A backpack is one of the first items an outdoorsman needs to obtain. The backpack will allow him to carry all the articles and belongings to sustain a few days in the wilderness. There are a few criteria that someone must have in mind before deciding what pack should get.
First of all the pack must fit well, and should be easily adjustable to the body frame. A pack with a volume capacity of 30lt to 50lt is plenty for covering your load-out 99% of the time. Most of the time you are going to carry loads between 20 to 35 pounds maximum, including water and food supplies. A waist belt is a welcome addition if you are carrying heavy loads; keep in mind though that it will restrict your access to your belt if you are carrying your knife or/and a small pouch. The shoulder straps should be padded and wide so that carrying the backpack for a prolonged period wouldn’t fatigue your shoulders much. If the backpack comes with a padded back, that is a bonus. You can also choose a backpack with an external or internal frame. As Nessmuck had said, ”Man is a vertebrate animal and ought to respect his backbone”.
The quality of the materials used in the construction of the pack plays an important role. You don’t want your pack to tear up after a few outings, or buckles and straps start falling apart within the first period of use. Quality backpacks are made from materials like cordura, canvas, waxed canvas, or oilskin canvas. Most of these materials offer a degree of waterproofing but it is recommended to get a dedicated waterproof cover for your pack and keep your valuables in waterproof bags or zip-lock bags. Zip-lock bags are inexpensive, so is a big heavy-duty trash bag, that you can add to your pack and place all your stuff there. A difference between cordura and canvas-made packs is that cordura is impossible to handsewn in case it needs repairing. On the other hand, the canvas can be repaired if you have a good sail needle. Try to avoid a pack with many external pouches or systems, like PALS or MOLLE, to add more pouches on the outside of the pack. This will affect the weight distribution of the backpack and will make it cumbersome to carry for a long period. It is better to find a pack with two or three pouches on the outside to allow you easy access to the items that you need to reach more often. Horace Kephart didn’t like articles sticking or hanging out of the pack.
Many respectable companies make great packs like Frost River, Duluth Pack, Hill People Gear, and others. Also, you can find great backpacks from custom makers like Alder Stream Canvas Packs or Hidden Woodsmen. If you are looking for budget options, do not overlook military surplus packs like ALICE packs or USMC FILBE packs, Swedish LK-35 pack, and German or Italian Mountain troops pack.
This is the first article of a new series of posts that will help any new outdoorsman build his kit and enjoy the great outdoors. If you like to see what is my favorite pack and the reasons I choose to carry this particular backpack you can read it here https://mountainraider.wordpress.com/2022/03/05/evolution-of-my-backpack/