How to Load a Backpack for Backpack Hunting

A whole lot of attention by newer hunters gets put on the actual gear itself for backpack hunting. Rightfully, so I suppose. There is a lot of gear involved and we all want to make sure we have the best and lightest setup for our hunts. With that said, what flies under the radar is how to load a backpack for the best experience possible. This was a question heavy on my mind when I was first starting out as a backpack hunter. Where things go inside of the backpack matters on multiple fronts.

Weight Distribution and Ease of Access for How to Load a Backpack for Backpack Hunting

Weight Distribution

There are two big things to pay attention to when it comes to how to load a backpack. The first is weight distribution. Where lighter items go vs. heavy items has an effect on how a backpack rides on your body. Too much weight on the bottom of the bag will influence a sagging pack and put undo stress on the lower back. Too much weight on the top of the bag can create a top-heavy feel, throwing off balance, as well as putting more stress than necessary on the shoulders. I’ve done and experienced both routes here. The key is putting the most lightweight items on the bottom of the bag, followed up with the heaviest items, and then followed up with more lightweight gear. Having the heaviest gear closest to the center of your back paves the way for an evenly riding backpack and bodes much better for your center of gravity.

Another note on weight distribution has to do with the sides of your backpack. We load things like tripods, rifles, and spotting scopes on the sides of our backpacks. When doing this, try to balance out both sides. Meaning, don’t load one side heavy and one side light. You want even weight for the best experience.

Ease of Access

Hunter grabbing a food bag out of their backpack on a backpack hunt for elk in Colorado

There are certain items you’re going to want to be able to get to fast and others that you won’t need so much on the fly. Keep this in mind when loading your pack. Once it’s loaded there is going to be gear that is much harder to get to than others. For instance, your sleeping pad is not something you’re going to need quick access to. So, you don’t need it to be in an easy-to-access spot. But a water filter perhaps? That is something I personally will always put right on top of the rest of my gear. Same thing goes for rain gear. I keep it in a spot that I can access quickly should Ma Nature decide to change her mood suddenly.

What’s in My Pack, How To Load a Backpack, What’s My Pack Weight?

At the end of the day, this whole backpack hunting thing is an art. We can choose to do things how we see fit. So, things I might need access to quickly might not be the same as things you need access to quickly. And the order you put things in a pack might differ from mine. The purpose behind this piece is to hopefully give you a blueprint to follow to figure out your own backcountry system. From there it’s all on you.