How to choose a hiking bag and purchase guide

If you choose to go mountain climbing during your vacation, then you will definitely need a mountaineering bag. A mountaineering bag plays an indispensable role in your journey. As for its functions, the editor will tell you below. Let me tell you how to buy a mountaineering bag. Type

The most common ones currently on the market include soft backpacks, outer frame bags, and inner frame bags. Which type to buy mainly depends on what kind of sports you want to participate in.

Soft backpacks

Without any internal or external supports and a good carrying system, they are similar to student backpacks. Lightweight and smaller. However, the simpler carrying system cannot bear larger loads and is uncomfortable to carry. It is only suitable for general urban travel, one-day hiking, or one-day suburban climbing activities.

External frame bag

The metal frame is on the outside of the backpack, which is now rare. This kind of bag has an H-shaped metal frame on the outside (aluminum alloy is the most common), and equipment such as photography boxes and stoves can be hung on the outside, so it is very large. But compared with the inner frame bag, there is a larger space between the body and the backpack, which allows for better air convection between the body and the backpack, keeping it cool and comfortable when carrying it.

However, when the bag is fully loaded, the center of gravity of the outer frame bag is higher, which is more dangerous in poor road conditions. For example, when walking in dense forests and bamboo thickets, the backpack can easily get caught and stuck, and the center of gravity can suddenly shift and lose balance when climbing. Therefore, this kind of bag is more suitable for carrying large luggage on flat roads.

Inner frame bag

The metal frame is moved to the inside of the backpack, so that the frame and the backpack are integrated. It is the current mainstream type of mountaineering bag. The backpack hugs the body more comfortably, making the center of gravity more stable. Compared to an external frame bag, this will make you more flexible and easier to balance. Especially now that most brands use adjustable carrying systems, which can be adjusted to suit your body shape and make it very comfortable to carry.

Of course, because the backpack is closely integrated with the body, it will be hotter and the air will not circulate easily. This is also a problem that many brands are now paying attention to and solving. Internal shelf bags are now the mainstream in the market, and they are divided into many types according to different needs. Next, the author will introduce it in detail. What is the capacity?

The capacity of inner shelf bags generally ranges from 15L-120L. For the average traveler, a 50L-75L bag is sufficient for most long-distance trips. Of course, if you need to camp in the wild for a long time, such as hiking through no-man’s land for dozens of days, you may need a 120-liter one, but after all, this is a minority among the very few. For ordinary outdoor enthusiasts, capacity is generally considered from the following aspects:

Based on travel type

Short-distance: traveling for 1-3 days without camping outdoors If you don’t carry many items, you can choose a small-capacity backpack, usually 20-40 liters.

Medium and long-distance: If you are traveling for more than 3 days or need to carry camping equipment, you should choose a large bag. 50L-80L is a long-term backpack. For women, a 50L-60L backpack is recommended, while men should choose a 60L-80L backpack according to their physical strength.

Based on gender

Due to the different body shapes and load-bearing capacities of men and women, the choices of outdoor backpacks are also different. The backpacks chosen by men and women can be used universally for short trips, but for medium and long-distance trips or camping lasting more than 3 days, when it comes to choosing a 50L-80L or even larger backpack, the backpack that women generally choose can be about 10 liters less than the backpacks of their male counterparts. Many brands of backpacks are divided into men's and women's models. It is recommended that women buy the corresponding women's backpacks, which are more comfortable and generally look better.

Based on body length

Many mountaineering bags now have adjustable carrying systems, but the adjustment also has a certain range, so it is very important to choose the size of the carrying system when choosing a mountaineering bag. .

If the size of the backpack is too large, it will cause a falling feeling. On the contrary, there will be a vertical feeling, which will cause the waist to not be fully stressed. After adjusting to the appropriate size, the backpack will naturally stick to your back and be very comfortable. Therefore, before buying a hiking bag, it is best to determine the length of your torso, that is, the length from your seventh vertebrae (parallel to your neck and shoulders) to the bone parallel to your hip bone.

