Backpack Cheat Sheet

CAMPMOR THE BACKPACK CHEAT SHEET Choos ing The Right Size Pack For Your Trip HOW TO MEASURE There are two important things to cons ider when fitting a backpack: 1. What is your torso length? To measure your torso length, have a friend mea- sure your back. Stand with your back to them with your hands on your hips, like you are scolding someone. Your thumbs will point to a spot on your lower spine. Start from this point and with a tape measure, measure up to the C-7 vertebra, which is the one that sticks out of the back of your neck when you touch your chin to your chest. The measurement bet ween these 2 points is your torso length. Once you know your torso length, you can shop for packs that fit your body best. 2. The other important issue is to make sure the hipbelt will fit around your waist. A secure hipbelt directs the pack's weight to the lower body, which by nature is designed to carry weight more eas ily than the upper body. DO ALL PACKS FIT A COMPLETE RANGE OF TORSO LENGTHS? No. Certain packs will fit a specific range of torso lengths. For example women's and children's packs have shorter torso ranges than men's packs. DETERMINING PACK CAPACITY OVER 1 WEEK DAY OVERNIGHT OR WEEKEND UP TO 1 WEEK 1220-2441 cu. in. 20-40 liters 3051-3661 cu. in. 56-60 liters 3661-4882 cu. in. 60-80 liters 4882+ cu. in. 80+ liters HOW TO PACK YOUR BACKPACK A good packing job can make a big difference in how your pack carries (es pecially with internal frame packs). Follow the weight distribut ion diagrams below, and be sure to pack the load firmly. You waste a lot of energy compens at ing for a constant ly shifting load. If your pack has compression straps, use them! LIGHT LIGHT SLEEPING BAG SLEEPING BAG ON TRAIL OFF TRAIL - Think about what you'll need during the day, and put these things in the top lid/side pockets and/or at the top of the main compart ment. - Try using color-coded stuff sacks to help organize a large, un- divided main compartment. Remember... the higher the weight is in the pack, the more upright and comfortable your walking pos ition wi11 be. But, it will also have a greater effect on your balance, so find the compromise that works best for the terrain you're on. HOW TO ADJUST THE FIT OF YOUR PACK 1- Always start with al1 straps loose (hipbelt, shoulder harness, and their respect ive load stabilizer straps). UPPER LOAD STABILIZER STRAPS 2- Set the hipbelt on your hipbones and fully tighten. 3- Pull forward firmly on the hipbelt stabiliz- er straps. SHOULDER HARNESS 4- Tighten shoulder har- ness so that it fits snugly over your shoul- ders (no gaps ). 5- Pull down on the upper load stabilizer straps (make them snug but don't over-tighten). HIPBELT 6- If necessary, back off a little pressure from the shoulder har- ness. 7- Remember to loosen all straps in the re- verse order before you take off your pack. HIPBELT STABILIZER STRAPS * External frame packs with load stabilizers work the same way. CARING FOR YOUR BACKPACK WASHING INSTRUCTIONS - Hand wash your pack with a mild soap such as Ivory Snow or Sport Wash and a sponge. Never use strong detergents or a washi ng machine, as they may harm the coat ing on the fabric. WATERPROOF ING - If heavy rains are expected, pack items that must stay dry in waterproof plastic or nylon stuff bags. Use a rain cover over the pack. STORAGE - Store your pack in a cool, dry place, but never store it against a concrete floor or wal1. The moisture and chemicals in the concrete can damage the fabrics in a pack. Don't store fuel or bat- teries in your pack. They may leak! TIPS FOR PUTTING ON YOUR PACK •A fully loaded pack sitting on the ground is a load. Like all loads, use your legs to lift the load. Never use your back with straight legs to lift your pack, or any load. • Get into a lunge pos ition to prepare to hoist your pack. Then lift pack and rest it on your bent knee. • Once you have hoisted the load with bent legs, rest the pack on one leg and thread an arm through the shoulder strap. • In a balanced stance, swing the pack around and thread your other arm through the shoulder strap. • Lean forward to plane the pack against your back and snug your straps in the same order as you did while fitting your pack. BACKPACKING EQUIPMENT CHECKLIST FOOD/COOKING - Stove and windscreen - Fuel/priming paste Cook set and pot lifter Cup/mug Eat ing utens ils Waterproof matches * Zip lock bags - Salt, pepper, seasonings Food (1.5 - 21bs per day per person) Coffee, tea, drink mixes NECESSITIES - Waterproof trail mapx - Compass x Flashlight or headlampx - Spare batteries and bulb* - Knifex Nylon cord (50 ft.)x Repair kit (spare pins & rings, duct tape, sewing kit, patch kit for Thermarest) - Candle 1antern/candles - Water