How to Buy a Backpack

If you've followed the lesson thus far, you understand why I hold little regard for the average book-bag style daypack. Most are just zippered potato sacks in pretty colors, with virtually no load support. That's fine if all you're carrying is a sweater and a Norton's Anthology, but if you're out for a full day with the ten essentials in tow— i.e., if you plan to carry more than ten pounds or more than about 2,000 cubic inches— you need a daypack that can bear some weight.

At the very least, get one with a hipbelt. Not just a narrow strap of nylon webbing, but a two-incher, ideally with some padding. In the absence of an internal frame, a contoured fit can transfer a light (say, 20-pound) load quite well. Look at the back of the pack; does it curve in any way similar to human anatomy? If so, it will angle the load onto your hips, preventing droop and sway. A lightweight framesheet will aid the operation. When you get up around 3,000 cubic inches (the size you'll need for a long day of ski touring or foul-weather hiking), the pack should emulate a full-size internal frame, with a framesheet and/or at least one aluminum stay.

Unless I'm going to be climbing or scrambling, I like a daypack with at least a couple of external pockets— under a light load, they're not much of a balance-inhibiting concern— plus at least one internal pocket for little items such as notebooks and car keys. Other features such as ice ax loops, shovel pockets, and hydration pouches are a matter of preference, but I think some provision for lashing on extra items is important. At the very least, you may need to carry a soggy rain jacket that you don't want stuff inside with your peanut butter sandwiches.

As with full-size packs, don't resort to guesswork. Take along all ten essentials and then some when you go to try on packs. Give them a real-world test. Unless you can afford more than one daypack, buy for the heaviest, bulkiest load you can imagine carrying. Someday you'll need it. Till then, even if you'll only be carrying a big sack of Idaho's finest, you might as well do so comfortably and gracefully.