How do you pack rucksacks for camping? #outdoors #campinglife #hiking #britisharmy #bushcraft, by GoArmy Outdoors on YouTube. 2 min 9 s.
- Video length
- 2 min 9 s
- Time to do it
- 20 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Empty the rucksack and check the straps, zip pulls and buckles. Lay everything you plan to take on the floor and sort it into heavy, light, and quick-access piles.
Put the heaviest items, such as food, water and stove, in the middle of the pack close to your back. Keep them low enough that the load sits on your hips, not your shoulders.
Pack light bulky gear like your sleeping bag and spare clothes at the bottom in a dry bag. Push soft items into gaps so nothing shifts when you walk.
Place items you may need during the day near the top or in the lid pocket. That means waterproofs, snacks, sun cream, map and a head torch.
Keep water in a side pocket or hydration sleeve so you can drink without unpacking. Put a small first aid kit and phone in an easy-to-reach pocket.
Strap the tent or mat to the outside only if it will not swing about. Keep the total load balanced left to right so the pack does not pull to one side.
Close the pack, tighten the compression straps and lift it by the haul loop. Adjust the hip belt first, then the shoulder straps, then the chest strap.
Walk around the room or garden for a few minutes. Repack anything that digs into your back or rattles before you set off.
Tips and common mistakes
Line the whole rucksack with a large dry bag or bin liner so rain cannot soak your kit.
Aim to keep the total pack weight under about a fifth of your body weight for comfort.
Put nothing hard and pointy against your spine, as it will dig in on a long walk.
Check the weather before you pack and leave out gear you will not need.
Questions
Where should the heaviest items go in a rucksack?
Close to your back and around the middle of the pack. That keeps the weight over your hips and stops the bag pulling you backwards.
How do I stop my gear getting wet?
Use a dry bag or bin liner inside the pack and pack clothes in separate stuff sacks. A rain cover on the outside helps too.
Should I pack the tent inside or outside the rucksack?
Inside is better for balance if it fits. If you strap it outside, keep it tight and centred so it does not sway.
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.
