How To Load a Backpack

By correctly loading your backpack you will find that you expend less energy whilst carrying it compared to one which is unbalanced. Plus you will know that it is also much more comfortable to carry also.

There are a number of different ways in which a person can load their backpack and below we provide some guidelines which will help to ensure that you pack yours correctly. By doing this not only will it be more comfortable when being carried but the likely of any injury occurring during the time it is being carried is greatly decreased.

Step One
You should assemble everything that you will be putting into your backpack including food, water, clothing and any other equipment that you require.

Step Two
Place all of the heavy items as close to your back as possible and do not stuff them into the bottom. Also any light items or clothes that you have should be placed towards the outsides of pack.

Step Three
All items like your tent or sleeping bag should be strapped to the outside. Today there are backpacks such as the Osprey Atmos 65 which now come with additional bungee loops and a place at the base of the pack where the sleeping bag can be packed away into. Also having these loops allows you to attach bungee straps to them which then means that the tent can be securely fastened to the pack and this will help to ensure that all weight you are carrying is evenly distributed between the shoulder straps and the hip belt.

Step Four
Always ensure that you have a garbage bag within your pack especially if you know the weather is going to be inclement whilst away on your trip. Use this as a liner within your pack and place all items such as your clothes that you want to ensure are kept dry at all times.

Step Five
Use one outside pocket of your pack that you can easily reach where you want to put your snacks, water and trash. Today many backpacks now come with additional pockets on the hip belt where items such as snacks etc. can be placed. Also a lot of backpacks now allow the user to have a water (fluid) reservoir which they can place within it and which then provides them with a continuous supply of water and leaves their hands free.

Step Six
Place all essential items such as maps, books, flashlight, sun cream and also batteries in the pocket that allows you to gain easy access to them without actually having to stop. Again such backpacks as the Osprey Atmos 65 now provide the wearer with additional pockets on the hip belt where these particular items can be kept and which they can easily get to at any time during the trip.

By keeping these steps in mind when it comes to loading up your backpack will ensure that everything evenly distributed and so much more comfortable to carry. Plus the chances of any injuries being caused through the backpack being loaded incorrectly and placing pressure on certain parts of the body will be greatly reduced.

To find out why the Osprey Atmos 65 Backpack is such a great backpack visit Osprey Atmos 65 Reviewed at www.ospreyatmos65review.com

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Christmas PS3 Blues

Patience is a virtue, and you're going to have to be pretty virtuous if you're one of the millions of UK PlayStation Fans awaiting the arrival of the PS3. As if it wasn't bad enough we had to rewrite our letters to Santa this year (because it now won't hit our shelves until March), we're also all going to be green with envy as the web fills up with the usual reviews, cheats, and walkthroughs etc from sites in the States where they will get their hands on the console from November 17th.

Personally, my patience (lost my virtue a long time ago) ran out already, and my craving for HD gaming led me to the xbox 360. I suspect many others will do the same this Christmas and I don't blame you. To not release the most hyped console of all time for Christmas has got to be the craziest decision Sony has made (apart from the choice of software packed with their MP3 Walkman - but don't get me started on that one). It can't even be based on format because the PS3 will be region free, and you can play any PS3 game on it no matter what part of the world you bought it from.

If you do decide to cut your losses and go for the xbox 360 you won't be disappointed, I certainly haven't been. But you should be aware that in their hurry to steal the HD gaming market, microsoft left a couple of jobs as 'work in progress'. Although the list is growing, the xbox 360 still only plays a handful of original xbox games. If you're starting afresh that?s fine, but if you've got a hefty back-catalogue of xbox titles you were planning to play then that?s a real bummer. Backwards compatibility was a target that simply wasn't reached in time for release and early release was obviously of greater importance to microsoft than it appears to be for Sony.

However, if you're a PlayStation purist, or simply do not fancy the xbox 360 or the nintendo Wii, then your virtue will be well rewarded. Although I find it difficult to understand some of Sony's business decisions, I can fully understand the hype surrounding the PS3. It will be without doubt the most powerful domestic games console available, boasting the 'Cell' processor, twelve times faster than processors found in top range PC's. The PS3 will also offer 'Blue-ray' technology which Sony are heavily promoting to take over from dvd, as well as offering free 'out of the box' online gaming (broadband connection required).

All of this extra 'oomph' inevitably comes at a cost, and you should expect to pay more for the prestige of owning such a machine. You'll also need to keep an eye on game prices too from November and compare them to its rivals, afterall there is no point owning the thing if you have to rob a bank every time you want something to play on it. On the plus side it will play any ps2 or PS1 titles you have tucked away.

Whatever you decide, have a happy Christmas, and keep on gaming !

Rob O'Neill is owner of console Fun, the one stop shop for information on video games consoles including xbox, xbox 360, PS1, ps2, PS3, PSP, nintendo GameCube, Wii, and DS.

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