How To Pack A Backpack | 9 Checklist Tips For Hiking

Source: DHgate, Tag: Outdoor Sports

Love camping? Check out these 9 essential checklist tips for hiking, and enhance the way you pack your backpack.

• Stuffing your essentials unmindfully in the backpack isn't the best way to start your hiking journey. Despite making you feel uncomfortable after only a few miles of walking, your bag will assume an ugly, irregular look.
  The way into the trip, a poorly-packed backpack will deny you a comfortable time finding some of the packed stuff, and that's not what you want to experience.
  Luckily, there's always a way to do it right so that you have quick access to whatever you need while finding it comfortable to roam around with the bag painlessly. A properly packed bag will also look in vogue. Use the following expert-chosen hints to pack your backpack right and enjoy your next hiking experience.?

Find The Right Backpack
You'll start off by surfing the shops for the right hiking backpack. However, there's no one-size-fits-all option as the best one is unique to your needs. So which is your ideal size? What about the materials and price? Those are questions with unique answers. So keep an eye on what you know will accommodate all your gear while fitting snugly on your back.
Be sure to browse through all the backpack's descriptions to see its recommended uses and users. Check out for male and or female bags. To be more confident about the bag's true characteristics, find some time to go through reviews from verified purchases.
Determine All The Essential Gear
After finding the right bag, it's time to know what goes inside and what remains, depending on your needs. One thing to keep in mind here is that you need to sort out essentials and luxuries and start packing with the former in a bid to ensure your needs are all met. Lay them on the clean floor before you and start packing them as described in the following steps.
Start With The Bottom (First Zone)
We'll divide your backpack into three zones, and the first one will be the bottom part from the bag's floor to somewhere around a third of the height. This part is suitable for accommodating your light gear, especially the sleeping bag and a few other clothes.
There are numerous advantages of picking soft and lightweight gear at the bottom of the bag, one being that it provides cushioning for the other equipment. It also cushions your lower back from otherwise hard materials so that you don't feel the pain while moving. Likewise, you won't need a sleeping bag until you get to the camping field.

Pack The Middle Part
The middle part in this context is the part just above the first zone (described above). However, it doesn't take the whole central space to the backpack's back, only halfway horizontally. This is where to keep your bulky items. Food, water, and the bear canister will fit here. This is also where to add your hammer and other heavy stuff.
Adding heavy goods in the middle part of your backpack gives it the right balance while alleviating the would-be stress on your shoulders. It also adds to the backpack's decent shape while keeping your field safe. Items in this region are also easily accessible.
Pack The Top (And The Remaining Middle Part)
So here comes home to your "semi frequently-needed items" — zone three (the top-most part). Items like your notebook, map, pen, and others fit here. However, since most of these items are capable of sliding down into the bottom part, you may find it helpful to use smaller bags for them. If your bag has smaller compartments at the top, you're even better off.
Pack The Accessory Pockets
Accessory pockets are the easiest to access. They're home to the items you need all the time, like water. So if the items didn't fit zone three, it's time to include them in the mix. Different bags adopt different accessory pocket sizes and shapes. Modern types even have unique bottle-like shapes to provide snug-fitting to your water container.
Lock And Buckle-Down The Bag
After packing everything, you must now lock and buckle down your backpack before testing how it feels on your body. Always ensure you comply with the safest locking mechanism as recommended by the manufacturer. While some bags will need locks, others only require that you slide the zippers and join the buckles to get the task complete. Keep an eye on the instructions.
Test How It Feels
You don't need to wait for the D-Day to test how your bag feels, only to discover that the packing was poor, and you now have to unpack and make the necessary adjustments. That'll be a harm to your schedule. Well, you got to do it now, so get your muscles ready and load it to your back. How does it feel?
If the weight is more concentrated at the bottom, you'll always feel like you're being dragged downwards. If it's more at the top, you'll have difficulties moving forward with the backward drag. Therefore, heavy items should stay at the backpack's centre if you want the luggage to feel comfortable.
Protection From Water
You have several options to protect your luggage from water in case the rain catches you off-guard. A backpack rain cover is the first thing to think about in this case. It's one of the most economical, easy-to-use, and useful additions to your backpack. Keep it inside one of the accessory pockets for easy access. You can also consider using trash bags during packing. They're another cost-effective way of keeping water at bay, though they'll need that you spent more time during packing.
If you have a waterproof bag, you're safe, though this option is often quite expensive. Compression bags are also helpful here. They're often rated well for waterproof properties. You can find them on most online retail platforms, but you have to check their descriptions' credibility using genuine customer reviews.?
Conclusion
Guru hikers use the backpack packing tips above for their gear, and they've reported their convenience. Therefore, you can't go wrong with the same tips, especially if you have a backpacking checklist that helps you tick all the boxes for your needed gear. Meanwhile, enjoy your next backpacking experience!