20 Tips to Load Your Backpacker for Comfort and Balance
Education20 Tips to Load Your Backpacker for Comfort and Balance
On trail hiking, pack heavy items higher and closer to your back, lighter items lower and farther from your back, sleeping bag at bottom. For off trail hiking, pack heavier items lower and closer to your back and lighter items higher and farther from your back, sleeping bag at bottom.
Below are backpackers guide from the experts:
1) Pack your own water or mineral water. You are never safe with water elsewhere. Pack it in hard plastic bottles or juice containers. At least two liters per day would be enough. Pack water bottles in the most accessible places; near pack openings or outside pockets.
2) Place a medical kit on the topmost bag compartment for easy access when an emergency arises.
3) Pack jackets, flashlight, knife, raincoats and other handy tools on the top-most bag compartment for easy access.
4) Pack "trail foods" (snacks) in outside pockets for easy access when hungry.
5) Pack in each plastic bag as a set: a pair of trousers, skirt, polo, blouse and one set of underwear- a separate set for each day and night use. According to experts in this set-up, you will know at a glance what set you will pick up when you need it without having to dig up and disarrange your pack. Take note that last days usage must be packed at the bottom-most; the first day's usage at the topmost.
6) Pack toiletries such as travel-size soap, toilet paper rolls, toothpaste, deodorant, toothbrush, shaver and shampoo sachets in outside pockets, too.
7) Waterproof matches by dipping them into wax; waterproof your cameras and films by putting them inside a plastic and double-sealing the plastic with plastic bag.
8) Your medical kit should contain: your regular personal medication, band aids, ammonia, beta dine, antiseptics, eye drops, pain killers, cotton roll, anti-fever, anti-diarrhea, sterilized stainless blades and surgical scissors.
9) Waterproof all your money, documents, IDs, and wallets. Place them inside sealed plastic bags. You never know when an emergency arises such as sudden rain, river, any body of water and having to cross a flooded street.
10) Bring one extra set of clothes (for emergency)
11) It is best to travel in sneakers or rubber shoes.
12) Use disposal briefs or panties. You will feel fresh all the time by using new ones every time, since you need not wash and wait to dry your undies.
13) Women should always travel with a box of sanitary napkins. Strenuous activity can affect your regularity; you'll never know when you need them.
14) Bring a scarf or bandana as your head gear to protect against the wind or sun; and sunglasses to protect your eyes.
15) A thinner inner sock followed by a thicker outer sock will do. Always use double socks to avoid blisters.
16) Bring your own travel cutlery set, cooking and eating utensils.
17) Never travel without a minitag-lite flashlight and extra AA batteries. You'll never know when darkness comes, waterproof these items properly.
18) Never travel without any whistle. Screaming might not help. The whistle can call more attention in cases of emergencies. It can save your life.
19) Bring lots of empty extra plastic bags for your used dirty clothes and for wrapping your slippers and shoes.
20) Lastly, never leave home without notifying your family, neighbors or officemates as to your whereabouts. Give them the name of your travel companions and a copy of your travel itinerary as well as contact numbers and contact persons where you can be located.
Happy packing, happy trip and travel safely.
Resource:
Anonymous, "Happy Backpacker." Woman's home companion 17 May 00