Out on the trail, your backpack can either be your friend or your foe. It all depends on how you pack it.
To make sure you have feel comfortable when you set off on a big hike, here are five tips for clever packing.
1. Build a foundation by filling up the bottom zone
Sturdy trekking backpacks of a volume of 60 litres or more usually have a separate compartment at the bottom. This should be loaded up first – sleeping bag, thermal mat, and spare clothing. Compression sacks are good for squeezing all the air from the items to make them more compact.
2. Pack the heavy stuff close to your spinal column
In the main compartment of the backpack, the area closest to your back – ranging from the lumbar, or lower, spine up to your shoulders – is packed next. This is where heavy items such as the cooker, hydration bladder sleeve, and tent materials should go, as well as quick-snack items like candy bars and chocolate.
3. Put light gear at the front for stability
In order to stabilise the heavy items, the front of the main compartment should be filled up with lighter things – light clothing for example, or freeze-dried foods.
4. Keep important things at the top
At the top of the main compartment should come the important items that you need to access regularly. This means your tent, rain gear and first-aid kit. With these at the top, it means that you don’t have to empty out the entire pack every time you look for them.
5. Make sure the cover flap is always within reach
For those small compact items that you quickly want to grab, the cover flap compartment is the place. It’s usually big enough to hold snacks, sun lotion, a knife, sunglasses, and your hiking map.
Some further useful tips
– Rain covers do not completely protect a backpack from the outside because water can always seep inside via the straps. Therefore, the important items should be wrapped in water-tight packs before storing inside the backpack. Different colours can help you to better sort out the items.
– Your food for the hike during the day should be portioned out the evening before, or in the morning, and ideally packed in freezer bags. This can help in rationing your food items.
– You should have the least possible number of items attached to the outside. Otherwise the backpack may no longer sit comfortably, and the items might get entangled with branches or shrubs. Exceptions to this rule could be trekking sticks, tent poles and a drinking bottle.
Source: https://www.star2.com/travel/adventure/2017/05/23/backpack-tips/#ySHhqfuSkhvWvHVQ.99
