Why you need an appropriate travel backpack?

First, you need a travel backpack to carry things with you. However, all adventurers already experienced the impact of having the right one on the trip. There will be a lot of things in your checklist, but more importantly, you should think that how you are going to carry those!

People usually don’t put too much attention on backpacks, but you may already guess that if you don’t have an appropriate one then how much harassment is waiting for you! This is the fact of “how much you care your stuff”!

When you are well known about the pre-camping tips, it is time to start with your Backpack.

Now backpacks can be found in different sizes, colors, fabrics, and designs, but the main fact is how technical it is for you.

The best travel backpack has to be combined with comfort, style, and space to form a great rucksack. The amount of space is its strong point. You know what! You can choose the right one rather than us. How? Just because you know better about your stuff and your trip, but the below facts will help you to make the right decision.

So let’s see the facts that you should know before you purchase it.

What to look for the best backpack:

1. The capacity: nowadays backpacks become smaller than past & very, fortunately, it becomes more technical. Before you buy it, the first concern should be the capacity which depends on how long you are going to be tied with it in your tour as well as how many SKUs (Stock keeping unit) you want to carry with you. One thing we want to remember you that caring new and less bulky gear is always good for traveling. However, in this way, you can reduce some weight too, but you need to be very careful and well planned for doing so. See how to pack efficiently.
2. The frame: There are lots of bags on the market with different frames, but before you buy you should know three things:
3. Internal-frame backpacks are good for hiking it helps to keep the balance & you can say it also a body-hugging backpack.
4. External-frame backpacks are also good when you are planning for carrying any unusual heavyweight as well as it belongs to lots of places to put gears in it.
5. Frameless is another good option for you if you are planning for climbing as well as you can separate the frame for reducing weight.
6. Water resistance system: You must not want to get things wet. So this is so important to check either your bag is waterproof or not. When it doesn’t need to be 100% waterproof, at least be confirmed that your backpack is made with a semi-waterproof material system.
7. Locking System: Everyone likes to travel by locking his or her backpack. Make sure it has two zippers in each compartment so you can lock them together. It is easier to lock them together rather than pull one to another side while your bag is congested with your things in it.
8. Internal Compartments: If your bag belongs to several compartments, then it will be easier to separate things while you pack your things. You cannot put your shoe with your clothes so check yourself that the number of compartments is enough for your things as well as consider the space also. However, do not forget to check the sleeping bag compartment.
9. Ventilation System: A trampoline called tension-mess suspension will help your backpack to ride along a few inches away from your back. This design maintains the airflow between your back and your bag.
10. Accessibility: Check the design of your package. You will find so many packs offers zippers in front which allows you to reach the deep in your bag and also expose the whole interior design.
11. Pockets: Pocket is a very important part to carry silly and lightweight things. Make sure your package has elasticized side pockets for water bottle, hip-belt pockets for your phone, snacks and first aid as well as a front pocket to carry less bulky items.
12. Padding System: A good padding system will help you to carry the weight as if you have a padded belt, you can tighten it to your hip, which will distribute the load from your back as well as shoulder straps will help you to reduce the weight from your lower back but be confirmed that your padding is thick as it will be less likely to split.
13. External Attachments: If you are purchasing for the different types of tours like it can be one day or multiple days or you are leaving for only hiking then the external attachments of the backpack will be handy. You will find that the attachment can be separated from the main part of the bag and used as a hip belt, which will help you to hike or ride or a long walk by reducing the weight.
14. Rain Cover: If there is a chance to rain on your trip, make sure your backpack has a rain cover. Usually begs to belong zippers which mean there is a chance for water getting into your bag. So it will be wise to choose a backpack with rain cover in windy condition.
15. Facilities:
    – Is there any laptop pouch?
    – Are the zippers smooth enough?
    – Is there any pocket for water bladder?
    – Can you access it easily?
    – Is there any water bladder system?
    – Are the zippers covered that rain cannot get into it?
    – Are the pocket system and pocket number suitable for your trip?
    – last of all style is a matter, of course.

Different backpacks for different activities

Don’t be confused with different sizes as well as it is not wise to buy as big as you can. Measure your torso length and go through with that size. Just make sure your backpack is not larger than your torso length. Do you know which kind of backpacks is suitable for which kinds of activities? Since we do not know your purpose, we have segmented the categories of backpacks according to the activities as below:

1. For weekend camping (1 to 3 nights) may need at least 40 to 50 litters of a backpack, which can take extra gears such as sleeping bag, sleeping pad, camp stove, Tent, Sufficient food, etc.
   – If you are 2 or 3 persons, you may need 50 to 60 litters backpacks, which can carry 2 or 3 person tent beside the necessities in large amount.
   – You may need 60 to 70 litters if you are planning for 10 days.
   – 70 to 80 litters are best for 4 person camping which includes 4 person tent, large sleeping pad beside the necessities.
2. For hiking, a day pack may need at least 10 litters of a size which can take ultralight jackets, water pot, silly essentials like keys, energy bar.
3.  Walking/running/ cycling or biking purpose, you may choose 10 to 20 litters of a backpack which can carry food and gear such for a day.
4. For traveling, you may like 21 to 35 litters of a backpack, which can carry extra clothing, food, dairy, a camera as well as the necessities.

