How to pack a hiking backpack

Trying to fit all of your hiking gear in your backpack can be a challenge. How do you pack a tent in a backpack? Where does the fuel go? How do you get the sleeping bag to fit? When you’re carrying everything you need for multiple days on the trail, it can add up! Using the correct method of packing can set you up for success as you hit the trails and keep your back comfy all day. This guide walks you through an easy and widely used system for how to pack your backpack.

First, we want to learn how to correctly size a backpack. 

Next, let’s talk about how much weight to carry.

Then, let’s pack it all in!

How to correctly size your pack

Before you can pack your backpack, there are two important things that you need to make sure of. First, it’s important that your backpack fits you.  No matter how you pack your backpack–if it doesn’t fit you, it’s going to be a miserable hike. 

There’s two main things to consider when sizing your backpack: your torso and your waist. Each backpack manufacturer gives sizing for the proper backpack fit, usually in centimeters. 

By measuring your back from your C7 vertebra (aka the “bony bump” in your spine when you lean your head forward) to your iliac crest (aka the top of your hips), you can see the length of your torso. This number will help you find which torso size of backpack is best for you.

Then, you want to measure around your waist, right above your hips. This makes sure that the hip belt will fit you. This is important because you want the majority of the weight (80%) to rest on your hips. 

Once you have a pack that fits you, it’s important that your backpack also can carry your gear. If you’re going on a day trip, a 20L backpack would be fine. But unless you have ultralight gear, good luck getting a week’s worth of gear and food in there! 

For the average hiker, the pack sizes are broken out like this:

• Overnight or weekend hike: 30-50 liters
• Multi-day hike (3-5 nights): 50-80 liters
• Extended hike (5+ days) or big load hike if you’re a parent or winter hiking: 70+ liters

However, the gear that you carry also plays a big part in what size you need. For instance, if you carry ultralight gear, you could get fit gear and food for a multi-day hike into the 30-50 liter range. Because of that, the advice is often to get your gear first and then get the backpack that fits your gear.

(Still looking for a backpack? We got you covered.)

How much weight should you carry?

A good goal to aim for when backpacking is not to carry more than 20% of your body weight. So this means that a person who is 150 pounds should try to keep their backpacking weight at or below 30 pounds.

However, it’s a bit more complicated than that, as different factors can account for what you need to take and can affect your weight.

When calculating your weight, it’s important to take into account:

• Trip length. The longer your trip is, especially the longer it is between towns or places where you can replenish your supplies, the more gear you’re going to need to take. If you’re going on a longer trip, keep the weight as low as possible–but also understand that you need enough calories to support you through your entire hike.
• Weather. It’s easy to pack ultralight in the summer. However, once you get into cold weather, your pack weight is going to climb as you add heavier sleeping bags, more clothing, and additional winter gear.
• Camping style. How long will you stay in camp? What luxuries are you willing to carry rather than do without? For instance, some people take along a lightweight camping chair. Some people go so ultralight that they don’t take a pillow. It’s up to you to decide what you’re willing to carry and what you want your camp experience to be like.
• Gear price. The more lightweight an item is, the more expensive it is. As you’re calculating what to take, try to make your big items (such as your tent, sleeping bag, and backpack) as lightweight as possible–while also considering your budget. (Looking for tips on how to backpack on a budget? We talk about that here!)

While it’s important to get your weight as low as possible for the best hiking experience, you also want to make sure you’re carrying the gear you need for the situation you’re in. 

How to pack your backpack

When packing your backpack, think of your pack in “zones” or “sections.” Each zone serves a different purpose and holds a different type of gear. This organization system is used to make it easy to set up and tear down camp, and also to keep the weight centered on your back throughout the day.

Your backpack breaks down into five zones:

• Bottom zone
• Middle zone
• Top zone
• “Brain”
• Outside pockets

Bottom zone

Start this zone off by shoving your sleeping bag in. After that, you put your bulky gear or gear you won’t use until you get to camp. By putting “squishy” gear here, you’re helping to balance your load and creates a gentle shock absorption inside your pack.

Example gear to put here:

• Sleeping bag
• Pillow
• Sleeping clothes

Middle zone

This zone is for your heavy gear. Putting this gear in the center keeps it close to your core and gives you a better center of gravity. Additionally, put the heaviest gear against your back. Your water bladder (if you carry one) will probably be among the heaviest items, which is why there’s usually that helpful pouch for it right against your back. Use lighter-weight objects (such as clothing or dehydrated food) to brace the heavy items against your the back of the backpack.

Wondering how to pack a tent in a backpack? Typically, this will sit in the middle zone here. I slip the tent bag against the back of my backpack and tuck it into place with my sleeping bag, then place the tent poles on the outside of the bag in one of my Osprey’s large pockets. Other options would be to keep the poles and tent together, or to not store your tent in a bag and simply stuff it in loose with your sleeping bag.

Gear to put here:

• Tent
• Your meals
• Stove and cooking kit

Top zone

This is where you stash your lightweight or frequently used items. A good rule of thumb is that if you’re going to use it on the trail or first thing when you get to camp, it goes either here or in the pockets. 

Gear to put here:

• Water filter
• Snacks
• Rain gear
• Warmer/cooler clothing you want to swap with

Brain

Some backpacks don’t have a “brain” or “lid” pocket. However, if they do, this is an easy place to put those “out-of-the-way” items, or items you kind of just throw in there and forget about. This keeps your valuable or sensitive information out of the way of your regular packing and unpacking, and makes it easier to keep it from getting lost.

Gear to put here:

• Keys
• Wallet or money/payment methods
• Emergency numbers or contact information
• Maps you might not need yet or only look at occasionally

Outside pockets

Every brand and type of backpack has a different setup for pockets, and you get to decide how best to use them for your hiking style. However, this is typically the place for small items you frequently use–or awkward items that need more space. 

Gear to put here:

• Tent poles (for me, they fit perfectly in the side pocket)
• Trowel and bathroom kit
• Small snacks you want more readily available
• Water bottles
• Yesterday’s socks (gives the ability to air out so they’re ready for the next day of hiking)
• I also like to put my fuel out here to further minimize the chance of it spilling on my gear

Hit the trails

Now that your pack is sized and packed, it’s time to go hiking! What adventures are waiting for you?