Backpacks: what you need to know

Size

The manufacturer specifies the backpack volume in litres. You don’t want to carry a backpack that’s too big – it just means extra weight. But you’ll want to be able to stow the equipment you need. The following overview is a rough guide to how much volume you’ll need for different activities.

• Day trip hiking: 15–30 litres

• Multi-day hut tour without tent: 30–40 litres

• Multi-day tour with tent:: 40–60 litres

• Multi-day trekking tour with tent or backpacking: from 50 litres

• Long-distance hike (e.g. the Way of St James pilgrim’s route) with tent and stove: 35–45 litres

• Backpack for cycling or mountain biking: 15–20 litres

• Ski tour:  20–30 litres

• Child’s backpack: 5–15 litres

Material

Most backpacks are made of synthetic fibres, often nylon or polyester. Nylon is high-quality material that is tear and abrasion resistant, but it’s usually a bit more expensive. Polyester is cheaper, but the fabric is more likely to tear.

It’s worth taking a closer look at the weaving technique. With what’s called ripstop fabric, a stronger thread is woven in at regular intervals, about every five to eight millimetres. This increases the material’s resistance, making it more tear-proof. You can recognise this weaving technique by the fine check pattern created by the woven-in thread.

For an everyday backpack, you have a wider choice of materials, such as cotton or leather. These backpacks are generally heavier in comparison and less suited to mountain tours.

Weight

The carrying frame is the main thing affecting the weight of the backpack. You’ll often find that very lightweight models don’t have an aluminium frame. This is especially convenient for hiking backpacks if you want to get around quickly and easily en route. But if you’re carrying a heavy load, for example on a longer trip, the heavier frame weight may prove worthwhile as this is more comfortable to carry.

The same goes for a loaded backpack: If you aren’t that fit, don’t carry more than a quarter of your body weight on your back. But you can take up to a third of your weight if you frequently carry a backpack and your body is used to it. Still, the golden rule is less is more, and there’s almost always some weight that you can cut down on. When packing, make sure you keep heavy equipment as close to your back as possible. How you pack your backpack affects your body’s centre of gravity and with it your balance and footing.

Carry system

If you’re only carrying minimal weight, the carry system is less important. For longer trips involving more weight, it’s a bit different. A good carry system ensures better weight distribution. This ensures the weight doesn’t just rest on your shoulders, but rather that a large part of it is shifted to your hips.

For this to work, the length of the backpack must fit as closely as possible to your back length. This is why we advise you to try out a weighted hiking or trekking backpack before you buy it. Our branches allow you to test out packing backpacks and see if there is enough room for equipment such as tents or stoves. Having weight in the backpack is the best way to sense whether the hip belt, for example, really relieves weight from your shoulders. To do this, first loosen all the carry system’s straps. Afterwards, fasten the hip belt so that it rests centred on the front pelvic bone. Then tighten the shoulder straps and finally the straps leading from the top of the backpack to the shoulder. The backpack should now sit against your shoulder blades. Keep your back straight and your head and neck free to move. Finally, fasten the chest strap.

Something else to note: backpacks either have a contact back system or a mesh back system. The former has the backpack resting directly on the back. The latter has a mesh back and the backpack itself is slightly angled away: the benefit of this is better back ventilation and less sweating. However, if you’re carrying a lot of weight, the mesh back will pull you backwards because of the distance between your back and the backpack. This makes the weight feel heavier. If you are carrying more than seven kilograms, it is better to carry a backpack with a contact back.

Backpacks and rain

Waterproof backpacks often have just a few outer pockets. This reduces the risk of water getting in. To close them, you usually roll them up from the top like a drybag. 

Most hiking backpacks are at least water-repellent. But a rain cover will make your backpack waterproof if you’re out in the pouring rain. Some backpack models come with a rain cover. Also, you can stow equipment that mustn’t get wet in plastic bags or drybags.