How To Choose A Right Backpack?
Mats Lundkvist
Undoubtedly, backpack is an essential gear for every outdoor
event to carry your world along with you. Experts believe that
when it comes to choosing a right backpack a good rule of thumb
is, "Buy right and pack light." There is a large variety
available in the market ranging from expensive to cheap,
lightweight to ultra-lightweight and highly fashionable to real
basic. So it may turn out to be a real daunting and challenging
task when it comes to choosing a right backpack for your
outdoor activity. Most of us don’t know what exactly a right
backpack is.
Well, a right backpack is the one that sits comfortably on your
shoulders and back and make you comfortable to carry your load
during long and short trips alike. To select a right backpack
you need to consider many things, such as comfort, load
distribution on your spine, important features and
functionalities you required in your back pack and finally the
budget. Among other things, comfort should be on your first
priority, because you are buying backpack for comfortable
journey. Therefore, to make a good selection decide which
feature is important for you, how long is your journey, what is
the actual weight you wish to carry etc.
Literally, there is a large variety available in the market to
choose from, such as crush resistance, frameless backpack,
internal & external backpack, lumbar & torso packs,
lightweight, single strap & double strap backpacks, infant &
child backpacks, hydration etc. Remember, they are all
different so try them actually to see which ones suit you
better. Before answering these questions, some important
elements should be considered, such as purpose of your trip,
duration of your trip along with the capacity you'll need and
the features you demand in a backpack.
First of all, remember the golden rule of backpacking “buy
right and pack light”. That means you should buy the right
backpack according to your needs and pack it light with
essential things only. A right backpack is the one with the
right size to fit your torso. It is the first and most
important step to safe backpack use. If you can bring one of
your friends with you while buying any backpack then it is ok,
otherwise ask the salesperson to help you measure your backpack
properly.
Next important point can be to purchase adjustable backpacks.
Nowadays market is full of good quality adjustable backpacks.
No doubt, adjustable back systems are great, but will cost you
a bit extra than your bulk standard pack. Actually, adjustable
backpacks will allow you to set the height and weight of the
pack in the perfect position on your back. Either you can set
it yourself or ask your friend or salesperson to adjust and fit
your pack on your back by sliding it up and down until you are
comfortable. So, when you feel it is right, you lock it off.
Next is to choose the correct frame size. Remember every
backpack is useless (regardless of your good height and top
quality of backpack) unless it has a correct frame size
according to your body and shape. Gone were the days when
people think ‘one-size-fits-all’—it far from the truth. Experts
strongly believe that your torso size and your overall height
are two completely separate measurements when it comes to
backpacks. Actually Wayne Gregory was the first backpack
designer who thought seriously about the importance of correct
frame size to fit your torso.
According to him, your correct frame size can be found by
measuring your torso from the seventh vertebra down the spine
to the point in the small of your back which is horizontally
level with the top of your hip bones. To find this point, use
your fingers to trace the hip bone upwards till you feel the
point where the top edge of your hip bones curve inwards, on
the side of the hip, creating something of a shelf. This
measurement is the torso length, especially useful to consider
those packs with non-adjustable back system. In fact this
system that is used throughout the outdoor industry today to
measure the exact body size and to determine the correct
frame’s size.
Similarly, another important consideration is proper fit of
waist belt by knowing its correct size. In simpler words, the
hip belt is meant for hips and not for your waist. Therefore
hip belt should rest on your hipbone, not on your waist,
because if it is on your waist then you will carry too much
weight on your shoulder. In the same way if it is too low, it
is bound to interfere with your walking. Quite frankly, both
are undesirable. Ideally with a full pack on, the top edge of
the waist belt should ride one inch above the top of the hip
bone. Lastly, you should also pay attention to shoulder straps.
These days many good quality backpacks are available in the
market with adjustable shoulder straps. Backpacks with
self-adjustable shoulder are regarded as top backpacks, because
in these backpacks the shoulder straps can be rotated to
accommodate individual neck and shoulder shapes.
Well folks, these were just few considerations for choosing a
right backpack for your hiking or trekking. Your backpack
contains all of your surviving things in a wilderness so you
always try to select a good and comfortable backpack. The only
cause behind the selection of an expensive backpack is comfort,
so while purchasing any backpack, do some research to find the
pack that's right for you.
About The Author: Passionate hiker and avid backpacker with
exceptional field experience. Lundkvist combines his education
and career with his love of nature and being outdoors. Trekking
is his call to fame. Find him at:
http://www.mytrekkingpoles.com
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