What hiking backpack should i get

How would that affect the pack sizes you are recommending? Yes, but most of the people who are searching for an answer to this question are probably not ultralight backpackers or trust fund babies. Also there is no way you are carrying 30 days of food in a 38 liter pack so probably you are really doing 10 3 day trips back to back.

Makes you slim down what to take though. It is the H2O version — for biking? Recently I was looking for a good tech laptop backpack to carry around. The North Face Recon backpack 30L has a generous amount of pockets and large enough for a Of course backpacking, as this article is about, is not really tech oriented but why not — more to enjoy the outdoors than to be plugged in. But why not bring your tech or even pastime outdoors? Anyways, for the tech oriented I also purchased the Ogio Renegade which personally seems slightly small, but seems good enough for tech stuff.

Both the Recon and the Renegade are 30L packs probably tight for hiking as well. Most of the time I carry a 38L daypack because I take long hikes in remote areas where it would be impossible for rescuers to reach me before nightfall. That means carrying enough insulation, food, and water to survive the night if it gets cold. It also depends on where you go and what your goals are. Your email address will not be published.

Recommended Backpack Volumes How much volume should you get in a daypack, weekend backpack, multi-day backpack, or expedition backpack? Philip Werner November 17, at am.

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Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60L. Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest 55L. A good rule for this is if you haven't used an item in two weeks, send it home. Then as your base weight shrinks, so can your backpack.

Packs fit according to your specific torso length. To make sure you are getting the most comfortable experience on the trail, it's crucial to get a pack that fits well to your body. If it is too large or too small, the weight will not be distributed well and will almost certainly make hauling the weight around all day an undesirable situation, to say the least.

Each pack frame size can accommodate a range of torso lengths. For example, a small may cover inches, a medium would fit a torso length of inches, and a large may best fit a torso of inches. This varies by manufacturer, so make sure you double-check before you buy. To get an accurate measurement of your torso length, you will need to find your C7 vertebra and iliac crest.

To start, lean your head forward and feel for the knobby bone that sticks out at the base of your neck; that's the C7. Then locate your iliac crest. To do this, put your hands on your hip bones with thumbs pointing toward your back; the imaginary line between the tips of your thumbs where it crosses your spine is the bottom end of the measurement.

Your waist size will dictate your hip belt size. Most manufacturers offer sizing charts for this. When wearing a loaded overnight pack, you should see the shoulder straps contouring up and over the shoulders, with very little space or gaps.

The load lifters the straps you feel if you try to pat yourself on the back should be pulling the shoulder straps up at around 45 degrees, though anywhere from degrees is acceptable depending on the type of pack it is.

Once you have found a pack with the features and capacity you are looking for, load it up. If you are able, we recommend filling it with your own gear, but most retailers have pack weights if you are shopping in a sticks and bricks shop. Wear it around for a while. Put the max amount of weight you would carry in it, and spend some time getting to know how well it carries and distributes the load across the hips and shoulders.

Once you have a fully loaded pack, getting it on your back is the next challenge. To start, make sure the shoulder and waist straps are loose. Stand with your feet should width apart, and your knees bent slightly.

With the shoulder straps facing you, grab one with each hand. As you lift with your legs, slide one arm through one strap, then the second. Lean forward slightly so that you can first clip the hip belt and ensure that it is resting on your pelvis correctly. The correct position for a hip belt is typically higher than you wear your pants.

The belt should wrap centered over the iliac crest - that bone you found when measuring your torso. Once that is cinched down, you can secure the shoulder and sternum straps and adjust the load lifters in that order.

The importance and benefit of a properly-fitted pack should become clear as soon as you have it on your back. Knowing your way around your pack and its various features may not affect your initial purchasing decision.

Still, it does improve your experience on the trail and allows you to use a pack comfortably and efficiently with different loads and types of gear. Knowing how to quickly strap your detachable daypack on, lash your skis or trekking poles to the side, or appropriately adjust the load lifters will make a difference on your adventure.

