How to Choose, Fit and Pack A Backpack

Wearing the wrong sized backpack for your torso, improperly fitting your pack and/or loading your pack incorrectly can make your hike uncomfortable or even painful.  Learn the right way to choose, fit and pack your backpack so you’ll arrive at camp a “Happy Camper”!

Scroll down to learn how to pick a backpack, how to fit your backpack EACH TIME you use it, and how to load up your backpack to properly distribute the weight.

Fitting a Backpack

Torso length is the critical measurement

Some tall people have short torsos and some short people have long torsos, so it’s important to actually MEASURE your torso to get the most comfortable backpack for your body.

How to Measure Your Torso

You will need a friend and tape measure:

1. Tilt your head and look for the bony knob where your neck meets your back.  This is Point A.
2. Place your hands on your hips with your thumbs towards your back.  Point your two thumbs at each other and draw an imaginary line. Where your spine meets this imaginary line is Point B.
3. Measure the distance between Points A and B.  This is your Torso Length.

 Look at the labels on the backpacks for the manufacturer’s sizing for your torso length.  

If you are between sizes, check with an experienced outfitter for recommendations.  

 Compare features, fit, comfort and price to find the best backpack for you and your budget.  Quality pays. If you are going on a long backpacking trip but don’t want to buy a high qualtiy backpack, consider renting one instead.

 Before you buy, either bring your own gear or use something at the store to fill up and add weight to the pack and walk around the store with the weighted pack for at least 15-30 minutes to make sure you are happy with your selection.  This is a much better time to find out something rubs you funny!

The Proper Way to Put on Your Backpack

 Don’t just hoist it up over your back with the padded shoulder strap.  This causes stress to the seams and can cause future problems – and you don’t need a broken pack when you’re in the wild!   Lift your backpack up as follows:

1. Loosen all straps so you can easily adjust for a snug fit once the back is on your back.
2. With knees slightly bent and with a wide, stable stance, grab the “Hoist Strap” with one hand.  This is the small loop strap in the upper center of your pack. NOTE: DO NOT hang up your backpack with this strap.  It is intending just for the momentary use to hoist the pack onto your back.
3. Pull the pack upright up onto one knee with the hoist strap.
4. Still holding the hoist trap with one hand for stability, slide one arm between the padded shoulder strap.
5. Slide the other arm under the opposite shoulder strap.
6. Now it’s time to adjust your backpack for the best fit.

 How to Adjust Your Backpack Straps

1. You should have already loosened the straps before putting on your backpack.
2. RIght now, the pack is on your back but nothing is strapped yet.  Bend at the waist and first connect the hip belt and tighten so it’s snug.  The hip belt should be resting on your hips so that they bear the bulk of the weight.  Now straighten up.
3. Tighten the two Shoulder Straps.  These are the straps that come down the padded straps.  This should be tight enough so the pack doesn’t sway, but not so tight as to cause neck problems.  You want the weight to remain on your hips.
4. Larger packs have a Load Adjustment strap.  These straps are at the top of the pack. Try to form a 45 degree angle.  As the day goes on, it’s sometimes helpful to loosen and tighten to make yourself more comfortable.
5. Connect the two padded shoulder straps with the chest strap.  Slide the strap up or down for comfort.
6. Check to make sure your hip belt is snug.  Tighten as needed.

How to Properly Pack Your Backpack

1. Line your pack with a compactor trash bag to help keep things dry.  Save a heavy duty large twist tie. A heavy duty garbage bag works ok, too, but won’t last as long.
2. If you use a water bladder, it’s easier to put that in first.
3. Think of your backpack as having three layers:
4. On the bottom of your pack goes the lighter, squishy items that you won’t need until later.  So here is where you put your sleeping bag, sleeping bag liner, your pad if it compacts, and night clothing.
5. In the middle layer of your pack is where you put your heavy things such as your kitchen, tent and food.  Use extra clothes, rope and small items to fill in gaps and balances things so you are tippy on the trail.  Many state and national parks are now requiring that you keep food and toiletries in a Bear Canister. This is where that would go as well.
6. On the top layer, is where you put things you’ll need during your hike, such as your thermal jacket in a waterproof compression sack, first aid kit, rain pants, and lunch.  You can put your rain jacket in here or in the big pouch on the outside back of your pack, depending on the weather and the likelihood of you needing it.
7. Once everything is packed properly, twist the ends of the compactor trash bag and fold the twists over onto itself and then use the twist tie to keep it that way (like an upside down twisted “U”).  This way rain can’t collect in the opening.
8. In the large section that goes on top of your pack go the things you use a lot:  sunglasses, maps, compass, water treatment system, a gallon zip bag labeled “Trash”, a quart zip bag with TP, bandana, hat and/or balaclava and snacks.  I keep my money and keys in a zip bag in my hiking pants, but if you prefer, put them in here.
9. In your hip belt pockets, keep small containers of sunscreen, hand gel, chapstick, one of those ball point pen looking bug sprayers, and a whistle.
10. Try not to put much on the outside of your bag.  Things can snag on trees, especially if you have to play ‘limbo’ under a fallen tree!  You can also lose things, like I lost one of my good hiking sticks when it came loose from the outside strap and pocket and I didn’t know it.
11. I do tie a neon scrap of fabric to alert any hunters that I am not a deer or bear.  I also use a carabiner that I use to hang my food at night. On the carabiner, I hook my camp shoes (I use Crocs).  
12. If I’ve rinsed out my bandana, I tie it on the back to dry.  Usually though, I twist it into a long roll that I wrap twice around my wrist before tying it.  This makes it super convenient to use as a sweat or nose wipe.

Links Mentioned in this episode:

Active Travel Adventures podcast

Essentials of a Backpack Emergency Kit

Choosing a Portable Water Treatment System

Learn how to Backpack

 For recommendations of gear and tours, visit the Resources page.  Some of the links may be affiliate links which means that at no additional cost to you, I might make a small commission which helps to defray some of the costs of this program.  It’s a great no cost way to support the show – thanks!

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