First and foremost, it is your intended use that should guide your choice of hiking backpack. The type of hiking you do (distance, number of days, self-sufficiency) is of course essential when selecting a hiking backpack suited to your activity. But other factors also come into play when determining the comfort you will experience carrying your hiking backpack for long hours.
Load carrying is certainly the most critical feature to consider. It will largely determine the comfort you feel during your hikes with your backpack. Indeed, the weight of your pack rests largely on your hips, and also on your shoulders. It is therefore essential to pay attention to the carry system to avoid back pain.
For example, a ventral support strap is absolutely necessary. This type of strap is important: it relieves your shoulders by transferring the weight to your hips. For multi-day hikes or a walking weekend, a padded hip belt is strongly recommended. Today, quality backpack brands all offer very effective, semi-rigid hip belts, which even feature small storage pockets to keep useful items within easy reach.
The chest strap is also important for carrying the hiking backpack. It helps distribute the load across the shoulders and keeps the straps correctly in place. The chest strap is useful and effective, and must be properly adjusted — and above all, actually used. Too many walkers leave it loose and do not use it at all. This makes the shoulder carry slack and unconsciously forces you to lean forward. Over time, this posture creates lower back pain that is quite difficult to bear and correct.
The load lifter straps serve to adjust your carry so that it sits correctly at the level of your collarbones. They are equally important — and even critical — for adjusting your hiking backpack correctly and in a balanced way.
By adjusting your pack properly, you will carry the bulk of the weight of your hiking backpack on your hips: you can place around 65 to 70% of your pack's weight on your hips, as this is the best way to relieve your shoulders and back, which are far more vulnerable.
Carrying the hiking backpack
Load carrying is certainly the most critical feature to consider. It will largely determine the comfort you feel during your hikes with your backpack. Indeed, the weight of your pack rests largely on your hips, and also on your shoulders. It is therefore essential to pay attention to the carry system to avoid back pain.
For example, a ventral support strap is absolutely necessary. This type of strap is important: it relieves your shoulders by transferring the weight to your hips. For multi-day hikes or a walking weekend, a padded hip belt is strongly recommended. Today, quality backpack brands all offer very effective, semi-rigid hip belts, which even feature small storage pockets to keep useful items within easy reach.
The chest strap is also important for carrying the hiking backpack. It helps distribute the load across the shoulders and keeps the straps correctly in place. The chest strap is useful and effective, and must be properly adjusted — and above all, actually used. Too many walkers leave it loose and do not use it at all. This makes the shoulder carry slack and unconsciously forces you to lean forward. Over time, this posture creates lower back pain that is quite difficult to bear and correct.
The load lifter straps serve to adjust your carry so that it sits correctly at the level of your collarbones. They are equally important — and even critical — for adjusting your hiking backpack correctly and in a balanced way.
By adjusting your pack properly, you will carry the bulk of the weight of your hiking backpack on your hips: you can place around 65 to 70% of your pack's weight on your hips, as this is the best way to relieve your shoulders and back, which are far more vulnerable.
The frame of the hiking backpack
The frame of a backpack is essential for your comfort. It is, in a sense, the skeleton of the hiking backpack — it determines the balance of the pack and your mobility during effort. The best modern frames bring the hiking backpack closer to your back, offering better compactness and improved mobility. Two types of frame can be distinguished:The external frame
External frames were very common in the past. Today this system has disappeared, giving way to integrated frames. Their drawback is a very high weight and a load that is often awkward to handle. This type of frame is still used on certain specialist packs designed for very heavy loads.The internal frame
Internal frame systems are integrated into the backpack. They are made from lightweight materials and therefore offer a considerable weight saving. Furthermore, the materials used today are less rigid, making hiking backpacks more functional and far more comfortable. The load is carried closer to the body, enabling a more compact configuration that provides better balance for the walker and improved mobility during effort. The backpack effectively "follows" your every move, with no inertia or lag in movement and no pendulum effect.Moisture management?
Today, most outdoor equipment manufacturers offer packs with good moisture management. Perforated materials or mesh panels allow air to circulate over the areas in contact with your body. When choosing a hiking backpack, make sure to select one with sufficient ventilation and good moisture evacuation. If moisture builds up on your back and lumbar area, it is not only unpleasant but can also cause you to catch a chill very quickly just after effort or when the temperature drops.
