Hiking Backpacks – Tips For Selecting The Right One

Hiking backpacks should be carefully chosen to enhance the fun of your travels. The wrong choice can make a hike agonizingly painful and irritating – and I mean a hike because you will heave the hellish thing over a cliff and limp off to buy a new one as soon as your first expedition is over. Don’t let this happen to you!

Important Points
The appropriate storage capacity and frame to select is determined by the length of trip you plan to take – short, medium, or overnight – and the terrain you expect to travel. Comfort and convenience are key factors.

Size
The longer the hike, the more supplies you need to carry. In general, assume the following storage capacity necessary (in cubic inches):
1. Day or overnight camping trip: 2,500 to 3,000
2. Two or three days: 3,000 to 5,000
3. Up to a week: 5,000 or more

Frame
1. An internal frame is light and perfect for the climber who is more concerned about weight and maneuverability than storage capacity.
2. An external frame is favored by those who carry heavy loads over established trails.

Comfort
1. Look for adjustable, wide, padded shoulder straps, a hipbelt, a sternum strap, and cinch straps to make sure the load you are carrying will be stable and well supported.
2. If you select an internal frame backpack, add a frame sheet to make it more rigid.
3. Women are generally more comfortable with light backpacks.

Options
Select hiking backpacks with external pockets, loops and lash points to hold your water bottle and any gear you may need in a hurry. Double zippers allow easy access to interior pockets, and waterproof backpacks are great unless you hike only in perfect weather (and good luck with that). Enjoy!