How to pick the right backpack

Features of a high-quality backpack

Your backpack is one of the most important pieces of hiking equipment. Besides your footwear, it will impact you more than any other piece of hiking gear you have. When shopping for a backpack there are three things you will want to keep in mind. 1. Fit. If your pack doesn't fit it is going to cause problems for you very quickly. 2. Capacity. There is no worse feeling than not having room in your pack for a critical item that you could not do without on your hike. 3. Features. Some backpacks are better than others. A pack with the right features will save you a lot of frustration on your hiking trip. Sometimes it's the little things that make a big difference. There are so many things that you cannot control as a hiker, like weather, terrain, or other potentially unexpected events. Your best defense against the unexpected is preparation and knowledge. Investing the time to find a pack that meets your needs is always a good choice. I've put together a few steps you can take to help you make the right choice when buying a backpack.

Contemplate your hiking or backpacking trip

Where are you going, how long will it take you to get there (from the trailhead), and how long will you be staying? Figuring this out will help you know what you will need to bring with you. I live in the Pacific Northwest, where it rains a lot and the weather tends to not go to extreme temperatures. That's a lot different than say, hiking in the Southern California desert where the temps can get up to 100 degrees! In that kind of heat or even temps around 75-80 degrees, you want to have a pack that has the capacity to carry a lot of water. Some modern packs have built-in water bladders and a rubber tube to conveniently drink when you feel parched without having to reach behind or even take your pack off your back.

See yourself on the hike - mentally

What things will you wish you had remembered to take? What things are absolute necessities? Don't just get some hiking list off the internet, think about being out there from start to finish and let that guide your choices. Does the sun give you headaches? Do you have medication you need to take at a certain time? Do you use an inhaler? Play out short scenarios in your head like being hurt, or getting lost. What if you have to spend the night out in the wilderness and that wasn't part of the plan? What you have in your pack might make all the difference in potential emergency situations.

Know the weather and terrain before you leave

What type of backpack do you need?

The type of hike you choose to go on will mostly determine what kind of backpack will best fit your needs. Is your trip a day hike, or will you be spending the night at a campground or out in the wild? Daypacks are usually smaller and don't have as many features as say, a trekking pack. Backpacks come in several sizes, and types, and are measured in Litres. Daypacks are usually around 20-40 liters. Backpacks can go all the way up to 90-100+ liters to accommodate a multi-day (and night) hike. Features you want to look for are big zippers that are easily accessible if you are wearing gloves. Look for good padding, ventilation, and lots of pockets for correct weight distribution. Once you've decided on the type of backpack you need, your next concern should be how it fits your body. If you don't pay attention to how your pack fits your particular frame, there's a good chance your body will let you know sooner or later on the hike. The great guys at REI told me that the key to choosing the right size pack is not how tall you are but the length of the torso. If you can't get to REI or some other expert who can help get you fitted correctly for your pack, find a full-length mirror and do it at home with a friend. Here's how to take your measurements:

How to fit your back for a backpack

Find you Illiac crest. Your Illiac crest is located at your waistline. Find it by putting your hands on your hips and feeling for the top of both the right and left hip bones. With index fingers pointing forward and thumbs pointing back draw an imaginary horizontal line across your back from the left hip to the right. You will need a friend and a flexible measuring tape to take the measurement.

Red lines - Illiac Crest

That line is where you measure vertically from the c7 vertebrae of your upper neck. to the imaginary line across your Illiac crest. This will ensure that the hip straps of your pack will rest in the middle of your hips, not too high or too low as either misplacement will eventually cause pain in that area. Once you find your torso length you are ready for the backpack size chart to see what size pack you will need. When putting the actual pack on in the store, you want it to have about 20-30 lbs of weight in the pack to simulate actual trail conditions. After you get all buckled in take a walk around the store for about 15-20 minutes. Look for pressure points at the shoulders that indicate the pack might need adjusting or is the wrong size. Remember when you put on the pack, start with the bottom buckles and straps and work your way up. The best backpack weight distribution should be approximately 80/20 or 80% percent of the packs' weight should be centered on the legs and 20 percent on the shoulders. Correct size and adjustments will help you get the 80/20 distribution. Once you have all your measurements it's easy to know how to pick the right backpack for your hiking trip.

For a more detailed explanation of how to take your hip measurement and the other types of backpacks for longer trips, see this REI video on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LI1va-97f4w.

Here is another video worth watching for getting a good fit for your backpack:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvvvYAcPOQM