AVI INDUSTRIES
How to pack your Backpacks
HOW TO PACK YOUR BACKPACK
Loading the items in your backpack can dramatically influence your speed, endurance and enjoyment of an outing. Generally, concentrate the load on your hips and avoid loading your back and shoulders.
For easy treks: Carry the load high and fairly close to the back, as this will allow your hips to take the majority of the weight. To implement this strategy, load your lightest, fluffiest articles (sleeping bag, extra clothing) in the bottom area. Place the densest items (food, climbing gear, camera, binoculars) up top, near the shoulder blades.
For more difficult terrain, revise your packing strategy. Pack the heavy items slightly lower and ensure they are as close to the back as possible. This will force more of the load onto your back and shoulders but will lower your center of gravity and allow you to keep your balance easily.
Points to follow when packing your backpack:
1. Loosen all comression straps.
2. Fill bottom compartment OR lower part with sleeping bag and clothes. ie. the bulkiest and the lightest.
3. Fill main compartment with rest of gear, keeping the heaviest items high and close to your back.
4. Put frequently used items in side or top pockets.
5. Tighten all compression straps to compress the load and keep it from shifting while you hike.
Easy access to frequently used items.
Along with arranging items in your pack for optimum weight distribution, organize them for quick access. Articles like towels, caps, sunglasses, sunscreen, waterbottle’s which are sometimes needed at a moment's notice, are ideally carried in side or top pockets.
Keeping your contents dry.
Determine a strategy to keep your pack contents dry in rainy weather, because even packs constructed from waterproof materials are not necessarily waterproof. Water can leak through seams, zippers, pockets, the top opening, and places where the coating has worn off. Individual plastic bags or good waterproof stuff sacks can help protect pack contents. Most pack manufacturers offer waterproof pack covers as accessories. You may also choose to simply use a large plastic trash bag as a waterproof liner inside your pack.
Pack all electronic gadgets, camera’s or binoculars in a cotton towel before adding it to a waterproof cover. The cotton layer prevents vapours from forming on these devices due to the humidity which gets packed at the lower altitudes.