How To Pack A Backpack

Here's how to pack a backpack in 5 easy steps:

1. Put the lightest gear (sleeping bag, pillow, sleeping clothes) in the bottom.

2. Put in all the heavy items that will fit (tent, stove, fuel, food), centered close to your back.

3. Pack all the lighter things that you won't need until camp (sleeping pad, toiletries, clothing, mug, utensils), around the heavy stuff, cramming it into every nook and cranny.

4. Put everything that you may need on the trail (the 10 essentials, water, bug dope, sunscreen, camera, raincover) at the top or in the outside pockets.

5. Strap bulky items that won't fit inside (tent, sleeping pad, trekking poles) on the outside of the pack, keeping heavier items closer to the body and cinching everything down so it doesn't sway.

Backpack Packing Tips

Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Be very careful when packing liquids and lotions.

  More than once I've seen things leak inside the pack, dousing sleeping bags and clothing. Stow bottles upright and put lotions, cooking oil, etc. inside ziploc bags (freezer bags work well). Packing your sleeping bag and clothing in waterproof stuff sacks is a good idea, too.

• Try to keep the backpack balanced. Too much weight on one side will cause discomfort.

• Keep related gear in color-coded stuff sacks to make it easy to find what you need.

• Fill up empty spaces. Put fruit, vegetables, or the stove inside a pot. Fill an empty water bottle with survival gear or toiletries.

Now that you know how to pack a backpack, practice it a few times before you go on your next trip. When it's time to pack, you'll be able to do it in no time flat.