Fundamentals of Backpacking

BACKPACKING TECHNIQUES

How to Pack Your Pack

The way you pack your backpack will affect how easy it is to carry, how comfortable you are on the trail and how easy it is to find your gear. It's important that you pack wisely. Different trips require different gear and clothing. The specific items you need depend upon the location of your trip, the expected weather conditions, the difficulty of the route and the number of people involved. Experience is the only way to know for sure what you want with you in the wilderness. Until you have a few trips under your belt, stick to the basics. With a little bit of extra planning, you can save space, weight and effort by identifying gear items that can be shared with your fellow backpackers. Sharing equipment cuts down on everyone's load. Typical "community gear" items include tents, stoves, pots and pans, lanterns and water purifiers.

Get certain smaller supplies organized before you start throwing gear into your pack. Pack small items like first-aid supplies and kitchen utensils together in gear bags to keep them from disappearing in your pack. Group similar items together (kitchen supplies in one gear bag, first-aid gear in another, basic camp tools in a third). Group the same items together on every trip so you can memorize the groupings over time. Develop a system for identifying these general storage bags. Use different colored bags or label them clearly. PACK ALL OF YOUR GEAR IN ZIPLOCKS!

The key to smart packing is developing a system that you can follow trip after trip. The more often you use your system, the easier it will be for you to find the gear you need. (1) A well-balanced pack is more comfortable on the trail, easier to carry and easier to maneuver when the going gets rough. The best way to carry any load on your back is to center it over the largest and strongest bones/muscles of your body. Pack the heaviest part of your load as close to your back and as near to the top of your spinal column as possible, centered between your shoulders. (2) Pack your gear so the items you need most often during the day are in the most accessible spots in your pack. (3) Wrap fragile items like cameras, binoculars and camping stoves in clothing layers and pack them near the center of your pack. (4) Use stuff sacks and a pack cover.

More Backpacking Techniques

How to Set Up Your Campsite

Purify Your Water

Map and Compass