It may seem straight forward, but before you purchase a rucksack, there are a few factors that you need to consider to make sure that your purchase is right for you.

What size?

When you wish to purchase a rucksack, the first thing to consider is how many things will you need to put into this bag and hence, how much space you will need for your belongings. There are multiple different styles of backpack, ranging from mini-backpacks to large rucksacks – which differ tremendously in terms of what it can carry.

- Mini/small backpacks can carry between six to ten litres worth of weight and are suitable for short trips, with certainly enough room for food, drinks and a coat. A bag of this size is ideal for cyclists, runners, skiers and children.

- Daypacks vary between 10 and 30 litres in size and as you may have guessed from the name, are mainly aimed at people who enjoy single day trips but larger variations could be an option for an overnight stay, as they will have enough room for the main essentials as well as some spare clothing.

- Medium rucksacks are designed to carry between 35 and 50 litres, and are suitable for those who enjoy multi-day hikes as rucksacks on the higher end of the scale will manage to hold a sleeping bag and tent as well as your essentials.

- A large rucksack is one with the capacity to hold 65 litres minimum and is ideal for anyone from multi-day hikers such as people undertaking Duke of Edinburgh, to travellers. A rucksack of this size will have a large base size as well as many pockets and sub-compartments to accompany all of your needs.

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What’s your back length?

Your back length is key in helping you to get a backpack which fits you correctly hence making the wearing of it as comfortable as possible. The majority of backpacks have adjustable back straps, but if it is still too large post-adjustment, it is probably not the right size for you.

To measure your back length, locate your first large vertebra at the base of your neck and the part of your lower spine which is in line between your two hip bones. Simply measure between these two points – probably with the help of someone else – and you have your back length!

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What features do you want it to have?

Waist/Hip Belt:

- It is estimated that between 70-75% of your rucksacks weight is taken on your waist, so a belt is helpful to add support as well as balance out the weight. Make sure to try on the belt to ensure that it is comfortable and not too stiff or soft.

Chest Strap:

- Chest straps do not take any weight at all, but they can help to keep your shoulder straps located in the right place, so that the weight is evenly spread.

Back Systems:

- There are adjustable, fixed and gender specific back systems, all of which differ. Fixed back systems cannot be altered whilst adjustable straps can be; you guessed it, adjusted for a better fit. Gender specific back systems however, are designed to fit better for one particular gender.

Closure Systems:

- For the majority of backpacks, they can be closed either with a zip or with a drawcord.

Compressions Straps:

- For medium and large rucksacks, compression straps can be used to tighten your bag if it’s not full, to minimise your belongings shaking around. 

Pockets:

- When assessing a rucksack, have a look at how many pockets it has in comparison to how many you’ll need. Pockets are useful to contain certain items which saves you the hassle of rummaging through your main compartment, but if it has too many – it’s just excess weight!

Materials:

- The materials that you need for your rucksack very much depend on what you will be using it for. If you need your rucksack to be durable, you will need a rucksack which uses a weightier material, as opposed to someone who wants to take a rucksack with them on a one-day hike, who will not need to carry much and hence can afford to use a lightweight backpack.

Rain cover:

- A rain cover is handy for protecting the contents of your rucksack from getting wet if the weather isn’t as nice as you’d like it to be!

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As with any of the items you will likely be wearing, your comfort should be your main objective. It is always best to invest in something that you will be comfortable using.

Be sure to check out our full range of rucksacks now on our website or in our outlet store in Macclesfield. Make sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter to keep updated with the latest news and offers as well as our latest competitions!

We offer free delivery for purchases over the price of £50 and free exchanges. We hope to hear from you!