Packs

Packs come in all sizes and shapes. So do people. Here is some information that will hopefully make it easier to decide which might be the best pack to buy. Depending on your needs, your activity, and even your work, school, or travel plans, there’s a comfortable pack or bag on the market for you.

Women’s Backpacks
Women’s bodies, carrying capacity, and center of gravity are different from men’s, so they have different requirements when it comes to finding and fitting a backpack. Here are some guidelines for sorting through the different designs now available. When shopping online, be sure to look for backpack brands that design women’s packs.
These designs take into account that women generally have shorter torsos, wider hips and narrower shoulders than men. In fact, a well-made women's pack won't fit men correctly.

Find One That Fits.

When choosing a pack, the key consideration is finding one that fits your torso. A pack that's too short will result in a hip belt riding up around your waist, restricting breathing. If the pack is too long, the result will be ill-fitting shoulder straps and a gap between the pack and your back. Make sure the waist belt sits firmly on your hips, and the yoke (the place where the shoulder harness comes out of the pack) is about 2 inches below your C7 vertebrae (the bone that sticks out at the base of your neck). If the pack has a foam waist belt, its center should rest on your iliac crest - the front-most point of your hipbone. Because women's hips are more angular than men's, they form a natural cradle for the hip belt, especially one that is wider at the bottom than the top. The pack's chest strap should lie flat across your sternum, and not interfere with your throat.

Straps That Stay in Place.

If you experience slipping shoulder straps check the distance between the pack's frame stays, the internal reinforcement pieces that give structure to the pack. Many designs offer stays set closely together, which produces straps more likely to stay put. Also, the narrower shoulder straps on many women's packs offer a more comfortable, chafe-free ride. Aluminum frame stays are the best choice, because they can be bent for a custom fit.

Keep It Light.

Another consideration is a pack's weight. Lighter packs can make a difference on how you'll feel at the end of a day on the trail, but keep in mind there is a compromise between a pack's weight and its durability and load-carrying proficiency. Sometimes a heavier pack will actually feel lighter than a less-hefty one because it supports and distributes the load better.

One way to save weight is to buy a pack that's the right size for your needs. For weekend trips, a pack with a capacity of 3,500-4,500 cubic inches should be fine. Day hikers and rock climbers can get by with 2,500-3,500 cubic inches. For loads less than 2,500 cubic inches, you might want to consider a lumbar ("fanny") pack.

A competitive weight for a 4,000-cubic-inch pack is between four and five pounds. Smaller packs should weigh in at two to four pounds. Extras like removable lids that convert to fanny packs, internal hydration systems (which frequently freeze in sub-zero temperatures), super-padded waist belts, and straps for skis, avalanche shovels and ice axes are fine if you'll use them, but all contribute to a heavier pack.

How Much Should You Spend?

Plan on spending from $150 to $400 on a pack. There are terrific bargains to be had in the $200 range, but more expensive packs will sometimes handle big loads more comfortably. Zippers, internal pockets, hydration systems, daisy chains and padded suspension systems add to the cost of a pack. Other features that add cost include compression-molded hip belts (they fit better than die-cut belts), plastic framesheets (which help to distribute the load across the back, but also reduce flexibility) and load-securing compression straps.

How to Buy Day Packs
Daypacks have become the book carrier of choice at both secondary schools and universities.

Tip #1: Think about what you will be carrying inside your pack. Knowing your equipment needs for a day in the wilds or a full schedule at school will help you determine the proper pack size. A pack volume of 2,000-3,000 cubic inches for a daypack in the mountains is good. The larger size can be handy for winter use too. A pack of 2,000 cubic inches or less works fine for the classroom, depending on the number of books and electronics that you plan to carry.
For day trips into the mountains - for both summer and winter use - check out Ferrino's Freeride.

The size of the pack you choose determines what kind of suspension the pack offers. Larger daypacks have substantial shoulder straps, hip belt and some kind of frame sheet or aluminum stays to help support the load. Smaller packs offer comfortable shoulder straps, but many times the hip belt is nothing more than one-inch webbing, which helps keep the pack centered, but not much else.

Tip #2: Once you have determined how much of a load will go into the pack, look at the suspension. School packs offer very little in the way of suspension even though students are carrying a lot of weight. It may be wise to buy a slightly larger pack than necessary for better suspension.

