Packing your rucksack, especially for a longer trip, is an art in itself, and can be really frustrating. The sweet balance between taking all the essentials whilst allowing yourself one or two creature comforts is not easy to achieve.
If you are new to backpacking (or bikepacking for that matter, which takes the art of minimalist packing to another extreme), it helps to start with a list. A kit list of essentials will most likely be sent to you by your event organiser before an event. There is also a standard kit list that applies to most outdoor activities that you can use as a rough guide. Add personal items and some comforts to that list, and voilà, you are all set! Ah, if only things were that simple...
The kit list
When you prepare to pack for an adventure, it is good to start with a set list of absolute essentials, also known as the kit list. This list is always the same and you will find that eventually it becomes a mental list or a sort of a mantra that you can repeat without consulting the actual list itself. I like to think about it geographically so to speak, from top to bottom. Here we go:
Spring/summer day walk kit list:
sunhat, cap or a light bandana
warm hat (just in case)
sunglasses
sun cream
whistle (often on your backpack)
long sleeve wicking base layer
t-shirt
warm layer (fleece, Primaloft)
waterproof jacket
thin gloves (you never know, especially in the British hills)
hiking trousers or leggings (not jeans, jeans become really uncomfortable and chaffing when wet, and as they are cotton based they don't dry very easily and when wet make you lose heat really quickly)
waterproof trousers
gaiters (our fells tend to be a bit muddy)
hiking socks (padded and wicking, not just a regular pair of socks)
hiking boots (well broken into) or trekking shoes with a good grip
first aid kit (including personal medicines)
headtorch with batteries
emergency shelter (group shelters are often carried by group leaders and guides)
compass
map
watch
mobile phone
power pack
food and drink
a bag to carry out your rubbish
a backpack with rain cover
optional: walking poles (more of that in another post)
Winter day walk kit list:
warm hat (preferably windproof and waterproof, with good ear cover)
one or two buffs
ski goggles
sun cream
whistle (often on your backpack)
long sleeve wicking base layer
t-shirt
warm layer (fleece, Primaloft)
down jacket
Goretex jacket
thin gloves
thick gloves or mitts
base layer warm leggings
hiking trousers (not jeans)
waterproof trousers
gaiters
waterproof winter socks
hiking boots (well broken into)
first aid kit (including personal medicines)
headtorch with batteries
crampons and ice axe
emergency shelter (group shelters are often carried by group leaders and guides)
compass
map
watch
mobile phone
power pack
food and drink
a backpack with rain cover
a bag to carry out your rubbish
A kit list for a multi-day adventure:
all of the above
tent
sleeping mat
sleeping bag
a few dry bags to keep your gear dry
cooking stove and pots
knife and spork
a piece of cord
a trowel
toilet paper
toiletries
waterproof matches, a fire steel or a lighter
water filter
dry change of clothes
optional: camp shoes
Where to put it all?
Now you have it all assembled in front of you (on your bed for example) comes another dilemma. What to put where so that the weight is distributed comfortably, but everything is still accessible? The general rule is to try and put things that are heavy in the middle of the pack and close you your back, medium weight items in the outer part of the rucksack, light and fluffy items such as your sleeping bag at the bottom, and things that you may want to access during the day in the top compartment.
Here's a handy diagram drawn by MSR:
Here's an example of what to put where:
Why a list?
Now you have fitted it all into your pack, you can probably afford a little luxury. It can be an inflatable pillow, and extra pair of socks, a cheeky hip flask, or a book. Add it to your pack and to your list. When you come back from your adventure, have a look at your list again, cross out things that you never used and don't think you would use again (but keep everything that is on the essential kit list!) and add things that you wish you had with you. This way, every trip you will refine your personal list until eventually you can pack with your eyes closed.
Comments