Nothing ruins a trip faster than a poorly packed pack. And if you're like me, you want to be prepared for every possible situation. Think it's impossible to pack with frugality in mind? Think again.

• Pack to save space. If you're taking extra clothes (and we know you are), use a waterproof compression sack. It'll help you stuff as much in as you need with taking up valuable real estate.

• Pack for hydration. To save space, I store my extra water in a Platypus. It's a collapsible water bottle made of tough, durable plastic that rolls up when empty. Because it's not solid plastic, it can mold itself to other items when stuffed in your pack.

• Pack for hunger. I don't like being hungry when I'm hiking, and I don't know anyone who does. But I'm also not a mule and can't carry stores of cans on my back. Here's what I pack to save space and weight:

1. Dried soup packets & pasta
2. Pesto sauce (full on flavor but tiny in weight compared to pasta sauce)
3. Dried fruit (much lighter and less bulky than fresh fruit)
4. Trail mix filled with nuts, raisins and chocolate (each handful is energy-packed and so tasty)
5. Tea and hot chocolate

I always used zippered plastic bags rather than hard plastic containers because they store better and they also pull double duty as garbage containers.

Read more backpacking tips:

• Fitting Your Backpack 
• Packing To Stay Dry

Kim Bowerman,
Nomadik Personal Fitness Expert