I'm a Granite Gear pack user so I'm curious: for those of you who use applicable packs (i.e. MLD, SMD, ULA), what do you use the large exterior mesh pockets for?

I always look at them and think that I'd struggle a bit to put them to good use. Due to being a long time Granite Gear user, I'm just very used to having everything stored inside the pack.

I'm curious how everyone puts them to use.

Seems like they could be cool, but aren't my style.

Not sure how big your pockets are but in the front pocket of the ULA Circuit I put my tent(upsidedown) , rain jacket and rain pants (the pants are about the size of a tennis ball) and occasionally, if the weather is dry, my wet socks.
Franco
After reading some of the other comments..
Inside the side pockets I have my "Gatorade" 600 ml bottle (usually with Endurance) and a 1l to 1.5 L bottle in the other. Munchies inside the right hand hip belt pocket and camera/mini tripod/bandanna/monocular and Squirt in the other.

Edited by Franco on 12/12/2008 00:30:16 MST.

In my SMD Essence pack I put my tent or hammock in the long mesh pocket on the left. This avoids having wet tarps or tents inside my pack. Very nice also, because I can pack up my pack in the tent when it is raining, zip it closed, and then get out and fold up the tent and slide it in the mesh pocket without having to reopen the pack. Water/snacks go in the right lower mesh pocket and then 1st aid kit and other small items I need easy access to along the trail go in the upper right mesh pocket. I used to have a Granite Gear Nimbus Latitude.

-Mark

ULA Catalyst user here. I keep my gatorade bottle in the left pocket. The right pocket is used for different things depending on the season. Maps, extra water for the desert, snacks, and usually extra gloves/hat in the winter. What I keep in the main pocket also depends, but it's usually stuff I need really quick access to. TP, trowel, rain gear. I also keep my tent poles in there as well as the wet groundcloth/tarp.

Basically, I use them for a lot things depending on conditions. My pack is extremely versatile, probably why a lot of PCT hikers use it.

I did pick up an osprey daypack which has a similar setup, but uses the stretch pockets. I must say, I do like the stretch material a lot.

Dave:

There are as many "packing styles" as there are hikers.

But I like to put on the outside the stuff that I need during the day:

1. Tent -- strapped outside. At the end, I can access the tent without opening up the pack -- great for rainy days. Even better, when striking camp, I can pack up in the safety of my tent -- then put on rain gear, take down and pack up the tent, attach it outside the pack -- and be ready to go.

2. Rain jacket, hat, lunch and first aid kit -- all in the large front pocket. I use ziploc bags to protect lunch and first aid kit.

3. Camera - front hip belt pocket.

4. DEET, sunblock, lip balm - second front left hip belt pocket.

5. Water bottle, small filter/chemicals -- side mesh pocket

6. Second water bottle - second side mesh pocket

Since pretty much everything I need is on the outside, I use a large 'contractor bag' as a pack liner -- twist it tight -- close up and strap down the pack -- and everything's rainproof.

Edited by ben2world on 12/12/2008 00:13:29 MST.

I won't repeat what others have said, but the mesh pockets (SMD Essence) are great for drying out (or storing wet) gear, tents, tarps....

Having exterior pockets means you can bring less stuff sacks for your gear. You can save 1-2 oz buy leaving stuff sacks at home and have quick and easy access to your GEAR!!!!

I have the ULA Circuit, and find the outside pockets invaluable. It's a great design feature having them.
I try deep the big outside pocket empty except for my sitmat, or if my shelter is wet I can leave it there to dry during the day.
I keep my map, wind shirt and half a liter of water within easy reach in one side pocket, and my poncho in the other side pocket. This way I don't have to stop hiking to put on my poncho- I just reach behind and grab it and throw it over me and the pack. When I stop for a break, I just grab the windshirt without having to open the pack and look for it.
The hip belt pockets contain my binoculars in one, and my bandana, lamp, knife, compass and snacks in the other.
I find it a very comfortable system that lets me keep moving without having to stop and take off the pack to get things I use all the time.

cheers,
fred

Thanks for the input. I should have been more clear I think: I was mostly wondering about the large center pocket and not the side pockets (Granite Gear packs have analagous mesh side pockets).

I think the most compelling reason for the big center pocket is for storing a wet tent or tarp.

I don't know though. I think I'd just feel off kilter with all that stuff on the outside of my bag. I'm such a creature of habit at this point.

Mesh outer pockets seem to be an American thing. We don't use them in Oz for several reasons:

Mesh pockets can be damaged and lose the contents. Great!

