Saw a guy on the Appalachian Trail last week with a 55 liter pack and a 42 liter pack strapped together

He told me he brings the smaller one for day hikes off the main route so he doesn't have to unpack everything. That sounds like a smart idea for exploring side trails, but carrying two packs seems like extra weight and hassle. What do you think, is it worth the setup or just overcomplicating things?

2 comments

2 Comments

emery_taylor14h ago

I get why he does it though, a 55 liter pack is a pain to dig through when you just want a quick hike to a viewpoint. But yeah, strapping a whole second pack on top seems like overkill. Couldn't he just use a stuff sack or a frameless daypack that folds flat inside his main bag? That would save weight and still let him pop off for side trips without unpacking everything. Do any of you use a packable daypack for this kind of setup?

sarah2295h ago

Has anyone tried just using a thin rain jacket as a packable bag? It worked great for my side trips.