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Buyer's guide: Which backpack should I get?
Outdoor
24 oktober 2023
/
Written by Ilse
Looking for a backpack, but not sure what you need? We are happy to help you make your choice with the Snowcountry buyer's guide.
A backpack is a type of bag that is used for outdoor activities such as hiking, trekking, camping, and traveling. Additionally, at Snowcountry, you can also find backpacks designed specifically for touring, splitboarding, and climbing.
What to consider when buying a backpack?
Before purchasing a backpack, it's essential to determine the specific activities you'll be doing. Are you going for a short day hike, or planning longer multi-day treks? What items do you want to carry in your backpack?
Day hike
If you're going on a day hike for a few hours and want to carry food and water for the journey, you'll probably be fine with a backpack of about 20 to 25 liters. If you're not only carrying food and water for yourself but also for your whole family, you'll need a larger backpack. For longer day hikes with more gear, consider a backpack of around 35 liters.
If you plan to carry a lot of weight, it's essential to know that many of these smaller backpacks are designed to comfortably carry around 7 to 9 kilograms. Carrying significantly more weight can affect comfort. Heavier backpacks generally offer more features to distribute the load effectively on your back.
Multi-day treks
If you're going trekking, you'll typically need a backpack with a capacity of over 40 liters. The exact size you need depends on your trip and personal preferences. When trekking in a warm climate, you may need less clothing than when trekking in the mountains. Additional items like a tent, sleeping bag, or cooking equipment also take up space. The more gear you require, the larger your backpack should be.
But how many liters do I need for my backpack?
It's always a challenge because some people need more gear than others. Our advice to determine the size of the backpack you need is to check if you have a backpack at home for which you know or can find the volume in liters. Gather the items you want to take on your trip and put them in the backpack. Make an estimate. How much space are you lacking, or how much space do you have left? This way, you'll know how many liters more or less you need.
For example, if you have a 20-liter backpack, and only half of your items fit inside, then you should be looking for a backpack of around 40 liters. If you have a 60-liter backpack at home, and you only need half of it, then you can consider a 30-liter backpack.
A 60-liter backpack has literally twice as much space as a 30-liter backpack. So, pack your items and make an estimate based on what you need. When in doubt, it's better to choose a backpack with a bit more capacity.
Why not choose a much larger backpack?
Why not simply go for the biggest backpack available? That way, you'll be sure to have enough space, right? This is not recommended. The construction of a backpack is designed to provide optimal carrying comfort for a certain number of liters. If you fill an 80-liter backpack with only 40 liters of gear, the backpack will be unbalanced, and you'll never achieve a comfortable fit.
Traveling with your backpack? Choose a travel pack
If you plan to travel by plane, train, or bus, it's a good idea to consider a travel pack. The travel pack is similar to a trekking backpack but is specifically designed to efficiently stow the carrying system. This allows your travel pack to smoothly go through baggage claim or fit easily in limited storage space, such as on a train or bus.
Protect your backpack with a flight bag
If you don't have a travel pack and are traveling with a regular backpack, it's wise to protect it from damage during transport. This is especially important for the shoulder straps and hip belt (the carrying system). You can easily do this with a flight bag or transport cover. A flight bag is a cover that zips around your backpack. Using a flight bag ensures your backpack is always lifted as a whole and not by, for example, one of the shoulder straps. Moreover, a flight bag usually comes with a lock, providing better protection against theft.
What size backpack do I need?
The size of your backpack depends on your torso length, which you can easily measure at home using a tape measure. Measure the distance between the seventh cervical vertebra (C7) to the top of your hip bone.
Step 1: Locate your seventh cervical vertebra
Find the protruding vertebra in your neck; this is your seventh cervical vertebra.
Step 2: Locate the top of your hips
Place your hands under your ribcage, with your thumbs pointing towards your back and the other fingers pointing forward. Lower your hands until they reach your hips.
Step 3: Measure the distance between C7 vertebra and hip's top
Measure the distance between the C7 vertebra and the imaginary line between your thumbs. It's essential to keep your back straight while doing this. Having a friend's assistance can be helpful in the last step, as it can be challenging to keep your spinal column straight when measuring on your own.
Step 4: Sizes and fits by brand
Each brand uses its own sizes and fits. If there's no information about the backpack's size on our website, you can assume it's a size M or Regular. If you'd like more information about sizes and fits from a particular brand, many brands provide information on their websites. To make it as easy as possible for you, here's an overview with direct links to the relevant pages:
- Bach equipment
- Blue ice
- Deuter
- Exped (see: What is the back length of my backpack?)