Check the extra features of your backpack if it has any.

Extra features always come in handy. It may not be needed on this trip, but it can be needed for other trips. If you are different types of camper and camp so often, you just need to check out the features.

What are the unusual features for travel backpack:

• Safety Led light
• Power bank pocket,
• Earphone port,
• Security pocket,
• Charging port etc.

Choosing the best backpack is not all. You must know how to carry it properly. For preventing injury as well how to pack it efficiently.

Answer of all Backpacking questions!

After choosing the best backpack, Here you are going to have the answers to the following questions regarding size, carrying process and efficient packing.

1.Does really size matter for a backpack?
2. Which size does fit for you?
3. How to measure the torso length?
4. What can happen, if I don’t follow my torso length?
5. How to carry?
6. What to do after carrying a loaded backpack?
7. How to pack efficiently?

How to choose the appropriate size of a backpack!

There is a lot of confusion regarding the size in peoples mind. It’s for sure that you are also trying to figure out the appropriate size of a backpack to carry on. Here we are going to answer the common questions that people often ask.

1. Does really size matter?

Yes, it does. It’s just a common sense that the size depends on the duration and the things you want to carry with you, but we segmented the best sizes as below for your backpack considering the necessities relating the duration.

• Day Hiking:
  0 to 30 litters: Includes water bottle, snacks, first aid box, rain jacket, lunch package, reserve water bottle of 2 litters, a rain shell, and silly accessories such as flashlight or headlamp, a space blanket.
• Overnight Hiking
  30 to 50 litters: Includes at least 15 meals, a sleeping pad, a camp stove, a pot for cooking, extra clothes, a tent for 1 or 2 people, besides the above.
• Camping
  50 to 80 litters: Includes food for 10 days, four-person tent at least, moderate size first aid kits with the above.

2. Which size does fit for you?

There is no specific size that fits you, but you can choose a size according to your torso length. Yes, this is the key to choosing the right one.

3. How to measure the torso length?

• Stand straight, upright and move your head little down in front.
• Find the spot on your neck where your shoulders meet.
• Determine your C7 (7^th cervical) Vertebra on your neck which is the top of your torso length.
• Now spot the top zone of your hip bone on your back which is called Iliac crest. 
• Follow that Iliac crest around the middle of your back.
• Now measure from the C7 down to that point. That’s it. This is your torso length.

Now find a backpack according to your torso length.

4. What can happen, if I don’t follow my torso length?

– Chance of falling injury,
– Tough to walk with it,
– When space is big, you may try to take more things, which may not be the manageable weight for you.
– Hip belt will not be adjusted to your body at the right place.
– It will be tough to stand upright or stand back with it.

– Will create extra pressure to the bottom.

Besides the right size, to avoid the injury, you must know how to carry it as well as how well and efficiently you can pack things.

7 tips for how to carry a backpack properly

Though people do not put too much attention on it, it is very much important to know how to carry a backpack properly to prevent the injury just because this injury can paralyze you for a lifetime. So let’s know the ten easiest ways of making comfort while camping regarding backpacks:

– Proper weight for different activities:

1. Manageable Weight:

   People always think that how more he can take with him on the trip! But this is absolutely a bullshit idea, especially women. Yes, you heard me people think like that way, but not you. First think about the necessary things which you need there and as less as you can.

Usual Camping:You should not carry more than 20% of your body weight.
Day Hiking: You should not carry more than 10% of your body weight while in a day hiking.

Keep manageable weight and make your journey comfortable.

– How to carry:

2. Using both shoulder strips:

   Sometimes we use one shoulder strips which can cause serious injury and you must avoid this way. If it feels like your one shoulder is getting hurt, then don’t think of using another shoulder alone. To distribute the weight it is necessary to use both shoulders.

3. Tighten the straps with a body:

   Yes, tighten the straps with your body and it will help you to get rid of jumping your backpack while in a walk causes less strain.

4. Use your hip belt:

   By using the hip belt, you can make comfort to carry it.

