The Complete Guide to Buying a Hiking Backpack: Everything to Know

If you’re an avid hiker, then you know how important preparation and the right equipment are.

Depending on the sort of hikes you’re doing, you could be out for days at a time, so you may need food, clothing, and supplies to live and sleep. Where are you going to store all of that stuff?

Having a great hiking backpack makes going on long hikes a breeze. In this post, we’re going to give you the complete guide for buying a hiking backpack. Getting the right backpack requires you to know what your options are, so keep reading and we’ll have you prepared to make the best decision for your needs.

What Are You Using It For?

Before you start shopping for the perfect hiking backpack, you need to figure out what you’re using it for. If you’re going out on day hikes, you may not need something as extensive as someone that disappears into the mountains for a week at a time.

Think about what you’re packing on a typical hike. If you’re bringing clothing, food, a sleeping bag, a mat, and a tent, you’re going to need something pretty serious. For a day hike, you can get something that’s comfortable and lightweight.

Comfort and Size

Volume, fit, padding, suspension, and ventilation are the hiking backpack features to keep an eye on. Different hiking backpack brands offer different approaches and use different technologies, so it’s important to try out a few different models in-store.

When looking at volume, you’ll need to think about how much you’ll be packing on your average hike. Most day backpacks will hold between 15L and 35L, but you can find more expedition-ready backpacks that are 100L and above.

The size you choose will have a direct effect on the comfort you’ll feel when wearing it. Obviously, you have to be comfortable holding 100L for longer expeditions, but padding and suspension can help alleviate more obtrusive weights.

The last thing you’ll have to consider when it comes to comfort is ventilation. A good hike is going to result in sweat and nothing feels worse than peeling your soaked backpack off at the end. Some packs have a mesh ventilation system to separate your sweaty back from your backpack.

Look At Online Customer Reviews

With so many hiking backpacks on the market, you’re going to have to resort to looking at online customer reviews to make your choice. These can be extremely helpful in determining overall quality, but also how useful some of the extra features will be.

When comparing backpack prices, customer reviews will make sure you don’t pay too much for a backpack that doesn’t suit your hiking style. There’s no one better to listen to than current and former owners of a particular hiking backpack.

Don’t Overthink Buying a Hiking Backpack

Now that you know a bit more about buying a hiking backpack, you can start your search to find the perfect one. Having a great backpack allows you to hike further and more comfortably in whatever conditions face you.

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