A small joy on the trail – actually, no, make it a big one – is finding an item exactly where you thought it would be in your backpack, tent or stuff sack. (And yes, I’m fun to hike with. Why you ask?) On the other hand, going on a disorganized trip can ruin your time in the woods. Staying organized on the track has always involved varying degrees of Tetris gear, which requires a lot of skill and usually leaves dead space; the PackStack Hillsound change that. The PackStack is a half-moon-shaped zippered nylon pouch that expands to hold diapers, accessories, or whatever you choose to store inside. Using one PackStack even begets using another: one nests neatly above the first, allowing you to maximize every square inch of storage space. “Using two PackStacks — a larger one to hold my clothes and a smaller one for my odds and ends — felt like storing them in a dresser at home,” one editor said after a five-day excursion to through the Parque Internacional de Panama. La Amistad. “Everything inside stayed neatly stored, and removing the bags and putting them back on was a breeze.”
Hillsound offers the PackStack in a regular version ($17+) as well as a waterproof model ($29+) that’s seam-sealed and features a waterproof zipper. The regular and waterproof versions come in a size suitable for backpacks between 40 and 60 litres, as well as one for behemoths over 60 litres; both of these sizes come in short and tall varieties. Models range in capacity from 5.6 liters (40 liters, short) to 11.1 liters (60 liters, tall) and weigh 3.3 to 4.3 ounces. All PackStacks are made from 210 Denier Cordura Lite, which has stood up to months of heavy use without tears or holes. That’s good, since we plan to take the PackStack on every multi-day mission for years to come.
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