How you pack your rucksack affects two things: whether you have what you need when you need it, and how the pack feels to carry over a full day. A poorly packed rucksack that pulls backward or requires unpacking to reach an item you need every hour is an ongoing irritation. Getting the system right takes five minutes and is worth doing before every walk.

What to Carry on a UK Day Hike

Before thinking about how to pack, get the contents right. The following covers the essentials for a day walk in UK upland conditions:

Navigation: - OS paper map of the area (waterproofed in a map case or zip-lock bag) - Compass - Phone with route downloaded offline (as backup, not primary)

Clothing: - Full waterproofs (jacket and trousers, even if forecast is good) - Spare mid-layer (fleece or synthetic jacket) - Hat and gloves (year-round for upland routes in the UK)

Food and water: - Water: minimum 1.5L, more in warm weather or on longer routes - Packed lunch - Emergency rations: something high-calorie you do not plan to eat unless needed

Safety and first aid: - First aid kit (plasters, blister kit, bandage, antiseptic wipes, pain relief) - Emergency bivvy or survival bag - Headtorch with spare batteries - Whistle

Sundry: - Sunscreen (relevant more than you might expect in upland conditions) - Sunglasses - Fully charged phone

How to Pack It

The order in which things go in the pack matters.

Bottom of the Pack

Put the items you are least likely to need mid-walk at the bottom. This is typically: - Emergency bivvy or survival bag - Spare socks or spare dry clothing - Any camp kit if it is an overnight walk

These items sit below everything else and stay there unless something goes wrong.

Against Your Back (Main Compartment)

Heavy items should sit close to your back and as high as comfortably possible. This is where the weight distribution matters most.

  • Water reservoir or water bottles (if using a hydration system, the reservoir fits in the dedicated sleeve against the back panel)
  • Food (heaviest items like a packed lunch or water bottles)
  • Heavy spare layers

Keeping weight close to your centre of gravity reduces strain over a long day.

Top of Main Compartment

The items you are most likely to access during the day, without needing to unpack: - Waterproofs (you will reach these first if conditions change) - Mid-layer - First aid kit

These need to be accessible without dismantling your pack.

Top Lid or Hip Belt Pocket

Keep frequently accessed small items here: - Snacks - Phone - Map and compass - Sunscreen - Lip salve

If your pack has a hip belt pocket, use it for things you want without stopping, like snacks and your phone.

Keeping Your Kit Dry

Do not rely on your rucksack alone to keep your kit dry.

Use a pack liner (a dry bag or a heavy-duty bin bag) inside the main compartment. This ensures your dry clothing stays dry regardless of rain or pack submersion at a river crossing.

Keep anything that must stay dry in a separate zip-lock or dry bag inside the liner. Electronics, paper map, and any emergency items benefit from this extra layer.

Before You Leave

Do a quick check before you close the pack:

  • Is your waterproof jacket accessible at the top?
  • Is your map and compass in the lid or hip pocket?
  • Do you have enough water?
  • Is the emergency kit present?

It takes 30 seconds and prevents the most common packing failures. The middle of a sudden downpour halfway up a hill is not the time to find out your waterproofs are at the bottom of the pack.