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Backpacks advice

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Backpacks

You are looking for a new backpack, however, the product range at OutdoorXL is enormous. What do you have to pay attention to to get the backpack you really need? The main questions are "What are you going to do with it"? And, do you want to use it in both summer and winter?

What will you be carrying in the backpack?

The questions "What are you going to do with it?" and "What are you going to take with you?" are inextricably linked with each other. Do you opt for simple walks on forest or mountain paths, are you going rock climbing or do you practice mountaineering? If you are going to do something technical like ice climbing, there must be mounting hooks for your ice axes. Are you going on multi-day trips or a trip with a lot of your belongings in a backpack? Do you want go walking with the backpack in the winter, is it only for skiing / snowboarding on the slopes, or do you also go off-piste? Outside the tracks, then a shovel and probe must also be fitted to the backpack. Do you occasionally go hiking and do you want to have a mounting option on the backpack for your skis or snowboard? Maybe you want a "crossover" which you can also use in everyday life with a secure placement for a tablet or lab top? Especially, the total weight of that you want to carry on your back is decisive. Depending on what you are going to do, choose the type and size of your backpack. We distinguish daypacks, hiking backpacks, backpacks, travelpacks, climbing backpacks and winter sports backpacks.

The volume of a backpack

Having read the many questions mentioned above, you probably deduced that there is a huge range of backpacks available. You can make an initial selection by the volume of a backpack. What is the required holding capacity of the backpack you want to buy? This capacity is indicated in liters. Noted, not all backpacks look the same when you put different models with the same volume next to each other. However, the volume gives a good first indication of the size backpack you need. The volumes vary from just 10 liters to over a 100 liters. In addition to the volume, the carrying system of a backpack and how this system fits with your torso is also very important.

Carrying a backpack with comfort: padding and balance are important

Fitting Advice OutdoorXL

Let's start by saying that wearing a backpack with comfort starts with the fit. The shape and size of a backpack should fit your body well. That is why it is very important to fit different backpacks in our store. A beautiful backpack with all the bells and whistles on it that does not fit your body well is a huge annoyance with every step you take!

In general, the comfort fit of carrying a backpack has everything to do with the weight you want to carry. But above all, do you carry that weight all day, such as on a multi-day hike, or just to walk from your hotel to the next bus or train? If you want to carry more than say, 5-7.5 kilos, the quality of the shoulder straps and hip belt become interesting. The lightest backpacks have a belt made of a plastic strap as a hip belt and the shoulder straps are hardly more advanced. If you carry more weight simple shoulder straps quickly press into your skin and the same will happen with the hip straps if you shift the weight to your hips. Anatomy also plays a role. Straight shoulder straps are really less comfortable to wear than body-shaped shoulder straps. As soon as you take more than 10 kilos with you, it is nice to have some padding (protection) on the hip belt. As the weight to be worn increases and you walk longer, the quality of hip belt and shoulder straps should also have increased padding. Of course, all straps must be adjustable to your body, but this is never a problem with modern backpacks. The weight you take with you is actually automatically limited by the volume of the backpack. Since few people carry bars of gold in their backpacks, the weight we normal people carry in backpacks up to 20 liters should hardly exceed 6 kilos. With larger backpacks you can take more with you and so the backpack gets heavier. That is why with many packs of 25 liters or more you see a higher standard of padded hip belts. With backpacks of a smaller volume ( under 25 liters) it becomes a choice in comfort: more padding in the belt, it will feel "warmer" and make the backpack heavier. Or less padding in the belt, which makes the backpack more lightweight.

With a choice for a larger backpack there are more considerations to take into account. For example, if you practice mountaineering or ski touring, it is very important that the weight is carried as close to your back as possible for good balance (climbing and winter sports backpacks). This is less important for people who travel a lot and do not have to carry the backpack as much, that is why travelpacks often also have extra compartments on the back of the backpack. With the hiking backpacks, where you carry a lot of weight, the padding of the belt is the most extensive.

Comfort of a backpack: frames

Fitting advice OutdoorXL

When you are walking long distances with more than 10 kilos on your back, "frames" can be very interesting. A frame is an extra construction of plastic or aluminum that distributes the weight better. It can consist of two lengthways strips, a U-shape or of a whole plastic plate in the back of the backpack. The frame not only ensures a nice transfer of weight to the carrying straps (hip and shoulder), but it also prevents items that are in the backpack from stinging annoyingly into your back. With backpacks without padding or frame in the back you have to take this into account when packing. With the large backpacks you almost always have a frame and / or padding in the back of the backpack.

Perspiration

Of course, your back will get soaked when a backbag is hanging from it. The manufacturers have invented a number of "tricks" for this. The first is the use of moisture absorbing material on the back of the pack (the padding). The padding absorbs the moisture from your back and then wicks it away. Very effective are the systems in which the back does not come into contact with your back at all. Only a panel of fully ventilating mesh material touches your back and the actual backpack is a few centimeters away. This is at the expense of how much you can take with you and is also not optimal for a good balance because the weight is further away from your back.

