Lots of people spent time, finding the best backpack for hiking but they underestimate how to pack a backpack for hiking. Effectively packing a backpack for hiking is an art that you must know in order to distribute the weight and easily access the items when required. Otherwise, you will face unnecessary difficulties during your hike.
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How to Pack a Backpack for Hiking
This article will provide you with some important tips, how to pack a backpack for hiking. These tips will help you to properly organize and store items in your backpack so your next trip becomes smooth and painless.
1. Organize with respect to Accessibility
Packing the backpack efficiently starts from organizing the items and categorizing them based on when you need them. But how you can decide which item you need the most and which item will have less use. You can do it by dividing items into three main categories.
- Hiking Items
These are those items that you will need frequently while hiking.so you can store these items on external backpack pouches or pockets. In this way, you will not have to take off your backpack during your hike and you can access these items easily.
- Break Items
Lunch, rain jacket, headlamp, etc. There are those items that you will need when you stop for a break. These items should be stored on the outer portion or top of the backpack for accessing it easily in a short break.
- Camping Items
Camping items are those items that you need while at camp. These items are very less frequently used items i.e. tents, Sleeping bags, clothes, dinner meals. You can put such items at the bottom portion of your backpack.
2. Weight Distribution
Distributing weight properly is another important tip that you should consider. It is recommended to keep heavy items close to the center of your back. Here is how you can properly distribute the weight in your backpack.
- Bottom Area
The bottom area is best for placing mid and lightweight items like a sleeping bag, sleeping pads, or other similar stuff. But before placing these items at the bottom it is recommended to wrap them in a plastic bag or similar waterproof material to keep them dry.
- Middle Area
The middle area is best to place heavy items. But keep in mind that don’t put items with rough edges close to your back. Always go with smooth items like food bags, shelter, etc.
- Top Area
This spot is best for placing lightweight items that you might need during a short break. Items include snacks, sunglasses, or other light gear.
3. Make Compartments
Making compartments inside your backpack is something that you can do to make your backpack organization to another level. For this, you can use some compression bags to keep similar things together. In this way, you can not only find the right item easily but also make everything clean and dry.
4. Other Considerations
There are some other considerations you can take during your hiking trips.
- Compression Straps
Don’t forget to use side compression straps for your backpack. These straps are very helpful in hiking as it prevents the weight to shifting around as you hike and climb
- Keep Things Dry
Having a rain cover for your backpack is another important consideration you can take before going. In this way, you can keep your clothes and other items dry in case you encounter some bad weather.
Conclusion
Proper packing of a backpack is very important since you have to carry your backpack during your hiking journey. Always consider only essential items and store them in a properly organized way, if you really want to enjoy your hiking trip.
