How to pack for a backpacking adventure, by Joe Slater on YouTube. 1 min 19 s.
- Video length
- 1 min 19 s
- Time to do it
- 20 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Lay everything out and split it into three groups: sleeping gear, clothes and food, and items you need during the day. Leave behind anything you will not use.
Put your sleeping bag in a waterproof stuff sack and push it into the bottom compartment of the pack. Keep it there so it stays dry and out of the way.
Place the heaviest items, such as food and water, in the middle of the pack against your back. This keeps the load close to your body and stops it pulling you backwards.
Pack the tent body and poles next, either inside the main compartment or strapped to the outside. Keep the weight low and central rather than high on top.
Fill the gaps with soft clothes and your sleeping mat so nothing shifts around. Push items down firmly as you go.
Put the things you need during the day, like snacks, map, gloves and a head torch, in the lid pocket or top of the main compartment.
Strap the tent poles or mat to the outside only if they do not fit inside. Check that nothing dangles loose where it can catch on branches.
Lift the pack onto your back and tighten the hip belt first, then the shoulder straps and finally the chest strap. Adjust the load lifters so the pack sits snug against your back.
Fit the rain cover over the pack and check that the total weight feels balanced. Repack anything that digs into your back before you set off.
Tips and common mistakes
Line the inside of the pack with a large plastic bag or dry bag for extra waterproofing, since rain covers can leak at the seams.
Keep the total weight under about a fifth of your body weight if you can, and weigh the loaded pack before you leave.
Test the fit by walking around the house with the loaded pack, then adjust the straps before your first real day on the trail.
Questions
Where should the heaviest items go in a backpack?
Put heavy items in the middle of the pack, close to your spine and around shoulder height. This keeps the weight over your hips and stops the pack from pulling you off balance.
Do I need a waterproof cover for a multi day hike?
Yes, a rain cover is worth carrying even in dry weather. Pack your sleeping bag and clothes in dry bags as well, because covers alone do not keep everything dry in heavy rain.
How do I stop my pack from hurting my shoulders?
Tighten the hip belt first so the weight sits on your hips, then adjust the shoulder straps. Loosen the shoulder straps slightly if your shoulders start to ache.
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.
