posted by Travel Cat on May 26
Welcome to my Simple Rucksack Guide.
This start-up guide to rucksacks will cover the different types (or sizes) or rucksacks that you will find in outdoor or camping stores and it should allow you to get an idea of what size of bag you should buy depending on your needs.
Before we start though, just a note to explain that ‘litres’ is the term used to describe the volume of storage space within the bag when fully expanded. You will see all rucksacks have their size quoted in litres which is useful as a general guide, although nothing beats actually looking inside the bag for yourself.
Some brands may not have just one large internal space, but will have several compartments accessed in different ways, therefore reducing the overall size of you main compartment. So if you need to carry a laptop or larger item with you, make sure you check this before purchase.
Daysack - up to 35 litres:
These size bags are for day use only as a rule, as they only have a small amount of space within them. You should easily be able to fit food and drink into one of these, along with some essentials like notepads and waterproofs; with mobile phones, sunglasses and wallets in the side pockets. It is unlikely you will get a solid item of A4 size into one of these, but you may get lucky.
Cost: up to $90/£45
Hiking Pack - 35-50 litres:
These are usually for more serious walkers, either in towns or countryside and may well have extra straps for inserting overnight equipment or bladder packs. They are comfortably more than A4 size inside and can hold items such as laptops and cool bags for towns, or a day or twos’ clothes, sleeping bag and tent for the more serious!
As they are for the more adventurous, you may get the choice of your preferred ‘back system’ to reduce sweating (see below for further details). It may also have a chest strap for support when carrying and some can be found with the waist or hip belt if you prefer.
Cost: up to $200/£100
Rucksack - 50-70 litres:
This size bag is good enough for all adventures where you must carry enough belongings for several days in the field! It usually weighs about 20-30kgs when loaded for such trips, and has many compartments and attachments for camping essentials, like sleeping bags in the top flap, and ground mats secured to the bottom. Nearly all will come with a waist or hip belt for ease of carrying which you will no doubt use when walking, along with the essential and adjustable chest strap.
Make sure that a large bag like this fits you correctly when full before purchasing, otherwise you will not have fun on your walks and you may well end up not using the straps correctly, damaging no only the bag, but yourself if using it for long periods of time.
Cost: up to $240/£120
Travel Pack - 70-90 litres:
These are the largest backpacks available, so are designed with comfort in mind. You will not doubt only buy one of these if you are planning some longer journeys! They are very large and bulky when fitted and will hang way below your waist strap or up above your shoulders, so make sure you try these for size before investing to see if you can manage them.
They have all the normal attachments, pockets and extra compartments, but all are adapted for a travellers needs rather than just for show. The shape of the pack will also have considered the distribution of weight when full to ease the pressure on any one area of your shoulders or waist, and will have a suitable ‘back system’.
These larger packs usually have adjustable back systems where you can extend or contract them for your needs, therefore making the one size fits all mentality.
Many travel packs come with a zip-on day sack included so you don’t need to pack your own smaller day sack inside. Many travel packs also have fold-away straps as standard, this way they won’t get all caught up when storing the travel pack or putting it through as hold luggage. This also makes for easier transportation short term as you can carry it like a hold-all instead but without dragging miles of straps behind you!
Cost: up to $380/£190
Types of Back System:
Rucksack manufacturers are starting to develop better ways to shape and fit rucksacks on actual people, rather than just design styles with the right number of pockets or straps etc - and one of these improvements is with the ‘back system’.
Basically, many people who carry a bag on their back for any length of time whilst walking will generate sweat on their backs where the rucksack itself prevents the hot air from the body escaping, so there are now different styles of ‘back’ to prevent this if you need to.
The part of the rucksack that contacts your back should be padded for your needs - and there are now backpacks specially designed for women to take this into account. Smaller or larger people may find that the padding of some packs is not suited to their shape, so will need to try many types until they are satisfied.
There are 2 main types of back systems depending on your needs, one is the ‘channelled back’ which has grooves in the padding itself but retains it’s original shape, the other is the ‘airflow’ system where the rucksack is curved away from the back entirely and there is no padding at all. These mean that there is no contact at all between the back and the pack - however this does create a rather odd shaped internal compartment.
In Part 2 of your Ultimate Guide to Rucksacks, I will explain how to fit your rucksack and some packing tips.
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