So, the route is planned, excitement levels are high, the weather is well…the weather and you’re all packed and ready to go!

But…wait a minute…are you really?

The planning stage. Coffee often help creativity and enthusiasm.

Do you need both those jars of marmite? Will that eau de parfum cover up the stench of sweat? Is that copy of The Odyssey really required?

There are loads of tips and tricks out there on the dos and don’ts for packing effectively. Some of it is personal preference, where exactly you’re heading and what the goal is, but clever packing can make a huge difference between fun and ‘learning the hard way’…

A good bag makes enjoying these views stress free.

Having a well-made backpack that both fits and is fit for purpose is important. You almost certainly don’t need to buy new, borrowing or buying used can help save money and the environment and so always check around before you splurge. Now, onto the actual packing…

Here’re a few tips for multi-day trips - some applicable to day trips too - many of which I’ve learned the hard way, so, hopefully, you don’t have to…

This may look like organised chaos. Well, yeah, ok.

1. Go light but not too light. Carrying less weight is always helpful, but not at the expense of comfort and safety. Don’t scrimp on an extra warm layer, and don’t feel bad about packing an extra tasty treat.

2. Soap is great! It can be used for cleaning just about everything - hair, body, clothes, mind. Not teeth. Definitely not teeth.

3. Identify and prioritise multi-use items. Dry bags (see also below) can make great pillows (when stuffed with clothes), stop your bum getting wet when resting and as food stashes. Using your buff as an eye mask is another small hack.

4. Keep it inside the bag. Items can easily come loose or fall off without you noticing, so don’t hang around.

5. Leave some space. You might be able to squeeze shut that backpack by sitting on it, but do you want to be doing that every day? Space also means if you’ve forgotten something you need to buy, or you want to take back a memory or a stray dog, then you can.

Lightweight bags on polar expeditions is not always possible.

6. Keep things you need to hand, to hand. Having your extra/waterproof clothing, map, camera, snacks and phone to hand can mean the difference between quickly keeping dry and catching that awesome snap - and not.

7. Wear Merino. It can be more expensive but - it lasts longer, it doesn’t smell, you wash it less, it doesn’t itch and is generally marvellous stuff. It’s also a natural fibre and so better for the environment.

8. Keep rolling, rolling, rolling. Rolling your clothes into cylinders will reduce the space they take up in your bag.

9. Use Dry bags (see above). Great for, well, keeping things dry. Compression dry sacks can massively reduce the space sleeping bags and down jackets take up.

10. Pack cleverly and effectively. Bulky and lightweight gear not needed until camp at the bottom of the bag. Heavier items in the mid-zone close to your back to help your centre of gravity. Leave the top for larger things you may need to grab quickly. Use small pockets for smaller items you may need to grab quickly.

11. Practice makes perfect! Knowing where everything is and being ‘aware’ and ‘present’ during packing can mean the difference between remembering where that item is and emptying your bag out every time you need something.

Let us know your thoughts - we’d love to hear your tips!

- Luke

Not the kitchen sink: Packing hacks learned the hard way...