A woman with a hiking backpack facing away from the camera to look at a forest and mountains

How to Pack Your Backpack for a Hiking Trip

Rachel Wagner

3 min read

If you’re planning your first backpacking trip, or just need a quick refresher, knowing how to pack your bag can make all the difference. From the meals to the gear, you want to make sure you’re well-prepared without overstuffing your pack. A well-packed backpack makes hiking easier, keeps your stuff organized and helps avoid having to dig through your whole pack just to find a granola bar.

This guide will ensure you know how to load your pack the right way so you can hit the trail feeling confident and prepared to take on whatever the wilderness may have in store.

Teal dry bag being pulled by a handle out of a blue hiking backpack at a campsite

Start with the Bottom:

The bottom of your pack is where your lightest and bulkiest gear should live. Think sleeping bag, sleeping pad, or extra layers. You won’t need these things until you settle in for the night, so they can stay tucked down deep. They’re also soft and cushiony, making them a solid base that is able to brace and support the gear packed on top. Plus, this set-up ensures your bag stays balanced throughout your hike, and that you can go the distance.

TIP: Ditch the tent bag and store sections of your tent separately. The fly, footprint and body of the tent can also live at the base of your pack.

Dehydrated backpacking meal being packed into a green stuff sack at a campsite

Middle of the Pack:

This part of your bag is prime real estate – right against your back is where your heaviest gear should live. Your cookware and stove, water filter and reservoir, tent components and meals should all be stashed here. Why here? Keeping majority of your pack weight close to your back helps maintain a steady center of gravity and keeps you steady on uneven terrain.

TIP: If your pack feels awkward or off balance, make adjustments! While it may seem like a hassle to reorganize everything mid-trail, your body will thank you later – we promise.

Close-up of an assortment of granola bars and snacks in a green mesh organizer bag

Top It Off:

Once you get to the top of your pack, this is all about prioritizing convenience. This is reserved for your grab n’ go items that you will likely need throughout the day or at least want easy access to; just in case. The last thing you want to do is unpack your whole bag in an emergency, or in a sudden downpour. Your first aid kit, rain jacket, snacks, and your bathroom kit should all be within reach.

TIP: If your back has a top-lid or a “brain”, smaller gear can also live here to avoid getting lost in the depths of your pack. The last thing you want to do is lose track of your lighter.

Essentials in Arm's Reach:

The outside of your pack is more useful than you might think. Hip pockets, lash points and carabiners are great for keeping gear on deck. It’s all about keeping the essentials close so you can stay on the move. Your water bottle, GPS, sunscreen and bug spray, sunglasses, hat, and bear spray (if needed) are all great items to store here. Those smaller pockets on your pack are also handy for things like lip balm or a multitool – the little things that could easily lose track of and are nice to keep close by.

TIP: Whatever you choose to store on the outside of your pack, take the extra second to double-check everything is properly secured. You don’t want to lose your favorite water bottle mid-stream crossing.

A fully-equipped hiking backpack on rocky terrain next to a lightweight tent

Man with a hiking backpack facing away from camera surrounded by forest and mountain range

Ready to Roll:

Backpacking is all about soaking up the beauty of the backcountry, and that means leaving nature the way you found it. We’re all about keeping the trails clean for future hikers and the wildlife that calls it home. So whatever wrappers, snack bags and toilet paper you bring in, make sure that you pack it out.

Now you’re a packing pro, and you’re well on your way to a backpacking trip filled with beautiful views, amazing memories and even better snacks. It might take some trial and error to figure out what works best for you – that’s totally normal. Every trip, you’ll learn something new. Just remember: pack light, pack smart and enjoy the outdoors.

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