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| A great
backpack is one of the most versatile, useful things you can own. It
carries your most prized possessions. It organizes your life. It
represents your style. It keeps you moving when life says stop. So
finding the best backpack for you is something that shouldn't be taken
lightly, but it should be easy. That's why Sports Unlimited carries one
of the largest, most diverse collections of backpacks, school bags,
messenger bags, laptop backpacks, hiking packs, hydration packs, duffle
bags, and travel bags around! It's also why we've compiled this helpful
backpack buyers guide, to answer questions you may have, and help you
find the perfect backpack for you, your style, your needs, and your
budget! |
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| How do I
find the right backpack for me? |
We offer a huge
selection of backpacks for almost every need, style, and budget out
there. Although we love to bring you all these options, navigating them
to find the right one for you can be overwhelming. So to narrow things
down, it helps to consider the following when buying a backpack:
- Your body type - A great
backpack should fit your body and your build. This helps to prevent
back strain and muscle fatigue
- The type of activity you need the
backpack for, and the things you'll be carrying - The type of
backpack you choose should depend on what you plan on putting in it.
If you need your laptop with you at all times for work or school,
you'll need a different pack with different features and capacities
than a person who needs to carry an ice-pick, walking stick, and
extra winter jacket for a weekend hiking trip.
- How often you will be using the
pack - Those using a backpack daily will need one made of a
stronger, more durable material. If you're only planning to use a
backpack every few months for short day trips, durability and
strength shouldn't be as high a concern.
- Your personal preferences -
Backpacks come in a huge variety of different styles, prints,
colors, and designs. Once you have an idea of what type of pack will
fit you, and what features you need, the only thing left to decide
on is the look!
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What are
typical parts of a backpack? |
| Before we can go
on to help you find the right size, type, and color backpack for you,
it's important to understand the parts of the backpack, and what each
part does for you. This understanding will help you determine which
features you need, and which you could do without. |
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Back Panel
Purpose: The back panel gives the bag its structure. It is also
the largest part of the bag that rests on the user. Comfort is an important factor in
finding the right back panel, especially if the backpack is being worn for long amounts of time.
Padded or vented foam back panels can reduce fatigue and heat, keeping
your back comfortable and dry.
Types:
Padded - Most packs have
a padded back panel to improve comfort and cushion your back, while also
creating a protective barrier between your back and the content of the
pack.
Padded with Recessed Channel - Designed to take pressure away
from your spine, the recessed channel gives you a more comfortable fit
especially while carrying heavy loads.
Moisture Management - Some
brands, such as The North Face, strategically structure their back
panels to minimize back sweat, using a combination of mesh ventilation
and stitched recess channels. Backpacks such as the AirMesh deliver a
breathable back panel that improves air flow. |
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Shoulder Straps
Purpose:
To rest the backpack over the user’s shoulders. A good portion of the weight of the pack can
rest on your shoulders, if not worn with a hip belt or sternum strap.
Personal comfort is an important factor in choosing shoulder straps.
Types:
Padded - Most backpacks
have a least a little padding in the shoulder straps to improve comfort.
Injection Molded -
Some brands strategically cushion their shoulder straps to deliver
flexibility where it's needed, and protective cushioning in necessary
areas, moving strain away from your collar bone and other pressure
points. |
Waist / Hip Belt
Purpose:
To distribute the weight of the pack from your shoulders to your pelvic bone, which can more comfortably bear more weight.
By simply clicking the waist belt around your hips, a heavy pack can
become instantly less straining to the back, and more comfortable to
wear for long periods of time.
Types:
Padded/Winged - Wide and cushioned, these hipbelts sit
on your hips more comfortably than a thin strap, which can often dig
into your skin after sustained wear. These types of hipbelts are usually
featured on more expensive backpacks, and are meant for backpackers
carrying heavy loads, like hikers, campers, and travelers, who rely on
their backpack as their central form of luggage.
Straps - Hipbelts
made of a weave of cords are a great option for those who use a backpack
regularly, but only rarely carry heavy loads. Perfect for school or work
use!
Removable/Stowable - When hipbelts aren't in use, they can
hang, catch, snag, and get in the way. For backpack users that need a
hip belt, but also you their pack for everyday use, this is an
attractive option. |
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Sternum Straps
Purpose:
To pull the shoulder straps closer together, keeping
them in place, and taking strain off of your back and shoulders. |
Organization
Purpose:
Separate organizational pockets throughout the pack
hold and organize smaller items, preventing them from getting lost or
forgotten in the bottom of the bag.
Types:
Organizational Pocket - Most backpacks feature one or more compartments with organization pockets. These typically feature slots and areas to hold pens, iPods, cell phone, etc.
Laptop Sleeve - Some backpacks feature a padded sleeve specifically
designed to hold and protect a laptop computer.
