Hiking backpacks come in a huge variety of sizes, colors and fabrics – in fact there’re as many backpacks on the market today as there are trails to use them.

To help you navigate through this multitude of choices, let’s start with some backpack basics.

The smaller packs like waist or fanny packs are not technically backpacks – simply because they’re not worn on the back. However, they do carry out a similar role but on a small scale - so for short hikes can be perfectly adequate.

For example, a smaller pack with two or three compartments can be used to carry items like a water bottle, snack bars, sunscreen, insect repellant, band-aids, pocket knife and a bunch of other small items.

Daypacks, as the name indicates, are designed to be used for relatively short hikes. They are anywhere from 700 cu. in. to 2,100 cu. in. (12 to 36 liters) in volume and come in a variety of styles. Some have no belt strap while others do have a chest strap to keep the backpack stable. All will have shoulder straps so they can be carried on your back.

Some even have small, special purpose water bladders with tubes and other gadgets for drinking. They’re often called hydration packs and can hold one or two gallons. Remember though that a gallon of water weighs about 8lbs (3.6kg).

Whatever the size of your hiking pack, the trick is not to try to put too much in them. So when you plan to be out longer, or need to carry more, you should use a larger pack rather than stuff too much into a small daypack. There are a wide variety of larger packs to choose from. They’re usually categorized by size, typically the volume measured in cubic inches or liters. A liter is just over a quart in volume, but here it refers to space, not the quantity of liquid something holds.

Midrange Backpacks

Larger packs that range in size from around 2,100 cu. in. to 42,000 cu. in. (35 to 70 liters), are called a number of different names - midsize, midrange, light duty packs and others. When utilized properly they can hold quite a large quantity of gear, which makes it tempting to pack too much. Remember, you have to carry the pack and the contents!

High Sierra Long Trail 90 Frame Pack (Graphite, Tungsten)

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Retail Price: $215.00

Amazon Price: $101.22

This category of backpack is typically made with really sturdy material and they come in a variety of shoulder strap and waist belt styles. These days most will have the sort of plastic ‘dog-leash’ clipping buckles that are so common now.

Heavy Duty Packs

The largest packs also go by an assortment of names - full-sized, expedition, heavy duty and so on. They’re the ones that are over 42,000 cu.in (70 liters), can carry plenty of gear and have a number of special features to facilitate this.

Special splines or supports are often threaded through the shoulder straps, across the back or waist and otherwise. These stiffer elements help stabilize the pack, making it more comfortable to carry. They are often designed to ride higher on the back so as to keep the load off the lower back, which helps greatly to reduce fatigue and prevent back pain.

These heavy duty packs provide all manner of lumbar support, pads, special materials and well-engineered balance mechanisms. The frames have aluminum tubing in a form that has been scientifically designed. Many have special holders for sleeping bags, or even a small fold-up tent. They come in ultra-sturdy composite materials and are close to indestructible.

Unfortunately the human body is not, so bear in mind that you have to lug all that gear around. Make sure you’re only carrying what you’ll really need, no more, no less.

Twenty-eight years ago, three people came up with the idea that what the world wanted was better shoes for the outdoorsman and sportsperson, and Merrell sandals were born in Waitsfield, Vermont. The people who had the idea were C. Matis, Randy Merrell and J. Schweitzer.

Since ‘81 this brand has kept its commitment to excellence and high quality shoes for hikers, runners and just general outdoorsmen. The initial product that the company made was a hiking boot that was suited to the feet of Americans rather than Europeans, with a much wider toe and a narrower heel shape.

Men's Merrell Waterpro Animas (10 M in Beluga/Rust)

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Retail Price: $85.00

Amazon Price: $85.00

For men and women, the Merrell’s shoe styles include slip ons, boots, lace ups and sandals. For active wear, choose from winter, running, hiking, and multi-sport sandals.

Merrell shoes are known for the well-built, long lasting construction of their product, the Vibram sole that is the signature of the brand, as well as an air cushion positioned in the heel of the shoe (or boot) that cannot be broken and which creates padding for the heel that is unbeaten in comfort. The variety of in the Merrell brand is today one of the largest in business.

The company was first sold to Karhu USA and again in 1997 when it was bought by Wolverine Worldwide Outdoor Group. Obviously, there are many other footwear manufacturers offering active shoes, but Merrell has grown to be a big favorite because their footwear is both stylish and functional.

Merrell shoes have continued to extend the boundaries of outdoor recreational shoes and outerwear and have a commitment to the people that they serve, to offer the best fitting, most comfortable, highest quality product that can be delivered, for the cheapest price. And customers have rewarded Merrell shoes for this loyalty to them by keeping loyal to Merrell!

Merrell shoes are known the world over for their great manufacture, craftsmanship and design. The company has expanded its focus from only shoes to a clothing line which incorporates materials that are literally on the bleeding edge of outdoor technologies.