Tip #3: Access into the pack is important. Top-loading packs can work great out in the backcountry, but maybe not as well in the classroom. Panel-loading packs let you see all the contents of your pack at once so organization is kept simple.

Pack manufacturers are in a very competitive market. Name-brand recognition, price, and features are critical to their success. When making a purchase, consumers are driven by all three, but the pack’s features often close the sale. And today's packs are loaded with features:

Hydration pockets and port Side pockets for water bottles Organizers field guides (for day hikers) Padded pockets for cellular phones, CD players, and extra discs Several sizes are offered within the same pack model Specifically sized to fit men or women Daisy chains and lash points on the outside of the pack Shovel pockets for winter use Ski and snowboard carrying ability Side handles for alternative carrying position Breathable and vented back panels to help keep you cool

Tip #4: Don’t get overwhelmed by pack features. Consider the features important to you, and the ones that seem logical and user-friendly. Sometimes a pack can be so loaded with pockets and organizers you start forgetting where you stored what! Figure out what is best for you.

One of the very best packs for organization is the Mountainsmith DL-7. It also offers easy, comfortable carrying.

Tip #5: The fit is key. Without a good fit the pack won’t work for you, even if it has all the latest cool features, is your favorite color, and your best friend carries one. The pack has to feel good on your back. If a pack comes in a variety of sizes, check with the manufacturer for recommended torso lengths. In very general terms, torso lengths of 14 to 15 inches fit small packs, torsos of 15 to 16 inches fit mediums, and 16 inches or bigger fit tall or large packs.

Tip #6: My last tip for school packs is to consider alternatives to the traditional pack, such as courier bags or bicycle messenger bags. These are super clean and efficient, hold a ton of stuff, and are comfortable to carry. They can double as a gym bag or an overnight bag too.

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Practical Packing: Pack Right, Pack Light
Seasoned travelers know that packing is an art, and experience is often the best guide to mastering that art. The more you travel, the more you’ll adapt your packing technique to fit your mileage log.

First, lay out everything you absolutely need for your trip.
Everything you pack should do double duty. Travel trousers rugged enough to survive bushwhacking, but smart enough to wear to dinner. Quick-drying, synthetic underwear that can be rinsed and worn every other day. A fleece sweater that's suitable evening-out attire, but also a warm layer for trail hiking. A single zoom lens that replaces two or three fixed focal-length lenses.

One bag should be enough on any trip, along with a carry-on or daypack.

A number of see-through mesh bags are good to organize things: one for socks, one for underwear, one for T-shirts, etc. One mesh bag with a thin, stiff board inside keeps shirts folded and wrinkle-free. As for toiletries,

Keep heavy things close to your back and fairly high, and keep handy things you're going to need.

Here's how I usually pack: If my pack has a sleeping bag compartment, I begin by stuffing the bag (already in a stuff sack) in there. There's usually extra space, which I fill with spare socks, a paperback book, long underwear - whatever fits. Put some muscle into it: You want this "floor" for your load to be firm and evenly packed.

I then zip shut the sleeping back compartment and start loading from the top. First to go in: extra clothes that I don't expect to need on the first day's hike. Again, pack firmly - tightly roll your clothing first, then stuff it into the pack with some authority. Small stuff sacks can help you organize clothing - one for long underwear, another for socks. Next are the main food bag and cooking utensils such as a pot-and-pan set. Make sure the pot is oriented so that it lies flat against your back. Then, place heavy items in the pack and close to your back - things like a fuel bottle and stove. If you're going to be on rough terrain, place them at about the midpoint of the pack. If on easy terrain, higher up. Lastly, fill the top of the pack with things you're apt to need that first day: Rain parka, gloves, lunch, first aid kit, camera, headlamp. I usually put water bottles in side pockets. Into the top pocket go small accessory items such as knife, compass, map, emergency whistle, anti-blister supplies.

Remember to pack things firmly, particularly if you're using an internal-frame pack - the load actually becomes part of the frame, and will carry much better than a loosely packed pack.

Once you're packed, snug the compression straps that encircle the pack. These will help stabilize the load, and help bind it to the frame suspension so it carries better. Adjust the lid straps so that you have room to move your head around and look up. Put the pack on, re-tighten all the suspension straps, and check for balance and pointy things jabbing you in the back. Adjust as needed, and off you go!

