How do you choose the best backpacking pack for your next adventure? What size should I get? How should it fit? Don’t worry, we are here to help you.
Image hiking across a meadow in the early morning and seeing elk grazing on the dew-covered grass. Or a bald eagle catching a fish from the river as you trek to your next campsite. If you have the properly sized backpacking pack, the journey will be a joy. Otherwise, it could be a constant struggle if it doesn’t fit right.
Choosing the Best Backpacking Pack
- How to Measure Your Torso
- Determine your Backpack Frame Size
- Measure your Hip Size
- Shoulder Straps
- Types of Backpacks
- Fit Adjustment at Home
- Adjust the Torso Length
- Hip Belt fit
- Shoulder Straps positions
- Adjust the Fit on the Trail
How to Measure Your Torso Length
The first thing to choosing the best backpacking pack for you is to determine the correct size for your pack. Your torso length (not your height), and hip angles will determine the size of the backpacking pack is best for you.
To determine the length of your torso, you will need to measure the distance from your C7 vertebrae to your Iliac Crest. To locate your C7 vertebrae, tilt your head forward. The C7 will be the pronounced bump on the back of your neck, which is typically near the collar of your t-shirt.
To determine the position of your Iliac Crest, place your hands comfortably on your hips. As a result, your thumbs will point directly across your back, indicating your Iliac Crest.
Now, grab a flexible measuring tape and measure down your spine from your C7 to your iliac center. This distance is your torso length. Therefore, your height is not a factor of your torso length. For example, women will range from 14″ to 20″, whereas men will range from 16″ to 22″.
How to Determine the Best Backpacking Pack Frame Size
Now that you have successfully measured your torso, you can determine your frame size. In case your torso length falls between two frame sizes, opt for the smaller frame. Because the hip belt will be able to securely tighten around your hips and adequately carry the weight of the pack.
Each backpack manufacturer will have slightly different frame sizes based on the torso length, but here are some excellent references to get you started.
Typical Frame Size for Torso Lengths
- XS: 14″ – 16″
- Small: 16″ – 18″
- Medium: 18″ – 20″
- Large: 20″ – 22″
- XL: 22″ – 24″
Some backpacking packs are one size with an adjustable yoke. Like the Gregory Stout. These types of packs are excellent because you can share the pack with people who have different torso lengths. Also, backpacks with an adjustable yoke are a good option for kids as they are still growing. This way, they can use the pack for multiple years.
Most backpacks will use velcro to adjust the yoke so that the backpack aligns with the length of your torso. The benefit of an adjustable yoke is that you can dial in the perfect fit. Coincidentally, the downside of an adjustable yoke is that it weighs more than a non-adjustable yoke. So, if you are counting grams, you’ll want to choose a pack size that fits your torso length.
How to Measure your Hip Size
To measure your waist, once again comfortably place your hands on your hips. The tops of your hands will be roughly two fingers below your belly button, and this will be where you want to measure. Using a flexible measuring tape, measure the circumference around your waist.
Using a correctly sized hip belt is paramount to comfortably distributing the weight from your shoulders to your hips. Therefore, a properly sized hip belt will overlay your hip bones (Iliac Crest) by about 1″ (2.5 cm).
Most backpacking brands will offer a specific hip belt for women and men. Women’s hips are more conical, with a more significant difference between the waist and hip measurements. Meaning, women’s hips have a higher degree of an angle than men’s hips. That’s why brands design hip belts for men and women. But sometimes, a men’s hip belt will fit a female better, and a women’s hip belt will fit a man better. It all depends on the hip angles!
Typical Hip Belt Sizing
Each backpack manufacturer will have slightly different hip belt sizes, but here are some reference points to get you started.
- Small: 26″ – 30″
- Medium: 30″ – 34″
- Large: 34″ – 38″
- XL: 38″ – 42″
Similar to an adjustable yoke. Some backpacks will have an adjustable hip belt. An adjustable hip belt is an excellent option because if you lose or gain weight, you can still use the same backpack. Once you are fully grown, your torso length stays the same, but your waist can grow and shrink over time!
Another thing to consider when choosing the best backpacking pack is the shape of the lumbar support. The lumbar support for a female-specific backpack should reflect a higher degree of hip angles than a man’s.
Shoulder Straps
Strap Length
If a backpack has different frame sizes, they’ll also come with shoulder straps that have different lengths based on your torso length and chest width. Small frame sizes will have shorter shoulder straps than an extra-large frame. A pack with an adjustable yoke typically only comes in one length, although there are brands like Mystery Ranch that have yokes with straps in multiple lengths.
Strap Width
Packs that are designed to carry loads over 50-60 pounds will typically be wider and thicker to distribute the weight more comfortably. Other things to look for is if the shoulder straps have a dual-density foam to create a more comfortable ride.
Strap Shape
If a backpack brand has a male and female version, they will most likely have different shaped should straps. The unisex or male version is going to be more streamlined, and the female version will have more of an hourglass shape.
