by Peter Clay

Created on: February 25, 2009

You will never appreciate how important and comfortable it is to have a correctly fitting backpack until you've used one that is of poor quality. An incorrectly fitting pack doesn't just feel uncomfortable, it can also cause severe back and neck pain as well nasty blisters on your shoulders. There are many issues to look at in regards to fitting a pack, from what type of backpack you need to your own personal requirements.

The first aspect you should look at when fitting your backpack is what type of travelling you will be doing. For example are you spending three months trekking through the Himalayas where you will be wearing your pack all day everyday, or are you slowly backpacking through the backwaters of Asia where in all likelihood you will be only lifting you back when travelling to you next destination?

If you're doing any type of long term hiking it's important to get a pack that is light, fitting your body with correct lumber support as well as good quality tightening straps and internal metal support so you can manage the weight distribution. A pack that can be easily adjusted to the height and weight of your body is essential, especially if you need to change it quickly depending on the type of terrain you're walking on. Having to undo six straps, open the back padding up and then try to work out the height adjustments whilst sitting on the edge of a rocky outcrop, is not something you want to be doing.

Compared to hiking, a Backpacker who is travelling lazily over a period of time can be fussier with the look of their pack and the design. It doesn't need to be as light or the best fitting pack, as in all honesty you will be only picking it up in between walking from your hostel to your next bus connection. Where space and size is more important to hold all those souvenirs and extra clothes, functionality that is required for hiking is less desirable.

However with any pack, the weight and design of it should not make you hunch over or pull you back so your chest comes forward. The shoulder straps should be well padded and of a good width, minimising the potential for the straps to dig and rub into your shoulders. The backpack should also have a waist and chest strap, allowing for correct adjustment to your body thus spreading the weight evenly.

In regards to weight distribution, pack heavy items in the middle of the pack and pack lighter objects around it, this places less strain on your neck or on your lower back. A backpack should fit to you like an extension rather than an attachment. A helpful hint is if you feel your body being pulled back; wear a day pack on your front which can aid you in correcting your balance, also a good place to hold that guide book your reading.

Budget is important and a backpack can range anywhere from forty dollars all the way up to an easy thousand. Why some objects with a lower price don't affect quality, you should always buy the best pack for your budget and your needs. If you are serious about making your pack fit, any good camping or hiking store will be able to provide you with knowledgeable advice on how to adjust your pack correctly for your personal requirements.

From a hiking pack, a backpack or to a hybrid (a mix of both), you'll appreciate it when you slip it on, pull two straps and it hugs into your back like a long lost travel companion. All with a quiet smile that you made the right choice as you notice other travellers with cheap nasty ones struggling to get it to sit tight. Grimacing as they lift it into place whilst stumbling backwards or even worse as they fall on to their backs like an upside turtle, it does happen.

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