How to Build a Practical Outdoor Pack

When you’re building an outdoor pack kit for the great outdoors, it’s important to keep things as simple as possible. I’m not just going to list a bunch of products and tell you if you carry them, you’ll be prepared for anything. One of the biggest misconceptions is that a kit is universal to every situation in the outdoors from hunting, camping, hiking, or climbing. An outdoor pack is also going to be different if you’re in the Rockies versus the Appalachians. This blog is our guide to applying basic principles and adapting them to your personal situation to create the best and most practical outdoor pack for the outdoors.

What Are the Basic Necessities for an Outdoor pack?

First and foremost, the whole point of an outdoor pack kit is to make sure you can comfortably carry items that you’ll need from weapons to important documents. For example, an AR-15 or other long rifle isn’t going to make the cut for an outdoor pack, but a Glock pistol will. You’ll need to carry only items you can either fit in your backpack or on your body to ensure you don’t weigh yourself down too much or make your trip uncomfortable. The best thing about an outdoor pack is the fact that there is no ONE kit that works for everyone, meaning you should build your kit based on your personal preference and needs.

1. Protection
2. Shelter
3. Weather Gear
4. Water
5. Food
6. IFAK kit
7. Spare clothing
8. Important documents (SS card, passport, bonds, and birth certificates)

One of the best parts about my job is that I get to travel to Colorado every month (pre-Covid) and get to hike, climb, and spend my free time in the Rockies. As I live in Virginia, I am always hunting, hiking, and scouting for my next hunt. The point that I’m trying to make is that I carry an EDC kit in many different environments and elevations, making me prepared to discuss what I like to carry in my general kit. I may not be a survival expert, but the two kits that I carry with me have never let me down (as of yet).

What Do I carry in my Outdoor pack?

The very first thing you’ll need is a backpack that is capable of holding all the things you need, including a water bladder. I use the 5.11 Rush 12 2.0 backpack because it has everything that I’d ever need and still allows me to keep my hands free and rests evenly on my shoulders. With 16 compartments, a hydration pocket capable of holding a bladder with 24 liters (6.3 gallons) of water, a laptop compartment for travel, and most importantly, a CCW compartment for quick access and safekeeping. The entire 5.11 Tactical Rush 12 2.0 bag is water-resistant, so you know everything will stay dry and secure during a hike or hunt. 

5.11 Tactical Backpack – Rush 12 2.0

When choosing the proper bag to act as your outdoor pack, you’re going to need something as durable and accomodating as possible. Don’t go cheap on your outdoor pack because it could be the most important piece of property you have if things go south. 

Everlit 250 Pieces Survival First Aid Kit IFAK Molle System

If you’re ever wondering why it’s important to have a backpack with MOLLE straps, it’s because it gives you added versatility and carrying capacity for items such as an IFAK kit. This specific IFAK kit is one that I carry if I’m hiking in the deep woods, miles away from civilization; I carry a smaller kit for most shorter hikes or hunts. One of my favorite things about this IFAK kit is that it’s created by veterans who have experience as combat medics and combat lifesavers. As everyone knows by now, we love to support veteran-owned and operated companies. 

The best way to use this kit is to attach it to your bag through the MOLLE straps to maintain space in the 16 compartments for other gear. This Everlit IFAK kit provides enough medical and emergency supplies to treat an entire family or group of hikers. This kit includes all the things you’d need in an environment that is forever changing (this is the same IFAK I carry in the Rockies). It has a flashlight, flintstone for starting fires, ponchos for unexpected rainstorms, and a knife for self-defense or cutting rope, cord, or food. This kit only weighs 1.9 lbs and although that may seem like it’s nothing, it adds up quickly with other gear. This is why it’s important to pack as light as possible and only bring what you think you’ll need. 

SOG Multitool Pliers

Everyone needs a multi-tool, regardless if you’re a hiker, hunter, or just a regular guy that never touches a blade of grass. Anyone who has a SOG knife understands why they’re more expensive than their competition. The SOG multi-tool features 16 hand tools, including a screwdriver, bottle opener, bone saw, knife, and a blasting cap crimper. My favorite feature of this multi-tool is the assisted opening for all tools. I have a really bad addiction to biting my fingernails and I have a lot of trouble getting multi-tools open. The SOG multi-tool allows me to open each tool with little to no work with the mechanical assist. The black oxide coating on the multi-tool provides the durability and longevity you’d expect with an $80 piece of equipment. No matter what you carry in your kit, this multi-tool is a must-own for a piece of equipment that will make your life easier and potentially save your life in a pinch with the 2.5" serrated blade.

Glock 19 Gen5 

Let’s have an honest moment and acknowledge that Glock is the king of striker-fired pistols and the Glock 19 Gen 5 is one of the best guns produced today. This is an outstanding gun to carry in your pack because of the overall firepower (15+1) and reliability of a Glock pistol. The Gen 5 provides better precision with the new barrel and a more ergonomic grip, even if you’re sweating and having to pull your gun in a hurry. If you want to learn more about the Glock 19, read our blog Glock 19 | Definitive Review.

I’d always carry hollow points as my self-defense gun because even with thicker skin and hide, bears, wolves, mountain lions, or any other Apex Predator out there will not stay around after taking a clip of 9mm hollow points. There is a reason those animals have survived for so long, they know how to stay safe, a few shots in the air will also prevent you from having to take the life of an animal. There have been times where I’d fire a couple of rounds into an empty canyon to scare a curious bear or wolf pack.

What are Other Items to Consider?

• I always feel like at the end of a really long I appreciate carrying extra water, but never at the start of a hike. It’s tedious and adds weight, but I believe ensuring you have enough drinking water is essential (given most of our bodies are made of water). 
• Extra socks and underwear are something that I never leave the house with, let alone venture into the woods without (JK…kinda). All jokes aside, whether you sweat a lot from your feet or cross waterways at any time, you must take care of your dogs! Extra socks will keep your body temp better regulated, feet healthy, and body moving for the length you need to move. 
• Extra batteries, 550 cord, and sunscreen, and bug repellent wipes are always in my pack, no matter where I go. 550 cord is one of the most versatile tools you can ever carry. In the military, we make jokes about how we use that and ducktape for everything. It’s incredibly strong and can even support your body weight if needed (we’ve used it to pull a humvee out of the mud when we weren’t supposed to be driving in the heavy rain).  
• I always make sure to carry a portable phone charger with me because you just never know when you’re going to need it. If you ever have to make an emergency call in the wilderness, it would be a shame to have a dead cell phone because you didn’t take time to prepare.