I finally tried carrying my tent poles inside my pack instead of strapped outside

I always strapped my tent poles to the outside of my pack on the Pacific Crest Trail, thinking it saved space. Last trip I shoved them inside vertically and my balance felt way better on uneven ground. Has anyone else noticed a difference in how their pack handles with poles inside?

3 comments

3 Comments

williams.sage29d ago

I've done it both ways. Inside feels way more stable for off-camber stuff.

sandra_bennett5929d ago

You said inside feels way more stable for off-camber stuff, @williams.sage, and I couldn't agree more. I tried the outside line once on a steep, rocky section and felt like I was gonna tip over the whole time. Inside just lets you keep your weight lower and the bike more planted, especially when the ground is loose. It's one of those things that sounds backwards but works SO much better in practice. I'll take inside every time now, no question about it.

parkerbrown29d ago

And it's funny because that same principle applies to so much else in life too. Like when you're carrying a heavy box up stairs, you naturally hug it close to your body instead of holding it out. Or even walking on a slippery sidewalk, you keep your center of gravity low and your steps short. @williams.sage's point about stability makes total sense when you think about it that way. It's just basic physics that most people ignore until they almost eat dirt.