Many backpacks also have semi-secret zippers that make navigating your packed backpack a heck of a lot easier; these include side zippers and bottom zippers for accessing buried gear. Some packs contain a sleeping bag compartment in the bottom, complete w

Then, fill in the rest of your pack with middle-weight gear (first-aid, stove, water filter, etc.) further away from your back and in the middle of the pack—filling in the excess space. Use Your Brain. The brain—aka the zippered pocket at the top of y

Loosen all of your straps slightly to make the pack easier to slip on. Tilt your pack to an upright position on the ground. Stand next to the back panel; have your legs well apart and knees bent. Grab the haul loop (the webbing loop at the top of the back