Whether you're planning on a day hike or a one-week excursion in the mountains, knowing how to arrange your backpack is essential for efficient hiking. Knowing the best order for loading your gear can help ensure a proper weight distribution and balance as you hike. For best results, select a backpack that suits your torso length, with the hip belt resting securely just over your hip bones.
Arranging Gear
Heavy items such as stoves, fuel and food should be placed towards the middle of the pack for maximum support. If possible, attach big gear such as tents and sleeping bags to the straps on the outside of your bag to maximize the space inside. When you load your backpack, begin with items that you will not need access to during the day, such as spare clothes or tent items. Keep the weight of your gear evenly distributed to reduce the risk of swaying or misalignment while packing.
Small Pockets
Once you have filled the main compartment of your backpack, fill the small pockets with variety items such as sunscreen, snacks, sunglasses, maps and water bottles. If your backpack has a mesh zipper in the top pocket, use this for securing items such as loose change, wallets, car keys and cellphones to prevent losing these items. Try to balance out these items also, filling up pockets on both sides of your pack with an eye for symmetry.
Adjusting Your Backpack: Straps
Once you have loaded your backpack with all of your hiking gear, you will need to properly arrange your straps and stabilizers to ensure a proper load on your back and shoulders. Start this process by placing the backpack on your shoulders so that the hip belt is resting over your hip bones. Clip this strap together and pull evenly at the two straps on either side to tighten the hip belt around your waist. Pull down and back on the ends of your shoulder straps located just under your arm pits until the weight of the pack is resting near your body.
Final Adjustments
Locate the load-lifter straps on the tops of your shoulders and gently pull until the weight of the pack is removed from your shoulders. When properly arranged, your hips will be carrying most of the weight of the pack. Buckle the sternum strap located at your chest and gently pull on the strap until the shoulder straps are pulled in to a comfortable level, allowing your arms to move freely. Finally, locate the stabilizer straps on the outside of your hip belt towards your lower back. Pull these forward gently to help close the gap between the backpack and your hips. Once your backpack has been properly arranged, you should feel practically no tension in your shoulders or upper body.
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