It’s the bane of hikers everywhere—you’re well into your outdoor adventure when you realize you’ve overloaded your pack, and back pain strikes. The challenge is twofold: knowing the proper weight for your ballast and how to maximize content without adding extra pounds. According to Kristin Hostetter of backpacker.com, never carry more than 33 percent of your body weight. Most seasoned experts recommend getting that number down to 25 percent if you can. Backpacker.net offers the following tips:

•Get a 3-pound pack, a 3-pound tent and a 2-pound sleeping bag.

•Get titanium pots, pans and other hiking-related gear. It’s lighter than most other metals.

•Pack dental floss—it can be used for several purposes, including emergency thread for gear repair.

•Only carry the water you need.

•Everything needs to be in proper proportions. This includes sunscreen, medicine, vitamins, toilet paper and condiments.

•Instead of packing a pillow, use packed-up clothes.

•Instead of soap and scouring pads, use your fingernails and dirt or moss to help scrub your pans.

•Use candle or lamp oil instead of batteries, which add up in weight very quickly.