Best Backpacking Pack Types
Now that you have figured out the correct size of the pack, it’s time to determine the load-carrying capacity that will suit you best. Carrying capacity has two main factors, the weight you’ll be carrying and the volume to store your gear. Therefore, one question to ask yourself is, what type of equipment and clothing do you use? Are you an ultralight minimalist? Do you use standard weight gear or heavy stuff?
A good average for a multi-day backpacking trip is a 60-liter pack. For example, with a 60-liter, you’ll have enough room for a bear canister, a 20 degree down sleeping bag, a lightweight 2-person tent, Jetboil, two changes of clothes, and a lightweight down jacket. Altogether, with this type of load, my typical weight with water and food is around 25 to 30 pounds. If I need more food or water, it will get upwards of 30 – 35 pounds. I’ll use my Granite Gear Crown2 60L pack on longer trips when I need a bear canister and more room for food.
If you don’t need to bring a bear canister for your food, you can most likely go with a smaller volume pack. I use the Granite Gear Crown2 38L pack when I don’t need a bear canister and don’t need to bring lots of extra layers. In this scenario, my backpack with water and food will range from 18-25 pounds.
Ultralight Minimalist
- Pack weight: <2 lbs
- Volume: 38 – 56 liters
- Load-carrying: 5-20 pounds
- Internal frame support: no
- Fabric: Dynema Composite Fabric (formerly Cuben Fiber) or Ripstop nylon
Minimalist
- Pack weight: 2-3 lbs
- Volume: 38 – 56 liters
- Load-carrying: 15-35 pounds
- Internal frame support: internal frame sheet
- Fabric: Ripstop nylon
Normal Stuff
- Pack weight: 3-4 lbs
- Volume: 50 – 70 liters
- Load-carrying: 30-60 pounds
- Frame support: internal supports
- Fabric: Ripstop nylon
Heavy Stuff
- Pack weight: 4-6 lbs
- Volume: 50-70 liters
- Load-carrying: 40-70 pounds
- Frame support: internal or external frames
- Fabric: Ripstop nylon
Dialing in The Fit
Once you have the properly sized backpacking pack for your body type and use, it’s time to dial in the fit. To customize the fit, you will want to put your gear in the pack. If you don’t have your gear yet, you can use various stuff that weights about 15-20 pounds.
With most packs, you’ll have five steps to adjust the fit
First: Hip belt
With some weight in your pack, loosen up all of the straps. Then throw the backpack on and secure the hip belt. The lumbar pad should fit in the small of your back with the hip belt wrapping around your hips with about 1″ (2.5 cm) above your hip bones. The padding should extend slightly in front of your hip bones, and there should be a least 1″ of adjustability on either side of the buckle. If there is less than 1″ of adjustability, you’ll need a smaller hip belt.
Second: Shoulder straps
Once your hip belt is comfortably snug around your hips. Tighten the should straps so there is no gap at the top of your should blade. If there is a gap, the torso length is too long. If that’s the case, you’ll need to lower the yoke or try on a smaller backpack if it doesn’t have an adjustable yoke.
Shoulder straps should not be carrying the weight of the pack. That is the job of the hip belt. Otherwise, you’ll be putting unnecessary strain on your neck and shoulders.
Third: Sternum Strap
Slide the sternum strap up or down so that it’s in a comfortable position. For most people, this is about 1″ below your collarbones. Buckle the sternum strap and tighten just enough, so the straps are out of your armpit area, allowing your arms free range of motion.
Fourth: Load lifters
The load lifter straps are at the top of your shoulder straps. The load lifters help distribute the weight of the pack. Tightening them will bring the backpack closer to your shoulders, and loosening them moves the pack away from your shoulders. Over tensioning the load lifters can create a gap between your shoulder straps and shoulder blades and can lead to discomfort.
Fifth: Stabilizing Straps
Packs in the normal range that carry loads in the 30-70 pound range will have stabilizing straps. Whereas ultralight packs typically will not have stabilizing straps because the loads are light.
The stabilizing straps attach the lower pack to the hip belt. By tightening the stabilizing straps, it brings the load closer to your hips and has a more responsive feel as if the backpack is an extension of you. Loosening the straps moves the lower pack away from your hips and creates a less responsive feel.
Tips While on the Trail
Now that you have the fit of your backpack perfectly dialed in, it’s time to hit the trail. Here a couple of tips and tricks.
- When you take your pack off, remember to loosen your shoulder straps. It’ll be much easier to put on when you start hiking again.
- To get more airflow to your back, loosen up your shoulder straps so that the weight is on your hips, and the gap allows more air to your back.
- If you are hiking through uneven terrain and you don’t want the pack to sway, tighten up the stabilizing straps and load lifters. By tightening these straps, it will provide a responsive backpack that moves with your body.
- Sometimes, though, you may want the hip belt to move independently from the backpack. To accomplish this, loosen up the stabilizing and load lifter straps.
- While hiking, your body position will be leaning slightly forward. Leaning slightly forward is standard and makes the load feel more balanced.
