How to pack a hiking backpack

Each major transition is associated with the preparation of a backpack. In order to have complete success in the ascent, it is very important to choose it correctly and determine its content. If we make this selection, we will be able to enjoy the magical journey without any worries.

The tourist backpack

The backpack is made of strong materials, with many pockets for quick access to more important items. It is adjustable for ideal comfort.

Depending on our needs and the length of the transition, tourist backpacks have different capacities. There are one-day - with smaller capacity and multi-day - suitable for long hikes and gathering all our equipment for the night.

Most of the backpacks have built-in additional features - mesh bags, hidden pockets, waterproof compartments. We can use them for anything - to collect the collected mountain tea and other "treasures" found along the way.

When choosing a travel backpack, it is important to test whether it is comfortable with a load, as well as to keep in mind that its weight should not exceed 1/5 of ours.

Therefore, our travel backpack should contain everything important, but only the essentials.

Objects you must have in your backpack:

• Water bottle - for your convenience, let it be lightweight - aluminum or plastic. In the backpack, it should always be full, no matter how close we are to water;
  
• Little food - durable and well packaged, no more than necessary;
• First aid kit - we can not always predict everything, but the presence of analgin, adhesive tape, sunscreen, allergen cream, oxygenated water, gauze and sprain cream is desirable;
• Lantern - to rely on a bright road we recommend a headlamp with spare batteries. If it is moisture resistant and shockproof it will guarantee more security. Some hiking backpacks have a built-in solar panel;
• Knife - sharp, strong, made of stainless steel, necessarily with a case;
• Matches, paper, alcohol, gas stove, utensils;
• Map, compass, thread, needles, rope;
• And last but not least - documents, money and a charged phone;

The valuables of these items can be stored in the waterproof pockets of the backpack to be maximally protected;

Clothing is our second important category in the contents of a backpack.

They are considered according to the season, and it is important that they are not bulky, but in layers - T-shirt, sweatshirt, jacket:

• Shoes are most important for your comfort - comfortable, strong, waterproof, breathable. To these we can add gaiters that protect our knees to the knee from thorns or snow. For comfort in the tourist backpack we should also have sandals or slippers, with which your feet will rest during the evening rest;
• Socks - cotton and breathable, it is good to take a pair of wool for quick warming;
• Jacket - its water and wind resistance and hood will protect you from rain and snow;
• Pants, T-shirts and sweatshirts, according to the season and the length of the transition;
• Glasses - high UV protection, because in the mountains the sun's rays are much stronger;

In case your hike is not a one-day trip, the third category for your tourist backpack are the necessary things for an overnight stay - a tent, a sleeping bag and an insole.

• When choosing a tent, it is good to focus on a two-layer, which will protect us from rain and wind. If the weather surprises us, it is good to assemble and assemble it quickly.
  
• The sleeping bag will provide you with all the comfort and relaxation after the trip, so you should not compromise with it. Let it be warm, small and light.
• The insole is for insulation at night or sitting in moisture. It is most convenient to roll up and put on a tourist backpack.

Demonstration of tourist backpack packaging

And now Marco Johnson from the National Outdoor School will tell how he prepares his backpack:

"What I will do is to demonstrate how to gather in your backpack all the equipment you usually carry with me in the mountains. So lets start packing my backpack, using three basic principles. These are the principles I follow when equip my kayak. My friends who travel on horseback, follow the same basic rules while preparing their horses. These are:

1. accessibility
2. balance
3. compactness

You can hear longer versions than I used to describe the principles, but this is not essential. The important thing is that the meaning is the same and that the system really works. Lets move on and gather all this equipment in my backpack.

Main steps

One of the first things I'll do is to take the more bulky items, the largest of them is my sleeping bag and make it smaller. The easiest way to do this is by using a compression bag. I am very content with my sleeping bag, which is waterproof, so it can never been compared with a conventional bag. It provides a waterproof protection of your sleeping bag. So I turned the large volume of my sleeping bag in a small volume, just by using the compression bag. Although it is lightweight, I will put the sleeping bag at the bottom of my backpack. It fills perfectly the bottom and serves as a great base for the next item that will arrange.

