A Guide to Purchasing a Backpacking Backpack

Since our panel with the Madagascar students, I’ve been thinking a lot about backpacking backpacks. I’m sure Pantanal participants who were SPOT leaders or SPOTlets or other outdoorsy people on the trip will be able to contribute knowledge regarding purchasing backpacking backpacks, so I thought I’d get the ball rolling by sharing a link I read from REI Expert Advice.

There are three things you need to consider when choosing a backpack:

• Trip length
•  Personal backpacking style
• Torso length

Trip length really determines the size of your pack. Although the most popular packs sold at REI are between 60 to 80 L, the table relates trip length to recommended pack capacity. The REI Expert warns, however, that without self-discipline and careful planning, it can be easy to fill the pack to capacity.

I often overpack and for those who are thinking about traveling around the area before/after the seminar, backpack size is really something to consider. Another thing to keep in mind is being able to carry what you pack. A pet peeve of mine is people who pack way more than they can carry themselves with the anticipation and expectation that others will help. In that case, wheeled luggage may be a better option, but I don’t know if we’ll necessarily have paved roads leading up to our accommodations.

Personal Backpacking Style is really about preference. Do you want comfort or weight savings? What do you want in terms of space efficiency?

Torso length is the MOST IMPORTANT consideration when purchasing a pack because you want to wear something that will fit your build comfortably. Two questions to remember are: Is it size appropriate for your torso length (not your overall height)? Does it have a comfortably snug grip on your hips?

It’s recommended to measure your torso before purchasing (either online or in-store) so that you walk into the transaction informed. Find a tape measure and have a friend help you measure the distance from your most noticeable protrusion on your upper spine to the rear “shelf” of your hips. More info on measuring can be found here.

Another thing to measure is your waist size as this informed the size of your hipbelt. Measure around the top of your hips with a measuring tape to get this number.

If you are considering purchasing a backpack for the trip, there are few other things you should keep in mine:

•  Smell. Ventilation can be an issue when purchasing packs so smelly clothes will likely only become smellier. But I’m sure we’ll get used to being around each other’s sweat rather quickly into the trip. Please wear deodorant. Please.
• Organization. If you’re an organized person, I assume it may be a little difficult to organize a backpack as compared to a rolling box luggage since you can’t necessarily see everything in your pack unless you unpack the whole thing. 

I hope this was helpful and if anyone with more expertise on the matter has a different opinion or tips, I think we would all appreciate it!