My Lightweight 5-Day Hiking Setup (and how to pack it), by Jack Brookes on YouTube. 10 min 22 s.
- Video length
- 10 min 22 s
- Time to do it
- 30 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 10
What you need
Steps
Lay every item out in groups: shelter, sleep, clothing, kitchen, electronics and camera. Check that the stove lights, the torch works and the beacon has charge before anything goes in the pack.
Push the sleeping quilt into a waterproof stuff sack and drop it into the bottom of the pack. Down does not need to be at the top, and the base of the pack is dead space.
Put the heaviest items, such as food and the stove, against your spine at mid-back, between your shoulder blades and hips. Heavy gear far from your body pulls you backwards.
Fold the deflated sleeping pad flat and slide it against the back panel. It adds padding against your spine and helps the pack keep its shape.
Pack the tent body and fly in the middle or lower half, and strap the poles vertically to the side of the pack. Keep the pegs in a small bag so they do not rub holes in the fabric.
Stuff the puffer, thermals and spare clothes into the gaps around the tent and food. Keep the rain jacket at the top or in the lid pocket so you can grab it without unpacking.
Bag your electronics together: head torch, power bank and SOS beacon. Put them near the top, and keep the beacon where you can reach it in a hurry.
Clip the water filter and coffee filter into an outside side pocket. You want to fill and drink without opening the main compartment.
Place the camera in a padded insert at the top of the load, or on a chest harness if you shoot while walking. Wrap spare batteries and the mic so they do not knock against the lens.
Lift the pack on, fasten and tighten the hip belt first, then the shoulder straps and sternum strap. Leave someone your route and return time, and carry the beacon on the outside of the pack.
Tips and common mistakes
Use one pack liner instead of several dry bags, then squeeze the air out before you roll the top closed.
Weigh the loaded pack at home and remove anything you did not touch on your last trip.
Keep loose items off the outside of the pack where they can snag on scrub or fall off unnoticed.
Repack the same way every morning so you know exactly which pocket holds the stove, the filter and the first aid kit.
Questions
Where should the heaviest gear go in a hiking backpack?
Close to your spine at mid-back, between your shoulder blades and hips. That keeps the load over your hips, which carry weight better than your shoulders.
Can I carry camera gear and a 5-day kit in one pack?
Yes, if you keep the camera kit small, such as one body and one lens in a padded insert. Put it at the top of the load or on a chest harness so it does not sit at the bottom of the pack.
How do I keep my gear dry on a wet hike?
Line the whole pack with a pack liner and put the quilt and spare clothes inside it. A wet quilt loses its warmth, so treat it as the item that must stay dry.
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.
