How to Choose a Hiking Backpack
Backpacking in Style – How to Choose the Right Hiking Backpack
Before setting out on an adventure in the wild wilderness of a far-off land, you’re going to need the perfect travel buddy that’s going to suit all of your needs day after day and night after night on the trails.
A trustworthy backpack that can hold all of your equipment, food, water, and supplies. It’ll need to be lightweight enough that you can handle it for long stretches but big enough so you don’t have to compromise on the gear you choose to bring along with you.
You might be asking yourself, “But how to choose the right one? What should I look for? Can’t I just grab something cheap that’ll hold a lot of stuff?” All good questions and that’s the point of this article.
I hope to clarify any gray areas you may have on how to choose a hiking backpack. I’ll explain the differences and nuances between the sizes, how it should fit, and features to look out for. I’ll also go over how your backpack should sit on your back and hips, ways to access your rucksack, and hopefully, any other extra questions that might come up.
Sound like a plan? Great, let’s get started! Once you’ve finished reading this post you should be confident in choosing the right pack to add to your backpacking checklist. I hope you enjoy it!
If you prefer video and want a highly detailed breakdown, check out this awesome content from REI –
Main Categories
When choosing the ideal rucksack for your back, you’ll need to focus on 3 main areas to narrow down your decision-making. Before I leave, I like to envision the entire trip in my head and think about all the potential situations I’ll find myself in. This helps me to decide which pack I should take with me.
Backpack Capacity:
If you didn’t know, a backpack’s volume is measured in liters as opposed to the dimensions of the pack itself. This provides a good indication of how all of your items and supplies will roll up and fill out the interior space of your bag. Here’s a quick general breakdown of the size of the bag needed compared to the length of the trip.
| Duration of Trip | Volume Needed |
|---|---|
| weekend getaways (1-3 nights) | 30-50 liters |
| multi-day trek (3-5 nights) | 50-80 liters |
| extended expedition (5+ nights) | 70 liters or larger |
Backpack Elements:
Besides how much a backpack can hold, you’ll want to know how it holds it. For example, are you going to need a spot for a tent or sleeping bag, or are you going to do most of your backpacking through big cities and hotel/hostel stays?
Do you like to travel light and only need a minimal amount of “accoutrement” (those little extras), or do you want to be prepared for anything thrown your way? These are the types of questions you should be asking yourself before you purchase.
Other things to keep in mind before you pick the right pack –
- Versatility – Will I need my backpack to adapt to different activities or travel requirements?
- Organization – Do I care about everything having its place, or do I prefer a bag that can compact down and be the simplest possible?
- Weight – How will the added features add to the overall size and weight of my bag?
- Value – Are the extras worth the additional cost of the bag’s utility or performance?
- Appearance – Do you care about the color or overall look of your bag?
I’ll delve deeper into the individual characteristics that make a great backpacking pack further along in this article, but I wanted to introduce this category now so you have a good idea of how to make a great decision.
Backpack Fit:
Forget your height; it’s all about your torso length and hip circumference when picking the best-fitting backpack. It doesn’t matter how long your legs or arms are, just how it fits your upper body. This is how you distribute the weight evenly and focus the bulk of it (80%) on your hips, instead of your shoulders.
A properly fitting backpack should snugly fit the trunk of the body, with the sternum strap comfortably securing the top of the shoulder straps for optimal comfort and weight distribution. I’ll go over more on this later in the article.
Types of Backpacks
When it comes to backpacks, there are three main types to consider: external frame, internal frame, and frameless. Each type offers its advantages and disadvantages suited for all types of outdoor adventure activities and preferences so you’ll need to decide on which type will serve you best before venturing outdoors.
Internal-frame backpacks:
These are the most common types backpackers use on the trails and are the easiest to find options for. As you can imagine, there’s a hidden structure inside the back panel that provides stability and support. They hold the load close to your body, making it easier to navigate all sorts of wacky terrain while staying sleek and form-fitting.
Grab one of these if you plan to do long treks in the countryside or you’ll be city-hopping from country to country. They carry a lot while traveling well.
External-frame backpacks:
These packs are easily recognizable by their square shapes and visibly shiny metal elements. They are the champs when it comes to hauling hefty, odd-shaped loads like a large tent or an inflatable kayak because you can secure your cargo with a few straps to basically anywhere on the frame itself.