Cross posted from Gear branch.
One of the most common questions asked on this branch as well as others is, what pack should I buy for my intended trip?
After nearly 40 years of wilderness backpacking as well as the same number of years of ‘normal’ travel for both business and pleasure, I have some definite opinions on the subject. The following is an attempt to summarize what I have learned from my experience.
First, what pack to buy depends on what you need to pack in it. Do not buy a pack before getting together what you intend to pack in it. That is the only way to know what size pack you need. You don’t put the cart before the horse in other words.
What to pack in it is of course another subject and answers to that can be found on other threads. Here is my answer: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=2280830 Packing too much is one of the commonest mistakes that travellers make and therefore, spending time on deciding what you will pack makes a lot of sense.
So let’s assume you have got together what you plan to pack. Put it all in a plastic bag and compress it. Maybe tape the bag up using duct tape to compress it. Then measure its dimensions. That will tell you how big your pack needs to be in cubic inches or cubic litres.
Now you are ready to pick a pack. Today, the typical Thorn Tree traveler should be looking at two choices. A backpack or a travel pack. It is not an automatic assumption that you need a standard backpack.
When I did my first long term trip around Europe and Africa, travel packs did not exist. Everyone bought a backpack, we had no choice. In the last couple of decades however, manufacturers have been designing packs specifically for travellers rather than wilderness backpackers and calling these new designs, travel packs.
The primary difference between the two is that travel packs generally have a harness that can be zipped away when not in use and less external pockets and straps. This is better for airport carousels etc. I can also tell you from first hand experience that when zipped away and carried by a handle (making it look more like a soft suitcase) it is surprising how many hotels that do not have a room available if you show up with a pack on your back, do have a room available.
So a backpack is designed primarily for wilderness travel. A travel pack is designed for ‘travel’ as in planes/trains/buses, luggage carousels, walking city streets, etc. Depending on how you will spend the majority of your time, it should be clear which is preferable. You may have to make compromises if for example you plan to do a bit of hiking but 80% of your time will really be spent in cities, on trains and walking from the station to a hostel. For most travellers who frequent this forum, the travel pack is probably more appropriate than a backpack.
There are plenty of manufacturers who offer both backpacks and travel packs. The reality is that if you buy one from any of the major players you will not have any problem with quality in terms of being able to stand up to the wear and abuse you are likely to put your pack through. Even some of the lower prices packs will perform well enough.
So brand name is not a big issue. What then becomes a priority is fit. Not all packs will fit you as comfortably as another might. Fit depends on your height (torso length) primarily and whether you are male or female to a lesser degree.
Some packs are adjustable for torso length making it easier to customize the fit to you. Some come in S, M, L torso lengths. Some have differences in the shoulder straps to accommodate the difference between a man’s and a woman’s chest. The only way to know if a pack fits you is to try it on, adjust it, put weight in it and walk with it. Do not buy a pack from any store that will not let you buy it, take it home, put YOUR gear in it, walk with it for a half day and if not happy, return it for a refund/exchange. Many staff in stores aren’t that knowledgeable about packs and fitting them. You have to walk with and make your own adjustments to it, to really know. If you buy online, make sure you can return it.
Any responses that say, ‘I have a brand X pack and love it, you should get one’ are therefore meaningless. What fits me may not fit you. Reviews can only tell you how one person likes something but cannot guarantee you the same experience no matter how many people like it. Stick with, if it is a decent quality brand and YOU like it, it’s the right one for YOU.
To ask, I’m considering an Osprey Porter 40, is it a good brand’ (if you really don’t know what are good brands vs. poor quality brands) is fine. To ask, ‘is it the one to buy for this planned trip’, makes no sense.
Finally, a word on hybrids and compromises. What we are talking about here is a pack that you carry on your back. That’s why you say you are ‘backpacking’. Some packs come with wheels, some with a steel mesh sewn inside to supposedly protect against theft. If someone thinks something is a good idea you can almost guarantee some manufacturer will make it.
Forget these compromises. Anything that adds weight to the pack is undesirable. Weight is the number one enemy of a backpacker. There is a saying in wilderness backpacking circles which says, ‘the ultimate backpacker is s/he who travels with the least weight and the most comfort.’
You can buy a pack that weighs 7 or 8 lbs. itself or you can buy one of the same size that weighs 2.5 lbs. Both will carry all you want to carry, both will stand up to the wear and tear. Always look for the lightest weight pack that fits you.
