CHOOSING THE RIGHT BACKPACK

My Heartfelt Advice
I cannot even begin to tell you how important choosing the right backpack actually is. I didn't choose the right one, because I followed advice from a pilgrim who said that it didn't matter and that a 'backpack was a backpack'. It was a big mistake that I will not make again. You are going to be carrying your pack all day, over a long distance.  If you can afford to pay for one from a professional camping outlet, then I suggest you do this. If not, then try your best to borrow one. I chose an inexpensive pack from an outdoor summer market, and regretted it later on. Backpacks sold in professional camping outlets are much more expensive to buy, but they are worth the price if you follow the guidelines in buying them. My cheap version caused my shoulders and lower back to ache, and it started to come apart at the seams a couple of weeks before I arrived at my destination. I could have afforded a professional pack, but hadn’t realized the importance of right fit. Buying cheap wasn’t worth the stress it caused me, and so I offer the following advice.

A GOOD ONE FOR PURCHASE

ROAMM Nomad 80L Internal Frame Backpack
Think Before You Choose
Choosing the right backpack depends on the following elements:

  • Will you carry the pack or send it ahead? 
  • Your body size and body strength
  • How much you intend to carry (10 per cent of body weight is the rule of thumb)
  • How you will load it
  • Where you will stay (will you need a sleeping bag?)
  • Weather conditions (will you need heavy or light clothing? You might find yourself walking in the rain)

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ONEPACK 70L Internal Frame Backpack
Sending Your Pack Ahead
If you are sending your pack head, you will only need a daypack in which you will carry your essential documents (passport etc, water, first aid kit and snacks). This will be light and the only elements you need to worry about are whether it fits around your shoulders comfortably, it is strong and it is water-resistant. If it rains, you should cover it with your rain poncho, as water-resistant does not mean water-proof. For more information about sending your pack ahead, read here.

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Your Body Size and Body Strength
A good backpack is  important to a comfortable walking experience. Good backpacks are:

  • equipped with padded straps that do not cut into your shoulders; 
  • strong
  • light 
  • water-resistant
  • provided with interchangeable hip-belts (your waist measurement is important. Experts say that for you to carry your belongings comfortably, the major backpack weight (about 80%) should be supported by your hips)
  • supplied with a number of accessible pockets and zips
  • able to carry water bottles in pockets that can be reached while the pack is on your back, or,
  • provided with a water bladder
The Right Fit
In finding the right fit, you need to measure the length of your torso, as well as the circumference of your hips. You can buy backpacks in small, medium or large sizes, and these in turn are separated into men’s and women’s sizes. 

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The pack should sit on your hips; the straps around the hips need to be able to be secured so that the pack stays in place.
Measuring Up Your Torso
Here's how to get the right measurements in order to choose the right size pack:

Feel around for your 7th cervical vertebrae, slightly protruding bone at the base of your neck, just above your shoulders. This is the beginning point of your torso measurement.

Place your hands on your hips. Where your hip bones are positioned, this is point at which your pack should rest . This is the end point of the torso measurement.

Stand up straight, and allow someone to measure along your spine from your 7th Cervical to the base of your back, in line with your hips. (A shop assistant will help you with this, or if you buy online, you can ask a friend). Write it down.
Measuring Up Your Hips
Feel around your hips for the hip bone. Place the tape measure on your right hip, and bring it around the front and back, ending up back on the right hip. Write this measurement down.
Approximate Torso/Backpack Size
·         Extra Small:  Approx. 16"

·         Small: Approx. 16" to 18"

·         Medium/Regular: Approx. 18" to 20"

·         Large/Tall: Approx. 20" plus

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Backpack Volume
While the rule of thumb on the camino is to carry about 10% of your body weight, it is wise to make sure that you have plenty of space in your pack. A stuffed pack can cause complications with weight distribution (see below), which in turn can create discomfort when walking. You might find yourself carrying more food or water on one day than you will another . So bear this in mind when considering the capacity of your backpack.

AMAZONBASICS INTERNAL FRAME
Caution: Light-weight and Ultra-weight Packs
Take caution in choosing light-weight or ultra-light weight packs. While they may weigh under three pounds, they may not hold the volume that you require. They are designed primarily for climbers, and so may not have the features that you are looking for.
How to Load Your Backpack
Weight Distribution
Correct distribution of your pack contents makes all the difference when it comes to walking and carrying your belongings on your back. Most backpacks open at the top and are called top-loading packs. Some have a separate compartment at the bottom of the pack, where the sleeping bag can be placed; when it comes to weight distribution, you have to consider whether you want one of these types. 

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When packing for the days walk, most hikers place the sleeping bag towards the bottom of the pack, since it is heaviest item, plus it will be the item least likely to be used until the evening. Experts suggest that the hips should take 80% of the weight, which means you would have to ensure that your padded straps are secured firmly around your hips, allowing the pack to rest in position, rather than hang from your upper body. Other hikers say that putting some of your heavier clothing (stuff you will not wear during the day) right at the bottom, then placing the sleeping bag on top of that, you’ll find the bulk of the weight sits just below the middle of your back (not quite at the base). However you distribute the weight, the hips will help support it if you secure your hip straps correctly. 

Some experts suggest that it would be even better if you placed the heavier items closer to your back too. They say that you could put the rest of your clothes on top, with items you will need during the day (first aid, snacks etc) right at the top.

NOTE: There are slightly differing views when it comes to where in the pack to place the heaviest weight, and I found that it did actually depend on your own body. I'm small in height and my upper body is not especially strong. So I played around with the packing until I got it just right for me, the strongest part of my back carrying the heaviest weight. You'll be thankful to yourself if you do the same, because you really will notice a difference; the pack actually feels lighter when you get the weight distribution right for you. 
Adjusting Your Backpack Shoulder Straps
The shoulder straps of your pack need to be padded so that they do not cut into your shoulders. Once you have hoisted the pack onto your back, make sure that the shoulder straps are pulled tightly enough to prevent the pack from hanging off your shoulders. The pack should hug your upper back. If the straps are left loose, the pack will pull at the shoulders, causing a lot of discomfort. Play around with the straps and the pack to get it exactly to conform to your body and your needs.

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Packing: Try Rolling Up Your Clothing Instead of Folding
I read somewhere that rolling up clothing instead of folding allowed more space to be available, and that rolling up reduced wrinkling. I tried it and it worked for me.
Rain: Lining Your Backpack with A Bin-liner
After getting drenched in the rain, I found it best to take other pilgrims’ advice when it came to protecting the contents of the pack. Even though a lot of backpacks are water-resistant, they still let in water after heavy downpours. Even certain rain ponchos and backpack covers don’t bear up when the going gets really tough, and  you’ll find damp or wet clothing at the end of a hard day trudging in the rain and mud. After a rather cold and wet and miserable experience, I eventually procured a black bin-liner and placed it in my pack, putting all the contents within that. It worked a treat on those rainy days when everything got wet through. Other people used plastic bags, packing items separately, but I found too many bags too cumbersome and confusing.