Hiking Backpacks 101: Where Quality Meets Style

Imagine the scenario of being on a 10-mile hike or camping with your family and you have to carry all the essential camping gear and hiking equipment in your hands or a regular backpack. Sounds like a nightmare, right?

Having a reliable backpack specifically designed for the purpose, on the other hand, allows you to carry all the necessary items you need for a day out on the trail, plus the specialized equipment like trekking poles or an ice axe.

But, where to find such a backpack? Although the market is flooded with a wide range of models, and brands, to make the right choice you need to have enough information about the different types of backpacks, their features, and their best use.

What to Look for in an Outdoor Backpack

Whether, camping or hiking, shop for quality backpacks Australia-wide to carry your outdoor gear in all-day comfort. Before purchasing, consider what your pack’s main purpose will be. Do you prefer weekend warrior camping activities or longer hiking trips? Do you need a simple pack that can survive just one hike, or do you hope your camping backpack will last for years?

Next, focus on the types of features you want your backpack to include, such as the load-carrying and volume capacities, pockets, compartments, weight, materials, ease of use, and closure systems. And what’s most important comfort always comes first!

Types

The first aspect to consider when shopping is the type of backpack you’ll require. This will greatly be influenced by the duration of the trek. Are you planning a day hike with overnight camping or are you camping for several days to use your backpack for challenging terrain and summit climbs that call for carrying extra gear?

Daypacks are suitable for weekend getaways and day treks. They can support a 5-kilogram load and are transportable. Always look for a model with a hip belt to distribute the weight equally. There are 20 to 30-litre sizes available.

Larger back packs of 40, 50, and 60 litres are suitable for expedition-style journeys. These can support machinery weighing 8 to 13 kg. To help with weight distribution and reduce pain, wider straps and hip belts are also added.

In this regard, a 40–50 L backpack may be suitable for a weekend hike. For an ascent that takes around five days to accomplish, a 60 L model is required. These backpacks are ideal for trips that last more than a day or two and up to a week.

You will need to carry more weight on longer excursions, though. Backpacks designed for this purpose are typically more durable and capable of supporting heavier loads. These expedition models come in many sizes, including 70, 80, and 90 L, and they can hold up to 30 kg in weight.

Features

Frames

An outdoor backpack may come with an internal or external frame or be frameless. Models with internal frames cling to the body while hiding the frame inside the back panel. They come with a variety of load-supporting features designed to disperse stress to the wearer’s hips and keep a hiker stable on shaky, uneven terrain.

Backpacks with an outer frame make the external equipment that supports the load visible. This equipment is often constructed of aluminium. Because the frame extends beyond the pack, a model like this can be a suitable alternative if you’re hauling a large, uneven load like an extra-large tent or inflatable kayak. External-frame options also offer a variety of alternatives for organizing your gear and sufficient ventilation.

A frameless pack or a pack with a detachable frame may be ideal for those who wish to hike rapidly and lightly. However, carrying heavy objects is much less comfortable with frameless backpacks.

Ventilation

Some packs incorporate a hanging mesh back panel to alleviate sweaty back syndrome, which is frequent with internal-frame packs that ride against your body. This “tension-mesh suspension,” which resembles a trampoline and rides a few inches away from your back, rests against the highly breathable mesh. Some packs will incorporate ventilation tubes—often referred to as “chimneys”—on the back panel to alleviate the same issue.

Pockets

When looking for quality backpacks Australia-wide think about whether you like to go big or settle for a more compact option. This means evaluating each pocket on your backpack, its size and position. For instance, elasticized side pockets rest flat when empty but expand out to carry a water bottle, tent poles, or other loose goods when they are filled. You can frequently reach them while carrying the rucksack.

Hipbelt pockets, on the other hand, can accommodate little items you might need when hiking, such as a phone, snacks, lip balm, or sunscreen. Initially used to hold snow shovels, shovel pockets are necessary flaps with buckle clasps on the front of a pack. They are now common on 3-season packs and serve as storage compartments for items like maps, jackets, and other loose, light equipment.

Another excellent choice to take into account are the top lid pockets, also referred to as the “brain” of the pack. For goods like sunglasses and a torch, some hikers prefer a top cover with multiple compartments, while others prefer one opening.

Fit

Once you’ve chosen the style of backpack you need, the next step is to select the right fit. It should fit comfortably based on your torso length and hip circumference, not on your height.

Some packs are available in a range of sizes to fit torso lengths ranging from extremely small to huge. These ranges depend on the type and the manufacturer. Additionally, if you’re in between sizes, you can modify the suspension on many packs to accommodate your torso. They’re an excellent option for someone who might share a pack with relatives.