Putting on your backpack, repeated many times daily, requires a great deal of energy and not a little finesse. Lift the pack onto your hip or knee, then slowly shift or swing it onto your back.Moderate to light loads (less than 25-30 pounds).

1. Lift the pack using the shoulder strap (or the nylon loop attached to the top of the pack back on nearly all models).
2. Rest it on your hip, and put the arm on that side through the shoulder strap.>With loads of less than 25 or 30 pounds, you can then simply swing the pack onto your back.

Heavy loads (50 pounds or so).

1. Lift the pack using the shoulder strap.
2. I swing the pack onto my bent knee rather than my hip.
3. Then from a stooped position I slowly shift, rather than swing, the load onto my back.

Heavy loads make me aware of how much energy putting on a pack requires.Additional advice.

• Whenever I stop on the trail, I try to find a rock or bank to rest the pack on so I can back out of and into the harness. Such shelves are rare, though, so I usually sit down, put my arms through the shoulder straps, and then slowly stand up if I haven't the energy to heavy the pack onto my back.
• I also try to take the pack on and off less often when it's heavy; I keep items I need for the day in my fanny pack and rest the pack against something when I stop.

Backpack: Bear Country: Basics

Backpack: Bear Country: Camping & Food Security

Backpack: Bear Country: Hiking & Bear Encounters

Backpack: Desert: Basics

Backpack: Desert: Camping Considerations

Backpack: Desert: Hazards

Backpack: Desert: Hiking

Backpack: Desert: Water & Food: Dry Camping

Backpack: Desert: Water & Food: Finding & Carrying

Backpack: Desert: Water & Food: Food

Backpack: Finding Water

Backpack: Fitness

Backpack: Food & Water: Plan Meals

Backpack: Food & Water: Repackage

Backpack: Fording Rivers

Backpack: Highcountry: Basics

Backpack: Highcountry: Camping Considerations

Backpack: Highcountry: Hazards

Backpack: Highcountry: Hiking on Scree & Talus

Backpack: In Camp: Bathing

Backpack: In Camp: Campfire: Basics

Backpack: In Camp: Campfire: in the Rain

Backpack: In Camp: Campfire: Low-Impact Fires

Backpack: In Camp: Cooking/Camp Kitchen

Backpack: In Camp: Food Storage

Backpack: In Camp: Ideal Campsite

Backpack: In Camp: Making Camp in Adverse Conditions

Backpack: In Camp: Managing Human Waste

Backpack: In Camp: Sleeping Warm

Backpack: In Camp: Tent or Tarp?

Backpack: In Camp: Washing Dishes

Backpack: In Camp: Women's Sanitation Concerns

Backpack: Packing Your Pack

Backpack: Plan Your Trip

Backpack: Staying Found: Emergency Signaling

Backpack: Staying Found: How to Use a Compass

Backpack: Staying Found: Why Carry a Compass?

Backpack: Treating Water

Backpack: What to Bring: Clothes