Our Ideas on How to Choose the Perfect Travel Bag for You
Are you one of those people who get so much excited for an upcoming trip that they just daydream about it for days without actually doing something to get ready for the adventure, like…pack? I know I am. Every trip is a story of its own and it requires different types of clothing and pieces of gear you will need to take with you, thus a different type of a travel bag. Especially when camping – you want to have nothing but the best choice of bag to store all your essentials safely.
When browsing through the online stores, you´ll come across several types of camping travel bags that you can choose from. For that reason, to help you find the perfect travel bag for your next adventure, I’ve put together a list of the different models you can find on the market and their main features.
Daypacks
Probably the most popular type of backpack, the daypack is designed for carrying technical gear for a long day in the mountains. The capacity of daypacks can vary from 10 to 40 liters and you can choose your ideal size depending on what you need it for.
Hiking Daypacks
If you are planning a full day hiking out on the trails, I recommend you to get a hiking daypack. That kind of trip will require you to carry plenty of water and enough food to keep you going. You will also need to take with you extra layers of clothing and a rain jacket, and a hiking daypack will accommodate all that perfectly. Some of the features to look for are padded shoulder straps, a ventilated back panel, a padded waist belt, trekking pole holder and a water reservoir pocket. Ideal capacity: 20-30 liters.
Climbing Daypacks
Besides carrying the gear you need for hiking (water, food, etc. ) a climbing backpack can also fit your helmet, rope, harness, rack, and shoes. It is also more comfortable as it fits close to your body. Some of the features to look for are a helmet holder, external gear loops, compression straps, and a large access to the main compartment. Ideal capacity: 30-40 litres.
Cycling Daypacks
The capacity of your cycling backpack will depend on how long you are planning to be out for. If you are going to be out just for a couple of hours, you can get away with a hydration pack with limited storage. But for a long day on the trails, you will need to carry repair gear, tools, extra layers, food and plenty of water. A good cycling backpack needs to be comfortable and well ventilated, and not move around too much when loaded. It should also feature a light attachment loop, a helmet holder, tool pockets, ventilated back panel and water reservoir pocket. Ideal capacity: 10-35 litres.
Overnight Backpacks
If you are planning grand adventures, you will need a backpack that is big enough to hold all your overnight stuff. As with daypacks, overnight backpacks can vary greatly depending on your preferences, needs and circumstances. Here, choosing something comfortable and well-fitting is key because you will be carrying heavy loads. The bag should also offer features that make it easy to use including external storage pockets, a rain cover, water reservoir pocket, trekking pole holder, padded waist belt, padded shoulder straps and a ventilated back panel. The capacity of your overnight backpack will depend on the length of your trip, but here is a rough guide of what you will need to look for:
1-3 day trip = 40 – 60 l
3-7 day trip = 50 – 75l
8+ day trip = 65l+
