How to choose a convenient stuff sack and recommended models for different purposes

Everyone who is used to travel knows how to use the staff sack effectively

The best way to know if a person is a skilled traveler is to see the beauty of a backpack. This is just my own opinion, but I don't think it's a big mistake.

The shape has no dents or distortions, a surface that exudes elegant tension, and no unnecessary external gear, giving it a clean appearance. They were once admiring in simple, beautiful backpacks, and they were unparalleled with healthy legs, familiar to the mountains.

There may be many reasons, but the one thing is that they know the importance of packing for a safe and comfortable journey. Packing the maximum capacity into a minimum of space, not creating spaces that cause slippage in the backpack, and optimum weight distribution makes it easier to walk in and less tiring. Each of these skills is important not just for the outside, but for a safe journey, and it can be said that travel experts naturally acquired these through packing experiences in a variety of situations.

The stuff sack we'll introduce today is a must-have gear for packing, which is important for travel and mountain climbing. Those who can pack quickly and beautifully are using stuff sacks effectively without exception. So, this time we'll explore these gears that have become quite functional and useful recently, and introduce various types, detailed differences, tips on how to use them, and recommended models.

table of contents

Introduction: Packing basics, tips and stuff sack

Checkpoint 1: Waterproof or not

Checkpoint 2: Material, shape, size

Recommended 1: Staff sack recommended by our editorial department

Recommended 2: A convenient stuff sack specializing in specific uses

Introduction: Packing basics, tips and stuff sack

As I mentioned at the beginning, good packing is not by any means for appearance, but is essentially one of the techniques necessary for mountain climbing "safe, skillful, easy to walk, and less tiring." So what do you need to packing that is safe, easy to walk in and less tiring? The basic points are summarized in the following four parts:

• Compress and store in your backpack to avoid bulking more than necessary
• Sorting and placing them in place so that you can quickly take out what you need at the moment.
• Store the weight balance so that it does not interfere with walking
• Protect items that need some kind of protection, such as those that should not get wet or are sensitive to impact, with suitable materials .

The stuff sack makes these things easier and more convenient, but since its basic function is a tool for dividing luggage, some people may think that a plastic bag that is commonly used is sufficient. To be honest, it's possible to replace a plastic bag, and 20 years ago I was the same. However, as shown in the comparison table below, in the long run, looking at various points, it is not as convenient as the convenience of a staff sack .

item	Poly bag	Staff sack
image	Hand-held garbage bag 20-25L, translucent, 20 pieces, HI-24	GRANITE GEAR Airbag #2 Color: Assorted Size S
merit	Low price	Durable and long lasting Easy to open and close Easy to pack Easy to sort with a wide variety of colors and capacity It can also be used as a pillow
Disadvantages	It will tear quickly, a hole will be made It's hard to tell what's in it Opening and closing is a hassle It's disposable so it produces trash	The price is high

Tips for safe and beautiful packing

• Staff sacks are useful for mountain climbing that is safer, more efficient, easier to walk, and less tiring .
• When packing, the ideal is to bring the center of gravity closer to the body on your back from your shoulders . Place light and bulky items towards the bottom, and heavy items near the upper body .
• the weight while evenly adjusting the left and right sides
• frequently used items in places that are easy to take out (such as canopy pockets, side hip belt pockets, or shoulder pouches).

Checkpoint 1: Waterproof or not

Now let's take a look at the points to consider when choosing a stuff sack. The first thing to think about is that a dry sack with a completely waterproof function is useful for luggage that should not get wet The dry sack entrance has a roll-top shape, as shown in the left of the photo, where the entrance is wrapped around and then locked with a strap at the end. Of course, the fabric of the bag itself is also waterproof, and the seams are designed to prevent water from entering even when submerged, such as seam tape, so the golden rule is to use this bag if you absolutely should not get wet.

This dry sack also has a large capacity pack about the same size as a backpack, and when used in conjunction with these small pieces, it is very effective when you need to do more strict waterproof packing (for example, climbing a river).

Tips for safe and beautiful packing

• Clothes, sleeping bags, downwear, etc. that you absolutely don't want to get wet, so you can pack them thoroughly with waterproof stuff sacks.。
• Dry sacks are relatively heavy, bulky and expensive, so for normal hiking, there is no need to put all the gear in the dry sack, and it is recommended to use the right material in the right place.

Checkpoint 2: Material, shape, size

The materials used in stuff sacks are made from a traditional nylon lining with waterproof material attached to it, and now there are now Silk Nylon , a thin, lightweight, and fairly strong material that is soaked in silicone into nylon, and are becoming the mainstream. It's expensive, but it's extremely easy to use.

