The best person to answer this question is the person who will be using the pack, after considering what it will mainly be used for. A brilliant load-carrying rucksack has different features to those of a top-end travel pack. Comfort, durability and ease of use are all very important, with the paramount virtue dependent on the end use.
Big packs can be broken down into four main types: alpine, bushwalking, travel and hybrid.
Alpine packs are designed for use above the snowline: they have a sleek silhouette with few pockets, offering a good centre of gravity with minimal protrusions. There are attachment points for axes, crampons and other jangly bits, and these rucksacks are usually pared back to save weight.
Bushwalking packs have a few more pockets and features, and the big ones can be big – load-carrying here we come! These packs are ideally suited for carrying all your gear – tent, sleeping bag, stoves: the whole kit and caboodle – for long periods of time. Comfort, durability and water resistance are prime considerations.
Travel packs are designed to be convenient while travelling as well as comfortable to carry: as a consequence they are often squatter and have multiple, larger openings, allowing easier packing and access but making them less streamlined and water resistant. They also have other features for on-the-road ease.
Hybrids strive to offer the comfort of a bushwalking pack with the ease and extras of a travel pack. Some compromises need to be made, so these packs are usually a bit heavier, less water resistant and more expensive than a bushwalking model, although much easier to take travelling.
And that, in a very condensed and simplistic version, is that! Try rucksacks on, read about them, borrow them and try them out – fit and comfort are individual and very important.
Access and compartments Many packs have dual access points, with a large zip at the bottom of the pack in addition to the standard top opening. This allows easy organisation as the whole rucksack doesn’t have to be unpacked to reach gear at the bottom. Inside the pack, a divider separates the load. This can be floating, zip-in or done up by a drawstring: some dividers can be fiddly, so test it out. For bushwalking, the bottom compartment is most commonly used to store a sleeping bag, so it can be reached easily without unpacking. In travel mode, the base compartment is used for dirty clothes, shoes – whatever you want to keep separated from your clean(er) kit.
Two openings also allows easier access for water: the zip is a potential entry point. For this reason dual access is more common on travel and hybrid packs, although it is found on some bushwalking models.
Travel features Additional features, such as dual access and compartments, are common on travel and hybrid rucksacks. These features may increase the price, weight and complexity of your pack, as well as decreasing its water resistance. As always, think carefully about how you will use your rucksack before you make your purchase.
Many hybrid and travel rucksacks have detachable daypacks: they serve as the front pocket while on the pack, or can be unzipped and used independently. A zip-up cover helps to protect your valuable harness from the evils of baggage carousels (and their handlers…), while zip sliders that can be locked deter petty thieves. Zips are common weak points, so check that they are easy to use and are good quality – YKK are the best.
