Everybody hikes with a pack, but almost no one packs it right.聽
So I turned to my buddy , who just聽hiked 114 days in a row to finish the 2,168-mile Appalachian Trail. All told, the聽Los Angeles native聽has spent 305 days on the trail in the last four years. And in that time, he鈥檚 packed and unpacked his backpack at least 610 times.
Here are Sam's best practices on packing your pack, whether it鈥檚 your first time in the backcountry or you鈥檙e a fast, light hiker focused on ultra distances.
#1: Ditch the Stuff Sacks
Packing items like a sleeping bag without a stuff sack allows you to efficiently fill every corner of your pack. Plus, it saves you some weight, and tight stuff sacks can compress the bag鈥檚 loft over time, Sam says. He packs his sleeping bag at the bottom of his pack with a layer of clothes on top to create a base for the rest of his gear.
#2: Place the Heaviest Gear in the Middle
Focus on putting the heaviest products鈥攜our food, your stove, and, if you have one, your tent鈥攊n the middle of the pack, on top of your sleeping bag and clothes. You鈥檒l have a much more balanced pack that won鈥檛 sway side to side as you walk, says Sam. Stuff lightweight gear鈥攜our clothing鈥攁round the heavy items to keep them from jostling around inside the pack.
#3: Think About Balance
“If one side [of the pack] is heavier than the other, it will pull you back and be uncomfortable when you鈥檙e walking,” Sam says. If you鈥檙e carrying one liter of water on your right side, think about moving some heavy food to the left to balance the pack. If you carry two liters of water, put one container on either side of you.
#4: Pack Tight and Tidy
“I don't like things jangling on the outside of my pack becasue I don't want to have to think about things falling off,” Sam says. The only item he keeps outside his pack is a spork attached to a carabineer that鈥檚 tightly held to the pack with an elastic cord.
He鈥檚 also diligent about organizing the interior of the bag. He packs his sleeping bag flat at the bottom to create a good base for the rest of his gear. Once that base is set, he meticulously fills all available nooks and crannies so his gear doesn't move around while he walks. “Think of it like Tetris,” Sam says.
#5: Keep Essentials Handy
Sam kept snacks, his water, his iPhone (which he used as his camera), and his toothbrush in side and hip pockets so he could get to them without unpacking his . Having snacks easily accessible will make you more likely to eat while on the trail鈥攁nd less likely to crash later. The toothbrush was to remind Sam to stay motivated to maintain his hygiene, something that鈥檚 easy to forget while logging miles on the trail.
#6: Line Your Pack with a Trash Compactor Bag
Save yourself weight and money and stay away from a waterproof pack cover, Sam says. Place a trash compactor bag鈥攚hich is much more durable than a normal trash bag鈥攊nside your pack, then stuff all your gear in the plastic bag and roll it up. It鈥檚 difficult to poke holes through a trash compactor bag, and it鈥檚 100-percent waterproof when closed properly. Sam also brings plastic sandwich bags to protect items such as his phone that are stored outside the main compartment.