bottles* - Iodine pills/water filterx First aid kit* Moleskin* Ident ificat ion and any pertinent medical infox CLOTHING Socks (heavy wool and liners) Underwear (thermostat, silk, polypropylene, etc... Cotton for warm weather only!) - Hat for rain or sun* Windbreaker - Rainwear - Pile sweater/jacket Bandanas Hiking shorts/pants - Shirts - Hiking boots - Swimsuit (optional) SHELTER Tent - Sleeping bag Sleeping pad - Ground cloth for tent - Lightwei ght tarp (for cooking or emergency shelter)x PERSONAL FOR COLD WEATHER - Insulated parka - Pile jacket and pants Outer shell garments Hat/balaclava - Gloves/mittens Polarguard boot ies - Wool/f1eece sweater(s) Vapor barrier liner - Water bottle parka Sunglasses Toothbrush/paste Toilet paper Biodegradable soap - Sanitary supplies Pack towel - Sunscreen* - Insect repellent - Lip balm Personal medications FOR BACKCOUNTRY WINTER TRAVEL OTHER THINGS THAT ARE NICE TO HAVE - Camp shoes Binoculars Fishing Gear Kite Notebook and pencil Camera/film Field guide Pack games - Nylon stuff bags (as organizers) Snow shoes or skis with climbing skins Ski poles and/or ice axe Crampons Avalanche beacon Breakdown shovel SAFETY MEASURE Always leave a detailed trip itinerary in writing with a respons ible person * THESE ITEMS SHOULD BE CARRIED AT ALL TIMES, EVEN WHEN DAY HIKING, AS AN UNEXPECTED EMERGENCY COULD KEEP YOU OVERNIGHT. THE BACKPACК СНEAT SHEЕТ CAMPMOR Shop all packs at http://www.campmor.com/gear/packs. shtml SOURCE: Campmor Experts Jim Recca, Steve Caldwel11, and Lenny Bussanich with a combined 60 plus years of backpacking knowledge. IEAV> HEAV> CAMPMOR THE BACKPAСК CHEAT SHЕЕТ Choos ing The Right Size Pack For Your Trip HOW TO MEASURE There are two important things to cons ider when fitting a backpack: 1. What is your torso length? To measure your torso length, have a friend mea- sure your back. Stand with your back to them with your hands on your hips, like you are scolding someone. Your thumbs will point to a spot on your lower spine. Start from this point and with a tape measure, measure up to the C-7 vertebra, which is the one that sticks out of the back of your neck when you touch your chin to your chest. The measurement bet ween these 2 points is your torso length. Once you know your torso length, you can shop for packs that fit your body best. 2. The other important issue is to make sure the hipbelt will fit around your waist. A secure hipbelt directs the pack's weight to the lower body, which by nature is designed to carry weight more eas ily than the upper body. DO ALL PACKS FIT A COMPLETE RANGE OF TORSO LENGTHS? No. Certain packs will fit a specific range of torso lengths. For example women's and children's packs have shorter torso ranges than men's packs. DETERMINING PACK CAPACITY OVER 1 WEEK DAY OVERNIGHT OR WEEKEND UP TO 1 WEEK 1220-2441 cu. in. 20-40 liters 3051-3661 cu. in. 56-60 liters 3661-4882 cu. in. 60-80 liters 4882+ cu. in. 80+ liters HOW TO PACK YOUR BACKPACK A good packing job can make a big difference in how your pack carries (es pecially with internal frame packs). Follow the weight distribut ion diagrams below, and be sure to pack the load firmly. You waste a lot of energy compens at ing for a constant ly shifting load. If your pack has compression straps, use them! LIGHT LIGHT SLEEPING BAG SLEEPING BAG ON TRAIL OFF TRAIL - Think about what you'll need during the day, and put these things in the top lid/side pockets and/or at the top of the main compart ment. - Try using color-coded stuff sacks to help organize a large, un- divided main compartment. Remember... the higher the weight is in the pack, the more upright and comfortable your walking pos ition wi11 be. But, it will also have a greater effect on your balance, so find the compromise that works best for the terrain you're on. HOW TO ADJUST THE FIT OF YOUR PACK 1- Always start with al1 straps loose (hipbelt, shoulder harness, and their respect ive load stabilizer straps). UPPER LOAD STABILIZER STRAPS 2- Set the hipbelt on your hipbones and fully tighten. 3- Pull forward firmly on the hipbelt stabiliz- er straps. SHOULDER HARNESS 4- Tighten shoulder har- ness so that it fits snugly over your shoul- ders (no gaps ). 