How to pack your backpack for a long-distance hike

Imagine having to pack your backpack for a hike like an overworked warehouse worker racing against the clock – hurriedly cramming everything in, haphazardly and brutal, with no regard for order or balance. If you dream of back pain and frequent stops to search for your sunscreen or your lunch pack, then by all means, go ahead. In contrast, a correctly packed backpack provides balance, safety and a lighter load on your back and shoulders. And you’ll always have a granola bar at hand.

For a start, know that you will make mistakes. That you’ll curse yourself during a sudden downpour because you tucked your raincoat away in the bottom of your backpack. Instead of enjoying the view, you will sulk about that extra book or the excess of clothes that make your rucksack unbearably heavy. It is only when you’re crawling up a mountain with an overloaded or poorly balanced load on your back that you’ll realise the value of smart packing. More art than science, to pack your backpack is – thankfully – something you’ll learn with each hike.

The value of a correctly packed backpack

Weight distribution

During a hike, a badly packed backpack affects your centre of gravity. If your backpack almost makes you capsize, you automatically adjust your stature – for example, by continuously leaning forward. Bear in mind that you lug your pack on the trail for hours, days, and sometimes even weeks. An adjusted position is unnatural, uncomfortable and guaranteed to lead to aches and pains or worse. It is best to avoid having the biggest weight at the very bottom or top – the former makes you bulky, the latter unbalanced. Pack the heaviest items close to your centre of gravity, near your upper back and shoulders, to turn your backpack into an extension of your own body. A balanced load also ensures greater safety on steep gravel paths or during tricky descents.

Accessibility

Comfort is not the only thing of note. You also don’t want to be constantly searching through your backpack for your lip balm or your camera. Or worse, for a raincoat or a first-aid kit. Create a logical order whilst packing and stick to it consistently. That way, you will get to know your backpack like the back of your hand. First of all, think about how often and when you need certain gear. You’ll only use your sleeping bag in the evening, so it’s fine in the bottom. But you might need your puffy jacket during a cool lunch break, so pack it within reach.

How do you pack your backpack for a multi-day hike?

Down

In the bottom of your backpack, pack bulky, awkward and relatively lightweight gear that you don’t use much during the day. Think sleeping mat or air mattress, sleeping bag, liner bag and sleeping clothes. Their softness also creates a kind of internal shock absorber on which you can rest the remainder of your stuff. Don’t put too heavy stuff in the bottom of your backpack, or else it may sag.

Middle

The closer to your shoulder blades you can put the heaviest gear, the better. Think of cooking utensils, a hydration pack, a tent, camp or water shoes, a gas stove and food you won’t need during the day. By wrapping and stuffing clothes or towels around them, everything stays nicely in place. Make use of all the space – freeze-dried food packets fit into cooking pots, and so do socks. Fill the remaining space at the front with lighter items, for example, more clothes. Make sure the weight is nicely distributed across the width of your backpack.

Up

Pack small items that you need often on top of everything else – snacks, map or GPS, headlamp, wallet, and possibly gloves. Hopefully, you won’t need a first aid kit often, but it’s still best to have it within easy reach. Many backpacks have a ‘brain’, a zip pocket on the top – the perfect spot for all this type of gear. If yours doesn’t have such a compartment, you can use freezer or compression bags to gather your stuff and keep it together. If you pack smart, you won’t have to pull out all your belongings to find your lunch.

Extra compartments

Hip belt pockets are indispensable. You can fish out your phone, camera, energy bars, lip balm or pocket knife without having to take your backpack off. A slumbering sugar dip is tackled in no time by quickly putting a cube of dextrose behind your teeth.

Nowadays, many backpacks have a stretchy pouch on the front, ideal for light items that you need often: toilet paper, water filter, hand sanitiser, and buff. Or snacks that won’t survive a day in your backpack, say a banana or a pack of chips. I also often tuck my raincoat there, especially when showers are forecast. Do avoid bulky items that affect your centre of gravity.

Side pockets can hold water bottles, thermos or hiking poles. In case of lack of space, those compartments can also hold a sleeping mat or tent poles.

More tips to pack your backpack for a hike

• Avoid hanging too many items on the outside of your backpack. A dangling enamel cup looks cool in photos, but it may get stuck or its constant clunking starts to irritate. On rougher terrain, gear is less protected on the outside than on the inside. Larger items are completely out of the question: they disturb the stability of your backpack on back and leg muscles. I once hung a tent on the back of my rucksack out of necessity and barely made any headway.
• The exception to the rule above: dry socks while hiking by hanging them on safety pins attached to the outside of your backpack.
• Always tighten the compression straps on your backpack. By compressing the gear inside, you keep your centre of gravity in check and prevent the load from shifting while hiking.
• Some hikers swear by compression bags. They’re often waterproof, allow you to organise gear by type and remove excess air – creating more space for other gear. Putting everything in such bags, however, also creates unused space.
• Freezer bags are waterproof, transparent and cheap.
• Don’t wait until the last moment to pack your backpack for a long hike. Test methods at home, find out what works for you and stick to that – it eliminates overthinking along the way. Go for a test walk in a nearby forest with your fully packed backpack.
• The backpack you choose determines how you pack it. A backpack that does not fit properly will ruin your whole experience. Don’t choose one that is too big either: you’ll either pack too much or, if not, your gear will quickly start shifting around.

How do you ensure you don’t take too much with you on a multi-day trek?

First of all: it’s perfectly normal to carry an overweight backpack on your first trek. As a hiker, you carry your fears on your back – so you’re bound to take too many clothes, too much food, too hot sleeping gear. I once lugged along several books, for fear of getting bored along the way. Now I limit myself to an e-reader. In other words, you learn each time.

A rule of thumb states that a trained hiker can carry up to a third of his or her body weight, a beginner no more than a fourth. I myself weigh about 75 kilos, but I would never consider setting off with a 25-kilo load. The more you struggle with your backpack, the less you’ll enjoy the hike. I think it’s better to aim for a fifth of your body weight – in my case 15 kilos, although I still don’t always make that target. Included in those numbers is the maximum amount of water you take with you.

How do you avoid overstuffing your backpack? It’s not rocket science. Spread all your stuff on the floor at home, critically examine each item and divide it into two piles – one with ‘essentials’, the other with ‘luxuries’. A sleeping bag is essential, and so is food. But sound speakers or a hip flask of rum are not. Leave half of the last pile at home. Lightweight camping gear can be expensive, but it’s still a worthwhile investment if you camp regularly. Also, look for friends. By trekking in group, you can divide gas stove, tent and water filter.

This blog post first appeared in Dutch on Kampeertijd.