1. Pack Boxes - are used in almost all systems of packing. They are used in pairs, and vary in size with an average of about 22" in length, 11" in depth and 16" in height. Larger animals can carry proportionally larger boxes. They are hung from the pack tree either with loops or hooks or are suspended with slings of rope or "pack slings". Boxes are used to protect breakable items, to provide better organization of small items, to provide storage while in camp, and to be used as tables or seats. Pack boxes made of aluminum or steel with locking lids can be used for bear-proof storage of food. The Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee certifies specific types of panniers and pack boxes.
2. Pack Slings - May be of rope as in the Decker packing system or made of leather straps attached to a bar that is slung from the pack saddles with loops. At the bar they are usually 22" wide and have straps up to 7' in length. They are useful to sling pack boxes, duffel bags, bales of hay and anything else too large for pack bags or boxes.
3. Pack bags - made of leather, canvas, man made fabric or a combination of these, and use loops to suspend them from the pack tree. They may be open-topped or covered. Pack bags are soft sided, making them more flexible to use than a box. They are useful for packing small items, duffel bags, sacks of grain, etc.
4. Mantied Packs - Usually used on Decker saddles - are bundles of camp gear and equipment that are wrapped in canvas and tied into equally weighted pairs to be slung with rope from the pack saddle. Unusually shaped items, bales of hay, and a wide assortment of items may be side loaded in this manner.
Other equipment needed for most packing systems follows:
1. Lash Rope - A rope with a lash cinch that is used to tie the "diamond" and other hitches to secure loads to pack animals. Depending on the kind of hitch tied, the rope can vary in length from 35' to 50' and usually either 3/8" to 1/2" in diameter. Manila, multi-filament poly plus, nylon or cotton may be used. Nylon is the strongest and stays soft when wet, but tends to stretch when new. Cotton is easiest on the hands, but is least durable and is miserable when wet. The lash cinch is made with a ring in one end and a specially designed hook in the other. The cinch body can be made of leather, canvas or mohair and may vary in length from 25" to 35".
2. Pack Cover (Mantie) - This is used to protect the pack from water or dust. It is usually made of canvas or cotton duck and varies in size with the smallest about 5' x 7'. (A mantie of 7' x 8' will handle even the largest loads you might wish to sling.) They sometimes have grommets in corners to facilitate use in setting up camp. A mantie is also useful to cover saddles and pack equipment while in camp.
3. Integrated System - There are several packing systems on the market that integrate side load and top load together in a combination of boxes and bags that are secured to the animal with a system of nylon straps and buckles. This system can be useful to those who do not wish to master the various rope hitches used.
4. Over the Saddle Pack Bags - There are two pack bags that are fastened together at the top and are designed to be used with an ordinary western saddle. They usually have openings for the pommel and cantle. These types can be stabilized using a pack hitch with lash cinch to help center, balance, and contain the load on the saddle properly, making it much easier on the horse. Over the saddle pack bags are handy to use when an additional riding saddle is needed after camp is set up.
The appendix lists several useful books that list equipment in much greater detail, and also illustrate the various hitches used in packing animals.