Fully equipped camping - How to choose a hiking backpack and travel comfortably?

When going to the mountains, camping by the lake or hiking in the surrounding areas, everyone needs to take a lot of equipment with them. Depending on the weather, length of the trip or terrain, the necessary accessories will differ slightly, but one thing remains unchanged - a good hiking backpack is the basis of every camper's equipment. The most popular outdoor brands offer a wide variety of sizes, designs and resistance to specific conditions. How to choose the right backpack and travel comfortably?

A solid frame is essential

The vast majority of tourist backpacks intended for longer trips and camping have some form of frame that stiffens the backpack and allows for even distribution of the weight of the equipment on the entire back. In the case of people who, in addition to basic food and spare clothing, take a tent, a sleeping bag, a tourist kitchen and additional equipment on the trip, carrying everything without the help of a frame would be extremely uncomfortable, and even impossible on a longer trip. One of the most important advantages of backpacks with a frame is the wide variety of available sizes - usually, a backpack with a frame will be roomy and equipped with clever compartments and pockets that make it easier to pack the necessary equipment.

When can you give up the frame in a hiking backpack?

If you are going on a short route interspersed with visits to shelters and accommodations, and you limit your luggage to clothes, the most necessary gadgets and small camping equipment, a slightly smaller trekking backpack may be a good solution. Jack Wolfskin has a well-built offer of this type of backpacks. Solid backpacks equipped with dedicated holders for attaching trekking poles, divided into practical compartments and much lighter than backpacks with a frame, are irreplaceable during shorter trips.

Backpack capacity and trip length

Although backpacks with a frame are usually associated with a large structure and capacity that allows you to easily pack a tent or sleeping bag, outdoor brands are also great at creating smaller variants that combine the advantages of lighter backpacks and a comfortable frame. The capacity of the backpack needed for a given trip is usually adjusted to the length of the trip - the most frequently suggested proportions are backpacks with a capacity of 15-30 liters for one-day trips, 30-45 liters for overnight trips and over 50 liters for longer trips with tents and in changing weather conditions. .

How to adjust the backpack to your needs?

Not every backpack built on a frame can be properly adjusted, so when buying a new backpack, you should always check not only its capacity, but also its size. A properly fitting hiking backpack should fit your torso length (the distance from the top of the shoulder strap to the hip belt) and ideally be able to adjust the torso length using a sliding panel on the back of the backpack. Why is it so important? A well-fitting hiking backpack is comfortable to wear, and when carrying a heavy load and a long hiking trip, every detail matters.

A noteworthy element of every good tourist backpack will be the hip belt , thanks to which up to 80% of the backpack's weight will rest on the much stronger hips, and not on the shoulders and the entire spine. People who prefer long hiking trips know perfectly well the consequences of excessive shoulder load caused by a heavy backpack and the discomfort felt not only during the trip, but also long after it. Most large backpacks designed for long distances have a relatively stiff and well-padded hip belt that fits around the hips and can be adjusted depending on the freedom of movement required during the trip. It will also be complemented by a chest strap that improves the distribution of the backpack along the spine and removes additional burden from the shoulders.

Does the brand of the backpack matter?

The outdoor industry is based on basic brands such as the already mentioned Jack Wolfskin, but also Thule and Tatonka, but when buying a new travel backpack before a planned trip, it is always worth following the above-mentioned guidelines first. A well-known brand guarantees, above all, quality, solid construction and durability of the backpack in various weather conditions, which is why the backpacks of the mentioned manufacturers are more trusted than lesser-known products available on the market. By investing in a proven product, you can be sure that the backpack will not let you down during your trip or expedition and that you will not return with completely soaked equipment.