Below is a simple chart of the parts of a pack, with the key adjustment points highlighted in red. Load Lifter Straps: These are the straps that connect the top of the shoulder straps to the top of the pack frame. With a proper adjustment, they help prevent the backpack from leaning away from your back or shifting side to side with every step.

They are important for avoiding shoulder pain, and they should pull at or around a degree angle. It is common for people to pull too hard on these, so take it easy when pulling on them.

Also, it is best to adjust these every time you put the bag on. Compression Straps: These tighten along the sides and occasionally also across the front of the pack. They should extend when a pack is full and cinch down when a pack is almost empty. These allow for the wearer to achieve a balanced pack even if it is not entirely loaded down.

This is a good feature that allows an overnight pack to double as a daypack in a pinch. Hipbelt Stabilizer: This strap can be tightened around the hip belt, improving balance and comfort. Modern packs almost always have internal frames.

These carry closer to the body than old-school external frame packs, and they can provide support in a couple of different ways:. Aluminum Stays: These are thin support rods that run the length of the pack to give it shape and stiffness.

Most packs have one down the center or two down the sides of the pack frame. Framesheet: This is a thin, semi-rigid piece of material that lines the back of a pack, keeping the pack's shape and preventing objects from jabbing the wearer through the fabric. Some models have removable frame sheets, while others have this piece integrated. Often packs will use both a frame sheet and aluminum stays to provide support.

Perimeter Frame: These packs have a minimal amount of aluminum tubing contouring around the outside of the pack on the backside. This feature can also help achieve an airflow design that sits the pack off of the back to prevent sweat from pooling on the back. This style tends to have less support for heavier loads and force the weight farther from your back. There are many styles of packs beyond models for backpacking. For many activities, you will most likely want a sport-specific model: a ski pack for skiing or a climbing pack for climbing.

Your needed gear-carrying capacity will dictate your choice. Here we detail different styles, what makes them unique, and why you may or may not want one of these particular packs. Backpacking packs are designed to carry large loads pounds for multiple days and usually range between liters in capacity.

If you plan to hike long distances with smaller loads, see below for ultralight packs. Packs for backpacking are designed with an internal frame and usually offer a suspension with many adjustment points to most comfortably carry whatever weight you are toting. The primary adjustment points are the hip belt, shoulder straps, sternum strap, compression straps, and load lifters.

Often, a pack for backpacking comes with separate compartments for certain types of gear, such as sleeping bag compartments or straps to lash a sleeping pad to the outside.

These packs almost always feature hydration bladder compatibility and usually also offer water bottle slots on the sides so that you can choose your favored water carrying method. These packs will often be too heavy and too large to cross over into other activities well, but for multi-day trips with a lot of gear, they will offer the needed capacity, support, and comfort.

Ultralight backpacking is for those experienced hikers that want to reduce weight and carry only the bare essentials. If you are considering an ultralight pack, you should first consider your pack load, starting with your base weight the weight of your kit minus food and water. If your base weight is over 30 pounds and you don't want to reduce it, stick with a traditional backpacking pack.

If your base weight is in the pound range, that's a lightweight load that could be well-supported by a lighter traditional pack or some UL packs.

At a pound base weight, an ultralight pack is very appropriate. Ultralight packs tend to be smaller. Instead of 60 or liter packs, liter packs are much more common.

They will typically have a streamlined, lightweight design without many frills or unnecessary bells and whistles, including only the most useful ones.

Ultralight models tend to offer fewer organizational options and will require more thoughtful and creative packing. Be aware that minimalist packs usually use thinner, less durable materials than more substantial designs, so your ultralight pack will not be as durable or last as long as a traditional backpack; however, the saved strain on your shoulders is something that might make backpacking worthwhile.

Like most packs, ultralight models come in multiple sizes, and a few even offer customization.