How should you pack your trekking bag?

Packing your trekking bag is an art that can be learned only through practise. Every trekker has his or her mantras on how to pack a trekking bag and there is no one right way. On my  first trek with my husband, we overestimated the items that we should take on the trek and also our capacity to carry them. After a few kilometres, we were puffing and panting, and were exhausted. We learned our lesson the hard way and since then, we have become extremely careful about weight and most importantly, the utility of each item on the trek and whether it is absolutely necessary or not.

There are a few basic tenets to follow

1. Do your research on what is required by reading my blog and talking to experienced trekkers. Make a checklist of items that you will need.
2. Talk to your trekking company and find out if they will rent out or provide ( usually included in the price of a trek) items such as sleeping bags, tents, trekking poles, cooked food etc. If these are carried by horses or porters, they make your trekking bag that much lighter and can be used to carry other essentials that are required for a trek.
3. Carry only what you need. Every gram matters!
4. Choose gear that is lightweight. These may be expensive.
5. Choose a trekking bag whose size and capacity is in sync with the duration of travel.
6. Do not carry more than 10 to 12 kgs on your back. Only porters can carry heavy loads without harming their back.

‘Must have’ items in your Trekking bag

• Clothing ( Trekking shirts and pants)
• Undergarments
• Winter Jacket with layers that can be detached
• Rain poncho
• Sleeping Bag and liners 
• Accessories such as extra pairs of socks, gloves, summer hat and winter cap , sunglasses etc
• First-Aid cum medicine kit
• Sunscreen and hand sanitizer
• Toilet Paper and Wet Wipes
• Dry energy giving snacks and water
• And masks ( essential during COVID times)

Do read my earlier post on how to choose a good trekking bag 

 Photo credit: Zachary Kyra-Dirksen, upload.com

How should you pack your trekking bag

1. Visually divide your trekking bag into three different sections: Your trekking bag can be roughly divided into three sections, so that you can pack your items accordingly. Never just blindly pack your items in the bag. After making a list, and ranking items in terms of importance, place items in piles according to their size, weight, frequency of utilisation and then decide if they should go into the top, middle or bottom section of the trekking bag.
2. The bottom section : This will contain those items that are bulky but not heavy, and not used during the day. like your sleeping bag, pillow, a bulky heavy winter jacket which may not be needed during the day. Any pockets of air can be eliminated by packing it with clothes you may change into at night. (sweaty stinky day clothes should be changed after a long day of trekking. But that is a topic for  another blog post). 
3. The middle section: The middle space, in all likelihood, will contain the bulk of your clothes. Make sure that you choose light weight clothing that dry easily and divide them into various piles - undergarments, trekking shorts, pants, thermals etc. Put  these items into clear transparent sleeves or zip lock bags so that they can be easily identified easily from the outside. Put aside a separate clear sleeve for used undergarments. Your toiletries packed in a similar sleeve could also be an essential item in this section.
4. The top section: The top section should have essentials such as the medical kit , your rain poncho, and your water bladder should be kept in the separate sleeve which is part of your top section.
5. The top Access: On the outside there is a top access which is a zippered pocket which can store essentials such as  mobiles, batteries, memory cards, dry snacks, hand sanitiser, wipes, sunglasses, gloves, cap/ hat, sunscreen etc.
6. Side and Central Zippered Sleeves : Side and central zippered sleeves can be used to store water bottles (if you are not using a water bladder), bathroom slippers/ sandals, umbrellas etc.
7. Straps: The straps on the side can be used to secure trekking poles to the bags and clips can be used to attach water bottles, caps and the like.
8. Utilisation of space: Space needs to be used efficiently, so that all items that are required will be able to fit into the bag. The larger bulkier items go in first and then the smaller, flexible items that can be rolled or folded can be pushed into spaces between these items.

As I mentioned earlier, it is important to pack only the most essential items on a trek. You may want to reconsider the following Items which can become a ‘deadweight’ on a trek and may impact your trekking experience

Items you may not need to include in your backpack

1. Sleeping bag: Sleeping bag can be rented from or may be provided by the trekking company and in most cases will be carried by the guides/ staff who accompany you on your trek. This is common in both Nepal, Bhutan and India and can definitely save you both weight and space in your bag. These bags for the most part are clean and hygienic and unless you are very particular about not using items previously utilised by others, I would strong suggest that you go with the renting option or utilise ones provided the trekking company.
2. Bulky sweaters or jackets: It  is better to take along a jacket which is lightweight and add several layers under it, so that you can take it off if it gets too hot. Bulky clothes not only take up space and are heavy, they can trap the heat and can make you feel uncomfortable during a trek.
3. Pouches of sleeves made of cloth or leather: Carry all items such as accessories and toiletries in a clear transparent light weight plastic bag that does not add to the weight of the items. These items are not water proof and therefore will not protect essentials from moisture.
4. Frivolous items: Items such as make up, unnecessary hair and skin products, additional scarves or caps to match your outfits will only add weight.
5. Additional clothing: Number of trekking shirts and pants need to be kept to a minimum and should be utilised more than once on a trek. Additional clothing will only add weight and bulk to your bag.
6. Thick towels: Thick towels, especially wet ones, only add weight to your bag and can take a long time to dry. Instead quick dry towels that are especially suited for trekking, can be used 
7. Excessive medications and toiletries: Only carry essential medications, that are important and a few general medications for fever, diarrhoea, cough and cold etc. These can be shared with others and therefore there is no need for every trekker to carry a large cache of medicines. Similarly toiletries too especially toothpaste and face wash can be shared by the group. The trekking guides will also be carrying essential medicines.
8. Extra footwear: Do not carry extra footwear, other than what is required on the trek. You will be wearing your hiking shoes and carrying an extra pair of sandals or chappals in the evenings at camp. This should do. 
9. Leave unessential items at the hotel: All items that are not required for the trek can be left behind at the hotel (starting point) from where you will start your trek.
10. Bulky SLR camera, with heavy lenses and tripod: Unless you are on a photography trek, where the essential focus of a trek is taking photographs, an SLR camera and bulky lenses can become a challenge, if you want to travel light. A mobile phone with a good camera should do. If you are insistent about taking along your expensive camera, make sure it’s well worth the effort.

Hope you found this post useful. For an exhaustive list of items that go into the sleeping bag read my earlier blog posts on www.thesilvertrekker.com. My next week’s post will be on an iconic trek in India, the Goechala trek.