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How to select a backpack
By C. W. Schurman, CSCS
Q: What kinds of things should I consider when selecting a Pack?
A: I get this type of question a lot, and the following checklist should be handy when considering what will be the right pack for you. Keep in mind that we do not endorse any specific product so recommendations are based on our own experience and observations over the span of nearly 2 decades of outdoor travel. Remember that above all else, a pack should a) be comfortable, b) fit right, c) secure snugly around the waist, especially as the weight increases, and d) NOT pull on shoulders or neck, as this can cause injury.
Pack Selection Consdierations
- Trip length
- Terrain requirements
- Trip type
- Pack weight and fit
- Pack size
- Special body needs
Trip Length
Perhaps the very first question to answer is how long you think most of your trips with this particular pack will be. Length will determine the amount of gear you need to carry, which in tern helps you determine the size of the pack you need. If you are a beginning hiker looking for a good day pack that can hold 10-12 pounds of the Ten Essentials, snacks, and an extra jacket for hikes under 8 miles, your pack will be far different (smaller) than the one someone who plans to do 3-4 day overnights covering 12 miles or more per day will choose. Some outdoor enthusiasts will have a variety of packs suited for different purposes.
Terrain Requirements
Ask yourself, “What is the primary type of terrain I will want to travel over with this pack?” If you will be doing relatively straightforward backpacking or hiking trips on wider, gentler trails that do not involve a lot of scrambling or maneuvering through thick underbrush or over more challenging terrain, then you might be able to get away with a wider pack or one with an external frame. You could also carry some gear strapped onto the outside of the pack for many types of terrain, if you find your pack isn’t quite big enough to get everything inside.
As terrain changes from relatively gentle to steeper grades, transitioning to class 4 or 5 scramble or vertical climbing, you will not want anything flopping around on the outside of your pack (both for purposes of avoiding creating extra noise and shifting your center of gravity too often). If you need your pack to be more streamlined, you will want to get one that can safely hold most everything inside so that straps and gear do not get caught on anything. It only takes one time getting snagged on a jutting rock in a chimney to recognize that loose gear on vertical climbing is a real hindrance!
Trip Type
Think of how you would like to access your gear. If you tend to carry a water delivery system on the very top and have a pocket for snacks, you may be content with a bag without many compartments or pockets. If you will be doing overnight trips, you might want to have a separate storage area for sleeping gear such as tent or sleeping bag.
If you are doing alpine climbs and have to carry items such as ice axe, skis, wands, sleeping pad or helmet, you will want to be sure you have enough straps and side pouches to comfortably carry longer or bulkier items.
If you do a lot of photography, you will want a special sort of pack that allows easy access to camera gear, tripod, flash or lenses without spending a lot of time digging into one compartment to find the right piece of equipment.
Be sure to share with your store clerk as many details of your adventure requirements as possible so that you have a pack that can handle everything you need to carry.
Pack Weight and Fit
I have a number of different packs myself, weighing anywhere from 2 to 7 pounds. In general, the shorter your trip, the lighter and smaller your pack, though inversely this is also true – if you are planning on doing a thru-hike of the PCT or AT, you want the lightest possible pack that will allow you to carry the absolute essentials but no more.
Try on a number of packs to be sure the one you decide on is totally comfortable. A decent equipment place that sells packs should have some sandbags and weights that you can add to the pack to test for comfort. Shoot for not more than 25% of your bodyweight in most cases; for a 200-pound person, your total pack weight should therefore not exceed 50 pounds, unless (there are always exceptions) you are doing something like a 3-week alpine trip up Denali where you have to carry or drag everything yourself without porter, Sherpa, or pack animal assistance.
Pack Size
If you are planning on doing a 6- or 8-day course with a guide service, you will most likely get pack size recommendations from them based on the amount of gear they’re recommending you bring. Remember that the bigger your pack, the more you will end up carrying, thus the heavier it will be. Always try to carry the smallest pack you can given the trip you are taking, unless you are specifically doing a conditioning hike with more gear than you need for the outing.
Special Body Needs
Other special considerations include things related to your unique body – such as: are you long- or short-waisted? Play around with the hip belt and shoulder straps. Be sure that most of the weight rests comfortably on your hips, not your shoulders.
Are you male or female? Women sometimes gravitate toward packs specifically designed for women, with specially designed chest straps, or wider hip belts. Do you have body mechanics that would be better with one type of pack over another?
Are you trying to help fit a child? Get a gear expert to help you determine what will work best given your child’s height, weight, age, and torso size. A child should not be required to use an adult’s pack!
Do you have issues with a delicate cervical spine that requires most or all of your weight to remain on your hips? You may want to investigate getting a special lumbar pack that rests around your waist.
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