Hydration Compatible -
A pocketed area designed to hold a hydration reservoir in place, with a
hydration tube port, makes staying hydrated easy during long hikes and
walks. |
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Other Common Backpack Features:
- Water Bottle
Pockets - Holds water bottles for quick hydration on
hikes or long walks
- Safety Whistle -
A safety whistle attached to the sternum strap of packs helps to let
people know where you are
- Electronics Pocket and Media Port - Some
packs include pockets to hold a phone or MP3 player, with a port for
headphones to come out of
- Board Carry - Skate and snowboard
backpacks include two horizontal straps on the outside of the pack to
hold your board
- Shovel Storage Pocket - Brands like Burton include a
storage pocket for a small shovel, meant for building jumps or digging
yourself out of trouble
- Goggle / Sunglasses Pocket - Some brands
include a fleece or plush lined pocket designed to fit snow goggles or
sunglasses, protecting them from scratches
- Laptop Cord Pocket - Some
packs include a separate pocket to keep your laptop cord from tangling
- iPad Compatible -
Recently, new backpacks are making padded pockets to accommodate an iPad
or similar tablet device
- Reflective Details - Designed to increase
nighttime or low-light visibility, these details keep you safe while
walking or riding at night
- Webbing Utility Loops - Located on the
exterior of the bag, these loops hold objects like trekking poles, ice
axes, and other items you wouldn't want to keep inside the pack, and you
would need quick access to
- Drop / Stash Pockets - Exterior pockets on
the front of the backpack allow easy access and quick storage of
essential items
- Exterior Bungee Cords - These cords give added
structure to the bag and can also be used to hold bulky items outside of
the bag
- Rain Cover - Some hiking backpacks include a rain cover to
pull over the bag to keep it and its contents dry
- Shoe / Laundry / Wet Pocket -
These pockets are often lined with waterproof fabrics, and work to keep
wet, dirty, or smelly clothes or shoes separate from the main
compartment
- Insulated Cooler Compartment - These pockets keep your
lunch or a beverage cool. Typically lined with waterproof fabrics, it
can also act as a wet pocket
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» See All Backpacks |
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| How do I
find the right backpack to fit my body type? |
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Having a backpack that fits your body type
is incredibly important to both your continued comfort and physical
health while carrying the pack. Most backpacks and brands appeal to a
wide variety of body types. Some brands make women-specific backpacks,
with curved, narrower shoulder straps, smaller profiles, shorter torsos,
and wider hip belts to better fit a woman's figure.
Before using your backpack, it's important
to adjust it to properly fit you. Put some weight in the pack to
replicate its actual fit while in use, and adjust the:
- Hip Belt - These should fit snuggly around you waist when
clipped together
- Shoulder Straps - These should be tightened enough so that the
point where the straps meet the pack is just below the large bone at
the base of your neck, at the top where your shoulders meet. The
bottom of your pack should be pulled up to just above your hips, and
should not droop past this point
- Sternum Straps - Fasten these to keep the shoulder straps in
place. These should not restrict your breathing
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| How do I know which
materials are used in my backpack, and what they offer me? |
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Backpack brands use all sorts of materials,
outside of traditional polyester and nylon, to create backpacks for you.
Assess the following glossary to understand which materials are used in
your favorite packs, and what they offer: |
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Term |
Definition |
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Ballistics Nylon |
Ballistics nylon is made from a ballistic weave (a 2x2 fiber basket
weave) of a varying denier. As the denier increases, the weave becomes
stronger. Ballistics nylon is abrasion and tear resistant, as well as
super durable. Because ballistic nylon is difficult to dye, it is often
found in black or dark colors. |
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Cordura |
A brand name synthetic fabric made of nylon, known for its durability and
resistance to tears and abrasions. |
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Denier (D) |
A measurement of the fineness of a fiber, and is usually measured in
weight (grams). Denier is the mass in grams per 9000 meters. As denier
of the product increases, so does its weight, strength, durability,
water resistance, abrasion and tear resistance, solidity, and price.
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Nylon
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A
commonly used synthetic fabric known for its durability, and resistance
to abrasion and ripping. |
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Nylon Ripstop |
A woven nylon fabric, with a gridded reinforced technique. This
reinforcement makes the fabric resistant to tearing. A ripstop fabric
can be identified by its gridded texture. |
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PU Coating
(Polyurethane coating) |
A some fabrics have a PU coating, to increase
water resistance of the fabric. |
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Phathalate-Free TPE
Laminate |
Toxic Phthalates are not used
in the production of the TPE laminate, which is a highly tear resistant
synthetic fabric. |
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Polyester |
A
versatile synthetic fabric that can be made from naturally occurring
chemicals, as well as other synthetic materials, such as recycled water
bottles. Natural polyesters can be biodegradable, while synthetic
polyesters are not. Polyester, although not as durable and strong as
nylon, has good durability, is water repellant, retains color well, and
has a resistance to bacteria. |
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Polyester Dobby |
A textured weave of polyester, creating a fabric with a textured
look and feel. |
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Polyester Twill |
A diagonally patterned weave of polyester. Denim is also a twill
fabric - so if you are wearing jeans, take a look! |
