Backpacking
Load, hip belt, camp miles, and caring for feet.
Skill 3.17 · About 25 minutes to begin
Carrying your house on your back changes how you walk. Train with weight before a big trip.
Before you begin
Bring along
- Trip packing list
- Suitable footwear
- Water and food
Support & boundaries
Choose an age-appropriate task with your leader or trusted adult. Outdoor practice follows the approved route, buddy, and supervision plan; adapt the challenge to your abilities.
01 / Learn
Understand the skill
- Most pack weight should sit on hips via hip belt, not shoulders.
- Adjust straps every morning as load settles.
- Blister care early beats hiking in pain — stop at hot spots.
- Camp chores eat time — start hiking early after breakfast.
- Bear bags, canisters, or lockers depend on area — leaders decide.
Explore the idea
Explore a packed bag
Keep items you may need during the day easy to reach: rain protection, a light, snacks, and your navigation tools. Your trip list determines the actual contents.
02 / Practice
Try it, step by step
- 1
Pack heaviest items close to spine and mid-back.
- 2
Loosen hip belt when resting; snug when moving.
- 3
Change socks at lunch on wet days.
- 4
Break camp in reverse order of setup checklist.
- 5
Practice putting on pack without help — then learn team assists on steep ground.
Watch & try
See it demonstrated
REI
How to pack a backpack
Notice how weight and quick-access items are placed, then test your own pack.
Watch on YouTube ↗Common mistakes to avoid
- Assume it will become comfortable after more miles.
- Treating a successful practice attempt as permission to skip the supervision or checks for a real task.
Your call
A loaded practice pack rubs painfully. What next?
03 / Demonstrate
Show what you can do
Use these prompts with a mentor. This practice checklist resets when you leave; record your overall stage below in the signed-in manual.
0 of 3 reviewed together
Mentor notes & sources
Help someone learn
- Weigh packs before departure; redistribute group gear fairly.
- Teach foot inspection at first camp night.
- Set realistic daily mileage for the slowest member.
Start together, then let the learner take responsibility at an appropriate level. Offer a shorter task, a different role, or more practice time when useful. Review the demonstration criteria together; advanced practice never removes supervision requirements.
Reference shelf
Original program lessons informed by these references. Equipment manuals, current local rules, and qualified instruction govern technical practice.
- NOLS: expedition learning ↗
Outdoor learning, teamwork and reflection
Edition updated 2026-09-28. Program learning material; not a professional qualification.
04 / Apply · In Action
A loaded practice walk
Pack for an approved overnight and take a short supervised shakedown walk before the trip.
What success looks like
Identify fit problems or unnecessary weight and adjust with a leader.
Talk it through
What was different once the pack was on your back?
05 / Teach · Take it further
Help review shared loads so the crew distributes work fairly.