Back Packing Expert

Packing is an age-old

In this article on how to pack a backpack, we will cover these main areas of concern: Size of the Pack, Maximum Weight of the Pack, Weight Distribution, Attaching Gear to Outside of Pack, Organization of Materials to be Packed, and Options for Hydration. These are the primary things you need to think about as you prepare to backpack. Read more »

Taking a day hike on your own or with the kids can be great fun for everyone. Nothing beats getting out into the wilderness to soak up all that nature has to offer. Whether you spend the entire day in scenic splendour or just a few hours in the woods, be sure you know what to put in your backpack for a safe hike.

If you don’t know how to pack a backpack for a day hike, try carrying these basic items that prevent disaster when the weather turns ugly or a trail mishap occurs. It’s always best to prepare for the worst and take simple precautions for a safe outing every time. Read more »

Traveling overseas to experience different countries and cultures is one of life’s precious endeavors. Don’t ruin your foreign backpacking vacation by taking most of your possessions with you. Leave the heavy load at home and learn how to pack a backpack for months of road travel in a carry-on size bag.

These handy packing tips will keep your load light, your pack tight and your attitude on the right track for a great trip without weighing you down. In fact, you’ll be amazed at how little a load you can manage with and how you’ll be flying through airports, evading crowds in urban streets and strolling in comfort along tourist attractions. Read more »

Loading a backpack greatly affects your comfort levels with any backpack and packing it correctly is essential especially for the longer trips when even the slightest discomfort will be challenging. Use the following guidelines for optimum comfort.

If your backpack feels like its leaning away too much from your back or to too much to either side of your shoulders, you have a distribution problem in how weight is balanced. It’s essential that you evenly balance the weight to the centre of your back to create more comfort.

When balance is crucial for more strenuous trekking such as off-trail travel, climbing, or skiing, pack heavy items centred in your backpack and close to the back and shoulders for better balance. Read more »

Yes believe it or not there is a right way and a wrong way of how to pack a backpack. Get it wrong and you will find that your backpack will soon get very very uncomfortable. This will then affect your whole trip, making it a miserable experience rather than one of enjoyment and pleasure.

There are slightly different ways on how to pack a backpack depending on the kind of backpacking or hiking you intend to do. For instance if you are hill walking or hiking on steep rough ground most of the time where balance is the most important aspect, then the heavy non-bulky items should be packed lower for better stability. Read more »

Choosing a back pack does not mean just going inside a store and then picking out the cheapest item displayed. It is not about money, it is about the materials used, how the pack is sewn together, how the pack is designed so it can store as much items, including a laptop or a netbook, and definitely, the straps have to be well put on the pack so when it is full and heavy, the weight would not dig into the shoulders of the user. Students should be most particular about choosing the right type of back pack. For one thing, it is not good to buy the cheapest one out there – these usually don’t last a season and another has to be bought. That is not thinking cost effective. Read more »

Backpacks can become very uncomfortable very quickly if not packed and fitted correctly; this article explains the basics of how to pack your backpack for comfort.

The key is weight distribution no matter what type of pack you have. You want to keep the weight as close to your body as possible and in an area that doesn’t cause excess strain on your back and shoulders. This centers the weight with your natural center of gravity and transfers the weight down your spine to your hips allowing your hip / waist belt to transfer the weight to your strongest muscles, your butt and upper legs! So… Read more »

Packing a backpack is not rocket science but it does require some attention to details if you want to avoid minor frustrations like having to stop and dig something out of the bottom of the pack.

While there are some variable to consider like climate, duration of your trip, type of backpack you own and a few others, there are some basic principals for packing a backpack that you can adapt to practically any situation. Read more »

Fanny Packs, a thing of the past? Who says so, some so called fashion expert who decided that they were no longer fashionable. Well OK they never were all that fashionable, but who cared, they were convenient, that’s all that mattered.

When they first came into popular use was the 1980′s and if you take a good look at the way we all dressed back then there really wasn’t anything that could make us look any worse. What were we thinking? Nowadays instead of the convenient fanny pack we are supposed to use backpacks. I have found myself carrying my backpack with only my cell phone charger in it, that’s dumb.
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