How to Pack a Backpack

How to Pack a Backpack

The comments from one of my previous posts regarding 14 day emergency kits made it clear that some of our readers may be committed preppers, but haven’t necessarily had much experience with camping. 

I don’t mean to disparage them, but some of our readers were quite skeptical that you could put 14 days of food and supplies into a backpack.  For emergency kits, you want them packed in case you need to make a quick bug out. 

If you have an emergency that is a shelter in place event, you can always take stuff out of the pack.  This post will focus on how to pack a large backpack, and in a subsequent post I will discuss packable foods.

If you manage to miss Boy Scouts and the military, you can reach adulthood today without having done any camping.  While I can’t fix that in a blog post (You need to go out and do it.)  I can give you some tips on how to pack a backpack. 

For serious campers this may not seem like a real problem, as you can open the pack and shove stuff in, but as you start to use 50 liter or larger packs, you really want to get things distributed properly to be comfortable. 

Frame

You will want a pack and frame large enough to put everything inside the pack.  You do not want a bunch of loose items dangling off your pack while trying to walk efficiently.  Loose items snag on brush, make noise, and cause the weight to shift around uncomfortably.  ☹

For a longer trip, like 14 days, you’ll want to use a pack with a frame, which will allow more weight, adjustability, etc.  There are both external and internal frames available.  Internal frames tend to be matched to the pack and have become popular in recent years, but when I was growing up, external frames were the way to go. 

External frames allow different packs to be used on different occasions with the same frame.  An external frame can also be used alone to carry a single large item that won’t fit in a pack.  It should have a good waist strap so the weight is not all on your shoulders.

Loading A Backpack

Start loading by laying the pack on the floor, or on a tarp, and laying all of the items you plan to carry out in an orderly manner.  Place softer items inside the pack close to your back, harder items away from your back.  You don’t want that aluminum mess kit digging into your left kidney while you try to walk 10 miles.  ☹  I tend to use a towel, folded to the dimensions of the pack, as my padding, but you can use anything soft.

With any pack, it can take some time to get to items that are buried in a bunch of other gear, so place items you may need quickly in an accessible pocket or on top, e.g. first aid kit or poncho.  Everything should fit in the pack with nothing left in your hands.  If you are on a trail, you need your hands free to keep brush from hitting your face, looking at a map, etc. 

Weight

You will want to consider the weight of items as you distribute the load.  You don’t need a pack that is pulling you toward the left, because all the heavy items are on the left.  😊  Once packed, test your balance left to right by putting the pack on and carrying it around.  It may feel okay initially, only to have an imbalance become apparent after walking with it for a little while.  If necessary re-adjust.

Dry

You will want to keep your bag dry.  Even items that may not be harmed by getting wet, don’t get any lighter when soaked in water, and you don’t want to carry a bunch of wet belongings.  While most modern packs are made of material that is somewhat water resistant, I use two techniques to make sure the contents of my pack stay dry.  I use Scotchgard to improve the water resistance of the pack.  I also place the contents of the pack into Ziplock bags.

Fit

It is important that your pack be adjusted to fit your body properly.  While tightening or loosening the straps is obvious, you also have an ability to adjust wherever the pack connects to the frame.  Use waist straps and chest straps.  The more the weight is distributed, the easier it is to carry.  You need proper fit to distribute weight to your best advantage.

Experiment with adjustments until you find your ideal arrangement for your gear.  Then stick to that arrangement every time you pack.  If your group is not all at equal levels of ability, such as a family with children, spread the weight amongst your group according to strength and ability.

While this post is not about what to pack, you generally want gear that is high quality, light weight and compact.  Every bit of space or weight you save is then available for food or other consumables.

Front Pack

If you are still unable to get everything into your pack, you can get a little extra capacity by using a small pack like the one pictured, wearing it in front while your main pack is on your back.  Having to resort to this technique probably indicates you have too small a backpack, or too large a load, but it can be made to work.  If you decide to try this, pack items you will need rapidly, like a first aid kit, or often, like a water bottle, into the front pack.

Building Up

Camping may not be your thing, or it can be a lot of fun.  If you haven’t been a camper, don’t immediately sign up for a rugged trip.  Take mild steps to increase your ability.  For instance, make your first trip to a campground where you can drive right to the site.  If that goes well, then try a trip where your tent site is just a few hundred yards from the parking lot, planning your gear so you only make one trip from car to campsite.  If you are comfortable with that, then try a short backpacking trip of a couple miles.

Gradually, extend the length of your outings and try camping in different seasons.  Camping in the summer is fine, but what if SHTF in winter and you have never been camping in the winter?  You will find at each step that you get better in your camping skills.  As you begin to carry the pack, you will figure out better ways to distribute your stuff inside the pack.

If you have children the right age for the Scouts, I encourage participating, not only for the child, but also as a parent.  Volunteers are always welcome, and you can pick up skills you may not have learned yourself, all while engaging in a fun activity.  In addition, if you aren’t an experienced camper, but your child is an experienced Scout, it is time to recognize he may know more than you do.  😊  Take advantage of that experience.