I like to be organised with my outdoor clothing and equipment. I also like to keep things neat and tidy, with minimal extraneous kit to do a job. I suspect you are similar.
These days you can get some very lightweight stuff-sacs and packing systems but the lightest packing system remains no packing system at all.
Here is a neat trick to pack your outdoor jacket so it stays tidy and takes up less room in your rucksack.
This method only takes a few seconds and helps keep you organised while out and about.
Step 1: Lay Out Your Outdoor Jacket
Step: 2: Fold in the Arms of Your Jacket
Step 3: Fold and Roll the Body of the Jacket
Step 4: Pack the Body of the Jacket Into the Hood
Step 5: Stow Your Jacket Neatly
Folding Breathable Membranes
This method can be used to fold and stow cotton smocks, or Ventile, Gore-tex, Event and similar material jackets. It works with heavyweight jackets such as the Swazi Tahr and Norrona Recon (used in the pics above) as well as lightweight mountain jackets such as the RAB Super Dru. It also works with softshell jackets.
Please note: Repeated folding of breathable membranes such as Gore-Tex or Event in exactly the same place can weaken the membrane there. So it is best not to make the folds in your jacket too sharp or to fold each time in exactly the same place. Just fold loosely as in the pics above and you’ll be fine.
A Final Tip on Zips
You may have noticed the zip of the jacket in the photos above wasn’t done up. I always pack my jackets with the zip open. This means if I’m cold and or need to put on my jacket quickly, I don’t have to fiddle getting the zip open first. This doesn’t sound much but if your fingers are cold, it can make a big difference to how quickly you get inside your jacket.
If you like this please click the ‘like’ button below or leave a quick comment.
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Par
This is a neat trick (I learnt it decades ago and with the old Swedish army raincoat).
For garments with no hood I simply fold them in thirds lenght-wise, fold the bottom double (say 20-25 cm), and then roll/fold the rest of the garment from the other end. The folded up bottom end forms a pocket, jut like you use the hood. I have used the same techniqe for small tarps, groundsheets, etc. Even plastic bags from the grocery store gets this treatment.
Paul Kirtley
Hej Par!
Yes, yesterday someone told me that this trick is in the Swedish army manual. That’s not where I learned it from but I suspect the person who showed me learned it from that source.
Thanks for the extra info. It sounds like you have the most organised grocery store bags of anyone I know! 🙂
All the best,
Paul
Hans
See http://www.soldf.com/regnstall90.html place for the folding instructions for Swedish army way. especially note that the way the pants are folded up inside the jacket. There is a additional trick to it, by leaving the ends of the rainpant´s belt outside hood, You can wear the whole thing as a hip pack.
Paul Kirtley
Thanks for the link Hans.
Joep
Nice trick 🙂 When you are wearing more modern and lightweight fabrics, most of the time it is also possible you “fold” your jacket of rain pants inside a side pocket.
Paul Kirtley
Hey Joep
Good to hear from you. Yes, the very lightweight jackets and trousers available today seem to pack down to almost nothing. Great for very lightweight hiking, etc.
All the best,
Paul
Duane
Have folded jackets exactly the same way for years, can’t remember where i learnt it now. The same teqnique works well for jackets without hoods, just tie a string round them or use an elastic band, keeps the jacket nice and small in your pack 🙂
Paul Kirtley
Hi Duane
Thanks for your comment. Yep, I’m the same – I can’t help keeping everything folded and organised. I tend to roll up waterproof trousers and use elastic bands, rather than include them with the jacket (as I use jackets much more often than overtrousers). I find the elastic bands keep the trousers packed small.
All the best,
Paul
Ray
I made a larger paracord bracelet which I use to keep my jacket attached to the outside of my bag when I am not wearing it, never seen this method before but I will be using it from now on.