How to Adjust and Load Your Pack
The latest backpack styles come with a wide range of adjustable straps and belts and a variety of compartment options. Learn how to properly adjust your pack for optimum fit, then get down the basics of loading your gear for the best balance, stability, and suspension.

Today's backpacks can seem like gravity-defying machines, but only if they're properly adjusted and loaded.

Start with adjustments. Loosen all the pack straps - including the shoulder straps and waist belt, fill the pack with about 25 pounds of gear, and put it on. For starters, cinch the hip belt so it fits snugly but comfortably around your hips (NOT your waist - if it's around your waist, the pack frame may be too short). Next, pull the shoulder straps on snug. The straps should angle up slightly from the harness, then curve over your shoulders at about the middle of your collarbone. The padded portion of the straps ought to end 2-3 inches below the armpit. If the straps want to pull the pack up off your hips, you may need to take it off and lengthen the torso adjustments; if the straps aren't carrying any weight, shorten the torso.

With the pack back on and the hip and shoulder straps snugged, it's time to bring the load lifters into play. These are the "auxiliary" straps that extend from the shoulder straps to the top of the pack, and play a key role: They allow you to adjust the amount of weight your hips or shoulders carry. Pull them tight. They should extend at a 45-degree angle to the top of the pack. For more weight on your shoulders, pull them tighter; for less, loosen them.

Finally, adjust the sternum strap - the strap that extends across the chest. This helps position the shoulder straps at a comfortable width on your shoulders, and helps stabilize the load on rough terrain. Move the strap up or down to the most comfortable point, then pull snugly. When actually hiking, don't be afraid to unclip the sternum strap - it's a helpful accessory, but can inhibit breathing when you're working hard.

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Winter Hiking & Camping
In the high country and mountains where snow is bountiful there are a few things you can do to make sure you are comfortable and safe while traveling over and camping on snow.

Navigation
When going in snowy conditions you must first consider how you are going to travel. If it's early spring and the snowpack is shallow or hardpacked you might consider just hiking in your sturdy leather boots. If the snow is less consolidated you should use snowshoes or crosscountry skis to travel. You can usually expect to do about two mph on snowshoes and about four mph on skis over level terrain. The trail will also be harder to follow than simply following a packed or blazed trail during the summer months. Be sure that you have a good map and even better compass or GPS. Take turns breaking. Keep a steady pace that prevents you from sweating too much then getting chilled when you stop to rest. And, if you are in avalanche country, make sure you know enough about snow dynamics to keep yourself safe.

Weather
Respect the fact that mountain weather can change quickly and it can be severe. Make sure you pack enough clothes and gear to stay warm and comfortable, and enough food to last an extra day or two.

Sleeping

• Drink a hot drink right before bed.
• Keep some food with you during the night. If you get cold, eating will increase your body temperature.
• Wear a hat to bed.
• Don't zip up your sleeping bag with your sweetheart's - you'll both just sleep colder.
• In very cold conditions, use two ground pads - one closed cell and one inflated.
• Pour some hot water into a heat-safe water bottle and bring it into your sleeping bag with you.
• Get a sleeping bag that is warm enough for the conditions you are expecting.
• Use a four- season tent, or make sure to use a waterproof ground cloth with your seamsealed three-season tent to keep moisture from coming through the bottom of the tent.
• Keep the vents open in your tent to prevent condensation from freezing to the tent's ceiling.

Dressing
Cold weather requires you to really think through what you're going to wear to stay warm. The best way to stay warm and dry is to dress in layers. Start with a wicking layer (both top and bottom) that will transport sweat and moisture away from your skin. Next, put on an insulating layer like a fleece jacket or wool sweater. Finish with a wind and waterproof shell layer that will help trap heat and keep you from getting wet from the outside conditions. Add, remove or vent layers as necessary and always remember to put on dry wicking layers and socks if they have gotten damp while hiking.

Light
Unlike summer camping, where the sun rises at 5:30 am and doesn't set until 9pm, winter light only gives you eight or so hours of light each day to break camp, travel, and set up your new camp. This also means that night lasts up to 16 hours. So bring good company, a good book and a candle lantern, which will give you a nicer, warmer light than a flashlight and burn for hours on a single candle.