In some cases, companies have failed to see the signs and change with the times, but this is not the case with Merrell hiking shoes. As with all things, this brand has continued to make and build new markets since it was first founded in 1981 and people who love to get outdoors and exercise will continue to rely on the superior products from Merrell for their footwear and outer clothing needs for many years to come.

One of the biggest backpacking trend in recent years is hiking light. Lightweight hiking is much more comfortable and it puts less weight on your knees, neck, shoulders, and back muscles, hence reducing the risk of injury. Lighter and multifunctional equipment makes it much easier to do today than ever before. Follow these steps to reduce weight:

1. Analyze your backpacking equipment
Take note of how much each item of your gear weighs. Knowing the weight of each item will help you see the impact of gear selection on your overall pack weight.

2. Take everything that you need and no more
It’s okay to carry luxury items but don’t take everything with you. Books, sleeping pads, fishing poles, binoculars and outdoor camping chairs are some of the popular luxury items backpackers frequently carry. Use lighter alternatives if you can or go without them.

3. Base your gear on the season and weather
It doesn’t make sense to carry a zero degree sleeping bag and a four-season tent on the Appalachian Trail in July. Your other backpacking should be right for the season as well.

4. Select the lightest equipment
Replace your heavier gear with lighter items if you can afford it. Try first to find lighter alternatives for your hiking backpack, sleeping bag and shelter. But don’t go too light with your pack before reducing the weight of the rest of your load - or your musculature will pay the price for an overloaded “ultralight” pack.

5. Use multifunctional gear.
Your gear should be compatible to each other. It’s an important skill to be able to recognize the relationship between your gear and to select multi-functional items. For example, a poncho can be used as a shelter as well as raingear.

6. Choose down sleeping bags and down jackets.
Down is expensive but provides more warmth than synthetic alternatives for less weight. You need to be careful with down though because if it gets wet, it provides you with zero insulation. Down sleeping bags can be lighter than synthetic sleeping bags by as much as 2.5 pounds.

7. Windbreaker as an alternative to heavy coats
Many good windbreakers weigh less than three ounces. Windbreakers give you tremendous comfort and warmth and allow you to wear lighter base layers. A windbreaker extends the comfort range of your clothing system.

8. Share your backpacking gear
Hiking a group allows you to share your camping gear within the group. Try to be creative and you’ll find many things to share including sleeping bag, light, map and camping mat.

9. Develop your skills
The better you are at backcountry hiking and camping, the better you are able to make do without modern camping equipment. Developing these skills may take years and the more experience you gain, the better you get. You can also attend backpacking clinics, survival programs and first aid courses to aid you.

10. Travelize
Use travel sized version of your soap, shampoo, toothpaste, and cereal, etc. Get an insect repellent in smaller bottles. Bring the amount you need and not much more.

Gradually Reducing Your Pack Weight

Gradually reduce your pack weight over a number of hikes rather than in one go. It takes experience for you to take note of the things you can leave behind and only carry what you need. It also depends on the weather and trail conditions. Going light is more of a process than a one-time task.

If you’re in the market to buy a backpack for hiking, you’ll be faced with so many choices that it’s helpful first to get a broad overview and then focus on important features that should influence your final decision.

The first point to consider is how much stuff you intend carrying. This to a large degree will be governed by how long you intend to hike and under what sort of conditions. Obviously, a single overnight stop where you can buy a meal calls for a different strategy from a week-long trek in remote wilderness.

On average, for each day you’re out, you’ll require about a gallon (3-4 liters) of water. The figure can vary depending on your size and weight, level of activity and weather conditions - but take it as a starting point.

In addition to water, you’ll need to carry about 1-2 pounds of food for each day you’re hiking. Again this is a starting point: if you’re fit and only plan to be out for a day, it’s possible to get by with none at all. Bear in mind though that hiking does burn up the calories, so you’ll need more food intake than usual.

Healthy Exercise

Although hiking is healthy exercise, it shouldn’t be regarded primarily as a method of shedding weight. Remember that it can be detrimental to your health if you ignore your body’s need for salts, sugars and other nutritional components. In this regard, fluid intake is the most important - electrolyte imbalances can you leave you down and out like an exhausted long-distance runner.

It’s wise to honestly assess your overall fitness. If you’re very fit, you can carry more weight over a greater distance. But don’t overdo it - even experienced hikers make sure they keep their load to a minimum. Why turn what should be an enjoyable experience into an endurance test?

The load you carry is sometimes referred to as FSO (From the Skin Out) weight. So in addition to your loaded backpack weight, the weight of your boots, socks and other clothing is included. A sub-category of FSO weight is called “pack weight”, which comprises just the weight of an empty backpack. This is governed by type of fabric and any aluminum or other tubing used for the frame.