Generally speaking, if your torso length is less than 45cm, you should buy a small size bag. If your torso length is between 45-52 cm, you should choose a medium size bag. If your torso length is over 52cm, you should pick a large size bag. Good manufacturers provide extra large (over 56 cm) or extra small (under 40 cm) bags, and they can also be customized. Of course, the specific model of hiking bag depends on the number of items you carry. The structure of a mountaineering bag

The structure of a mountaineering bag can be divided into three parts, namely the carrying system, the loading system and the external plug-in system.

Backpack system

The keyword "backpack system" mentioned several times above finally appears as the protagonist in this part. When buying a bag, don’t just look at the capacity and number, but also what size of backpack system you should use.

The carrying system of the mountaineering bag includes: double shoulder strap, waist belt, chest strap, force adjustment strap, backpack support mechanism and adjustment device.

When recommending mountaineering bags, sellers will emphasize what kind of carrying system this model uses, so what is the difference between these guys with English code names?

There are too many common carrying systems, and each one has Almost every major brand has its own characteristic system. Here are some typical examples. Even if you hear a name you have never seen before, you can refer to the following system characteristics to inquire and compare.

TCS: This is the patent of the mountaineering bag brand BIGPACK. It is specially designed for long-distance load-bearing. Its unique composite design of U-shaped aluminum tubes and H-shaped double titanium strips (both aerospace metals) is more The general aluminum alloy frame is lighter and harder, and it is easy to adjust.

CR

Frame: The load-bearing capacity is slightly inferior to the TCS system, but the structure has been greatly simplified and lightweight, making it an excellent mid-price mountaineering bag. It has the highest load-to-volume ratio and is very suitable for extreme outdoor sports, such as rock climbing, adventure mountaineering, etc. The large H-shaped back frame enhances toughness and is made of aluminum steel alloy, making it easy to adjust and use.

EVO: This system uses lightweight materials, is breathable and has an adjustable design, making it suitable for entry-level climbers. The back frame is lighter than TCS/CR, etc., and the back pad is placed in the friction position, which is very comfortable.

DTS: Patented by the famous brand GREGORY. The design of the traction belt increases the support of the backpack system, which not only distributes the weight throughout the elastic steel bar, but also does not compress it into the space between the backpack and the body, and can guide the weight to the position of the waist belt and hips. The design of the breathable and moisture-absorbent mesh shoulder belt keeps the parts of the backpack in contact with the body comfortable.

AirScape: Aluminum inverted U-shaped pole, 3-point support design and breathable carrying system can ensure that the backpack has good breathability even when the center of gravity of the backpack closely fits the body. Being comfortable and breathable is not a contradiction.

Of course, the seemingly complicated technical instructions above are only part of the carrying system. In addition, shoulder straps, chest straps, etc. cannot be ignored.

Shoulder straps: A well-designed mountaineering bag. The shoulder straps are thick and have an exhaust effect. Generally, there will be no discomfort when the load does not exceed 1/3 of the body weight. When properly adjusted, there will be no gap between the backpack and your shoulder blades. A good mountaineering bag can adjust the weight distribution on the shoulders at will, and you can adjust it at any time according to your physical strength and environment.

Chest strap: Used to adjust the distance between the two shoulder straps. When used, it should be adjusted so that the backpack can be close to the body without feeling oppressive. Chest straps are very effective in reducing the load on your shoulders.

Backpack compression strap: The main function is to adjust the backpack capacity, attach external equipment and keep the center of gravity from moving.

Gravity adjustment belt: The connecting belt between the upper part of the strap and the backpack is the center of gravity adjustment belt, which usually maintains a 45-degree angle.

Generally speaking, the focus of the backpack system is: can the backpack fit the body better? Can it be more breathable while fitting? Is the load-bearing gravity strong? Can the backpack be made lighter? ? Grasp these four points, and the seller will not dare to use a bunch of unfamiliar terms to fool you.

The author recommends that when traveling with a lot of items on your back, try to choose a backpack with a smaller weight; for technical activities that require facing complex terrain, such as steep slope climbing, karst terrain crossing, etc., choose a backpack system that is relatively Soft pack to allow for flexibility during squats and other technical movements.

Loading system

As the name suggests, the loading system refers to the part of the mountaineering bag that carries items. It is generally designed to consist of a main bag, a top bag and a side bag. The main bag is mostly designed to be divided into upper and lower parts. Layer type, that is, there is an opening at the upper end and the lower end, and there is a movable partition in the middle, which can be connected or disconnected. When purchasing, we can pay attention to whether the side bags and top bags are detachable, whether there are computer compartments, water bag placement, hooks in the main bag, whether there is an elastic capacity design, etc.

