As a general rule of thumb, your pack should be the last thing you buy when preparing for a backpacking trip. Why? Because the capacity of your pack really depends on the type of trip you’re going on and the type of gear you’re bringing. So let’s say you have all of your gear, or at least know what you’re planning on bringing, and you’re ready to start your pack-buying journey. Here’s a list to help you get started when considering what pack capacity you need: 

1) What is your base weight? 

Why is this important? Well, when you’re going ultralight, everything comes down to weight. Knowing the total weight of all your gear will help you determine how much space you may need to pack everything, and how that weight can be distributed in a smaller vs. larger pack. 

2) What’s the weather going to be like? 

This one is probably pretty obvious. Some things to consider about the weather where you are going, besides just how much clothing you’re going to bring, is what type of clothing and gear you’ll need. For example, in colder environments you’ll probably want more insulation, in hotter or dryer environments you’ll likely need to carry more water, and if it’s going to be buggy you might want more bug protection on hand.

3) Are you planning on packing as light as possible, or do you want to bring some extras? 

Even if all your gear is ultralight, you might be considering bringing some items that aren’t necessarily necessities. Maybe you’ve got some creature comforts you don’t leave home without, some extra gear to help you with your specific objectives, or some of those “just in case” items that you may want to have on hand, you know, just in case. This will come full circle when determining your overall base weight, and it’s also a good thing to keep in mind when considering what features you want in a pack. 



Which stove are you going for?

4) Are you planning to resupply? How often? 

This really depends on the individual. Some folks might go for just a few nights but are planning to be able to resupply once or twice. Others might be heading out for two or more weeks in an area that may be too remote to resupply any consumables regularly. So it really depends on where you’re going, and how you prefer to travel. 

5) Will you be bringing a bear canister? 

As bear canisters become, not only, more popular but also required in more and more areas, many folks are making the choice to bring one along. If you’ve seen a bear canister, then you know it’s not exactly the most packable item. They’re pretty big, bulky, and rigid. But, they do serve an important purpose, so it can definitely be worth it to bring one along. Keeping this in mind, it will most certainly have an impact on the pack capacity you’ll need for your trip. 



Pro Tip: People often strap these to the top of their pack to save space inside!

    

    As a general rule, most people will use a pack between 40 and 65L for most backpacking. If you’ve pared down your kit to just the essentials a 40L pack will work well. For longer trips, and particularly if you’re required to bring a bear canister, a 50 to 60L pack tends to be more popular.  

    There’s a lot to keep in mind and consider when choosing your pack capacity. If you’d like to learn more, stop by the Mountain Shop to chat with one of our backpacking experts!