Consider next how you plan to carry or distribute the weight of the kit you’ll be taking with you. Most backpacks have a variety of internal and external pockets and flaps, plus loops and buckles for carrying add-ons like hiking poles, bungee cords, sleeping bags, water bottles and so forth.

Plan to keep the large majority of the weight inside the pack. Doing it otherwise leads to imbalance which shifts the center of mass, making the pack more awkward and difficult to carry. Also, the more things attached to the outer surface, the more they’re likely to snag on branches and bushes. Rather think “tight, light, and confined”.

If you’re intending to do more than the most casual hiking, it’s advisable to try a number of packs before buying. Women in particular need to be careful as even backpacks that are the right size for a particular height may not fit correctly. Comfort is important and you could be carrying the pack plus its contents for several hours at a stretch, possibly for several days.

Adjustment Options

Ensure you have sufficient adjustment length on the shoulder straps, belt loops and any other adjustable elements to make the pack feel like an extension of your body. When testing packs, take along some items to pack inside to give a realistic impression of how a loaded pack will actually feel on the trail.

Unless you know the exact conditions of your hiking such as duration, speed, terrain, weather etc - which is highly unlikely - then choosing a backpack will always involve some compromises. But you can get pretty close to the correct pack for your requirements and circumstances if you:
a) know what’s available
b) have a set a budget
c) have a good idea of the type of hiking you’ll be doing
d) understand your limitations (if any!)

Then ruthlessly eliminate everything that doesn’t fit your criteria and you’ll be left with a much smaller - and more appropriate - selection from which to make a final choice.

A backpacking bag is perfect for mountaineering because it keeps your hands free for more important things like drinking from a bottle of water or to hold a walking pole. Carrying a suitcase while hiking in the woods would be inefficient and would make a man tire very quickly.

In general, there are two type of backpacks used for outdoor activities like hiking. In the golden days external frame hiking backpacks were commonly used but now internal frame back packs are more common.

An external frame backpack consists of a rigid external frame that is strapped to the wearer’s back using an array of straps. This type of hiking backpack is very tough and can carry a lot of weight but keeping your balance can be a problem if the weight is higher up and away from your body. This presents a problem when you need to climb up hills or mountains, so the obvious solution - the internal frame backpack - was born.

Some old time hikers still choose external frame backpacks because you can carry some camping gear by securing it to the frame. Most people like to tie essentials that they may need regular access to, to the frame . Caution should be taken not to have too much hanging on the frame so that it becomes like a bus in developing countries. It can make it hard to move or make you unbalance.

Some still use external frame backpacks because they’re cooler. I’m not talking about “cool” in a sense that your friends would think it’s cool - but because the pack is not close to the body, ventilation is good so your back is not hot while you’re hiking.

In this modern day external frame hiking packs have almost been completely replaced by internal frame hiking packs. It is known that they are simply much more convenient and carrying a heavy load is so much easier because the center of gravity is much lower and since the weight is much more closer to the body, it is also more balanced.

Internal frame hiking packs compensate for the lack of external lashing points with a big capacity. Some have features that allows you to carry your other camping gear like tent, sleeping bag or poles on the outside. The close proximity of the pack to your back also makes it more compact in a way, giving you more flexibility. Even though this type of hiking backpack tend to make your back hot, it still gives you better comfort than external frame backpacks. Some designers are sharp enough to improve the overall ventilation of the hike backpack by having minimal surface area in contact with the back.

Whether you choose external frame or internal frame hiking packs it is important that you get the right fit for you because it makes a huge difference to your comfort, especially if you carry a heavy load. Also remember that expensive doesn’t always mean better quality. You can still get a cheap hike backpack that’s of high quality.

Shop for internal frame bag at http://www.hiking-camping-world.com/

New 8100ci backpack with total 7 pockets. Main compartment with two inside velcro closure loops for small items. Top lid pocket for compass, maps, small essentials (undetachable). One front zippered pocket. Two large zippered side pockets let you organize your gear with ease. Front compression straps with buckles distribute the load evenly and provide exclusive greater convenience of movement. Webbing and elastic rope on the top for binding sleeping bag, sleeping pad and accessories. Front adjustable loop for water bottle or accessories. Daisy chain for additional attachments at bottom. Extra straps at bottom for attaching sleeping bag or tent. Hydration bladder loop on shoulder straps. A reinforced handle at back for better holding. BRAND NEW. 600D Water resistant polyester. Approximate dimension: 23(L) x 13(W) x 34(H); Fits torso 37-43 inches; Fits waist/hips 34-60 inches.

Price: $99

Click here to view Merchant’s Order Page

The Merit is a large capacity pack with a laptop sleeve. You can fill it to the brim and it’s still easy to carry

Price: $65

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Kelty’s best combination of features , comfort, and value for the long distance backpacker.

Price: $209.95

Click here to view Merchant’s Order Page