Backpack Buyer's Guide

I have used many different types of backpacks on short and long hiking trips and during trianing in the military. From my experience there is nothing worse then a pack that doesn't fit right or doesn't have the features you need. A good backpack costs a few dollars and most of us don't have an unlimited budget.

So how do you find the right pack the first time? Read the rest of the article for some tried and true backpack buying tips.

Three things you need to look at are:

• Length of your backpacking trip and pack size
• Pack features
• Fit

Lenth of your trip

The length of your backpacking trip and the amount of gear you need to carry will determine how big of a backpack you are going to need. For:

• 5+ Days you need a 4000 cubic inch or larger backpack
• 2-4 days 2000 and 4000 cubic inches backpack
• Day Hiking enough room to carry food, water, extra clothing and personal survival kit

Required features

• Internal frame
• Hip belt to carry the majority of the pack weight
• Sternum Strap to keep the shoulder straps resting properly on your shoulders
• Load lifter straps to adjust the weight of the backpack from your shoulders to your hips while hiking

Optional Features

• Compression straps to center the load
• Outside pockets for storing frequently used gear
• Internal pouches for organizing gear
• Attachment points for attaching optional gear to the outside of the pack
• Seperate sleeping bag compartment
• Hydration bladder pouch
• Made of low weight materials

Fit

Most manufacturers label their backpacks based on torso length so you are going to need to know how to get this measurement.

How to measure for torso length

• Stand with your feet shoulder width apart
• Place both your hands on the top of the pelvic bone palm down and extend your thumbs along you back
• Have a buddy locate the protruding vertebra (bony bump) at the bottom of your neck
• Using a cloth tape, have your buddy measure along your spine from the bony bump to the imaganary line formed by your thumbs

This measurement is your torso length

Fit Test

Once you find a pack based on your torso length place at least 25 lbs inside of the pack to simulate hiking weight. Make sure the weight is evenly distributed throught the pack. Losen all of the straps and put the pack on your back.

Posistion the hip belt along the top of the pelvic bone and snap the two buckles together and tighten the straps. The padded portion of the hipbelt should fit snuggly against your hips with the buckle resting in the center of your waist. If the hipbelt doesn't fit snuggly or it feels uncomfortable try adjusting the straps a few times. If it just doesn't fit try a different pack until you find one that does.

Tighten the shoulder straps. They should fit all the way over your shoulders and cause the backpack to fit snugly against your back. The majority of the weight of the pack should be resting mostly on your hips with the straps providing support.

Snap together the buckles of the sternum strap. The sternum strap should be located across the middle of your chest and keep the pack straps resting in the middle of your collar bone.

The load lifter straps should be able to move freely. Try and adjust most of the weight of the backpack so it is resting on your hips and then adjust it so the wieght is resting on your shoulders then back to your hips.

If everything fits right take a walk around the store and test out the pack for about 5 minutes. Take a few short jumps and shake the pack slightly to stimulate the rigors of hiking. The pack should only require a few small adjustments during your test. If everthing still fits right and feels comfortable you got yourself a pack.