Glad we could help! All about the gear systems rather than the individual pieces of kit in the end.

Hi Paul, Thank you very much for the detailed and helpful reply. The link to the daypack base load was also illuminating. Based on this, I will rework my gear storage to follow this, the idea being to prestage gear by end use function vs by individual gear type. A couple of items I will need to get duplicates for, as you said (eg headlamp, fleece). Thank you again!

It’s a great way to keep maps handy. We use them more for planning these days, but when we have guests over or Joan and I are planning a trip, spreading a map out on the table can’t be beat. We also use paper maps in the field for larger overviews and context.

As for organization, I should probably do a complete article on the topic. I do stage gear for different activities.

We don’t have duplicates of everything; we’ve just learned over the years which items are worth duplicating and which ones can easily move between kits.

My SAR/trailwork/day-guiding pack has clothing and gear already packed, along with a more robust headlamp, emergency ponchos, extra wag bags, and a larger first aid kit. My personal day-pack items (smaller first aid kit, headlamp that doubles as a SAR spare, compass, etc.) transfer easily between packs. I also keep my ever-faithful 100 wt fleece, a separate rain jacket, beanie, gloves, and similar items in my day pack:

https://pmags.com/my-day-pack-what-i-have-prepacked

(Though that article needs an update.)

My backpacking kit is almost entirely separate and has its own gear, including technical fleeces, baselayers, and other clothing. Sleeping quilt excepted, I even keep separate cook pots for solo versus couples backpacking.

Of course, we have different backpacks, pads, and clothing depending on the season or trip goals. But again, we keep everything organized so gear and clothing transfer easily between systems.

Our camping gear is pre-staged in a tote for larger trips:

https://pmags.com/budget-camping-gear

We also always keep a “perma-camping” kit in the truck:

https://pmags.com/perma-camping-kit-what-the-heck-is-it

I have a duffel pre-packed with my beater camping clothes, so I can literally grab it and go. No packing required.

Our packrafting gear is staged as well.

And though it’s been a couple of seasons, my ski touring gear remains pre-staged with wax, skins, ski-specific clothing, repair supplies, and the rest.

Even our backpacking food is organized. We always have a pantry full of supplies that lets us quickly put together food for two people on a four- or five-day trip.

https://pmags.com/mise-en-place-and-the-outdoors

We’re two people with many combined decades of outdoor experience and a lot of gear to match, so organization is essential. Our gear room and shed look more like a workshop than REI…and I mean that as a good thing!

Sometime I’d like to hear details on your gear organization strategy by activity. I have my gear in bins also, sorted by function (water containers bin, food bin, nav bin, stove and fuel canister bin, etc.) but it hasn’t helped shorten my packing and trip prep time appreciably. The issue is that I have multiple outdoor activities that all draw from the same pile of kit/gear items, and then I have to add items that are unique to that particular activity. I do have my backpacking base load all in one tub.

The problem occurs when I need, for example, a compass, or a stove, or a titanium pot to go in my overlanding kit. I think the only solution is to set up a dedicated kit for each activity and store those on bins. This will get expensive fast though because then I have to buy 5 compasses, 5 titanium pots, etc., one for each activity kit. Actually in the end it might end up being the same number of tubs. Thanks Paul!