Your Hiking Backpacks

Hiking backpacks are available in many different style, sizes, and features. Some are even tailor-made for a specific use. They also fall under different categories to help you take the right steps in choosing the correct one for your hikes!

Day Packs: These ones are especially made for day hikes, as the name suggests. Typically, they are small-sized hiking backpacks and they only have shoulder straps and no hip belt. They can carry 15 to 35 liters of load. A chest strap is sometimes present in a day pack to help the shoulders not the be bulled back by the weight of the bag itself. However, larger day packs already have hip belts because the bigger and heavier the day pack is, the requirement for a hip belt also increases.

Waist Packs: They can also be referred to as fanny packs, hip packs, or lumbar packs, and can carry a volume of up to 10 liters. Moreover, they are not exactly hiking backpacks but during smaller day hikes, they can also act as alternative bags. In order to make them much easier to carry, the both weight of the waist pack and the pouch are positioned in the curve of the spine, close to the center of balance, placing no effort on the body. The advanced ones have shoulder yolks that increase maximum load and sturdiness. Keep in mind that overloaded waist packs will only sag and it is then that you can swith to using day packs.

Midsize Packs: Every piece of hiking equipment has been trimmed down in weight and volume due to upgraded technology. They can carry a volume of 35 to 70 liters. As a result, there's been a need for midsize hiking backpacks for a multi-day hike with a little stockpile. They are most suited for those who go on day hikes and would only want to take pieces of small items such as books or cameras.

Hydration Packs: These hiking backpacks can carry up to 10 liters of load; such is made up of a bladder that has a drinking tube around where the actual backpack has been built upon. Some are only consist of shoulder straps and the bladder, while other models consist of side pockets and a casing, making them real backpacks. One the known makers of hydration packs is Camelbak.

Expedition Hiking Backpacks: The more equipment you carry, the larger the backpack you need. These ones can carry gear weighing 60 liters and more, just enough items to keep you surviving on the trail for few weeks. Expedition packs contain a broad hip belt in order not to put the weight on the shoulders, but in the hips instead. And to shield the base of your spine from the stress of the load, a lumbar pad is added.

Now you know the intended uses of the different types of backpacks. As an extra precaution, remember that the heavier your load is, the more important the balance and tight fit of the pack become.