Choosing your backpack is an extremely important step on your traveling journey. Your backpack will either be your best friend or your worst enemy. For it to be your best friend, it needs to be practical, comfortable, of really good quality and adapted to your needs and wishes. In this article, I will tell you 9 really important things you need to consider before buying your backpack. The perfect backpack does exist, but will be different for everyone.
- The best backpacking backpack brand
- Good hip support – Hip-belts
- Choosing the right backpack size for you: 40L, 55L, 65L…
- Rain cover
- Air cover
- Access points – Different openings
- Air space – Ventilation
- External attachments
- Hydration compatibility
The best backpacking backpack brand
The only brand I feel 100% comfortable recommending to anybody would be Osprey. Yes, it can seem pricey but choosing the right backpack can mean you will only have to buy one once in your life. You could always buy something cheaper but have to repair something after every trip or completely replace your backpack. Their “All Mighty Guarantee” makes your money even more well-invested. Osprey is engaged to repair any damage or defect for any reason, and that, all being free of charge.
Good hip support – Hip-belts
You should be expecting to carry around 80% to 90% of the weight of your backpack on your hips. On my first backpacking trip, the hip belt broke during transport and carrying all the weight on my shoulders was horrible (for your information, it wasn’t an Osprey backpack). You need a solid hip belt that is well-padded to boost the comfort. Most of Osprey’s backpacks have pockets on their hip-belts which makes having access to snacks, small important objects and other things an easy access.
Choosing the right backpack size for you: 40L, 55L, 65L…
There are day and overnight backpacks that are all smaller than 35L. I really suggest having a day backpack in addition to your big one, but for now, let’s focus on your ultimate backpack which is way pricier and much more important.
35 to 50 liters can be good for weekends. If you only want to buy one backpack that will be used for more than small trips, I don’t suggest this size. Especially if you have big clothes that take up more space and/or a lot of equipment.
55L is a really common size. My backpack is the Farpoint Trek 55L, and it is a really good size for me. I tend to go to hot climate countries and I only measure 5”1(1,55 meters) so the clothes I bring in my travels are really small. 4 shorts of mine might take the same space as one pair of big pants. I like to bring a lot of clothes, a big skincare and more. If you have bigger but fewer clothes, 55L might still be perfect for you.
65L is another really common size. If reading the 55L description made you think it would be too small for you, 65L is not too big of a jump. Being my size, 65L is the maximum I would go for. If I had been doing more camping trips with a lot of gear or trips in a colder climate, I would have chosen a 65L. If you are a taller/bigger person with bigger clothes and a greater capacity to support a large weight on your hips and shoulders, I would definitely suggest the 65L more and even consider going for a 75L.
Rain cover
Most Osprey packs have a rain cover integrated in a pocket, and if they don’t, you can always buy it separately. If you anticipate moving often under rain, this is something you should definitely consider. I personally have never used a rain cover on my big backpack, and I don’t think it is the most important aspect of your choice.
Air cover
This is one of the main reasons I chose the Farpoint Trek model. An Aircover is a rare feature that I fell in love with, and this is why. I prefer to put my backpack as a checked-in luggage. If you are hesitating on whether you should put your backpack checked-in or keep it as a carry-on, definitely check out my article: “Checked VS carry-on backpack: What is best?”. The thing about checking it in is that you are not in control of the manipulation of your precious backpack. The Aircover is a protection that will keep it safe from scratches and breakage. I repeat: I love this feature. It is not important for everyone though.
Access points – Different openings
It is nice and normal to want to have multiple access to your stuff. Having them can help with the organization of your bag. You can pack, making easy access to different belongings. A popular example would be having the bottom compartment for your shoes and the top primary one for your clothes packing cube.
There are also different types of openings. I like to call them the classic way or the suitcase way. Most backpacks are opened the good classic way, some you can open both ways, and some(less frequently) you can only open like a suitcase. I like both, but have a small preference for the suitcase way.
Air space – Ventilation
Ventilation is important, especially if you are traveling in hot weather. You should look for a system that keeps most of the back panel away from your skin. It does not really affect the performance of the backpack, but it surely helps with the comfort. Most if not all of Osprey’s backpacks have systems, whether it is lightweight mesh, perforated foam or special framing systems.
External attachments
Having different external attachments like loops and bungees will increase the capacity of your backpack by being able to attach gear on the outside. It can also give you the possibility of exposing items to the sun and air for drying purposes, or even for solar-powered devices.
Hydration compatibility
Water bottle pockets are nice, but you can also look at water reservoir (bladders) access. If you plan on walking long distances with your big backpack, definitely check out for that little access. I personally only use my water reservoir on day trips when I use my day backpack.
