If you’re not backpack reloading yet, you should be. C’mon man, it’s been 20 years already. You should be backpack reloading by now.

I’m assuming most of you know how to pull off a backpack reload. But in case there’s any greenhorns reading this post, here’s a quick explanation of backpack reloading and how to do it.

Basically in Halo: Combat Evolved, whenever you reload, you have to wait until the reload animation completes before you can fire your weapon again. The best example of this is when you have the rocket launcher. You can’t exactly fire 2 rockets, start reloading, then fire another 2 rockets before you’ve finished reloading… And even with backpack reloading you won’t be able to do that. But, what you will be able to do is use your other weapon whilst your rockets are reloading.

So, let’s say you have rockets and a pistol, and you just killed two elites with the rockets and you need to reload them. But there’s another elite chasing you down. You can double tap reload and quickly switch to your pistol so you can unload on him whilst your rockets reload in the background. As long as you hear the sound of the reload animation complete, you will have a full clip when you switch back.

If you cut a backpack reload short… For example, you empty your clip, double tap reload and switch weapons, but switch back before the sound of the reload animation completes… You won’t have a full clip waiting for you. You have to wait until the sound of the reload animation completes in order for it to be a successful backpack reload.

There’s no reason why you shouldn’t be double tapping reload every time you reload anyway. Double tapping reload just gives the option of a backpack reload. You may not use it all the time but it’s a habit you need to get used to. All the best speedrunners use backpack reloading.

Backpack reloading also works in multiplayer matchmaking. It’s not classed as cheating, it’s just a “glitch” that has been present in the game since day one. You can really kick some ass online if your backpack reloading all game. The best weapons for backpack reloading are obviously the slowest to reload, like the rocket launcher.

Now you know how to do it, go practice some backpack reloading until it just becomes second nature to you. Basically, you need to be double tapping reload every time you reload without even thinking about it. You heard me right. Now move it out… Double time.