A couple of times I needed to backpack it for a few weeks while van was off the road. I just used the pole with extra pole hose fitted. Although I normally use a hoselock type tap connector, I didn't while using the backpack; I was concerned about damaging the pump with regular stop/start under pressure. My method involved placing the pole at the point it was first needed, stretching the pole hose out as far as possible and connecting up, then switching on and working toward the backpack. The hose length would get me through a few windows because I could work for the same distance on the other side of the backpack. On smaller properties I could clean the whole house from one backpack position. Waste was minimal as I tended to clean faster to compensate. Also, I worked to a much lower flow setting than from a van mount. I was surprised how little I could get away with on maintenance cleans.