How and Where to Buy a Backpack
Tips for Making an Informed Hiking or Camping Gear Purchase
Advice for those looking to buy a new backpack, including pack space, types of packs, fitting advice, and other ideas.
Purchasing a pack is one of the most important choices a hiker must make. Knowing what to look for will help to make an informed decision for one’s home away from home.
How Much Pack is Needed?
Need a small daypack for visiting a local trail, or a large-capacity backpack for thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail? The kind of activity determines how much space a hiker needs for carrying equipment, food, clothing, and all the other necessities of camping. When making a selection, keep these points in mind:
- For short hikes that are a few hours in length, a school backpack may be all that is necessary.
- Overnight and multi-day trips will need a pack between 3,000 and 4,000 cubic centimeters.
- Extend expeditions of a week or more will require more volume, between 4,000 and 5,000 cubic centimeters.
- Some backpacks go up as high as 7,000 cubic centimeters, which is a lot of space. People who buy these packs are carrying a lot of extra equipment, such as for winter camping, or guides who need to carry extra group items, such as the group first aid kit.
What Kinds of Packs are There?
There are two main types of backpacks, ones with internal frames and ones with external frames. Internal frame packs have metal or plastic stays that support a pack bag, and are cinched down using straps that attach from the bottom of the pack to a top-loader. These packs allow the hiker to carry weight while not being too top-heavy, and allow for more balance when walking, such as on steep ridges.
Backpacks with external frames have an aluminum metal frame that can support the pack from the outside. These packs allow the user to strap a lot of stuff onto the pack, with heavy items on top and lighter items more towards the bottom.
Getting the Right Fit
When purchasing a new pack, it is a good idea to go to a store where the pack is sold to try it on. Getting the right fit in the store will help get some of kinks out before stepping on the trail, and will allow the buyer make a smart purchase. Try the pack on with some deadweight in the main compartment in order to get a better idea of how it feels loaded. Some spots to watch out for are how it feels on the hips and shoulders. If there is too much weight on the shoulders, make adjustments using the load lifting straps and tightening the hip belt. The store salesperson can help with tightening or loosening the straps, and getting the right fit.
Bells and Whistles
Manufacturers are always including cool details into their products. For instance, some backpacks now come with a built in sleeve for a hydration bladder, which allows the user to drink water via a tube, without having to stop to pull out a water bottle. Other designs have a whistle as part of the chest strap buckle, or special compartments.
Where to Find It
Check locally for a specialty camping shops, and see what their selection is like. National retailers include REI and EMS. For information about this year’s selection of backpacks, visit Backpacker Magazine’s Gear Guide.