Ray
Paul Kirtley
Hi Ray
I’m glad you found this useful. Works in town too! 🙂
All the best,
Paul
MARK STANDEN
good tip = all tips are good if they save time, effort and space . keep them coming. thanks
Paul Kirtley
Hi Mark
There’ll be some more tips & tricks coming. Glad you liked this one.
All the best,
Paul
Elen Sentier
Yay, it’s a good tip … Dad taught me to do that back in the last century and I still find it works :-), most of the time.
Paul Kirtley
The tried and tested tips are usually the best 🙂
hedgey
Nice trick Paul, i do the same, it then lives in the top pocket of my rucksack until its needed, wish i could do the same with my thick warm fleece jacket.
All the best
HEDGEY
Paul Kirtley
Hi Hedgey
Good to hear I’m in good company.
I have another trick for packing bulky warm layers such as fleeces and duvet jackets – watch this space! 🙂
All the best,
Paul
John Hands
That’s a canny way to fold up kit, keep up the good work.
Paul Kirtley
Thanks John. We’ll do our best!
Simon Briggs
Wow, nice one. A surprisingly simple, but effective and useful tip which I will certainly use myself. Thanks and keep the tips coming!
Simon
Paul Kirtley
Hi Simon,
Glad you like it. I think you’ll find lots of uses for this tip and others we have in store.
All the best,
Paul
Adrian Boots
I think the hints and tips idea is great – keep them coming! Best of luck with it all Paul!!
Take care,
Adrian
Paul Kirtley
Hi Adrian
It’s good to hear from you. Thanks for your comment and support 🙂
Best wishes,
Paul
Dave Cohen
Allways nice to get these tip reminders paul. Keeps one from becoming sloppy! Great stuff. Keep them them coming!
Paul Kirtley
Thanks Dave. I’ll do my best 🙂
gregorio capra
exellent input,just tested it with warm jacket it works a treat !
that will come handy on the next mountain marathon were I need to go ultralight!
Paul Kirtley
Hi Greg,
Good to hear from you. I’m pleased you’ll be able to put this to practical use and apply it to what you are doing. I suspect the navigation training has also come in useful for your mountain marathons?
All the best,
Paul
Chrissy Blakeman
Hi Paul .. You taught me this method on one of your bushcraft events and it made such a difference.
It worked really well .. was so much easier to pack away into my rucksack and I was better organised for it …. ‘It’s the little things ….’ and I still do it!
Chrissy
Paul Kirtley
Hi Chrissy,
Lovely to hear from you. I’m glad you remembered this 🙂 It is indeed the little things…
All the best,
Paul
Dave
Great technic Paul, this would work great for a Poncho as well.
Cheers,
Dave.
Paul Kirtley
Hi Dave,
Let us know if it works with your poncho.
Cheers,
Paul
Nige
Top tip Paul, just tried it one of my goretex jackets on the living room floor…brilliant, so easy. Usually roll them up, but never got packed so small and neat!
Cheers
Nige.
Paul Kirtley
Good stuff Nige. You’ll be applying it to all sorts of garments before you know it… 🙂
Cheers,
Paul
David
Hi Nige,
good way to fold your jacket for packing. sometimes if Im not packing it away but carrying it, I keep the sleeves out and use them to wrap around my waist like a belt.
Thanks
David
Paul Kirtley
Good extra tip David. Thanks.
Mark H
Another top tip – just tried it on my Tahr, works a treat. Thank you Paul.
Best
Mark
Paul Kirtley
Hey Mark
No worries. Glad you found it useful.
ATB
Paul
Curlysue
Thanks for the tip.
Tim Weyman
Folding can be fun 🙂
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUZfsohErgY
It’s odd how being able to do this and make a t towel chicken can entertain people for ages…no really it can 🙂
Tim
Alan
Great tip Paul,have since rolled my jacket in that manner, great for us interested and enthusiastic novices,just like to thank you and your team for the best Good Friday ever.
