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Properly Packing Your Hiking Bag

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Properly Packing Your Hiking Bag

By: Jack Landry

As the summer rolls around many people will be looking forward to going hiking in the beautiful weather. There are many local areas that are probably quite beautiful and ideal for hiking in during the summer.

As you travel to foreign areas, you can also go hiking to explore some of the beautiful tourist locations in the area you are visiting. There are many things you will want to keep in mind as you go hiking.

There are many things you can do to make you hiking experiences more enjoyable, particularly if you plan to stay the night along the trail. The first thing you will need to consider carefully is your pack.

You will want to make sure that you only take the things that you will need so that you do not have to carry too much extra weight. It is also a good idea to put the things that you will use the most on top, so that you do not have to dig through the entire bag every time that you need something.

If you are staying several days, it is likely that your pack will be quite heavy. As a result, you will want to make sure that you put it on properly so that you do not injure your back or strain various muscles.

The best way to put on your pack is to grab it by its haul loop and by one shoulder strap and put it on one bent knee while your other knee is on the ground. Then, turn your back and slide the shoulder straps on.

This way the pack will be on you when you stand up and you will be forced to use your legs to lift it instead of using your back muscles to swing it around and on. When you are standing, you should make sure that the waist belt is properly secured and resting on your hip bones.

It is also a good idea to make sure that the shoulder straps are adjusted to the proper length. You do not want them to be too tight or too loose.

They should be only tight enough to keep the weight close enough to your body that it is stable and will not swing around and pull you off balance. It will help to put the heaviest items closest to your back in the middle of the pack.

This method will help you maintain your normal balance. Be sure to have a particular place for each item and to keep that particular item in the same place at all times so that you will be able to find it in the dark or when you need it in an emergency.

If you are carrying stove gas or water, try to tie these things to the outside of the pack so that they do not spill over everything if they leak. You may want to consider gathering wood for a fire instead when you reach your location so that you do not have to carry the heavy gas.

Anything that you will get wet during the trip should be stored on the outside of the pack as well. This may include things like rain gear, a poncho, a pack cover, and so forth.

This will make them easy to reach if it starts raining and they will not get other things wet when you put them away when the rain stops. The things that you will need the most, such as a pocket knife, should go in a top pocket that is easy to reach and access.

Other things that you may want to be able to reach easily include a camera, compass, whistle, maps, pen and paper. After every trip, you will want to make sure that you properly take care of your pack.

Clean it, shake it out, and dry it thoroughly before you put it away. Then, make sure you store it in a cool and dry place.

It is best to clean it with soap and water because it will probably get pretty dirty. When you properly take care of your pack, you will be able to make sure that it is in good condition for the next trip.

Make sure that you properly clean and dry your sleeping bag as well. When you are drying it, you should make sure that it is laid flat instead of hanging it as it will stretch out when hung and it will last much longer if you simply lay it out to dry.

Article Source: http://articles.tiptopweb.info

Jack Landry began his career as sponsored BMX biker, specifically on the half-pipe. Now Jack is a corrospondant for several biking and trail riding magazines. He has worked closely with (www.parksportsman.com)

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