Dawn breaks over a clear alpine lake. Its glassy surface perfectly mirrors the craggy peak towering above it, the air is completely still, and you are immersed in the moment. Here you are alone, yet connected to everything.
Unless you've had this backpacking experience for yourself, you have no way of knowing how peaceful and powerful the wilderness can be. But everything comes with a price, and to witness a scene like this firsthand you have to strap on a backpack and do some hiking.
Backpacking is perhaps the most rewarding activity to fill a summer weekend. The backcountry offers fresh air, scenery, exercise and a chance to clear your head. To really experience backpacking in the wild, a comfortable and appropriate backpack is a must. Within it you must carry your clothing, food, shelter and everything else you'll need in the wilderness, without making yourself too sore to enjoy the trip.
This backpack buying guide will help you figure out which backpack size to buy - both in terms of fit and capacity - and will point out features to look for based on the nature of your adventure. SierraTradingPost.com lists the torso range, the total capacity, and other specifications for every backpack we sell, so you can find the right pack easily once you know what you're looking for.
Selecting the appropriate backpack capacity is a balancing act. You need to carry all the essentials into the backcountry, but don't go overboard. an oversized backpack with lots of non-essential stuff just means extra weight and slower going.
When buying a backpack, you need to ask yourself two questions before anything else: how long is your typical backpacking trip, and which season do you usually prefer? Camping trip lengths and seasons may ultimately vary, but you generally know whether you're more of a summer weekend backpacker or a hardcore alpinist who likes to venture into the Rocky Mountains in all four seasons.
You want just the right size backpack to hold whatever you need. When in doubt, it's okay to go up a size in terms of capacity, though. You'll only be adding a little weight for quite a bit more room.
| Duration of Trip | Season | Best Pack Volume | |
| Cubic Inches | Liters | ||
| 5 Nights or More | Summer | 4000-5000 | 65-80 |
| Spring/Fall | Over 5000 | 80-90 | |
| Winter | Over 5000 | 80-90 | |
| 3-5 Nights | Summer | 3000-4000 | 50-65 |
| Spring/Fall | 4000-5000 | 65-80 | |
| Winter | Over 5000 | 80-90 | |
| 1-2 Nights | Summer | 2500-3000 | 40-50 |
| Spring/Fall | 3000-3500 | 50-55 | |
| Winter | 4000-5000 | 65-80 | |
| Day Hike Only | Summer | 1500-2000 | 25-35 |
| Spring/Fall | 2000-2500 | 35-40 | |
| Winter | 2500-3500 | 40-55 |
Note: Keep in mind that cold-weather trips require additional clothing, thicker sleeping bags, etc., which require more room in your pack. Also, keep in mind that some hikers eat more food or wear larger clothing, so will need more capacity in their pack.
If you take short day hikes in warmer weather, you may prefer a simple daypack or fanny pack (lumbar pack) to carry essentials like food and water. Daypacks are essentially small backpacks, while fanny packs are just the right size for a few essentials and allow more ventilation than other packs.
A backpack frame transfers the weight of the load to the hips and maintains a pack's shape. Almost all packs today are internal frame backpacks, with traditional external frame backpacks becoming less popular. Internal-frame packs hug the body more than external-frame packs to offer better balance and easier movement, a feature you'll appreciate during off-trail activities like bushwhacking, mountaineering and backcountry skiing. On the other hand, external frame backpacks may offer more ventilation between your back and the pack, which can come in handy in really hot weather. They also are employed in very high-capacity backpack models.
While you can heft just about any pack onto your shoulders, sizing a backpack correctly will make a tremendous difference once you've traveled for miles with the pack fully loaded.
For the most comfort and ease of movement, you need to transfer most of a backpack's weight to where your body best bears a heavy load: your hips. In fact, about 80% of the backpack weight should rest on your hips. To achieve this, you just need to size your backpack correctly and make the right adjustments.
You know those thingies you put your feet into to determine your shoe size? Well, they don't make those for finding your best backpack size. You've got to do a little measuring for yourself.
Using a tailor's tape or other flexible tape, record these two measurements before shopping for a pack. If you don't have a flexible tape, you can use a piece of yarn or cord instead, then lay the marked length of yarn on a tape measure to determine the length. Note: It really helps to have someone assist you with these measures.
Always use the specific size guidelines listed for each backpack to determine your best pack size, not simply the general guide shown above. Also, realize that Sierra Trading Post does not offer torso measures or other fit guidelines for daypacks, only for backpacks. Because daypacks are so small and carry so little, manufacturers treat them as "one size fits all." Some smaller "backpacks" (less than 2000 cu.in.) are essentially daypacks, and will therefore also not show a torso size range on SierraTradingPost.com.
Even if you determine the perfect backpack size, every time you put your backpack on you'll need to make fit adjustments before you hit the trail. Always be sure some weight is in the pack before making any adjustments; for the initial fit at home, put 15-20 lbs. of weight in the pack and try to fill most of the volume. Sleeping bags and clothes should do the trick.
Note: The sternum strap is not designed to bear weight, but merely to keep the shoulder straps in place. If this strap constricts your breathing at all, it's too tight.
Most manufacturers now offer women-specific backpacks to better accommodate a woman's frame.
Backpacks run the range from simple rucksacks with a single large pouch to high-tech, feature-laden models that Q might design for 007 (minus the smokescreen and poison-dart features). Every backpack's main features will be listed in the pack's description. Many will come in very handy, so be sure to select a pack with the best features for your activity.
There are two main categories of backpacks in terms of main-compartment loading: top-loading and front-loading. Top-loading backpacks , which usually have a drawstring on top and a protective flap over the opening, are generally lighter and designed to stuff without spilling. Front-loading backpacks , which have a zip running down the front of the pack, allow easier gear access. Some packs combine to offer both top and front loading options.
An internal pack frame may be comprised of stays and/ or a framesheet. Stays are vertical rods or bars that act to maintain the pack's shape and keep the weight on your hips. A framesheet appears inside the back of some packs and is usually made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) or another composite. The framesheet is intended to prevent hard objects in your pack from poking you in the back.
Most backpacks coming out on the market today are "hydration compatible." For true hydration compatibility, a pack requires a few simple extras:
Note: Most backpacks are not sold with a full hydration system (i.e., reservoir, tube and mouthpiece), which needs to be purchased separately.
Attachment points refer to areas on a pack where you can tie, hang or clip gear. Parachute cord or carabiners can come in handy here. Examples include:
An integrated rain cover is an invaluable backpack feature for wet climates. The cover stows in a pocket on the pack for easy deployment when rain starts falling. These covers also are good in heavy brush to prevent your pack from snagging on the understory.
Some external-frame backpacks use a taut mesh fabric to create a pocket of air between your back and the pack, while many internal-frame packs use channels in the back padding to allow air flow. Also, any weight-bearing straps and padding that touch your body should breathe well and allow for ventilation, with a mesh construction.
In some backpacks, the lid or front compartment will detach to become a separate daypack or fanny pack. This is a great feature for longer backpacking excursions where you'll want to do a little light exploring near each campsite.
Compression straps allow you to tighten down the load for a smaller trail volume once the pack has been fully loaded. They are usually located on the sides of the pack.
A pair of mesh pockets on either side of the bottom of a backpack, located on the outside for easy access and the prevention of a wet inner pack.
Some specialized packs have straps designed to hold your skis during a winter ascent. Usually these straps orient the skis diagonally across your back.
Sierra Trading Post is a proud sponsor of Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics. Please follow the seven principles outlined below to ensure future enjoyment of your favorite hiking trails.