The second thing I would put on the sleeping bag is the gas cartridge. First - I won`t need it during walking; second - is not essential to be at an easily accessible place and third - thus is helping to balance the luggage. Having it into the bottom part of the bag provides protection from any drilling or blasting while remaining far below from my food. If your food had ever been close to gas, then surely you know that you no longer want this to happen again. So I let the cartridge bottom.

Another thing that will put at the bottom of my backpack is the sleeping mat with my lightweight chair. I will put them in the backpack from the outside. Thus simultaneously protects the gas bottle and fills the bottom of the backpack.

Now I have left aside food containers, shelter and clothing. I will continue arranging my backpack, intending to put the heavier items on the bottom because it is now quite easy. Now I must put heavy objects that give me a good balance and center of gravity. One of my duties to the group is to carry the pot. I will wear the gas cartridge with me together with the stove. I have put into the pot my eating bowl and the stove. To maximize the place've got, I have put the pot and my portion of food, filling the remaining space entirely. Set the pan in a backpack on the side of my back since my backpack has soft padding for the back and doesn`t cause me discomfort. Making this I provide a low center of gravity and a better balance, whether run on trail or follow an unusual route where I will need better balance.

There has left a little more food that cannot enter into the pan and now I will fill with it the other spaces in my backpack. The already emptied food bag i will use as extra padding. Given that I will stay in a tent with a group of three or four people, I probably will not wear it myself, because I have the gas bottle, pot and the stove. Just for demonstration purposes I will show you that I can the shelter of the tent, filling the remaining empty space in the bottom of my backpack. Doing this thing I willprotect from water my sleeping bag. I have put aside some food for the road.

Now the lower 1/3 or 1/2 of my backpack is ready. The lightest objects - at the bottom, then - the heavier at the side of my back. Now I can think about things to which I must have easy access. As a leader, I will need my medicine bag always close, so I'll put it in the front pocket  of backpack. This way I can easily reach it if I need it. If you hike alone, I advise you to do the same. It is important to have the medicine kit easily accessible at any time. Another thing I must have accessible is my raincoat, but also want to have on hand some warm clothes. To protect my blouse from water, I found it very convenient to wrap in the raincoat and have them together in the backpack. Besides the warm blouse which I carry with me I have another thinner but also a hat and gloves. Also, into the clothes was wrapped my flashlight, because usually these are things that I need for the night. Just wrap them so is very fast and you can store them in the front pocket of your backpack. A pair of waterproof pants -  put them again here for easy access. And close the backpack.

I have some clothes that I probably will not need during the day. You saw how I got into the front pocket of an easily accessible place warm clothes and a raincoat. My other clothes are also stowed in a waterproof bag, but can also be collected in plastic bag or a larger bag inside the backpack to protect them from water. It is a pack of extra clothes. Here is the second pack - put it on the top. We are ready with them. Now I can prepare toiletries, as it is not necessary to have them accessible at any time. I will not need them during the day. A small bottle of water which I use as a cup - also belongs to the most necessary things for easy access. The thing you need all the time during the hike is the water tank. To protect him, I will leave it at the top and close my backpack. I left the hose outside, completely closed the brim and then spend the hose over one shoulder strap, so I can sip easily while on the road. Very convenient and accessible.

Many backpacks have top caps or belts. My backpack has these little side pockets with zippers. I like them, because I can use them for things I want to have easily accessible. So here I will put food for the road. On the other side I  will put extra batteries, a small pocketknife, compass, lighter and sunscreen. Put them here and so all these things I will have on a hand..

One of the things that will put in the outside pockets - is the central prop for my shelter. It is quite strong and heavy because it is made of aluminum. I will put it in the side pocket and strap the last buckles, making sure that tightly grip the struts and do not let them fall and lose them.

So finally my backpack is ready and things that will need during the day are readily available - water, food, clothing, first aid kit. Well balanced is because I started with a light layer on the bottom. I put it on some heavier objects to balance. Everything is tidy and full, so you will not worry that you will lose something on the road. No stuff to hang and thus provides from wraping the clothes ordamage the gas cartridge. So it only remains to put my backpack and go on the particular route, because I want to spend time out in the mountains, not here dealing with equipment."

Here, your backpack is ready. Don't forget a raincoat, your favorite hat according to the season, the good mood, a handful of smiles for all the beautiful views that lie ahead - fully prepared for new peaks!

Oilaripi!