• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

OutdoorCrunch

  • BASICS
  • PROTIPS
  • GEAR
    • JACKETS
      • INSULATED JACKETS
        • DOWN JACKETS
        • SYNTHETIC INSULATED JACKETS
      • SHELL JACKETS
        • HARDSHELL JACKETS
        • SOFTSHELL JACKETS
      • SKI JACKETS
      • PARKAS
      • RAIN JACKETS
      • WIND JACKETS
      • FLEECE JACKETS
    • BACKPACKS
    • COOKING
      • BACKPACKING STOVES
      • COOKWARE
    • FOOTWEAR
  • MISCELLANEOUS
  • ABOUT
    • ABOUT ME
    • CONTACT
  • PRIVACY POLICY
Home / Basics

Step by Step Guide: How to Pack a Backpack

Last updated: December 14, 2020 by Canberk Koksal 10 Comments

In this post, I laid out ALL the backpacking items you might ever need, whether you're backpacking for traveling purposes or outdoors purposes (or both) - with your hiking backpack or travel backpack.

Since both travel and hiking (or so-called technical) backpacks can be used for both outdoor and travel backpacking purposes, you can (should) ignore outdoor-specific items if you're going to travel and vice-versa (duh).

  • Also, even though most backpackers throw these items in their backpacks with no organization...

...There is a right way of packing to ultimately be more comfortable and less exhausted along the way with healthier load distribution.

That's why I also explained where to pack these items. This efficient packing will improve your overall outdoors experience especially if you have a budget backpack without superior suspension, padding or frame.

Without further ado, here's your checklist:

See full PDF here: https://outdoorcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/how-to-pack-a-backpack-guide.pdf


Besides years of experience, there are some scientific facts behind the optimal backpack organization.

Weight and moment

Weight distribution inside the bag creates a moment on your body. This moment is the product of the weight of an item and the distance of that item to a bodypart. The higher the moment, the higher stress applied on subject bodypart.

So the weights should be placed in such a way that eventually both the total momentum applied to the body is low and the highest moment is accumulated around the strongest muscles (hips and legs) and the lowest moment is accumulated around the spine and shoulders.

Heaviest items should be contained inside the core of the backpack since it's very close to the body, it's very close to legs and hips, and it's not very far from shoulders.

Also, they shouldn't be necessary to access during hike.

This way the shoulders aren't extra-pulled since the heaviest items aren't placed very low and hips and legs are more activated since the frame support is more involved.

Bottom of the backpack should contain the lightest items due to farthest distance to shoulders and spine.

Medium weight items should be carried at the top and front.

With that said...

Frequency of use

Frequently used items should be placed in mesh pockets, traveler organizers, front zippered pockets and other surface compartments.

Light night time supplies should be placed in the sleeping compartment. If sleeping compartment isn't available, they should be placed beneath the heavy load.

Raincover should be easily accessible in case of downpours.

Crush

Fragile items shouldn't be placed directly under the heavy load.

Spilling

Liquids should be placed at the bottom to prevent spilling although I highly recommend storing them inside bags.

Damping

Certain puffy, lightweight items absorb shock and protect the other items from damages when the backpack is dropped or crashed. Usually, they are camping items already at the bottom.

Compactness

Obviously, low-dense compressible items should be carried in flattened, tight pockets while bulky, dense items should be placed inside larger compartments.

Filed Under: Basics Tagged With: backpack, hiking, packing, travel

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Crunch Search

About me

Hey, what's up? Canberk here. Nomad, gym rat, Starbucks addict and Tame Impala fan of OutdoorCrunch Team. Here's more about me.

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn

Donation via PayPal

Footer

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-GDD0YD30SK');

  • BASICS
  • PROTIPS
  • GEAR
  • MISCELLANEOUS
  • ABOUT
  • PRIVACY POLICY

REI is currently on sale as of Jan 2021. 

See REI Sale

See the holiday gift guide:

x