Common Sense Backpack Purchase Tips

There are so many choices available for backpacks today that before looking at the details it can be helpful understand the basics, including something as basic as -- What are you going to use it for primarily?

• Weekend overnight trips?
• Day trips?
• Extending backpack adventuring?
• Lugging books to class?

First think about how much stuff you intend to carry and how much weight will be involved. That will probably be determined by how long you intend to hike and in what conditions. An overnight trip in an area with a snack bar, connivence stores or restaurants calls for one strategy, while a 100 mile trek far from civilization is something entirely different.

As a start, remember that you'll need around a gallon of water for each day. Depending on where you are heading and the availability of clean water, you may need to bring along quite a bit of liquid and that stuff is heavy.

Next you'll need around a pound of food for each day of your adventure. The more vertical your route the more calories you'll burn, so be sure you know what is ahead of you before you hit the trail.

Hiking is great exercise, however, you can put your health in danger by ignoring your body's need for salts and carbohydrates. Fluid intake is the most important element. Imbalances of electrolytes can leave you on the ground every bit as exhausted as a marathon runner.

Consider your overall level of fitness. If you're really fit, you can carry more weight farther. But don't go overboard. Experienced hikers minimize their load.

The load is sometimes called FSO (From the Skin Out) weight by those in the know. That's loaded backpack weight (20lbs to 50lbs or even more), socks and shoes (around 3lbs)... One sub-category is called pack weight, which includes just the contribution from an empty backpack. Pack weight varies by material, quantity of aluminum tubing incorporated into the frame, the type of fasteners, you know all of the stuff that makes the pack a pack.

You also need to think about how you will carry the weight. The majority of backpacks have a large number of internal and external pockets and flaps, as well as loops and buckles to carry add-ons.

The flaps can be the kind that flip over the entire pack, to keep out dirt or water. Smaller flaps are often used to cover buckles or other components that can produce discomfort or snag. Loops and buckles are used to allow you to carry hiking poles, bungee cords, tenting equipment, water bottles and so forth.

Plan to keep the overwhelming majority of the weight inside the pack. Doing otherwise shifts the center of mass making it harder to carry and maintain your balance.

Try a number of packs out before buying. Women or those with smaller than average builds in particular will want to be cautious, since even packs of the right size may not fit comfortably and comfort is vital to enjoying your hike. You'll be carrying it and the load hours and maybe days! Ensure that you have enough adjustment length on shoulder straps, belt loops and other elements to make the pack feel like an extension of your body. Take along some items to put in the pack to give you a realistic idea of how a loaded pack will actually feel and operate.