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Follow these guidelines for packing your hiking items into your backpack and balancing the weight for optimal comfort and organization on your next backcountry adventure.
Carrying a heavy backpack around with you can be super uncomfortable, so the ability to properly pack a backpack and distribute weight can be the difference between a long, comfortable trip and a short, painful one.
You should always make an effort to follow certain general guidelines and best practises whenever you pack your backpack for a more comfortable and enjoyable hike. We've got you covered whether you're brand new to camping or just want to brush up on your abilities.
A Guide to Backpacking Packing
A well-packed bag may make even a large quantity of goods feel like less to carry. Choosing the best spots to store your gear will not only help you stay organized, but will also make your hike more enjoyable.
The bottom, the centre, and the top of your backpack should be your primary focus while packing for outdoor activities like camping and hiking.
When packing a backpack, heavy items should be placed in the middle to maintain a steady center of gravity, and vital items should be stashed on top. This way, you won't have to remove your pack and rummage around inside to get what you need.
Prepare Your Backpacking Equipment by Laying it out
The first stage in packing a bag is to lay out all of your gear and determine what may be eliminated.
Things you need on a daily basis:
- Tent/sleeping bag and mat
- Clothing
- Food and cooking equipment
- Other necessities you’ll need during the day
If you take the time to get things in order before you start stuffing your bag, you can: Double-check that you haven't forgotten anything on your backpacking checklist; Avoid bringing along unnecessary goods.
Items to Put at the Bottom of Your Pack
Things you won't need until you set up camp can be stored here. Put the largest, and most "squishable" items toward the bottom of your load.
Camping essentials include: a tent, a sleeping bag, a sleeping pad, a pillow (if you use one), and additional clothing.
To begin, we recommend always placing your sleeping bag (which can be put into a compression sack), at the bottom of your backpack. Then stuff the spaces around it with the loose clothing items you won't be wearing during the day.
If you're going on a camping trip where it might rain but you don't have a waterproof pack cover, you a good option is to use a garbage bag to line your pack and store all your belongings inside of it. If you want to keep your sleeping bag dry, it's also a good idea to store it in a lightweight waterproof compression sack.
Items for the Middle of Your Pack
Keep your heaviest gear in the pack's center compartment. The strain on your back can be reduced by carrying heavy items close to your body, in the middle. In addition, it prevents items from moving about and making for an unbalanced load.
Equipment:
- Stove and fuel
- Food, which is often the heaviest item in your bag after water
- Bear Canister (in the middle of your bag) — Stuffing garments and other small objects around your bear canister can assist in stabilizing an awkwardly shaped canister and keep it centred (also don't forget to utilize all the space inside the canister!)
- Camp mug & shoes (these can also be attached to the outside of your pack if there is no room inside for them)
Items to Store at the top of Your Pack
The top of your pack can consist of the actual inside of your pack and also the lid/pocket (if you pack has one). Usually a zipped pouch that may be detached and used as a daypack on your hikes.
Equipment:
- Wet weather gear – this should be easily accessible at the top of your bag if there is even a slight risk of rain
- First aid supplies – keep these close at hand so you don't have to rummage through your bag when you need them
- Snacks – it’s always good to keep a few snacks handy for while you’re walking
- Water Purification System
- Bathroom Essentials (Shovel, Toilet Paper, Hand sanitizer, and a bag to pack out used toilet paper)
Tip: Keep all of your electrical equipment, such as a phone, camera, and a spare battery, in a tiny, lightweight dry sack. That way, everything stays together and dry, even if the weather becomes bad.
Items for the Lid
For quick access, it’s a good idea to keep these items in the lid of your backpack:
- Map
- Headlamp
- Phone
- Camera
- Insect repellent (travel size)
- Sunscreen (travel size)
- A multi-tool
- Lighter
- Snacks
- Spork
Keep your lipbalm, extra snacks, sunglasses, and other small items handy by storing them in the pockets of your hip belt. Any other items you think you might need during the day, put higher up in your pack so that you can get to them easily if you do end up needing them.
Tip: A personal locating beacon and GPS device should be an essential piece of gear for any backpacker. This can be attached to your shoulder strap to be accessed easily if needed in an emergency.
Proper Application of Compression Straps
Your hiking pack will include compression straps on the outside and allow you to fine-tune the load. When you pack your backpack, leave some room for these.
Compress the contents of the backpack by fastening the buckles. You won't have to worry about anything moving about as you hike, and you'll feel more secure as you traverse rough ground because of these. Tightening the straps helps to create a more snug fit and compress any loose space in your pack.
Finally, keep everything compact and in place by using the long compression strap on your pack's main outside buckle (the one that leads from the lid to the main compartment).
Attaching Extra Gear to Your Pack's Exterior
If you've ever looked at the loops on your backpack and thought, "what are those for?" you're not alone. There are loops on the outside of the pack that may be used to fasten long, rigid, or bulky objects like trekking poles, tent poles, or tools like ropes, ice axe, etc.
The daisy chains on your backpack's straps and front flap are the little loops that allow you to attach extra accessories. You can attach small items to the exterior of your pack using carabiners or clips.
Ensure to only attach lightweight items, nothing more substantial than a baseball cap should be dangling from or swaying on your backpack as it can throw off your equilibrium, and cause you to become unbalanced.
In saying that, if you have to keep adding items to your pack's outside, it's either time to upgrade to a larger pack or do a thorough gear inspection to determine what you can safely leave at home.
We hope these tips have given you some ideas on how to pack your backpack efficiently to balance the weight, access items easily when you need them, and create an overall more comfortable and enjoyable hike!