Rucksack

A rucksack is judged on four numbers, and most shops publish none of them: the litres of the main compartment on its own, the back length, the empty weight, and the denier of the fabric. Where a maker gives them, our listings give them. Where a maker does not, the listing says so rather than filling the gap with an adjective.

These are new, unbranded packs. Not ex-issue, not graded surplus, and not made to a service specification. If that is what you are looking for, this is not the right shelf.

Litres, and what the number covers

A 40 litre pack that counts its side pockets is not a 40 litre pack. Where the specification separates the main compartment from the pockets, we give the main compartment figure first. Twenty to forty litres covers a day out with food, layers and water. Fifty to eighty covers a sleeping system and several days of rations. Above that you are into expedition volume, and the harness matters more than the litres.

The harness decides more than the fabric

Most complaints about a loaded pack come down to three things. Shoulder straps that are cut too short ride up under the arms. A pack with no hip belt puts every kilo on your shoulders, whatever its capacity. And a frame carried far from your back tips you backwards. Each listing says whether a hip belt, a chest strap and a frame are present, including when they are not, because a 90 litre pack without a belt is a real thing and it is worth knowing before it arrives.

Weight is the figure the category hides

Empty weight is what you carry before your own kit exists. It is also the number most often left out of a specification. Where the maker publishes it we print it in grams or kilos; where it is missing the listing says so. A pack built to take abuse tends to weigh more, and that trade is worth making with your eyes open.

About water

None of these packs is a dry bag. Zips and sewn seams are the two routes water takes, and a coating slows rain rather than stopping it. We describe a pack as water-resistant, note whether a rain cover is supplied, and suggest a liner for a sleeping bag or a laptop.

Delivery and returns

UK delivery is free. Orders are processed within 3 to 5 business days and arrive within 10 to 20 business days. Returns or exchange within 30 days of delivery, unused and in original condition, approved before being sent back, with the refund issued within 7 days of acceptance. Return postage is paid by the customer, which on a large rucksack is worth factoring in before you order.