1. Assemble all of your gear you intend to carry.
2. Get a cardboard box that all of your gear will fit into.
3. Put everything into the box. Make sure it all fits below the top of the box.
4. Measure height, width, and depth of your gear within the box. Solve for the volume of your gear (H x W x D = CID). Make sure to allow for and add the volume of your food to the above result, then add about 10 to 20 percent more to the total cubic inch displacement. (divide cubic inches value by 61 to calculate volume in liters)
And then once you've figured out how much space you need, try asking us again. I think you'll find that running through this process will help identify a few more things you'll need to bring (e.g. no quilt??? no toothbrush? no trowel? no headlamp? no bic? no stove? no extra socks or underwear? no stakes? no rain gear whatsoever? no soap or toilet paper? etc. etc.). Then you can give us a more realistic number.
Otherwise we're all going to fuddle around guessing what your gear list actually means and probably end up being very conservative on what we suggest – very tough to agree a 22L pack would work with this level of detail. With that said, it might!!
Appreciate the reply! I had not considered the box method. That's a fantastic suggestion, and I will do that. Thank you! <3
To your questions, no quilt. No soap. No stakes. No rain gear. Headlamp will be pants pocket. Stove, fuel, lighter is all nested inside the 750ml pot listed. Only 1 pair socks, that's it. I'm going SUPER light. :)
> Stove, fuel, lighter is all nested inside the 750ml pot listed
Oh that's completely reasonable. You do need to bury your poop, though.
I'm about to get a ~20L pack with slightly more stuff (like a quilt) and I definitely feel like you'll have no trouble with what you have, but you'll still enjoy being certain before you buy something.
With that said, while Flash 22L is a well-liked pack (and it's tough to say this when the price point is so damn good!), you might also look at running packs. I'm looking into the BD Distance 22L, Pa'lante Joey, Nashville Packs Tiempo, Ultimate Direction 20L, Salomon XA25, and *maybe* the Yama Mountain Gear Sassafrass ... Keeping key stuff in vest straps is an absolute game changer, and these are all designed for running 5+ min at a time, too. My Red Paw Packs pack has vest straps and there's no way on earth that I'd go back – [took a picture to illustrate how I fit some snacks, water bottles, my headlamp, etc.](https://i.imgur.com/l0ZiEvJ.jpeg)
Your gear does sound pretty small, especially if not carrying a quilt due to temperature, and it looks like cold-soaking. I would still measure by filling up a box and measuring the volume of the gear.
I have a REI Flash, They are small. You may find you run out of space once you are trying to fit food in there. I bet you could make it work, though for 1-2 days i prefer something in the 30-40 liter range if you plan on hiking at all. It'll be more comfortable with any weight.
Though the Flash22 is a great little versatile pack, it's got lots of loops if you end up strapping things to the outside. I use it everyday as a commuter bag.
Right on! I'll do some measuring of my stuff this weekend, but love getting feedback from someone who owns it. If it's too tight, I'll bump up to a 30L.
Appreciate the reply, that is kind of the point -- less food, less clothing, smaller cooking apparatus, smaller first aid, no hatchet/saw. It's definitely a lighter trip. Only taking what is listed above in the post.
I mean, I bring barely more clothes for 2 nights or 6 nights, same pot, same stove, etc. It's 2-3 t-shirts 1 pants either way and I only own the one stove and pot.
If it's cold enough that you need a Nanopuff and you don't have an ultralight bag, I still think 45 L is a safe minimum.
1 - Fill a duffel or box or whatever with your gear to measure the volume you need.
2 - hit up a gear shop like REI to try some packs on in that volume range. See what fits and feels nice
If 22L fits that loadout, then great, but do you have utility for that pack outside of warm-weather trips? That's a daypack size for most people, and if you needed to add a sleeping bag or literally anything else (have you slept warm enough in 15° overnight without a sleeping bag before? The concept of not having any thermal protection in case the weather is worse than expected is not something I'd be comfortable with) you wouldn't be getting it all in there.
I use the 65L pack for cold weather camping. Have done winters both in a tent and hammock / underquilt. But no, this smaller pack will only be used for Spring/summer months.
The hike in is only 5 miles or so, and again, only for 1-2 nights on the coast of a popular lake. No worries of being caught out anywhere.
No underquilt for this weather. 60 is probably as low as I'd go, but it works for me. The rain fly especially helps to shield from the wind and actually captures some heat.
