Backpacking Packing Guide: NOLS Tips for Ultralight Efficiency

When you're miles from the trailhead with everything you need strapped to your back, every cubic inch matters. The difference between a well-packed bag and a chaotic jumble of gear can mean the difference between success and an early retreat. After years of testing backpacking packing systems in everything from alpine environments to multi-day expeditions, we've learned that effective backpack organization isn't just about fitting everything in, it's about creating a balanced, accessible system that works as hard as you do.

This comprehensive backpacking packing guide shares proven packing tips from NOLS instructors for ultralight packing success.

What is The NOLS Method: ABCDE Framework

The National Outdoor Leadership School has refined backpacking packing into a science with their proven ABCDE backpack organization system. These aren't just theoretical packing tips but field-tested backpacking tips earned through decades of wilderness instruction.

Accessible: Position gear based on when you'll need it. Items for the trail stay near the top; camp-only gear goes to the bottom. Your rain jacket shouldn't be buried under your sleeping bag when storm clouds roll in.

Balance: Keep dense, heavy items close to your spine and centered in the pack. This prevents the dreaded pack wobble that turns technical terrain into an exhausting wrestling match with your load.

Compression: Eliminate dead air space. Every void in your pack is wasted carrying capacity and compromises stability.

Dry: Use a pack liner, even a simple trash bag works, to create a waterproof barrier for critical gear. Wet gear is heavy gear, and heavy gear slows you down.

Everything: The main compartment should hold virtually everything. External attachments catch on branches, shift your center of gravity, and create noise that disrupts the wilderness experience.

Backpacking Packing Fundamentals: The ABCDE System in Action

Start with your sleeping system at the bottom. Compress your sleeping bag ruthlessly as it's the bulkiest item in your pack but won't be needed until camp. Place fuel bottles outside your pack liner to contain potential leaks, protecting food and clothing from contamination.

Next, create your load-bearing core. Heavy items like stoves, cookware, and water should sit against your back panel, roughly between your shoulder blades and lower back. Fill hollow items like pots with smaller gear and remember: wasted space inside a pot is wasted space in your pack.

Strategic Layering and Access

Mastering backpack organization means understanding layering. These packing tips ensure your backpacking packing system works under pressure.

The middle section accommodates your clothing system and shelter components. Bury items you won't need until evening: base layers, camp shoes, extra insulation. But keep your active layer pieces such as rain gear, wind shell, or a lightweight puffy accessible near the top.

Your pack's "brain" or top pocket becomes mission control for frequently accessed items: navigation tools, snacks, first aid, headlamp, and sun protection. Think of it as your dashboard with everything you need for trail decisions and comfort adjustments.

Ultralight Packing Strategy: Revolutionizing Backcountry Nutrition

Traditional backpacking nutrition presents a fundamental trade-off: convenient snacks that lack complete nutrition, or substantial meals that require time, fuel, and space to prepare. This is where modern nutrition changes the game.

RecPak represents a breakthrough in backcountry meals and packing efficiency as a 700-calorie meal that eliminates the space, weight, and preparation time of traditional options. Designed by sports nutritionists specifically for endurance activities, each pouch provides balanced macro and micronutrients in a form factor that fits in your pocket. Simply add water and drink on the move.

Unlike freeze-dried meals that demand stop-and-cook time plus cleanup, or energy bars that provide quick calories but incomplete nutrition, RecPak delivers meal-level sustenance with snack-level convenience. The liquid format is easier on your digestive system during exertion and simultaneously addresses hydration needs which are critical factors often overlooked in traditional backpacking nutrition planning.

For weight-conscious packers, RecPak's revolutionary flexible packaging saves significant space compared to traditional meal options while providing superior nutrition density. This translates to more room for safety gear, additional clothing layers, or simply a lighter overall load.

Pro Tips for Backpackers

Joy Seward, RecPak co-founder, NOLS instructor, and Alaska guide, shares three game-changing backpacking packing insights and ultralight packing strategies from years of expedition experience:

"Paws, Not Claws": "I used to say 'paws, not claws' when packing gear into a backpack because how you shove things in really matters. To fill the space around harder objects, I use my hands with fingers closed, like paws, to push soft items into dead space and make the pack more efficient."

The Multi-Purpose Envelope: "I used to grab a plastic shipping envelope from the post office and use it for everything. It doubled as my pillow (stuffed with old clothes) and, more importantly, helped waterproof my gear."

Know Your Load: Based on years of guiding experience, Joy emphasizes understanding your pack's behavior before you need it most. "Practice with your fully loaded pack on local trails. Learn how it feels on steep terrain, how the weight shifts, and where you can access critical gear without unpacking everything."

Advanced Packing Considerations

External gear should be limited to your sleeping pad, everything else creates snag hazards and affects balance. Use compression straps to eliminate dead air and create a solid, stable load. The goal is a pack that feels like an extension of your body, not a burden fighting your every move.

Consider the sequence of your day when layering gear. That extra insulation layer might seem accessible in the morning, but if it's buried under lunch and navigation gear, you'll be unpacking half your load when temperatures drop unexpectedly.

The Bottom Line

Efficient backpacking packing isn't about cramming the most gear into the smallest space but it's about creating backpack organization systems that serve your mission. Whether you're attempting a technical summit or completing a multi-day traverse, your pack should enhance your capabilities, not limit them.

The mountains will test every system you bring. Make sure your packing strategy can meet that challenge head-on, keeping you fueled, organized, and focused on what matters most: the experience waiting beyond the next ridge.