Fitting the Pack
Hip belt should sit on your hip bones, carrying 70–80% of weight. Shoulder straps should wrap without gaps; load lifters prevent the pack pulling away from your back.
Gear
- Heavy items: close to spine, mid-back height.
- Medium gear: sides and top of main compartment.
- Light items and layers: top and outer pockets.
- Water: side bottles or reservoir sleeve for balance.
- Snacks, map, rain shell: hip belt or lid pocket.
Trail Tips
- Tighten hip belt first, then shoulder straps, then sternum strap.
- Re-tighten after lunch when the pack settles.
- Aim for 15–20% of body weight maximum for multi-day comfort.
About Erik Lindqvist
Erik Lindqvist is a Scandinavian trail guide and outdoor writer based in Norway. He has spent fifteen years hiking fjord paths, mountain ridges, and forest tracks across Norway, Sweden, and Iceland.