Packing My Backpacking Gear For The Great Glen Way, by Paul Messner on YouTube. 38 min 48 s.
- Video length
- 38 min 48 s
- Time to do it
- 45 minutes
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Steps
- 10
What you need
Steps
Lay every item on the floor and sort it into groups: sleep, clothing, cooking, electronics, toiletries and repair. Check nothing is missing before you start loading.
Put the quilt or sleeping bag into a waterproof stuff sack and push it into the bottom of the pack. Add the sleeping pad beside it, deflating it fully first.
Pack spare clothing into storage bags and place them above the sleep system. Keep one dry layer near the top so you can reach it without unpacking.
Group toiletries and your evening kit in a small bag, then add electronics, first aid and repair bits in their own pouches.
Load the stove, fuel and dehydrated food in the middle of the pack, close to your back. Keep fuel upright and away from food you will eat raw.
Slide hats, gloves and power banks into the lid or top pocket. Put the drone or other fragile gear in a padded case in the centre.
Fill the side pockets with water bottles, fuel and bug spray so you can reach them without taking the pack off.
Strap trekking poles to the outside of the pack using the side compression straps. Point the tips down and tighten the straps so they do not swing.
Put the waterproof jacket and rain kilt at the very top or in an outer pocket. Wear your trail shoes rather than packing them.
Lift the pack by the haul loop, check the weight sits high and close to your back, then tighten the hip belt and shoulder straps.
Tips and common mistakes
Keep the heaviest items in the middle of the pack, close to your spine, so the load feels balanced.
Line the pack with a dry bag or liner before loading, since Scottish weather soaks through outer pockets.
Weigh the loaded pack at home and cut anything you did not use on your last trip.
Check fuel and bug spray lids are tight and store them upright so they cannot leak onto clothing.
Questions
Where should the sleeping bag go in a backpack?
Put it at the bottom in a waterproof stuff sack. It is light and bulky, so it fills the base and keeps heavier gear higher up.
How do I stop trekking poles swinging on the pack?
Attach them to the side compression straps with the tips pointing down. Pull the straps tight so the poles sit flat against the pack.
How much should a five day pack weigh?
There is no fixed number, but many hikers aim for around 10 to 14 kg including food and water. Weigh yours and remove anything you will not use.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