- Gregory
- Rab and Lowe Alpine
- Osprey
Beware the centimeters of your torso length are not the same as the length of the backpack's back panel.
Why choose a women's backpack?
Many backpacks have versions designed for both men and women. Women's backpacks are typically more compact in shape and intended for shorter torso lengths. Additionally, these backpacks have an ergonomically designed carrying system perfectly shaped for a woman's body. For instance, the shoulder straps are S-shaped, curving outward. The angle of the hip belt is slightly different to optimize comfort. Lastly, women's backpacks usually have slightly thicker padding on the hip belts.
Backpack features
The specific features your backpack needs depend on its purpose and your personal preferences. You can consider storage and comfort. Here are some key features to consider:
Storage
- Elastic side pocket for a water bottle
Almost every backpack comes with an elastic side pocket to store a water bottle. This is an essential feature for most outdoor activities. - Space for a hydration system
A hydration system eliminates the need for separate water bottles. It also allows you to drink without stopping. The compartment for hydration systems is typically positioned close to your back to carry the extra weight comfortably. - Hip belt with pockets
Larger backpacks often have extra pockets on the hip belt. It's always convenient to have additional accessible pockets while hiking. - Accessibility
Some backpacks offer extra zippers to access the main compartment, so you can reach items at the bottom without unpacking everything. - Front and side pockets
Additional pockets are always helpful for organizing and easily accessing your gear. - External attachments
Especially when looking for a backpack for touring, splitboarding, or climbing, this is essential. External attachments can be used for attaching skis, a snowboard, an ice axe, or trekking poles, for example.
Comfort
- Hip belt padding
Larger backpacks typically feature padding on the hip belt, offering optimal carrying comfort. - Rain cover
Most backpacks come with a rain cover to protect your gear from getting wet during heavy rain. - Ventilation
Some backpacks have a back system designed for additional ventilation.
How to adjust a backpack?
Properly adjusting your backpack is crucial for a comfortable journey. An improperly adjusted backpack can lead to irritation, sore muscles, and even injuries. Below is a concise step-by-step guide to adjust your backpack. For a more detailed guide, read our article: How to adjust a backpack.
- Adjust the torso length (if applicable).
- Loosen all straps and buckles as much as possible.
- Put the backpack on your back, place the hip belt on your hips, fasten the buckle, and tighten it.
- Simultaneously tighten the shoulder straps until the backpack fits snugly on your shoulders.
- Fasten the sternum strap and adjust it so that the strap is under tension.
- Tighten the load-stabilizing straps to a snug fit.
- Ensure that all other straps on your backpack are lightly tensioned and not hanging loose.
- Check the fit by walking a short distance. Adjust the buckles as necessary.
- Before taking off your backpack, loosen the hip belt, shoulder straps, and sternum strap in reverse order. If you don't do this, it may be challenging to put the properly adjusted backpack back on later. If you put on your backpack again repeat steps 3 through 5.
Note: Always lift your backpack by the loop between the shoulder straps, at the height of the buckle, to prevent damage to the carrying system.
How to pack a backpack for optimal comfort? Here are our Snowcountry tips!
- Gather all the items you want to take with you before starting to pack your backpack.
- Decide which items you want to keep within easy reach. You don't want to open your backpack every time you need something, so place items you'll need frequently, like food and water, in pockets you can easily access.
- For optimal comfort while carrying your backpack, it's essential to distribute the weight evenly. A backpack carries best when the heaviest items are placed as close to your back as possible, between navel height and the bottom of your shoulder blades. Lighter items should go above and below this area. Medium-weight items are best placed next to the heaviest ones. The farther you get from your back, the lighter the items should be. Here are some tips on how to achieve this most effectively.
It's handy to weigh all the items you plan to pack before starting. Group the heaviest items together and do the same for the lightest and medium-weight items.
With a weight center between navel and armpit height, in the middle against the spine, the backpack's balance is optimal, and you'll exert less effort. Therefore, start packing the bottom of the main compartment from the top, starting with the lightest items.
Lay the backpack flat on the back panel. This way, you can easily place the heaviest items in the center of the main compartment. Fill the space to the left and right of them with the medium-weight items. Then, while the backpack is still horizontal, add the lightest items on top.
Stand the backpack upright and fill the free upper part of the main compartment with more lightweight items. - Use all the compartments and pockets of your backpack to organize your belongings so you can easily find everything.
- Additionally, you can use compression sacks, dry bags, and organizers to effectively organize your belongings and keep them tidy.
Buying a backpack at Snowcountry
At Snowcountry, we offer a wide range of backpacks. You can find:
Do you have any questions after reading this article?
Please contact us for personalized advice. We are more than happy to help.
