How To Pack Your Backpack For Backpacking
I recently brought a couple of my closest friends backpacking for their first time. Ahhhh the joy I get from leading others outdoors is truly priceless. One of the first things I get to teach out in the field is how to pack your bag. I love the game of Tetris I get to play while making sure every single air pocket is filled within the pack. But there is a systematic approach I take to ensure the weight is distributed evenly. A poorly packed bag can make your hike so miserable... BEEN THERE DONE THAT. So skip the trial and error by following these tips!
One of the greatest outdoor education instructors I've ever had the pleasure to learn from taught me the ABCDE acronym that helped me comprehend the reasons behind why we pack the way we do.
Accessibility
Think about the items you are going to want readily available while on the trail. The last thing you want to have to do is shuffle around inside your bag to find something you really need. This will usually throw off the perfectly packed game of Tetris you intentionally created before you started hiking.
Items such as a first-aid kit, map, compass, GPS, sunscreen, chapstick, snacks and rain protection are the most important to have accessible. Utilize your zipper pockets for the small stuff and have your rain gear at the very top of your packed bag.
Balance
So this is all about proper gear placement and weight distribution. Your spinal health will thank you for giving this a mindful consideration while organizing your pack.
On the very bottom of your bag you should have your sleeping bag. If you're using a hydration pack such as a Camelbak make sure you put that in the hydration sleeve first.
Heavier items should be placed in the middle, so right above the hips, between your shoulder blades and closest to your back. This is the ideal zone for your bear canister along with your tent and clothes which can be stuffed around filling in all of those extra empty spaces. Stuffing clothes around your bear can also helps to keep it centered in the middle of your back.
If you put the heaviest stuff on top you will be off balance and your shoulders will become really sore. After that you can put bulkier items like your stove/pot on top. Last but not least- your rain gear or easy to grab layers just in case.
Compression
Most bags have straps on the outside of the pack that you can tighten which will help the packs overall integrity and longevity. It's a good idea to also invest in a compression sack to stuff your sleeping bag in. This will lessen the bulk by about 4x and will allow you to fit more in your pack.
Dry
What I love about backpacks nowadays is they usually come with a fitted rain cover which is easily accessible and can be thrown on top in no time to keep your stuff protected from rain. However, if you know you're going to be dealing with wet conditions don't JUST rely on your rain cover. Before you even pack anything inside, line your pack with a heavy duty trash bag. This is a pro tip and all my fellow outdoor professionals know what's up.
Everything Inside
Finally keep everything inside. You don't want to look like a Christmas tree on the trail with a bunch of random items hanging off carabiners swinging around. The ONLY thing I allow to be secured to the outside of my pack is trekking poles which can be secured with one on each side for proper weight distribution. Oh and my pee rag (ladies, I'll talk about this in a post coming soon.) The point is, if you absolutely HAVE to utilize the outside of your pack for items- you need to make sure it's secure and stable as well as distributed equally.
Other Random Considerations
If you are using a whisper lite stove which requires you to pack your fuel in a bottle, you'll want this on the outside of your pack. I usually put mine in one of the water bottle holders. Why, you ask? Well if it happens to leak in any way you will contaminate all your gear if the fuel bottle is inside.
Hydration Reservoirs- I use to be a DIE HARD Camelbak girl on all my trips. However, carrying 3 liters at once along with all your other necessary gear was just overkill. If I know there is ample water available, I will just take my Nalgene and filter as needed. If I happen to backpacking a trail with minimal water then I'll definitely bring it. But most of the time I'm always going on trips with plenty of water around so I leave the Camelbak behind so save on room and weight. Still love it for day hikes though!
Ultimately you are creating your own systems and it will take some practice to get your systems dialed in the way that works best for you! This is a really great guide to help you work from a foundational understanding.
Here is a really great video from REI!
I hope this has been super helpful and informative. If you have any questions, comments or if you think I missed anything comment below ! Also subscribe to be notified of future EC released content.
Happy Trails xo Dee
