The art of packing a backpack efficiently is a skill that can make or break your outdoor adventures. While many focus on the gear itself, Dave Morrow, a wilderness photographer, takes a different approach. His seven-step method, honed over 22,000 miles, emphasizes the importance of organization and accessibility. By following these steps, you can ensure that your backpack is not just functional but also energy-efficient, allowing you to focus on the journey ahead.
The Main Compartment Conundrum
One of the key insights Morrow shares is the idea that opening the main compartment of your backpack during the day can be counterproductive. Every zipper you fumble with and every sack you dig through burns energy that could be better spent covering ground. This realization led him to develop his unique packing system.
Hyperlite Mountain Gear: A System in Harmony
Morrow's preferred choice for packing is the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Unbound 55. This pack behaves like a single, nearly waterproof stuff sack with no interior clutter. Inside, he uses a trash compactor bag as a liner, a clever trick that keeps his down dry without adding unnecessary weight. By skipping stuff sacks, he ensures that his gear is packed efficiently and securely.
Food Bag Placement: Center of Gravity
Morrow's food bag rides straight up the center of the pack, aligned with his spine. This placement is intentional, as he wants to maintain uniform density across the pack. By doing so, no air pocket tilts his weight, and he doesn't have to compensate with his legs and core. This simple adjustment can significantly reduce fatigue during long days on the trail.
Tent Placement: Ready for Any Weather
The tent goes on top of the pack, ready to grab in a downpour before any dry gear gets exposed. Morrow explains his method for handling a soaked tent when the rain won't quit, demonstrating his practical approach to outdoor living. This placement ensures that your shelter is always within reach, providing peace of mind in unpredictable weather conditions.
Outside Pocket: Day's Essentials at Your Fingertips
The outside of the pack is where Morrow keeps the day's food in a stretchy exterior pocket, allowing him to eat without opening the main compartment. He also offsets his water bottle weight against his camera on the opposite side, ensuring a balanced load. This strategic placement of essentials keeps them easily accessible, saving time and effort.
Essentials Pod: Ziploc to the Rescue
Morrow's small essentials, from toothbrush to camp layers, live in a single Ziploc pod near the top of the pack. This centralized storage prevents items from scattering across a dozen little pockets, keeping your pack organized and efficient. It's a simple yet effective solution that every backpacker should consider.
Hydration Bladder Debate
Morrow also lays out a strong case against hydration bladders, emphasizing that the amount of water you actually end up hauling is the determining factor. This perspective highlights the importance of tailoring your packing system to your specific needs, rather than adhering to conventional wisdom.
The Larger Principle: System Over Specs
The core of Morrow's method connects to a broader shift in the backpacking world. Ultralight thinking has evolved from simply shaving grams off spec sheets to treating the pack as a system where placement, access order, and balance all contribute to less fatigue. His habit of moving items based on the day's weather is a repeatable decision framework that anyone can adopt, regardless of brand. By picking fixed homes for your gear and keeping only the day's needs accessible, you can optimize your packing system for any pack you already own.
In conclusion, Dave Morrow's seven-step method offers a refreshing perspective on backpack packing. By focusing on organization, accessibility, and balance, you can transform your backpack into a well-oiled machine, ensuring that your outdoor adventures are both efficient and enjoyable.
