How To Pack A Backpack (10 Essential Tips)
Most people don’t know how to pack a backpack for hiking, camping, school, or any other trip. They spend a lot of time packing a backpack if you do not know how to pack a backpack rightly, So you are on the right path, must read this article for more information.
The first and most crucial point is to avoid unnecessary things when you are packing a backpack. If you fill anything that you have no need for, you feel uncomfortable, and the weight of the backpack is also unbalanced.
So I try my best to understand you with different tips and ensure your next backpacking trip easy and painless as possible. So read these tips and know-how to pack a backpack rightly.
Table of Content
How To Pack A Backpack| Some Basic Informative Tips and Steps
There are we given some tips and tricks that ease your task of packing a backpack. We divided a backpack into main three zones, zone first, zone second, and zone third. Now we briefly discuss each zone here.
Zone 1. Bottom Part
The bottom part of a backpack is given the name of the zone first. You can put the light item in this zone.
Zone 2. Middle Part
The middle part of your backpack is called zone second, and you can put all the heaviest items near your back.
Zone 3. Top Part
The upper or the top of a backpack is called zone third; all your medium-weight or bulkier stuff goes in this zone.
10 Steps How To Pack A Backpack
Here I’ve listed some of the important steps about packing a backpack:
1. To Choose A Suitable Backpack
First of all, you must choose the right backpack for your next trip. It will help if you are looking for a backpack with enough compartments and pockets that make your life easy and keep your things safe and organized.
If you do not know how to choose a backpack, we have already written a detailed guide. Without the right bag, you can not go on a comfortable journey. So first, decide which bag you need.
There are different types of backpacks like a day pack, Rucksack, multi-day pack, etc., so choose a backpack according to your need. The right backpack has a suitable capacity for your stuff and gear.
So finding a perfect backpack is not an easy task, but you must keep all the factors and criteria into consideration. If you have no proper backpack that’s comfortable for you, that can ruin your whole trip.
If you travel, then the right backpack for travel is slightly different from other types of bags. Like school backpack, college backpack, hiking backpacks, etc. travel backpack has a proper size, and you can not carry a large and massive backpack on an airplane.
Keep these points and essential features in your mind when you are buying your backpack.
- Weight of the Backpack
- Backpack volume (in liters)
- Backpack design
- Comfortability
- Durability
- Price of the backpack
2. Pack the Bottom of Your Backpack
Keep Light Items at The Bottom of The Backpack
It is common sense that everyone packs their backpack from the bottom side. As you know, most of the backpacks are accessible from the top side. These things that you do not need for your trip should go to the bottom. All your lightweight items keep at the bottom of the backpack. As we said, your sleeping bag you pack first at the bottom.
It is the last thing that comes out of it; after the sleeping bag, you pack your sleeping pad, and then other things like clothes, jackets, and other similar things keep at the bottom. They should also be the items you won’t need immediately.
Light items give structure to the backpack’s bottom and a solid base for other things above it. Your lightweight and bulky shoes are also suitable for the bottom of your bag.
To Pack A Sleeping Bag
When you go hiking or on a long night trip, you must carry your sleeping bag for the night. So when you are packing a backpack, first of all, you keep your sleeping bag before other stuff.
You can keep your sleeping bag in different ways. Pack, Your Sleeping Bag Inside The Backpack, Use Straps and Loops to Attach a Sleeping Bag, Tie Your Sleeping Bag to an External Frame, and Use Buckles to Attach a Sleeping Bag.
It would help if you had a sleeping bag when you reach your camping spot. And you don’t want the heaviest items pressing against your lower back.
To Pack Your Clothes
To pack your clothes in a backpack in the following way
- Folding and Rolling Clothing
- Use the army roll technique to store shirts
- Storing and Organizing Clothes in the Bag
- Roll pairs of socks into small bundles
- Store underwear in neat rolls
- Store a shirt, underwear, and socks into a single bundle to save space
- Fold pants and shorts to keep them wrinkle-free
- Try using a clothing folder for flat storage of clothes
3: Pack The Middle of Your Backpack
Pack Heavy Stuff At The middle of The Backpack
When you pack a sleeping bag, then keep all other heaver things in the middle of the backpack. Remember the one rule; when you are trying to fill a well-balanced and stable bag, you must keep the most decadent things in the middle of your backpack.
