7 Tips to Help You Choose the Perfect Backpack
By Marcus Woolf
If you’ve recently discovered a love for backpacking, you should eventually invest in a high-quality pack. To conquer tough terrain, you need a pack that fits your body type and carries heavy loads efficiently and comfortably. But, shopping for a backpack can be intimidating, as products these days are pretty techie, and many folks aren’t familiar with all the gear jargon. Plus, most people don’t know what questions to ask when dealing with salespeople. As you shop, use the talking points below to ensure that the store staff members help you choose the right pack.
1. Shop at an Outdoor Specialty Store
If you’re on a tight budget, you can visit a big-box store like Wal-Mart and find relatively inexpensive packs. However, if it’s possible, visit an outdoor specialty store, such as REI or Mountain High Outfitters. These specialty shops carry higher-quality packs that fit better and are more durable. Granted, if you’re doing short day hikes, you can get away with using a lower-quality pack. But, for long treks and serious backpacking, you definitely want to invest in a superior product. When you’re walking for hours or days, your backpack will greatly impact the way you feel on the trail, especially if you’re carrying a heavy load.
When you visit a specialty store, you’ll find not only top-quality products but also staff members who are trained to help you choose the right pack. Plus, a well-trained employ can also instruct you on the proper way to adjust your pack and customize the fit.
2. Tell the Salesperson How You'll Use the Pack
As you’re shopping, tell the salesperson the types of trips you’ll take with the pack, because this will help determine what size pack you should buy. Companies offer packs in different volumes, usually expressed in liters or cubic inches. For example, you might choose a small 20-liter daypack for exploring the trails around Huntsville. For a weekend excursion to the Sipsey Wilderness, you could carry a 30- to 40-liter pack. For a weeklong backcountry trek, you might carry a large 60-liter pack. While volume is a chief concern, the weight of the pack can also be important. Often, thru-hikers seek out packs made with ultra-light materials so they can shoulder a lighter load while hiking hundreds of miles.
3. Discuss Other Features that are Important to You
Help the salesperson narrow the choices by discussing things that you would prefer. For example, do you want an external-frame pack (more ventilation) or an internal-frame pack (more custom fit, lighter weight, better load distribution)? Also, some folks want a pack that holds a hydration reservoir, while others prefer to only carry water bottles. You can get a pack that’s accessible only through the top, or one with multiple access points. Or, maybe you want multiple external pockets to organize your gear. Also, if you’re hiking in Alabama, you will likely encounter warm weather, so look for a pack that offers ample ventilation for your back. Even in winter, you’ll deal with humidity, and a well-ventilated pack will prevent sweat from pooling on your back, which robs you of body heat. You might ask the salesperson to show you two or three models to help you decide.
4. Have the Salesperson Measure Your Torso
Some backpacks (typically those with higher volumes) are available in a few sizes (small, medium, large) to fit different body types. A salesperson can determine the size you need by measuring the length of your torso, from your hips to the base of your neck. Manufacturers provide outdoor specialty stores fitting guides so a salesperson can easily match your torso size to the appropriate pack size. Keep in mind that some pack makers also offer shoulder straps and waistbelts in a couple of sizes to accommodate different body types.
5. Try on the Pack With Some Weight in It
The salesperson should fill the pack with about 20 pounds of weight and then let you try it on. Ask the staff member to show you the proper sequence for adjusting the waist belt, hip straps, shoulder straps, sternum strap, and load-lifter straps. When all the straps are secure, the salesperson should ensure that the pack sits properly at the shoulders and hips. This is also an excellent time to get advice on properly packing your gear to balance the load effectively.
6. Wear the Pack in the Store for a While
Tell the salesperson you want to wear the pack and walk around the store for several minutes. Pay attention to how it feels and ask for help if you need to adjust the various straps to balance the load between your shoulders and hips.
6. Don't Forget Accessories
Ask the salesperson to show you any accessories you might need, such as a rain cover for your pack, a hydration reservoir, or extra straps to lash things to the pack.
As you're considering which pack to buy, keep something in mind—In our everyday lives, we don't typically walk around for hours with a load on our back, so it's easy to overlook how much your pack will affect your hike. Over the course of a few hours or a few miles, a seemingly small annoyance, like an ill-fitting waist belt, can become painful and ruin your day outdoors.
But, if you follow these shopping tips, you'll be much more likely to hit the trail with a pack that fits well and holds everything you need to travel safely and comfortably.
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