5- Pull down on the upper load stabilizer straps (make them snug but don't over-tighten). HIPBELT 6- If necessary, back off a little pressure from the shoulder har- ness. 7- Remember to loosen all straps in the re- verse order before you take off your pack. HIPBELT STABILIZER STRAPS * External frame packs with load stabilizers work the same way. CARING FOR YOUR BACKPACK WASHING INSTRUCTIONS - Hand wash your pack with a mild soap such as Ivory Snow or Sport Wash and a sponge. Never use strong detergents or a washi ng machine, as they may harm the coat ing on the fabric. WATERPROOF ING - If heavy rains are expected, pack items that must stay dry in waterproof plastic or nylon stuff bags. Use a rain cover over the pack. STORAGE - Store your pack in a cool, dry place, but never store it against a concrete floor or wal1. The moisture and chemicals in the concrete can damage the fabrics in a pack. Don't store fuel or bat- teries in your pack. They may leak! TIPS FOR PUTTING ON YOUR PACK •A fully loaded pack sitting on the ground is a load. Like all loads, use your legs to lift the load. Never use your back with straight legs to lift your pack, or any load. • Get into a lunge pos ition to prepare to hoist your pack. Then lift pack and rest it on your bent knee. • Once you have hoisted the load with bent legs, rest the pack on one leg and thread an arm through the shoulder strap. • In a balanced stance, swing the pack around and thread your other arm through the shoulder strap. • Lean forward to plane the pack against your back and snug your straps in the same order as you did while fitting your pack. BACKPACKING EQUIPMENT CHECKLIST FOOD/COOKING - Stove and windscreen - Fuel/priming paste Cook set and pot lifter Cup/mug Eat ing utens ils Waterproof matches * Zip lock bags - Salt, pepper, seasonings Food (1.5 - 21bs per day per person) Coffee, tea, drink mixes NECESSITIES - Waterproof trail mapx - Compass x Flashlight or headlampx - Spare batteries and bulb* - Knifex Nylon cord (50 ft.)x Repair kit (spare pins & rings, duct tape, sewing kit, patch kit for Thermarest) - Candle 1antern/candles - Water bottles* - Iodine pills/water filterx First aid kit* Moleskin* Ident ificat ion and any pertinent medical infox CLOTHING Socks (heavy wool and liners) Underwear (thermostat, silk, polypropylene, etc... Cotton for warm weather only!) - Hat for rain or sun* Windbreaker - Rainwear - Pile sweater/jacket Bandanas Hiking shorts/pants - Shirts - Hiking boots - Swimsuit (optional) SHELTER Tent - Sleeping bag Sleeping pad - Ground cloth for tent - Lightwei ght tarp (for cooking or emergency shelter)x PERSONAL FOR COLD WEATHER - Insulated parka - Pile jacket and pants Outer shell garments Hat/balaclava - Gloves/mittens Polarguard boot ies - Wool/f1eece sweater(s) Vapor barrier liner - Water bottle parka Sunglasses Toothbrush/paste Toilet paper Biodegradable soap - Sanitary supplies Pack towel - Sunscreen* - Insect repellent - Lip balm Personal medications FOR BACKCOUNTRY WINTER TRAVEL OTHER THINGS THAT ARE NICE TO HAVE - Camp shoes Binoculars Fishing Gear Kite Notebook and pencil Camera/film Field guide Pack games - Nylon stuff bags (as organizers) Snow shoes or skis with climbing skins Ski poles and/or ice axe Crampons Avalanche beacon Breakdown shovel SAFETY MEASURE Always leave a detailed trip itinerary in writing with a respons ible person * THESE ITEMS SHOULD BE CARRIED AT ALL TIMES, EVEN WHEN DAY HIKING, AS AN UNEXPECTED EMERGENCY COULD KEEP YOU OVERNIGHT. THE BACKPACК СНEAT SHEЕТ CAMPMOR Shop all packs at http://www.campmor.com/gear/packs. shtml SOURCE: Campmor Experts Jim Recca, Steve Caldwel11, and Lenny Bussanich with a combined 60 plus years of backpacking knowledge. IEAV> HEAV> CAMPMOR THE BACKPAСК CHEAT SHЕЕТ Choos ing The Right Size Pack For Your Trip HOW TO MEASURE There are two important things to cons ider when fitting a backpack: 1. What is your torso length? To measure your torso length, have a friend mea- sure your back. Stand with your back to them with your hands on your hips, like you are scolding someone. Your thumbs will point to a spot on your lower spine. Start from this point and with a tape measure, measure up to the C-7 vertebra, which is the one that sticks out of the back of your neck when you touch your chin to your chest. The measurement bet ween these 2 points is your torso length. Once you know your torso length, you can shop for packs that fit your body best. 2. The other important issue is to make sure the hipbelt will fit around your waist. A secure hipbelt directs the pack's weight to the lower body, which by nature is designed to carry weight more eas ily than the upper body. DO ALL PACKS FIT A COMPLETE RANGE OF TORSO LENGTHS? No. Certain packs will fit a specific range of torso lengths. For example women's and children's packs have shorter torso ranges than men's packs. DETERMINING PACK CAPACITY OVER 1 WEEK DAY OVERNIGHT OR WEEKEND UP TO 1 WEEK 1220-2441 cu. in. 20-40 liters 3051-3661 cu. in. 56-60 liters 3661-4882 cu. in. 60-80 liters 4882+ cu. in. 80+ liters HOW TO PACK YOUR BACKPACK A good packing job can make a big difference in how your pack carries (es pecially with internal frame packs). Follow the weight distribut ion diagrams below, and be sure to pack the load firmly. You waste