NHFH: How to Pack a Backpack

Backpacks are the icon of hiking. Perhaps no other recreational activity is so singularly embodied by the symbol of one item as hiking is by the backpack. Pass by a trailhead in the mountains, and you are likely to see a welcoming stick figure on a signpost with a rounded rectangle on his back. Age-imparted wisdom has deemed it the most comfortable and efficient way to tote all your necessary supplies when the mode of transport is foot travel. But what should be found inside a backpack? Observe the crowds being funneled to a popular destination in the White Mountains, like Mt. Welch, and you will undoubtedly observe a motley assortment of bag designs and styles, and if you were able to peek inside some of them, you would probably find no consistent standard of preparedness among them. If you are just beginning to venture out into the mountains, you may be wondering how to determine what items you should carry in your backpack to ensure a successful outdoor outing and have peace of mind for the unexpected.

You may have heard of the most well-known standard for packing hiking equipment, the 10 essentials. You can find it easily with a quick internet search on many reliable websites, such as the National Park Service. This is a great guideline to use, but at first glance, it may seem like overkill if you are just going out for a short excursion. Do you really need to be that prepared if you are just heading out for an afternoon hike on Mt. Kearsarge? The answer is no - you will not experience the need for most items on an exhaustive list of backpacking equipment if you’re just out for a few hours - in normal circumstances. Maybe all you will need is just some food and water, and possibly less than that, depending on how long you are out. In fact, most backpack recommendations like these will be out of sight and mind even if you’re on a 12-hour 4000-footer peakbagging extravaganza. It is easy to convince yourself that you don’t really need all these things if you are not going on an outdoor trip that serious. But, as you hopefully know, the very reason for including these items as essentials is so you don’t have to think about them. Of course, to be safe in the outdoors, you must be prepared for the un-normal circumstances. Each of the supplies on the famous “10 essentials” list provides insurance against some type of unexpected scenario - losing the trail, sustaining an injury, experiencing an unforeseen weather hazard, failing to return before nightfall, or something else.

So is the solution to spend hours gathering gear every time you plan to go out for a hiking day? The good news is that it doesn’t have to be. A good strategy to use is to keep a backpack with everything you should prudently have always stored in it. Keep all your hiking equipment stored in one place, and whenever you go out, you can simply put together your daily supplies and know that everything else is taken care of from your previous diligence. This article will outline the basics of doing just that.

The first thing to consider will be the pack itself. We will refrain from making any product or brand recommendations here, but it is important to find a backpack that is suitable for your personal comfort and what you choose to pack with you. There are some important principles to consider with regard to this. First is size. Many people who haven’t had much experience hiking will choose to repurpose a backpack they have on hand for other uses. This can be a practical method for someone who only makes an occasional hiking outing, but backpacks not specifically designed for hiking may not have the storage space for sufficient emergency supplies. Someone who is choosing to go this route must be sure that someone else in their group with more experience has taken the precautions to be prepared with extra supplies to cover unexpected situations for everyone. You don’t want to be making compromises about which emergency supplies to bring because there is not enough space in your pack. A variety of compartments is a benefit when it comes to space. It will be helpful to have different storage areas for items you need to access at different frequencies. You don’t want to have to be rummaging through first aid and shelter supplies to access your lunch for the day.

Comfort is the other major consideration. You don’t want to find that the first thing fatiguing you on the trail is your backpack. Make sure to use one that is adjustable in many places for a particular fit and weight distribution. Chest and waist straps are always a benefit for extra security, as well as for storage for small items. Another great feature included in many modern hiking backpacks is an arched frame to allow for air flow between the bag and your back.

Accessibility is another concern to pay attention to. Is it easy enough to retrieve water bottles consistently? Does it have an outside pouch that can be reached into for storage of items used constantly on the trail, like maps? Or is it too easily accessible to the point that something might fall out if it is jostled? It can also be useful to choose a pack with ample options for hanging things, such as hats.

With your backpack picked out, it is time to move on to focus on its contents - what do you need to have inside when you’re off climbing mountains? Use the following list as a reference when assembling your equipment store.

Food and water

The basic rule is to always bring more than you think you’ll need. It is suggested to bring enough food for an extra day. You can accomplish this easily by keeping a lightweight container or plastic bag regularly stocked with dense and energy-replenishing snacks like granola bars. For water, it is most efficient to use sturdy reusable bottles that are larger than standard plastic water bottles and throw in a few extra that you don't think you'll use.

