Packing your Backpack

How you pack and wear a backpack is almost as important to your comfort as how much goes in it. Ideally, you want the smallest possible pack that conforms to your body shape as much as possible. This will keep the weight on the waist belt and off your shoulders and will greatly increase the ease of carrying your pack. Almost all modern packs have external straps to tighten the whole thing up after packing. If you’ve got them, use them, and get your pack as tight and compact as you can.

When carrying a load, at least fifty percent of the work should be done by the waist belt. Your belt should be as tight as is comfortable, and you should be able to slide a finger or a hand through the front of your shoulder straps when standing straight up. The whole aim of good packing is to get as much weight as possible bearing vertically on your hips and legs, and as little as possible pulling back and down on your relatively weaker shoulders. If your pack does not have a waist belt, don’t take it to Europe unless it’s the size of a daypack. Trust me on this one.

Finally, it’s a good idea to take a large waterproof bag to cover your backpack in case of rain. If you expect rain on your trip, get a solid one made of plastic, vinyl, or waterproof cloth. If you are pretty sure of good weather, two large plastic bags will serve.