How to Pack a Backpack

Whether for school or for camping, everyone needs to know how to pack a backpack for comfort, health and efficiency. While there may be more urgency in getting it exactly right when you're going on a long hike and everything has to fit, the daily lugging of heavy items also requires some serious packing know-how.

When packing a backpack, keep the heaviest items against the back.

As daywear, the backpack was the mark of a student, whether in elementary school or college. They were soft, simple and most of them weren't constructed with much in the way of padding or structure. Although a high school or college student might have to carry a number of heavy books at one time, not a lot of thought was given to back and shoulder safety. A bag might last through the school year and then rip and be thrown out. It was not something in which to invest much money.

In recent years, as even younger school children are carrying heavier books and laptops, backpacks had to step up. They not only had to be much stronger, with padded pockets, but also designed with balance and comfort as top priorities. However, even with a high-quality backpack, it's still crucial to know how to load it up to best save your body as you go about your day.

There's a reason beyond practicality that padded pouches for laptops are always at the back of the backpack. You want to set the heaviest items against your back. The strongest muscles in the body are in the back and abdomen, so the nearer heavier items are to these muscles, the more support they have. Plus, packing this way also increases stability.

Continue to load the backpack with increasingly lighter items. It's important to pack neatly so as to keep items from sliding. This is where the built-in pockets and pouches can be a big help.

While it's most important for young children, backpack wearers of all ages should not carry more than 15 percent of their body weight in a pack. If you are packing for a long hiking trip and this weight requirement is less possible to maintain, a specially designed backpack is required so that you will not risk injury.

Understanding the most important rule of how to pack a backpack with safety and comfort in mind – keeping the heavier things nearer your back – is useful. For kids especially, it's almost all they need to know. As more and more people haul laptops and other heavy items on a regular basis, however, one major consideration familiar to anyone who carries a briefcase or handbag, is what not to pack. The law of averages says that the more spacious your bag is, the more you'll find to fill it. So try asking yourself as you get ready for the day if you really need everything you're trying to squeeze in there. You might be surprised at the difference made by just eliminating a few small things.

One final trick for how to pack a backpack is knowing what you need to access while on the go. It's not much good to have packed a backpack well if you are constantly pulling it off one shoulder and twisting around to rummage in the pockets. Many modern backpacks have easy access pockets for phones, subway cards and wallets that allow you to retrieve these items without taking off the backpack. Look for pockets that would be hard for a thief to access.

You'll be at least risk for injury if you always wear the backpack over both shoulders. This way, the weight is evenly balanced. When outfitting a child with a backpack, make sure he or she does not lean forward when walking – a sure sign the backpack is too heavy. With a little forethought and care, one good backpack is all you'll need for years.

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