Hiking Back Packs: Roughing It in Comfort

Hiking back packs can have a large impact on the pleasure level of your excursions in the great outdoors. If your back pack for hiking is uncomfortable, your experience on the trails will probably be a very unpleasant memory. That being said, a hiking backpack is one piece of sports equipment that you don't want to economize on.

What types of hiking backpacks are there?

Backpacks used for hiking purposes come in a variety of styles. As the size of the packs determine how much gear that you can haul around, most people choose outdoor backpack products based on how long they'll be hiking the trails and how much equipment they'll need for their journey. You might actually need several different backpacks if you engage in different "levels" of hiking.

Hiking backpacks general categories:

• Waist packs
• Day packs
• Midsize backpacks (weekend type bags)
• Hydration packs (which could be "part of" any of these other products listed)
• Child-carrying backpacks
• Expedition backpacks (extended trip bags)

What hiking backpack features will provide me with the greatest comfort?

Obviously, it depends on the type of pack(s) that you plan on using. Waist packs and daypacks should be roomy enough to carry your gear without being so overloaded that they pull down on your hips, lower back, or shoulders. In that case, it would be better to carry a slightly oversized backpack that has more padding or adjustable straps to carry your gear in comfort.

The bigger the back pack the greater the need for such features as:

• padded shoulder/chest straps, waist belts, and/or a lumbar pad
• a solid anatomically-correct internal or external frame
• "equally balanced" pockets/clips with some on the outside for easy access to gear like a water bottle so that the bag doesn't have to be removed
• straps that keep externally-stored equipment from "swinging"
• a "weatherproof" cover to keep your gear dry (and you happy)
• easily accessible compartments to eliminate the need to "unpack and repack" while looking for and removing stored items

These products become even more critical to your comfort and safety, as well as your child's, when using a child-carrying backpack. Durable but "breathable" materials will also go a long way towards making your excursion on the trails and in the outdoors a happy occasion. One other thing to look for - a pack that has easily obtainable and replaceable parts. Having an equipment failure and no repair kit is not an option when you're potentially camping miles from civilization. Choose wisely and choose for comfort.