Choosing the Right Hiking Backpack

When choosing a backpack for hiking you must first consider the following:

*How long you will be gone
*The type of supplies you will be taking
*The type of terrain you will be hiking in

Naturally, the length of your trip and the season will determine the type and amount of supplies you will be taking with you. But along with that you need to consider whether you will be just hiking for the day or carrying everything into a campsite and then staying there. Perhaps will you be hiking to point A, camping the night, hiking to point B, camping, etc., which is called Trekking.

Choosing a pack is an individual decision. People are going to be different, with their own likes and dislikes. Try on different packs, if one does not feel good, try another. Make sure you have the pack fitted to you. If possible try it with weights in the store before purchasing, this will give you an idea of how it will fit under a load. If it does not feel good, you will not enjoy the experience.

DAY HIKING

This would be a one or two day hike. There is very little required in the way of supplies and equipment. Because of this a much smaller, lighter pack would be in order. This could be a non-framed pack, formerly called a rucksack, or a large fanny pack. They are made from everything from nylon to canvas with the rip-stop nylon being the lightest in weight. Match the size to what you are going to be taking with you and the pack materials to the weight of your belongings. That is, if you are taking only a sandwich and something to drink, you can get away with a lighter weight pack, than if you were camping over night and needed a tent, sleeping bag, etc. A good daypack will come with padded shoulder straps and some sort of hip belt. But, the ultra lightweight ones may not have that feature. Some packs come with hydration systems, or pockets for a hydration bladder. This is a great way to carry water without canteens or water bottles. To get a good daypack, expect to spend between $70 and $150.

HIKING TO A CAMPSITE

If you plan to hike to a campsite and spend a couple of days there, then hike back out, more equipment is going to be required. The pack will need to support the weight of such items as a tent, camp stove, food, etc. It will be larger and heavier than a daypack and will cost more. There are two main types of packs to choose from: external frame and internal frame.

The external frame has the pack and suspension for it mounted to an aluminum frame. It allows you to carry larger, heavier objects attached to the frame instead of inside the pack. The pack itself will generally be divided into two compartments, upper and lower. The divider will either have an open to allow you to carry long objects or will zip out to make one compartment. There will be several exterior pockets for extra storage and usually there is a special pocket for a hydration bladder or water bottles. They tend to be made medium weight nylon and are much heavier and bulkier than the internal framed packs. This would a good choice if you are hiking on an established trail to your campsite. A good one will cost you $125 to $175.

The internal frame pack has the frame on the inside and the suspension for it is mounted directly to the pack. These are taller and narrower than the external frame variety and ride much closer to your back. This way it does not disrupt your center of balance, which is great if the trail is steep or slippery. These packs are lighter and have a lot more padding on the back because of the way they ride. They are generally made of lighter weight, or rip-stop nylon. These packs come in two different varieties: ultra lightweight, and standard. The ultra lightweight ones tend to be one long bag and may or may not have external access other than from the top. Because of this you must plan the packing of your bag with more care than normal. The standard weight, like the external frame, will usually be divided into two compartments, upper and lower. It will also have a zip out divider or access for longer objects. Some will also have external pockets. Some will also have an external pocket or lid that detaches to be used as a daypack. A nice internal frame backpack will set you back $150 to $300.

TREKKING

Trekking is probably what most of us think of when we think of backpacking. Where you are going and what you are going to do will play a major role in determining the pack you will need. Generally, what you will be looking for is a backpack that is sturdy, yet lightweight, made of a strong rip-stop material. Also you will need to consider accessibility to the inside of the pack more than if you were just hiking to one spot and staying there, since you will be using items everyday and then re-packing them. The choices are endless as to the access points and the amount of external pockets. But you do need to consider your equipment, and what you will want to place where. You will also want to look for a pack with an integral hydration system, because this will reduce the need for water bottles, which are heavy and hard to get at. The choice of internal or external frame will depend upon where you are going. For instance, if you were climbing a mountain, an internal frame would be best; for hiking the Cascade Crest Trail an external frame would be fine. The average price for a good pack of a type suitable for trekking is $200 to $300.

Remember, when choosing a backpack for hiking to be sure to shop and compare. Don't just take the first one on the shelf or one your friend told you about. Go to your local sporting goods store that has a large variety of backpacks and try them on. You need to make sure the pack is fitted to YOU, and is comfortable under a load. This is more important when it comes to backpacks than even with shoes. If it is not comfortable, then you will not enjoy the experience and may never hike again. That would be a great loss.