Buying a new rucksack is a very serious business. Just kidding! Its great fun, especially if you come instore and enjoy trying them on and choosing from the fantastic range we stock. It is, however, a bit of an investment. For the dedicated adventurer, the backpack you pick is likely to be up close and personal with you for many years to come. The best haversacks, the water-resistant, lightweight and stylish rucksack of your dreams, should be the one that accompanies you to urban meetings, stylish hipster pub and carries your life-giving essentials to the remotest trekking zones in the world. O.K. we might be overstating the importance of the humble rucksack, but it cannot be denied that many of us have a backpack which has outlived even our longest relationships. That is a testament to the excellent quality and durability of an Outdoor Adventure Store rucksack and absolutely no reflection on any individual’s couple-skills.
Replacing or purchasing a new a haversack takes time and so, it is always good to consult the experts (That’s us, in case you were wondering!) when picking a new pack. We have some tips and pointers to help, particularly for our online shoppers.
Size Matters
For a comfortable fit which will see you bounding, effortlessly over hills and dales, you needto get a handle on the required size, even before you even start to shop. The torso, not yourheight is the key to a good fit. Here is how to measure your torso for a well-fitted backpack.
Tilt your head so that the C7 vertebra at the base of your neck protrudes at the bony bumpwhere your head meets your neck. This is the starting point of your measurement. Put yourhands on your hips and use your thumbs to feel for the top of the iliac crest (the top of the hipbone). Draw an imaginary line between your thumbs. This spot on your lumbar is the bottom
of your measurement. Stand straight and ask a friend to tape measure along the contours ofyour spine and between the two points. You now have your torso length. (Most adult’s torsomeasurements are around 40 to 60 cm.)
Torso ranges for pack sizes vary between brands and models, so always check the size chart.
If you fall between sizes, come into the store and try on each size till you find a comfortablefit or drop us an email and we can advise.
Once you have the torso size length, the hip size is generally correct, but as you carry most of the pack weight on your hips, it is crucial to have a well-fitting hip belt. Hip belt size is not the same as your trouser-waist size. Pop the tape measure around the top of your hips,following the iliac crest, which is a wee bit higher than hipline.
Adjust to Fit
Once you have bought that shiny new bag, with its promises of adventures to come, try it out at home. Apart from the obvious posturing in front of the mirror to ensure that the style is right, you will also need to adjust the straps to fit. Backpacks have several adjustable straps to ease the load and for greater comfort. The hip belt, shoulder straps, load-lifter straps and sternum straps. Your legs have some of the strongest muscles in your body, so the goal is to adjust your straps so that the majority of the load rests on your hips, and ultimately your legs do the work.
Pack the bag with a load of around 7kilos for starters. Loosen all of the adjustment straps slightly. Adjust the shoulder and hip belts first. Follow this with some tweaking on the load-lifter/sternum straps. Walk around a bit and see how it feels, adjusting straps as you see fit. The urge to head off for the big adventure will overtake you now, and you just might have to go for a quick trek around the park to get the full effects of your new purchase.
On the Trail
Once you are out and about with your rucksack, pay attention to how it feels on the trail. Experienced hikers adjust regularly, depending on how the load feels. Leaning forward slightly may feel a little better. One common trick to combat load fatigue is to tighten the shoulder straps and loosen the hip belt and to reverse the procedure later. Ease your overworked muscles by taking the pack off at rest breaks.
Style
This should be the easiest part of buying a new backpack. However, with a massive variety of styles, colours, brand names, shapes and rucksack accessories to choose from, this can actually be the most difficult part of the process. Purchasing a haversack is, after all, an investment in your future adventures. Take your time, survey the choice and imagine all the upcoming expeditions to wild and wonderful places with your trusty backpack and let that bag speak to you. Or just pick your favourite colour. Whatever your method, our expert staff are on-hand to assist with making the whole experience a pleasant and fruitful one. We wish you and your new rucksack a long and happy road together.