a lot of energy compens at ing for a constant ly shifting load. If your pack has compression straps, use them! LIGHT LIGHT SLEEPING BAG SLEEPING BAG ON TRAIL OFF TRAIL - Think about what you'll need during the day, and put these things in the top lid/side pockets and/or at the top of the main compart ment. - Try using color-coded stuff sacks to help organize a large, un- divided main compartment. Remember... the higher the weight is in the pack, the more upright and comfortable your walking pos ition wi11 be. But, it will also have a greater effect on your balance, so find the compromise that works best for the terrain you're on. HOW TO ADJUST THE FIT OF YOUR PACK 1- Always start with al1 straps loose (hipbelt, shoulder harness, and their respect ive load stabilizer straps). UPPER LOAD STABILIZER STRAPS 2- Set the hipbelt on your hipbones and fully tighten. 3- Pull forward firmly on the hipbelt stabiliz- er straps. SHOULDER HARNESS 4- Tighten shoulder har- ness so that it fits snugly over your shoul- ders (no gaps ). 5- Pull down on the upper load stabilizer straps (make them snug but don't over-tighten). HIPBELT 6- If necessary, back off a little pressure from the shoulder har- ness. 7- Remember to loosen all straps in the re- verse order before you take off your pack. HIPBELT STABILIZER STRAPS * External frame packs with load stabilizers work the same way. CARING FOR YOUR BACKPACK WASHING INSTRUCTIONS - Hand wash your pack with a mild soap such as Ivory Snow or Sport Wash and a sponge. Never use strong detergents or a washi ng machine, as they may harm the coat ing on the fabric. WATERPROOF ING - If heavy rains are expected, pack items that must stay dry in waterproof plastic or nylon stuff bags. Use a rain cover over the pack. STORAGE - Store your pack in a cool, dry place, but never store it against a concrete floor or wal1. The moisture and chemicals in the concrete can damage the fabrics in a pack. Don't store fuel or bat- teries in your pack. They may leak! TIPS FOR PUTTING ON YOUR PACK •A fully loaded pack sitting on the ground is a load. Like all loads, use your legs to lift the load. Never use your back with straight legs to lift your pack, or any load. • Get into a lunge pos ition to prepare to hoist your pack. Then lift pack and rest it on your bent knee. • Once you have hoisted the load with bent legs, rest the pack on one leg and thread an arm through the shoulder strap. • In a balanced stance, swing the pack around and thread your other arm through the shoulder strap. • Lean forward to plane the pack against your back and snug your straps in the same order as you did while fitting your pack. BACKPACKING EQUIPMENT CHECKLIST FOOD/COOKING - Stove and windscreen - Fuel/priming paste Cook set and pot lifter Cup/mug Eat ing utens ils Waterproof matches * Zip lock bags - Salt, pepper, seasonings Food (1.5 - 21bs per day per person) Coffee, tea, drink mixes NECESSITIES - Waterproof trail mapx - Compass x Flashlight or headlampx - Spare batteries and bulb* - Knifex Nylon cord (50 ft.)x Repair kit (spare pins & rings, duct tape, sewing kit, patch kit for Thermarest) - Candle 1antern/candles - Water bottles* - Iodine pills/water filterx First aid kit* Moleskin* Ident ificat ion and any pertinent medical infox CLOTHING Socks (heavy wool and liners) Underwear (thermostat, silk, polypropylene, etc... Cotton for warm weather only!) - Hat for rain or sun* Windbreaker - Rainwear - Pile sweater/jacket Bandanas Hiking shorts/pants - Shirts - Hiking boots - Swimsuit (optional) SHELTER Tent - Sleeping bag Sleeping pad - Ground cloth for tent - Lightwei ght tarp (for cooking or emergency shelter)x PERSONAL FOR COLD WEATHER - Insulated parka - Pile jacket and pants Outer shell garments Hat/balaclava - Gloves/mittens Polarguard boot ies - Wool/f1eece sweater(s) Vapor barrier liner - Water bottle parka Sunglasses Toothbrush/paste Toilet paper Biodegradable soap - Sanitary supplies Pack towel - Sunscreen* - Insect repellent - Lip balm Personal medications FOR BACKCOUNTRY WINTER TRAVEL OTHER THINGS THAT ARE NICE TO HAVE - Camp shoes Binoculars Fishing Gear Kite Notebook and pencil Camera/film Field guide Pack games - Nylon stuff bags (as organizers) Snow shoes or skis with climbing skins Ski poles and/or ice axe Crampons Avalanche beacon Breakdown shovel SAFETY MEASURE Always leave a detailed trip itinerary in writing with a respons ible person * THESE ITEMS SHOULD BE CARRIED AT ALL TIMES, EVEN WHEN DAY HIKING, AS AN UNEXPECTED EMERGENCY COULD KEEP YOU OVERNIGHT. THE BACKPACК СНEAT SHEЕТ CAMPMOR Shop all packs at http://www.campmor.com/gear/packs. shtml SOURCE: Campmor Experts Jim Recca, Steve Caldwel11, and Lenny Bussanich with a combined 60 plus years of backpacking