This is the third of three “Fit” sections and it refers to the capacity of your pack. It is important to have a pack that fits your body but it is also important to be sure that your pack fits the use you are buying it for. It does you no good to have a pack that is comfortable and has the perfect suspension system if it does not hold the things you want to carry or if it is twice the size you would ever need.

A good rule of thumb is to start out with an idea of what you are going to use the pack for and how much stuff you are carrying. If you have your other gear (sleeping bag, pad, tent, stove, etc.) already you can put it all in a pile and measure the size of the pile. Most of us get the pack first and then think about the stuff that goes into it. Another way to gauge the pack size is to take a look at the following categories and pick the one that best applies to you. If you are interested in Ultralight packing, take a look at our Primer (in progress) on that subject when it is posted.

1.) Mimimumalist: 3000 to 3500 cu. in. (50 to 60 L) most appropriate for persons who are likely to only do weekend trips, use ultra light gear, a small person, compact gear, short trips. This type of pack is also good for the ultra light traveller to use as a carry on. It can also double as a summit pack on those bigger expeditions.

2.) Lightweight: 3500 to 4000 cu. in. (60 to 70 L) this range is still great for short trips, lightweight gear, and works well for the person who is travelling with another person who can share the group gear load. This is as large as can be used for carry on travel.

3.)Mediumweight: 4000 t0 5000 cu.in. (70 to 80 L) Those of you who have been backpacking for years might find yourself scaling back to this catgeory. We don’t go on overly long trips. A week is a really long time and we tend to keep it to three or four days. We may also go for a weekend trip in the winter where we need more space for all the extra gear. This size pack is also good for the long trail hiker who wants to keep it light but may have long streches of no supply and has to carry a week or more worth of food.

4.) Heavyweight: 5500 to 7000 cu. in. When you see the guy (sometimes it’s a girl but not very often) who has every possible thing with them, they are probably carrying this size range pack. This is the one that the Dad or Mom who carries all the food, the tent, kitchen, and sometimes the kids sleeping bags as well as his or her own. It is also the size pack you might take on a full blown expedition. If you are shopping for this type of a pack, I recommend that you make sure that the place you buy it has a reasonable return policy and that you have some time to try it on with all of your stuff in it. Fit is crucial for this type of a pack and you should avail youself of all the help picking it out as you can.

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Pack size refers to how it fits on your body. It is a common mistake to think that the size of a pack is related to the height of a person. While this may indeed be true, the actual measurement is based on the length of your back. If you have long legs your “torso measurement” tends to be shorter than it is for a person with short legs. The torso measurement is made from the 7th vertrbrae (that is the bump on the back of your neck when you put your chin down to your chest) to the top of your “Illiac Crest”(this is the highest point of your hip bones and can be found by sliding your hand down your rib cage underneath you arm until you encounter your hips).

This measurement is usually between 14 and 22 inches. I recommend that you get professional assistance if you can or at least have a friend do this. If you are unsure, get a second opinion, or a third. It is very hard to measure your own back since you cannot read the tape measure when it is behind your head!

OK, now that you have your measurement, it is time to go shopping, right? Well not quite. Stay with me for just a few more points.

It is important to understand the difference between a cheap pack and an expensive one. It is not “Brand Name” that makes the difference in price, it is more often the difference in how a pack is made and how adjustable it is. Usually the better name manufacturers use better materials, and have greater adjustability or fit options available.

Lets look at shoulder harnesses first. Some brands use a system that allows you to adjust the location, angle and length of their shoulder harnesses, some offer different sizes and others have fixed harnesses. If the fixed shoulder straps fit you, fantastic. You are lucky and will save some money since it costs more to make them adjustable. The harness should have a countour that clears your neck and curves back in front creating an S shape. It should sit fairly flat on your shoulder and not bite on either side. I recommend that you avoid straps that have a rolled edge. They may look more durable but those edges can be hard and create pressure points. Womens straps are usually narrower and the S shape is more pornounced. The padded part of the strap should not extend too far in front but should reach at least a few inches past your arm pit. It should attach to the pack in badk at a point level with or below the top of your shoulder and should have an additional strap that brings the load in toward your body. This is called a load control strap and it should attach to the shoulder strap at the top of your shoulder.

Finally lets look at the waist belt or hip belt. The padded portion of the hip belt should extend past the front of your hip bones but not too far. It should cradle your illiac crest (the TOP of your hip bones) without putting pressure on one point and should not push into your ribs. When fastened, it should transfer nearly all of the weight of your pack on to the hips with only 15% to 20% on your shoulders. Many manufacturers offer womens and mens packs or harnesses while some allow the hip belt to adjust to different angles to accomodate different ammounts of hip flare.

