You are ready for trekking an adventurous journey so called backpacking, you are ready for hiking in Himalayas, high altitude treks, you want to enjoy natural beauty, you are giving wings to your dream but you stuck with backpack problem. Carrying bulky and extra luggage will cost you a lot on trekking, so items better to choose appropriate stuffs. Backpack should not be too heavy as it affects shoulders, walk and stamina neither it should be too light that you are unable to handle natural calamities.

Backpacking with group leading by an organization does not set much burden on you as they provide porters that will carry your most of your luggage to destination. On the other way round if you want to explore backpacking alone then you must opt your belongings carefully. Backpack must not be heavier than 15-20 kilograms and must have all important stuffs.

Rucksack must be of 55-75 liters so that load should be appropriately distributed. A fair example with illustration is shown here. In an ascending manner backpack must have a sleeping bag – a vital necessity, followed by self inflating mattress. Stove, pan, utensils and food should be at bottom right corner, moving toward left it must have spare layer clothing, woolen socks, and energy powder along with high energy food. Wash kit should also be carried and if in case you want to carry slippers that would be an additional.

Most of the travelers are reader, if interested in reading books carry only one or two of your preferred. Middle part comprises of hat, gloves and scarf. Dehydration should kept away and that is why water is must, therefore carry a water bottle. To survive in wet weather share of tent, waterproofs and gaiters must be there in rucksack. Trekking and tent poles to support tent should not be kept inside backpack infect it should be hold under side compression strap.

Maps, money, passport, personal documents, etc along with guidebook and phrase book are kept just below the top layer as for easy access whenever required. The top layer is far more important as it should have first aid kit to get accessible during casualty, dark sun glasses to avoid reflection of ultraviolet rays that directly impound on eyes and causes serious problems and retinal damage. Sunscreen must be used to avoid sunburn, sun tan and sun block with lip cream to avoid chapping.

Camera along with camera films, if you are photographer and most importantly to show other what you are capable of and what you have explored. Dry fruits and energy bars is additional as it is an easy way to receive energy. Stove fuel, stove spares with matchbox and match stick should be kept in side pocket. The whole comprises of not more than several kilograms and is the perfect distribution of weight on rucksack and body.

Now some important fact while backpacking, distribute your belongings weight according to your body structure. Never leave your shoulder’s straps loosen enough as it affects the walk and the load will always push you backwards. Shoulder’s strap should be tighten in a way that load must always be above your hip. If shoulders need some rest while trekking then loosen the strap (not too much) and tightens the waist’s strap as weight will get distributed much towards waist and should be performed vice-versa to put waist on rest. Backpack should stuck on body completely, there should not be any gap between them. There is one more way where shoulder’s strap and waist’s strap should be tightens in equal proportion.

Now when your backpack is ready and received the information about distributing loads, let’s explore trekking with ease.

Written By:- Sandeep Rawat