Backpacking Guide 02
Choosing a Backpacking Backpack
Guide
A backpack is more than a container. A well-fitted pack carries the gear you need while helping your hips and legs support most of the load. A poorly fitted or overloaded pack can create sore shoulders, hot spots, poor balance, and an unpleasant trip.
This guide is reference material, not a substitute for trip-specific instructions, current weather information, land-management rules, permits, product directions, or guidance from the leaders responsible for an outing.
Borrow or rent a pack and load it with real gear before buying. Fit matters more than brand, color, or the number printed on the pack.
Start with the trip and the gear
Do not choose a pack only by trip length. Sleeping gear, weather, required group equipment, food, water, and a Scout's size all affect the volume needed. Compact gear may fit in a smaller pack; bulky or cold-weather gear may require more room.
| Trip style | Common starting range | What changes the choice |
|---|---|---|
| Day hike | About 15-30 liters | Extra layers, water needs, group first aid, and weather |
| One or two nights | About 40-60 liters | Size of sleeping bag, shelter share, food, and bear canister |
| Several nights or cold weather | About 55-75+ liters | Bulkier insulation, more food, and required group gear |
These are starting ranges, not rules. Bring your gear to the fitting. If everything barely fits at home, it will be harder to repack on a wet or windy morning.
Internal and external frames
Most modern backpacking packs use an internal frame. They hold the load close to the body, have a narrow profile, and work well on maintained trails and uneven terrain. External-frame packs hold the bag away from the back and can provide excellent ventilation and convenient ways to carry bulky loads. Either type can work when it fits the Scout and matches the trip.
Fit the torso first
Pack size in liters describes storage volume; it does not describe body fit. Manufacturers use torso length and hip-belt size, and their size charts are not identical. Have another person measure from the bony bump at the base of the neck to the level of the top of the hip bones, then use the pack maker's instructions.
- The hip belt should wrap securely around the top of the hip bones without bottoming out at the buckle.
- Shoulder straps should follow the shoulders smoothly without large gaps or painful pressure.
- Load-lifter straps, when present, should be snug rather than cranked tight.
- The sternum strap should steady the shoulder straps without restricting breathing.
- A youth who is still growing may need an adjustable torso system and periodic refitting.
Check the loaded weight
Scouting America points to a recommended backpack weight of no more than about 20-25 percent of body weight for backpacking. That is an upper guideline, not a target. Newer hikers, smaller Scouts, hot weather, steep terrain, altitude, or medical considerations may call for a lighter load. Share patrol gear fairly and review health concerns with adult leaders and a health-care professional when appropriate.
Useful features
- A supportive hip belt and frame sized for the expected load
- Pockets that make rain gear, water, snacks, navigation, and first aid easy to reach
- Compression straps that keep a partial load from shifting
- A pack liner or waterproof bags for critical dry items; a rain cover alone may not keep everything dry
- Durable fabric and repairable buckles rather than unnecessary gadgets
- Water-bottle pockets or a reservoir sleeve that the Scout can use while walking
Try it before the trail
Load the pack with the expected weight, adjust it, and walk for at least 15-20 minutes. Climb stairs, bend, and reach. The pack should remain stable without numbness, sharp pressure, or restricted breathing. Refit after a few hikes, because bodies, clothing layers, and loads change.
