Hi,

Thanks for the comment and sharing your experience with packs. I certainly agree that experience with any gear will give you an ever-growing sense of what you prefer. But I want to emphasize to anyone reading this that you SHOULD seek advice on expensive choices, like a backpack, whether from this article or an expert in a gear store or someone you know. You should try to make as informed a decision as possible because you might spend a few hundred dollars and wear that pack for years.

I’m sure many people don’t learn how to properly adjust a pack for too long, but it’s really only for a lack of asking someone who knows how to do it, or search online and find a video. It’s not some closely guarded state secret.

There’s no reason to buy a pack that doesn’t fit you well or isn’t what you need. Read this article. Check other sources of information. If you buy a pack and it doesn’t fit, many retailers now offer a full refund if you return the gear before it’s been used much and undamaged.

Just a few weeks ago, the 25-year-old daughter of good friends came to me for backpack advice. She’d bought a Gregory Deva 60 and wondered if it was a good fit and the right pack for her. I showed her how to know whether the pack fits, how to adjust it, and answered her questions. Twenty minutes later, she walked out rightly feeling like she not only had made a good choice, but knew how to use it. Not that hard or complicated.

In my case, it’s taken me 4 years to know when my pack is adjusted correctly. And how to pack it correctly. (It’s very subtle and you need to have a Martial Arts awareness of every muscle in your body.) My pack was comfortable but “heavy.” I tried a lighter pack but I didn’t think to look if it had a dedicated water bottle holder. Now I know. (Make sure that you can return your pack easily w/o too much of a restock fee.)

Hey Jason,

It really does simply come down to whether you own lightweight, compact gear and how much superfluous, “comfort” gear or extra clothing and gear you intend to carry. If you plan on backpacking lightweight or ultralight, you may never need more than 50-58 liters in a pack, even for longer trips. If you go places where you routinely have to haul significant gear, food, and/or water weight, you may want a suspension capable of carrying at least 35 pounds comfortably.

You may find my “12 Expert Tips for Planning a Backpacking Trip” and “A Practical Guide to Lightweight and Ultralight Backpacking” helpful.

Good luck.

Just about to do my first weekend trip… still thinking along the lines of 65L, but I may go lower.

Thanks for the comment, Kim. I agree: I generally use a 50-liter pack for trips when everyone is carrying their share of food and gear.
It’s certainly enough space if your gear is relatively new and low-bulk.

I’m glad you find my blog enjoyable and helpful. I hope you sign up for my free email newsletter and decide to Join The Big Outside to get full access to all of my blog’s stories. And click here to learn how I can help you plan your next trip.

Please keep in touch!

Thanks, Andrew, I’m glad you find these two stories helpful.

Spot on, Kenji. Thanks for the comment.

Hi Michael, that’s a perfectly legitimate question. Short answer: With modern gear and packing only what you really need, you can get base pack weight (without food and water) down to 15 pounds (or even less) without compromising comfort or safety, and certainly keep it under 20 pounds even with a spacious, sturdy two-person tent, warm bag, and cushy air mattress. Then factor in about two pounds per day for food, and roughly two pounds per liter of water, and your pack weight with a week’s worth of food, in a place with fairly frequent water sources, shouldn’t have to exceed around 35 pounds. Careful food and water planning and really light gear can keep it under 30 pounds.

Check out my story “Ultralight Backpacking’s Simple Equation: Less Weight = More Fun” (https://thebigoutsideblog.com/the-simple-equation-of-ultralight-backpacking-less-weight-more-fun/).

Good luck.