
Today, there is an amazing range of backpacks in all shapes, sizes and colors, with enough accessories to keep even the best of ‘gadget freaks’ happy for days. However, if you are looking for a suitable backpack for hiking, then there are a few basic things that you need to deal with.
Small backpacks, such as waist packs or fanny packs (the term always evokes memories of Albert Brooks and Michael Douglas in “The In-laws”), are not strictly backpacks because they are not carried on the back. Still, they will serve the same purpose on a smaller scale and best day hiking backpack can be ideal for short hikes.
These smaller packs usually have a strap and two or three compartments and can be used to store a variety of handy items such as a water bottle, nutrition bars, sunscreen, bug repellant, Band-Aids and other small items.
Some smaller packs, often called hydration packs, even have special water bladders with drinking tubes. These will normally hold anything up to a few gallons and again can be useful. However, you should remember that a gallon of water weighs about 8 pounds.
If you are going on longer hikes or need to carry more, then there are many different backpacks to choose from. Most of them are categorized by size, which is often expressed by their volume in liters.