When buying a rucsack there are a few things to think about before you start looking at all the choices available.  Your ideal next rucsack will be dictated by what you most want to use it for.  If you do a variety of activities such as multi day backpacking trips, day walking, climbing etc it may be that you will need a couple of different styles to suit.  Some idea of the likely capacity and features to look out for are below.

All the technology, fitting systems and adjustments on the latest model rucsacks are all designed to get the load transferred to you in a comfortable & stable way.

The way the load is carried by the wearer can vary from person to person but as a general guide the most efficient method for general walking is to have the load high up and as close to the body as possible - this keeps you balanced.  For more active pursuits such as climbing, scrambling or trekking on rough terrain then the load should be lower, keeping the centre of gravity closer to the ground.  In all cases the ideal fit is to have a 60 / 40 spilt between the weight on your hips (waist belt) to that of your shoulders.
The waist can carry heavier loads for longer durations than your shoulders - which can quickly tire or become sore - see 'back systems' below.

The way you pack the rucsack can also have a big bearing on the comfort and for mail order customers it's worth practising packing all your gear then fitting to check comfort. Or for in-store customers we have extra weights that we can add to the pack to get a more accurate experience! It's perhaps not as crucial for smaller day walking packs but it's still worth checking comfort fully weighted.

Winter Walking
You will need more space for equipment in the winter. Warmer layers, flasks, more food and perhaps crampons for higher walks will take more space. This takes the likely size required to 35 - 45 litres depending on the activity. This can be an ideal size for buyers that are planning walking throughout the year because it's flexible to use summer or winter without to much compromise for either use. If you are planning winter use check how you attach axes & crampons.

Climbing / Mountaineering
Anything from 40 litres upwards depending on the amount of gear you carry and the season. Packs tend to be simpler without side pockets to keep a narrow profile and less restriction when climbing. Look for tough fabrics, easy attachment of ropes, climbing gear, winter hardware etc. With a lack of side pockets twin lid pockets allow you to have a secure inner pocket for car keys wallet etc that won't get lost and a larger outer pocket for hats, maps, chocolate bars etc. Back systems tend to be simpler too without adjustment, this keeps the weight down. Fitting normally takes into account the likelyhood of wearing a climbing harness so waist belts tend to be less bulky and sit higher on the body.

Multi Day Trips / backpacking / youth challenges (d of e, scouts, ten tors etc)
A typical size will be around 65 litres - this allows the room required for a tent (or your part of), sleeping bag & mat, cooking gear, more food, clothing etc. Larger capacities could be required for longer expeditions in remote locations. With the development of lightweight gear it's possible to cut the size & space required significantly so some packs have flexibility in their capacity and this can be useful especially if you are out across the seasons. Packs will tend to have side pockets & bottom compartments for sorting your gear. More advanced back systems for efficient load carry and usually a fair degree of adjustment to ensure you get the correct fit.

Travel packs
What you want to carry on an extended trip will depend on the the amount of adventure you are likely to encounter. Capacity starts at around 60 litres but be careful to not go too big, you will only fill it! Better to be ruthless with your packing and buy bulky items such as clothing when you need it. Evaluate how much time you will spend carrying your luggage, if you are using public transport for much of the time then a tough duffle bag or even wheeled pack will be ideal. If however you will be trekking and heading 'off road' for more adventurous excursions, or if you just don't know, then something that you will be comfortable carrying for long periods with comfort built in is required. 'Travel packs' tend to have the ability to zip away & cover the carry straps, this keeps the pack neater and means it's less likely to get caught up in luggage carousels etc. Often you access your gear in a 'zip around' suitcase style rather than top loading in the usual rucsac way and some models have a built in day sack that zips off from the main compartment for day trip use or to carry documents.

Features to look for are strong chunky zips ( with lockable zippers), carry handles & shoulder straps, mesh pockets for sorting your gear and tough fabrics for extended trips. Also check the overall weight of the pack before it's loaded - especially with wheeled packs. More features add weight and if your budget airline baggage allowance is 15kg you don't want 5kg taken up before you even start!

