What I pack and why

Well, it is all about preparation. I have a Bugout Gear Brand of backpack. It can hold quite a bit of stuff. The shoulder straps are comfortable and there is also a waist belt that I have removed, but stowed inside of a pocket. For hiking, I’ve never filled this backpack completely. Each zippered pocket has a specific use. Its better that way, as it separates and organizes water, maps, GPS, car keys, etc. At first, the thought of having a backpack with so much spare room kind of bothered me, all the extra space. I had also considered getting a camelback type system with the extra pouches. After a year of daily use, I’m pleased with the Bugout product. Normally I will pack no less that 2 liters of water, bring a bag of good trail mix, granola type bars, several paper towels in a quart size Ziploc type bag, an extra Ziploc bag, Garmin GPS Venture (with any Geocaches or special points of interest pre-loaded), and if available a map, usually sourced from the internet. In the case of the Kauai hikes, I’ve packed “The ultimate Kauai Guidebook” because it has various maps and other information that has been very useful.