Packing and Carrying Your Rucksack [Video]

Mission-Ready Packing Part II

In part I of this series we examined the types of packs and how to select the right one for your time in the field. Now let’s get our gear packed up and loaded on our bodies.

Packing your rucksack isn't just about tossing in your gear and hoping for the best—it's an art and a science, rooted in the principles of efficiency, accessibility, balance, and comfort. Our guide, "How to Pack Your Rucksack," is engineered for those who understand that every item in their pack is a piece of their survival puzzle. Our objective is to strategically load our pack for optimal maneuverability, quick access, and sustained endurance.

Let's get down to brass tacks. We'll cover the groundwork of packing a rucksack with a focus on smart, battle-tested methods that prioritize not only what you carry but how you carry it. We’ll look at how to put the pack on correctly as well. I’ve provided a video for visual demonstration of these principles.

Section 1: Understand Your Rucksack

In the field, your rucksack isn't just a bag—it's your mobile base of operations. Choosing the right one and understanding its capabilities are crucial for any Scout looking to be mission-ready. It is vital to understand the different sizes, compartments and pockets and materials that are available and applicable for your purposes. If you haven’t already, see our complete guide on rucksacks for more detailed information on this topic.

Section 2: Your Pack is Your CAR

"CAR" isn't just a vehicle that gets you from point A to B; in this context, it's the vehicle for a well-organized rucksack, ensuring you're always mission-ready. This refers to the three-layer system of organizing your stuff.