Fast Forward sports
A catch all title to reflect the likely types of activities - running, cycling, mountain biking, mountain marathons etc. Capacities tend to max out at 30 litres, with lots of smaller models below this. Loads tend to be carried higher and very close to the back with extra compression to keep the load from moving around. Hydration sleeve a must to keep drinking on the move and much lighter fabrics to keep the weight down. Options to attach cycle helmets / lights / pumps can be useful for commuting and extra pockets that are easily accessible on the move for energy bars / gels / suncream etc are common.
 

Manufacturers spend alot of time developing their back systems, adjustment styles, combinations of foams etc all trying to get the best fit for you.

With small to medium capacity rucsacks the back systems can be fairly simple, with extra stability coming in the form of foam sheets or simple internal aluminium rods. Some of the open backed 'air flow' type packs use thin flexible rods to maintain the air gap even when fully loaded. This can help keep your back less sweaty.

Larger packs almost always have internal frames - to keep a heavy load supported and transfer the weight to the hips. Most will also adjust for the overall height of the back system - usually by moving the shoulder harness, to enable a precise fit and best comfort.

At Taunton Leisure we test and evaluate all of the back systems both in-store and out on the hill so we can advise what should work for you. However we stock a variety of brands & adjustment types because like footwear fitting the way it fits can be individual to you.

We also offer a wide range of women's specific fit models, allowing for a different range of adjustment of the back system and shape differences for the shoulder & waist straps.

Rucsack features & glossary

• Hip & Waist Belts - Designed to wrap around the top of the hip bone and take a high proportion of the weight. Amount of padding is dictated by the size & features of the pack
• Chest Strap - A strap that connects the shoulder straps together to keep the shape when moving - look for easy adjustment and extra elastication to allow for comfort
• Fabrics - This can influence the overall cost of the pack, tough fabrics will give longer service, greater water resistance and are less likely to fail in time. Most larger packs have higher denier fabrics on the base which is a main wear area. Lighter specialist fabrics with high tenacity and ultra durable characteristics are specified on fast & light type products ideal for running, cycling & mountain sports.
• Base Compartment - Zip around compartment at the bottom of trekking packs that allow the loading of your gear from the base. Most will have a divider internally that you can keep this part separate from the main pack - useful for wet gear etc. Commonly used for sleeping bag.
• Lid Pockets - Zip entry at the back of the lid, offers useful place for maps, & bits and pieces you need regularly. A separate internal lid pocket is useful for keeping secure wallets, keys & travel documents
• Compression Straps - Side of the pack adjustable straps that when tightened bring the load closer to the body & stabalise the weight. useful for larger packs and also smaller ones used in fast forward type sports when load stability is key. Double up as attachment straps for sleeping mats, trekking / tent poles, ropes, bagettes!
• Side Pockets - Used for virtually anything side pockets can be 'fixed' i.e non adjustable set size pockets or ' bellows' / 'adjustable' pockets that can be folded flat when not in use or packed out to a larger size with lightweight jackets, bottles etc.
• Walking Pole / Ice Axe Loops - Common on even the smallest packs, walking pole & ice axe attachements that can carry one or two axes/poles depending on the model. For ice axes check you could use them with cold hands & wearing gloves.
• Compression Panel - Extra panel of fabric on the front of the pack that can be used to secure snow shovels, ropes, helmets etc also aids compression stabalising the load.
• Wand Pockets - Small open pockets at the side of the pack at the bottom, sometimes elasticated mesh, that allow you to locate tent / trekking poles, skis, etc in, to stop them moving around too much and then tighten in to the pack with compression straps.
• Floating lid - System whereby the top lid is not fixed to the pack but can extend in height on straps to allow extra packing of gear in the extended lid. Often referred to in the capacity of the rucsac e.g 65 + 15 - where the '+ 15' is the possible extention.
• Hydration sleeve / pocket - Extra sleeve usually internally that a hydration bladder / Camelbak / Platypus can slip into. Almost always feature a exit point for the hose to come through and attach to the shoulder strap so you can keep drinking on the move. The sleeve stops the bladder from slipping to the bottom of the pack and also keeps the water weight close to the back - especially important for smaller packs as 2 - 3lt of water adds significantly to your load.