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General Considerations

The backpack is simply a backcountry device used to transport all your gear from point A to point B. However, choosing the specific backpack to accomplish this task is not so simple. Infact, it can be down right complicated. You must consider such variables as internal or external framed, load distribution, size, capacity, fit, comfort, durability, and price. Trying to find a pack that accomodates all of these variables to meet your specific needs can be time consuming and frustrating. But, making sure you purchase the right pack will pay off after you’ve left the roadside and are miles down the trail. The following information might help you when searching for that perfect backpack-if one actually exists.

Internal or External Frame

For several years now it seems that the buying trend with packs has shifted favorably to internal frame backpacks. However, when purchasing a new backpack remember to consider the external frame pack as well. These packs have been around many years and have proven themselves as worthy performers in the backcountry.
The main consideration when purchasing a pack is the terrain that you will encounter. The weight in an external frame pack is loaded high in the pack causing the pack and you to become top heavy. This offset results in poor balance. Thus, easy terrain with well-maintained trails is where a hiker would best employ an external frame packpack. However, when the terrain is steep and rough or your adventure takes you off-trail then an internal frame pack is the best choice. The internal pack is loaded with your heavy gear against your back. This helps maintain your center of gravity making it easier for you to scramlbe over boulders, negotiate rugged terrain or whatever is in your way without losing your balance. If you plan hike over both “mild and wild” terrain then opt for the internal frame backpack because it performs well in both environments.

Load Distribution

Also, consider the load distribution of each type of backpack frame. With an external frame pack the weight is transferred from the pack to the metal frame. The metal frame is designed so that most of the pack’s weight is shifted to the hip-belt and off the shoulders and back. If you are prone to back and shoulder fatigue then this might be the frame type for you. The internal frame pack is designed so that the pack’s weight is more evenly distributed among the hip-belt, shoulders and back. Most packs are adjustable so that their weight can be shifted from hips to shoulders or the opposite. Internal frame packs tend to be more “fine tunable” than external frame packs. Also, make sure the pack you select has a sternum strap. This strap connects the shoulder straps together near the center of your chest and adds to the adjustablity of a pack.

Size and Capacity

Your length of stay in the backcountry and the season of the year will mostly determine the size and capacity of your backpack. Typically, for a weekend or half-week trip a 4000-5000 ci internal frame or a 3,000 ci external frame will suffice. When going on an extended trip (a week or longer) a 6000+ internal or a 4000+ external will be needed to carry the extra food and gear required for longer excursions. If your backpacking in the winter add atleast 500-1000 ci to both types of packs to accomodate bulkier clothing and a warmer sleeping bag. (Note: The reason why the external pack’s capacity is lower than the internal’s is because your sleeping bag, tent, sleeping pad, etc. are usually loaded on the inside of an internal pack. The same items can be attached to the frame of an external pack so the actual pack itself need not be as big.)

Comfort, Fit and Durability

Comfort and fit are probably the two most important factors to consider when purchasing a backpack. The best advice to take is try before you buy. A good sales clerk can assist in properly fitting a pack to your body dimensions. Also, most good outfitting stores will load their packs with sand bags or other objects of weight to simulate a realistic load that you would haul in the backcountry. This will make the decision process alot easier. Try the loaded pack on, walk around. Try to find a hill or uneven terrain nearby the store to test the pack’s load hauling characteristics. Can you maintain good balance? Can the pack be easily adjusted to improve the fit or shift the weight of the load without taking it off? Leave the pack on as long as possible to get as good of an indication as possible that the pack and your body are somewhat compatable. If you have any doubts-don’t buy! Wait until you are completely sure and confident in your final choice. After purchasing the pack, load it with gear and take a practice run, maybe a day hike or just around the backyard, to really get a feel for the pack.
Concerning durability there are several things to notice on a pack to gauge it’s quality and craftsmanship. Observe the stitching. Good packs will be double-stitched to improve durability as well as strength. Also, the fabric type will determine durability. Cordura is a very tough fabric employed by most good pack manufacturers but is heavy. Most all harness systems and waistbelt are made from Cordura. Packcloth (ripstop nylon) is not as durable as Cordura but can hold its own and is not as heavy. Alot of pack makers use a combination of fabric types to reach a compromise between durability and lightness.

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