Rucksacks - A Guide For Hikers

Rucksacks (often called day sacks) come in many sizes from very small to huge backbreaking carry everything type holdalls.

So how do you choose a suitable rucksack for hiking?

If you are particular about how much weight you drag up a mountain then click on our Rucksack Pointers and lighten your load.

Day sacks take various forms including:

• With side pockets or just open side mesh pockets.
  Pictured above is John's rucksack with a banana handy in the side mesh pocket and a pipe over his shoulder to drink from a water bladder.

• Complete with rain cover or not as the case maybe.
  Boost the protection your kit has against water with a backpack liner which sits inside. A cheap and very effective solution.

• Can carry two hiking poles or ice axes or just one?

Some of the points to consider are listed on the next hiking pack pointers page.

But first consider the weight of the empty sack.

Day sacks can vary from as little as say 4 ounces to 4lbs.

Try weighing your current sack.