Plug-in system

Mounting bag plug-ins usually adopt point fixation or strip fixation. Click-to-hang refers to the design of external hanging points, which generally do not come with external hanging straps. You need to prepare them yourself. You can use nylon ropes or purchase special external hanging strips. The straps are usually two rows of external straps installed on the front of the backpack, each with several fixed points. In response to this, we also need to purchase according to our needs, such as whether it is convenient to carry crampons, sleds, snowshoes, and hiking poles (usually on the side of the backpack), whether it is easy to bundle raincoats or jackets (usually there are drawers on the top of the bag) Rope) Pay attention to the details of the mountaineering bag

What is a good product? It is nothing more than ease of use and durability. Ease of use refers to whether it can bring you maximum comfort. This has been well explained in the introduction of the structure in the previous part. And this part is to answer the question of "durability". Durability depends on quality, and quality often depends on the success or failure of details (here, materials and accessories).

Material

The commonly used hiking bag materials on the market today are mainly divided into four types: polyester, nylon, Cordura and canvas.

Polyester (polyester fiber): has good strength, strong heat resistance, and good elasticity. It is a better fabric. However, the dyeability is poorer. If you have higher requirements for color, it may be difficult to choose among this type.

Nylon (nylon, polyamide fiber): lighter in weight, not easy to absorb moisture, dries quickly, and has good strength.

But it is more afraid of fire and has poor wear resistance.

Cordura: It is a kind of synthetic nylon. Like nylon, it is not easy to absorb moisture and is quick-drying. It has better wear resistance and strength than nylon, but it is heavier than nylon.

Canvas: Wear-resistant. However, it has poor water resistance, is easily affected by moisture, dries slowly, and is heavy in weight.

Now you need to know a parameter: denier (D), which is a parameter that reflects the strength of the mountaineering bag fabric. The value of denier is proportional to the thickness of the silk thread. The higher the value of denier, the greater the strength of the fabric. Big means the thread is thicker. Generally speaking, 500D Cordura is a material that is both strong and resistant to a little water. The bottom of a mountaineering bag is one of the places most prone to wear and tear, so it is best to use 1000D Cordura fabric.

As for waterproofing, ordinary hiking bags are not waterproof by themselves and must be equipped with a waterproof cover. If the bag has its own waterproof function, it will generally use a waterproof coating made of PVC material. For more high-end bags, it will use a PU coating. The coating of PVC material will become very hard when the temperature is low, while the PU coating will not change much. The more times of coating, the better the waterproof performance. For example, if a bag is coated with PU for 4 times, its waterproofness can reach more than 1500mm.

To sum up, when considering the material, we are considering the wear resistance of the mountaineering bag (mainly the bottom of the bag), waterproofing, fabric lightness, softness, and tear resistance (many backpack parameters Mesh cloth will be mentioned in the article, which is tear-resistant), breathability (mesh porous), etc.

Accessories

Webbing: Webbing is often a fragile part of a mountaineering bag, so the quality of the mountaineering bag’s webbing can directly reflect the overall quality of a mountaineering bag. When purchasing You can consult the seller about the load-bearing capacity of the webbing. The load-bearing capacity of some high-quality products can reach more than 200 kilograms.

Zippers: It is best to use YKK zippers (the originator brand of zippers, with guaranteed quality), and they are double-ended. Before purchasing, be sure to ask the seller if the backpack can continue to be used if the zipper is broken.

Car lines: Well-made mountaineering charter lines should be neat, dense and even. There should be double stitching at stress points to ensure it is strong. Never choose the kind of workmanship with threads everywhere and crooked threads.

Fasteners: waist buckles, shoulder buckles, back buckles, etc. If you are going to a severely cold area, be sure to pay attention to whether it can withstand low temperatures. Good fasteners have better toughness and will not break easily. Broken, it will shatter as soon as it freezes. However, there is a trend in the design of mountaineering bags now, that is, there are more and more metal fasteners, and many brands have begun to use aluminum alloy fasteners instead of plastic.

