Cara Memilih Carrier

How to choose the right rucksack

26 June 2008 15:51

http://www.livefortheoutdoors.com/Gear-Reviews/Search-Results/Rucksacks/1-Features-for-Rucksacks-landing-page/How-to-choose-the-right-rucksack/

Choose the right rucksack to carry your gear across the hills by checking the essential features that will really make a difference to you.

Primary use
Buy a rucksack designed for your preferred activity. They're often broken down under these category names:

Multi-activity – ’sacks for fast action like running and biking.
General walking – a non-specific general day walker’s rucksack
Hill-walking – more technical than above – better for hill users as it has ice axe loops, compression straps, wand pockets and trekking pole attachment methods
Mountaineering – more technical than hill-walking ’sacks, being narrow, stable, lightweight and ideal for scrambling, climbing and mountaineering.
Expedition – bigger capacity, twin internal compartments, ideal for long distance paths, hut-to-hut trips and any time that you need to carry a tent and sleeping bag.

Volume
The carrying capacity of a rucksack is measured in litres. To give you some idea of how much volume you need, the following is a useful guide:
Under 10 litres – short or fast trips
10-25 litres – fast action or superlight trips
25-35 litres – short valley and hill walks
35-45 litres – hill and mountain walking, scrambling and mountaineering
45-55 litres – winter hill-walking, mountaineering, hut-to-hut trips, short or lightweight camping expeditions
55-75 litres – camping expeditions, long distance paths
Over 75 litres – camping expeditions to remote locations.

Hydration systems
If you use a hydration system, make sure there is an internal pocket for the bladder and an exit hole for the hose. The listings indicate if this feature is available.

Ventilation
If there is good air movement around your back, you will get less sweaty wearing the ’sack. The fewer body contact areas, the more airflow there will be. Some ’sacks are held away from the body with a sprung mesh for maximum venting. Also look for perforated padding for more airflow.

Pockets
A pocket in the lid for a headtorch, gloves, snacks or a guidebook is great; if it takes a map, better still. Side pockets are ideal for water bottles, but make sure yours fits. A pocket under the lid is ideal for valuables and car keys. Some ’sacks have side pockets that can be compressed flat and these are ideal for building a flexible capacity into the rucksack.

Stability
Load the pack, then twist from side to side, forwards and backwards. Is the pack stable on your back? It needs to be!

Comfort
Load the ’sack with some ropes, try it on and check it for comfort. Is the padding comfortable on the back and are the shoulder straps and hipbelt padded enough to be comfortable around the body?

Back length
Some ’sacks have adjustable backlengths, others come in different backlengths, some are in a one-size-fits-all design while others are designed specifically for women. To check if the size is right for you, tighten the waist- or hipbelt, adjust the shoulder straps and clip the chest straps together. Do the shoulder straps dig into the sides of your neck? Is the waistbelt sitting comfortably around your middle or is the hipbelt sitting on your hipbone as it should be? The weight should bear down on your shoulders and hips.

Freedom of movement
Look up and check that the lid doesn’t impede the movement of your head. Swing your arms back, parallel with your sides, to see if the ’sack would impede the use of trekking poles. Feet apart, swivel your shoulders. Raise your knees to hip level. Walk up and down some stairs. If your movements are unrestricted, you have a great ’sack for scrambling. Otherwise keep it for short, low-level walks.

Main compartments
If the main compartment is divided into a top and base compartment, you can divide your kit between different areas. A base compartment is useful for wet gear, cooking equipment or your sleeping bag. The listings indicate how many main compartments each rucksacks has.

Durability
Low-priced ’sacks are often less durable than their more expensive equivalents. Lightweight ’sacks are also often less durable. If you want maximum durability look for double stitching, tough fabrics, double layers of fabric (particularly on the base), reinforced areas and chunky buckles and zips.

Compression
A good set of compression straps can control any excess material when the rucksack is half empty. You can check if a rucksack has compression straps in the rucksack listings that follow.

Stowing gear
Can the rucksack carry an ice axe or trekking poles? These items are often best stowed on the sides a sack, under the compression straps with the handles of trekking poles and shaft of an ice axe wedged into the wand pockets at the base of the side of a ’sack. Some rucksacks also have ice axe or trekking pole loops.

Waterproofness
Few rucksacks are waterproof as the seams leak. So usually you will need to use a waterproof rucksack liner to keep your gear dry. A drawcord that pulls the main compartment opening closed is good. A deep snow-lock extension is even better. Most zips leak, so go for those that are covered by a stormflap.