I need a sturdy yet reasonably priced Archaeological field bag?

camping backpack contents image

ruby_7

I have had multiple backpacks since my first field school but it always seems that my trowels cut right through them. I know they make leather sheaths for them but, I know me and I doubt I would actually use them. So do you know of a good sturdy bag that would be great for field work? Thanks :)

Answer
Duluth Trading Company makes some nice canvas, waxed cotton and leather shoulder bags and totes that are reasonably priced and well made. (don't confuse them with Duluth Pack, which is a different company that also makes wonderful canvas bags but they cost an arm and a leg).

http://www.duluthtrading.com

I like the reddish one in the upper right on this page:

https://www.google.com/#q=duluth+trading+company+purses&hl=en&source=univ&tbm=shop&tbo=u&sa=X&ei=Q9FlUZLzBZbk4APR_IHADw&ved=0CEsQsxg&bav=on.2,or.r_qf.&fp=77f4a17ed2126bc8&biw=847&bih=388

I got my first field bags for geology and archaeology field camp from Army surplus stores. If you can find the REAL military surplus bags, especially the ones from NATO or German army stock, they are heavier and better made than the "Made in China" reproduction junk that a lot of supposed "surplus" stores have.

L.L. Bean has some canvas messenger bags that are fairly reasonable too.

By the way, Duluth Trading also makes excellent women's clothing for wearing on field sites including their "firehose canvas" strech cargo pants, vests and shorts and their long sleeved work shirts with the bi-swing back and long tails. Their tee shirts also hold up extremely well and have extra long tails so your butt isn't hanging out when you are crouched over peeling back your excavation unit with a teaspoon and toothbrush. They have great sun hats too, and miscellaneous gee-gaws that come in handy in field camps. The clothes are a little pricey but well worth it. They look great and wear like iron. Watch for clearance sales -- they practically give stuff away sometimes when they change designs and mark down the old stock.

Tip on trowel storage: hardware and building supply and paint stores sell plastic half moon shaped small paint cups with a handle that you can put about a pint of paint in and carry around or even hang on a ladder while painting trim. If you stash one of these in your field bag you can drop your trowels in, tips down, and they won't wear through the material or get mud all over the inside of the bag. I shove my work gloves in the plastic container too, to keep the trowels from shifting around and rattling. You can make a similar pocket holder for them by slicing the top off a cheap plastic flat canteen or flattened shape water bottle (there is a bottled water brand called "Fred" that makes the perfect shape for this, looks like a soft clear plastic gin flask.) http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.somethingtocroweabout.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/fred-water.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.somethingtocroweabout.com/2012/09/25/meet-fred-bottled-water-with-a-personality/&h=775&w=600&sz=53&tbnid=3dNOtMotSN8QlM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=70&zoom=1&usg=__xjnc_4fJIDnLms96th6lnExA5m4=&docid=y4Xi2aqhz_hNBM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=rtZlUcjBOfHE4APzuYGACg&ved=0CHcQ9QEwCA&dur=453

How to find wilderness backpacking areas?

Guerrilla

I'm really starting to get into backpacking and camping, but I'm having one hell of a time finding places to go. I'm trying to find some actual wilderness, but no luck.
Every place I find is either private property, or under the control of a state / national park. I really don't want to trespass on someones property, and most of the state controlled parks don't allow overnight camping, and if they do only allow camping at their designated camping spots full of other campers. Even if I find a place that has "primitive campsites" or "overnight passes," most of them prohibit campfires. It's still gets really cold at night where I'm at, so I'd REALLY like a small cozy fire.

So where do people go wilderness backpacking? Are there even places that aren't private or state owned. Is there just free unclaimed space anymore that I can enjoy? Do people just say screw it and go to a state/national park and do what they want?

I practice "no trace" principles, so it's not like I want to destroy anything, I just want to go into the wilderness with my dog and be free from people, rules, government, permits, campfire bans...

I just want to go into the woods and not be paranoid that some d!ck in a badge is going give me crap and make me go to court for something stupid.

Answer
I guess I'm spoiled because I live in interior Alaska. We have all sorts of camping available from the tourist megagrounds for their rv's to primitive campgrounds and backwoods BLM cabins. Plus there are numerous day hiking trails. If you are in a state park, you need a backcountry permit, but they usually let you stay where you want if hiking outside the tourist areas. Plus, there are hundreds of undeveloped areas you can hike to your hearts content if you can get there, and there are several flight charter services that will take you there.

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