Backpacks

Buying a backpack is quite a large investment; not only you want to know that your money is wel spent, but also that the backpack does what it needs to do. This backpack gear guide will tell you everthing you need to know before you buy a backpack.

Different types of BackpackPacks can be roughly divided into 4 main types, depending on their size/volume, design and intended use.

Daypack (15-35 litres)

These are small packs designed for day use. It carries all you may need for a days walking, trekking, sight-seeing, or climbing. A 20 to 25 litres daypack is large enough to carry food, drink, spare clothing, and other small items like a camera and first-aid kit. However for climbers or mountaineers a larger daypack of around 35 litres may be necessary as a rope and other climbing equipment should go in the daypack as well. Another thing you should look for before you buy your daypack is how the daypack opens. Some daypacks have a zip entry and other have a lid pocket that is used to close the daypack. A zip entry daypack is quick and easy to access, but less weather-tight as the lid pocket daypacks. Lid pocket daypacks allow more flexibility with the volume than zip entry daypacks. After the volume of the daypack and how the daypack opens, the choice is very much personal and based on design, color, number of pockets etc. Examples:

Trekking Pack (55-75 litres)

To carry enough clothing, food and camping equipment for multid-day walks or trekking trips, you will need a trekking pack. Because the load is heavier, the fit and the harness system of the trekking pack should be carefully designed. Features you should be looking for in a trekking pack are:
2 Compartement design: To keep things separate from other things, a 2 compartment system comes in very handy. You can use this by packing your sleeping bag in the lower compartment separate.
Straps on the sides and the base of the pack: These straps are useful to compress the air out of your clothes or you could also use them to attach a sleeping mat or your dirty boots on the outside of the bag.
Large lid pocket: This pocket is used to keep things separate but easy accessible. Think of day time essentials like emergency kit, sunburn cream etc.
Side pockets or front pockets: These are for further organization of your small items.Examples:

Travelpack (65 - 95 litres)

This backpack is similar in volume as the trekking pack, but the type of activity it is used for is very different. As the name already tells this backpack is used for travelling between multiple points as well, but with another mode of transport: planes, trains, buses and a bit on foot (whereby the trekking pack is mostly used for on foot trekking). The travelpack is therefore in that aspect quite different from the trekking pack. It is more userfriendly for travellers: It has a large zip/panel opening that allow access to the whole contents of the pack (like a suitcase). Most of the packs also have a large front pocket that can be zipped off to become a handy daypack. Example:

Mountaineering packs (40 to 65 litres)

Mountaineering packs are mostly very simple, robust and streamlined packs, with a single compartment and single lid pocket. Special features designed particular for mountaineering will include the ability to securely attach ice tools and crampons to the outside of the pack with possibly other simple details like gear loops on the hipbelt and haul loops on front and back of pack. Examples:

Harness Systems Design

When you buy a bagpack to carry loads heavy loads, then a properly fitting harness system with a padded load-bearing hipbelt and adjustable shoulder straps is vital for comfort and carrying efficiency. An important thing to note is that the hips are much better at supporting weight than the shoulders and back, therefore a good harness system will allow about 70% of the weight of the packto be transferred onto the pelvis. The shoulder straps only act as a means of keeping the pack on your back. An internal frame assists in the transfer of weight and helps maintain the shape and stability of the pack. Manufacturers have designed a couple of different designs to match these criteria - there are 4 main types:

One-size fixed

This type of harness system is cheap, light and simple, with little to got wrong or less to potentially break. One big disadvantage though is that there is no flexibility in the system, this means that it is entirely down to luck whether it fits or not.

One-size adjustable

This harness system only allows the shoulder straps to be raised and lowered to accommodate the differing lengths of people's backs. This is not ideal either as the pack will either stick way up people's heads (for the ones with a short back) or that it the pack hangs too low on their back (for the ones with a long back).

Multi-size fixed

These type of backpacks come in a choice of fixed back lengths, offering the advantages of a fixed back system (simplicity and low weight). Here you have a much better chance of finding a good fit, both in terms of back length and pack size.

Multi-size adjustable

Offers the greatest chance of getting a good fit, by allowing the selection of a correctly sized and proportioned pack, then the ability to fine tune the back length by moving the shoulder straps up or down.

Women Only Backpacks

Nowadays manufacturers also offer backpacks that are especially designed for women. These harnesses feature reshaped hipbelts (proportionally larger and more cupped, redesigned shoulder straps (positioned closer together at the neck and shaped away from the chest) and a pack shape that is keeping with the proportions of the harness. Example:

Tips for choosing your backpack

Although the fabrics the backpack is made of is waterproof or waterresistant, no pack is really waterproof. That is because water will find its way through all the seams, stitching and openings. If you really want to keep the insides of your backpack dry, either pack these type of items in a waterproof back or buy a waterproof backpack cover.

To keep items dry inside your backpack do not use dustbin liners as they rip very easily. Use rubble bags these are much stronger.

Proper packing of your backpack is essential and makes a great difference in carrying comfort. Pack the heavier items as high as possible and near to your back as possible.