of course be more water resistant. I just guessed on length — depending on the hammock, sometimes I have to stuff some suspension stuff in (with a bridge, for example), but it generally works out.

In the summer, I just stuff everything into a 20L dry bag, get it good and compressed, and then put it in the bottom of my pack. Setting up in daylight makes me more willing to fiddle to get everything lined up again, and it’s just simple (and waterproof). I may eventually get one of the Sea to Summit eVac dry bags to get a little more compression.

I like being able to minimize the number of stuff sacks to deal with while everything is set up — I always seem to be short one of them when it’s time to pack in the morning :-).


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[Heavyhiker]

Warbonnet makes a huge double ended stuff sack called the “Big Pig” that can hold a lot

[78Staff]

I'll check it out - the Big Pig looks to be about 18L, while the AGG is closer to 40L - that just seems much to large, although I suspect the measurements are before closing up the ends.

Probably need to stuff mine in a couple differen sacks similar to what JollyRoger70 mentioned to get an idea of what size I really need...

This will be for a 40/40 setup most of the time, but would occasionally use it with a 20/20 as well.

[78Staff]

So, a bit of research this weekend... Using your garden varietly stuff sack, I found that a Wide Chameleon, 20* JrB zip-on UQ and Symetrical Mesh top would easily fit into a 20L OR Ultra Lightweight sack with room to spare, which measures 9" circumferencs x 19" length (16" with drawstring tightened, so 16.7L). In reality I could squeeze this setup down to half the size of the bag. Then, I was also able to fit my UGQ 20* Wide Top Quilt in as well, although it was a tight fit - but doable. Also, I was able to fit the Hammock/UQ/Top only into a 10L sack reasonably well, but the diameter of the sack at 5" didnt really fill the bottom of the pack cleanly, so unless you can also jam something else small and compressible down there with/around it, you wind up with a bit of wasted space it would seem.

However, fitting the already tightly compressed 16" length sack horizontally into an 11 or 12" width LiteAF pack was not really doable. I mean, if you for instance "sat" on the bag you could shorten it up a bit, but making that transition into the pack for me was almost impossible. This is one of the reasons I prefer the "larger sack and compress as part of packing" mindset, ie a larger size sack, compactor bag, nylofume, etc. I do have some arthritis in my hands these days, so younger folks might not have as much of an issue.

A better solution imo would likely be a bit wider circumferance bag, so that you could effectively have a shorted length sack for ease of stuffing into your pack. Or, keeping the TQ separate as I mentioned earlier. The AGG Larger BB might be an answer here, at 14.5″ circumferance x 16″, which also fall under the oversize sack though process as well. And the standard size at 10x11 would be plenty for hammock/top/UQ only I would suspect. And the Catch-All of course, since it's essentially an oversize snake-skin type bag, it would probably pack at the bottom of a pack better than an already super firm/compressed sack.

EDIT - interesting tidbit, it appears, at least for OR, the advertised L capacity is based on unstuffed size, ie the 20L bag is 9x19 which is 19.8L. The "closed" size of 9x16" is actually only 16.7L. Something I was not aware of... So best to check sack dimensions and calculate instead of relying on advertised specs it would seem.

[CVKealey]

I've often considered the SLD catch-all, and every time I place an order, I almost put one in my cart. Since most of my trips are just one or two nights, and many I'm in the same spot both nights (car/scout camping trips), it doesn't seem worth it. I use either a nylofume or Six Moon Designs pack liner and just shove TQ, UQ, clothes bag, then hammock and seal up the liner.

That said, if you wanted more flexibility in choosing the size, you might check out SLD's "round bottom stuff sack" (https://simplylightdesigns.com/colle...om-stuff-sacks). I'm sure Jared could add a buttonhole or grommet in the middle of the bottom to run a CL through.

[78Staff]

It's funny, if I were not using a zip on UQ, I woudn't either bother about it either, and would just store TQ/UQ in a stuff sack like normal, and hammock in a Bishop Bag. But with the zip on, I'd prefer to carry at least it and the hammock together, as despite the overal convenience of it, attaching it can be somewhat fiddly, moreso I expect outdoors, in the dark, in the cold, etc..

[sideshowraheem]

Just another vote for the Catch All. Ive got the 11 foot silnylon vented version and it fits all of 20f stuff no problem. With a bit more elbow grease I can fit my 0F gear in there as well though its not as easy.

[78Staff]

I've almost ordered the Catch all a few times - I'm sure I will if I can ever figure out what length I actually need for my Chameleon with aprox 9ft ridgeline. I want to use it similar to a tarp snakeskin where everything is contained in the catchall, and you just deploy it from the C-A and leave it on the suspension when hung (I think - might be to much fabric to have bunched up on the suspension when hung?) Site says to order longer, but seem most are commenting that shorter is ok still for this, so can't decide which length to go with.

[JollyRoger70]

So I think my catch-all is 11’; it holds everything for my 11’ Trail Lair without any trouble, and has a lot of extra space at the ends with the Ridge Runner. I do use it pretty much like the snakeskin for my tarp. When I bunch the fabric on one end while hanging, I do have to make sure it’s under my tarp, and I have had it get a bit wet in bad rain when I wasn’t careful enough.


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