• "The most important thing when packing your backpack is to refrain from packing unnecessary items!! As a general rule, a fit person should not carry more than 20 - 25% of their body weight over a longer period of time. The German military pushes this to 33% - but then, we all know that their trips are more than strenuous!"
• Put your sleeping bag, down equipment and other light objects in the bottom compartment. Place midweight gear such as clothing on the top towards the outside. Heavy equipment (tent, food, big jackets) above shoulder height, close to the back.
• Put small, often-used items in the lid pocket where they can be easily grabbed.
• In order to avoid problems such as snagging, larger wind-exposed areas or wetness, attach as little as possible to the outside of the backpack, and keep this as compact as possible.
• In general keep an even weight distribution, in particular for side pockets. Use stuff sacks to get organised. Waterproof sacks are also a safe alternative to a raincover.

The Wrong Way!

The pack strongly pulls backwards – this indicates that the pack’s centre of gravity sits far from the body’s centre of gravity. When you carry a heavy load like this trekking easily turns into torture .The body constantly works against the pack’s weight. The shoulders are heavily burdened. If your pack is not loaded properly it could become even risky in difficult terrain.

On easy Terrain

On easy terrain (hiking routes, flat trails) the load's centre of gravity should sit higher.
 

On Difficult Terrain

On difficult passages (alpine routes, Via Ferrata) a bit lower and thus closer to the body’s centre of gravity. This packing system leads to a more forward leaning position, yet it provides more balance compared to a higher centre of gravity.