Archive for the ‘Backpacks’ Category
Hiking is one of my favorite pastimes. While everyone else is out having beers on Friday night I am at home packing my hiking equipment for an early morning excursion. I consider myself an expert packer in these situations. I know exactly what to bring and where to put it.
But one thing always annoys me. The water bottle I clip onto the side of my hiking pack is always bumping into my hip and bruising me. That was the most convenient place to keep it however, so I never thought of doing anything else. That is, until I heard about the hiking packs that had a water bag built into them. These hiking packs are so easy to use and eliminate the hassle of a bulky water bottle.
Before heading out to any camping trip, make sure to bring the right gear for your weekend adventure. One of the backpacking basics is to look for backpacks are specially designed to carry loads of camping gears with less strain on your back. Modern day backpacks are made with super lightweight materials and yet are very strong. These backpacks are so comfortable; you will sometimes forget you’re carrying something on your back.
Before buying a pack, it is important to know the number of days you’ll be gone. A forty-liter-capacity pack is good for a weekend hiking trip. If you’re planning a longer trip, a sixty-liter-capacity can accommodate your gear for a weeklong expedition. Make sure to get a pack with good hip belt support. This channels the weight of the burden to your hip and lessens the strain on your back.
When I was a much younger man, about twenty-five, I decided to take about a month off work and do a portion of the Wonderland trail, which stretches from Mexico to the Cascade Mountains in Canada. It was a great backpacking experience, and definitely one of those experiences you remember forever. One of the purposes of the trip was to maintain a minimalist existence, so I brought along only the most basic backpacking equipment. I saw all kinds of wildlife, met fun people, and learned a lot about myself.
In the end, I think I felt a little like Thoreau at Walden! When I returned from my trip I felt much better about life as a whole, and I noticed that my performance at work increased. I guess it’s true what they say about taking vacations!
Make sure not to pay too much attention to the color or general coolness of the backpacks you are choosing from. See how ‘cool’ your flashy red backpack is once you have been carrying it for four days with a 25kg load! Here are our guidelines in Buying a Hiking Backpack:
First of all, there is no such thing as the perfect backpack for all activities. If you are serious about Hiking or other Outdoor Activities then you will probably end up buying multiple hiking backpacks, each targeted at a specific activity and trip durations.
Think volume. You will first have to determine what volume you need to be able to bring the things you will need for your hike. Overloading a small backpack by connecting equipment at the outside of the pack is a bad solution as it disturbs the center of mass and the load distribution. You should determine your needed volume for internal storage inside the backpack.
Load Distribution – The general rule is that the heavier the load you will have to carry, the more technical features your backpack should have. Take a good look at our list of the different backpack features. For heavier loads, you will definitely need a hip belt and the combined workings and adjustability of the shoulder harness, sternum strap, and the stabilizer straps.
Specialized Gear – If you plan to take specialized equipment like Snowshoes, Ice Axes, Crampons, Climbing Ropes, or other larger equipment then you might want to look for backpacks that have special pocket, straps, and cords configuration which will allow you to easily attach these pieces of equipment to the outside of your pack. There are even special backpacks that are designed to carry a snowboard, skis, or other bulky gear.
Hydration System – Decide if you need your backpack to facilitate a hydration system or if you are just going to use bottles and other liquid containers. Keep in mind that drinking tubes and bladders can freeze up in extreme cold conditions.
Waterproof – It is best to prepare for the worst possible weather and moist conditions. Especially for activities like Canyoneering and Coasteering, you will want a waterproof backpack. Look for a backpack that comes with a splash cover or that has a separate fitting splash cover.
Fit – It might seem strange to fit a backpack but it is definitely something that is very important. Most backpacks have adjustable hip belts, shoulder harness, and stabilizer straps but even then, the basic shape of the hip belt and shoulder harness could not be compatible with your body. In particular, women might want to look for backpacks that are developed for the female body.
Ask any backpacker, any real backpacker, what the most important part of backpacking is, and they will say that it’s reducing the weight of the pack. Reducing the total weight of carried items by even a few ounces can add up to make a big difference. Most backpackers agree that carrying more than about twenty pounds can be a real pain. It’s important to choose lightweight backpacking equipment, and also to make smart choices when choosing equipment. For example, instead of carrying in several gallons of water, bring a water filter and a map of lakes and streams in the area. If purchasing equipment designed for backpacking, the best items to go after are tents, lightweight sleeping bags, and backpacking packs. Having backpacker-approved versions of these three backpacking essentials causes the most dramatic reduction in total weight.
When selecting food for the trip, opt for powdered foods instead of solids, and ensure that cookware is limited to a single saucepan and a few plastic bowls, and utensils. Even with this limited cookware, it’s still possible to scrape together some delicious backpacking meals.
People who backpack often know that cutting down on the weight of the pack is the most important aspect of backpacking. When you are carrying a lot of weight, you become tired more quickly, are more likely to stumble, and tend to be sore after resting. Backpacking equipment is all designed to be as lightweight as possible, but backpackers have developed a few simple practices of their own to cut down on the weight. For example, water and all fluids weigh a lot, and instead of carrying more than a bottle full of water, backpackers have started to prefer the use of a water pump with a filtration system that can take water from streams and alpine lakes. In addition, carrying powdered food, like Humus, is a great meal idea.
In addition to practice, it is important to have the right equipment. Backpacking tents can weigh less than five pounds, and when compared to many standard tents that weight double or triple that amount, that’s a lot of weight saved. It’s also a good idea to have backpacking packs which are designed to support significant weight, reduce chafing, and store all supplies.
My brother and I used to hike every summer. We’d choose a location, rally up the troops then set off. Now my brother and I, like most siblings, tend to disagree on almost everything. One thing we always agreed on however was the importance of using the proper hiking backpacks. Especially since our hikes lasted longer than a day.
We agreed that hiking backpacks should be sturdy but lightweight. The supplies needed are heavy enough so the backpack’s weight should not add to the burden. They should also have the right number of compartments. Another thing we look for in a backpack is the fit of it to the body; it has to be snug and comfortable.
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