Hiking Backpacks

A hiking backpack is an important part of your hiking gear - whether you're heading out for the day with your family, or trekking into the backcountry for a week. It is your job to decide what type of pack you need to make your outdoor pursuits easier.

Because none of us wants to carry a lot of weight on our back, this should be one of the main considerations:

• Weigh your current backpack on a scale. Compare the weight of your backpack to a lighter model - reputable stores will list the weight of the pack on their label. Even two pounds can make a huge difference to your back at the end of a long hike.
• Look for stripped-down packs with full-on suspension. It should not have too many 'bells and whistles', but need harnesses and hipbelts that can handle a big load.
• A 5,000-cubic-inch pack used to be the standard for a week's hike. Because, in general, all gear is getting smaller, this is now too big. The new standard backpack is about 4,000-cubic-inches.
• Down sleeping bags often weigh less than their synthetic counterparts, but lose their insulating ability when wet. This is something to seriously consider if you will be spending the night.
• For a sleeping pad, use the thin, self-inflating kind (they are more comfortable than they look!) or a very light closed-cell foam pad.
• So you've got the best hiking book there is, and you really want to take it along. But do you really need the whole book? Consider photocopying the pages you'll need - or take a few notes? Carrying books is like lugging rocks in your backpack. Make sure you really need all that information before you throw the entire book into your pack.
• Please, think twice about bringing your MP3 player... wearing headphones blunts your awareness of your surroundings. In many places, mountain bikers, horseback riders and even bears all share the same trails - and you need to hear them coming. Besides, aren't you there to enjoy nature's music? Listen to all those amazing sounds: the ripple of the creek, the chatter of the chipmunks and squirrels, the twittering birds and the sound of the wind whispering through the trees.