Backpacks are one of the most important pieces of equipment you need to get right. They transport everything you need on a backpacking trip, so it's important to know everything you can about your pack in order to use it to its full potential. In this post, we will go over everything you need to know about our rental backpacks from packing them efficiently, to fitting them appropriately, and the features they offer.
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Rental Backpacks Specs
The backpacks we currently offer in our rental inventory are:
Deuter Air Contact 50-75
Deuter Air Contact SL 50-70 (women's fit)
Kelty Glendale 65
Kelty Glendale 65 W (women's fit)
The numbers, measured in liters, represent the packs' interior space. These packs have adjustable shoulder straps to fit most torso sizes. The men's packs can fit torsos 17-24 inches and the women's packs fit torsos 14-22 inches. Regardless of their volume, each backpack weighs roughly 5 lbs. We also have a handful of small-frame backpacks for those under 5' tall and kid-size backpacks for rent.
Rental Backpacks Features
All of the backpacks above share the following features:
A top compartment with pockets and a keyholder
A middle compartment with hydration sleeve
A separated bottom compartment
Waist belt pockets
Water bottle side pockets
Sternum strap with loop for water bladder straw
Straps for trekking poles
Video showing backpack features
Pack Covers
Some of our rental backpacks have rain covers, but this isn't a guarantee. You can ask for it when you arrive to pick up your gear, and we'll do our best to fit you to a backpack with an included pack cover. If unavailable, we recommend that you use a poncho instead of a pack cover.
Packing a Backpack for Backpacking
This is how we recommend packing your backpack for the most comfortable experience. General advice would be to put the heaviest things in the middle, closest to your back - that's why the pouch for the water bladder is there.
Water bladder: If you're using 2-3 L water bladder, start there. Fill it up and insert it full into the sleeve. It is a lot harder to put your full water bladder in if the bag is already full. Remember to pass the straw out through the dedicated hole and secure the bladder upright with the Velcro strap near the top.
Bottom compartment: We recommend putting your sleeping bag in the bottom compartment, along with anything else small enough to fill in the gaps. Our lightweight sleeping pads and a hammock, for instance, will fit in most cases.
Middle compartment: Use this main compartment for most of your remaining gear, like a change of clothes, food, stove and fuel, ratsack, pillow, chair, etc.
Top compartment: This is where to store things for easy access such as sunglasses, headlamp, snacks, sunscreen, first aid kit, pocket knife and anything you might need for the day.
Waist belt pockets: Our backpacks also feature pockets at your hips where you can store your phone, snacks, chapstick or any other tiny item.
Side pockets: For your Nalgene water bottles or other frequently used items.
Other straps and stuff pockets: On the outside of the bag, use the straps and pockets if needed for a jacket, trekking poles, backpacking chair, etc.
Video about packing a backpack for backpacking
Where does the tent go?
You have options! You can separate pieces of your tent - rainfly, footprint, stakes, poles, tent body - and stuff them in the middle compartment. Or you can keep all tent pieces together and secure it between the top and middle compartments.
What if I have a different sleeping pad?
It depends on the style and size of your sleeping pad. If you rented a lightweight sleeping pad from us, then it is very small and fits together with your sleeping bag in the bottom compartment. You'll have to work hard to get it in there, but it goes! Alternatively, you can stuff it with your clothes in the middle compartment.
If you have the standard lightweight foam sleeping pad that's about 20" wide, you can strap it to the outside of the bottom compartment. The straps there are made for that. Or you can strap it to the space between the middle and top compartments, unless your tent goes there...
Fitting a Backpack
One backpack that fits your friend perfectly may not fit you the same way, even if you're exactly the same height. That's because every person is built differently. For instance, you may have longer legs and a shorter torso or vice versa. Your hips may sit higher or they may be wider. You get the point. You will have to try and see what backpack fits you best.
NOTE: We do not measure your torso size, and you don't need to either. Our method is trial and error. Watch the video below together with the below instructions to adjust our rental backpacks for a perfect fit.
Video about fitting your backpack
Step 1: Adjust torso length. Start by adjusting the torso length of the backpack to the average height position. To do this, pull the shoulder straps up or down to get a good estimate of the middle position.
Step 2: Put weight in the pack. Loosen all the straps to make it easier to put the backpack on, and fill the backpack with about 20 lbs of weight to mimic how it would fill with all your things in it. Having an empty light pack won't work because it will sit too high on your back.
Step 3: Try on the backpack.
Waist strap first. Start by positioning and tightening the waist strap over your hips.
Shoulder straps next. Cinch down the shoulder straps until just finger tight.
Load bearing straps last. Reach behind your ears to find the load bearing straps and pull them forward until just finger tight to bring the top of the pack closer to your back.
Most of the weight in the pack should now be on your hips.
Step 4: Check for the perfect fit.
The padded part of the pack should be in line with your shoulder blades.
The shoulder straps should come down a couple inches lower than your arm pits.
If the padded part of back sits too low and the shoulder straps dig into your arm pits, then you have a longer torso than average. Take off the backpack and raise the shoulder straps, then try the backpack on again.
If the padded part sits too high and the shoulder straps cinch down as far as they can, then you have a shorter torso length. Take off the backpack and shorten the shoulder straps, then try the backpack on again.
Repeat until you find the perfect position.
Finally, for added comfort and stability, buckle the sternum strap to stabilize the backpack when you walk
HAPPY BACKPACKING!
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