Instead, try to focus on what aspects are an absolute necessity for your pack to support the length, duration and climate of your trip. While something like an ultra-lightweight backpack can be great, it might not always be the best choice for your activity type. вЂњItвЂ™s gonna come down to whatвЂ™s comfortable вЂ¦ and youвЂ™ll also see a lot of packs are just unisex.вЂќДonвЂ™t get too overwhelmed or wowed by specialty features either. вЂњI have no problem putting a male in a female backpack, and vice versa, if thatвЂ™s what fits their body,вЂќ says Kevin Lau, an REI InspiredGuide. Keep in mind that these are merely parameters for guidance, not hard-and-fast rules. You might also see unisex packs designed to fit an array of bodies. Female packs tend to run narrower and have shorter torso lengths with shoulder straps that are designed to better fit womenвЂ™s bodies. Fits: Lots of companies will make male and female versions of the same packs, often with slightly different names.They can vary from brand to brand, though, so be sure to double check youвЂ™ve selected the size right for you. For hiking packs, these sizes are referring mostly to the length of your torso. Sizing: Similar to clothes, you might see some packs available in S/M or L/XL sizes.These reinforcements run through the pack and to help redistribute weight away from just your shoulders, allowing you to carry heavier loads more comfortably. Frames: Unlike a school bookbag, larger-capacity packs often come with internal or external frames.Typically, a day pack runs between 10, 25 and 30 liters, bags for weekend or overnight trips are about 30 to 50 liters and multi-day backpacking bags start around 50 liters and go upward depending on the length of your trip. Capacity: For backpacks, the capacity or overall storage size is expressed in liters, but that can be hard to visualize, especially online.From there, you can figure out which additional features are most important to you or are best suited for your journey. Using these questions as a starting point can help you narrow down the size of the pack youвЂ™ll need. вЂњThink how long your hike is going to be, how difficult itвЂ™s going to be and also what gear youвЂ™re bringing with you and how much space youвЂ™ll need,вЂќ says Alex Schnee, a travel guide and blogger who provides tips on navigating the outdoors, including the US national parks. While you might have large ambitions of one day hiking Mount Everest or trekking the Pacific Crest Trail, you want to make sure youвЂ™re picking a pack based on the adventure youвЂ™re actually taking, not the one youвЂ™re dreaming of. With so many packs available to sort through, a good place to start is to assess the intensity of the activity youвЂ™re planning.

Some packs might feel different when you test them at the store than after youвЂ™ve hiked a few sweaty miles weighed down by all your gear. However, even if you do try on a pack in a store, the true comfort wonвЂ™t be revealed until youвЂ™re actually using it. But, if thereвЂ™s not one local to you or you prefer looking online, there are ways to estimate the size and fit of the pack youвЂ™ll need from home. The best thing to do is go and get fitted for a pack at a hiking or camping store like REI. вЂњWhat if the secret to feeling better on trail, stronger, more supported, is just having a better pack?вЂќ YouвЂ™re probably going to think that you are limited to certain kinds of adventures because all you know is that at a certain point, you donвЂ™t feel good on trail,вЂќ says Jenny Bruso, founder of Unlikely Hikers, a nationwide hiking community that focuses on inclusivity in the outdoors. вЂњIf your gear doesnвЂ™t fit you, youвЂ™re probably going to tap out a lot sooner. Above all, you want a pack that fits your body well and provides comfort mile after mile. When it comes to choosing a pack, two things are paramount: comfort and functionality. To save you and your body some unnecessary pains, we talked with gear experts and guides to help you find the pack that works for you. Whether youвЂ™re gearing up for a multi-day trek through one of the US national parks or exploring the wonders of the wilderness in your town, carrying the proper pack can be the difference between epic enjoyment and trail-induced torment. And when it comes to hiking, the same sentiment is true we need a pack that will easily carry all of our favorite gear without slowing our pace. From school days into adulthood, weвЂ™ve all toted around our favorite backpacks, trusting them to keep our belongings safe and secure as we move about the world.

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