THE BEST WAY TO PACK A PACK
Tetris may not be the name of the game
We’ve all done it at one point or another – played a very intense game of Tetris to try and get everything to fit in our packs before hitting the trail, ignoring anything like weight distribution or ease of access. I’m here to let you know that there’s a better way that will make your hike easier and your back happier. In fact, there’s a best way to pack, and here it is.
By packing properly you can focus on your surroundings instead of your back.
The Concept
The general ideal way to pack a pack is to find the balance between having access to things during the day, making sure that everything you’ll need fits, and distributing the weight properly. If you can find that unique balance, you’ll be skipping your way along the trail, inwardly laughing at all the poorly packed packs you see.
Weight Distribution
This is going to be the foundation of your packing. If you get the weight distribution right, your pack will feel a million times better on your back, and you’ll stop getting pulled backwards or sideways when you stand up straight.
Essentially what you want is light at the bottom, heaviest in the middle against your back, midweight in the middle away from your back, and then light at the top again. This way the heaviest things that are most likely going to affect your centre of gravity sit tight to your body, acting as an extension of your centre of gravity, instead of changing it. Surprisingly simple, no?
With a well-packed bag you can hike anywhere.
Ease of Use
Next up is making sure you can access what you need when you need it, without having to dig to the bottom. Pockets are your best friend in this endeavour, but also just playing through your day in your mind will help.
Things like your tent and sleeping bag are likely not going to be used until the end of the day, and can, therefore, live further down. When you pack your pack, consider keeping things like hot and cold layers, sunscreen, bug spray, your journal, and anything else you might want easy access to throughout the day more readily available. And snacks. Definitely easy access to snacks.
Everything’s Gotta Fit
If you’re struggling to fit all your gear, enough food, water, and fuel, and your miscellaneous other items, it’s time for some tough love. Consider maybe that you need a bigger pack. Or you can do some harsh culling. If it’s not vital or doesn’t serve multiple purposes, maybe it shouldn’t come with you. If you think you might need it once or twice, maybe it shouldn’t come with you. Have no mercy, and then try packing again. Your back will thank you, and remember, everyone else on the trail will be as dirty and smelly as you.
And now you’re an expert on how to pack a pack, not so difficult eh. Not only will you get better and better at packing, and pare down your gear to the essentials, but your bag will be lighter, better organized, and sit evenly on your back. When your pack is packed properly, the whole experience becomes more enjoyable, and you can focus on what really matters: where do you go next.