knowledge. IEAV> HEAV> CAMPMOR THE BACKPAСК CHEAT SHЕЕТ Choos ing The Right Size Pack For Your Trip HOW TO MEASURE There are two important things to cons ider when fitting a backpack: 1. What is your torso length? To measure your torso length, have a friend mea- sure your back. Stand with your back to them with your hands on your hips, like you are scolding someone. Your thumbs will point to a spot on your lower spine. Start from this point and with a tape measure, measure up to the C-7 vertebra, which is the one that sticks out of the back of your neck when you touch your chin to your chest. The measurement bet ween these 2 points is your torso length. Once you know your torso length, you can shop for packs that fit your body best. 2. The other important issue is to make sure the hipbelt will fit around your waist. A secure hipbelt directs the pack's weight to the lower body, which by nature is designed to carry weight more eas ily than the upper body. DO ALL PACKS FIT A COMPLETE RANGE OF TORSO LENGTHS? No. Certain packs will fit a specific range of torso lengths. For example women's and children's packs have shorter torso ranges than men's packs. DETERMINING PACK CAPACITY OVER 1 WEEK DAY OVERNIGHT OR WEEKEND UP TO 1 WEEK 1220-2441 cu. in. 20-40 liters 3051-3661 cu. in. 56-60 liters 3661-4882 cu. in. 60-80 liters 4882+ cu. in. 80+ liters HOW TO PACK YOUR BACKPACK A good packing job can make a big difference in how your pack carries (es pecially with internal frame packs). Follow the weight distribut ion diagrams below, and be sure to pack the load firmly. You waste a lot of energy compens at ing for a constant ly shifting load. If your pack has compression straps, use them! LIGHT LIGHT SLEEPING BAG SLEEPING BAG ON TRAIL OFF TRAIL - Think about what you'll need during the day, and put these things in the top lid/side pockets and/or at the top of the main compart ment. - Try using color-coded stuff sacks to help organize a large, un- divided main compartment. Remember... the higher the weight is in the pack, the more upright and comfortable your walking pos ition wi11 be. But, it will also have a greater effect on your balance, so find the compromise that works best for the terrain you're on. HOW TO ADJUST THE FIT OF YOUR PACK 1- Always start with al1 straps loose (hipbelt, shoulder harness, and their respect ive load stabilizer straps). UPPER LOAD STABILIZER STRAPS 2- Set the hipbelt on your hipbones and fully tighten. 3- Pull forward firmly on the hipbelt stabiliz- er straps. SHOULDER HARNESS 4- Tighten shoulder har- ness so that it fits snugly over your shoul- ders (no gaps ). 5- Pull down on the upper load stabilizer straps (make them snug but don't over-tighten). HIPBELT 6- If necessary, back off a little pressure from the shoulder har- ness. 7- Remember to loosen all straps in the re- verse order before you take off your pack. HIPBELT STABILIZER STRAPS * External frame packs with load stabilizers work the same way. CARING FOR YOUR BACKPACK WASHING INSTRUCTIONS - Hand wash your pack with a mild soap such as Ivory Snow or Sport Wash and a sponge. Never use strong detergents or a washi ng machine, as they may harm the coat ing on the fabric. WATERPROOF ING - If heavy rains are expected, pack items that must stay dry in waterproof plastic or nylon stuff bags. Use a rain cover over the pack. STORAGE - Store your pack in a cool, dry place, but never store it against a concrete floor or wal1. The moisture and chemicals in the concrete can damage the fabrics in a pack. Don't store fuel or bat- teries in your pack. They may leak! TIPS FOR PUTTING ON YOUR PACK •A fully loaded pack sitting on the ground is a load. Like all loads, use your legs to lift the load. Never use your back with straight legs to lift your pack, or any load. • Get into a lunge pos ition to prepare to hoist your pack. Then lift pack and rest it on your bent knee. • Once you have hoisted the load with bent legs, rest the pack on one leg and thread an arm through the shoulder strap. • In a balanced stance, swing the pack around and thread your other arm through the shoulder strap. • Lean forward to plane the pack against your back and snug your straps in the same order as you did while fitting your pack. BACKPACKING EQUIPMENT CHECKLIST FOOD/COOKING - Stove and windscreen - Fuel/priming paste Cook set and pot lifter Cup/mug Eat ing utens ils Waterproof matches * Zip lock bags - Salt, pepper, seasonings Food (1.5 - 21bs per day per person) Coffee, tea, drink mixes NECESSITIES - Waterproof trail mapx - Compass x Flashlight or headlampx - Spare batteries and bulb* - Knifex Nylon cord (50 ft.)x Repair kit (spare pins & rings, duct tape, sewing kit, patch kit for Thermarest) - Candle 1antern/candles - Water bottles* - Iodine