Backpacks 101:
How To Find A Quality
Women's Backpack For Hiking

By Diane Spicer

Backpacks 101 - sounds like the first course in a series, doesn't it?

How To Buy A Backpack

And that's exactly what this page gives you, dear reader:

• Backpack tips you can use to buy the best hiking backpacks on line for female hikers, or in a sporting goods store near you, without drama or headaches.

Good backpacks don't just fall out of trees and hit you in the head (and thank goodness for that - OUCH).

You want not only a good backpack, but the best women's backpack for comfortable hiking.

How will that happen? (keep reading)

And because you're just learning about backpacks, you want to know how big of a backpack you need for enlarging your hiking ambitions in the future.

• Don't wimp out and buy the pack that fits your backpack buddy.
• Not if you're really serious about a great fit and quality performance, season after season, in any weather.

Invest in your good outcome!

And if you're looking for a reliable backpacking backpack for a multiday trip?

You need to do even more comparison shopping, because the price for this pack will be higher, and you'll be using it a long, long time.

True story: I'm still using a pack I bought 10 years ago!

• It lasted that long because I really did my homework and bought a quality piece of gear.

If you invest in performance clothing pieces and footwear for your daily wardrobe, you'll know what I mean.

So let's get started on a strategy for hunting down your perfect backpack.

Choosing a backpack is both
an art and a science

This Backpack Buyers Guide covers a few Backpacks 101 topics that you might not think about when you set out to find the perfect women's backpack:

• Ergonomic backpack features like external frame backpack fit versus internal frame backpacks
• Lightweight backpack materials and ultralight packs
• Backpack accessories
• Backpack waist belt features

Fun fact behind that list

Backpack manufacturers pride themselves on little twists and improvements on basic designs, making their product line into unique backpacks with deep brand loyalty.

• If you ask a Deuter pack devotee and an Osprey user to compare notes, they'll agree on most things.
• But will be fiercely protective of what makes one pack stand out above all others.

But here's the secret: a backpack design needs to accomplish the same short list of objectives, regardless of who makes it!

So where to start looking??
-the fast track-

Go here for an overview of what I consider best choices for daypacks and backpacking packs.

And read this if you want to cruise your possibilities for scoring the best pack on sale.

Curious about your choices in backpack manufacturers?

• This page is for you!

Keep this in mind
while you shop!

Backpack manufacturers and outdoor gear companies are all competing for your business, so it's no surprise that the best backpacks share a core set of features widely known to be important to hikers.

That's why at first glance, all backpacks might look alike.

Big mistake.

Take a second glance, and you'll see lots of differences in:

• size(gender specific, and volume)
  
• materials
• quality of construction
• number of external pockets
• internal arrangement
• number of zippers
• frame
• designs in women's backpacks
• price

And the obvious stuff, like color and logos, of course.

Backpacks 101 tips to heed
before you buy backpacks

If you're planning on a lot of day hiking, these specific tips are what you need before you buy.

Detailed tips on how to choose a backpacking backpack are covered here.

Here, we'll cover general Backpacks 101 tips for anyone searching for the best backpack.

If you implement them, you'll know exactly which pack, waiting for you among all of the hiking packs in the backpack store, is perfect for your unique hiking plans.

There are 4 big tips for you.

Quality versus price

Decide whether quality or price is most important to you. There are plenty of cheap backpacks you can get at least one season out of, and that's a fact.

But if you're going to be in this hiking thing for the long haul (small backpacking joke) you should buy the highest quality pack possible.

It will provide more comfort on the trail, and be less of a financial drain on your hiking budget over time.

Stick to the basics

If you're just starting out as a hiker, don't even look at customized and ultralight backpacks.

They have a mind numbing array of custom features and they literally fit you like a glove, but they are murderously expensive.

You need a basic pack to start with, and can work your way up to one of these customized beauties over time.

Homework first!

It's easy to fall victim to “buyer's fatigue” unless you do your homework ahead of time, using these backpack buying tips.

• Go to the store (virtual or real) armed with a short list of packs to try on: brand, size (in liters), and the exact model you want to try on.
• A phone call ahead of time saves you the heartache of arriving at a store only to hear “We just sold out of those.”
• Arrange your schedule so you have plenty of time. You don't want to rush to judgement.

There are plenty more Backpacks 101 tips to be had in here:

Last Backpacks 101 tip:
give yourself time to make a good choice

Never trap yourself into the “gotta have it  today” corner.

If you have a backpacking trip coming up in a few months, start right now to create that short list.

You don't want to get stuck buying a less than ideal pack because you ran out of time.

Backpacks 101:
How to choose a backpack
for every hiker

There are lots of differences in a generic, basic hiking backpack, depending upon who wears it and what (s)he does in it!

And now you know how to go about finding the ideal backpack.

Now, feast your eyes on these detailed tips for choosing a backpack for all of the hikers in your life:

• backpacks for boys
• backpacks for girls
• backpacks for women
• backpacks for him (okay, wrong website)
  
• backpacks for dogs
• baby backpacks (not tiny little packs, but the kind to carry – well, take a guess!)
• hydration backpacks
• camping backpacks
• discount backpacks (not the same thing as cheap backpacks)
• photography backpacks
• solar panel backpack

• survival backpack
• used backpacks
• waterproof backpacks

Click on the type of pack to get all of the details you need to know before you purchase one.

How to pack a backpack,
and other questions...

Once you purchase your pack, you might need these tips on how to pack a backpack.

And keep it organized with segmented stuff sacks.

See?

You've graduated to Advanced Backpacks 101.

Feel free to use this CONTACT ME link to send your questions about how to buy packs.

• Or when you're debating between two particular brands or models.

I'd love to help you find the perfect pack!

Because your happy trail time is worth investing in, don't you agree?

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