The right backpack for your activity?

If you are keen to find the right backpack for your needs, then you need to be clear about where you intend going and what you intend to do there. For a day’s outing in the woods, it’s enough to take a small daypack (capacity 10 to 20 litres), whereas you’ll need plenty of room if you are going backpacking or trekking for several days as well as somewhere to fasten your equipment if you’re headed to the mountains.

At Jack Wolfskin, you’ll find the following types of backpacks:

• Daypacks for everyday use in town or for a trip to the countryside
• Hiking packs for day trips off the beaten track or a weekend trip
• Trekking packs for hikes lasting several days where a tent and sleeping bag are a must
• Equipment backpacking for travelling to faraway lands
• Alpine packs for summiteers and winter sports enthusiasts
• Bike packs for long cycle tours as well as journeys to the office or to the local supermarket
• Camera packs for all outdoor photographers who attach great importance to the safety of their equipment
• Laptop packs for the safe carrying of your technical devices to the office, to university or to school
• School packs that offer both room for reading and exercise books but can also be used as goalposts in the school yard
• Children’s packs for the nursery, a day’s outing and for travelling

Choosing the right backpack size

Remember to think not only about what you need the daypack for but also what size it should be! In this case, think about the size of the person who is going to carry it and how much they can carry. As regards the capacity, there is a rule of thumb.

• Children’s packs: less than 10 litres for kids up to six years of age, 10 to 20 litres for primary school kids and up to 40 litres for teenagers
• Daypacks: 15 to 24 litres
• Hiking packs: 25 to 35 litres
• Alpine packs: 25 to 45 litres
• Trekking packs and equipment backpacking: 36 to 60 litres

Remember to note the length of the person’s back when buying a backpack, so that it fits snugly. You can check this by measuring the distance between the top edge of the hip bone and the top edge of the shoulder blades. The length of the back spans 38 cm to 66 cm.

Buying a backpack: tips on what to look out for

Other factors that you should take into account:

• Is the material durable and weatherproof?
• If you intend carrying heavy objects or pieces of equipment, check to see if the backpack has reinforced seams and a reinforced base.
• A waist belt is especially beneficial on longer trips. This will take the pressure off your spine when carrying the load.
• Padded straps provide comfort when carrying the backpack.
• Reflectors are for safety on the roads.
• If you are looking for a sporting challenge, a built-in hydration bladder is well worthwhile.