Tim's Question:
What is the right way to pack a backpack? Should the tent be inside the pack, or tied on the outside? Should the sleeping bag be rolled up and tied on the outside or kept on the inside? Please help a beginner and go from start to finish.

—Tim

Karen's Answer:

	Karen Berger Meet Karen Previous Answers Hiking Forums

Hi Tim —

Well, there's no single one right way to pack a backpack, but there are some "rules of thumb" that can make your load more comfortable to carry.

The bottom line is that how you pack very much depends on what you pack and how it all fits together. For example, a big three-person tent is going to fit into your pack differently than a tarp. Whether you strap things on the outside will depend on the capacity of your pack and the volume of your stuff. Not to oversimplify, but if you can get everything into your pack, and if your pack feels good when you carry it around for awhile, you're probably good to go.

That said, here are some tips to help you get started:

Most packs are designed to be comfortable when the load rides high, which means packing the lightweight stuff at the bottom and the heavier stuff higher up. Some people (especially women) prefer to carry the bulk of the weight lower on their bodies. Carrying the weight lower down also makes sense when you're going off trail or have to scramble; you'll feel more sure-footed with the weight down low.

Nonetheless, most internal frame packs have separate compartments at the bottom for sleeping bags, one of the lightest items in your pack. With external frame packs, there's an obvious place for the sleeping bag outside the pack—and it's at the bottom, too. (Make sure you protect your sleeping bag in an absolutely fail-safe waterproof stuff sack.)

But just because there's a compartment for a sleeping bag at the bottom of the pack doesn't mean that you have to use it! For example, I like to keep my tent someplace handy so that I can get to it fast if I'm pitching it in the rain. So when I'm expecting bad weather, I sometimes keep it in that"sleeping bag" compartment, where I can get to it without opening the rest of my pack. Also, if I pack the tent when it's wet, it is less likely to leak onto everything. I strap my tent poles outside the pack with my air mattress.

Another good tip: Try to keep things that you might need during the day—raingear, mosquito repellent, water bottles, sunscreen, snacks, lunch—in a place that's easy to get to. My favorite places to stash the stuff I want to get at fast are an outside compartment or a little waist or hip pouch that rides in front.

Oh, yes, and don't forget the most important thing of all: Before you start packing anything at all, look at every single item you intend to put in that pack and make sure you really really need it.

Karen