How to Pack a Backpack

by Amy Hunter

Before you load up your pack, put all of your gear in a pile. Then plan out where each item should be stowed. And definitely wear your headlamp while you do it.

Packing a Backpack

There's no one way to pack a backpack -- everyone will pack their backpacks differently. But some general guidelines will make it easier for you to access the things you need when you need them. They'll also make your pack easier to carry over a long day.

When you're packing a backpack for a trip where you'll cover moderate terrain and remain on the trail, it's best to pack the lighter items in the bottom of the pack and heavier items toward the top. This keeps your center of gravity relatively high, which many people find makes the weight easier to manage. The heavier items should be packed closest to your back.

If you plan to hike rough terrain or off-trail, try arranging some of your heavier items in the bottom of your backpack. This lowers your center of gravity, which will improve your balance. Because women naturally have a lower center of gravity, they often prefer to pack their backpacks this way for all trips.

Many backpacks have a separate compartment for sleeping bags. If your pack doesn't, pack the sleeping bag in the bottom of the pack. This will keep it out of the way during the day, and you're unlikely to need it until you stop for the night. Once you have a home for your sleeping bag, slip your tent under the bag. Use straps to connect your tent poles to the outside of the backpack.

Pack your changes of clothes toward the bottom of your backpack, because, like your sleeping bag, you won't need them until you stop for the night. If you're hiking in changeable weather, stash rain gear, gloves or hats in the top of your backpack or in an outside pocket, where you can reach them quickly and easily.

Food and cooking fuel are two concerns for many hikers. They're both heavy, so you don't want to take too much of either, but you certainly want to have enough. Plan your meals before your trip to make sure you pack enough food. Practice using your stove before your backpacking trip as well, so that you know approximately how much fuel to pack.

What Goes in the Outside Pockets?

Some of the things you pack for your trip you won't use. But a first aid kit, bear spray and other emergency items shouldn't be left behind and they shouldn't be relegated to the bottom of your backpack. Although you may never use these items, if you need them, you don't want to dump out your entire backpack to find them. Designate outside pockets for things you'd need in a hurry, like a flashlight, map or whistle. And always return those items to the same place after you use them

How to Load a Backpack With Food

The last thing you want to happen inside your backpack is for your fuel to spill all over your food. So, it's important to store food separate from fuel. Pack your fuel containers upright and preferably in outside pockets. Your food goes inside your pack. For added protection, not just from an accidental fuel spill, but from moisture, leaking toiletries and other unexpected problems, pack your food in plastic zip-top bags. Some people sort their food into plastic bags by type, such as breakfast foods or snacks. Others prepare one bag for each day's meals. However you choose to compartmentalize your food, having it sorted in separate bags makes it easier to grab and provides it with some extra protection. But keep in mind, plastic bags aren't enough to completely protect your food from hungry animals. They're not that airtight.

If you have room in your backpack for your cookware, pack it inside. If not, you can attach it to the outside of your backpack with straps. But it's important to pack as much as you can inside your backpack. Although straps and clips make it easy to attach a wide variety of gear to your backpack, any gear that hangs from your backpack is likely to become snagged in the brush. And, no matter how carefully you tie it on, it can be lost.

If you're in bear country, your food will need extra protection at night, and you'll probably need to carry a bear canister with you while you hike. So you'll need to factor that weight and the canister's size into your packing strategy. If you hike in an area with black bears, a soft sided bear proof container may be enough. You'll need to hang the container in the air, suspending it between two trees, about 20 feet (6 meters) in the air.

If you're hiking in an area where grizzly bears are common, your food will require more aggressive measures. Because the grizzly is less concerned about confronting humans than the black bear is, and because it's larger, you'll need a hard-sided food container. You also should consider preparing your meals and eating before setting up camp. Eat your meal, clean up and then hike on at least 200 yards (183 meters) before setting up camp. Once you're in camp, don't eat anything and store your food in the hard bear-proof vault at least

100 yards (91 meters) from camp.

Stuff It

There's really no end to gear, but one inexpensive and highly useful little item is the stuff sack. As the name implies, you stuff these sacks with different gear to organize it within your pack. Stuff sacks are typically brightly colored, so you can tell at a glance what bag you need to grab. They're also waterproof and pull shut easily with a drawstring.

Stuff sacks are a great way to compartmentalize food, clothes and toiletries.

How to Pack a Backpack for Wet Weather

On the trail, comfort is relative. It's unlikely that you'll be as clean as you want or get as much sleep as you want. You should, however, aim to stay as dry as possible. Dry clothes and shoes help prevent blisters and keep you warm, and dry gear is lighter than wet gear.

So, how can you keep your backpack and all of its contents dry?

Even a waterproof backpack will not keep your equipment dry in a torrential downpour. There are a variety of waterproof covers you can choose from that will keep your backpack dry, but many people prefer to cover their backpacks with a garbage bag during the rain. In addition to covering your backpack, make sure that everything in the backpack is packed in a zip-top plastic bag or stuff sack as an additional layer of protection.

What if it's raining when you set up camp for the night? Or, what if you're camping in a wet area? Few materials, even those labeled waterproof, will remain so if left sitting in a puddle of water overnight. Provide your backpack with as much protection as possible -- cover it and hang it up, or at least elevate it somehow a few inches from the wet ground. Minimize the number of times you open your backpack in rainy weather. That way you don't allow moisture into the pack and then trap it there. When the weather dries out, empty your pack and let some sunshine in to prevent mold and mildew from growing inside.

If wet weather sets in for the day while you are backpacking, you have the choice to either hike through it or hunker down in camp for a zero day, or day of rest. If the weather is mild and the walking easy, hiking in the rain will keep you warm and pass the time. If the trail is rough, you're hiking off-trail, you must ford streams or rivers or the weather is cold, it makes sense to stay in camp for the day and wait for the weather to improve.

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