How to select a backpack: a guide for beginners

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Von: wom87

Our guide for beginners to choose a backpack helps you to make the best choice for your requirements as a backpack and ensures comfort and reliability

No matter whether you do a day hike through gentle hills or an extensive expedition that crosses a mischief if you know how to select the backpack most suitable for your trip, it will be infinitely more pleasant.

There are countless options available and it can be a confusing affair, but if you do it right, take care of comfort and reliability day by day.

Against this background we have put together a comprehensive guide to choose a backpack.

How to select a backpack

We divided our guide to select a backpack into the following sub -sections.

  • considerations
  • types of backpacks
  • size and capacity
  • Properties of a backpack
  • How to adjust a backpack
  • Additional functions and accessories

considerations

When choosing a backpack, ask the following questions:

  • where are you going?
  • When do you go?
  • How will the weather be?
  • How long do you go?
  • How much will you wear?
  • What equipment will you take with you?
  • What activities will you do?
  • Which terrain will you cover?
  • How strong are you?

types of backpacks

The main purpose of your backpack will influence every part of the purchase process. A winter mountaineer who plans to spend a month on the slopes of an eight -thousand -like one has different requirements than a global circle that hardly expects more than a day hike.

Trekking backpack: My favorite backpack is an Osprey Exos 38 backpack that weighs just a little more than one kilogram. It is super light, spacious, hard-wearing and is suitable for most camping and trekking tours, including shorter wildcamping and winter mountaineering tours.

It offers enough space for sleeping bags and light camping equipment and with only 38 liters he also encourages me to keep the weight low. Another great option is the Levity 45, which weighs only 800 g, although it takes more!

Alt = "How to select a backpack for hikes"> Atlas & Boots I use an Osprey exos 38 backpack on hikes

trekking backpacks are usually over 40 liters tall, strong and weatherproof, but also light, comfortable and stable. The backpack should be well ventilated and have many stretch mesh and pack bags to squeeze the equipment.

Daily backpacks: I personally do not use a daily backpack because I usually have camera equipment with me and prefer to take my trekking backpack because I need a little more space. Kia has an Osprey Tempest Pro 18 daily backpack, which is cool and comfortable and offers enough space for the bare essentials.

It has some nice details such as fastenings for sunglasses, safety lights and trekking sticks as well as side pockets for water bottles, quickly accessible hip pockets and a jam pocket that is large enough to absorb a bicycle helmet.

Expedition backpack: For longer expeditions, it must be something bigger and more durable. I use an 85L Osprey Expedition backpack. It is large and comfortable enough to be worn in the high warehouse, and can easily be packed together and used as a daily backpack for day hikes. The removable lid also means that it can continue to be compressed and used as hand luggage during flights.

Alt = "Expedition backpack"> Atlas & Boots I use an 85l Osprey expedition backpack

The continuously used material is stronger, thicker and therefore heavier than the previous options. However, it is used over longer periods for heavier equipment, so that the shoulder straps and the hip belt must be more padded in order to offer additional comfort, as well as many external accessories, dams and dams.

Alpin backpack: I have a different kind of backpack for climbing tours. Alpine and climbing backpacks generally have fewer compartments, but more pronounced features such as a finger grip, ice cream device attachments, rising bags, a drinking system and a lighter, more flexible back support.

Adventure trips: Adventure travel packages are excellent crossover backpacks with suitcases for active vacationers. The backpacks have many of the above-mentioned elements in combination with everyday functions such as laptop and device ferry, a shoe compartment with zipper and a separate compartment for wet/muddy equipment. They often have a rigid appearance, similar to that of a suitcase. Some, such as the Osprey Farpoint Wheels 36, are even delivered with bikes.

Alt = "Osprey luggage against a sea landscape"> Atlas & Boots My Osprey Farpoint bikes 36

size and capacity

All the above considerations influence the size and capacity of your backpack. Preferences and requirements vary, of course, but the following is a good guide.

Weekend (1-3 nights; 30-50 liters)

If you only flee to the wilderness for a short break, it should be your priority to stay easy. If you are efficient, you can make the trip very easily for your feet (and your back), put more soil and avoid unnecessary pain. You have to be disciplined and leave the luxury at home while never ignoring the ten essential things.

several days (3-5 nights; 40-70 liters) / long-term trip

These are the most popular backpacks and cover most eventualities. 40-70 liter backpacks are very versatile and can be used by backcountry skiers, day trippers and overnight guests. They are also ideal for long -term travelers who have more to wear than the average vacationer.