pills/water filterx First aid kit* Moleskin* Ident ificat ion and any pertinent medical infox CLOTHING Socks (heavy wool and liners) Underwear (thermostat, silk, polypropylene, etc... Cotton for warm weather only!) - Hat for rain or sun* Windbreaker - Rainwear - Pile sweater/jacket Bandanas Hiking shorts/pants - Shirts - Hiking boots - Swimsuit (optional) SHELTER Tent - Sleeping bag Sleeping pad - Ground cloth for tent - Lightwei ght tarp (for cooking or emergency shelter)x PERSONAL FOR COLD WEATHER - Insulated parka - Pile jacket and pants Outer shell garments Hat/balaclava - Gloves/mittens Polarguard boot ies - Wool/f1eece sweater(s) Vapor barrier liner - Water bottle parka Sunglasses Toothbrush/paste Toilet paper Biodegradable soap - Sanitary supplies Pack towel - Sunscreen* - Insect repellent - Lip balm Personal medications FOR BACKCOUNTRY WINTER TRAVEL OTHER THINGS THAT ARE NICE TO HAVE - Camp shoes Binoculars Fishing Gear Kite Notebook and pencil Camera/film Field guide Pack games - Nylon stuff bags (as organizers) Snow shoes or skis with climbing skins Ski poles and/or ice axe Crampons Avalanche beacon Breakdown shovel SAFETY MEASURE Always leave a detailed trip itinerary in writing with a respons ible person * THESE ITEMS SHOULD BE CARRIED AT ALL TIMES, EVEN WHEN DAY HIKING, AS AN UNEXPECTED EMERGENCY COULD KEEP YOU OVERNIGHT. THE BACKPACК СНEAT SHEЕТ CAMPMOR Shop all packs at http://www.campmor.com/gear/packs. shtml SOURCE: Campmor Experts Jim Recca, Steve Caldwel11, and Lenny Bussanich with a combined 60 plus years of backpacking knowledge. IEAV> HEAV> CAMPMOR THE BACKPAСК CHEAT SHЕЕТ Choos ing The Right Size Pack For Your Trip HOW TO MEASURE There are two important things to cons ider when fitting a backpack: 1. What is your torso length? To measure your torso length, have a friend mea- sure your back. Stand with your back to them with your hands on your hips, like you are scolding someone. Your thumbs will point to a spot on your lower spine. Start from this point and with a tape measure, measure up to the C-7 vertebra, which is the one that sticks out of the back of your neck when you touch your chin to your chest. The measurement bet ween these 2 points is your torso length. Once you know your torso length, you can shop for packs that fit your body best. 2. The other important issue is to make sure the hipbelt will fit around your waist. A secure hipbelt directs the pack's weight to the lower body, which by nature is designed to carry weight more eas ily than the upper body. DO ALL PACKS FIT A COMPLETE RANGE OF TORSO LENGTHS? No. Certain packs will fit a specific range of torso lengths. For example women's and children's packs have shorter torso ranges than men's packs. DETERMINING PACK CAPACITY OVER 1 WEEK DAY OVERNIGHT OR WEEKEND UP TO 1 WEEK 1220-2441 cu. in. 20-40 liters 3051-3661 cu. in. 56-60 liters 3661-4882 cu. in. 60-80 liters 4882+ cu. in. 80+ liters HOW TO PACK YOUR BACKPACK A good packing job can make a big difference in how your pack carries (es pecially with internal frame packs). Follow the weight distribut ion diagrams below, and be sure to pack the load firmly. You waste a lot of energy compens at ing for a constant ly shifting load. If your pack has compression straps, use them! LIGHT LIGHT SLEEPING BAG SLEEPING BAG ON TRAIL OFF TRAIL - Think about what you'll need during the day, and put these things in the top lid/side pockets and/or at the top of the main compart ment. - Try using color-coded stuff sacks to help organize a large, un- divided main compartment. Remember... the higher the weight is in the pack, the more upright and comfortable your walking pos ition wi11 be. But, it will also have a greater effect on your balance, so find the compromise that works best for the terrain you're on. HOW TO ADJUST THE FIT OF YOUR PACK 1- Always start with al1 straps loose (hipbelt, shoulder harness, and their respect ive load stabilizer straps). UPPER LOAD STABILIZER STRAPS 2- Set the hipbelt on your hipbones and fully tighten. 3- Pull forward firmly on the hipbelt stabiliz- er straps. SHOULDER HARNESS 4- Tighten shoulder har- ness so that it fits snugly over your shoul- ders (no gaps ). 