Best Wishes and Kind Regards
Alan Reade
Paul Kirtley
Hi Alan,
Good to hear from you. It was great to meet you on the Bushcraft Essentials Course. We really enjoyed teaching you and your group. Everyone was so enthusiastic and the whole group got on so well. I think you all got a huge amount from the course as a result 🙂
I’m glad that our tips and tricks are continuing to help you out too.
Keep in touch.
Warm regards,
Paul.
DaveBromley
This is simple but effective, Bushcraft in a nutshell
Dave
Paul Kirtley
Simple and effective – just like your comment! Thanks Dave
Carl
Thanks!
Will pass that tip onto our Scouts.
Paul Kirtley
Great! You’re very welcome Carl 🙂
Roberta Spencer
Glad to see you use your common sense welcome at mine any time – Thanks X
Paul Kirtley
Thanks Roberta 🙂
the interceptor boy
nice neat trick, Paul, you can also secure the jacket once folded with the elastic cord on the back of the hood.
cheers the interceptor boy.
Paul Kirtley
Hi Interceptor Boy,
Yep, that’s a good additional tip. Henry on the Frontier team attaches his jacket to his belt that way.
Cheers,
Paul
Pat
That looks like a handy way of stowing my smock until its needed. I normally strap it to the back of my pack but I will give this way a go. As usual keep up the good work I think all the articles are great and I try to pass them on to cubs with an interest in the outdoors.
Paul Kirtley
Hi Pat,
Thanks for your comment. I hope you find this one useful. Some people I’ve shown this to personally tend to pack absolutely everything they can like this now. It tidies up your packing for a trip so much…
All the best,
Paul
Adrian Bell
Finally a good use for built in hoods ! I’ve just re-proofed all my jackets, when they’re dry I’ll give it a go. Thank Q
Paul Kirtley
Hi Adrian,
I’m glad you liked this idea. I hope it works well for you.
All the best,
Paul
Steve Colsell
As a complete novice to Bushcraft, but knowing the challenge of maintaining an organised rucksack, I thought this was great little tip. The black art of effective packing for a day in the woods is something I’d love more hints and tips on. Thanks Paul!
Paul Kirtley
Hi Steve,
Good to hear from you. I’m glad you found tip one useful. I’ll see what else I can pull out to the bag 😉
All the best,
Paul
Jim
Neat & tidy! We can learn a lot from the military. We learned to make angles in our sheets to make a nice tight bed and I use this technique today to fold Tyvek sheet over my bedroll and it works like magic. Just do it backwards and seal the sides with tarp clips. Any tips on spices to take out in the woods?
Rody Klop
Good trick. I seldom use it though, mostly in the summer. Use a cord with 2 loops and carry it as a roll.
Albara
you are awesome! saved me lots of space, Thanks!
Paul Kirtley
My pleasure Albara. Glad it was useful!
All the best,
Paul
Bill Jackson
I particularly like the suggestion of packing the jacket open and ready to wear, no fumbling with frozen fingers.
In general it’s important to keep things stowed in an organized and consistent way.
I just did four days on the alpine ridges of Strathcona Park, Vancouver Island, Canada, where the weather can be fairly dramatic. Am currently reconsidering my gear arrangements, so your tip was very timely for me.
Vincent
Great idea with the jacket, saves tying it round your waist.
Keep the tips coming Paul
Paul Kirtley
Will do Vincent. Thanks for the feedback 🙂
Melissa Nadin
Great tip, will know for future reference.
Paul Kirtley
Glad it was useful 🙂
Hampton
Neat trick I’ll be sure to use it for my next trip
Paul Kirtley
Glad you liked it! 🙂
Cyril Flannigan
Great tip, simple and useful ….
Thanks Paul 🙂
Jim
Hi Paul,
A great tip indeed, nice use of the hood! I saw something similar to what Par mentioned on Youtube as well for other garments. It’s how I pack all my clothes now. Get them rectangular (or near enough) fold up the hem 25-50mm (1″-2″ for the non-metric folk) roll-up towards the hem and the fold the outside bit of the hem over to close up the parcel. Works a treat. Here’s another tip, if you pack a change of footwear; camp slippers or whatever, roll up your spare socks and put them in the other shoes.
