The backpack is the most personal piece of gear you'll buy. A pack that fits you well disappears on your hips. A pack that doesn't fit will ruin a trip in five miles. Sizing is more important than features. Here's how to choose.
Step 1 — Measure your torso
The most-skipped step. Measure from the bony bump at the base of your neck (C7 vertebra) down to the top of your hip bones (the iliac crest). Most adults are 17-20 inches. Most packs come in S/M/L based on this measurement. Try one in your size; the wrong size won't ride right no matter how you adjust.
Step 2 — Pick the volume
- Daypack (15-30L): a single day on the trail
- Overnight (35-50L): 1-3 night trips with modern light gear
- Multi-day (50-75L): 3-7 night trips, or 1-3 nights if you're carrying heavier gear
- Expedition (75-100L+): 7+ nights, winter trips, climbing gear, expedition trips
Most backpackers need a 50-65L pack — versatile enough for weekend and week-long trips.
Step 3 — Try it loaded
Don't buy a pack empty. Borrow weight (sandbags, books, gallon water jugs) and load 25-30 lbs into the pack at the store. Walk around for 10 minutes. Where does it sit? Does the hipbelt actually transfer weight to your hips, or is everything pulling on your shoulders? A correctly loaded pack should put 70-80% of weight on your hips, not your shoulders.
Suspension types
- Internal frame — modern standard. Aluminum or composite stays inside the pack body. Carries weight close to your back. Good for varied terrain.
- External frame — old-school. Aluminum frame outside the pack. Good for very heavy loads (50+ lbs) on flat trails. Bad for off-trail or balance work.
- Frameless ultralight — works only if your total load is under 20 lbs. The pack uses your sleeping pad as the structure.
Hip belt
The single most important feature. The hip belt should sit on top of your iliac crest (your hip bones), with the padding wrapping around. When you tighten it, it should anchor solidly — not slide up onto your waist or down off your hips. Padding on the hip belt should be at least 1.5 inches thick for loaded carry.
Features worth paying for
- Adjustable torso length — lets you dial fit precisely
- Hipbelt pockets — for snacks and a phone without removing the pack
- Multiple access points — top-loading + side zip (don't have to unpack everything to get one item)
- Hydration sleeve — internal pocket for a water bladder, with a hose port
- Stretch front pocket — for wet rainfly or layers you take off mid-hike
Features that don't matter
- Color — buy what you like
- Brand — fit matters more than logo
- 'Lightweight' marketing — check the actual weight on the spec sheet, not the wording
A pack that fits you carries 30 pounds like 20. A pack that doesn't fit makes 20 pounds feel like 40.
The acid test
The right pack feels like part of your body after 5 miles. The wrong one is the only thing you'll think about. Buy from a store that lets you return after a real shakedown hike.
Packs we trust: shop the GemGear backpack collection.