How to Pack a Backpack for Backpacking ?
When packing your backpack for a trip, follow this simple order from bottom to top:
1. Sleeping bag
2. Clothes (wrapping clothes around loose items helps fill gaps and prevents shifting)
3. Sleeping pad
4. Stove
5. Water bladder (if your pack has a specific compartment, this typically goes in the core area)
6. Tent
7. Food (this is often the heaviest part of your load)
Make sure to position heavier items close to your back and near your shoulder blades to maintain your center of gravity. This setup will enhance your hiking comfort and balance.
Also, check to ensure that one side of your backpack isn't significantly heavier than the other—this will help avoid being pulled to one side as you hike.
After packing the bulkier items with lighter gear on the bottom and heavier on top, utilize the various pockets of your backpack for easy access to frequently used items. Place what you need most within reach so you won't have to dig through your entire pack throughout the day. Larger items that you need at hand can go into the top compartment of your backpack, which might include: