Packing your small drawstring bags is the big mission at the start of a hike. The main objective is to limit the weight so that the whole race is more pleasant and more comfortable. In fact, a bag that is too heavy can cause shoulder pain but also joint problems or tendonitis.
But filling your bag well is not just a matter of weight. You have to balance the load and above all, don’t forget anything! Of course, the longer the hike, the more strategic the operation becomes. With the small drawstring bag with great look you can have the best deal.
“Your first objective is clear: limit the weight of your backpack”
In this file we will give you the keys to prepare a bag intended for a hike of several days in medium mountain and autonomy. Because you must first understand that it is your walking project that will determine the volume and the weight of the carry.
Know the profile of your hike
Before knowing what to take, you must already have in mind the course of the race and its characteristics.
Duration: day hike, over three days or 6-day trek?
The altitude, the mountainous region: low, medium or high mountain?
Season: in early summer and at altitude, there are sometimes snowfields which may require the use of crampons, ice axes or a rope.
The maximum altitude of the small drawstring wonderfully crafted bags is to assess the temperatures that will have to be faced at night (and therefore know which down to take for example).
Sleep in a refuge or tent?
Carry all the food or provide supplies in shelters or convenience stores?
How many hikers: walking in a group often helps to share the loads of the common equipment (tent, meals, gas, etc.).
Here are the basic questions to ask yourself to assess what you need to carry in your small drawstring bags. As we said, we will mainly talk about treks of several days in the middle mountains (or easy routes in the high mountains), in summer and in total autonomy, that is to say with tent and food for the entire duration of the trek. For possible technical passages it will also be a question of knowing the additional equipment to take: rope, crampons, ice ax.
Which backpack for which hike?
For a three-day hike, you will need a minimum volume of 30-40 liters, or even more if you leave in total autonomy. Beyond three days, it is better to count on a 60-70 liter bag. A bag with opening on the length will be appreciated to be able to directly access what you are looking for.
If you plan to sleep in a tent every night and take all your food, you will need a lot of space.
Advice: to better prepare your bag, make lists. A list for equipment, a list for clothing and one for food. Keep these lists and, from year to year, you will improve them according to your experiences.
What to put at the bottom of the backpack?
At the bottom of the small drawstring bags, you don’t necessarily have to put the heaviest things but rather the bulkiest and least used during the day. So you can start with your sleepwear, sleeping bag, self-inflating mattress. If you have opted for a foam mat it will be easier to fix it at the top of the bag or on the outside.
Filling your bag well means balancing the weight so that the bulk of the load is supported by the pelvis. To avoid being dragged backwards, the heaviest should be placed closest to the back.
