The backpack has become a common feature throughout the world today whether it is used by students to carry their school equipment in or whether it is used by mountain climbers or hikers. Certainly since the first one was introduced these lightweight but versatile packs have become a way of life. In this article we will be taking a closer look at some of the various features of the backpack.
1. How the pack can be loaded.
With nearly every make of backpack available today a person is able to gain access through the top and in some cases through a side or front panel. The great thing about those that allow a person access through the top is that they minimize the weight, whilst those with the side panel means that the person can easily gain access to the equipment inside more quickly. There are even backpacks such as the Osprey Atmos 65 which provides the user with access to the contents contained within the pack through both the top and a side panel.
2. Support System
In most cases the backpacks that are used for hiking trips will have 1 or 2 aluminum stays which then allow the weight inside to be transferred on to the hip belt. Although typically the stay is either a rod or bar there are now some which are tubular and so cuts down on the weight actually being carried.
3. Suspension Systems
Most packs will have one of two types of suspension that the user has available to them and these are adjustable or fixed. The adjustable system allows you as the user to fine tune each of the various straps attached to the pack to ensure that it fits and matches your torso size perfectly. Whilst the fixed system allows for no adjustments to be carried out but it is a lot less complex and also is a lot lighter.
4. Hip Belt
It is important that the hip belt should straddle a person's "iliac crest" which is the prominent bones that you will feel at the front of your hips. So when it comes to choosing your backpack and ensuring that the features best suit your body shape you need to assess just how adjustable and comfortable the hip belts on the back are. It is important to remember that the main weight within any backpack once being carried will be supported by this feature of the backpack. There are even some packs which allow the use to change the hip belts so that they are assured of having the best comfortable possible as the can be customized to fit their torso shape and length perfectly. Plus a lot of these hip belts contain additional pockets where essential equipment such as a GPS, energy food or other items can be placed and be accessed quickly.
Above we have looked at the main features of the backpack. By taking your time and ensuring that they have all of these features within them then the backpack you choose will ensure that you will be safe and unlikely to cause you any injury whilst being worn.
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