Late summer is a dreamy time to get outside, sleep under the stars and maybe even enjoy some of those perfect, mellow days of fall-is-coming weather if you’re lucky. The co-op’s expert Green Vests, who help customers gear up for all their favorite activities, are equally enthusiastic about sharing their well-earned knowledge about fall camping and backpacking as they are about getting out there themselves.
This month, we asked three Green Vests from REI stores around the country for the packing tips they wish they could share with every REI Co-op Member. Naturally, they couldn’t wait to tell us all about the hacks that have made their gear stay effortlessly organized and work harder with each passing mile.
Show your bear canister some love
No one ever wants to carry a bear canister, but I do! As more people get into the backcountry, food and toiletry containers like those from BearVault are becoming more common. I know they can feel heavy and awkward, so I love sharing ways to make them easier—and more useful!
Yes, the two locks can be tricky, but I keep an old hotel key card in my hipbelt pocket to slot between the lid and lock, which makes opening them smoother.
My BearVault is also my seat, saving me from carrying a chair. I love the clear plastic because I can find little things [inside] easily, and it doubles as a bucket for water, washing clothes or putting out a fire. The BV500 can even work as a foam roller! Reflective tape helps me find it in the dark.
Honestly, avoiding complicated bear hangs is why I started carrying one almost everywhere. I especially love my BV450!
Ditch your tent bag
One of my favorite gear hacks from my thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail in 2014 was a simple change in how I packed. I remember after a particularly rainy night in Georgia, I stopped for a break and spread my soaked rainfly, footprint and tent body out to dry in the mid-morning sun. As I laid everything out, I noticed that my tent body was nearly as wet as the rainfly and footprint even though it had stayed dry under the fly overnight. I quickly realized that the moisture wasn’t from the rain, but had transferred from the rainfly while everything was packed together.
At my next resupply, I picked up two lightweight dry bags, divided the tent body from the rainfly and footprint, and tossed the manufacturer’s oblong storage sack into a hiker donation box. The result? Less time spent drying gear trailside and more time spent hiking.
Compartmentalize your car camping gear
I’ve found that although car camping offers more comforts than backpacking, it still requires effort. With critters around, packing and unpacking your car often becomes a daily routine.
My favorite camping hack is organizing gear by category in clear plastic tote bins or bags. Your camp kitchen, toiletries, clothing, hiking essentials, food and sleep system can each have their own container. The best part is the ease of it all. Nothing beats wrapping up breakfast, packing everything away, and knowing your gear will be right where you expect it to be when you need it again.
I relied on this system during a cross-country road trip from California to New York and back. I camped in national parks, on BLM land and at highway rest stops, storing all my gear in my tiny sedan. Space was limited, and this system helped me spend more time enjoying the outdoors and less time searching for my toothbrush.