Extra Tips

• Pack more fuel - for melting snow into water and cooking in the cold.
• Stay hydrated - cold dry winter air just sucks the moisture out of you with every breath.
• Always keep something between you and the ground - sit on your pack or a pad when resting.
• Consider renting gear instead of buying it until you decide whether you like winter camping.
• Always wear gaiters when hiking or snowshoeing - this will prevent your socks, boots and feet from getting wet.

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Where to go hiking and camping

Northeast: Vermont
Kingdom Trail System
Burke Mountain
Elevation: high point - 3267 feet
Days: 1-5
Difficulty: easy to difficult
Distance: 75 miles
Visitor Information: East Burke Sports, 802-626-3215
Maps: Kingdom Trails Map available from East Burke Sports, or buy a Trail Alliance Membership, which includes map and update, and pick up a free copy of the Willoughby State Forest Trail Guide.

Forget Moab. For uncrowded mountain bike trails in forested splendor, Vermont’s Kingdom Trail system, around Burke Mountain in the northeastern part of the state, is unbeatable. The Kingdom Trail Association has developed 75 miles of trails; bring your bike or hiking boots in the summer, and snowshoes and skis in winter months. Beautiful Lake Willoughby is a few miles away, with great trout fishing and paddling, as well as some of the country’s top ice fishing and ice climbing. Burke Mountain is also the site of the Northeast’s premier Nordic and alpine center. East Burke Sports rents bikes, kayaks, skis and snowboards, and provides trail, camping, and backcountry information.

White Caps Campground (open through October 15) at Lake Willoughby (802-467-3345) has $15 tent sites and hot showers. Camp free year-round at Darling State Park on Burke Mountain. Tent sites are along the toll road; the lean-tos require a 15- to 30-minute hike. Call East Burke Sports for directions. The Wild Flower Inn (802-626-8310) offers more deluxe trailside accommodations. Rooms, suites and cottages run $85 to $230, depending on season, size and amenities. The inn sports an indoor sauna and hot tub, children’s petting barn, miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking, skiing and snowshoeing, a sledding hill, and archery range. Another historic choice is the Mountain View Creamery (802-626-9924), an 1883 landmark with 10 miles of its own hiking and cross-country ski trails, plus lawn bowling and croquet for the backcountry-challenged. Rooms are $125 for two (breakfast included) or $200 for a four-person suite.

The Jackrabbit trail
Adirondack State Park
Elevation: 1500-2300 feet
Difficulty: intermediate
Distance: 18 miles, with many entry and exit points
Visitor Information: Rock and River Lodge, 518-576-2041
Maps: Jackrabbit Trail Map available through the Jackrabbit Trail Association (518-576-9949)

The Jackrabbit Trail winds through New York’s Adirondack Mountains along the path of an 1880s’ stage coach road. At the trailhead near Keene (NY) is the Rock and River Lodge. From the lodge, the trail twists past Lake Placid, and ends up near the village of Saranac Lake, New York. In the fall, the trail affords a backdoor view of some of the prettiest foliage on the continent. If you are going to be there during a snow, pack a pair of cross-country skis or snowshoes.

Rock and River Lodge is a converted 1820s’ homestead that offers bed and breakfast styled lodging with a twist. An artificial ice-climbing tower, plus an indoor rock-climbing wall hewn from local stone, are on-site. Guests can sign up for first-rate rock- and ice-climbing courses (using both the lodge’s facilities plus the bountiful climbs that make the Adirondack State Park one of the top rock- and ice-climbing destinations in the country), or venture out alone onto the thousands of acres of wilderness that surround the lodge.

The Climber’s Lodge is a renovated barn with three private rooms, a bunk room, large fireplace, kitchen and indoor stone-climbing wall. Rates start at $30 per night/per person; the entire lodge rents for $300 per night for groups up to 12. The Guide’s Lodge has four private rooms and a dining room, plus it houses the instruction and guiding operation. A streamside Adirondack lean-to with a fireplace sleeps five; cost per person is $15 per night.

Guests can use the rock- and ice-climbing structures for $10 per day, or sign up for classes ($80 per day, for a two-day course) or private guiding ($100 per person/per day for groups of two or more). Rental gear is available; equipment use is free for courses and guided trips. Call 518-576-2041 for information and reservations. The web address is http://www.rockandriver.com .

E-mail us if you've got a great place to hike or camp.

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