A Beginners Guide on Packing a Rucksack
The art of packing a rucksack is not just about stuffing in everything that you need in one place and hoping that it shuts. An organised rucksack is one that allows rooms for the essentials while also being comfortable in the way that you carry it. Your items must also be safe and easy to reach for when you need them. Here is a short guide on how to pack a rucksack the right way.
Be Strategic
You cannot just keep everything in your pack and let it remain an unorganised mess. The neat way to go about this is to collect everything that you need to pack such as your cooking equipment, sleeping gear, clothes, and toiletries, and place them on the floor. Now divide these into two groups. One with things that you absolutely need and things that you could do without. The things in the group that you need to go in the rucksack first.
You can also arrange according to what you may need more often. It is a good idea to keep the toiletries at the top so that you don’t have to unpack the whole bag just to get to them.
Cooking Items
Pack the cooking items close to your back. This way more of the weight is positioned towards your hips, and it will become much easier to carry all that weight. If you are also in the process of buying a new rucksack think about getting one with a ridged back so that nothing sharp pokes through to your back, making you uncomfortable during your journey.
Don’t Hang On Too Many Things
Most people strap on external things on their rucksacks. The only con is that they can put you off your equilibrium and even get snagged onto things and throw you off balance. If you cannot strap it tightly enough that it does not move on its own, consider not adding it all.
The Bottom of the Rucksack
Ideally, you should pack your sleeping bag at the bottom. However, most people invest in sleeping bags that can be hooked to the outside of your bag, if that is the case you want to place all of your clothes and towel at the bottom. There is a trick to it though. Tightly roll all your clothes so that they can snugly fit into minimal space, then place the towel over them like a layer. This is done so that you don’t lose small items at the bottom and have to rummage through each and every item of clothing to find them.
Always Waterproof
You would be wise to prepare for anything. It makes sense to take the small but effective step of investing in a rain cover. Simply strap it over your rucksack after you pack, and you are good to go.
There are Always Tiny Spaces
Every bit of space should count. Look at the rucksack from the outside, you may notice that some corners could be filled up but the space is too small. You can use these spaces for socks or folded shirts.
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