So, first of all, you need to choose the right backpack. According to the season and the duration of the hike, you need to individually select the volume and material of the backpack. An additional advantage will be the presence of spare fastening elements, pockets, and zippers. You should also pay attention to the back – it should be padded and firm so that the contents of the backpack do not dig into your back.
Contents. To begin with, you should think about the weight of all the things that will be useful on the trip. Preference should be given to multifunctional items made of lightweight material that take up little space. Also, before the hike, you should remove all packaging, cut off tags, and pour liquids into less voluminous containers. You don't need to carry whole packages of food; it's enough to pour the contents into bags with an exact calculation of how much might be needed on the hike. Moreover, today you can buy ready-made sets – rice with vegetables, buckwheat with mushrooms, or pea soup – which are perfect for a hike and save space in your luggage.
You need to pack things correctly, distributing the weight along the entire length of the backpack. This means that first you need to sort the heaviest items, medium-weight items, and the lightest ones. At the bottom of the backpack, it is better to put things that will not be needed for a certain time, as well as the heaviest items. On top, you need to put light utensils, as well as essential items: phone, first aid kit, matches, flashlight, water, knife, compass or map, and so on.
After a few days of travel, the contents can be reorganized, taking into account the experience of previous days, because some items may not be needed at all and may lie at the bottom until the end of the hike.
Special attention should be paid to external items. For convenience, you can attach water, parts of the tent, a sleeping mat, and other necessary items on top of the backpack. Many modern hiking backpack models are specially equipped with such straps and fasteners. You should carefully check whether the items will catch on anything or somehow interfere during the trip. They should be attached based on the rule: the heaviest on top, the lightest on the bottom.
Finally, you should worry about the tightness of the packaging. All plastic bags should not let air through, jars and boxes should be intact. Be sure to check the packaging of items that must stay dry for water resistance, otherwise there is a high risk of getting into an unpleasant situation during the hike. A protective cover for the backpack itself will also not be superfluous. It will help keep things in pristine condition and protect against any external factors: rain, snow, sun.
After the backpack is packed, you need to check if it was done correctly. First, place it on a flat surface – it should not tip over or fall. If something is wrong, you should go back to the very beginning and repack the contents. Also, you need to put on the backpack and try walking with it. The contents of the backpack should not interfere or restrict movement in any way, and the backpack itself should not be too heavy.
So, packing a backpack is within the power of even the most inexperienced beginner in this matter. The most important thing is to strictly follow the rules and instructions to avoid unpleasant and sometimes dangerous situations during the hike. Thus, following all the rules of preparation and precaution, the hike will become a joyful and pleasant memory that you will definitely want to repeat.