Fold Or Roll When Packing?

[Fluppy]

Have heard from numerous people that rolling is the way to go when packing clothes etc into your backpack. What do others think?

Also, I am planning to trek Kokoda in Oct '09, so am starting to buy things now. In what order should I pack things? eg – towels, then clothes, then toiletries? Toiletries, then towels, then clothes?

I am a bit confused as there are other things to pack like small tent, sleeping bag, first aid kit and other bits and pieces. I'm worried I won't fit it all in! (or on)

[Geoff Hardie]

Hi Fluppy,

It sounds like you are carrying a complete pack, i.e. without the use of a porter, If Kokoda is to be your first experience with overnight hiking, full preparation by way of some prior overnight hikes is absolutely vital. How you assemble you pack will boil down to what best works for you. Rolling clothes, I believe, enables you to maintain better order inside the pack. Tent , poles and sometimes your bed roll normally are strapped outside the pack.
Again, If you are carrying a full pack it is essential that your training, as a minimum, incorporates carrying a pack with at least 20kg in weight. It is often stated on this forum that Kokoda is totally different to anything you will experience in Australia. Anyone who chooses to ignore this aspect is headed for severe difficulty and a most uncomfortable crossing.
If all the above scares you too much, I would strongly recommend the hiring a Porter. Further researching of the excellent track notes posted elsewhere on this forum is also highly recommended.

Best wishes for your prepartion.

Geoff Hardie

[Fluppy]

I am in no way even contemplating carrying a pack!! I am 4ft 8" and only weigh about 45kg!! I am hiring a FULL porter, but I will still have to pack things in my pack – how will a porter carry my pack if I have no pack to carry !

I am 30 years of age and am a gymnast with the Special Olympics. Trekking Kokoda is something I've wanted to do my entire life as I have such an enormous respect for those that fought there. I am also trekking to raise awareness for autism.

I wanted to have everything packed just right so that it goes through the airport terminal without any problems and once I get to Port Moresby that it will be just right so I don't have to bug my porter getting stuff in and out all the time (yes, I will have my own day pack, but this will only be comprised of my hydration, 1st aid kit, medication, camera, batteries, film, more film, a chamois handtowel (for sweat), snacks, insect repellent and sunscreen).

[39thdecendant]

[Fluppy]

Thanks – you've been heaps helpful!

[mikmac1959]

G'day
all great advice. One thing i did not do but another more experienced trekker done was purchased a very large,super heavy duty plastic bag from a camping store. He placed that in the inside of his back pack so it lined the entire inside. So when he unzipped the top of his back pack, he opened this bag and placed every thing in side it . Everything was then completely water proof no matter how wet it got!!
I took heavy duty black garbage bags to put every thing in but over time holes were ripped in them!
cheers hope this has been some help

[Fluppy]

[39thdecendant]

Hi Fluppy,
You will not need anything out of your pack when you are walking, if you pack in your day pack your snacks for the day, water, sun lotion, mozzy stuff, raincoat.
So you shouldn't need to take anything out of your main pack once you start, after the first day you will have a better idea of what you will need. Your porter will not mind in the least, as you will find out, they are extreamly obliging, and easy going.

[Fluppy]

Thanks. I have no shame whatsoever in admitting that I am absolutely clueless when it comes to trekking – especially a trek of such magnitude and reverance – which is why I am getting all the advice I can get.

[Freray]

Make sure your 1st aid is in your day pack. You don't want to be looking for people if you ever need it. When it comes to packing, use those space saving plastic bags. It doesn't matter if you roll or fold as you can use these to exclude the air and save space.

[Author]

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