Clothing for all conditions

Rain/wind jacket - Maybe the most common adverse event to overtake hikers is getting caught in the rain. Use a high-quality rain jacket that can keep out the moisture. Most rain jackets can also double as a good wind breaker.
Warm jacket - It’s necessary to have warm clothes even in the summer. Winter temperatures are easily possible on higher open summits at any point with the right atmospheric combination. Hypothermia deaths have happened on the Presidential range in the summer months. A good compact solution is a down jacket, which can fold or roll up into a very small package. When worn underneath a rain shell, you can create a layer that can stand up to cold and wet conditions.
Lightweight layer - During the cooler months, it can also be helpful to bring a sweatshirt or workout jacket-type layer that can be worn when you start out hiking in cold temperatures and easily taken off and stored away when you warm up.
Gloves - In addition to a jacket, always bring a pair of warm gloves, as well as…
Winter hat - to protect against the most common method of heat loss.
Hand/foot warmers - When clothing is insufficient to keep the extremities warm, chemical warmers can be a great comfort.
Other winter equipment - If planning to take on a big hike during the winter months, obviously more preparation is needed. Don’t try this unless you know what you’re doing!
Extra socks - Bring one additional pair to use in case you might get wet.
Other layers - Any additional clothing worn underneath shirts or pants can be a good hedge against cold conditions.
Sun hat - When hiking out in the open, a wide-brimmed hat can be a quick and easy way to guard against sunburn.
Blaze orange vest/hat - It is always a good idea to be prepared with bright colors to wear during hunting season.
Gaiters - During spring snowmelt, snow depth can vary wildly and unexpectedly on the trails. You may start out walking on dry ground but at a higher elevation under shady spruce trees find soft, feet-high snowdrifts. If you include these simple, strap-on leg protectors in your stash, you can keep your pants from getting saturated. Some hikers also choose to don gaiters instead of snowpants during the winter season as a lighter-weight alternative.
Microspikes - This is another invaluable piece of equipment to carry during early-season hiking. As snow melts from packed-down trails, what remains is a compacted strip of ice that can create very hazardous, and potentially impassable, conditions if you are unprepared. Having this lightweight and easy-to-use form of strap-on traction can eliminate the possibility of having to turn back from the danger of an icy trail. You might also find yourself needing traction hiking late in the season, when there could be unexpected snowfall or ice buildup.

Navigation

Compass - This is an absolute essential for any hiker. You should understand how to take a compass bearing off a map and be familiar with the area you will be hiking in, including major terrain features, and the general directions and distances to major roads.
Map - Print maps can save you when electronics fail, especially waterproof ones. A high-quality map showing terrain, natural features, roads, and trails is a must to be able to visualize your environment as you hike. Refer to the forthcoming article on maps for recommendations.
GPS - This is the technology of choice for modern-day hikers, although it is being overtaken by the currently less-reliable location function on cell phones. Neither are accident-proof, and should always be backed up with map and compass.

Sanitation

Alcohol hand wipes - It’s always prudent to carry these to remove dirt and bacteria from your hands before eating.
Paper products - Carry a good supply of tissues, toilet paper, paper towels, or other similar things.
Water filtration devices - These can be lifesaving if your water supply runs out.

Other protection

Plastic bags - These are extremely useful to pack other items in to safeguard against rain. Your emergency fire-starting supplies won’t do you any good if they are ruined by water. It’s also a good plan to bring extra plastic bags to put your cell phone, wallet, or other items you wouldn’t normally pack away in if it starts raining.
Towel - Make it easy to dry things off if they get wet.
Headlamp/flashlight - In the event that you can’t make it out of the woods before nightfall, always carry at least one source of illumination.
Batteries - Make sure you have the right kind of spare batteries to replace the ones in your GPS, flashlights, or other electronics.
Sunscreen - Hiking out in the open on a mountaintop can lead you to be exposed to direct sunlight longer than it would seem. It is a good habit to apply sunscreen whenever you know you are entering an open area on a trail for an extended distance.
Bug spray - Insect repellent is a must, especially in the spring and summer. Swarms of biting insects can be overwhelming, and it is often hard to predict where you will or won’t find them.
Sandals/water shoes - In the event you encounter a water crossing that is running high, you can swap out your hiking shoes to walk across.

Emergency Supplies

Emergency blanket/tarp - Some form of shelter is necessary to pack to spend an unexpected night out in the woods.
Matches/fire starter - Bring the basics you would need to camp out in the forest even if you don’t plan to.
String - Lengths of string, twine, or fishing line would be needed to secure a makeshift camp.
Knife - A knife will have a variety of emergency and non-emergency utilities. A multi-tool is best.
First aid kit - Have one that is tailored toward outdoor injuries, such as scrapes, insect stings/bites, or poisonous plants.
Whistle - A whistle is meant for use to alert a search team to your location.
Cell phone charger - If your phone runs out of battery, you can restore the ability to contact someone by bringing a charging cable and a battery backup.