How to Properly Pack a Hiking Backpack

 Purpose: The purpose of these instructions is to adequately guide hikers as they prepare for their adventure by knowing how much gear they should prep for, what the proper order is of packing, and making the pack easily accessible to things that matter most in order to ensure maximum safety and pleasure.

 List of Required Items: 
-two-strap backpack (internal or external frame)
-waterbottle
-food/snacks
-First-Aid kit
-pocket knife
-GPS
-matches
-flashlight

 List of Optional Equipment:
-sleeping bag
-pillow
-sleeping pad
-tent (with rain flap)
-extra clothes
-extra food/water
-cooking gear (utensils, pots, pans, cleaning items, napkins, cooler, ziplock bags, etc)
-bear repellant
-bug spray
-sunblock
-hat
-duct tape
-rags and other cloth
-rain gear
-whatever else you think is necessary

 The Big 3

 1) "How much gear am I going to need?"

  • Always take the required items!
  • 0-5 miles (morning/afternoon hike): required items and sunblock and/or hat
  • 5-15 miles (full day hike): required items with extra food/water, spray, sunblock, etc.
  • 15+ miles (overnight or several days): required items with all of the optional equipment too
  • Never over 30% of your own body weight

2) "What is the proper order to packing?"

  • lightweight stuff on the bottom (sleeping bag, pillow)
  • medium weight in the middle (cooking supplies, clothes, extra food and water)
  • heaviest gear towards the top of the backpack (tent and other bulky items)
  • compressible items stuffed inside one another (i.e. clothes inside of pots and pans)
  • off-trail hiking should have heavier materials lower in the pack (low center of gravity)
  • try not to strap on anything externally unless absolutely necessary (clink, off-set balance)

3) "What am I going to need right away if something should happen?"

  • keep side pockets open to flashlight, water, snacks, first-aid kit, bug spray, sunblock, knife, bear repellant, duct tape, cloth, GPS
Conclusion: All of these guidelines will help maintain proper walking balance, comfortability and convenience.  Your shoulders can and should take most of the weight up top which your hips will help spread the load more uniformly.  Asking these 3 questions will ensure a safe and comfortable hike.  For more information about properly loading a hiking backpack check out this website below:



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