You will quickly discover that your chosen backpack will become the single most important purchase you will make before starting your journey.
The pack will hopefully be your buddy, but all too often a badly chosen pack can turn into your worst enemy. Take your time choosing for it will be well worth it.
Before buying your all important pack for this year’s trip, read the following article which covers some useful pointers to help with your decision making.
How big or how small
The very first thought that should cross your mind when choosing a backpack is its purpose. Get a feel for what you will want to put in it, try to understand the needs and then look to create a list of rucksacks that fit those needs. The list should contain backpacks big enough to hold all that you want to carry, but no bigger. Generally the bigger the pack the more you’re likely to want to fill it to the brim as you travel and this will make carrying the pack harder and harder. That being said, make sure you choose a pack that isn’t too small either as this will tempt you to overload the pack. This will result in an uncomfortable bag to carry with the added risk of items being broken.
There are several size choices on the market; you just need to decide which one is best suited to you based on your trip:
Daypacks (15 – 35L) – Ideally suited for day use or shorter trips as these packs are small and have limited to no internal frame to support weight. These packs do not come with waist straps to support the weight either so all the weight is supported purely by the shoulder straps.
Weekend Packs (35-55L) – These packs are designed for short weekend treks. It’s possible to feel comfortable wearing these packs for longer periods than the day packs, but they aren’t designed to take much weight. This makes the pack less durable than the backpacking packs.
Backpacking packs – (55-75L) – These packs in my opinion offer the best size option available for a backpacking or RTW trip. There are some people who manage to get by with the smaller weekend packs, but I personally feel these bags are just a little too small.
Expedition packs (75-100L) – For those looking to pack everything including the kitchen sink then these packs are for you. Personally I’m looking for a trip with fewer home comforts and a LOT less weight to carry with me.
Travel packs – These packs offer an interesting alternative to other packs by being designed in such a way that you can carry them like a backpack, but with the added advantage of being able to cover the shoulder straps. This helps to prevent them from being snagged on anything when not being carried. I did consider a travel pack for my companion as I love the front loading option these come with as opposed to the top loading option found on other pack types. The downside though is that these packs are more expensive, bulkier and are generally not built to withstand the heavy usage of a RTW trip with multiple day hikes incorporated into the journey.
Getting the right fit
One of the most important aspects of your pack purchase is the fit. There are many stores that offer to put some load into the pack as you try it on. If they don’t offer, ask or find a shop that will as the feel of your pack, even with 20lbs will be very different to when it’s empty. Some packs aren’t comfortable from the start and there are others that take a little while before realizing the same thing. If you can, wear the pack for a while as you walk around the shop looking at other items of interest. Before buying my latest pack I wore it for roughly thirty minutes with 20lbs loaded inside.
What to look for
Shoulder straps – Try to find packs with wide, well padded shoulder straps. The straps should keep the pack aligned centrally on your back allowing for a snug fit without any restriction to movement and should not rub or chaff.
Hip belt – This item of the backpack is often given little attention and yet is an essential part of the pack. It should be strong enough to withstand the weight of the pack and when used properly, transfer the weight from your back to your hips. This will greatly reduce any potential back strain when wearing the pack for long periods and thus greatly increase the comfort to the wearer. Try to find a pack that has a semi rigid hip belt with broad soft padding. You can find packs which have hip belts that can be heated and then worn to shape to the wearer’s hips as it cools. Remember that on large packs the hip belt is used as the main load bearing component so make sure you use it. You will certainly feel the difference.
Other straps - Look out for packs with side compression straps which after you pack can be pulled to reduce the size of your pack. This increases the stability of the pack and brings the load closer to your back making it easier to carry. There are various different methods to adjust straps so pay attention to those offered on the pack as some are easier to work with than others with some more rugged and built to last than others. Play around with the straps to make adjustments to the feel of the pack as you’re wearing it.
Pockets – Purchase a pack that has sufficient pockets for your needs. I’ve come accustomed to using a lid pocket on my pack as I find it invaluable for putting certain easy to reach items. Mesh pockets are often fitted to packs. I’ve not truly found a great use for these other than storing small wet clothing items such as an emergency poncho. There are packs which allow you to take the top pocket off and combine this with the hip belt to form another pack. Outer side pockets are also extremely useful for storing items that need to be accessed quickly. Often times these pockets have been used for storing water bottles, but this need has become somewhat obsolete with the increasing number of packs that now offer an internal pocket for putting a water bladder.
Compartments – If you opt for a top loading pack instead of a travel pack as described earlier, you really need to have at least two compartments which will permit you to access the pack from both the top and the bottom. You could then load your most used items into one of these compartments. Personally I simply load my sleeping bag into the bottom compartment for easy access. These internal compartments are usually designed so that you can either set them up to compartmentalize or not be used at all. This is useful if you have larger items that need to fit in the pack.
Back pads – Usually back packs come with a padded piece although packs of a higher quality also come with some form of ventilation built in. These versions often come with better ergonomic designs and raised foam sections which allow for much better airflow through the pack. This reduces sweat increases comfort and gives the wearer a much fresher feeling upon arriving at the destination.
Stays – Look for a pack with lightweight aluminum stays. These help to keep backpack shape and some are pre-curved which helps to improve comfort. Some of these stays can be big, bulky and heavy so look for the lightweight ones as they make a big difference.
Durability – Get up and personal with the pack and look for durable, water proof/resistant fabrics and well stitched seams. Take a look at where the straps attach to the main body of the pack. A strong pack should not show the stitching if the seams are pulled apart. The bottom of the pack should be made of a more durable fabric than the rest of the pack or at least be double layered to add additional durability at the packs base. Give a good tug on the zippers to make sure they are up to the job. After all these zippers will be opened and closed many times on a trip so test them to see if they feel rugged enough. Are the zipper handles big enough to get a padlock through them?
It may seem like a lot to consider when making your pack choice, but there is nothing worse than being out on the road in a foreign country and having to deal with an ill fitting pack or one that doesn’t serve your needs correctly. It’s true you can travel with any bag, but for a more comfortable journey then take the time to consider these things and I assure you, your trip will be a lot more fun.
We chose the following backpacks for our own round the world trip. I’m using the Aether 70 and Megan is using the Ariel 65. The packs come with many features, feel comfortable and are durable. Click the links below for a more detailed look at these packs.
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