What's Important in a Backpack?

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Laurel Angrist, our first-issue When in Home writer, uses an Eagle Creek pack.

“I really like the way it zips open entirely like a suitcase. It makes it really easy to get at stuff,” she said.

Hiking backpacks, on the other hand, usually have a top opening and several pockets and hoops to attach ropes, sleeping bags, and other accessories.

Speaking of zippers—The bigger the better, and if they are set away from the seam they probably won’t jam as much. Zip and unzip the pack a few times quickly. If it catches at all or doesn’t seem to zip smoothly move on to another pack—a zipper that gets stuck or stops working basically nullifies carrying anything in your pack.

Whether it’s a travel or hiking backpack, you’ll need to know how long you’re going for so that you can choose the proper size. To give you a better idea, here are some figures that REI provides on its website:

Unless you intend to cart around your entire closet, 3,000 to 5,000 cubic inches is more space than you’ll ever need.

Amy Loftsgordon, our Health writer this month, uses a Mountainsmith Wraith pack that holds 1,750 cubic inches, and weighs a little over 2 pounds. She’s taken her pack to Peru, Chile, Ecuador, and Nicaragua.

“I chose the Wraith after lugging around a monstrous Eagle Creek hiking pack on several trips where I found the size to be a nightmare to deal with—it didn't fit on buses easily, it was too heavy, and I didn't feel agile enough when carrying it. After downsizing from a humongous hiking pack to this smaller pack, I would never use anything larger again,” she said.

Laurel Angrist also realized that size matters when it comes to backpacks. Choosing a backpack that is too big for you can make the pack very cumbersome.

“I wish the belt strap was a little higher up. I'm only 5'2" so it sits a little low—even with the straps fully adjusted,” she said.

According to Nick Lazarou, a chiropractor in San Francisco, “backpacks should never hang more than four inches below your waistline; otherwise, this will cause forward leaning when walking to support the weight.”

“Backpacks should have a lumbar support—a pad which braces against the lumbar spine to keep the curve of the spine intact,” he said.

Weight

Now that you have a better idea of how big your backpack should be, let’s talk weight.

“To be comfortable and to reduce the risk of injury, backpacks should weigh between 10 and 15 percent of your body weight—so if you're carrying around a 25 pound backpack, you should weigh between 166 and 250 pounds,” Lazarou said.

So, look at the piles of clothes you were thinking about taking and put half of it back in your closet. Trust me; you won’t miss the extra weight when you’re walking in sand in Southern Thailand trying to find a hostel in 100 degrees weather and 70 percent humidity.

Also, remember that carrying a backpack isn’t just about the piece of fabric on your back. It’s also about you and your body, the other important piece of equipment when you travel.

Stretching those muscles and taking regular rest stops are good ways to keep from putting too much stress on the human machine.

Part of Lazarou’s prescription as a chiropractor is rest breaks as soon as the muscles in your back feel too stressed. If the thought of taking a breather occurs to you, it’s time to take a break, he said, noting that 15 extra minutes on the hike in resting time is much better than a day or two in the hostel recuperating from pulled muscles.

“Stretch your hamstrings and low back as often as possible—tight hamstrings will cause pulling on your lumbar spine, and if your lumbar spine begins to tighten up, it will be more difficult for you to continue your journey,” he said.

Pockets, Loops and Other Features

Backpacks features include: expandable pockets, inside compartments, mesh bottle holders, and loops to attach things like a sleeping bag or jacket.

Nicole Peterson, a Seattle native, has traveled with her JanSport Europe pack in Germany, Austria and all over the US. She loves the expandable bottom, but, she said, “I wish it had more pockets and compartments for storage space, a larger day pack for storing dirty clothes, gifts, etc.”

Amy’s pack has plenty of pockets: “[there are] two main compartments—, one small, an interior hydration pocket, which I use as a storage compartment, as well as mesh water bottle holders, which can serve for storage since they cinch shut, and lots of loops for attaching items—just carabineer them on. Also, there is an external bungee strap where you can fit a jacket or sweater for easy accessibility.”

If you are planning a hiking or rock climbing trip, make sure the backpack you choose has all the loops and pockets you need. If it’s backpacking you’re planning, you may want to check that all the pockets and compartments can be locked.

Amy Belden, a Bay Area resident, recently came back from a year of teaching in France. She used a small North Face daypack when traveling in Europe.

“When I traveled, I often kept valuable items in my backpack,” she said, “I found it convenient to put the most valuable items in the main pocket, then lock the zippers together with a tiny lock I purchased at a luggage store. This came in handy when I spent a night in an airport in Germany—I was able to use my backpack as a pillow, and not worry about someone trying to quietly unzip it while I slept! I also like being able to store different things in the various pockets— (one pocket for clothes, one for cameras, one for maps or books.”

You can also check luggage stores for a wire net that wraps around your backpack. You can use this when traveling or when you need to leave your pack in your room. For extra safety, you should probably can attach the net to a piece of furniture in the room to keep someone from walking away with your pack and opening it at their convenience.

External or Internal Frame

I would advise a backpack with an internal frame. External frames are bulky and uncomfortable, plus, if you have a small build, you’ll find that most external frames are too big for you.

Nick Lazarou said, “internal frame is heavier due to the extra padding which contours to the shape of your back, but, it’s more comfortable to wear. They mold to your back, giving you a larger surface area to carry the weight on, instead of just to the shoulders and waist. That way, you’re less likely to become sore on your shoulders and waist from wearing the internal-framed backpack. On the other hand, the external frame places pressure on specific pressure points, so it’s not as comfortable. The upside to the external frame is that they are lighter, and allow for air to circulate between you and the pack.”

Looks

Although a cool looking pack may seem important at home, once you’re on the road, you probably won’t care. As far as the color of the backpack, some travelers prefer a darker color of pack because they think it blends in and tends to get overlooked by roving eyes in favor of brand new, brightly colored packs that are near-impossible to not notice. Others think that bright packs are easier to identify once lost or stolen. The one thing everyone agrees on is comfort.

Laurel said, “people say I look like a turtle with my backpack on stuffed to full capacity. I'm sure I must move like one, too.”

Padded shoulder straps and waist straps will give you more comfort when walking.

Not only is a waist strap more comfortable, it can sometimes be used to secure your backpack. I found my waist strap to be extremely useful in Vietnam when a tout working on commission was desperately trying to get my backpack on his cyclo to drive me to his friend’s hotel.

Packing It In

Bottom line: No matter how long you’re planning on traveling, you want a backpack that will hold all the essentials without being cumbersome. Your backpack should be made of sturdy, washable material and its size should be proportionate to your build.

Choosing a backpack is not an easy task and you’ll find out that what works for others may not work for you. Take into consideration that when on the road, your backpack will be your closet, a pillow to sit or rest your head on, and a foot rest at times. It’s the thing you’ll see and use the most so make sure you really like it!

Try different types of backpacks, fill them up with clothes in the store, put them on, and walk around. That will give you an idea of what it will be like when you’re traveling.

One last thing—there’s no need to spend $300 on your pack. Follow Nicole Peterson’s advice, ”Go to the actual store, try everything on, ask lots of questions, and then go online to get the best price.”

Helene Goupil is the editor of InsideOut and has a number of backpacks.

Got a question? Ask us at editor@insideoutmag.com and see your name in print!

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