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. Unusually shaped items, bales of hay, and a wide assortment of items may be side loaded in this manner. 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. 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'. 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.