Long -term travel (5+ nights; 70 liters or more)

Longer trips of 5 days or more usually require packs with 70 liters or more. These are usually the preferred choice for:

  • Winter activities that last longer than one night. Larger backpacks offer comfortable space for warmer clothes, thicker sleeping bags and 4-year tents with heavier bars.
  • longer trips to the wilderness require more supplies and equipment.
  • expeditions in a rough environment.
  • adults with children. (Mama and dad in the end wear more of the kit!)

Properties of a backpack

Not all backpacks have all of these attributes, but they are the properties you should pay attention to when you think about how to select a backpack.

Alt = "How to select a backpack features diagram"> Atlas & Boots Pay attention to these features when choosing a backpack

loops for hiking sticks/ice spimles: Use these loops for your hiking sticks and/or ice ax.

front panel with zipper: This can be opened for easy access to the main compartment.

lid: The lid usually contains a bag for a slightly accessible storage at the top of your backpack. Sometimes the lid can also be removed to save weight or even use as a small hip pocket.

LOPESEBER: These adjustment belts look small, but are essential to wear loads as comfortably as possible. They connect the shoulder straps to the top of the backpack frame and can be used to change angles and distance of the backpack to your body. This helps to prevent a heavy backpack from being pulled away from you and keeps the load/weight of your backpack on your hips.

Breast belt: The chest strap (or chest strap) is attached to the shoulder straps and sits over the chest when it is finished. Both the position and the length of the rest should be adjustable. They improve the stability of the backpack and keep your shoulder straps stable by preventing slipping.

shoulder straps: As with the hip straps, thickness and type of padding of the shoulder straps change with the size of the backpack. Thick padded straps offer comfort and support, while thinner offer better flexibility. Here, too, mesh supports ensure better ventilation.

back part: These should be contoured and padded for comfort. They should be adjustable and contain foam channels to provide padding that also improves breathability. For hikes in warm weather you can consider a backpack with a hanging mesh system that offers better ventilation.

Hip belt: A really sitting hip belt can ensure a great hiking experience. Conversely, it can lead to a miserable experience if it doesn't fit well. The weight of the backpack should be evenly distributed so that your shoulders do not hurt. The larger the backpack, the thicker the padding, the maximum hold and comfort when wearing heavy loads.

Hip belt bags: quick access bags, ideal for snacks, telephone, wallet, gloves and other little things.

front pocket: great in changeable weather. Perfect for stowing jacket, travel guide, camera, rain protection, etc.

sleeping bag compartment: two compartments make the organization easier. The base compartment that is usually used to store a sleeping bag is usually separated from the main package by an internal, sometimes adjustable partition.

stretch side pockets: Usually for storing water bottles; Often from a stretch material for a simple and safe seat.

rollmatten/accessory belts: These are often used to secure a roll mat, but can also be used as general lashing points. I usually put my tent here.

compression straps: Use these straps to reduce the volume of your backpack. They are particularly useful if your backpack is not full because you help to keep the load stable.

How to adapt a backpack

This is probably the most important aspect when choosing a backpack. If you do it right, you have a backpack that is comfortable, supportive and stable under all conditions. If you go wrong, shoulder, hip and back pain will almost certainly be a problem.

Instead of bombing them with diagrams and pictures, I hand over them to Osprey.

Additional functions and accessories

In the following you will find some additional functions and accessories that you should take into account when choosing a backpack.

waterproof: completely waterproof backpacks, especially backpacks with a large capacity, are rare because they require many seams and zippers and have a hole at the top (so that you can pack it!). Instead, robust and durable fabrics are used that offer certain water resistance. These can be coated with water -repellent treatment, or a much more popular option is a removable rain cover. Another (or additional) option is to pack your equipment in waterproof pack sacks.

drinkerervoir: Many backpacks offer an inner pocket in which you can attach a drinking reservoir (available separately). These are ideal for hot hiking tours.

Security: If you travel abroad with your backpack and probably travel through many cities and traffic nodes, it could be worth investing in additional security products. Beatproof mesh networks and padlocks are only one way to secure your luggage.

rationalization: backpacks are not ideal for airports. They often come to conveyor belts or land in the barrier luggage area. A flight cover or a protector for your backpack can make flying easier and make your equipment safer.

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