Gather everything you want to pack in the bag and spread it out in front of you; since you will get the best results if you plan the way you pack, rather than shoving things in the bag as you find them, you want to be able to take stock of everything you plan to bring.
Place any large, hard and/or irregularly shaped objects in the bag, first. Fill the bag no more than half way; if there are more large objects than this, you will add them later.
Fill in the space around the large objects with smaller items, preferably soft ones. Position the smaller objects in the cracks and grooves between the large ones and the edges of the bag, filling up all available space. Place cloth items or other soft goods at the outermost layer of the bag; this will keep the bag's shape even and provide some padding for the rigid items inside while making it more comfortable to carry against your body.
Layer the bag the rest of the way up in the same fashion, packing larger items in the center of the roll and smaller and softer things around the outside edges.
Finish packing the bag with soft goods on the very top. If possible, pack a flat cloth item (such as a towel) on the very top and use it as a sort of cover for the other items, laying it flat over them, then tucking the edges down the inside edges of the bag; this will maximize space usage while protecting the other items in the bag from falling out.
Secure the rope closure. Press down gently on the top layer of soft goods (take care if there's anything fragile in the bag) to make room for the rope as you cinch it closed. Try to keep the center of the cinching rope circle from veering off to the side and close it as tightly as you can.
