~Women and people of short stature often find they prefer to pack the weight
        low whether they're traveling on- or off-trail, regardless of which pack style
        they're carrying. You are the ultimate judge of what feels comfortable to you.
        Experiment with different load arrangements to determine what feels best.

        ~Make sure some items are easily accessible, packed in places where they
        can be reached with a minimum of digging:

                Map                                                    Compass

                Sunglasses                                        Insect repellent

                Snack food                                        Flashlight/headlamp

                First-aid supplies                             Water bottles

                Rainwear                                           Packcover
 
 
 

        ~Don't waste empty space. Cram every nook with something. Put a small item
        of clothing inside your pots, for example. Smaller items, such as food, pack
        more efficiently in individual units rather then when stored loosely inside a
        stuff sack.

        ~If you are part of a group, split up the weight of large items (a tent, for
        instance) with other group members. Don't make 1 person become an
        involuntary packhorse.

        ~Cluster related small items (such as utensils and kitchen items) in
        color-coded stuff sacks to help you spot them easily.

        ~Minimize the number of items you strap to the outside of your pack. Gear
        carried externally may adversely affect your balance. Secure any equipment
        you carry outside so it doesn't swing or rattle.

               Tips: How about long tent poles, for example? Stow them
               horizontally with your sleeping pad across the top of an external pack;
               with an internal, carry them vertically, secured behind the
               compression straps on one side of the pack with the ends tucked into a
               "wand pocket" at the pack's bottom. A daisy chain and ice axe loops
               are designed for specific mountaineering gear; feel free to improvise
               with them, but don't get so creative that you jeopardize your comfort
               or stability.

        ~Make sure the cap on your fuel bottle is screwed on tightly. Position it below
        your food inside your pack in case of a spill.

        ~Carry a packcover. Backpacks, though made with waterproof fabric, have
        vulnerable seams and zippers. After a few hours of exposure to persistent
        rain, the items inside your pack could become wet—and thus much heavier.

        ~Quick repair tips: Wrap strips of duct tape around your water bottles; in
        case a strap pops or some other disaster occurs, a quick fix could keep you
        going. Take along a few safety pins in case a zipper fails.