5- Pull down on the upper load stabilizer straps (make them snug but don't over-tighten). HIPBELT 6- If necessary, back off a little pressure from the shoulder har- ness. 7- Remember to loosen all straps in the re- verse order before you take off your pack. HIPBELT STABILIZER STRAPS * External frame packs with load stabilizers work the same way. CARING FOR YOUR BACKPACK WASHING INSTRUCTIONS - Hand wash your pack with a mild soap such as Ivory Snow or Sport Wash and a sponge. Never use strong detergents or a washi ng machine, as they may harm the coat ing on the fabric. WATERPROOF ING - If heavy rains are expected, pack items that must stay dry in waterproof plastic or nylon stuff bags. Use a rain cover over the pack. STORAGE - Store your pack in a cool, dry place, but never store it against a concrete floor or wal1. The moisture and chemicals in the concrete can damage the fabrics in a pack. Don't store fuel or bat- teries in your pack. They may leak! TIPS FOR PUTTING ON YOUR PACK •A fully loaded pack sitting on the ground is a load. Like all loads, use your legs to lift the load. Never use your back with straight legs to lift your pack, or any load. • Get into a lunge pos ition to prepare to hoist your pack. Then lift pack and rest it on your bent knee. • Once you have hoisted the load with bent legs, rest the pack on one leg and thread an arm through the shoulder strap. • In a balanced stance, swing the pack around and thread your other arm through the shoulder strap. • Lean forward to plane the pack against your back and snug your straps in the same order as you did while fitting your pack. BACKPACKING EQUIPMENT CHECKLIST FOOD/COOKING - Stove and windscreen - Fuel/priming paste Cook set and pot lifter Cup/mug Eat ing utens ils Waterproof matches * Zip lock bags - Salt, pepper, seasonings Food (1.5 - 21bs per day per person) Coffee, tea, drink mixes NECESSITIES - Waterproof trail mapx - Compass x Flashlight or headlampx - Spare batteries and bulb* - Knifex Nylon cord (50 ft.)x Repair kit (spare pins & rings, duct tape, sewing kit, patch kit for Thermarest) - Candle 1antern/candles - Water bottles* - Iodine pills/water filterx First aid kit* Moleskin* Ident ificat ion and any pertinent medical infox CLOTHING Socks (heavy wool and liners) Underwear (thermostat, silk, polypropylene, etc... Cotton for warm weather only!) - Hat for rain or sun* Windbreaker - Rainwear - Pile sweater/jacket Bandanas Hiking shorts/pants - Shirts - Hiking boots - Swimsuit (optional) SHELTER Tent - Sleeping bag Sleeping pad - Ground cloth for tent - Lightwei ght tarp (for cooking or emergency shelter)x PERSONAL FOR COLD WEATHER - Insulated parka - Pile jacket and pants Outer shell garments Hat/balaclava - Gloves/mittens Polarguard boot ies - Wool/f1eece sweater(s) Vapor barrier liner - Water bottle parka Sunglasses Toothbrush/paste Toilet paper Biodegradable soap - Sanitary supplies Pack towel - Sunscreen* - Insect repellent - Lip balm Personal medications FOR BACKCOUNTRY WINTER TRAVEL OTHER THINGS THAT ARE NICE TO HAVE - Camp shoes Binoculars Fishing Gear Kite Notebook and pencil Camera/film Field guide Pack games - Nylon stuff bags (as organizers) Snow shoes or skis with climbing skins Ski poles and/or ice axe Crampons Avalanche beacon Breakdown shovel SAFETY MEASURE Always leave a detailed trip itinerary in writing with a respons ible person * THESE ITEMS SHOULD BE CARRIED AT ALL TIMES, EVEN WHEN DAY HIKING, AS AN UNEXPECTED EMERGENCY COULD KEEP YOU OVERNIGHT. THE BACKPACК СНEAT SHEЕТ CAMPMOR Shop all packs at http://www.campmor.com/gear/packs. shtml SOURCE: Campmor Experts Jim Recca, Steve Caldwel11, and Lenny Bussanich with a combined 60 plus years of backpacking knowledge. IEAV> HEAV> CAMPMOR THE BACKPAСК CHEAT SHЕЕТ Choos ing The Right Size Pack For Your Trip HOW TO MEASURE There are two important things to cons ider when fitting a backpack: 1. What is your torso length? To measure your torso length, have a friend mea- sure your back. Stand with your back to them with your hands on your hips, like you are scolding someone. Your thumbs will point to a spot on your lower spine. Start from this point and with a tape measure, measure up to the C-7 vertebra, which is the one that sticks out of the back of your neck when you touch your chin to your chest. The measurement bet ween these 2 points is your torso length. Once you know your torso length, you can shop for packs that fit your body best. 2. The other important issue is to make sure the hipbelt will fit around your waist. A secure hipbelt directs the pack's weight to the lower body, which by nature is designed to carry weight more eas ily than the upper body. DO ALL PACKS FIT A COMPLETE RANGE OF TORSO LENGTHS? No. Certain packs will fit a specific range of torso lengths. For example women's and children's packs have shorter torso ranges than men's packs. DETERMINING PACK CAPACITY OVER 1 WEEK DAY OVERNIGHT OR WEEKEND UP TO 1 WEEK 1220-2441 cu. in. 20-40 liters 3051-3661 cu. in. 56-60 liters 3661-4882 cu. in. 60-80 liters 4882+ cu. in. 80+ liters HOW TO PACK YOUR BACKPACK A good packing job can make a big difference in how your pack carries (es pecially with internal frame packs). Follow the weight distribut ion diagrams below, and be sure to pack the load firmly. You waste a lot of