Getting Started

• 1). Examine the gear you plan to bring with you and figure out what is heaviest. With an internal frame pack, it is necessary to put the heavy items near the center of your back. Doing this successfully might mean breaking down your tent into sections, rather than keeping it in one bag, so that it can be carried more efficiently.
  
  
• 2). Place the sleeping bag into the bottom of the pack. Sleeping bags usually are not too heavy, and many internal frame packs have a bottom zipper that lets you access the bottom of the pack quickly without having to unpack everything above it.
  
  
• 3). Pack the stove and fuel and spare water, generally the heavier items, above the sleeping bag close to your back. Place spare clothing around them.
  
  
• 4). Pack the tent above this near the top. Finish packing the internal compartment by placing any rain gear you might have at the very top, so you can get to it quickly in case it starts raining.
  
  
• 5). Pack toilet paper and trail mix and other eat-on-the-fly foods in the top pocket of the pack so they can be accessed without too much digging. Other items that can go in the top pocket are sunscreen, bug repellent, a compass, a trail map/guide and a flashlight/headlamp.