How to pack a backpack for hiking?

To pack a backpack efficiently, you want to make sure you put your light items at the very bottom and very top of the pack, and the heavier items in the middle so they sit along your back. That rule of thumbs work for Aarn Packs, and traditional packs.

Packing a backpack properly has a major impact on the weight distribution of your pack. An incorrectly packed pack can lead to some discomfort, even with an Aarn Pack on. Follow our guide!

1. At the bottom of the pack, put your sleeping system

Your sleeping bag and mat are perfect options for going to the bottom. They are relatively light, and you should not need them before the end of the day. Tents can go after, as they are normally heavy and bulky, but have a nice upright shape - thinking of the layering as we go and that we want the pack to be narrow, and not too wide.

2. Then add the extra bits for the night and the "just in case" items

We normally add the odds and ends we keep together in after the tent and sleeping bag - things like emergency repair kits, spare tent pegs, lasso locks, a harmonica (are we the only ones?)... These are the things we might not use but that could come in handy and are heavy when together in a wee bag.

3. Clothes, hut booties and wet weather gear can go on top of the heavy gear

Lighter stuff we're going to throw on top: hut booties, which are nice and light, and some clothing, including your wet weather gear, which is not compressed down, and you might wear during the day, especially if it's a little chillier.

4. Stove and food can finally go at the top of the pack

After that, we add our stove, which fits into our layering nicely. Lastly, we usually throw in our food, it fits down the sides nicely - things like dehy meals and chocolate! Keep your lunch towards the top so it is easily accessible during the day.

5. On the outside pockets, fit in toiletry and water filtration system 

Our water filtration system, which you may or may not need, is going in a side pocket of the pack. If it's really hot, and we're going to be using the filter a lot, we'll put it in our front pockets, but we have some warmer gear in our front pockets for the weather (this time around). The toiletry stuff is going in the other side pocket. We don't want that in our front pockets, and it's still easily accessible.

6. Hiking poles go on the outside of the pack

For pole storage, if you don't want them out all the time, there are several options. If we look at the Mountain Magic 50 PRO, you loop the poles through the pull cords on the back of the pack and insert the poles into the red pole tabs at the bottom of the pack, or you can use some Lasso Loc Straps to secure them into a side pocket.

7. Pack the heavier items in the Balance Pockets 

Balance pockets are for heavy items and items that are regularly used, like:

• Snacks
• Sunglasses
• Gloves (if it's colder)
• Electronics - battery pack, Kindle, etc
• Leatherman
• Rechargeable Light
• Headtorch
• Monopoly Deal (you never know when you need to whip out a game!)
• A drink bottle (the pockets can take a 1L bottle!)
• Gas
• Compass
• Sunscreen 
• Whistle
• Chapstick 
• Emergency 2-person shelter (if you're not carrying a tent)

And that's how you pack a pack!

Make sure you check out our video version of "How to pack an Aarn Pack" just below - shot on location at Island Hills Station, Canterbury. And if you want to see more, check out our YouTube channel here:@aarnpacksofficial