It is true that the choices of backpacks are tremendous, thus perhaps this article will help you weed through the many and narrow down your choice for you. First you need to consider why you need a backpack?
For instance, if you are a mountain climber, you will need a large backpack, but it needs to be extremely lightweight, and many of those can be stripped down to only 2 pounds even. If you climb mountains where the weather is going to be cold, you will need to be sure that you can undo any clasps with a gloved hand. Ideally, the backpack will be as waterproof as possible. You will also need to verify that you can reach into the appropriate pockets while wearing the backpack. For instance, you will need to reach your ice tools quickly and be able to put them back as well. This also applies to crampons.
Often someone purchases a small backpack that is not ideally suited for the purpose, such as the description of a mountain climber’s backpack, and thus must return it and exchange it for another, so take care in choosing one, and consider the reason for its use. Camping backpacks are different than mountain climbing ones, you’ll see. For instance a camper probably does not need the same backpack, as the mountain climber will, and possibly the need to be completely waterproof is not a life saving need.
Another point in choosing the “right” backpack for yourself is to keep in mind the purpose when choosing a color. A hunter who is going out in a forest armed to do hunting will not feel very safe in a brown backpack, for instance, or worse yet, in a camouflage one! Mountain climbers are often rescued only because their backpack stood out amidst the glaring snow if they have a bright orange or bright yellow backpack.
Be sure to buy the right size for the person. Not everyone is built like a 6’3” lumberjack. Some who use a backpack are 120-pound woman. Thus what fits one perfectly may not be correct for the next person. Choose wisely.
Lastly know that commercial backpacks have numbers on them, and why. For instance if you see a backpack that has 250 on it, you will know that represents the actual amount of the carrying capacity, shown in liters, that the bag can carry. Plan to fit the backpack to the amount of days you will be out, and if assorted items need to be carried, such as bear proof canisters for food! Ask the salesperson about these factors.
