Ever noticed how much energy you waste when your pack’s not balanced right? I’ve got a couple of tweaks that could cut the load by a few pounds.

First off, keep the bulk in the middle – put the heavier stuff over the belt buckle so it sits high on the hips. Next, make sure the shoulder straps are snug, but not so tight that they dig into the shoulders; I’ve found a slightly looser fit actually helps the weight shift with the gait. Finally, tuck any loose gear into the side pockets so it doesn’t sway. I’ll do the heavy lifting if you want to see it in action, but you can figure it out from there.