by Chris Babineau

Created on: February 19, 2009

Having a full backpack weighing you down is part of the experience of being on a good hike. Its all a question of what your weighed down by that matters in the end. A backpack full of clothes will weigh less than a pack filled with canned goods and so on. You need to sort out what is useless, probably useful, and emergency supplies. Most emergency supplies have very little weight and take up even less room, and chances are they will sit in the bottom of your pack unused, but they are a necessity!

Useful items to consider are changes of clothing chosen according to weather patterns and season of the hike. A camera for taking shots of memories and binoculars for examining far away terrain and animals (if your camera has a zoom even better). Dried foods weigh less than hydrated and last a lot longer as well, one pot and one pan to cook these items is more than sufficient. A two burner stove is useless to a backpacker as it is bulky and heavy. What you will require if you choose not to use a campfire for cooking is a one burner propane stove, where the burner screws directly onto a two-pound tank.

Some items you may confuse as something useful but has no use in ordinary backpacking would be items of sentimental value, no survival value. Such as packing too many clothes, large light sources that require heavy batteries to run, a pillow, and just about all electronic sources of entertainment.

Emergencies can and do occur, this is the important part of your pack. A knife, compass, map, snare wire, fishing gear (line and hook), survival blanket, small tarp, bear mace, three to four lighters as well as matches in a waterproof case, candles, rope, small first aid kit and a sewing kit. Other people of different experience will add other things to this list, but this a a run down of the necessities.

Once you have your bag packed its time to test it, and yourself out. Strap it on your back and go for a three mile hike down the road to see if you find it comfortable or not. Maybe its just right, maybe its a little to heavy, or maybe you can add another kilogram of rice or anything else you felt you had to omit.

It is also good to keep in mind that what works at home does not work in the bush. Don't think in terms of bigger is better because the opposite is true. Focus on what the objects are made of and if you can find a lighter alternative to it.

Traveling light is what allows you to cover more distance with little resistance, experience will show you what works best for you and about everyone you meet will have their own words of advice.

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