Many campers and hikers pack all they require into a rucksack for their trip, thousands of people do it all the time and today there are different sizes and styles to suit everybody's needs.
When you are choosing a rucksack you need to think about the size, but also consider what kind of camper are you. Would you really want to put every possession of yours into your rucksack for your holiday? I am sure you wouldn't fancy searching through your backpack every time you want to get a drink or a light jacket.
Packing a rucksack is a certain science. You essentially want to get all the heavy items as close to the spine and as high as possible. It is critical that you have an even weight distribution, if you don't you could and up easily tiring or worse doing yourself an injury.
Think about the order which you wish to unpack. For example the flysheet should be on top of the tent and they should then be on top of the sleeping bag. Then make sure that your clothes and bedding are protected against damp and rain. A tip I would suggest is to cover your clothes in a bin liner, this is an excellent cheap and no frills way of keeping your gear dry.
The pockets on the outside of the pack should contain your stove and fuel; this is to stop any leakages in your bag. Once you have established a good routine for yourself in packing your backpack then try and stick to it and make it a habit. If need be if you forget write in down, believe me this makes all the difference.
Any food and drink should be kept separately from your main rucksack, this is to avoid any dampness and contamination. This is where the daysack comes in. use the daysack as your general bag for items which you are going to need easily accessible. Think of it as a lady's handbag, I am sure you know where I am coming from here. Make sure you have sun lotion, glasses, phone etc all the essential items that you will need to get too easily.
I would also suggest that you encourage your children to carry their own gear. This is a great way of giving them some responsibility and it makes them feel part of the camping party. You know what its like when you pack to go on a camping trip, your children always want to bring too much stuff, this way with their own bag it limits them and they are less likely to want to bring along big cumbersome toys if they have to carry it on their own.
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