Choosing a Travel Backpack

Picking the right travel backpack is one of the biggest things you’ll need to do before you leave on your trip. If you pick one that is too big, you’ll be carrying too much extra weight. Too small and you won’t fit anything in. Pick the wrong material and when it rains, your stuff will be soaked. We learned these lessons the hard way. So here’s what to look for when choosing the perfect backpack for your travels:

Things to Think About:
Size: Your backpack should be proportional to your body and comfortable enough to allow you to carry about twenty pounds. If your backpack is either too big or too small, the weight won’t be properly distributed and will cause you some back pain.

Style: Maybe we’re vain here but let’s face it- you have to look at your backpack for a long time. Get something you like looking at. Try out as many different styles as you can before you make your decision. Just make sure you don’t sacrifice function for style.

Material: While your backpack doesn’t need to be 100% waterproof, make sure it is made out of at least semi-waterproof material so everything doesn’t get wet when it rains (many packs come with tarps you can put over them in case of a severe downpour). Moreover, make sure the material won’t stay wet and therefore get musty and moldy.

Your Backpack SHOULD Include:
Front Panel Loading: Many backpacks are top loading but if you need something in a hurry this is very inconvenient. Front loading backpacks are much more convenient as they zip around the length of the pack, which allows you to get into any part of your bag.

Lockable Zippers: Make sure each compartment has two zippers so you can lock them together. If your pack doesn’t have two zippers, you can always get Pacsafe, a metal mesh that you can wrap around your bag.

Internal Frame: The majority of backpacks today have internal frames, whereas the majority of external frame packs have rods that stick out. Internal frame packs not only look better but the rods won’t get caught on anything. Additionally, internal framed packs tend to be lighter and easier to wear.

Padded Hip Belt: Most of the weight will be carried on your hips so you’ll want a padded belt to make supporting that weight more comfortable.

Padded Shoulder Straps: As the weight pushes down on your shoulders, you’ll also want some padding there so it is not uncomfortable.

Chest Strap: This helps move the weight forward and distribute it evenly among your upper body making walking up that hill to the hostel much, much easier.

Contoured/Padded Back: A lumbar shaped pack makes carrying your backpack more comfortable and helps distribute the weight more evenly along your back.

Here are some good backpacks:

Gregory Baltoro 70 Pack	Deuter Aircontact Lite	Osprey Aether 70 Pack	Gregory Palisade 80 Pack	Gregory Deva 60 Pack – Women’s
Osprey Atmos 65 Pack	REI Venus 75 Pack – ‘08 Women’s	REI Mars 85 Pack – ‘08	Osprey Ariel 65 Pack – Women’s	Gregory Z55 Pack