IndustrialPlaid
I'm happy with my ULA Catalyst as a one-size-fits-all pack, but I think that when it gets too shredded to repair I'm going to give external frame packs another try.
I have a very similar setup, perhaps also owing to being a larger individual.
I don't think that water bottles, headlamps, trowels, and towels belong in the luxury category. Camp chair, definitely, especially if you already have a bearvault to sit on.
How do you carry your bear can on/in your pack?
Classic. I have a Vargo pot with a frying pan lid that works great for cooking up things like eggs and spam.
People argue over how essential or not these are, and it depends on where you plan to go, but I always carry a bear canister, even if I have the option to toss a sack over a tree branch. It doubles as a stool, which is nice, and after a really long day I don't have to spend any time looking for the perfect tree limb and tossing a line over it. All I have to do is find a tucked-away corner and nestle it in for the night. Plus, mice can't chew their way into it.
I also pack an inflatable pillow with a washable little pillow case (Sea to Summit Aeros). I've used spare clothes in a bag before, and it's worth the slight weight penalty to have a substantially more comfortable night's sleep.
Good point. Bringing some fresh stuff for the first few meals helps a lot. Avocados and hard cheese are also things that I'm willing to pack in so that I can help fresh stuff for that much longer.
We got one of these: https://www.bestbuy.com/site/cosori-premium-stainless-steel-food-dehydrator-silver/6420994.p?skuId=6420994
It's all stainless and the controls are really nice. We got ours because making our own dehydrated meals is a lot more affordable than buying pre-made. That said, it's really nice to dump some hot water in a bag and 5 minutes later have pre-made gourmet meal.
I've done that with those salmon pouches. Definitely a good ratio of work to satisfaction.
For sure. Meals like that are a big morale booster for me. Ending a cold, rainy day with cold-soaked noodles or a protein bar or similar would be pretty soul-crushing in comparison, especially if your tent neighbor is enjoying some hot and hearty.
Ooooh I've been looking for a source for dehydrated beans, thanks. Who knew that it would be...dehydrated...beans...dot com...
And rice and beans definitely are a great base for all kinds of recipes. I'd go further than the Skurka recipe and say that depending on what spices, sauce, and veggies you use, you actually have the template for a whole variety of backpacking recipes, which is always nice to keep things from getting boring.
Those are all good points. I would still disagree with the nalgene because I consider having a spare water container a just-in-case necessity (I just roll up a spare one liter soft bottle into a side pocket).
I carry my gear quite similarly, with some of the differences being that I pack my tent sideways on top of my bag/quilt, and spread the footprint out on top of that. My bear can fit sideways in my pack, so that gets placed at the top of the stack and the rolltop lid closes nicely over the whole thing.