Waterproof

Most backpacks are not fully waterproof. Drizzle and light rain showers are no problem, but with a downpour the outermaterial of the backpack can leak. And when you bring spare clothing, a camera or a tablet with you, you would rather not have water added tot he inside of your backpack. There are indeed completely waterproof backpacks that are usually made of Dyneema material. A cheap solution is the well-known rain cover. With some backpacks they are supplied, whether or not in a special compartment in the backpack, otherwise you can buy them separately. If you buy a separate rain cover, take your backpack with you and make sure the cover fits just right everywhere. The closure of the backpack also plays a role for the weather resistance ": a" roll top "is the best water barrier.

The different types of backpacks

Daypacks

This is a broad and popular category. You will find great alternatives here for many applications. Daypacks are the solution when you are looking for a new backpack: not to experience a huge trek, but just for "a day out".

The main question is "What are you going to do with it"? Do you want to do technical things such as ice climbing, must there be attachments for ice axes? Or do you want to use it in both summer and winter? Do you also want to use it in winter and do you occasionally hike? Do you want to have a mounting option for your skis or snowboard? Or are you looking for a daypack to just take a walk in the woods in the Netherlands, on a mountain path or while cycling? You might even want a "crossover" that you can also use in everyday life in an urban environment, then a protected padded compartment for laptop or tablet might come in handy. Sometimes the hip belt is removable, or can be stored in a compartment.

Globally, the volumes for daypacks range from 10 to 40 liters. Often an upper limit of 30 liters is used. With 10-20 liters you are fine for short trips and able to take only the essentials with you. Sometimes there is some space left for extra clothing. With a 20 to 30 liters backpack you are well of for day trips and daily use in the city. With the big boys of 30 to 40 liters you can do a lot more: from long day trips with lots of stuff for (short) hut trips. Mountain climbers who do a one-day climb often use a technical daypack with a volume from 18 to 25 liters.

View our daypacks

Climbing backpacks

The climbing backpacks have a volume from 20 to 50 liters. Of course these are equipped with options to attach your ice axes and pickles. The weight is concentrated close to your back for good balance and the padding is "medium" so as not to hinder your movements. Sometimes the hip belt is removable to combine the backpack more comfortably with a climbing harness. The shape is slim to minimize interference with narrow passages and the weight of the backpack itself is kept as low as possible. Climbing backpacks are light and strong.

View our climbing backpacks

Travelpacks

Travelpacks are meant to carry a lot of gear (although there are travelpacks with a low volume), but to be carried for short distances. You often recognize them by a convex shape that is a little further away from the body. Sometimes there is an extra bulge attached tot he back op the backpack. In advanced variants this bulge is removable and can be used as an independent, simple daypack. The padding is "medium" to keep the backpack easy to handle. You use travel packs during a trip where you always have to carry the luggage from bus to hotel and from plane to bus. The focus is therefore on taking your luggage with you, organizing it in a well-organized manner and not on walking long distances with your luggage. The volumes range from just under 40 to over 80 liters.

View our travelpacks

Duffles

Duffles are actually travelpacks in the form of a travel bag: they have the same application. Duffles usually have the shape of a croquette and many models have shoulder straps that allows to carry them like a travelpack, but the straps are a lot less comfortable . They usually have handles to carry them like a normal sports bag. Some models are virtually waterproof, partly because they have few seams.

View our duffles

Backpacks

These are backpacks to take a lot with you and also to be able to walk for long distances. The volumes range from 50 to 100 liters. They are elongated to keep the weight away from the body for greater carrying comfort. The shoulder straps and hip belt are fully padded so that carrying large weights is no problem. Some models have several vertically separated or separable compartments. Most backpacks have a classic flap on the top for closure ("toploader"), sometimes the main compartment has extra zippers to reach the luggage from the sides.

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Hiking backpacks

The name says what it is all about: walking for hours with your gear. These can be long day hikes as well as multi-day hut trips. The volumes are between 25 and 50 liters. There are classic top loaders (with flaps) but also turtle constructions (with zippers on the back that you can open). Also, models with long zippers make the content more easily accessible. The degree of padding depends on the size of the backpack and on the weight to be carried. A good fit is crucial for a pleasant trip!

View our hiking backpacks

Winter sports backpacks

These backpacks have many similarities with the climbing backpacks. The volumes range from about 15 to 50 liters. There is a difference in backpacks for skiers and snowboarders: the latter need to able to tie a snowboard to the backpack with different fasteners than for skis. However, there are backpacks which are suitable for both. You can attach the skis along the side ("A-frame") or diagonally across the back of the backpack. Snowboards are always mounted on the back. Do you also need attachment points for ice axes ? Many models have a separate compartment for the shovel, probe and possibly a first aid bag. A good fit and balance are extra important with these backpacks, because you exercise a lot with winter sports and are quickly off balanced. Apart from these 'normal' winter sports backpacks, there are also the 'Airbag backpacks' with extra safety off the slopes.

View our winter sports backpacks