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Sanenomore 
Group: Members
Posts: 13
Joined: Apr. 2011
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Posted on: Feb. 22 2013, 1:19 am |
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I am a bit curious if anyone else out there hates setting down their expensive packs in the dirt and mud when they remove it? I have been tempted to carry a piece of tarp just large enough for my pack to sit on when I stop to eat or camp. Is this anything to be concerned about?
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| Post Number: 2
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Tigger
Woods Pouncer
Group: Members
Posts: 10628
Joined: Apr. 2005
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Posted on: Feb. 22 2013, 1:24 am |
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First off, welcome to the forums!
I bought my expensive pack because I wanted a pack that can handle all the abuse I could throw at it. I try and keep the portion that is against my back dry (and spray it with DWR every year) but I don't go out of my way to protect my pack. It's supposed to be tough. That said, there is a range of expense. I know of a couple guys who have packs that are worth twice what mine is worth and mine isn't exactly cheap. If I paid $1,500 for a pack, I'd be babying it for a few months before I started tossing it in the mud.
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If I'm going to be lost, in the woods is where I want to be...
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| Post Number: 3
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Ben2World
Group: Members
Posts: 24127
Joined: Jun. 2005
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Posted on: Feb. 22 2013, 1:26 am |
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I always lay down my pack slowly and carefully -- away from sharp surfaces. But dirt is fine. It's easy enough to wipe away at the end of a trip.
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The world is a book and those who do not travel read only a page. -- St. Augustine
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| Post Number: 4
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big_load
Group: Members
Posts: 21963
Joined: Jun. 2004
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Posted on: Feb. 22 2013, 3:20 am |
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I used to take extra care with an old-school ultralight pack, but most "regular" packs and modern UL packs don't wear much with typical handling. The things that I've seen shorten a pack's life are abrasion against rocks while still mounted up, and being overstuffed to a degree that's hard to accomplish.
I've never had much accumulation of dirt, either. I'm not utterly careless about where I set my pack down, but don't baby it, either.
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| Post Number: 5
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Sanenomore
Group: Members
Posts: 13
Joined: Apr. 2011
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Posted on: Feb. 22 2013, 3:29 am |
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Thanks for the info. I thought I might be worrying about nothing, but having just bought a new pack I thought it might be a good time to double check my fears 
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| Post Number: 6
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| Post Number: 7
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High_Sierra_Fan
Group: Members
Posts: 39802
Joined: Aug. 2005
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Posted on: Feb. 22 2013, 12:05 pm |
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A UL pack, with the durability compromises inherent in that approach I'd be more careful with, but even then not all that much.
Main thing and more for the contents, is I don't drop a pack in a mud puddle. I do prefer rocks for their inherent cleanliness but that's about it.
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| Post Number: 8
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GoBlueHiker
Obsessive Island Hopper...
Group: Members
Posts: 14210
Joined: Jul. 2006
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Posted on: Feb. 22 2013, 12:10 pm |
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What they said. Dirt doesn't bother me, and I couldn't care whether my pack is dirty or not. I don't willfully treat it like crap, but it's not babied.
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Wealth needs more. Happiness needs less. Simplify.
www.RainForestTreks.com
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| Post Number: 9
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High_Sierra_Fan
Group: Members
Posts: 39802
Joined: Aug. 2005
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Posted on: Feb. 22 2013, 12:33 pm |
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Speaking of which the main pack damagers in my experience have been pack contents: sharp angled metal and such that by constant pressure on the very same place on the fabric wore or tore through. Even without snow or climbing gear there are potential threats: tent stakes etc.
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| Post Number: 10
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GoBlueHiker
Obsessive Island Hopper...
Group: Members
Posts: 14210
Joined: Jul. 2006
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Posted on: Feb. 22 2013, 1:13 pm |
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Main pack damagers in my experience (doing long off-trail traverses) is abrasion. Rocks, sticks, rocks, branches, more rocks... dragging through all that stuff wears holes and pops stitches doing it for years.
But setting it down on the ground, I really don't sweat it. If the pack can't take that, it's not gonna work for me anyway.
ETA: I have punched an ice-axe tip through a pack before though, from the outside, so I do see the point of "contents" being an issue. Can easily happen with a crampon too if one isn't careful.
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Wealth needs more. Happiness needs less. Simplify.
www.RainForestTreks.com
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| Post Number: 11
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Altarboy
Group: Members
Posts: 254
Joined: Jan. 2011
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Posted on: Feb. 24 2013, 12:51 pm |
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The big thing is to keep it away from the fire. I learned this with a French Musset bag I used to hike in my woods. Thank goodness it is one purchased for little money from a surpluss store. It was a useful lesson. Also, a fire can pop and hot coals can reach out to a bag (or tent) several feet away.
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| Post Number: 12
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IAJeff
Group: Members
Posts: 184
Joined: Jan. 2012
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Posted on: Feb. 24 2013, 5:21 pm |
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I suppose, I am anal about this too because I have thought about. Good to hear that it is not a big deal.
A couple of thoughts that I had were use some rope and tie it around a tree and hang the pack from that. Or if you use a rain cover take it off and set the pack on that. The rain cover could also double as a place to sit as well. Just some random new guy thoughts.
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| Post Number: 13
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| Post Number: 14
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QCHIKER
Group: Members
Posts: 1741
Joined: Oct. 2009
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Posted on: Feb. 24 2013, 8:04 pm |
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I wouldn't worry about it getting too dirty. If it does get too dirty for your liking though give it a wash by hand with a soft brush and some good old plain water. No soap. Do this after your trip. Also clean the inside of your pack regularly to get out any food crumbs and dirt. I just vac mine out after each trip.
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Survival Skills 101 • Eat Better