Other latest features: Many mountaineering bags are now developing new features while improving the necessary qualities. For example, this one (pictured below) has an LED reflector at the bottom of the backpack. This thoughtful design is very practical when we travel at night.

The backpack LED light panel control button is designed on the shoulder strap. It has two modes: stable and flash, which can be adjusted as needed. The luminous power comes from a rechargeable battery, which can last up to 4 hours. The battery can also be removed from the backpack, and the standard USB port allows for easy charging and easy cleaning of the backpack.

In short, it’s the old saying: buy what you need. But there are some places where I would like to remind everyone: Try to choose a more user-friendly design. For example, does the main bag have a side zipper? Can the webbing be tightened? Is the bottom thickened? Is there a whistle on the chest buckle? If the side bag is a mesh In terms of elasticity, is it strong enough? Buying experience

Purchasing experience: Be sure to try it on your back

Whether a mountaineering bag is suitable for you has something to do with your body length. Even if you have thoroughly examined all parameters and types, when you arrive at your destination and start preparing to climb, you will find that you are carrying a pair of shackles. By then it will be too late to complain. Therefore, before you rush to pay, be sure to try it on your back! The specific test steps are as follows

1. Before backpacking, loosen all the adjustment straps and add a certain weight. If there is weight, you will know that the backpack is on your back. How it feels when you get up and whether the adjustment range of the backpack is appropriate.

2. After putting on the backpack, you should check whether the curvature of the built-in aluminum bar matches the curve of the back. If not, check whether the aluminum bar can be bent. If it can be bent, the aluminum bar will naturally bend after using it for a period of time. into a curve consistent with the back.

3. The connection point between the shoulder strap and the backpack must be 5-8 cm lower than the shoulder, and the gap between the shoulder strap and the backpack should be small.

4. The chest strap can adjust the opening and closing width of the shoulder strap on the chest, so that the shoulder strap can be placed in a more comfortable position on the shoulders and prevent the backpack from shaking.

5. After adjusting the backpack to the most suitable position, check the line of sight of the head. Can you look up without touching the top of the backpack? Can you still look up to the sky when wearing a helmet? ?Is the contact area between the backpack and the back comfortable and breathable?

6. After the backpack system is adjusted, jump up and down to see if the center of gravity of the backpack moves. If it moves backward, check to see if the adjustment strap between the backpack shoulder strap and the backpack is too loose. If so, tighten it and adjust it repeatedly until it reaches your ideal comfort level.

After half an hour of backpacking, if you don’t feel uncomfortable and it is quite comfortable to carry, it means that this hiking bag is still suitable for you. If you still feel uncomfortable after repeated adjustments, it means that this hiking bag is not suitable. you.

If you need the ultimate fit, most bags with internal aluminum poles allow the poles to be removed. You can bend it according to the shape of your back. At the same time, it is not recommended to lend your hiking bag to others. Many parts of a bag that has been with you for many years will deform to a certain extent according to your body shape, making it more suitable for you. Therefore, it is not recommended that you lend it to others.

In addition to the methods mentioned in the article, there is another way to judge whether a mountaineering bag is suitable for you. Another possibility is the discomfort caused by the impact of volume utilization and neatness of items in the backpack. Under the outdoor backpack is a sleeping bag compartment. There is no way to change the purpose, put the heavy ones in the middle, close to the back, and put the light ones on the outside. It is best to fill it with clothes and flexible-shaped things to make the center of gravity rest on the back and stable. The top bag is placed for easy access, waterproof, and small objects. , this packing problem, if you have shoulder pain after carrying it for a long time, it may also be a carrying problem. There may be four reasons for shoulder pain:

1. Carrying it for too long, no matter how awesome it is, it will be the same It will make people tired;

2. The shoulder strap fabric is not close enough to the shoulders and the backpack has poor carrying performance;

3. The backpack is not adjusted to the best position. The backpack should be adjusted according to your own needs. Adjust the back length to carry the load. The belt should be on the bones on both sides to share the shoulder pressure, and the back should be completely close to the backpack;

4. You have poor physical strength and your shoulder muscles are too weak to bear weight;

So, judging whether a backpack is suitable for you simply from the perspective of its quality or adaptability is not comprehensive, and there are many reasons.