I know the topic isn't nearly as interesting as reading others trip reports or modding the latest gear...but I need some help staying organized and keeping track of all this gear. Summer, Winter, Overnight , dayhikes, Comfort base camp, Car Camping, Bike Camping, Camping in the Popup....Ahhhhh!
Most of us have lots of gear, depending on what activity, for what season, which stove, which tarp, who's coming, and it goes on and on. I read about all this cool gear everyone tests out and owns, but nobody really talks about how they keep it all ready to deploy, or how they know where they left their Whisperlite or the spare gear for replacement or resupply of duct tape, bandaids, moleskin.
Switching out gear and testing new stuff is fun for me, it's one of the main things that keeps my overly complicated mind entertained when at camp, or when it's too cold to be outside.. ( I know, for some of you it's never too cold outside.) which is pretty much all the time. I rid myself of the thing that I think are junk, or what I wouldn't use in any situation, but if something is cool...I'm keeping it. If my old tail could take it all I would..
So right now I am using clear plastic tubs with gear, separated by season or activity. Keeping the Packs packed for which activity, bigger packs for winter or longer trips, smaller packs for dayhikes, summer or snowshoeing.
All the time gear that goes in my Ribz pack no matter the season or activity; first aid, sharpening, gps, map, bandanna, leatherman, gloves and misc items.
I think my frustration comes when something crosses the divide between all of the above, or multiuse items.. Bushbuddy, Jetboil or alcohol, Katadyn basecamp, pocket filter, UV, tablets or fire water treatment. Baclava in Spring...winter and fall... ugh.. four seasons of gloves. heavy light lighter...
I have laid it all out in my basement and it's frankly daunting how much stuff it is trying to re-organize it all. I'm trying not to think too much into it and trying not to eventually throw it all back into "camping misc" bin.
So now you know the level of my crazy, how do you keep all your stuff from falling into oblivion, only to find it the following season or spending countless hours looking for something you think you have.
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