Backpacks have been the identifying feature of backpackers but is increasingly common for backpackers to travel with suitcases or some form of baggage other than a backpack.

Your Backpack should have…

Front Loading Panels: Unless you will be spending most of your trip hiking or trekking front loading packs are much better, they make getting to your stuff much easier and have zips instead of nylon chords which are lockable. Look for D shaped zippers.

Lockable Zips: Look for packs that have built in locks or can accommodate a small padlock. We have to be realistic about pack security. Any fabric can be slashed and all zips are easily opened even if they are locked. Security only protects you from honest thieves, it’s best to lock your pack away in a locker if provided but you simply can’t guarantee security. Take what reasonable precautions you can and then resign yourself to the fact that things can still happen, it’s not worth worrying about further. Get insurance to cover any losses.

Quality fabrics: There are a couple of fabrics to avoid, stretch nylon which wears quickly and 1680 denier ballistic which is a cheaper, heavier and lower quality version of similarly named fabrics. Don’t be fooled by any “ballistic” fabrics, they won’t protect you from bullets, they are made to resist tearing. Cordura is the other main type of fabric, this is more resistant to the types of stresses you pack is likely to encounter while travelling, such as friction. Also know that denier is a measurement of weight not strength. Look for a fabric that is water resistant, reasonably lightweight and tough, Cordura is our recommendation.

Size: In all honesty don’t go bigger than 65L aim for 50-55L. Saying that you’ll probably ignore this advice and get a 75-85L pack, I did it myself, this is the biggest piece of advice that many choose not to take. If you do go for a more proportional size you’ll feel a satisfying little giggle inside every time you see a fellow backpacker sweating under the weight of their huge pack.

Compartments can be a great feature but not a deal breaker, drysacks and packing squares make good alternatives that you might find more uses for.

Be realistic about how you will use your backpack, most backpackers don’t spend hours on end walking around with it on their back, in fact once you put it on you’ll already be looking for the first opportunity to throw it in the back of a Tuk tuk or anywhere that isn’t where it is designed to be (your back). Unless you plan on trekking with it having a pack that will hold up to sliding around on every form of transport under the sun is the most important thing to look for.

You’ll know you’ve chosen the right pack when it is scarred, frayed and the thought of trading it in for a new one almost brings a tear to your eye.