Contemporary backpacks are available in all imaginable varieties for a wide range of use. But how do you know which is the right style?
When searching for a suitable backpack, the area of use and volume are the deciding factors at the beginning to be able to limit the selection. Firstly, two basic questions need to be answered:
- What is the main activity I want to use the backpack for?
- Which kind of gear do I want to transport with my backpack and how much space, i.e. how much volume do I need?
What am I going to be using the backpack for?
Depending on whether you are looking for a backpack for a day trip, hiking trips lasting several days, biking or freeriding, the requirements for the style also change. Here you’ll find a solid overview of the different uses and benefits of different types of packs and their uses.
The daypack
- Suitable for easy hiking tours, city trips and for leisure activities.
- 15 to 25-litre volume
- Often with a tablet or laptop compartment
The hiking backpack
- perfect for day trips into the mountains
- 15 to 35-litre volume
- usually suitable for manageable loads of eight to ten kilograms
- light, well-ventilated support system, for example with mesh backrest
- Mounting options for hiking poles
- outer mesh pocket for drinking bottle, perhaps compartment for hydration unit
The trekking backpack
- Suitable for multi-day tours with lots of luggage and gear.
- Usually 35 to 95 litres volume, sometimes even up to 120 litres. Good support system due to the integrated frame in the back and wide, rigid hip belt, which transfers the load to the hips.
- For loads up to about 20 kilograms
- Well-padded shoulder straps with position adjustment system
- The separation between the main compartment and bottom compartment
- Lid pocket with variable height for expandable volume
- Rain cover for bad weather
The cycling/bike backpack
- Suitable for short tours and day trips with a mountain bike or road bike, as well as for multi-day trips such as the alpine cross.
- 10 to 30-litre volume
- Slim fit
- Central position on the back so as not to block the head and to stay as close to the centre of gravity as possible
- Helmet fixture
- Possibly a compartment for a hydration system.
- Tool pouch and perhaps a pocket for cycling eyewear
The skiing backpack
- Suitable for freeriding and ski touring
- 15 to 30 litres (freeride), 25 to 45 litres volume (ski touring)
- Compartment for avalanche probe and shovelS
- slim cut and central to low back position, as close to the centre of gravity as possible
- Attachment possibility for snowboard/ski
- Compartment for ski skins / crampons
- Possibly integrated airbag system (avalanche backpack)
Alternatively, a snowboard backpack is another option as these don’t differ from a ski backpack in terms of features.
The climbing backpack
Climbing backpacks must be differentiated between backpacks for approaches and those that can also be carried in multi-pitch routes (alpine backpack).
Backpacks for on route to the crag
- Up to 70 litres
- Climbing and alpine backpacks are generally designed for weights of up to 15 kilograms or more with relatively low weight. This makes sense, of course, considering the weight of fifteen quickdraws, belay device, a few carabiners, a drink & climbing rope.
- Some are compatible with hydration systems
- Adjustable lid pocket to secure rope or rope bag securely to the climbing pack
- The combination of a rope bag and kit bag is also suitable for sport climbing with short approaches
Alpine backpacks for the way through the wall
- 20 to 30 litres (for alpine routes)
- Slim fit
- No lid pocket or flat lid pocket, so you can look up without hindrance
- Easily accessible external attachment options for gear, such as loops on the hip belt
- Possibly removable hip belt to save weight on difficult routes and to have better access to the harness.
The running backpack/trail running backpack
- five to ten litres for competitive races and runs lasting several hours
- 15 to 20 litres for multi-day runs
- Integrated hydration system (often with 1.5 to 2-litre drinking bladder)
- Back panels rest close to the runner’s back to distribute weight optimally and not slide when running
- Hydration running vests with integrated hydration system as an alternative
The children’s backpack
- Ideal for short hikes, kindergarten, school and everyday activities.
- Depending on the age of your child and length of time the pack is being carried, the volume varies between five and 40 litres.
- Padded back
- Chest and waist belt
More varieties of backpacks on offer at Bergzeit:
- Child-carrier backpacks
- Avi-packs
- Camera backpacks
Top, front or back-loader
There are three ways to access the main compartment:
- Top loaders are usually closed with a lid compartment and buckle (instead of a zipper) in hiking and trekking backpacks, these backpacks are particularly less susceptible to damage and faults. However, they have the disadvantage that you have to pack very carefully to avoid rummaging.
- Front-loaders can also be accessed through a zipper at the front directly to that main compartment. This gives you access to practically everything you need in the main compartment, even if it’s at the bottom. The disadvantage is that the backpack lies with its back on the ground (and possibly in dirt or snow) when opening the front zipper. The zipper can also break, which can make the backpack heavier.
- Back loaders usually have a continuous zipper at the back with which the entire back section can be opened. This makes it easy to open the backpack even when skis or other equipment are attached to the outside. The only disadvantage is that the zip fastener can break more easily than a drawcord or strap.
In addition, there are mainly three common lid designs:
Lid pocket with one buckle:
- Advantage: one-handed use
- Disadvantage: Clothing can only be fixed under the lid to a limited or even no extent
Lid pocket with two buckles:
- Advantage: jackets and other clothing can be easily fixed under the lid
- Disadvantage: somewhat more cumbersome to use
Lid pocket with zipper:
- Advantage: fast, large-area access
- Disadvantage: The zipper is susceptible to malfunctions; a rope or jacket, for example, cannot be fixed under the lid when it is loaded.
Fitting: Determine back length and adjust the backpack
Before you start out with your choice of a backpack, it is important to check the back length. This has a major impact on fit and comfort. The larger and heavier the backpack, the more important the back length – otherwise the support system only transfers the weight to the hips to a limited extent or not at all.
Backpack care & packing tips
Keeping your pack clean regularly will maintain the general function of the backpack and add to its longevity – for example waterproofing it on a seasonal basis.
Dry bags or a stuff sack are a great way of keeping things tidy and dry in larger backpacks.
Here’s a few related articles that the editorial team recommends …
- Packing list for hiking: what to take and how to lighten the load
- Washing Gore-Tex: How to care for outdoor gear
- A buyer’s guide to cycling bags and panniers
- Avalanche backpack comparison – comparison of all the big names and their avi-packs