How to Properly Pack a Backpack

Two things first.

One, if you're one of those over-confident jack***es out there who think they can do anything, you probably think you already know how to pack a backpack - and you would be wrong. I pity the fool who thinks he already knows everything.

Two, militaries around the world teach the proper way to pack a backpack - and it is extremely detailed. So pay attention because what you are about to learn could even save a life.

Some of the things you need to take into consideration are:

How to properly fit your pack.

Waterproofing your pack.

Weight Distribution.

Cummerbund (hip) strap.

Efficient use of space.

Logical packing strategy.

Packing Logistics.

"Negligent" Weight.

Necessities vs avoiding excess "stuff".

Remembering the essentials - map, compass, GPS, food, water, knife, multi-tool, etc.

Placement of tools / weapons in readily available locations - don't store something you might need in an hurry at the bottom of the pack.

And also...

How to put on a pack safely.

How to safely remove a pack on the trail.


And lastly, how you pack a backpack for a woman differs slightly from how to pack a backpack for a man.

Four Great Off The Grid Documentaries

Below are four awesome videos on various Off The Grid topics.

First up is Les Stroud (Survivorman) who takes us through the process of building an off the grid home.

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Next up we have a documentary on "American Nomads" from the USA's south west - people who have given up living in homes and chosen a nomadic lifestyle.

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This next film focuses more about economics - and how there is a growing trend of people who are rejecting capitalism and starting their own off the grid communities that are based on locally grown food, locally made products and homes they build themselves.

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This last one is about a man surviving in northern Canada without anyone else around. He starts off with a canoe, all of his equipment and tools (he really brought a lot...) and has to survive alone for 3 months.

Real Life Nomads in North America

What if you could give up your current life and start a new one?

Start completely fresh in a place where instead of going to the supermarket you gather, fish and hunt for your food?

Some people are deciding to leave it all behind - technology, indoor plumbing, toilet paper... Whatever their reasons they have chosen to avoid modern society in favour of living in the natural world as our ancient ancestors did - by becoming nomads.

So long electronic devices. So long rat race. So long consumerism. So long evil corporations trying to rape the planet.

Instead these people are choosing to live a more 'down to earth' existence, getting in touch with mother earth and learning forgotten ways that were perfected by mankind's ancestors.

One such group is a traveling 'tribe' of young wilderness seekers who have donned leather clothes of their own making, bows and arrows, and look like they could have walked off a movie set about early man.

Now to be fair they haven't completely abandoned civilization. They still sometimes trade / sell their finds / creations for money and use those funds to buy needed supplies, especially tools, medicine and on rare occasions food items (see the photo below of the group in a grocery store).

See the video below to learn more.