Backpacking Rucksacks

Backpacking rucksacks, sized by nights away

Backpacking rucksacks carry a sleeping system, food and shelter on the back for days at a time. The range runs from around thirty litres for a light overnight up to hundred-litre bodies for winter and expedition loads, in men's and women's fits. The fit rules that govern the hiking backpack range apply here too, only with more weight riding on them, so a mistake in the fit costs more.

What volume do you need?

The bulk of the kit sets the size, not the number of days. A summer overnight with a compact sleeping bag and a bivvy fits in thirty to forty litres. A multi-day trip with a tent, a stove, fuel and food lands around sixty to seventy-five. Winter and expedition loads push into the nineties and beyond, not because the weight climbs but because a four-season bag, a thick mat and a down jacket take up room. A sack fills to whatever size it is, so buying one step smaller often trims weight on its own. For a walk that ends the same evening, a hikers day pack is the honest choice.

Why does back length matter more than height?

Torso length varies between two people of the same height, and it is the torso the harness has to match. Measure from the bony bump at the base of the neck down to the top of the hip bones, then read that against the back length quoted for the sack. Get it wrong and the hip belt sits above or below the hip crest, which hands the load back to the shoulders. Many designs carry an adjustable back panel, and framed patterns such as those in the bergen backpack range hold their shape under heavy, awkward loads.

How is the weight meant to be carried?

On the hips. Loosen everything, lift the sack on, settle the belt so its padding wraps the hip bones, and tighten that first. Then pull the shoulder straps down until they follow the shoulders without carrying much, and close the sternum strap last. Inside, the heavy items sit against the back panel at roughly shoulder-blade height, the sleeping bag fills the bottom, and anything sharp goes as far from the spine as it will fit.

What should you check on the design?

• Back system: an adjustable panel lets one sack fit two people, and a ventilated frame keeps some airflow along the spine.
• Hip belt: wide, shaped padding that wraps the bone rather than a flat strap that slides over it.
• Access: a lid-only sack means unpacking to reach the bottom, while a front or side zip saves that on wet days.
• Compression: side straps pull a part-filled sack in against the back, which stops the load swinging on rough ground.

How do you keep the contents dry?

Assume the sack will let water in eventually: zips and seams pass water long before the fabric does. A rain cover sheds most of it, though water still runs down the back panel. The reliable method is a liner or dry bags inside, with the sleeping bag and spare clothing sealed separately. Where the sack itself is expected to hold water out, the roll-top and welded builds sit in the waterproof backpack range.