If you don鈥檛 thoughtfully pack your bag before hiking, backpacking, climbing, or skiing, you鈥檒l be uncomfortable at best鈥攐r dangerously unprepared at worst. I asked several pro outdoor athletes and industry experts, all of whom have packed thousands of bags for their adventures, for tips to ensure ultimate preparedness.
Pack for Your Route
鈥櫬燴ahan Billimoria says he鈥檒l spend up to 45 minutes carefully loading his daypack for a climb in the Tetons, making sure he鈥檚 carrying only what he absolutely needs for that day鈥檚 adventure. He doesn鈥檛 bring extra water if he聽knows there are water sources along his route. Cutting this extra bulk and weight makes the trip easier and allows more space for other essentials, like food. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 skimp on calories. I always bring a ton of food. To me, the anxiety of wondering if I have enough food is enough to ruin my day,鈥 Billimoria says.
Make a List
Those of you who are ultraorganized might turn your nose up at this one, but for people like professional big-mountain skier Angel Collinson, having a list is key. 鈥淚 am an absolute junk show every time I pack,鈥 she says. 鈥淸My room] looks a pile of laundry you haven鈥檛 done in months.鈥 A prewritten list of essentials keeps Collinson from showing up at the airport without an avalanche beacon or her favorite ski socks. The inside of her suitcase might not be the prettiest, but 鈥測ou don鈥檛 have to be OCD about it as long as it gets in there,鈥 Collinson says.
Emergency Essentials Get Their Own Bag
Pro skier is constantly on the move. One day聽he鈥檚 ski touring with buddies in the Wasatch, and the next day聽he鈥檚 on an airplane to Norway for a bike and ski tour. Like Billimoria, Leven brings only what he absolutely needs: his emergency kit is always on that list鈥攁nd it always gets its own drybag. 鈥淚 put all of the essentials in a one-liter drybag鈥攎y first-aid kit, repair kit, and an emergency bivvy鈥攁nd I always have that with me no matter what sport I am doing.鈥 After each adventure, Leven restocks his first aid and repair kits.
Balance Your Pack Weight
Sam Theule isn鈥檛 a pro athlete, but he has completed all three of America鈥檚 best-known thru-hikes鈥攖he Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail, and the Continental Divide Trail (a total of 7,950 miles). He knows a thing or two about good packing. Balancing weight is key for Theule, because it keeps his pack鈥檚 fit right and prevents chafing. To pack for good balance, Theule puts his food (the heaviest items he carries) dead center, and then tries to balance out each side. One technique: place one water bottle in each side pocket聽and alternate drinking from each.
Always, Always Bring a Headlamp
Richard Bothwell is the executive director of the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education () and has been for more than 20 years. His tip is simple: 鈥淵ou never hear the story about the people who went for a day hike, had headlamps, were delayed, and used the lamps to hike to safety. That鈥檚 a boring story,鈥 Bothwell says. You do, however, hear the story about the people who get lost and stuck in the dark without a headlamp and had to call search and rescue. So, always carry a headlamp.