What's In A Pack?

Volunteer K9 SAR handlers usually carry on average about 25 lbs of gear in their packs.  Some members pride themselves on streamlining their packs into a compact, slim, and extremely light set up by buying lightweight materials and finding items that can serve multiple uses.  These packs are usually very organized with everything in color coded stuff sacks and filling every possible nook and cranny in their packs.  Others tend to not worry so much about the end result of weight and organization.  These members tend to look like beasts of burden with their large packs and if they plan to spend several weeks out in the field.

Everyone has their favorite item that they keep in their pack.  Something that is either super light, or so ingenious, or amazingly versatile that they have to show it off whenever they get the chance.  For me, it is my little four-sectioned pencil case.  It easily holds all those little items and keeps them in a way that everything can be easily seen and gotten too.  It holds my aspirin, a space blanket, spare shoelaces, spare light bulbs, a little pocket knife, sunscreen, spare whistle, a few commonly used first aid items, parachute cord, and so much more.

This pack item is easily gotten to without me even having to take off my pack.

Added to the weight of a pack would be enough water for both you AND your dog!  This may be considered one of the more important items that you bring out into the field, however, to your dog, the SINGLE most important item...

...their reward toy!