A sleeping bag gives a nice cushion for the rest of your stuff. So in this step, you can store all your necessary gear in the middle in an organized way.
If you are going camping, this is where you would put your camp stove or ten electronics. If you are not carrying an extra messenger bag for them, you should also be placed here.
4. Pack The Top of Your Backpack
Medium Weight Items on The Top of The Backpack
In the last step, you fill-up the top of the backpack. So, Keep all the medium-weight stuff on the top of your bag. These are the things that you need first. All those things you need during the travel or need before reaching the camping site you keep at the top of the backpack.
5. Side Pockets and Compartments
It would be best if you chose a backpack that has numerous pockets and compartments. These side pockets are perfect for organizing your smaller items, like your Phone, ID Card, car keys, passport, and map. These pockets are ideal for anything you need at any time during your travel.
6. Hydration Pockets
In most of the backpacks, there are two mesh pockets used for a water bottle. You also pack your H2O here for a quick drink.
7. Compress Your Stuff
When you pack a backpack to compress the stuff, it gives more space for other items. For the compression of a backpack, you can use the external straps of the bags.
8. Store Your Liquid Fuel Carefully
When you pack your backpack, store your liquid fuel carefully. Keep your liquid fuel away from and below your food, and drink.
You must cover these liquids on a separate cover. You must ensure that your fuel bottles are sealed and leakproof before you go on the journey.
9. Dry Everything Before Packing
It is also important to note that, before packing your backpack, your clothes and tent must keep in the sun for drying, because of your tent’s rainfly. So carefully dry your all stuff, because odors can develop on damp clothes quickly.
10. Lock Your Backpack
Finally, when you complete the packing of your backpack then use a lock to secure your backpack. You also can use the anti-theft lock to protect your valuable thing from theft. Theft mostly stole your mobile laptop and other useful things.
50 Things To Pack in Your Travel Backpack
This is a quick and complete list of the gear to pack in a backpack before you leave the house. You can load these things according to your need and depending on the nature of your trip.
- Passport
- EU Adapters
- Under Wear
- Socks
- Phone charger/Port Table Phone charger
- Clothes, including PJ’S
- Waterproof MAC
- Walking Shoes- Backpacks for shoe compartment
- Sleeping Bag Liner
- water bottle
- Euros
- Hairbrush/ comb/ hair gel/spray
- Painkillers and Medicine
- Camera
- Camera charger
- Deodorant
- Shampoo, conditioner
- Body wash
- Towel
- Moisturizer
- Going out outfits
- Going out shoes
- GPS or MAP
- First aid kit
- Gloves/hat/scarf
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Trekking poles
- Sun cream
- Eye mask
- Earplugs
- Shaver/Nail Clippers
- Swim gear
- Glasses/contact lenses/contact lenses cleaner
- Mobil phone/spare cheap phone for emergencies
- Reusable coffee cup
- Sunglasses
- Emergency whistle
- Torch
- Goggles
- Underwater camera
- Flip flops or sandals
- Trainers
- Padlock
- Backpack rain cover
- Cap
- Medicines
- Lip balm
- Reading material/travel guide/phrasebook
- Snacks
Keep all these points and gear when you pack a backpack for hiking.
Conclusion
Now, after reading this informative guide, you know how to pack a backpack right, light, and tight. If you follow these ten tips, it makes easy your journey and trip. If you go on a journey with your dog, you can read our complete article on dog backpacks.
After a successful trip, you must wash your backpack and clean it. In this way, you can protect your pack for a long time.
Those who want to know the American Airlines Checked Bag policy information must read this updated guide. Those who want to know whether a backpack is a personal item or not must click on the link and read our informative article.
