Packing properly will allow the chest and waist straps to bear more of the load, and for the weight to sit on top of your shoulders, rather than pull straps down into them. It will also make it easier to turn and keep your feet as maneuverable as possible. Keep the weight toward the back of the pack, resting against your frame. Some rucksacks have openings on the bottom that allow you to unzip and remove items quickly and easily from the base of the sack. These big backcountry-style rucksacks can hold a tremendous amount of weight, meaning that you'll need to play with weight distribution a little more carefully than with a smaller pack that sits higher on your frame. Set your rucksack upright while you pack the bag and keep weight dispersed over both sides evenly. Follow the same pattern with other items as they are placed in each compartment, taking care to balance the weight from left to right. Doing so helps to reduce fatigue and stress by distributing the load evenly between the shoulders. If you have an internal frame or frameless rucksack, place the flattest items against the panel that lies against your back. Avoid placing soft or bulky items here, since they can deform the shape of the bag, reducing the structural integrity. When you're hoofing around, this can cause uncomfortable bumps or protrusions that will irritate your back. Pack your clothes last, unless they make up the most substantial amount of material in your bag. Clothes are the easiest items to use as gap-fillers and jam into the remaining cracks. Plus, you can always get away with having one less pair of gym shorts in an emergency. Roll clothing tightly rather than folding it. This will allow the clothes to take up less room while also reducing wrinkles from crushing. Make sure that only enough clothing for the excursion is taken along, as this will help to preserve room for other essentials. This is especially important if hiking or biking for long distances. Opinions vary on how much weight is considered reasonable, although most rucksacks should be less than half of your total body weight at the maximum. As a last resort, it's common to have some important items easily accessible by hanging them off the rucksack from carabiners. This helps to maximize the holding volume of the bag by hooking things onto it, as well as allowing you to quickly grab a hold of a bottle of water, your keys, a knife, or other essentials. Most rucksacks are equipped with straps along the bottom that make it possible to secure bedrolls vertically, helping to distribute the weight and save space, as well. After everything has been packed, check to ensure that the pack sits comfortably and that you can access items without removing it when necessary. Always wear it for ten minutes minimum and walk around testing the feel of it, mimicking what you will do when wearing your rucksack.  Pay attention to where you feel the pressure of the straps, and whether or not the bag is throwing off your balance as you move. If so, you may need to reposition some of the items in the bag to distribute the weight more evenly. Casual backpack wearers such as students often leave the straps loose and let the rucksack sag low over the rear. Wearing a heavy rucksack loose and low would be miserable on a long trip, so it's important to keep the straps tight and the bag as high on your frame as possible.

Summary: Pack heavy objects in the middle and toward the back. Balance the weight evenly on both sides of the pack. Keep the back of the rucksack relatively flat. Use clothes to fill space. Keep the overall weight of the rucksack under a reasonable limit. Get some carabiners. Test it out and check the weight.


This method works well with these makeup products because they are usually oil-based. Dish soap will not harm most fabrics. Using the tissue, sheet of toilet paper, or paper towel, gently pat the stain to remove any excess makeup. Do not rub the stain as this could make the makeup spread. You can run your fingers through some water, then lightly pat the stain. You can also find a 1/2 teaspoon, then pour it over the stained area. Do not use hot water as it can cause the fabric to absorb the stain. If you are worried about how the soap may affect silk or wool, try it on a small area first before attempting to clean the stain. With your index finger, gently spread the soap so it covers the entire stained surface. A thin layer of soap on the stain is all you need. When choosing a dish soap, pick a strong grease fighting formula at your local grocery or convenience store. Use a cloth towel to gently massage the soap into the stain. Start from the outside corners and work in; rub the soap into the stain in a circular motion. A small terry cloth would work best for this step. The loops of the cloth help remove the makeup from the fabric. If this is not available, you can use a regular hand towel. To help with stubborn stains, use an old toothbrush to massage the soap into the stain instead of a cloth. This will allow the soap to do the stain-fighting without the burden of washing. Do not wait until the soap is all dry. Do not rub the stain, rather dab the area so the towel absorbs the soap and makeup. Rubbing can create friction and leave more makeup or towel pieces behind. Depending on how old the stain is, you may have to repeat these steps until you see a significant amount of makeup is removed from your clothing. The bigger the stain, the longer this process may take.

Summary: Blot the stain with a clean tissue to remove lipstick, eyeliner, or mascara from your clothing. Spritz with cold water. Apply a drop of dish soap onto the stain. Rub the soap into the stain. Allow the soap to set into the fabric for 10-15 minutes. Pat clean with a dry towel. Repeat if necessary.


Everyone has things that they enjoy doing in their spare time. Express interest in other people’s hobbies by asking about how they got into it or how they got good at something. People enjoy talking about things that they’re good at. You may even end up finding a new hobby for yourself! Be honest about what you’re interested in. If you know that you absolutely hate dancing, don’t lie about wanting to learn a new dance routine. Everyone appreciates listening to music and watching movies. Music is a great way to connect with people through shared tastes. Movies provide a great platform to talk about a lot of different topics. If both of you enjoyed the last Star Wars movie, ask if they’d like to see the next one with you!  When people are talking about music that you’ve never heard before, ask them to show it to you. If you’ve never seen a movie that others seem to enjoy, bring up the idea of watching it together one night. If you enjoy playing cards, bring a deck along and break it out during lunch. If you love playing catch, take a football with you to camp and keep it under your arm. Other people that enjoy the same things you do will notice and ask to join you! Try to bring things that are easy to carry. If it won’t fit in your pockets or backpack, it’s probably too big to take with you.
Summary: Express interest in other people’s hobbies when they bring them up. Talk about music and movies that you enjoy. Bring things you enjoy with you to camp to find people with similar interests.