Packing question

[Chammocks]

I gave up long ago trying to keep my dry bag organized. So whenever I want something, I just dump the whole pack. I can never find stuff otherwise. Same goes for packing, whatever I grab first, but I do try to put heavy stuff on the bottom.

[iGuitar93]

I have a REI Lookout 40.

Starting from bottom to top:
Hammock
Top quilt (Poncho liner)
Tarp (Kelty Noah 12)
Clothes
Cookset (Halulite Minimalist and MSR Pocket Rocket)
Fuel canisters
Food

My fixed blade knife is on my belt and my water treatment (aqua mira) is stuffed in an extra pocket somewhere. My map, compass, and first aid kit are in the smaller outer pocket. The water bottles are in my side pockets. I have a thermarest z lite and that straps to the bottom of my pack. If my tarp would get wet overnight I would strap it with my thermarest. I haven't gone on my first backpacking trip yet but my gear is ready! This is how I plan to pack it. I plan on backpacking mostly in summer/ fall on short overnighters/ weekends and I will probably do some winter camping once I make a climashield apex 30 degree quilt.

[FLRider]

As of my last trip (going to make some changes), my DIY MMP-inspired pack was packed as such:

Front pack:

In main pocket: 3L Camelbak and Sawyer In-Line filter
In bottom kangaroo pocket: misc. crap.
Strapped on bottom left shock cord loop: map and compass.
Placed through bottom right shock cord loop to retain: Camelbak mouthpiece.
Strapped on top two shock cord loops: ditty bag containing first aid kit, emergency kit, toilet kit, cell phone and battery, toothbrush and soap, bug spray, and sunscreen.
In electronics case at top: camera.

Backpack (bottom to top):
DIY Lazy Slug Tube containing hammock, poncho liner top quilt, sleeping clothes, and backup bandannas.
DIY bear bag containing food and cook kit.
Tarp in velcro retainers, along with stakes.
GI poncho, rolled up.

Things I plan on changing: eliminating the front pack on hot trips (above 90 F), adding hip belt pockets for "immediate need" items (FAK, camera, map and compass, snacks, knife), going from the DIY LST to a DIY BlackBishop bag (it would improve center of gravity, I'm pretty sure, which was a pain on this last trip), improving the shoulder straps, improving the waist belt, and moving over to lighter materials for all of my containers, tarp, insulation, hammock, and poncho. Big project...

[Manchego]

I gave up long ago trying to keep my dry bag organized. So whenever I want something, I just dump the whole pack. I can never find stuff otherwise. Same goes for packing, whatever I grab first, but I do try to put heavy stuff on the bottom.

I kind of go the same way with drybags, it's that lack of a pocket thing. I have of late found that it helps to go to "ditty bag" size stuff sacks to a large extent. I guess it makes it easier to take all of the stuff out of the dry bag since you're grabbing it in chunks instead of piece by piece.