Choosing: Packs

Packs can be roughly divided into 4 main types, depending on their size/volume, design and intended use:

Type & volume	Use	Design & features
Daypack 15 to 35 litres	As the name suggests, these are small packs designed for day use - to carry all you may need for a days walking, trekking, sight-seeing, or climbing.	For most uses, a pack of around 20 to 25 litres is ideal, being large enough to carry food, drink, spare clothing, and other small items like a camera and first-aid kit. For climbing or winter walking, however, a larger pack of around 35 litres will probably be needed. The only major design feature to consider is how the pack opens: a zip entry pack is very quick and easy to access, but a more traditional top loading with lid pocket design is a bit more weather-tight and allows a bit more flexibility with volume (once a zip entry pack is full, it's full!). After that, choice is very much a personal decision based on styling, number of pockets, etc.
Trekking pack 55 to 75 litres	Larger packs intended for carrying enough clothing, food, and camping equipment for multi-day walks and trekking trips.	Due to the greatly increased total weight of the items carried, the design and fit of the harness system on the pack becomes very important. Features will include a 2 compartment design with zip entry to lower compartment (allowing sleeping bag to be packed at the bottom of the pack, but remain easy to access), straps on the sides and base of pack (for compressing the load and attaching extra equipment such as a sleeping mat), large lid pocket (for day time essentials), side pockets or front pocket (for further organisation of small items).
Travelpack 65 to 95 litres	Larger packs intended for those who will be travelling anywhere which involves a mix of modes of transport: planes, trains, buses, and on foot.	Offering the same carrying comfort as a trekking pack, but much more user friendly for travellers. Large zip/panel openings allow access to the whole contents of the pack (much like a suitcase). The harness system can be stowed away under a flap to protect it from damage and to stop it getting in the way and catching on things (when loading onto trains, planes, etc.). Most also feature a large front pocket which zips off to become a handy daypack for day trips and for use as hand luggage.
Mountaineering packs 40 to 65 litres	More specialist packs intended for climbing and mountaineering.	Most commonly very simple, robust and streamlined packs, with a single compartment and single lid pocket. Features will include the ability to securely attach ice tools and crampons to the outside of the pack, a simple but supportive harness system, with possibly other simple details like gear loops on the hipbelt, and haul loops on front and back of pack.

Harness system design and fit
For heavier loads (over about 10kg?), a properly fitting harness system with a padded load-bearing hipbelt and adjustable shoulder straps is vital for comfort and carrying efficiency. The hips are much better at supporting weight than the shoulders and back, and as such a good harness system will allow most of the weight of the pack (about 70% of the load) to be transferred onto the pelvis, with the shoulder straps acting more as a means of keeping the pack on your back. An internal frame assists in the transfer of weight and helps maintain the shape and stability of the pack. Harnesses systems come in 4 main types:

Type	Description
One-size fixed	Cheap, light and simple, with little to got wrong or less to potentially break, but entirely down to luck as to whether it fits or not.
One-size adjustable	Allows the shoulder straps to be raised and lowered to accommodate the differing lengths of people's backs. However, those with short backs can find the pack is then too tall when adjusted (sticks way up above their head), and those with long backs can find the pack hangs too low on their back (which means that you have to walk with more of a stoop when carrying the pack).
Multi-size fixed	The pack comes in a choice of fixed back lengths, offering the advantages of a fixed back system (simplicity and low weight), but much better chance of finding a good fit, both in terms of back length and pack size.
Multi-size adjustable	Offers the greatest chance of getting a good fit, by allowing the selection of a correctly sized and proportioned pack, then the ability to fine tune the back length by moving the shoulder straps up or down.

Women's harness systems
All good quality rucksack manufacturers also make harness systems especially designed to fit the female form. These harnesses feature:

Reshaped hipbelts (proportionally larger and more cupped).
Redesigned shoulder straps (positioned closer together at the neck and shaped away from the chest).
A pack shape that is keeping with the proportions of the harness.

Trekking pack or travelpack?
As with most products, which is best for you depends on your own situation and requirements:
Trekking packs: If you are going to be carrying your pack on your back for days on end, then a trekking pack will generally be a bit lighter, be easier to pack for carrying (having the heaviest items in the right place i.e. as high and as close to your back as possible), will allow easier attachment of equipment to the outside of the pack (such as walking poles, tent poles, sleeping mat, ice axe, etc.), and will be a more contoured shape (for easier carrying).
Travelpacks: Offer greater convenience and versatility for travellers, who will be generally only carrying the pack on their back for shorter periods (i.e. between bus station and hostel). The harness systems on most travelpacks are identical to those on trekking packs, so that they can be comfortably used for longer periods if needed. Otherwise travelpacks tend to work better as a 'piece of luggage', and are easier to live out of.
There are packs which are a combination of both types, offering arguably the best of both worlds, but they tend to be heavy (due to all the extra features), and expensive e.g. Macpac Genesis £299.95.

How waterproof are packs?
With the exception of a very few specialised designs, no packs are waterproof. Even though the fabrics used in their construction may well be waterproof, all the seams, stitching and openings will ensure that water will usually find a way in. As such, any items that need to stay dry (e.g. sleeping bag, spare clothing, etc.), should be packed inside some kind of waterproof rucksack liner or heavy duty plastic bag. Rucksack covers are also available (some packs come with them as a standard feature) which work like a giant shower cap, keeping your pack and it's contents dry. However, they do make getting at pockets and equipment on the pack more awkward.

Top tips on choosing and using a rucksack:

When choosing a pack, always try it on with a realistic amount of weight - just about any pack will feel comfortable when it's empty.
Avoid using dustbin liners to keep items dry inside your pack. They are made from very thin plastic which rips very easily. A much better option are rubble bags (sold at builders merchants) - they are much tougher and more durable.
Proper packing of your rucksack contents can make a great difference to carrying comfort. Ideally the heaviest items should be as high in the pack and as near to your back as possible. Heavier items packed near the bottom will make make you have to stoop more when walking.
Always aim to pack as much of what you need to carry inside your rucksack, rather than strapped or clipped to the outside. Items on the outside of your pack are far more susceptible to damage and loss, and can adversely effect the balance of the rucksack.
With the extra weight of a pack on your back, trekking poles are a real help in maintaining balance and taking some of the load off your legs.
A hands-free hydration system (such as a Platypus Hoser) is a real boon for anyone carrying a pack, by allowing you to drink (and stay properly hydrated) whenever you wish, without the stop, take off pack, open pack, take out waterbottle, open bottle, drink, close bottle, put bottle back in pack, put pack back on... Many packs now feature internal pockets and drinking tube ports especially for these drinking systems.

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