Before Packing

Pick the lightest possible backpack.

Pick a backpack size depending on the

trip (i.e smaller pack for a shorter trip).

Consider a bigger pack for colder times of

year (more, bigger, heavier clothes).

Only pack necessities for your trip. Any

unnecessary extras will weigh down your
pack.

How to pack

Organize contents into categories and place

in plastic bags or water-proof bags (colorcode for quick locating when wanting to
use).

Take food items out of packaging and place

into zip lock bags (this allows for less space
being taken up by packaging and avoids
spills).

Organize categorized bags by weight.

For longer trips where you will be camping

overnight, pack light and compact
sleeping apparatus (sleeping bag, mat,
tent).

Pack the lightest contents first (usually

sleeping apparatus- also convenient as it is
the last thing you will need to take out of
your pack).

Maximize space where possible.

Link to clothing check list video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Heavier items should be closest to the
Distributing the weight
body (back of the pack) and not too low
and not too high in the pack (centered
between the shoulder blades). This is so
then there is an even weight so that you
are not slouching over or being pulled back
by the pack.

Followed by medium to heavy weight items

(clothes, cooking supplies and tent- again
convenient as cooking and pitching the tent
will be done before sleeping).

Place light weight emergency items at the

top of the pack (snacks, first-aid kit, phone,
rain jacket).

Remembering to have water bladders in the

pouch of the back of the backpack or else
have them inside closest to the back and
between the shoulder blades. If you have a
water bottle the backpack should have a
bottle holder pouch on the side of the packif not place it in empty space within the
pack thats easy to get to.

In pockets of the backpack should be things

you need to access with ease (torch, map,
compass, gps, whistle, pocket knife, insect
repellent, medication and band aids).

Water bottles and water bladders should

also be closest to the body. Some
backpacks have a pouch to slide in a
bladder. Water moves around and if it is
too far away from the body it can make
you sway.

Lighter items can be distributed to the top,

bottom and front (away from the body) of
the backpack. This is because they have
less of an impact to weighing the backpack
down and forcing you to slouch or be
pulled back.

As a guide, a loaded backpack should not

exceed 25%-30% of your body weight

All this information will achieve better

comfort and stability while walking

Wearing the pack

Hip belt sitting just above the hips

Clip then buckle together and tighten

it

Check the padded sections to make

sure they are comfortable

Pull stabilizer straps located on either

side of the hip belt to snug the pack
body toward the hip belt and stabilize
the load.

Pull down on the shoulder straps to

tighten them, this will bring the pack
closer to the body

Load-lifter straps are located just

below the tops of your shoulders,
tightening or loosening these straps
can adjust where the weight is
distributed (hips or shoulders)

Adjust the sternum strap so it is

comfortable across your chest
Buckle the sternum strap and tighten
until the shoulder straps are pulled
inwards comfortably, allowing arms to
move freely

Tips

Consider packing food items into a Bear

canister. This is so that the scent of food
doesnt attract any unwanted animals or
bugs.

You need about 3 litres of water a day. Pack

a suitable amount that will not weigh down
your pack and enough that will get you by
until you get to a water source. Research
the area you are hiking/camping for known
water sources.

You also need to consume around 20002500 calories a day. Store snacks in the
pockets of your pack to easily access and
consume while hiking. This will keep your
energy levels maintained until you can
cook your meals.

Fill empty space with small compressible

Backpacks:
items.Adjusting the Fit - REI Expert Advice. Rei.com.
Retrieved
23
August
2016,
from
www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/backpacks-adjustinghttps://
Use
any cooking supplies such as pots for
fit.html

storage.

References

Beginners Guide to Packing a Hiking Bag. (2013). Snowys Blog.

23 fit in August
2016, probably
from
Retrieved
If it doesnt
the pack, you
http://www.snowys.com.au/blog/beginners-guide-to-packing-adont need it.
rucksack/
Hamilton-Smith, E. (2012). In the Australian Bush: Some
Reflections on Serious Leisure: World Leisure & Recreation: Vol
35, No 1. World Leisure & Recreation, 35(1), 10-13. Retrieved
from
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10261133.1993.105
59134?journalCode=rwle19
How to Pack & Organize a Backpack | Wild Backpacker.
Wildbackpacker.com. Retrieved 22
August 2016, from
http://www.wildbackpacker.com/backpackinggear/backpacks/how-to-pack-a-backpack
How to Pack a Hiking Backpack. (2011). wikiHow. Retrieved 22
August
2016,
from
http://www.wikihow.com/Pack-a-HikingBackpack
How To Pack A Hiking Backpack. Crazy backpacks. Retrieved 23
August 2016, from http://www.crazybackpacks.com/how-to-packa-hiking-backpack/
Packing Your Pack. Outdoor Education 10th Grade. Retrieved 23
August
2016,
from
https://sites.google.com/a/tarriers.org/outdoor-education-10thgrade/packing-your-pack
Preparation information for the trekking stage of your Kokoda
Expedition. Kokoda Expeditions with No Roads. Retrieved 23
August 2016, from http://www.kokodaexpeditions.com.au/duringtrekking.html
Shoenfeld, Y., Udassin, R., Shapiro, Y., Birenfeld, C., Magazanik,
A., & Sohar, E. (1978). Optimal back-pack load for short distance
hiking. Archives Of Physical Medicine And Rehabilitation, 59(6),
281-284.
Retrieved
from
http://europepmc.org/abstract/med/666559