5. Practice proper posture:

   When you are carrying things try to stand back. After a long walk, a body gets tired and we forget to maintain proper posture but it is highly recommended. Don’t use your backbone by curving it, but straight. One of the most common mistakes that found in people is standing curve or standing down, which is the main reason to fall in a backbone injury especially while you are carrying a loaded backpack. By practicing a proper posture, you can develop a good strength also.

6. Give a break:

   When you are tired, just give a break. Don’t try to be a superhero, however sometimes it happens like you are just 10 minutes away from your destination and you are well tired but still thinking about taking rest after reaching there though it already hurts, you know what, you are about to fall in an injury and receive a great pain ahead on your trip. It does not matter how far the destination is, but taking a short break and starting again is the best idea while it already hurts.

7. Don’t carry your backpack with your hand alone

   : Sometimes it may happen that you need something from your backpack when the destination is not so far and you open it and you carry it with your hand. You know what, you are doing extremely wrong. It is just a common sense that if the weight is not equally distributed to both shoulders or both hands, it harms full and tough to carry. However, you are doing it, when your shoulders are already tired and one of them is getting an extra load. So, don’t avoid this silly matter. Whatever the distance is, carry it with your shoulders.

 

These are the simplest, most effective, easy and comfortable ways of carrying a backpack properly. However, packing smartly can make comfort for your move.

How to pack a backpack efficiently for a move

Your trip is much more comfortable when you pack efficiently so it is important to know how to pack efficiently for a move. Yes, your preparation depends on the things that you carry, but it mostly depends that how you organize those in your pack. Having everything in a bag should not be the only concern, but also how you put them is also more important. Just imagine, What, If something goes wrong and gets destroyed due to unorganized packing? Yes, you will be in trouble while camping, either you will have to find an alternative or you can guess the rest.

Whenever you pack make sure you have not forgotten anything to take or did not overlook anything of your checklist. You can pack your things anyhow you want or you think it is the right way to pack, but once again make sure you took everything as well as nothing going to destroy or spoil till to the end of the trip. There is no right specific way of efficient packing, but here we can show you a pattern, which may make your packing easier and more organized than you think it is.

Before you start packing just divide the items regarding priority (how often you need on the trip) and weight because this is going to be a LIFO (last in first out) system. Let’s start with the zone of the backpack.

Zone wise packing:

Bottom: Choose those things which you don’t need until camp like a sleeping pad or beg, night dress, down booties or anything you need last as well as the heaviest things.

Middle: Heavy items like food stash (not cookies), stove, dresses, tent body, cook kits, or anything which is heavy and not the primary needs can be stored into the main compartment of the middle area.

Top: Bulky items like a rain jacket, first aid kit, toilet supplies, water purifier or anything bulky, which may need anytime on the trip can be stored into the top of the backpack.

Pockets: Choose those things which you need so often on the trip like a MAP, GPS, sunglasses, sunscreen, car keys, snakes, lip balm, water bottles, compass, ID, cash stash or anything you may need anytime so you can access quickly.

Tool Loops: Gears like tent poles, Ice axe, climbing rope, a camp chair can be managed by the loops.

Now, let’s save some space for other gear.

Space-saving hacks:

Cloths: Fold your clothes; make a roll and put two or three into a plastic bag before you put those into your backpack.

Extra essentials: If your bottle of lotion and shampoo is big, then take a small empty bottle according to the duration and pour into the small one which can save your space.

Liquid Fuel: If you are caring liquid fuel than make sure that your bottle’s cap is tight and put it into a separate zone covering it with a plastic bag.

Soft Items: Wrap the soft items so it can prevent shifting while on a walk.

– How to pack:

– Use all the compartments: If you don’t use all the compartments, then the weight will not be well segmented so when you will carry, it will not be comfortable, however, you will feel heavier one part than the other part of your body which can cause you extreme back and neck pain and I know you are not going to spoil your trip like that way.

– Keep the heaviest near to the bottom: If you keep the heaviest thing to the top, then there is a big chance to fall in an injury. However, it will not be comfortable too. So always keep the heaviest near to the bottom gradually from the top.

– What to do after carrying a loaded backpack:

– Let the shoulders get rest after a long carry: After reaching the destination, don’t get busy in heavy work like cutting wood or something like this because your shoulders are already tired of carrying your backpack. Take a little rest, then do the doings.

– Little massage: You can have a soft massage on your neck which can make you more relaxed. However, this message will make your muscles flexible and will not get stuck again.

 

This is the simplest way of effective packing. Since we don’t know what to take and not to take, we covered almost all the items for camping.

Note 1: Remember; don’t make your backpack overloaded with things which are not essential.

Note 2: Before packing things, think about the size of the backpack or you will need to re-pack the items.