How To Wear a Hiking Backpack – Ultimate Guide

All my hiker friends out there have undoubtedly faced a highly annoying issue of back pain due to their backpacks. What If we told you that the real reason for that is that you don’t know how to wear a hiking backpack?  

A hiking backpack isn’t just a bag you wear for the many hours that you hike, but it in essence becomes a part of you as you embark on that adventurous hike. For this reason, you must know how to wear it correctly. By choosing the right techniques, you can save yourself from a multitude of back problems, walking problems, and even some possible injuries.

Therefore, in this article, we will give you detailed insights about the best backpack for you, and how to properly wear it so that you don’t feel crushed under the pressure and weight of your things!

Choosing the Right Hiking Backpack:

Choosing the right backpack is the first and foremost step if you intend to have a pain-free hike. You should find a backpack that is made specifically for hiking. It should preferably have some essential components such as a padded shoulder strap, hip belt, sternum strap, etc.

Apart from this, the backpack should be appropriate for your size. A good way to determine a backpack fitted for you is to measure the length of your torso, that is the distance between the lower part of your neck (C7 vertebrae) till the bony prominence just above your hips (iliac crest).

Your measured torso length will serve as the marker for determining your backpack size and you can make up your mind whether you want a small, large, or extra-large backpack. Check out some of our recommendations for small and mini backpacks for you under the best small hiking backpacks with water bladders and the best mini backpacks for hiking.

Lastly, you should go to the store and try on all kinds of backpacks to determine which design and size serves best for you. Some stores also have sand packs which can be used to determine how the backpack will feel with the weight in them. By only thoroughly going through all the important measures can you get the backpack that you want.

Correctly Packing Your Hiking Backpack:

Now that you have bought a backpack that suits your needs and will be comfortable to carry, the smart work doesn’t end here. One more preparation step for you is to pack it with techniques that can help make your hike easier. Here are a few things you should keep in mind before packing your backpack.

1. Organize your gear in a way that you can get easy access to the things you want urgently. Things such as your water bottle, torch, power bank, etc. should be in such a place that you can reach them easily without having to take off your backpack. Similarly, things such as tents etc, which you will only need at the end of your hike should go deep down in the bag.
2. A key to getting a pain-free backpacking experience is to arrange your things efficiently by their weight. Ideally, heavy things should sit at the bottom of the backpack, and they should be close to your bag. You can then move on to stocking lighter and fragile things as you finish your packing. This weight distribution is going to provide you with better stability and balance as well as keep your things more organized as you go.
3. Lastly, something that most people forget is the effective usage of backpack compartments and compression straps (remember the important things you should look for in a backpack we talked about?). Compartments are made to improve organization and prevent you from opening the main zip of the backpack every time you need a simple thing. Try to allocate a compartment to specific small and important items so you not only remember which thing is where but also never get easy access to them.

Putting on and Adjusting Your Hiking Backpack:

Congratulations! You packed like a master and now the only thing left is to wear it. A few things you need to get going smoothly is to first adjust the compression straps that you have and adjust them to the length that you need. Almost all the backpacks come with built-in buckles that can be used to adjust the strap smoothly.

Once you have achieved the desired strap lengths, you need to learn how to lift the backpack properly. If the backpack is heavy, it should be preferably placed on a higher platform before you wear it. This prevents any sudden trauma to your spine while lifting.

The last thing you need to get ready is to adjust your straps before you embark on your fun hike. Make sure you have taken care of the following straps.

1. Your shoulder straps should be tight and let the bag sit comfortably on your shoulders.
2. The sternum strap should be adjusted to the length of your chest and as it attaches, the weight of the backpack along the width is distributed more evenly.
3. Hip belts are probably the most important when it comes to wearing heavy backpacks. They take off the load from your shoulders and distribute it evenly through the hips. This is an excellent way to keep the load off yourself while wearing the hiking backpack. You need to quickly adjust your hip belt and double-check it to determine the strength. With that, you will be set to go.

Conclusion:

Kudos for getting yourself educated in the basic technique of how to wear a hiking backpack. Now we can assure you that no hike will prove to be tiresome or exhausting for you since you will be doing everything correctly.

We also understand that many of the hiking backpacks that come are designed specifically keeping the body ratio of men in mind. To cater to that issue, women hikers can get their exclusive best women’s daypack for hiking with hydration by clicking on the link. With that, we hope that your hiking is as good as your experience learning about wearing the backpack in the best possible way.

FAQs:

How should a hiking backpack sit on your back?

The ideal way to let a hiking backpack sit on your back is to place the heaviest things closest to your back and secure it so that it completely fits your body.

Should a backpack be high or low on the back?

For a good posture and convenient hike, your bag should neither be too high nor too low as pressure would be disturbed in the subsequent regions. It should sit midway so that the weight is distributed evenly between your shoulders and hips.

How tight should a backpack be for hiking?

To get the maximum facility, 80 percent of the weight of a backpack should be on your hips while 20 percent on your shoulders. Thus the hip belt should be very tight while the shoulder straps should be a little loose.