Which Backpack? How to Choose the Right One for You.

Choosing a backpack shouldn’t start with “What’s the best backpack?” It should start with “What am I carrying, and how am I going to use it?” In this video, I break down the four basic backpack categories—traditional, lightweight, ultralight, and frameless—and explain how to figure out which one actually makes sense for your gear, pack weight, hiking style, and the trips you plan to take. Because buying a backpack before figuring out what you actually need can get expensive really fast. I learned this lesson myself as I went from a roughly 25-pound base weight to around 11 pounds. As my gear changed, the type of backpack I needed changed too. In this video, we cover: • How to choose the right backpack for your gear • Backpack volume vs. carrying capacity • Why liters aren’t always directly comparable between brands • How food and water affect your total pack weight • Traditional backpacking packs • Lightweight framed backpacks • Ultralight framed backpacks • Frameless backpacks • The tradeoffs between weight, comfort, capacity, and features • How to determine your realistic pack weight • How to figure out how much backpack volume you actually need • Why a manufacturer’s maximum load rating isn’t necessarily your ideal load • Why buying the “best backpack” recommended by someone else can be a mistake • The importance of figuring out your gear before buying your pack I’ll also show you some of the packs and brands I use, like the ULA Circuit and Zpacks Arc Haul, along with other packs from manufacturers including Osprey, Gossamer Gear, Hyperlite Mountain Gear, Durston, ULA, Zpacks, Pa’lante, Nashville Packs, Atom Packs, LiteAF, and others. The goal isn’t to tell you which backpack to buy. It’s to help you understand which type of backpack makes sense for YOU. Because there isn’t one “best backpack.” There’s only the backpack that’s best suited to your gear, your load, your body, and the way you hike. And hopefully, this video helps keep your next backpack from becoming a $50-lower Facebook Marketplace listing. Don’t be a Dick. 😂 Chapters: 0:00 - Introduction/ Don't be a Dick 0:37 - The Problems with Choosing a Pack 3:06 - Volume & Carrying Capacity 4:47 - Traditional Packs 7:58 - Lightweight Packs 11:55 - Ultralight Packs 15:39 - Frameless Packs 19:44 - Final Thoughts ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Disclaimer: Some links are affiliate links where I'll make a small commission if you make a purchase at no additional cost to you. Hilltop Packs www.hilltoppacks.com/thebackpackingproject 10% Discount Code: BPP10 If you like the content and want to help build this channel please feel free to buy me a coffee and it will go towards channel expenses and gear for reviews. https://buymeacoffee.com/thebackpacki... ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jim's LighterPack - https://lighterpack.com/r/h0xu4g Connect on Social Media! Instagram: www/instagram.com/thebackpackingproject ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- #backpacking #backpackingessentials #backpackinggear #backpackingtips #BackpackingArizona #hike #hikearizona #hikingadventures #HilltopPacks