After a day or two of camping most people start to rethink that monstrous duffel bag that look so good in the store. That cavernous army duffel bag that looks like something your grandfather used in World War II just doesn’t meet our modern storage needs. With so much empty space it’s easy to lose track of everything that you need. By the end of your trip you can’t tell what’s dirty and what’s clean. That doesn’t have to be the case with a few simple organization tips. With a little foresight that old duffel bag can hold everything you need.
How To Organize a Duffel Bag For Camping
Growing up my father was always quick to bring out his old army duffel bags. I use that classic green bag on every Boy Scout trip throughout my childhood. Somehow my dad always managed to keep his organized, which probably had something to do with actually using it in the military. I could never manage to keep my gear and clothing in check. Luckily throughout the years I’ve learned a few tips to help get me organized. So stop wasting your time rooting through that mess and get your duffel bags organized.
Step 1
The concept might seem obvious to some, but the easiest way to organize a duffel bag is with more bags. I like to buy a few of the inexpensive stuff sacks in different colors and sizes. They are perfect for loading up all your gear and keeping everything separated. I store most of my gear in the Sea to Summit Stuff Sacks that I also use while backpacking. They’re available in a ton of different sizes and color options and are perfect for separating individual clothing items. I get a different color for everything I pack: shirts,pants,rain gear, socks, underwear etc. Not only do they keep my close organized, the bags are 100% waterproof and reinforced.
Step 2
Learn how to roll your clothing into tubes the length of your sack and slide them in. You should be able to fit about a weeks worth of shirts into a medium-size sack. Normally I put both my socks and underwear into the same sack, separate would work just as well. If you get ready for your trip early like you should, make sure you keep track of what’s in each designated color.
Step 3
Thanks to your color-coded system it should be easy to quickly locate the clothing that you need. Retrieving your clothes should be as simple as pulling out your role and strapping it back up. You won’t have to worry about your close getting wet and mildewed or digging through dirty laundry.
Step 4
make sure you pack everything else that you’re going to need into clear plastic resealable bags. Make sure you bring along extra batteries, ammunition and all your toiletries. Always pack some form of water purification device in your bag just in case. I would recommend bringing along a Lifestraw or water filtration system and some water purification tablets. A weeks worth of water purification tablets should get you out of any emergency situation that could arise.
Other Camping Organization Tips
- Place large and heavy items on the bottom of the duffel bag so that it has a more sturdy base. This is the perfect place to store a pair of shoes or heavy jacket.
- You should always prepare early for any camping trip. Before your trip buy multiple large plastic storage bins to keep all your gear together. In one container store all of your sleeping pads, sleeping bags, cots, tents and tarps. In another store all of your miscellaneous gear and camping tools. Your third bin should be stocked with everything you need for cooking. When you’re ready to camp all you’ll need to do is load three bins and your duffel into the back of your truck.
- Store your tent, tarps and rain gear near the back of your truck. You need to be able to quickly get the tent setup if it starts to rain.