Luggage
Finding The Right Backpack
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The backpack is arguably the most important thing you will purchase in preparation for your travels. A good backpack is, in my opinion, the perfect way to carry your belongings as it eliminates such situations as trying to pull your wheeled suitcase down a cobbled street, pulling the handle off your suitcase and having to carry your things in a garbage bag. Plus you can’t really call yourself a backpacker unless you are hefting a giant pack on your back. But how do you know you’re getting the right backpack for you? Going into a store and gazing at the wall of packs of all shapes and sizes, you might feel like a teenager trying to decide on your first car without your dad there to look under the hood. But with a little information and some comparison shopping, you can find a backpack that will feel like an extension of your independent self, not like you are actually carrying your home on your back.
Budget
Backpacks are expensive. I nearly fainted the first time I was pricing them out. But trust me, this is not an area you want to be stingy in. While there’s no need to rush out and buy the most expensive one, it is important to find the right balance between what your budget can handle and what your body can handle. You usually get what you pay for and spending a reasonable amount and buying from a manufacturer that stands behind its products will probably save you some headaches down the line. A well-made pack will last for years. Once you hang up your travelling hat, you can always sell it to recoup some of your costs.
Finding The Right Fit
The most important thing in buying your backpack is making sure it fits. The key measurement to a well-fitting pack is back length. A short person can have a longer back than a tall person, so height is not a good indicator. To measure your back length, get a friend or friendly salesperson to give you a hand. Find the most prominent vertebrae at the top of your back; it should be at about the same level as the top of your shoulders. This is “point A.” Then find the top of your hipbone and follow this point in a straight line to the middle of your back. This is “point B.” Measure from point A to point B in a straight line down your spine. This is your back length.
Find a pack that is meant for your size and don’t be afraid to try on a few different ones. Ask the salesperson to weight it down for you and walk around the store with it for a while. It should feel like your body has simply become heavier, not like you are giving a piggyback ride to a full-grown man. Adjust all the straps and see if that makes the pack carry a little differently and helps distribute the weight better. It’s very important to find a pack that fits across your hips too. The waist strap will take the weight of the pack off of your shoulders and make it much easier to carry. If messing around with all the different straps still doesn’t make it feel good, don’t buy it. Remember that you’ll be carting this thing around with you for months and a sore back makes any day, no matter how amazing it is, a lot less fun.
Accessories
Packs come with all different kinds of extensions and accessories. Some will have a detachable daypack, which will come in handy for those times when you don’t need to carry your whole pack with you. This is a good option because when you do have your big pack you won’t have a second bag to carry as well, as the daypack will just zip right back on where you got it from.
Most packs are water to repellent to some degree, but if you’re going to a very rainy climate you may want to buy a waterproof cover that is specifically made for your pack. Arriving at your destination with a whole wardrobe of damp clothes will also put a damper on your trip.
For the safety conscious, you can buy locks, alarms and even a wire net that will fit over your pack and lock to itself or to a post or tree. This will help discourage pickpockets while you’re wearing it or give you some piece of mind while your pack is out of sight. Keep in mind that this option is about as safe as locking up your bike and any determined thief will probably find a way in. These nets are also very heavy, so make sure your back can handle the extra load.
There are as many accessories as there are travel scenarios to prepare for and it’s easy to get carried away with buying things you might need. If your budget and back can handle it, it’s always good to be prepared.
Your Best Friend On The Road
I have a very intimate relationship with my backpack. It has been with me on all of the travels I have taken and I have come to view it not only as a means of carrying my stuff, but also as a travelling companion and a symbol of my freedom and independence. Finding the right pack for you could be one of the most important things you do in preparation for your travels. Don’t be afraid to get to know it before you leave, even if the neighbours look at you funny for going for a walk every night to nowhere in particular with a fully loaded rucksack on your back.
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