How to pack a
backpack
It’s all about balance BY DAVE BROWN
Zone 2 Zone 1
The backpack. It can be your dearest friend or your worst enemy; a cliché, but true. If you don’t take care and treat it well, it will fall apart and probably leave you to wrestle with it as you’re half- way up a steep mountain. This packing puzzle has more than once left many hikers and campers frustrated trying to find the one item they need buried at the bottom of their pack. As much as packing a backpack is more of a dark art than pure science, know that with practice you can become master of your portable domain. Every backpacking trip is different, and dictates to which level you prepare. Are you going for months, weeks, or just the weekend? Are you backpacking through urban cities and towns, or just to trails and campsites? For now let’s say you’re going off on a weekend hiking trip to the Adirondacks, Frontenac or Algonquin Park. You’ve mapped out the route; booked the campsite; figured out the food and supplies needed, and made family or friends aware of your travel plan schedule. Now to pack the backpack.
HOW TO PREPARE Rule number one is; don’t wait until
the night before to start packing. Then start by placing everything you need spread out on the floor in front of you and organize it into the three zones in the pack. Zone 1 – is the bottom of your pack, for lightweight items such as your
36 ottawaoutdoors
sleeping bag, clothes. Zone 2 – is the lower middle rear part that’s closest to your back – for heavier items such as water, food, tent, camping gear etc. Use your fleece or sleeping pad as a buffer between pointy items and your spine. Zone 3 – is the middle front and top – for medium-weight or bulkier items. Depending where you’re going, the
goal is to keep a balanced pack. If you’re mostly on flat trails, you can place heavier items a little bit higher inside the pack to keep weight over your hips and improve posture. For more rugged terrain, place the heavy items further down to lower your centre of gravity and increase your stability.
PACKING TIPS: • distribute the weight evenly on both
the left and right sides of your pack
• pack larger and heavier objects first • plan for rain, so pack valuables in zippered sandwich bags, and have a waterproof cover for your sleeping bag and pack
• store frequently used items in easy- to-access spots near the top of your pack or in external pockets (water bottle, snacks, map, compass, bear whistle/spray, flashlight, first-aid kit, rain jacket, camera etc…)
• use small and coloured stuff sacks for quick access and to stay organized (first-aid, kitchen items, utilities such as
duct tape, knife, matches, candles, etc…) Zone 3
• use every space (shoes, pots) to store and protect the smaller or more delicate items
• keep your fuel bottle below your food (ideally outside the pack), and away from your tent. A leak could easily destroy both.
• Avoid gear dangling outside your pack. No need for a swinging pick axe to keep your friends’ reflexes sharp
• Use your compression straps to bring the load closer to your body and to keep everything in place
THE ESSENTIALS These include items like the following:
• Sleeping bag – store in a special compartment at the bottom (or wrap in a waterproof cover and store below and outside the pack). Your closed or open cell mattress can be rolled and stored in a tough stuff sack to one of the outside straps.
• Clothes – normally in the main (zone 3) compartment, but in cooler weather keep your hat, gloves and fleece ready for easy access
• Tent – keep in waterproof pack in zone 2
• Cooking utensils – wrap in a towel and store in zone 3
• Food – store in waterproof and animal-resistant containers such as a bear sack
• Personal items – wrap in plastic bags in case of leaks, and squeeze them in wherever they fit If you don’t have a good backpack for
weekend hiking and camping, then visit one of the local retail outdoors stores and chat with their staff. They’ll be able to set you up with a 35-50 litre pack and recommend essential gear. Once you have packed your backpack and tightened the compression straps, strap it on and do the jump test to see if anything wobbles. If it doesn’t then you’re all set. Happy trails.
~ First published in the Outdoor Life column of the Ottawa Citizen. Look for Dave’s weekly articles every Sunday.
www.ottawaoutdoors.ca
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