Choosing the wrong kind of backpack can easily turn an overnight trip or thru-hike adventure into a really uncomfortable nightmare. Rather than getting lost among the racks and racks of overwhelming options, figure out your backpacking style first in order pick the perfect pack for your needs.
What’s your backpacking style?
The pack you take for a casual night of camping is going to be far different from the pack you’ll take to thru-hike the 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail. Think about where you’ll be planning on taking your pack, how quickly you plan to travel and if your trip will be more or less than a week long.
Slow and steady
If you prefer to travel more leisurely and don’t plan to quickly cover a lot of distance, your pack doesn’t need to be an ultralight option. Pretty much any style pack will work for you based on your personal preference of how much pack weight you’d prefer to carry.
Try: Daypack: CamelBak M.U.L.E./L.U.X.E., $85; 549 cubic inches; available at camelbak.com.
Multiday Pack: Osprey Atmos 50; $199; 3,100 cubic inches, available at rei.com