One of the most common problems new travelers have is not just picking out the right bag, it’s figuring out how to correctly pack a backpack for travel. Believe it or not, there are very specific ways to pack a backpack, not just so that you can organize your bag for ease of access, but so that when you are hiking or traveling between cities, the weight of the bag doesn’t drag you down. So, if you want to learn all our tips and tricks for correctly packing and organizing a backpack, keep on reading!
Backpack Organization
We always recommend traveling with backpacks, specifically a backpack that is not top-loading. This is because a backpack allows for you to travel more quickly and efficiently. When it comes time to get off a train, you can just go! When you do, turn around and you’ll immediately see why we have this recommendation. The scene behind you will be a scene of chaos!
Travelers falling over each other trying to get their wheeled luggage securely on the ground while holding a handle in one hand, a cellphone in another, and trying to pull out a map with a hand that doesn’t exist. Make your life easy and get a good backpack. On what backpack to use, check out our The Best Backpack for Travel page.
Having a good backpack isn’t enough. You need to have good organization. For this we recommend storage cubes, such as this:
These backpack organizers allow for you compartmentalize your backpack. Some reviewers will say how much space they save. Ignore them. They do not save you any space, but that’s not their function. They allow you to access your necessary gear, clothes, etc efficiently. Use them. You will not regret it.
We recommend having a small one of these dedicated to just a clean change of clothes so that if you get back to your hostel and are feeling a little disgusting, you can quickly hop in the shower and change. You may want to keep a small bar of soap or bottle of body wash in there too.
Another package should contain your electronic cords and electronics. Another bag should have your paperwork and travel essentials, such as travel books, itinerary, etc. But you do you. We recommend keeping everything in one of these bags because it means unpacking and repacking will be easy. And it will keep your bag free of clutter!
We also recommend keeping anywhere from between 20-30% of your bag empty. This will let you collect fun items on your trip and account for the need to not stuff your bag each time you pack.
Packing a Backpack
One of the most important things to consider when organizing your backpack is how to pack it correctly. Never, under any circumstances, just throw stuff in your bag randomly. This will make you an unhappy traveler very quickly. Instead, follow these simple rules for organizing your bag and you’ll be much happier.
Where to put heavy items in a backpack?
The most important thing to consider is where to put heavy items in a backpack. There are several answers to this question because it depends on the kind of bag that you are using. If you are using a top-loading bag, then you always want to put your heavier items on the top of your bag. If your heavy item is long and thin and it cannot fit flat on the top of your bag, such as a laptop, then you want to keep it as close to your back as possible.
If you are using a fully open pack, such as the Osprey Farpoint, then you want to try and keep all of your heavy items as close to your back as possible. It will be a little harder to keep your heavy items on the top of your bag because it will slide down and become awkward.
So, why does this matter? Think about how a backpack sits on your shoulders. If you have fifteen pounds sitting low in your bag, it will pull backwards and put strain on your shoulders. If that same fifteen pound item is up by your shoulders, the weight is closer to the muscles and not putting as much strain on your shoulders. Test this out for yourself. Put a heavy item in your bag and then fill your bag with a pillow and put that same item up high. Walk around for ten minutes with each set up. You should notice an immediate difference.
Likewise, keeping a heavy item close to your back keeps strain off of your shoulder. This is because the weight is not pulling away from your body, rather pressing against it.
Where to put highly used items in a backpack?
Another thing you must consider is access to heavily used items. If you are using a pack that has hip pockets and the item is small enough to fit in, then put these items in those pouches. This is nice if you are carrying something like a GoPro or other small camera. If, however, you need to get to something like a tablet for train travel, then keep that item on the top of your pack, if your backpack is top loading. If it is a fully-open bag, then try and keep that item as close to the top as possible but on the outer portion so that you can get to it quickly without sifting through your items.
What items should I try to place for quick access?
You should always have a few items close to the top of your pack for ease of access. Fortunately for you, we’ve compiled a small list.
- Entertainment items for train, bus, or plane trips
- A spare pair of socks for times when your socks get wet and you need to change them. Remember, happy feet makes for a happy traveler.
- Phone charger
- Map (yes, even if you have one on your phone)
- Important travel papers (yes, even if it is on your phone)
- Passport
So, why did each of these items make the cut? Because they are all lightweight and have high utility and high frequency of use. This means that you are more likely to need to get to these items quickly on a regular basis. And because they are all lightweight, their placement away from your back (if you are not using a top-loading bag), means you won’t be breaking our rules for heavy packing.