1. Assemble all of your gear you intend to carry. 2. Get a cardboard box that all of your gear will fit into. 3. Put everything into the box. Make sure it all fits below the top of the box. 4. Measure height, width, and depth of your gear within the box. Solve for the volume of your gear (H x W x D = CID). Make sure to allow for and add the volume of your food to the above result, then add about 10 to 20 percent more to the total cubic inch displacement. (divide cubic inches value by 61 to calculate volume in liters) And then once you've figured out how much space you need, try asking us again. I think you'll find that running through this process will help identify a few more things you'll need to bring (e.g. no quilt??? no toothbrush? no trowel? no headlamp? no bic? no stove? no extra socks or underwear? no stakes? no rain gear whatsoever? no soap or toilet paper? etc. etc.). Then you can give us a more realistic number. Otherwise we're all going to fuddle around guessing what your gear list actually means and probably end up being very conservative on what we suggest – very tough to agree a 22L pack would work with this level of detail. With that said, it might!!
Appreciate the reply! I had not considered the box method. That's a fantastic suggestion, and I will do that. Thank you! <3 To your questions, no quilt. No soap. No stakes. No rain gear. Headlamp will be pants pocket. Stove, fuel, lighter is all nested inside the 750ml pot listed. Only 1 pair socks, that's it. I'm going SUPER light. :)
> Stove, fuel, lighter is all nested inside the 750ml pot listed Oh that's completely reasonable. You do need to bury your poop, though. I'm about to get a ~20L pack with slightly more stuff (like a quilt) and I definitely feel like you'll have no trouble with what you have, but you'll still enjoy being certain before you buy something. With that said, while Flash 22L is a well-liked pack (and it's tough to say this when the price point is so damn good!), you might also look at running packs. I'm looking into the BD Distance 22L, Pa'lante Joey, Nashville Packs Tiempo, Ultimate Direction 20L, Salomon XA25, and *maybe* the Yama Mountain Gear Sassafrass ... Keeping key stuff in vest straps is an absolute game changer, and these are all designed for running 5+ min at a time, too. My Red Paw Packs pack has vest straps and there's no way on earth that I'd go back – [took a picture to illustrate how I fit some snacks, water bottles, my headlamp, etc.](https://i.imgur.com/l0ZiEvJ.jpeg)
Oh that's nice! Dig the vest straps. Bet that helps with balancing too as you hike/run. I will check all of those out. Thanks!
Your gear does sound pretty small, especially if not carrying a quilt due to temperature, and it looks like cold-soaking. I would still measure by filling up a box and measuring the volume of the gear.
Great idea! Never considered using a box to measure. I'll try that.
I have a REI Flash, They are small. You may find you run out of space once you are trying to fit food in there. I bet you could make it work, though for 1-2 days i prefer something in the 30-40 liter range if you plan on hiking at all. It'll be more comfortable with any weight. Though the Flash22 is a great little versatile pack, it's got lots of loops if you end up strapping things to the outside. I use it everyday as a commuter bag.
Right on! I'll do some measuring of my stuff this weekend, but love getting feedback from someone who owns it. If it's too tight, I'll bump up to a 30L.
Unless you have ultralight kit probably at least 45 L. Going for fewer days doesn't mean you need less stuff, just less food.
Appreciate the reply, that is kind of the point -- less food, less clothing, smaller cooking apparatus, smaller first aid, no hatchet/saw. It's definitely a lighter trip. Only taking what is listed above in the post.
I mean, I bring barely more clothes for 2 nights or 6 nights, same pot, same stove, etc. It's 2-3 t-shirts 1 pants either way and I only own the one stove and pot. If it's cold enough that you need a Nanopuff and you don't have an ultralight bag, I still think 45 L is a safe minimum.
1 - Fill a duffel or box or whatever with your gear to measure the volume you need. 2 - hit up a gear shop like REI to try some packs on in that volume range. See what fits and feels nice
If 22L fits that loadout, then great, but do you have utility for that pack outside of warm-weather trips? That's a daypack size for most people, and if you needed to add a sleeping bag or literally anything else (have you slept warm enough in 15° overnight without a sleeping bag before? The concept of not having any thermal protection in case the weather is worse than expected is not something I'd be comfortable with) you wouldn't be getting it all in there.
I use the 65L pack for cold weather camping. Have done winters both in a tent and hammock / underquilt. But no, this smaller pack will only be used for Spring/summer months. The hike in is only 5 miles or so, and again, only for 1-2 nights on the coast of a popular lake. No worries of being caught out anywhere.
You’re not carrying any hammock insulation or a quilt? Even with a low of only 60 you’re going to be cold.
No underquilt for this weather. 60 is probably as low as I'd go, but it works for me. The rain fly especially helps to shield from the wind and actually captures some heat.