Stuff in the main 'front' pocket is miles from your back: the worst position for any weight. Stupid.

Stuff in side pockets catch on the scrub and get ripped out.

It is a sign of an experienced walker here in Oz that their pack is clean with nothing on the outside. Only novices have gear festooning the outside of their pack. This applies especially to foam mats on the outside: they leave a trail of shredded foam behind the novice. LNT!

Exception: foam mats are sometimes carried IN COVERS on the outside of a pack on ski trips.

Cheers

That's kind of a Snobby outlook Rodger. My exterior back pocket holds a 10 oz tarp (No reason to carry a 0.5 oz tarp stuff sack) Not Heavy or stupid. To each is there own- HYOH!

Roger,
If design follows from requirements, the reason for the difference between Aussie packs and US packs becomes clear: the requirements are, for the most part, different. I have not had the pleasure of visiting OZ, but I have followed your posts enough to know that the terrain the denizens of OZ hike in is much less forgiving than over here in La La Land. The vast majority of hiking here is done on (well) maintained trails where the shredding of mesh pockets is not a significant problem and the advantages/benefits of weight savings and convenience become the preeminent design requirements. In spite of the impressions you may have gained by observing our political process from afar, we are not all village idiots and there are reasons, for the most part well thought out, for why we do what we do. Off trail hiking and climbing are another matter entirely, and people who are adept at either have learned, as have you, not to let it all hang out.
Cheers,
Tom

Obviously for climbing and real bushbashing Roger's comments apply, and in particular it is upsetting seeing those bits of blue foam close to well frequented camp sites. However if you were to see me from the front you would have no clue that I have a tent (keep in mind that the Contrail is 700g and about the size of a 1.5l bottle) and some rain gear in my front pocket. But yes I would not want to have a 3 kg tent there...( or 4x Contrails....)
Franco

Hmmm... lots and lots of people carry their sleeping pads on the outside -- plus tons of other things hanging at the sides -- and I seldom if ever see pieces of foam littered along the trail...

Hi Tom and Jay

> That's kind of a Snobby outlook
It wasn't meant to be snobby: sorry if you took it that way.

> My exterior back pocket holds a 10 oz tarp
The backwards load on your shoulders would be reduced if you put that tarp on top of your pack. That's just physics - some might say logic.
Putting a load in side pockets does not worsen the pull on your shoulders nearly as much, and indeed I put some of our foam mats on the side of my pack when ski-touring. That makes it easy for me use them to sit on during the day, and increases the 'secure' space available in my pack for the rest of the winter gear.

> know that the terrain the denizens of OZ hike in is much less forgiving than over here ...
> The vast majority of hiking here is done on (well) maintained trails where the
> shredding of mesh pockets is not a significant problem
Point taken Tom. I guess old habits die hard! I had to sit and think a bit before I tied those foam pads (in nylon sleeves!) to the sides of my pack.

While most of our walking here is done off-trail, I have to admit that we have enjoyed the European long-distance trails, and sometimes I wonder whether we might benefit from a few more here. In some ways, you in the USA are very lucky with all your trails.

> HYOH
Yep, agree entirely.
It's rained heavily all night here, and now the weather is climbing fast to 35 C and 90% RH. Sigh.

Cheers

Roger,
"and sometimes I wonder whether we might benefit from a few more here." Probably, but that would make things easy and then you wouldn't be Aussies, and the world would be the poorer for it. "In some ways, you in the USA are very lucky with all your trails." You are right about that, mate. It has opened up some of the most beautiful country on God's green earth to generations of Americans, and changed countless lives in the process. Let's hope we have the great good sense to remember that and not let it all slip away. The Forces of Darkness are definitely chipping away at our priceless heritage.
Cheers,
Tom

My external pocket sees a lot of use, and at times, it seems to even carry more than the internal pocket!

With the exception of my sleeping bag, my insulation clothing, and my camp/cookware I'll keep just about everything in there at one point or another.

The items I primarily store in the outer mesh pocket are:

Raincoat
Map(s)
Packout/trash ziploc
Empty platypus

When not in use, all of these items have a dedicated home in the outer mesh pocket.

When my Platypus is full (cameling), I sometimes keep it in the outer mesh pocket too; otherwise I just keep it inside the pack.

The outer mesh pocket is also good to keep your wet shelter in for the first few hours of your morning trek.

It seems like these ideas are in line with everyone else; so it is clear that you can make plenty of use of your outer mesh pocket!