Trevor
Great tips. Very similar to how I was shown in the service.
Keep up the work as many folks starting out in the outdoors can learn from them.
Sean
I love this tip, pretty much turns any hooded jacket into a “pack a mac”.
Barry Dutton
I do this sort of thing sometimes, but not all the time. I am not as organized as you but recently I watched a YT video by the Appalachian Yoda (that is what I call him lol, he likes it) — Dave at ReallyBigMoneky1 — you likely know of him. He is VERY smart outdoorsy and making gear wise. He made similar points to not folding sharp corner or using the same creases/fold points to certain gear I had not thought of — but which makes sense.
— So if you and him both say it, of course it is true! (: ATB man. Did you notice any traffic in terms of me sharing your post on Linked In recently? I tried to do something different, like I said, nothing ever shared of bushcraft there on LI before. Just curious. I know you get hits every day from all over.
Dave H.
Hi Paul thanks for another useful tip on clothes storage. I used a similar method, using the hood of the coat in more of a sack shape with my over-trousers and gloves in the hood too. your method looks a lot flatter. I always try to roll my other clothes as they stay neater and, as you said, avoids damaging treated or “Gortex” fabrics. All the best love the tips and tricks.
Keep safe and sharing, Dave.
Nick
Hi Paul
Great little tip this! I’ve been doing this for many years and always helps to keep the rucksack neatly packed. Like you, I did my MLS, as well as many years of D of E, PTV, Mountaneering & camping. In 35 yrs I still do this and it helps so much when you need to get your coat and other layers out quickly!
Really appreciate your blogs and videos & look forward to meeting up in the future to experience a truly beneficial course in Bushcraft & Woodmanship.
Very best to you & yours
Nick
Ian
Very simple and effective
Paul Kirtley
The best things often are 🙂
Glad you like it Ian.
Warm regards,
Paul
Jonathan
It’s many small incremental steps like this that add up to make a huge difference.
Thanks for a great tip
Paul Kirtley
Indeed Jonathan. Very well put. The difference is in the detail 🙂
Warm regards,
Paul
Stephen Tomlinson
A timely tip Paul as I’m packing for a three month trip to Spain & Portugal! Look forward to reading and watching the blogs and posts. The on line course has proved really good too, both for the information and as a refresher tool. Keep up the good work!
John carragher
Hi Paul,
Very useful tip packs away very compact neat in the rucksack .
Many thanks,
John
Andy
Hi Paul,an excellent demo I have a desert ventile smock,will fold it as you suggested,thanks mate
Paul Kirtley
Glad this will be useful to you Andy.
Ross Baker
Hi Paul,what a great tip…an ideal space saver in your day sack…keep up the good work,
Spot on Paul.
Best
Regards
Ross
Ross Baker
Hi Paul,what a great tip…an ideal space saver in your day sack…
Spot on Paul.
Best
Regards
Ross
Mercedes
Awesome, love the trick to folding the outdoor jackets. So helpful I did this trick to all my outdoor jackets.
Thanks!
Michael Meadows
Thanks Paul,
I’ll add this to my growing bag of tricks!
Tom
Hi Paul,
As always, thank you for all the tips and videos. You jogged an old memory for me, where a friend first taught me this, with the old DPM smock. They used to fold them into the internal poachers style pocket, it the became an improvised pillow.
All the best
Tom
Chris Pearce
Hi Paul
Brilliant tip, thanks I’m used to just stuffing a jacket in my rucksack and making do so this tip helps out a lot in getting outdoors organised . Thank you
Dave I.
Never thought of folding into the hood…..good one!
Paul Kirtley
Glad you liked the idea Dave. I hope you find it useful.
Warm regards,
Paul