how can you tell when a pack is too full?

Generally, the pack is too heavy when you are laying on the ground and unable to get up. It is certainly too light when you find yourself in a situation without the proper materials or supplies to deal with it. There is a happy medium somewhere, but I don't know of any hard and fast rule to get you there. Live, learn and adjust accordingly.

n2s

 

That reminds me of the How Many Knives Can Dexter Ewing Fit In His Vest Contest

 

Seriously, I don't understand what you're asking. You say it's not straining the zippers and seams and it's not too heavy for you -- why are you asking if it's overloaded?

 

With regards to the pack:
- It's too full when you can't easily access and repack the stuff you need.
- It's too heavy when the suspension system can't take the weight. The weight should rest on your hips and the pack should hug your back. There shouldn't be much sagging and random flapping about.

With regards to the person carrying the pack
- It should be comfortable to carry for extended periods of time. Only you can decide that.
- People have been known to carry anywhere from 1% to 70% of their body weight in gear on hikes. 20-30% is considered heavy. 5-10% is considered light. Over 70% is considered a pain in the butt.

 

its too full when you have to start carrying more to compensate for how slow you are moving.

 

A 30 liter (1800 cu in) pack weighing 30 lbs for 3 days including daily water is very acceptable indeed
Clearly you are very organized to keep it in that size pack
I would suggest the pack might be too small, not too full
My personal preference is for a larger volume pack 40 lt / 2400 cu in) to easily get every thing in the pack including jackets that would come on and off

The weight is well within the bounds for an average fit person.
In England, as kids we trained on 25 lbs packs for a three day trip in the Welsh mountains for the Duke of Edinburgh Award

I have a kit list for the different seasons
Well worked out and honed
I do not want to leave gear out
So I have different packs for different trips
Clearly 40 liters is too small for the winter, and 75 liter to big for the summer

So ask your carry needs according to your very wide experience , then you know the pack size

 

for me, it's 'too full' when you realize on the return home, that half of the stuff never was used, or considered.

 

I would say "too full" occurs when you are unable to zip up the pack and/or unable to walk because it is so heavy.

 

Sideways pretty much nailed it. Any pack is miserable to use if you are so crammed in that you can't get at anything. It is also miserable if you have so little that things are not secure and the pack swings loosely. As already noted, get the right size for the need. Use the right tool for the job, as any craftsman will tell you.

As scouts we always used the rule that you must be able to put your hand easily into the pack and get something in or out.

If you have to force any straps or fasteners it is too full.

Cheers, Ed

 

​

 

yes it was
that was 45 years ago

 

Is a pack not full enough until it hurts?

 

For me it's walking. How far can I walk before I want to set down. In the old days when I overfilled my pack I could tell this when I was really panting, nowdays I've pared down my stuff and it's more that If I can't walk more than a mile or two before I become really aware of the weight of my pack on my shoulders and I'm wanting to rest my shoulders.

 

My take is close kin to hollowdweller's.....

Put on the pack and walk for half a mile. Then pick up the pace, preferably uphill. At 1 mile, your mind will automatically tell you "Self, you should have left some of this junk at home." Your mind's eye will envision precisely what items in your pack are too heavy, or unneeded or both.

 

I don't look at it from the standpoint of the pack.

I look at it from the standpoint of a packing list. I'm mentally a tad nervous. I keep packing lists. I keep them on my iDevice and go over them and over them. And over them. I have 3: winter, summer and fall/spring. I use them to pack. I go over them after each trip. For me, the question is, what do I take? Each bit of kit is on the block. Each bit could be replaced.

I've got several packs that I choose from. In general, I prefer a larger pack with a smaller load than a small pack that is over stuffed. If it stuff doesn't fit, I use a larger pack.

But I don't think about it by asking, is this pack too full. I ask, do I have the right stuff on my list.