Well, I like the clothes-in-the-zip-lock trick because it lets me segregate things: T-shirts in one, underwear in another, socks in a third, and so on. So I can use differently sized bags for different batches of stuff, depending on what I聮m storing.
Sea to Summit eVent Compression Dry Sack
eVent Compression Dry SackBut certainly, compression sacks make a lot of sense, particularly if you can squeeze everything into one sack. And Sea to Summit聮s compression bags (seatosummit.com) probably are the best ones out there right now. They have bottom panels made from eVent, a waterproof-breathable fabric also found in a handful of outdoor jackets (such as those from Integral Designs; integraldesigns.com). Because eVent is air-permeable, a bag made from it doesn聮t need a valve聴the fabric itself lets the air out, the compression straps hold it all in place. The bulk of the bag is made from a polyurethane-coated material for maximum waterproofness. They聮re moderately expensive bags, but not too bad聴$30 gets you an 8X18″ bag with 854 cubic inches of capacity.
As for the Ursack, nothing else out there is quite like it. Some readers will know that the Ursack ($65 for a 650-cubic-inch bag; ursack.com) is a bear-resistant food bag designed to replace bulky, difficult-to-carry hard containers. It聮s made from a super-tough material that bears find nearly impossible to penetrate. The idea is that you put your food in the Ursack and tie it to a tree, ten bears can聮t haul it off. The bear can, of course, crush the hell out of the food inside the sack, so for that reason the Ursack people now offer an optional aluminum liner. And it is highly recommended that food is first placed inside a waterproof, odor-proof liner bag. The Ursack has gained some acceptance among the bear-handling community, and it seems like a good alternative to containers like the Garcia hard container ($70; rei.com).
You聮ve seen our picks for 2007 Gear of the Year, and now the entire
国产吃瓜黑料 Summer Buyer聮s Guide is online. Check out this year聮s more than 400 must-have gear items, including backpacks.