> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.gritlands.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Backpacks: Carry Capacity and Crafting in Gritlands

> Backpacks are the one customization item that affects gameplay — bigger capacity means more loot per run, but more to lose if things go wrong underground.

Every other piece of customization in Gritlands is pure style. Backpacks are the exception. What you carry on your back determines how much you can bring home from a gathering run, how much loot you can pull from the Drains, and how often you need to stop and make the trip back to sell. Capacity is a real constraint in this world, and your bag is one of the first things you should think about upgrading — carefully.

## Why it matters

The difference between a small bag and a large one isn't cosmetic. More carry space means more materials per surface run, more loot per Drains dive, and fewer round trips eating into your time. As you get deeper into gathering, crafting, or trading, your backpack becomes one of the practical limits on how efficiently you can operate.

Choose your bag based on what you're doing, not just on what's biggest. The right capacity for a safe surface run is not the same as the right capacity for a dangerous underground session.

<Info>
  Backpacks are **crafted, not bought off a shelf** — you make them through the Fabrication skill, using materials you've gathered or traded for. That means bags run through the player economy: a gatherer who needs more carry space is business for a skilled crafter. Invest in Fabrication early or build a relationship with someone who has.
</Info>

## Weighing it up

Bigger is not always better. Every slot of extra capacity you carry into a danger zone is extra capacity that can be lost if a run goes wrong.

<Warning>
  A bigger bag is a **bigger target** in the Drains. The more you're carrying when you enter a danger zone, the more you stand to lose if you go down. High capacity is a tool, not a free upgrade — sometimes carrying light is the smartest decision you can make.
</Warning>

<Tip>
  Match your bag load to your plan before you leave the door. Fill it up for a safe surface gathering run where the risk is low. Carry only what you need — and can afford to lose — on a risky trip underground. Plan your load, not just your route.
</Tip>