In example methods and algorithms, a node in a wireless mesh network calculates an estimated cost for a packet flow through the node. The estimation may be based on the back-log at the node and the cost of downstream neighbor nodes for the flow. Further, selection of a downstream flow and a downstream neighbor node may be based on the estimation. A packet re-ordering algorithm is also described which intercepts packets received at a node and delays delivery of the packet to the IP layer if an earlier packet in the sequence of packets has not been received.