The shape of the stuff sack is a hidden important point. Until now, many stuff sacks had a circular bottom, and the so-called cylindrical shape was the mainstream, but considering the shape of a backpack, in fact, a loose rectangular shape is often easier to store , and in recent years, models with a focus on this type have become more common.

Staff sacks come in a variety of sizes, and of course it is important to choose a size that is not wasted depending on the content. The problem here is how much to divide it into small portions. It is true that the smaller the packing will increase the flexibility of packing, but if you divide it too much, the weight of the bag will not become a fool, and you will not even know where and what you put in, so be careful not to divide too much . storing them all together in too large bags to save money . As an expert guide, I think it would be convenient to have some of the easiest sizes in the range of 4L to 10L. It's important to find your own balance in everything.

Tips for safe and beautiful packing

• If you don't need any special durability, we recommend Silk Nylon, which is light, thin and shows off the contents .
• We recommend a loose rectangular stuff sack that is easy to pack .
• Be careful not to divide the stuff sacks too much or too big. Even if you're staying in a tent, it's best to pack up 3-5 pieces of 4L to 10L for your main storage .

Recommended 1: Staff sack recommended by our editorial department

[Drawstring type stuff sack] EXPED Cord Drybag UL

Not only is it the lightest class of 15D ultra-thin nylon, but it is also extremely waterproof in areas other than the storage area due to the PU coating on the lining and seam tape on the seams. The unique drawcord is also very easy to open and close. There are a number of size variations, but it would be even better if there were variations in shape.

[Dry Sac] SEA TO SUMMIT Ultra SIL Nano Dry Sac / OSPREY UL Dry Sac

The SEA TO SUMMIT Ultra SIL Nano Dry Sack is 15D ultra-thin and ultra-lightweight, smooth and allows you to see through the contents, making it convenient to store and easy to use. On the other hand, the OSPREY UL dry sack has a unique rectangular shape that goes perfectly with packing, and can be used like a pillow in a tent if you pack it with clothes.

SEA TO SUMMIT Ultra SIL Nano Dry Sac	OSPREY UL Dry Sac

Recommended 2: A convenient stuff sack specializing in specific uses

From here on, we will introduce useful stuff sacks that are specially designed for specific purposes, which are different from basic stuff sacks.

Staff sack that lets you see the contents

As you can see, some parts are vinyl-like, making it easier to see the contents. It may be useful when storing miscellaneous items such as ingredients and kitchen sets.

Compression sack

Clothes and sleeping bags are thick and bulging, so your luggage often becomes bulky. A compression sack is a stuff sack that can be compressed by tightening such bulky luggage with a drawcord to reduce the size (photo). These stuff sacks not only have a compression function, but also have a completely waterproof compression type with a roll-top entrance, making them especially useful for items that don't want to get wet and that are very bulky.

By the way, if you compress it too much and make it harder, it will actually be less flexible and difficult to fit in the space, so the trick to packing is to only provide moderate elasticity .

EVA foam stuff sack

This is a waterproof stuff sack that comes with an inner layer made of EVA closed cell foam, which acts as a cushion to protect precision machines such as cameras. The photo below (EXPED?CRUSH DRYBAG XS/3D) is just large enough to fit a mirrorless single-lens reflex camera, but it's a shame that even if you look for a larger size, you can't find it.

Pair type stuff sack

This is unique. This bag has openings in both the left and right directions, separated in the middle, and is an idea that allows you to use it in a convenient way, such as putting clothes in one bag at first and then throwing them in one bag after you've finished wearing them. Of course, you can also use it in both.

Waterproof and breathable stuff sack

The bottom of the stuff sack is made of waterproof and breathable materials such as eVent, so water is not allowed to pass through, but it passes through air . Normal waterproof bags have a high sealing level, so if you don't properly deflate the air when closing, the air remaining inside will become in the way when packing. However, this "air-free" waterproof stuff sack eliminates the difficulty of packing while maintaining its waterproof function. The only drawback is that it is highly functional and has a considerable price.

Dry emergency bag

Waterproofing of emergency kits is surprisingly important so that sewing sets don't get rusty or the medicines get wet and become useless in an emergency. However, for this reason, it is rare to find emergency bags with waterproof functions, so this is useful. It comes with fine pockets and makes it easy to organize inside, and in this category the Deuter First Aid Kit Dry is my favorite.

A pillow stuff sack

The last one is the most unusual sack this time. To be honest, people who take their own pillows to sleep in tents are probably in the minority. Until recently, I used a rectangular stuff sack as a pillow, but it's inevitably slippery and feels reasonably comfortable to sleep on. It's definitely more comfortable to wear a pillow. The name "Dream Sack Pillow" is a soft fleece fabric that beautifully solves the problem of whether or not you can bring a comfortable pillow without adding more luggage . It has a slight punchline, but one of the good things about this type of item is that it will make you feel attached to something other than what you would expect.