{"id":1080,"date":"2009-08-20T19:36:21","date_gmt":"2009-08-21T02:36:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/offgridsurvival.com\/?p=1080"},"modified":"2023-10-31T22:40:49","modified_gmt":"2023-11-01T05:40:49","slug":"backpack","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/offgridsurvival.com\/backpack\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Pack a Hiking Backpack or Bugout Bag"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Believe it or not, there is a correct way to load a backpack; something most hikers find out the hard way while suffering from all sorts of uncomfortable backpack related pains out on the trail.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-17693\" src=\"https:\/\/offgridsurvival.com\/wp-content\/themes\/church_10\/images\/2009\/08\/backpack.jpg\" alt=\"Backpack with Gear\" width=\"590\" height=\"308\" srcset=\"https:\/\/offgridsurvival.com\/wp-content\/themes\/church_10\/images\/2009\/08\/backpack.jpg 590w, https:\/\/offgridsurvival.com\/wp-content\/themes\/church_10\/images\/2009\/08\/backpack-80x42.jpg 80w, https:\/\/offgridsurvival.com\/wp-content\/themes\/church_10\/images\/2009\/08\/backpack-326x171.jpg 326w, https:\/\/offgridsurvival.com\/wp-content\/themes\/church_10\/images\/2009\/08\/backpack-100x52.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The first thing you should consider when packing a bug out bag, hiking pack, or any bag that you\u2019re going to be carrying for any length of time is pack weight. While it\u2019s tempting to cram your pack full of every piece of gear you can get your hands on; once out on the trail, you\u2019re going to realize the importance of light hiking quickly.<\/p>\n<h2>Considering Pack Weight<\/h2>\n<p>Before selecting a single piece of gear for your bag, you should ask yourself the following questions:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>How much weight can I realistically carry?<\/strong> Just because you can strap it on your back for a few minutes, doesn\u2019t mean you can carry it for hours upon hours through rough and unforgiving terrain.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Is the gear essential to my survival?<\/strong> If it isn\u2019t something that\u2019s essential to your ultimate survival while out on the trail, now is the time to either ditch it, or somehow justify the extra weight in your pack.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Is there a lighter alternative?<\/strong> When buying new gear, weight should be a significant consideration. If it&#8217;s going into a backpack, you better make sure there&#8217;s not a lighter alternative.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Can your gear be used for multiple tasks?<\/strong> Any piece of equipment that can perform double duty is a piece of gear that will help lighten your load. Look for things that serve more than one purpose.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>How to Pack your Backpack for Comfort and Safety<\/h2>\n<p>Yes, there is a correct way to pack your bag. While some of the rules are flexible and will depend on your unique needs, there are a couple of rules of thumb you should keep in mind.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-17695\" src=\"https:\/\/offgridsurvival.com\/wp-content\/themes\/church_10\/images\/2009\/08\/packedbackpack.jpg\" alt=\"Instructions on how to pack a backpack\" width=\"590\" height=\"459\" srcset=\"https:\/\/offgridsurvival.com\/wp-content\/themes\/church_10\/images\/2009\/08\/packedbackpack.jpg 590w, https:\/\/offgridsurvival.com\/wp-content\/themes\/church_10\/images\/2009\/08\/packedbackpack-220x171.jpg 220w, https:\/\/offgridsurvival.com\/wp-content\/themes\/church_10\/images\/2009\/08\/packedbackpack-100x78.jpg 100w, https:\/\/offgridsurvival.com\/wp-content\/themes\/church_10\/images\/2009\/08\/packedbackpack-326x254.jpg 326w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>The Bottom of the Bag<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The bottom of the bag is usually reserved for items that you don\u2019t need to get at quickly. When packing my bag, I usually reserve this space for things like my tent, and my sleeping bag; gear that I\u2019ll pull out once I\u2019ve made it to camp. Most hiking packs have an area at the bottom of the bag for your sleeping bag. It&#8217;s a good idea to keep your sleeping bag separated from heavier gear, because compressing some bags can cause damage to the bag, resulting in a loss of warmth.<\/p>\n<p>Some bags also have a bottom compartment specifically designed for your tent or shelter; this can be especially helpful during bad weather. The last thing you want to do in a rainstorm is unpack your entire bag just to get to your tent.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The Middle of the Bag<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The heaviest gear should be close to your back and should be packed somewhere near the middle of the backpack (near your belt line). Packing the gear into this area helps bring down your center of gravity, making it easier to walk in rough terrain. This really is a rule that should not be overlooked, because an unbalanced pack can cause you to easily fall while walking on steep terrain.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The Top of the Bag<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The top of the backpack should be filled with light items and the gear that you will need the most. I usually reserve the top of the bag, and the outside pockets for things like rain gear, water filters, water bottles, snacks, sunscreen, insect repellant, and anything that you&#8217;re going to be grabbing a lot.<\/p>\n<p>Just make sure you don\u2019t overload the top of the bag, which could cause you to become top heavy and make hiking on rough terrain even more dangerous.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Believe it or not, there is a correct way to load a backpack; something most hikers find out the hard way while suffering from all sorts of uncomfortable backpack related pains out on the trail.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":17693,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-1080","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-hiking"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How to Pack a Hiking Backpack or Bugout Bag<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Believe it or not, there is a correct way to load a backpack; 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