energy compens at ing for a constant ly shifting load. If your pack has compression straps, use them! LIGHT LIGHT SLEEPING BAG SLEEPING BAG ON TRAIL OFF TRAIL - Think about what you'll need during the day, and put these things in the top lid/side pockets and/or at the top of the main compart ment. - Try using color-coded stuff sacks to help organize a large, un- divided main compartment. Remember... the higher the weight is in the pack, the more upright and comfortable your walking pos ition wi11 be. But, it will also have a greater effect on your balance, so find the compromise that works best for the terrain you're on. HOW TO ADJUST THE FIT OF YOUR PACK 1- Always start with al1 straps loose (hipbelt, shoulder harness, and their respect ive load stabilizer straps). UPPER LOAD STABILIZER STRAPS 2- Set the hipbelt on your hipbones and fully tighten. 3- Pull forward firmly on the hipbelt stabiliz- er straps. SHOULDER HARNESS 4- Tighten shoulder har- ness so that it fits snugly over your shoul- ders (no gaps ). 5- Pull down on the upper load stabilizer straps (make them snug but don't over-tighten). HIPBELT 6- If necessary, back off a little pressure from the shoulder har- ness. 7- Remember to loosen all straps in the re- verse order before you take off your pack. HIPBELT STABILIZER STRAPS * External frame packs with load stabilizers work the same way. CARING FOR YOUR BACKPACK WASHING INSTRUCTIONS - Hand wash your pack with a mild soap such as Ivory Snow or Sport Wash and a sponge. Never use strong detergents or a washi ng machine, as they may harm the coat ing on the fabric. WATERPROOF ING - If heavy rains are expected, pack items that must stay dry in waterproof plastic or nylon stuff bags. Use a rain cover over the pack. STORAGE - Store your pack in a cool, dry place, but never store it against a concrete floor or wal1. The moisture and chemicals in the concrete can damage the fabrics in a pack. Don't store fuel or bat- teries in your pack. They may leak! TIPS FOR PUTTING ON YOUR PACK •A fully loaded pack sitting on the ground is a load. Like all loads, use your legs to lift the load. Never use your back with straight legs to lift your pack, or any load. • Get into a lunge pos ition to prepare to hoist your pack. Then lift pack and rest it on your bent knee. • Once you have hoisted the load with bent legs, rest the pack on one leg and thread an arm through the shoulder strap. • In a balanced stance, swing the pack around and thread your other arm through the shoulder strap. • Lean forward to plane the pack against your back and snug your straps in the same order as you did while fitting your pack. BACKPACKING EQUIPMENT CHECKLIST FOOD/COOKING - Stove and windscreen - Fuel/priming paste Cook set and pot lifter Cup/mug Eat ing utens ils Waterproof matches * Zip lock bags - Salt, pepper, seasonings Food (1.5 - 21bs per day per person) Coffee, tea, drink mixes NECESSITIES - Waterproof trail mapx - Compass x Flashlight or headlampx - Spare batteries and bulb* - Knifex Nylon cord (50 ft.)x Repair kit (spare pins & rings, duct tape, sewing kit, patch kit for Thermarest) - Candle 1antern/candles - Water bottles* - Iodine pills/water filterx First aid kit* Moleskin* Ident ificat ion and any pertinent medical infox CLOTHING Socks (heavy wool and liners) Underwear (thermostat, silk, polypropylene, etc... Cotton for warm weather only!) - Hat for rain or sun* Windbreaker - Rainwear - Pile sweater/jacket Bandanas Hiking shorts/pants - Shirts - Hiking boots - Swimsuit (optional) SHELTER Tent - Sleeping bag Sleeping pad - Ground cloth for tent - Lightwei ght tarp (for cooking or emergency shelter)x PERSONAL FOR COLD WEATHER - Insulated parka - Pile jacket and pants Outer shell garments Hat/balaclava - Gloves/mittens Polarguard boot ies - Wool/f1eece sweater(s) Vapor barrier liner - Water bottle parka Sunglasses Toothbrush/paste Toilet paper Biodegradable soap - Sanitary supplies Pack towel - Sunscreen* - Insect repellent - Lip balm Personal medications FOR BACKCOUNTRY WINTER TRAVEL OTHER THINGS THAT ARE NICE TO HAVE - Camp shoes Binoculars Fishing Gear Kite Notebook and pencil Camera/film Field guide Pack games - Nylon stuff bags (as organizers) Snow shoes or skis with climbing skins Ski poles and/or ice axe Crampons Avalanche beacon Breakdown shovel SAFETY MEASURE Always leave a detailed trip itinerary in writing with a respons ible person * THESE ITEMS SHOULD BE CARRIED AT ALL TIMES, EVEN WHEN DAY HIKING, AS AN UNEXPECTED EMERGENCY COULD KEEP YOU OVERNIGHT. THE BACKPACК СНEAT SHEЕТ CAMPMOR Shop all packs at http://www.campmor.com/gear/packs. shtml SOURCE: Campmor Experts Jim Recca, Steve Caldwel11, and Lenny Bussanich with a combined 60 plus years of backpacking knowledge. IEAV> HEAV>