How to Pack Light for a Thru Hike (Stop Wrecking Your Back), by Wild Cat Adventures on YouTube. 29 min 37 s.
- Video length
- 29 min 37 s
- Time to do it
- 1 hour
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Steps
- 10
What you need
Steps
Lay every item on the floor and weigh each one on a digital kitchen scale. Write the weights down so you can see where the kilos come from.
Pack the sleeping bag and sleeping mat first, low and centred in the main compartment. Keep the heaviest items close to your spine and around hip height.
Add the tent body and fly in the main compartment or strapped outside. Keep poles separate and check nothing sharp presses against the fabric.
Fill gaps with clothing and food. Put waterproofs and a warm layer near the top or in the lid so you can reach them without unpacking.
Pack dehydrated meals and snacks in a dry bag. Repackage food into bags you need for each day to cut packaging weight.
Place the cook pot, stove and windshield together with the fuel. Keep the pot upright and away from anything that could puncture it.
Put the first aid kit, tools and repair tape in one small pouch you can find in the dark. Include any medicine you or your dog needs.
Add electronics last: power bank, charger and GPS device in a dry bag near the top. Charge everything the night before you leave.
Clip hiking poles to the outside and check the total weight. Aim to keep the pack close to 10 kg with food and water for a multi-day trip.
Do a final lift test. Put the pack on, tighten the hip belt first, then the shoulder straps, and adjust until the weight sits on your hips.
Tips and common mistakes
Weigh your gear before every trip, because small items add up fast and a few hundred grams each soon becomes kilos.
Keep your waterproofs and insulation where you can reach them without emptying the pack, since Highland weather can change in minutes.
Use a dry bag for the sleeping bag even inside a pack liner, because a wet down bag loses most of its warmth.
Carry only the water you need between refills and use a filter rather than hauling litres of spare water.
Questions
How heavy should a thru-hike pack be?
Many hikers aim for around 10 kg including food and water for a multi-day trip. Start from your base weight without food and water, then add what you will carry each day.
Do I need a 50 litre pack for a multi-day hike?
A 50 litre pack suits most three to five day trips with light gear. If your kit is bulky, go larger, but a bigger pack often tempts you to carry more than you need.
Where should the heaviest items go in a rucksack?
Put the heaviest items in the middle of the pack, close to your spine and around hip height. That keeps the load stable and lets the hip belt carry the weight.
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.
