No matter which outdoor activity is your favourite one, you will still need to worry about the type of backpack you must purchase. Still there are some things you need to take into consideration when it comes to choosing the right hiking backpack.   

First you need to think about the amount of time you intend to spend hiking since you will need different type of backpacks if you are going just for a short day trip or if are planning a long camping trip skiing or simply mountaineering.     

Another thing you need to think about is the type of frame you think of as more appropriate for you. You get to choose from internal or external frames that increase carrying capacity and help you stay balanced. These types of hiking backpacks are also designed to stay either close to your back or further away, whatever fits your preferences.  

Internal frames are more comfortable when worn and make your walking easier than the external one that gets in you way at any move you make.    

On the other hand, if you intend to go camping, external frame hiking backpacks are more appropriate since they also provide more space for you to strap your tent on one side of the backpack and your sleeping bag on the other side of it.  

Also you must pay attention whether your hiking backpack has a hip belt. This type of belt is highly important because it reduces the weight from your shoulders and it balances it both on your shoulders and on your hips. It is commonly known that hips have more strength than shoulders when it comes to carrying weight. 

You must not forget about the tightening straps either when you choose your backpack. These straps can move the pressure from different sides of the body to other parts and ease the relaxation process.   

It is not easy at all to decide on the right hiking backpack for you although you have read enough theory about it; you must also have a practical experience with trips so that you have learned that in this situation bigger is not always better.  

Off course everyone would think that buying a bigger hiking backpack would provide them with more space for their clothes and supplies but in reality this is not necessarily true. The larger you carrying capacity is, the more weight you will need to carry until the end of your trip and lot of passionate hikers confessed that at their beginnings lots of trips have been compromised by the excessive cargo.    

When starting to pack one must think at two aspects: first one is that you never need all the things you think you need, and second that you must also leave enough free space for the souvenirs. 

Some unwritten rules regarding packing say that after deciding all the clothes you want to take with you, first thing you need to take out one third of them and put them back at their place. Also you won’t be needing all the fancy clothes you wanted to bring, one pair of shoes, one pair of pants and one t-shirt are more than enough ( if you plan on going visiting  daytimes you won’t have the energies to go out every night). 

Try both saving enough place for the souvenirs but also when you get there try not to bring too many. Not only will they slow you down but there is also a risk that you break them when throwing away your backpack. 

One last thing, it is essential to try your hiking backpack before buying it. You need to see how it fits you, how it feels, the exact dimensions and also the material that it is made of. This is the reason why I recommend going to a specialized store in order to purchase a backpack and also to get advices from the salespersons there.