This is simple! Firstly, ensure you lay your tent flat to find out if it is wet before packing it into your backpack. If your tent is wet, you must allow it to totally dry. You will discover that if your tent is too weight, that is a needless additional weight to your backpack making other stuff around it soggy which may be responsible for mold and mildew.
1. Before starting anything, remove the poles of the tent that came with the whole tent and keep in the bag they came in. You can now lay the tent flat on the floor and ensure no moisture is present. Gently place the bag that carries the pole at the bottom of the tent flattened-out earlier.
2. Begin to roll the tent alongside the poles into the smallest imaginable size, and ensure they both align. Make sure you do not forget that these two items should be rolled out into a straight line. If you discover that the alignment is not near perfection, just unroll and start afresh. If your tent is being badly rolled, it will make you feel uncomfortable as you move. The function of the poles present in between the tent is to provide stability and firmness.
3. It is better if your tent is tightly rolled. When your tent is loosely packed, it will definitely take more space. There is a very high tendency of it becoming loose and unfolding inside your backpack, causing other equipment to become twisted which may lead to damage to the tent or your equipment.
4. If there is any additional bag that came alongside the tent, put the already rolled tent into it and tighten very well. Now that you have a compact tent all set to be packed in, move on to the next phase which is your backpack.
5. Make a count of all items you will be taking along with you and put the heavy ones separately. You will place these ones at the bottom of the backpack in order for the weight to be distributed uniformly between your shoulder, your spine, and the upper part of your hips. Take note that your backpack should not be more than 30% of your body weight.
6. In case you own a sleeping bag, always ensure it is being set at the bottom of your backpack. Simply because it will be the last item you will be needing anytime you are camp out. Another reason is known to some hikers is because it is quite weighty (although manufacturers of this sleeping bag have been able to have breakthroughs in the production of lighter ones which are now available). You must also ensure that the sleeping bag should be well compacted before keeping it inside the backpack. Setting it at the base also ensures that you have enough space for the remaining gears. Also, try as much as possible to ensure it is very dry before packing it inside the backpack.
7. Gently put the packed tent above the sleeping bag. Preferably, you should place it upright at the angle of the backpack. However, if you discovered it is occupying more space, you can as well position it horizontally, greatly dependent on other gear. Also, ensure you position it in the middle of your backpack for convenience. Put other items like a rolled-up pair of jeans or some T-shirt in order to prevent it from wobbling. This will, however, go long way in ensuring that the weight is uniformly distributed.
How To Attach A Tent To A Backpack
There is a high possibility that you might have seen hikers and travelers moving around with cumbersome-looking backpacks. Most times the tents and the sleeping bags are responsible for this as they lug around, with backpacks that have their frame outward. I am not saying you cannot affix tents to a backpack with its frame inward, but the backpack that has its frame externally is particularly being designed to convey these items on the outside.
1. Although some benefit is attached when you carry your tent on the outside, also, without doubt, there are some disadvantages doing so. One of the main shortcomings of conveying a tent on the outside, particularly if you are hiking in the forest is that the tent may get ripped on a tree branch which might get it destroyed. The tent might also come in contact with other piercing surfaces that can damage it. There is also a high possibility that it might fall off when not appropriately safe.
2. One major benefit of putting tents on the outside is that it creates more space for you to keep your gears. Another benefit of doing this is that it will go long way to prevent the straining of your back.
3. Backpacks that come with an external frame are being provided with loops and straps in order to safeguard the tent in place, generally at the base of the backpack. Anytime you are putting the tent on the external frame, you must be extremely cautious in order to tighten it properly.
4. Always ensure that the straps particularly are being secured before affixing the tent. Also, these straps also serve as compression straps which will ensure that your tent is well packaged in a neat little bundle.
5. You will discover that there are loops on both sides of an outward backpack. However, these loops are threaded via the two ends, in a situation whereby your straps get loose which will prevent your tent from falling off the backpack completely. You will only be required to put a tight knot at the bottom to keep it in place.
6. While the tent is packed at the bottom of the backpack this way (against packing it at the top), you will find that your movement is not restricted and that you can walk about freely, without any hassles.
7. By now you should be fully prepared for your trip!
Best Backpack You Should Look Out For
1. Best ultralight backpack for weight, durability & waterproofing: Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest 2400 and 3400
2. Best overall backpack for carrying 35+ pounds:
Osprey Atmos 65 AG (men’s sizes)and
Aura AG 65 (women’s sizes)3. Most comfortable ultralight backpack: Gossamer Gear Gorilla 40 and Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60
4. Best backpack with adjustable sizing:
Deuter Aircontact Lite (view women’s sizes)5. Best budget backpack: Gregory Optic 48 (men’s sizes) and
Octal 45 (women’s sizes)6. Affordable lightweight backpack that’s highly customizable: REI Co-op Flash 55 (view women’s sizes)
7. Truly ultralight backpack with excellent back ventilation: ZPacks Arc Blast
8. Most comfortable lightweight backpack:
Osprey Exos 48 (men’s sizes)and
Eja 48 (women’s sizes)9. Lightweight & spacious backpack with a durable design: Ultralight Adventure Equipment Circuit
10. Comfy midweight backpack that transfers weight to hips well:
Gregory Paragon 58 (men’s sizes)and
Maven 55 (women’s sizes)11. Affordable backpack with an adjustable hip belt:
Granite Gear Crown2 (view women’s sizes)12. Large-capacity backpack with a built-in daypack:
Osprey Aether AG 70 (men’s sizes)and
Ariel AG 65 (women’s sizes)How Heavy Should Your Backpacking Pack Be?
When determining your pack weight, follow these very general guidelines:
1. Always ensure that your loaded backpack’s weight is not more than 20 percent of your body mass. For instance, if your weight is 50 kilograms, which means your pack should not be more than 10 kilograms for backpacking.
2. Also, know that a loaded day hiking pack must not exceed 10 percent of your body mass. For instance, if your weight is 50 kilograms, which means your pack should not be more than 5 kilograms for hiking.
Following factors play a big part in the overall weight of your pack:
1. Trip Duration: Take note that in any long trip you participate, more food, water, and fuel are highly required as this will definitely add weight to your pack. Even on a multiday journey, I have seen individuals that carry pack close to 20 percent of their body mass, however, you have to be a bit more considerate about the gears and clothing you intend to covey to recompense for all that added gears.
2. Season/Weather: if it happens that you must go out in cold temperatures, you will definitely be in need of warmer, clothing that is heavier.
3. Personal Preference: it is not new anymore that some individuals cherish comfort at camp and are fully ready to concur with an inherent mass that is attached o hauling in luxuries such as a hammock, extra clothes, and a thick, cushy sleeping pad. Some people are however satisfied with putting on the same clothing for days and sleeping on a lightweight pad.
In conclusion, this article has taught you ways of packing a tent in a backpack either by carrying it internally or externally. Before you set out for any journey, engage in a useful practice by packing the tent at home in order for you to know the disadvantages and benefits of performing both. This greatly depends on the backpack you will be utilizing. It may not be necessary at times to carry bulky gears but be very useful when on a hiking trip.
Last update on 2023-02-13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
